<P> "Lamb to the Slaughter" demonstrates Dahl's fascination with horror (with elements of black comedy), which is seen in both his adult fiction and his stories for children . The story was supposedly suggested to Dahl by his friend Ian Fleming: "Why don't you have someone murder their husband with a frozen leg of mutton which she then serves to the detectives who come to investigate the murder?". </P> <P> Mary Maloney, a housewife devoted to making a sweet home for her husband, and heavily pregnant with their first child, awaits her husband Patrick's return home from his job as a local police detective . Mary is very much content in her marriage, and believes her husband to be as well . When he returns, Mary notices that he is uncharacteristically aloof and assumes that he is tired from work . After having more to drink than usual, Patrick reveals to Mary what is making him act strangely . Although it is not explicitly said, one can infer that Patrick asked for a divorce as he states that "she will be looked after". </P> <P> Seemingly in a trance, Mary fetches a large leg of lamb from the deep - freezer in the cellar to cook for their dinner . Patrick, his back to Mary, angrily calls to her not to make him any dinner, as he is going out . While he is looking out the window, quite suddenly, as if she is acting without thinking, Mary strikes Patrick in the back of the head with the frozen lamb leg, killing him instantly . </P> <P> Mary realises that Patrick is dead and begins, rather coldly and practically, to ponder what must happen now . There is the baby to consider, she knows what the law does with a murderer, she will not risk the child sharing her fate . She owes it to the child to escape discovery if she can . She prepares the leg of lamb that she used as a weapon and places it in the oven to somewhat destroy the evidence . Then she considers an alibi . After practising a cheerful mask and some innocuous remarks to make in conversation, she visits the grocer and chats blandly with him about what to make for Patrick's dinner . Upon her return to the house and to the room where her husband lies dead on the floor, she acts surprised and meaningfully cries . She then calls the police . </P>

Story where woman kills husband with leg of lamb
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