Lamb to the Slaughter

About this story

A darkly humorous and suspenseful short story about Mary Maloney, a devoted housewife whose life is turned upside down when her husband, Patrick, unexpectedly tells her he wants a divorce. Shocked and distraught, Mary impulsively kills him with a frozen leg of lamb. She then cleverly covers up her crime by cooking the leg of lamb and serving it to the investigating police officers, who unknowingly eat the murder weapon. The story explores themes of betrayal, domestic tension, cunning, and irony, highlighting how appearances can be deceiving.