Private detective Nestor Burma, created by the French writer Leo Malet, was born in Montpellier and later moved to Rue de Mogador in Paris. Burma is the owner of the Fiat Lux detective agency, name which may be translated to Let There Be Light.

With his three employees he solves tricky situations in Paris, where he is mostly in fierce competition with the police. He is aided by his very attractive secretary Helene Chatelain, who never seems to age and who is hopelessly in love with Nestor. Besides Helene Chatelain, the very lively Roger Zavatter, as well as the one-armed Roger Reboul, are also employed at Fiat Lux.

Burma is always in a bad mood, and never turns down tobacco or alcohol. Nevertheless, the detective is a perfectionist who only deems a case complete when all questions are answered.

Although in constant competition with the police, particularly with Inspector Florimond Faroux, described as having nicotine-stained fingers and wearing ill-fitting suits, Burma has a very good reputation with the police, so he carries out investigations for them every now and then. He is especially in Inspector Faroux’s good books, which is why he sometimes helps him in dealing with delicate cases.

Burma prefers solving critical cases by himself, since he can shed light on them thanks to his instinct and numerous contacts spread all over Paris. He sets himself apart from his contemporaries, Philip Marlowe and private detective Sam Spade, created by Dashiell Hammett, through his appearance. Burma style consists of tailored suits, bull head pipes and eccentric humor.

Nevertheless, Nestor Burma is often referred to as French detective Philip Marlowe, with an emphasis on "French". On a side note, Nestor Burma gets wound up in his cases to the same extent as the famous Inspector Maigret, who, as we all know, also works for the Paris police.

Burma can always use the commission received from the police, since he sometimes owes his staff a few months' salary, and now and again also needs to ask his secretary for money. He likes doing this every now and then. However, she does respond in a remarkably grumpy way when Burma comes too close to attractive women during investigations.

Burma prefers carrying out the most dangerous investigations by himself. He also needs assistance in preparing his investigations, for example, from his constantly jolly cousin, who is a reporter for a tabloid. He sometimes writes short articles in the newspaper to lure criminals out of hiding. Burma also compiles the final reports himself, in a cheeky but humorous way.

The first ten novels were marked by World War II and the German occupation. It was not until the year 1954 that the most famous novels featuring Nestor Burma were published. After that every novel played in another district of Paris.

Novels Featuring Private Detective Nestor Burma and the Fiat Lux Detective Agency

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  1943 – 120, Rue de la Gare


• 
  1945 – Dynamite versus QED


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  1945 – L'homme au sang bleu


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  1946 – Solution au cimetiere


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  1946 – Nestor Burma et le monstre


• 
  1947 – Mission to Marseilles


• 
  1948 – Coliques de plomb


• 
  1949 – Gros plan du macchabee


• 
  1949 - Le paletots sans manches

The New Mysteries of Paris

• 
  1954 – Sunrise Behind the Louvre


• 
  1955 – Des kilometres de Linceuls


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  1955 – Fievre au Marais


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  1955 – La nuit de Saint-Germain-des-Pres


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  1955 – The Rats of Montsouris


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  1956 – M'as-tu vu en cadavre?


• 
  1956 – Corrida aux Champs-Elysees


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  1956 – Pas de bavards a la Muette


• 
  1956 – Fog on the Tolbiac Bridge


• 
  1957 – Les eaux troubles de Javel


• 
  1957 – Boulevard... ossements


• 
  1957 – Death of a Marseilles Man


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  1957 – Micmac moche au Boul' Mich'


• 
  1958 – Du Rebecca rue des Rosiers


• 
  1959 – The Tell-Tale Body on the Plaine Monceau


• 
  1962 – Nestor Burma en direct


• 
  1967 – Nestor Burma revient au bercai


• 
  1968 – Drole d'epreuve pour Nestor Burma


• 
  1969 – Un croque-mort nomme Nestor


• 
  1970 – Nestor Burma dans l'ile


• 
  1971 – Nestor Burma court la poupee


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  1974 – Les neiges de Montmatre


• 
  1981 – La femme sans enfant


• 
  1982 – Une aventure inedite de Nestor Burma


• 
  1983 – Poste restante