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

 

Juanita

 

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

 

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)

Dramatised
Murder on the Orient Express

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.

A Christie Classic
Murder on the Orient Express

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.