Five Little Pigs

A Hercule Poirot Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition

De: Agatha Christie

Narrado por: Hugh Fraser

Beautiful Caroline Crale was convicted of poisoning her husband, but just like the nursery rhyme, there were five other "little pigs" who could have done it: 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 her roast beef; Cecilia Williams (the devoted governess), who had none; and Angela Warren (the disfigured sister), who cried all the way home.

Sixteen years later, Caroline's daughter is determined to prove her mother's innocence, and Poirot just can't get that nursery rhyme out of his mind.

This title was previously published as Murder in Retrospect.

©1942 Agatha Christie Limited (P)2001 HarperCollins Publishers

Good, but not Christie's best

Hugh Fraser (who played Hastings, the sidekick of Hercules Poirot on the well-loved tv series) narrates this book, as he has done with several other Christie books.

He did the best he could with this book I think. While I doubt there are actually any "bad" mysteries by Agatha, I would not place this among her best works. It is tedious, and Poirot goes back and forth among the possible candidates for the murderer just interviewing them.

There is very little action otherwise, and I found myself actually becoming a little bored (almost a first for anything by AC). Don't know whether a different narrator might have spiced it up a bit--Fraser wasn't terribly animated in his reading--though perfectly ok in other respects.

I'd say, if you love Agatha Christie, this should be on your listening/reading list so you can complete the works. It is not bad--it just is not up to the usual quality of her writing.

Christie and Frazier

Well, I love Agatha Christie and I love Hugh Frazier. What else can I say? Oh- it was a great storyline. 😊

typical Poirot story

I hadn't read this one for several years so remembered bits & pieces but not the ending. Narration was easy to listen to and let me get lost in the plot.

Characters

Christie always has well drawn, well thought out characters. She outdid herself here. And of course, incredible mystery.

Amazing read!

This is a short book but a great one! Agatha Christie never let’s you really know who the murderer is until the end!

Another excellent mystery.

Am so enjoying Agatha Christie's mysteries and Hugh Fraser's narration. This book kept me from my sleep. Excellent!

Agatha Christie, The Best There Is

Listening to the audiobook, I had to relisten to sections at the beginning, to understand all the characters and their relation to one another. But pretty soon, the story comes into focus, and the mystery is on. By the time I reached the end, it was more apparent than ever that this is Agatha Christie, the best there is.

Fantastic series of twists

I’ve always loved this one, an excellent use of layered twists and the whole investigate the past trope.

Classic

Interesting to construct a cold case instead of one unfolding, and reflecting back through the suspects own words in a different way of doing things. Read very well.

Agatha Christie plays with perspective. Both the characters’ and yours

This was a very welcome change of pace from the usual Poirot Christie formula. By dealing with a cold case, Christie gets to focus on unpacking characters and their understandings of the events that transpired, and she weaves nice little hints in for the audience to start noticing the incongruities and the things that are left unsaid. Excellent listen.