Murder in a Pig's Eye is set in contemporary rural New Hampshire. Boris Tureen, Bodie's father, has moved the family from Boston to the archly named hamlet of Lower Bacpane so that he can pursue a career there as editor of the tiny town's weekly newspaper. Although thematic concerns are lightly treated here, the novel's setting speaks to the significant "back-to-theland" movement of the 1960s and the desire of many city dwellers to flee the competition and hubbub of city life.

The pastoral setting also permits Hall to fill the novel's landscape with a variety of animals, including Yellow Beauty, an amazingly soporific horse loved passionately by Gracie; Sport, the Tureens' adopted dog, who is permanently loyal to his original family and despises every member of his new family; and champion pig Gloria, Henry Siler's porcine pride and joy.