This edition published 22nd June 2023 by Harper Collins.
Originally published in 1942.
From the cover of the book:
Beautiful Caroline Crale was convicted of poisoning her husband, yet there were five other suspects: Philip Blake (the stockbroker) who went to market; Meredith Blake (the amateur herbalist) who stayed at home; Elsa Greer (the three-time divorcee) who had roast beef; Cecilia Williams (the devoted governess) who had none; and Angela Warren (the disfigured sister) who cried ‘wee wee wee’ all the way home.It is sixteen years later, but Hercule Poirot just can’t get that nursery rhyme out of his mind…
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Years later, Caroline and Amyas' daughter Carla comes of age and learns the full story of her family history. Although she remembers little of the tragic events themselves, a letter left for her by her late mother calls the verdict into question. Carla is compelled to discover the truth. She consults Hercule Poirot, asking him to look into the case, and he sets his little grey cells to work.
After quizzing the legal team and police involved with the Crail case, Poirot discovers that there were five other potential suspects present when Amyas died. Something about these five suspects calls to mind the nursery rhyme about little pigs to our famous Belgian, as they fit into the porcine roles of the song rather well - Amyas' best friend Philip Blake, the stockbroker, is the pig who went to market; Philip's brother Meredith, a dabbler in herbal potions, is the pig who stayed at home; Elsa Greer, the now three times divorced ex-lover of Amyas, is the pig who ate roast beef; Cecilia Williams the governess of Caroline's half-sister Angela, is the pig who had none; and finally, Angela (who was disfigured as a child by Caroline) is the little pig who cried' wee wee wee' all the way home.
Given the length of time that has passed, Poirot knows this is going to be all about the 'psychologies'. He gathers the information he needs by interviewing each of the five alternative suspects, and asks them to write an account about what they remember about the events surrounding Amyas' death. To Carla, these narratives reveal frustratingly little, but to Poirot they reveal all...
Five Little Pigs is one of my favourite Poirot mysteries. His little grey cells are tested by an investigation in which he has to feel his way entirely in retrospect, by taking note of the emotional responses of the people present at the time of the murder, and sifting through their contradictory accounts. Poirot pulls off a blinder by picking out the inconsistencies in their testimonies to put the pieces of the puzzle together in quite a different way to the one that has been accepted as the truth.
The pace is deliciously slow-burn, and everything comes together in a classic gathering of the suspects when Poirot reveals all in his characteristically round-about way, casting the red herrings aside, and finally pointing the finger at the real murderer of Amyas Crail. Voila!
This is a superbly constructed Christie murder mystery in which betrayal and guilt play central roles. Every time I read it I am in awe of her genius as a storyteller, and this is also one of her books that explores a wealth of intriguing themes. She delves beautifully into the perceived differences between the male and female characters, especially in terms of how experience, age, and class affect behaviour. But, best of all, she examines temperament with such insight, particularly when it comes to the reckless and hurtful actions that are excused by those deemed to be great artists.
After quizzing the legal team and police involved with the Crail case, Poirot discovers that there were five other potential suspects present when Amyas died. Something about these five suspects calls to mind the nursery rhyme about little pigs to our famous Belgian, as they fit into the porcine roles of the song rather well - Amyas' best friend Philip Blake, the stockbroker, is the pig who went to market; Philip's brother Meredith, a dabbler in herbal potions, is the pig who stayed at home; Elsa Greer, the now three times divorced ex-lover of Amyas, is the pig who ate roast beef; Cecilia Williams the governess of Caroline's half-sister Angela, is the pig who had none; and finally, Angela (who was disfigured as a child by Caroline) is the little pig who cried' wee wee wee' all the way home.
Given the length of time that has passed, Poirot knows this is going to be all about the 'psychologies'. He gathers the information he needs by interviewing each of the five alternative suspects, and asks them to write an account about what they remember about the events surrounding Amyas' death. To Carla, these narratives reveal frustratingly little, but to Poirot they reveal all...
Five Little Pigs is one of my favourite Poirot mysteries. His little grey cells are tested by an investigation in which he has to feel his way entirely in retrospect, by taking note of the emotional responses of the people present at the time of the murder, and sifting through their contradictory accounts. Poirot pulls off a blinder by picking out the inconsistencies in their testimonies to put the pieces of the puzzle together in quite a different way to the one that has been accepted as the truth.
The pace is deliciously slow-burn, and everything comes together in a classic gathering of the suspects when Poirot reveals all in his characteristically round-about way, casting the red herrings aside, and finally pointing the finger at the real murderer of Amyas Crail. Voila!
This is a superbly constructed Christie murder mystery in which betrayal and guilt play central roles. Every time I read it I am in awe of her genius as a storyteller, and this is also one of her books that explores a wealth of intriguing themes. She delves beautifully into the perceived differences between the male and female characters, especially in terms of how experience, age, and class affect behaviour. But, best of all, she examines temperament with such insight, particularly when it comes to the reckless and hurtful actions that are excused by those deemed to be great artists.
What a brilliant choice to kick off #ReadChristie2025, with its inspired theme of Characters and Careers, as it fits the first brief of 'Artists' to perfection!
I revisited this gem via the audio book, narrated by my favourite Hugh Fraser.
Five Little Pigs is available to buy now in multiple formats.
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