They were Germans and they had lived in France since shortly after the First World War. They lived by a canal, and tried not to be Germans, but assimilated by the French, who gave them their living. They were left in peace. Then came Hans, a political refugee from Germany, their cousin. Hans, who was cruel, bright and quick witted, who took what he wanted and made trouble, and brought tragedy on the Krulls. A girl was found on the canal bank. Not a good girl, but she had been strangled and she was French, and the Germans were suspected. ....Chez Krull is really a story of mob hatred that arises from murder, told as only Simenon can tell his stories.