Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie (A Hercule Poirot Mystery, Book 24)

Publication Date: 

May 1942

Genre:

Classic Mysteries/Cozy Mysteries

Series:

Hercule Poirot Mysteries 

Length:

234 pages

Book Description (GoodReads):

It was an open and shut case. All the evidence said Caroline Crale poisoned her philandering husband, a brilliant painter. She was quickly and easily convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Now, sixteen years later, in a posthumous letter, Mrs. Crale has assured her grown daughter that she was innocent. But instead of setting the young woman's mind at ease, the letter only raises disquieting questions. Did Caroline indeed write the truth? And if she didn't kill her husband, who did?

To find out, the Crale’s daughter asks Hercule Poirot to reopen the case. His investigation takes him deep into the conflicting memories and motivations of the five other people who were with the Crales on the fatal day. With his keen understanding of human psychology, he manages to discover the surprising truth behind the artist's death.

My Thoughts:

The title of the book was clever. Poirot labels each suspect as one of the pigs from the nursery rhyme and we see the reasons unfold as each one tells his or her account of what they heard and saw about the murder as well as their thoughts and impressions of the others. 

There are Phillip and Meredith Blake (brothers), Angela (Mrs. Crale's half sister), Angela's governess Cecilia Williams, and model Elsa Greer who is carrying on with the victim prior to his death. Elsa is only a young girl of around twenty who is carefree and unbothered that she is breaking up a marriage. Most of the people involved either love or hate her and some feel she is a manipulator and well aware of what she is doing. Some are unsympathetic to Caroline and feel she deserved what she got....going to prison for killing her husband. 

Caroline's daughter, Carla is not so sure and wants Poirot to find out the truth. He does so in his customary way of interview and reel them in. He spends a lot of time listening to the five people tell their stories and trying to decipher the mental motives behind it all. The truth of course isn't what is seems at first and it will take him patience and time to get to the bottom of things. 

This book was honestly disappointing for me. I found it to be long and tedious. There just wasn't much to the plot. Jealous wife. Daughter determined to clear her mother's name. Saucy young girl with fantasies in her head of the future with a married man who will love her only. It's been done so many times. I absolutely love Poirot, always do. But this story just fell flat and the ending was not that climactic to me. I think as always Christie is a master of human psychology and sets up her characters and their many personal flaws superbly. She really excels with knowing how people operate. I just thought the mystery and crime were pretty substandard and the resolution not all that exciting or jaw dropping. I guess I'm used to a little more "twistiness" in her stories now! 

While I don't recommend skipping this one altogether, it is not one I'd put on my radar if you have a limited time to read Christie books. It felt like she was kind of going through the motions with it. But I got it read and reviewed in January and that was my goal!

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Rebel Empresses: Elisabeth of Austria and Eugenie of France: Power and Glamour in the Struggle for Europe by Nancy Goldstone

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Rebel Empresses, by Nancy Goldstone. She has written several award winning non- fiction history books that I have added to my lists over the years. Many involve some lesser known historical figures such as Catherine de' Medici's daughter, Marguerite de Valois and Joanna of Naples. This one looks interesting and the cover is so pretty. I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week. Happy reading ya'll!

History

February 25, 2025

Book Description courtesy of GoodReads:

When they married Emperors Franz Joseph and Napoleon III, respectively, Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France became two of the most famous women on the planet. Not only were they both young and beautiful—becoming cultural and fashion icons of their time—but they played a pivotal role in ruling their realms during a tempestuous era characterized by unprecedented political and technological change.
 
Fearless, adventurous, and independent, Elisabeth and Eugénie represented a new kind of empress—one who rebelled against tradition and anticipated and embraced modern values. Yet both women endured hardship in their private and public lives. Elisabeth was plagued by a mother-in-law who snatched her infant children away and undermined her authority at court. Eugénie’s husband was an infamous philanderer who could not match the military prowess of his namesake. Between them, Elisabeth and Eugénie were personally involved in every major international confrontation in their turbulent century, which witnessed thrilling technological advances, as well as revolutions, assassinations, and wars.

With her characteristic in-depth research and jump-off-the-page writing, Nancy Goldstone brings to life these two remarkable women, as Europe goes through the convulsions that led up to the international landscape we recognize today.

Death Below Stairs by Jennifer Ashley (A Below Stairs Mystery Book One)

 

Publication Date:

January 2, 2018

Genre:

Cozy Historical Mystery

Series:

A Below Stairs Mystery Book One

Length: 

336 pages

Book Description (GoodReads):

Victorian class lines are crossed when cook Kat Holloway is drawn into a murder that reaches all the way to the throne.

Highly sought-after young cook Kat Holloway takes a position in a Mayfair mansion and soon finds herself immersed in the odd household of Lord Rankin. Kat is unbothered by the family’s eccentricities as long as they stay away from her kitchen, but trouble finds its way below stairs when her young Irish assistant is murdered.

Intent on discovering who killed the helpless kitchen maid, Kat turns to the ever-capable Daniel McAdam, who is certainly much more than the charming delivery man he pretends to be. Along with the assistance of Lord Rankin’s unconventional sister-in-law and a mathematical genius, Kat and Daniel discover that the household murder was the barest tip of a plot rife with danger and treason—one that’s a threat to Queen Victoria herself.

My Thoughts:

Through the story I learned a little more about the Irish/English conflict that has been going on for a very long time. The major plot of the novel centers around the Irish girl, Sinead, who is the victim and how her personal life might relate to an attempt on the Queen's life. We get to know a bit about the group "the Fenians" who are anarchists bent on bringing down British government if they can. Kat and Daniel are slowly drawn into this orbit unwillingly as they try to uncover who killed Sinead. 

The author also adds the fun "extra" of weaving recipes and cooking norms for the time throughout the story. I don't cook much but marvel at those who do. And especially a hundred or more years ago in a huge manor house. Kat is always creating delicious dishes despite the lack of resources or time and anxiety over the murder. It's a wonder!

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Queen's Favourite: A Novel of the Seymour Sisters by Raymond Wemmlinger

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring,The Queen's Favourite, by Raymond Wemmlinger. This is his third book. His others include one about John Wilkes Booth's niece and the other about Lady Margaret Clifford's life during Mary Tudor's reign. 

This book tells the story of the Seymour sisters, Jane and Catherine, during Queen Elizabeth's time. The book covers are gorgeous and the subjects somewhat lesser known people so I find that interesting. I hope you've found a book you can't wait for this week. Happy reading ya'll!!

Historical Fiction

February 28, 2025

Book Description courtesy of GoodReads:

Two sisters plot to change the fate of their family…

England, 1558

Sixteen-year-old Catherine Seymour has always idolised her elder sister Jane. As a child Jane had been groomed to be queen, to marry her cousin King Edward, and since his death she has been determined to restore her family’s claim to throne.

Jane had spent time at Queen Mary’s court but she has now returned home to Hanworth Park to the delight of Catherine and their brother Ned.

To their surprise, Jane brings with her Lady Catherine Grey, sister of Jane Grey, the ill-fated nine-day queen, and heiress to the throne after Princess Elizabeth.

Jane confides in Catherine that she aims to bring about a betrothal between Lady Grey and Ned, so that their brother and his children have a chance to lay claim to the throne.

But everything changes when Mary suddenly dies, and Elizabeth succeeds as queen. Now the sisters must seek favour with a new monarch.

Luckily, Elizabeth’s succession proves advantageous for the Seymour family. Jane is chosen as a lady in waiting and immediately becomes a favourite.

Can Jane still bring her plan to fruition? Will it mean betraying the new queen?

Or will rumours of a romance between Queen Elizabeth and one of her courtiers change everything for the Seymour sisters…?

THE QUEEN’S FAVOURITE is a biographical historical novel of the Seymour sisters, Lady Jane Seymour and Lady Catherine Seymour, set during the Tudor period at Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth’s court.

Villainy in Vienna by Kelly Oliver (A Fiona Figg Mystery Book 3)

 

Publication Date:

January 20, 2022

Genre:

Cozy Historical Mystery

Series:

Fiona Figg Mystery Book 3

Length: 

260 pages

Book Description (GoodReads):

1917 Vienna.

File clerk turned British agent Fiona Figg is more comfortable wearing a fake mustache than a ballgown.
When a royal ball ends with a royal body in the middle of the dancefloor, Fiona trades her dancing slippers for practical oxfords and sets out to investigate.
As she tracks her nemesis, the Black Panther, from Vienna to the Austrian countryside, a hunting accident makes her rethink her loyalties.
Can Fiona prevent the Black Panther from striking again, save her own skin, and find a decent cup of tea, all before the enemy's emperor realizes she's a spy?

My Thoughts:

Having read these books in order (a feat for me!) book 3 was a lot of fun now knowing the characters better. While there wasn't a ton of murders or super intricate details going on to solve in this one, the political intrigue combined with the quirky personas involved made it a good book. Once again, Fiona is hot on the trail of her nemesis, notorious spy Fredrick Fredricks. He is always one step ahead of her though and continues to get in her head and see through her disguises. While Fiona is not the least bit interested in him romantically and only has eyes for fellow British spy Archie, she admits Fredricks is handsome and charming in his own way.

She is in Vienna to keep an eye on him and other players on the British side, and report any suspicious behavior to the British war office back home. When the story begins she attends a royal ball where a death occurs, setting things in motion. She befriends an eccentric woman, helps find the culprit in the kidnapping of the lady's dog, and eventually, has to outsmart some of the shady male diplomats around her while trying not to draw too much attention to herself. We meet the real Emperor and Empress of Austria which I found to be a wonderful side story.

I think that is what has kept me coming back to this series. The author does a good job of weaving in real historical characters and World War I information while keeping things light and humorous. I learned a bit about the war again, Vienna's royal society during the time, and was reminded that Fredrick Fredricks was indeed a real person. The next set of books in this series take on a second main character, Kitty, and I will pick up with it soon. They are a good break from serious books.