Parker Pyne Investiages
Parker Pyne Investigates
First published in 1934, the same year as the Poirot novel 'Murder on the Orient Express', this is a collection of short stories with a lesser-known protagonist Parker Pyne. It was also published in America under the title 'Mr Parker Pyne, Detective'. Given that is was published in the same year as one of Christie's most famous novels it may not be surprising that fewer people are familiar with Parker Pyne and he can be sometimes a bit glossed over. Parker Pyne is a protagonist created by Agatha Christie who decides he wants to help out those with troubles of the heart. Parker Pyne is a retired statistician but turns his hand to acting as 'agony Uncle' and places an advert in the newspaper for those needing his help to get in touch as a self-proclaimed 'detective of the heart'. Sure enough, there are plenty of people who approach him. This collection well worth a read and offers a different angle from Christie as the tales are more of relationships and 'affairs of the heart' than crime (although Poirot fans will know the two often go hand in hand!) It's fun and light-hearted and a quick tea break book to keep you entertained.
The collection include a series of 12 short stories – including one called ‘Death on the Nile’, not be confused with the ‘Death on the Nile’ Poirot novel. Two further stories featuring Parker Pyne were later written and published in other short story collections as rewrites of Poirot short story originals – Problem at Pollynesa Bay and The Regatta Mystery.
The stories cover the various applications he has for those wanting to meet that special someone or need help as they’re concerned about their significant other. They’re fun and a bit whimsical and worth a read for Christie fans as a bit of a change to the murder mysteries – so if you’re a fan of Christie just for her murder mysteries be prepared. There are some crimes in the stories – not all – these are many more tales of human nature, passions, and relationships rather than a crime, murder, and betrayal! Both Miss Lemon and Ariadne Oliver make guest appearances (most will know these from the Poirot novels and short stories)
Below is a full list of the characters from the Parker Pyne short stories:
"Are You Happy? If Not, Consult Mr Parker Pyne"
Story | Character | Description |
The Case of the Middle-Aged Wife | Parker Pyne | Ex government agent who worked in the statistics office and is now a philanthropist helping people find happiness |
Felicity Lemon | Employee of Parker Pyne (as well as Poirot) | |
Maria Packington | Lady who seeks Parker Pyne’s help, married to George | |
George Packington | Husband of Maria | |
Claude Luttrell | A good-looking man and associate of Parker Pyne | |
Nancy | A young typist George Packington is interested in | |
The Case of the Discontented Soldier | Parker Pyne | Ex government agent who worked in the statistics office and is now a philanthropist helping people find happiness |
Felicity Lemon | Employee of Parker Pyne (as well as Poirot) | |
Ariadne Oliver | Novelist whom Parker Pyne works with and friend of Hercule Poirot | |
Major Charles Wilbraham | Recently retired soldier looking for some more excitement in his life | |
Freda Clegg | Lady who Major Charles Wilbreham helps after hearing her being attacked | |
Madeleine de Sara | Employee of Parker Pyne who acts as a ‘femme fetale’ for him in his cases | |
Mr Reid | A lawyer from Melbourne who informed Freda of her inheritance | |
Mrs Parkins | Freda’s landlady | |
Percy | Man, who attacks Freda | |
Jerry | Second man who attacks Freda | |
Lorrimar | Man who works with Mrs Oliver | |
Johnny | Young boy engaged by Mrs Oliver to help her | |
The Case of the Distressed Lady | Parker Pyne | Ex government agent who worked in the statistics office and is now a philanthropist helping people find happiness |
Felicity Lemon | Employee of Parker Pyne (as well as Poirot) | |
Daphne St John | Lady who seeks Parker Pyne’s help after to replace a diamond ring she stole | |
Sir Reuben Dortheimer | Husband of Naomi Dortheimer, a school friend of Daphne | |
Lady Naomi Dortheimer | Old school friend of Daphne, married to Sir Ruben Dortheimer | |
Claude Luttrell | Employee of Parker Pyne | |
Madeleine de Sara | Employee of Parker Pyne who acts as a ‘femme fetale’ for him in his cases | |
Michael |
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Juanita |
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The Case of the Discontented Husband | Parker Pyne | Ex government agent who worked in the statistics office and is now a philanthropist helping people find happiness |
Reginald Wade | Young married man who comes to Parker Pyne to help him in his marriage to Iris Wade | |
Iris Wade | Wife of Reginald, an art lover and enamoured with Sinclair Jordan | |
Mrs Massington |
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Madeleine de Sara | Employee of Parker Pyne who acts as a ‘femme fetale’ for him in his cases | |
Sinclair Jordan | A modern art fan and friend of Iris Wade | |
The Case of the City Clerk | Parker Pyne | Ex government agent who worked in the statistics office and is now a philanthropist helping people find happiness |
Mr Roberts | 48-year-old city clerk looking for a bit of adventure | |
Madeleine de Sara | Employee of Parker Pyne who acts as a ‘femme fetale’ for him in his cases | |
Lucas Bonnington | Friend of Parker Pyne’s who needs someone to transport secret plans for him | |
Professor Peterfield | An old forgetful professor who was murdered at the Bon Voyager restaurant | |
Maitland | An employee of Lucas Bonnington who is not available to complete the mission | |
Carslake | Another agent working for Lucas Bonnington who was also unavailable | |
Hooper | Suspected double agent | |
The Case of the Rich Woman | Parker Pyne | Ex government agent who worked in the statistics office and is now a philanthropist helping people find happiness |
Mrs Amelia Rymer | A rich widow dissatisfied with life who turns to Parker Pyne for help | |
Abner Rymer | Deceased husband of Amelia Rymer | |
Claude Luttrell | Employee of Parker Pyne whom he often uses to seduce women | |
Madeleine de Sara | Employee of Parker Pyne who acts as a ‘femme fetale’ for him in his cases | |
Ariadne Oliver | Friend of both Parker Pyne and Hercule Poirot, a novelist | |
Dr Antrobus | Engaged by Parker Pyne to use an ‘experiment’ on Amelia Rymer in the guise of Dr Claudius Constantine | |
Joe Welsh | Middle-aged farm hand, also a widow | |
Mrs Gardner | Owner of a farm in Cornwall with her husband | |
Mrs Roberts | Woman who came to help at the farm’s name | |
Mr Gardner | Owner of a farm in Cornwall with his wife | |
Have You Got Everything You Want? | Parker Pyne | Ex government agent who worked in the statistics office and is now a philanthropist helping people find happiness |
Elsie Jeffries | Attractive young woman travelling on the Orient Express | |
Madame Subayska | Slavic woman who is accused of stealing the jewels | |
Edward Jeffries | Husband of Elsie Jeffries | |
Mrs Rossiter | Woman who asked Edward Jeffries for help in a hotel in the West Indies | |
The Gate of Baghdad | Parker Pyne | Ex government agent who worked in the statistics office and is now a philanthropist helping people find happiness |
Netta Pryce | Young good-looking girl travelling with her Aunt Miss Pryce and fellow passenger of Parker Pyne’s on the trip to Baghdad | |
Miss Pryce | Aunt of Netta Pryce also travelling to Baghdad | |
Flight Lieutenant O’Rourke | Royal air force officer travelling with two colleagues and fellow passenger on the trip to Baghdad | |
Flight Lieutenant Williamson | Royal air force officer travelling with two colleagues and fellow passenger on the trip to Baghdad | |
Squadron Leader Loftus | Royal air force officer and doctor in the RAF travelling with two colleagues and fellow passenger on the trip to Baghdad | |
Hensley | Works in the Public Works department of Baghdad and is an acquaintance of Captain Smethurst | |
Captain Smethurst | Old Etonian gentleman and fellow passenger travelling to Baghdad | |
Samuel Long | Crooked financier on the run | |
General Poli | Italian military officer and fellow passenger of Parker Pyne’s travelling to Baghdad | |
Mr Pentemian | Son of Madame Pentemian, an American, both travelling to Baghdad | |
Madame Pentemian | American woman travelling with her son to Baghdad on the same journey as Parker Pyne | |
The House of Shiraz | Mr Parker Pyne | Ex government agent who worked in the statistics office and is now a philanthropist helping people find happiness |
Herr Schlagal | Young German pilot who falls in love with one of his passengers | |
Lady Esther Carr | English lady and passenger of Herr Schlagal travelling with her companion | |
Muriel King | Companion to Lady Esther Carr | |
The Pearl of Price | Mr Parker Pyne | Ex government agent who worked in the statistics office and is now a philanthropist helping people find happiness |
Caleb Blundell | American millionaire travelling on the same journey as Parker Pyne | |
Carol Blundell | Daughter of Caleb Blundell travelling with him | |
Jim Hurst | Secretary to Caleb Blundell also travelling with him | |
Sir Donald Marvel | A British MP on the same journey as Parker Pyne | |
Doctor Carver | An archaeologist on the same journey as Parker Pyne travelling to Petra | |
Colonel Dubosc | A Frenchman and fellow traveller on the journey to Petra | |
Death on the Nile | Mr Parker Pyne | Ex government agent who worked in the statistics office and is now a philanthropist helping people find happiness |
Sir George Grayle | Gentleman travelling on the cruise down the Nile with his family | |
Lady Ariadne Grayle | Wife of George Grayle, a bad tempered and difficult woman to live with | |
Pamela Grayle | Niece of Lady Ariadne Grayle | |
Basil West | Personal secretary to Sir George Grayle | |
Elsie MacNaughton | Nurse to Lady Ariadne Grayle travelling with the family | |
Mohammed | Dragoman on the SS Fayoum which the party is travelling down the Nile on | |
The Oracle at Delphi | Mr Parker Pyne | Ex government agent who worked in the statistics office and is now a philanthropist helping people find happiness |
Mrs Willard J. Peters | A rich widow travelling with her Son Willard in Greece | |
Willard Peters | Son of Mrs Willard Peters | |
Aristopoulous | A jeweller in Athens | |
Mr Thompson | Staying at the same hotel in Greece | |
Arty mother | ||
Arty daughter | ||
Balding middle-aged man also staying at the hotel in Delphi |
From the same year...Murder on the Orient Express (Audiobook and novel information below)
A BBC Radio 4 dramatised edition which transports you to the Islanbul Callais coach - the sounds of the train steam, the wind and the chill all make this - along with the cast including John Moffat as Poirot - a great listen.
One of Agatha Christie's most famous novels and a go to Murder Mystery. We recommend reading this one early as it's alluded to in other Poirot novels such as Dead Man's Folly. Caught in a snow drift with a murderer on the train...perfect as a winter read too.