That's an ad for the new release of the translations, imitating an article. Read Monsieur Monde Vanishes instead if you want to read some Simenon, it's a better book.
The new translations are indeed mentioned in passing, but the piece is a good introduction for people who don't know the author.
Quite. I suspect many, like myself, mainly know Maigret from the television series starring Rowan Atkinson (yes!).
Maigret is probably second only to Poirot and Holmes for number of tv adaptations. In Italy we had one in the mid-60’s that was very good, if a bit theatrical.
I haven't read it since, but "The Man Who Watched the Trains Go By" had quite an impact on my teenager self.