The Pig Did It

September 10, 2007
Unhappy in love, New York creative writing instructor Aaron McCloud, 32, arrives in Western Ireland’s County Kerry to suffer amid its natural beauty in this very funny sixth novel from Caldwell (The Uncle from Rome
). Aaron stays with his aunt Kitty, who makes a living rewriting the classics (her version of Oliver Twist features lots of repentance), but Aaron’s wallow in self-pity is interrupted by a lost pig that attaches itself to him. When the pig digs up a human skeleton buried in the backyard, Kitty identifies the remains as the missing Declan Tovey and blames the pig’s mischievous owner, Lolly McKeever. But Lolly won’t admit to owning the pig, let alone killing Declan, and Aaron, for his part, is attracted to Lolly and suspicious of his aunt, who had her own reasons for wanting Declan dead. The stage is set for an Irish country comedy of manners in which darts, pints, pigs and burial plots all play a part. Caldwell’s shaggy pig story, the first of a projected trilogy, puts farcical doings into lilting language and provides a payoff that is as unexpected as it is satisfying.

The best thing about this book is its clever title. Aaron McCloud retreats to Ireland to recuperate from a one-sided romance. It's no wonder--he's pathetic and unlikable. There's no real plot--just repetitive conversations and descriptions. Even worse, Irish stereotypes--drunkenness, fights, and wakes--abound. Narrator Chris Patton simply multiplies the misery with his lackadaisical reading. All his character portrayals are one-dimensional and irritating. It's a blessing to reach the conclusion, which is unsatisfactory--possibly because this is Volume One of The Pig Trilogy. However, only those who've not listened to this will try another. There are far more worthy Irish novels. S.G.B. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

Starred review from August 1, 2011

Aaron McCloud goes to Ireland to mope by the sea. Immediately upon his arrival, he is cursed with the Pig, who serves as guide and instigator for the ensuing revelries of Aaron; his aunt and fellow writer, Kitty; her sworn enemy, Kieran; and the local pig woman, Lolly. These four victims of all Irish cliches encounter mystery, murder, love, ghosts, and no end of witty banter in this dryly entertaining trilogy. Caldwell (Uncle from Rome) has created a smart-funny tribute to the Irish that does not take itself too seriously and neither should readers. Chris Patton differentiates the characters well and slips easily between American and Irish accents. Highly recommended for well-read fans of the Emerald Isle and those who enjoy works of similar voice, such as Jasper Fforde's. ["In the lilting style of an Irish storyteller, Caldwell offers a hilarious ramble through a small Irish village," read the review of the Bloomsbury hc The Pig Did It, LJ 10/1/07.--Ed.]--Lisa Anderson, Metropolitan Community Coll. Lib., Omaha

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