Rating: 
Summary: A MUST READ!!
Review: This is the second Agatha Christie novel I've read and it was great!!! As I read the novel I tried to come up with who I thought the culprit would be so I came up with several different scenerios and they were all wrong!!! The ending was great and I can't wait to get my hands on another one of Christie's novels!!!
Rating:
Summary: Grows on you: good characterization
Review: This little pig went to market,
This little pig stayed home,
This little pig ate roast beef,
This little pig had none,
This little pig cried 'wee, wee, wee' all the way home...Carla Lemarchant, born Caroline Crale, was sent to Canada and raised by an aunt and uncle under their name after her mother Caroline was tried and convicted of the murder of her husband, the painter Amyas Crale. Now, sixteen years later at age 21, she's been told the whole story, and given a letter left by her mother reassuring her of Caroline's innocence. And she remembers that her mother could be trusted to tell the truth about things that would hurt, but her fiance is uneasy. When she comes to Poirot, he agrees that this is *exactly* the kind of case that suits his talents; the five people (other than victim and accused) concerned in the case are still alive and living in the U.K., so all the psychological evidence is still available. Since the case happened so long ago, there's necessarily a lot of exposition, but it's skillfully presented, piece by piece, by various people, each with his or her own bias - which is in itself evidence. (It brings the scene to life very nicely, as well.) Poirot questions the professionals of the law, both lawyers and police, before approaching the witnesses / suspects. Upon questioning Caroline's former defense counsel, Poirot receives a summary of the 5 witnesses to the events leading up to Amyas' poisoning that leaves a nursery rhyme running through his head. As they enter the story, each has a distinctive personality and character, and is vividly drawn, so that this is a good novel, not just a puzzle. Philip Blake, Amyas' best friend, plays the market, who seems to have disliked Caroline intensely. Blake's elder brother Meredith, a country squire, is a stay-at-home type going in for nature study, especially plants, whose devotion to Caroline is as marked as his younger brother's resentment. The 'other woman', Amyas' model and lover Elsa Greer, is a man-eating social climber (3 husbands since then), an unimaginative woman who seems interested only in 'trophies'. Miss Williams, the impoverished governess who was about to lose her job when her charge, Angela Warren, went to boarding school, is a militant feminist who disliked Amyas' attitude. Angela Warren herself, disfigured as a baby in an accident involving her half-sister Caroline, is now a distinguished archaeologist, and saw a great deal without necessarily grasping its significance at the time. Plowing through the array of legal talent from both sides of the case, Poirot finds most of them convinced of Caroline's guilt, but few knew her very well, apart from the Crale family solicitors. (The old family solicitor is the only perceptive person among the lawyers; he says the others didn't understand that the line of defense chosen couldn't work with the Crale case. Knowledge of what makes people tick is the most helpful tool in an Agatha Christie story.) Amyas and Caroline had quarreled over his affair with Elsa - but they'd always fought, and he'd always had affairs. Caroline was the only woman he'd ever cared for, but she came a distant 2nd to his painting. However, the theory is that he was prepared to leave Caroline for Elsa. Why was Elsa different - midlife crisis? Caroline herself didn't really fight for her own life in court: she sent her sister to school abroad, arranged her daughter's future, and did what her counsel told her to do. Why did she give up? And when Poirot finishes questioning the lawyers and the police, he starts in on the 5 witnesses, the only other possible suspects, knowing that none of their stories will agree, especially after all this time. "It will be very instructive." And so it is, all the things that aren't admissible in court: what they thought of Caroline's and Amyas' mental states, what life was really like in the house, and things they weren't asked - or didn't tell. And, as usual, Poirot stages a final summing-up scene with all the suspects present, and presents the story of what *really* happened on the day Amyas was poisoned.
Rating: 
Summary: Best till the end, a rather unsatisfactory conclusion
Review: This little pig went to the market,
this little pig stayed at home,
this little pig had roast beef,
this little pig had none,
and this little pig cried "wee wee wee" all the way home. Thus was characterised five of the most important characters present at the death of Amyas Crale, a wealthy artist with a notoriously Bohemian attitude towards his art, which was also his life. Hercule Poirot was engaged to clear up his death, sixteen years after the incident, by the daughter of the victim, and to establish the innocence of the accused, her mother, who had died shortly after the crime Amyas' wife, Caroline Crale, had been indicted by the court for poisoning him, and though much of public, and private sympathies of the witnesses, were for her, only her beloved sister Angela Warren believed her innocence. Angela had been disfigured by a jealous Caroline when she was young, but the pig who cried all the way home grew to a mature confident modern woman who established herself firmly in the archaeological circles. Due to her youth, and eagerness of Caroline to spare her public scrutiny, she was the only "pig" not called to the witness stand at the trial. Her governess, Ms Cecilia Williams, was then, and still was at the time of the novel, unencumbered by material possessions, the pig who had none. Ms Williams had sympathised strongly with Caroline who had to put up with her husband's philandering ways and eccentric temperament, not believing for a moment being an artist was a license to do as one pleased. The cause of the apparent conflict between the victim and the accused was the rich girl Elsa Greer, the pig who had roast beef. The household had come to known while Elsa was being painted by Amyas that the latter intended to divorce Caroline and marry Elsa. The source of the poison was to have come from the neighbouring estate's laboratory owned by Meredith Blake, an amateur herbalist. As heir and successor to the estate, he was the pig who stayed at home, in contrast with his younger brother, Philip, who went to the (stock) market and made his fortune. The Blakes had grown up with Amyas and Caroline since childhood, and remained on close terms with them after Amyas and Caroline married. Sixteen years after the affair, upon coming of age, the daughter of Amyas and Caroline returned to Britain from Canada where she had been fostered out. She had, along with her inheritance, received a posthumous letter from her mother stating her innocence. Eager to clear the dark cloud in her life, Poirot was engaged to seek the truth. After preliminary interviews with the legal and law personnels involved in the case, Poirot concentrated his attention on the "five little pigs". As most of the book was a recounting from various perspective presented by the witnesses, it had been categorically divided into sections catering for each witness. This was unlike other Christie's books where the author narrated events as they were unfolding, with many conversations and actions of various parties intermingling. As warned by the police officer interviewed, Poirot obtained five different scenarios from the people, but incredibly, he managed to uncover layers after layers of deception. Towards the end, Poirot recalled all witnesses and the daughter of Caroline, also named Caroline. He presented to them what really happened, and clarified what appeared to be misunderstandings left over the years. It was a surprising revelation of the truth, though most mystery fans would have been able to uncover the first level, the actual truth was surprising indeed. The only thing that was unsatisfactory was that throughout the build up of the story, readers would expect the actual culprit to be properly punished, and that did not happen.
Rating:
Summary: Somber but splendid.
Review: Tightly plotted and dark in tone, this little whodunit is one of Agatha Christie's best books. As the original title suggests, there are only five suspects (Five Little Pigs), but don't expect that it is easy to spot the killer.
After artist Amyas Crale dies from poisoning, his wife is hanged for the murder. Their daughter, sent to live in Canada, is now a young adult. Convinced that her mother was innocent, she persuades Hercule Poirot to investigate.
The book adapts very well to a dramatization such as the splendid DVD version. The book's premise calls out for the artistic use of flashbacks which work so well. Music is also skillfully added and camera work, settings and lavish wardrobe products are superb.
Leading the small cast is David Suchet, presenting a Poirot in somber mode in keeping with the desperately sad circumstances. Gemma Jones and (briefly) Patrick Malahide are players familiar to older viewers and amongst the younger players is Rachel Stirling, the daughter of Diana Rigg, and Toby Stephens, a son of Maggie Smith.
Rating:
Summary: She's truly the Queen of Crime.
Review: What a wonderful book, and a great concept. Hercule Poirot is given an interesting case: prove the innocence of a convicted murderess. The only problem is, the crime happened sixteen years ago, and the supposed murderess is dead. Poirot takes on the job, but every piece of evidence points to the woman he's been hired to prove innocent. My eyes were glued to this book. I simply couldn't put it down! It's filled with emotion and suspense, along with a shocking conclusion that could only be done by the Queen of Crime herself, Agatha Christie. I highly reccomend Five Little Pigs.
Rating:
Summary: caught me all thru the night
Review: when an unsolved murder that happened 15 yrs ago,you just couldnt expect other people cracking the mystery and pinpoint the particular murderer after so many years have passed...but in this book...it happens.hercule poirot,using his 'little grey cells' trying to discover the murderer in an ingenious way...you can expect good mystery from this book
Rating:
Summary: Well-written but not my most favorite Christie book
Review: When Caroline Crale is accused for the murder of her husband, Amyas Crale, no one supposes that she could be in any way innocent. After Mrs. Crale dies only one year after being tried and convicted, the murder is laid to rest. But now 16 years later, the Crale daughter, Carla, is given a letter from her mother. Mrs. Crale had written the letter before her death, in which she explicitly says she wasn't guilty of murder. Now Carla is determined to know the truth and hires the best person for the job, the remarkable Hercule Poirot. But can Poirot solve a murder which took place 16 years before? Agatha Christie certainly spins a terrific story revolving around a murder which has been laid to rest for 16 years. Throughout the story we are given different points of views from different characters. This novel truly defines the meaning of 'in the eye of the beholder' since everyone has a different account to tell, a different viewpoint, and a difference in remembering facts. Though Poirot will never have the chance to meet the victim (Amyas Crale) or the supposed murderess (Caroline Crale), with the help of interviewing the people involved long ago. Part One tells about Poirot's interviews with the counsel for the defence, counsel for the prosecution, the solicitors, the police superintendent, and the five witnesses. Then Book Two focuses on the narratives of the five witnesses and the conclusion to the story. Here's a quick introduction to the five witnesses (and suspects!). The title, "Five Little Pigs", refers to these five characters;
Philip Blake - went to market: Best friend to the murdered victim, has good business sense and is a very precise man. Could he have devised the perfect plan to kill?
Meredith Blake - stayed at home: The perfect example of a English country gentleman. Loves nature and has a very quiet temperament, but could he actually be a murderer?
Elsa Greer - ate roast beef. She falls in love with Amyas and finds nothing wrong with stealing him from a lovely wife and daughter. Extremely greedy and selfish, could she kill her lover?
Miss William - got none. A governess in the Crale household, she was soon going to be dismissed from teaching Mrs. Crale's young sister. Also has a distaste for men, and was angry at Amywas for wanting to leave his wife.
Angela Warren - cried all the way home. Disfigured sister of Mrs. Crale, had many fights and arguments with the murdered man. Everyone has a motive, and everyone seems to be hiding something. Who is the murderer and what had exactly taken place on that fateful day of Amyas' death? After reading to almost the conclusion, you'll probably have an idea what had happened. But I most assure, Christie has plenty of surprises and twists and turns for you! "Five Little Pigs" is certainly well-written and should not be missed, but it's not one of my most favorite Christie stories. And some people might find it a bit repetitive though that's the beauty of the whole story, how everything meshes together subtly. I recommend you read "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" if you have never read any of Agatha Christie's mysteries before.
Rating:
Summary: The best Christie nobody knows about
Review: While Five Little Pigs is not nearly as popular as Christie's well-known works like And Then There Were None and Murder on the Orient Express, it is just as well done. Known as a mastermind plotter but a mediocre writer stylistically, Christie does some of her best writing in this book, making evocative but subtle use of literary imagery and symbolism. Though use of 'written' accounts and flashbacks contrasted with present time, Christie also does some of her best character development in this book. You really get a strong, well-rounded sense of the main characters in Five Little Pigs. Beyond just its literary merits, it is also an excellent mystery novel. Many of the clues come in the form of dialogue, and if you interpret them correctly you might arrive at the solution. Pay attention to the literary imagery-- it also contains clues. The book ends powerfully with a moving sense of poetic justice. Most importantly (for a detective novel) the solution comes across truthful, satisfying and gives the sense that the author "played fair" -- she didn't withhold vital information. Because of the character development, Five Little Pigs has the potential to appeal to a wider audience than just mystery fans. Read It! I consider this book to be one of Christie's Top Five Novels.
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