Five Little Pigs
By Agatha Christie
4 stars
Ever since my dad gifted me my first Agatha Christie book, I have been on a journey to read as many of her works as I can, especially the Hercule Poirot series. Five Little Pigs was one I’d been eager to read, partly because the premise sounded intriguing and partly because, with Christie, you just never know what twists await. I went into this with an open mind, and while it didn’t turn out to be a new favorite, I still found plenty to appreciate. Christie truly earned her title as the queen of mystery, and Five Little Pigs is yet another testament to her storytelling genius.
In the book, Hercule Poirot is asked to reexamine the case of Caroline Crale, who was convicted of poisoning her husband, Amyas Crale, sixteen years prior. In her final letter from prison, Caroline proclaimed her innocence, a claim that her daughter, Carla Lemarchant, believes enough to urge Poirot to investigate. He sets out to interview five people who were close to the couple, all of whom had distinct relationships with Caroline and Amyas. Through these interviews, Poirot must reconstruct the events of the fateful day from each character’s unique perspective, uncovering secrets that had been buried for over a decade.
One of the things I love most about Christie’s mysteries is her ability to layer motives, perspectives, and secrets so that each character feels like an essential piece of the puzzle. This format, focusing on five suspects recounting their memories of the past, felt fresh and intriguing. However, it also had its downsides for me; I struggled to connect with the characters emotionally, and they felt a bit more like narrative devices than relatable people. While this approach heightened the mystery, it did leave me feeling slightly distanced from the story, which is one reason it didn’t become a new favorite.
Despite my reservations about the characters, I was captivated by the suspense and Poirot’s process of unraveling the truth. Watching him piece together the five different accounts was fascinating, and I was impressed by how Christie subtly wove hints into each narrative, creating a complex web of deceit and misdirection. By the time I reached the end, I thought I might have figured out the mystery—but, true to form, Christie managed to catch me off guard. The ending was brilliant, a classic twist that was as surprising as it was satisfying, making me appreciate her ingenuity all over again.
In sum, while Five Little Pigs may not top my list of Hercule Poirot novels, it’s still a strong example of Christie’s masterful plotting and her ability to keep readers guessing. This book showcases her unparalleled skill in creating a mystery that’s not only clever but also deeply layered and suspenseful. If you’re a Christie fan or love a good cold case, this one is worth the read—just don’t be too surprised if you don’t see the ending coming.
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