Parker Pyne Investigates
Parker Pyne Investigates is a short story collection written by Agatha Christie and first published in the UK by William Collins and Sons in November 1934. Along with The Listerdale Mystery, this collection did not appear under the usual imprint of the Collins Crime Club but instead appeared as part of the Collins Mystery series. It appeared in the US later in the same year published by Dodd, Mead and Company under the title Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective. The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence and the US edition at $2.00.
The collection comprises twelve of her fourteen stories featuring detective James Parker Pyne; the two remaining stories, "Problem at Pollensa Bay" and "The Regatta Mystery" were later collected in The Regatta Mystery in 1939 in the US and in Problem at Pollensa Bay in the UK in 1991.
The book also features the first appearance of the characters of Ariadne Oliver and Miss Felicity Lemon, both of whom would go on to have working relationships with Hercule Poirot in later books.
Plot introduction
James Parker Pyne is a retired government employee who considers himself to be a "detective of the heart". Advertising his services in the "Personal" column of The Times, he works alongside his secretary Miss Lemon, novelist Ariadne Oliver, handsome "lounge lizard" Claude Luttrell and disguise artist Madeleine de Sara.The first six stories deal with Pyne solving cases in England, while the second six stories detail Pyne's vacation, where he hopes not to have to do detective work only to end up helping others anyway.
Plot summaries
The Case of the Middle-aged Wife
Maria Packington contacts Mr Parker Pyne seeking advise about her husband George, who started seeing a young typist named Nancy, but claims there is nothing in their relationship. After paying the hefty fee of two hundred guineas upfront, Mrs Packington is sent to beauty treatment, dress-fitting and elegant lunch, where she is introduced to young and good-looking Claude Lutterell. Something of a whirlwind romance of ten days follows which culminates when Maria and Claude cross paths with George and his girl at a dance. George is jealous and shocked at his wife's behaviour and a couple of days later the two are reconciled. Claude breaks off with Maria, confessing to past life as gigolo using women, and promises to reform and keep in touch through yearly advertisements in newspaper. Mr Pyne, who arranged the adventure with Claude, his associate, comments on his success, as it will give Mrs Packington long-lasting memories of a romance.The Case of the Discontented Soldier
Major Charles Wilbraham, previously in service in East Africa, calls at Parker Pyne’s office to find remedy to his boredom in retirement. Pyne arranges for him to visit a house in Friar’s Lane, where the major rescues a young woman, Freda Clegg, from an attack. She was lured into the ambush under the pretense of meeting with a lawyer regarding matter of supposed legacy from her late father. The major deduces that the attackers sought some missing documents, which prompts the duo to search and find a hidden document in Swahili describing a cache of ivory. Next night, the duo are lured separately into the same house and imprisoned in a flooding cellar. They escape and the major reveals that the document was safely sent away. The happy pair gets engaged and moves to Africa. Pyne meets with Mrs Oliver to congratulate her for designing a successful adventure for two of his clients.The Case of the Distressed Lady
Mrs Daphne St. John, having lost heavily at a casino, steals a diamond ring from her friend Lady Naomi Dortheimer to cover her debts. After pawning the real ring and replacing it with a paste copy, she later inherits money, retrieves the original, and seeks Parker Pyne’s help to return it discreetly. Pyne arranges for his associates, Claude Luttrell and Madeleine de Sara, to attend a Dortheimer party as dancers and switch the rings. When Mrs St. John returns to Pyne’s office, he denounces the woman as Ernestine Richards, Lady Dortheimer’s secretary, who had attempted to use Pyne to steal the genuine ring by supplying the detective with a copy. Fortunately, Pyne did not fall for her ruse and he declines to charge her, noting that he failed to make her happy.The Case of the Discontented Husband
Reginald Wade is a mild-mannered sports enthusiast, while his wife Iris likes art and has become friends with the cultured Sinclair Jordan. Insisting that he changes his ways, the wife poses six-month divorce ultimatum. Parker Pyne advises Wade to make his wife jealous through a staged flirtation. Pyne arranges for his associate, Madeleine de Sara, to visit the Wades for the weekend.Initially amused, Iris grows resentful as Madeleine openly flatters her husband and provokes tension between the couple. The situation escalates when Jordan also becomes infatuated with Madeleine, leading to further conflict. Following Pyne’s plan, Wade declares his intent to leave with Madeleine and marry her. However, the scheme backfires when Wade returns to Pyne’s office confessing genuine love for Madeleine. Iris soon arrives, resulting in a chaotic confrontation. Pyne admits the failure, observing that the outcome should have been foreseen.
The Case of the City Clerk
Mr Roberts, a middle-aged clerk with a content but uneventful life, consults Parker Pyne seeking adventure. Though unable to pay much, Roberts is accepted as a client after Pyne warns him of possible danger. Pyne collaborates with government contact, Mr Bonnington, who needs secret plans transported to Geneva following the murder of Professor Petersfield. With no trusted agents available, Pyne selects Roberts for the task.Roberts is told he carries information about the Romanov crown jewels and travels first-class to Geneva, where a bearded man instructs him to continue to Paris. On the train, Roberts meets a glamorous woman claiming to be pursued by a Russian named Vassilievitch. She entrusts him with the “jewels,” hidden in a stocking. When she disappears overnight, Roberts rescues her from the supposed assailant and escorts her safely to Paris. After evading pursuit, they fly to England and deliver the jewels to “Count Stepanyi”, who reveals the woman as “Grand Duchess Olga”; both are revealed to the reader as Pyne’s associates.
In reality, the mission successfully delivered government papers under the guise of an unrelated adventure. Mr Roberts receives a discreet payment and satisfaction from having experienced genuine excitement.
The Case of the Rich Woman
Mrs Abner Rymer, a former farmgirl who became wealthy thanks to her late husband’s invention, feels isolated and dissatisfied with her new life. Seeking happiness, she consults Parker Pyne. A week later, Pyne’s associate Madeleine de Sara, posing as a nurse, brings her to “Dr Constantine,” who claims her illness is psychological and gives her a drugged drink. She awakens in a farmhouse, called “Hannah” by the residents, and is told she has lived there for years. Newspapers report that Mrs Rymer has been committed to a nursing home, allegedly suffering delusions of being a servant named Hannah Moorhouse.Believing she has fallen victim of a soul-transfer process, Mrs Rymer resigns herself to her new identity and gradually finds fulfillment in rural life. She befriends and later becomes engaged to a widowed farmhand, Joe Welsh. When Pyne later reveals the ruse—explaining that “Hannah” never existed and the entire scenario was staged—Mrs Rymer decides to continue living her new, simpler life. She has saved up a modest sum to buy a small farm, directing the remainder of her fortune to charity.
Have You Got Everything You Want?
On the Orient Express, Elsie Jeffries meets Parker Pyne and seeks his help after discovering a note among her husband’s papers suggesting that “just before Venice would be the best time” to act against her. During the journey, a supposed fire causes commotion, and a Slavic woman is found in Elsie’s compartment. Afterward, Elsie discovers her jewelry missing. The suspect is detained in Venice, but the jewels remain unfound.In Constantinople, Pyne reunites with Elsie and her husband, Edward Jeffries, and discreetly returns the jewelry to her without explanation. Later, Pyne reveals Edward had taken the real jewels before leaving London, substituting paste copies to stage a theft at a point where recovery was impossible. Edward admits he needed the money to pay off Mrs Rossiter, a blackmailer who had tricked him into sleeping in the same bed as her in West Indies. Pyne advises him to confess but withhold the truth about the scam, suggesting his wife will be pleased to believe she has reformed him.
The Gate of Baghdad
While traveling from Damascus to Baghdad across the Syrian Desert, Parker Pyne joins a group of passengers that includes several Royal Air Force officers, Mr Hensley of the Baghdad public works department, Captain Smethurst, General Poli, and others. Before departure, Pyne discusses with Poli the case of a missing crooked financier, Samuel Long, and later encounters a troubled Smethurst, who hints at a moral conflict.During the journey, the motor coach becomes stuck in desert mud overnight, and Smethurst is found dead in his seat. Evidence, including a sand-filled sock, suggests murder. Although no external injuries are first apparent, Pyne’s investigation reveals a small stab wound near the collar. Piecing together overheard remarks and inconsistencies, Pyne concludes that one of the RAF officers, “Dr Loftus,” is actually Samuel Long in disguise, having killed Smethurst with a medical instrument to prevent exposure.
Long admits buying the identity of a doctor from the real Loftus. Although Smethurst, a former schoolmate, recognised him, he promised to delay reporting him until Baghdad due to their earlier relationship. Immediately after confessing, he collapses and dies—his cigarette laced with prussic acid —thus escaping formal justice.