What do you think?
Rate this book
Parker Pyne #6
The Case of the Middle-Aged Wife - a Parker Pyne Short Story
Maria Packington suspects her husband of having an affair. She is sure that a little minx is making him look like a fool. In an attempt to revitalise her marriage, she responds to an advertisement in the personals. "Are You Happy? If Not Consult Mr. Parker Pyne." Later that morning, she nervously knocks on his door at 17 Richmond Street in London.
Her life soon undergoes a rapid transformation.
Librarian's note: this entry relates to the short story, The Case of the Middle-Aged Wife. Collections and the other stories by the author are located elsewhere on Goodreads. The Parker Pyne series includes 14 short stories. Entries for the stories can be found by searching GR for: a Parker Pyne Short Story.
Librarian's note #2: the story was published in the print anthologies Parker Pyne Investigates and Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective in 1934 but it first appeared in Women's Pictorial in 1932.
Librarian's note #3: this is #1 of the 14 stories according to their entry order in Parker Pyne Investigates with the last two being the additional stories, Problem at Pollensa Bay, and The Regatta Mystery.
Her life soon undergoes a rapid transformation.
Librarian's note: this entry relates to the short story, The Case of the Middle-Aged Wife. Collections and the other stories by the author are located elsewhere on Goodreads. The Parker Pyne series includes 14 short stories. Entries for the stories can be found by searching GR for: a Parker Pyne Short Story.
Librarian's note #2: the story was published in the print anthologies Parker Pyne Investigates and Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective in 1934 but it first appeared in Women's Pictorial in 1932.
Librarian's note #3: this is #1 of the 14 stories according to their entry order in Parker Pyne Investigates with the last two being the additional stories, Problem at Pollensa Bay, and The Regatta Mystery.
28 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 1932
12 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,816 books75.3k followersAgatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
April 12, 2023
A consultant with special talents helps a woman whose husband is stepping out with his young secretary.
Basically, she gets a makeover and some confidence.
Oh, and a younger man to go out to dinner with.
And you (almost) feel sorry for her husband when it's all over.
But not quite.
Plus, there's a bit of a twist with the younger man that makes you sorta dislike the consultant.
But it's still a good, solid short story by Christie.
You can also read this as part of the short story collection Parker Pyne Investigates
Basically, she gets a makeover and some confidence.
Oh, and a younger man to go out to dinner with.
And you (almost) feel sorry for her husband when it's all over.
But not quite.
Plus, there's a bit of a twist with the younger man that makes you sorta dislike the consultant.
But it's still a good, solid short story by Christie.
You can also read this as part of the short story collection Parker Pyne Investigates
October 23, 2021
It was an entertaining and agreeable short story. SYNOPSIS: "Maria Packington suspects her husband of having an affair. In an attempt to revitalise her marriage, she responds to an ad from Mr. Parker Pyne – who promises to provide solutions to unhappiness. Maria's life soon undergoes a rapid transformation…"
August 19, 2018
Nice Story about a middle aged Couple.
Nice way to get out of the trouble.
Nice way to get out of the trouble.
September 17, 2024
I have read almost all Christie’s Poirot and Marple but never Parker Pyne and I was pleasantly surprised.
Statistics is everything for Pyne and I guess in this case somebody else beside Maria at the end become an entry in this quasi investigator’s casebook. Too bad Miss Lemon didn’t have more input into this charade, it would have been interesting to hear what she would say.
This is a short story written in 1932 and unfortunately it feels dated. One thing that bothers me is that in Parker Pyne’s story Lemon is young but three years later in a Poirot’s short story Lemon is in her forties. Oh well! Will continue reading them, the main character is fascinating.
Statistics is everything for Pyne and I guess in this case somebody else beside Maria at the end become an entry in this quasi investigator’s casebook. Too bad Miss Lemon didn’t have more input into this charade, it would have been interesting to hear what she would say.
This is a short story written in 1932 and unfortunately it feels dated. One thing that bothers me is that in Parker Pyne’s story Lemon is young but three years later in a Poirot’s short story Lemon is in her forties. Oh well! Will continue reading them, the main character is fascinating.
November 5, 2025
3 Stars. I like this guy Parker Pyne. He's a fixer, a person who helps others deal with a problem. Sometimes fixing can involve illegalities, as with a political fixer where money may change hands. Not with Pyne. This is the third Christie short story I've read featuring him, and each one makes me smile! He finds ways to resolve the problem in innovative but legal ways. I read it in Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective published by Dell in 1971. It first came out in 1932 in a magazine. Mrs. Packington is anxious that her husband George may be having an affair. Or about to. He has started to see his secretary after work; Maria Packington calls her, "A nasty sly little cat." But she is uncertain what to do. It's at that moment that she notices Parker Pyne's ad in the paper offering his help to readers if they are not happy. That old expression comes to mind, "nothing ventured, nothing gained" and she goes to meet Pyne. He transforms her, new hair style, new makeup, new outfits, and adds the interest of a younger man. Then he fixes it to ensure George sees the new Maria out for the evening too. All for a huge fee mind you! An enjoyable 16 pager. Three stories down, 11 to go. (Jul2021/No2025)
December 27, 2017
A good little short story by Agatha Christie about a cheating husband and his sweet wife. But when the selfish husband sees his wife can play the same game, well ....read it ... enjoyable read!
3.5 enjoyable stars
3.5 enjoyable stars
November 19, 2023
I prefer her other characters.
November 2, 2020
This was just about as perfect as it gets.
Audiobook
30 minutes 12 seconds
Audiobook
30 minutes 12 seconds
March 30, 2025
a little funny and sharp, you have given an unhappy woman what every woman needs—a romance. a woman tears a passion to pieces and gets no good from it, but a romance can be laid up in lavender and looked at all through the long years to come. poor claude! his morals.
July 29, 2021
4 stars for being a good short story. Such an interesting book - you think you have someone figured out and then they completely change (specifically Claude). You think they're unhappy about xyz and then it turns out it's about something else entirely. Christie is great at keeping things lively, it's a fun story to read.
The first time I wrote a review for this book, I asked: "(also is the Miss Lemon secretary in this book also the Miss Lemon secretary for Hercule Poirot bc that's so cool. And genius.)" and apparently it is! I love how Christie pulls characters from other books and writes them into short stories, it makes the world seem very 3D and real, as you interact with people from other "parts" of Christie's Poirot or Marple world.
The first time I wrote a review for this book, I asked: "(also is the Miss Lemon secretary in this book also the Miss Lemon secretary for Hercule Poirot bc that's so cool. And genius.)" and apparently it is! I love how Christie pulls characters from other books and writes them into short stories, it makes the world seem very 3D and real, as you interact with people from other "parts" of Christie's Poirot or Marple world.
December 12, 2021
Good short story
May 5, 2021
A cute story of a middle aged woman distressed over her husbands attention to his secretary. She calls upon Mr. Pyne who sets her up with a complete makeover and has her keeping company with a dashing younger man. When they accidently (on purpose?) run into her husband and his secretary one evening, her husband realizes what a fool he has been and suggests a trip away, just the two of them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2021
Charming little short. Not a mystery in the most traditional sense, but still delightful.
December 19, 2022
Ah, rating short stories out of five isn't easy :')
This is my first Parker Pyne story so I believe an introduction is necessary. Parker Pyne is many things, but mostly he's someone who makes unhappy people happy. Nothing else about him really matters. If one is unhappy, one simply has to pay him a little visit (and spend a little cash) to get it fixed.
In this particular story, Parker Pyne is consulted by Mrs. Packington whose husband is spending a bit too much time with his typist. To say anything more would be to spoil, I feel, so that'll have to suffice.
This is a short story, even in the context of short stories; it's only 17 pages long. It's nothing revolutionary or remarkable, almost a slice of life—a marriage cracking at its foundation, a disloyal spouse, and the sad case of humans always wanting what they can't or don't have but not wanting what they already do have. But I think this is what makes it so clever. Christie's written about things that are mundane but raw, giving up elaborate plot in favour of simple accuracy. But what little she's written she's written well.
I enjoyed this very much.
This is my first Parker Pyne story so I believe an introduction is necessary. Parker Pyne is many things, but mostly he's someone who makes unhappy people happy. Nothing else about him really matters. If one is unhappy, one simply has to pay him a little visit (and spend a little cash) to get it fixed.
In this particular story, Parker Pyne is consulted by Mrs. Packington whose husband is spending a bit too much time with his typist. To say anything more would be to spoil, I feel, so that'll have to suffice.
This is a short story, even in the context of short stories; it's only 17 pages long. It's nothing revolutionary or remarkable, almost a slice of life—a marriage cracking at its foundation, a disloyal spouse, and the sad case of humans always wanting what they can't or don't have but not wanting what they already do have. But I think this is what makes it so clever. Christie's written about things that are mundane but raw, giving up elaborate plot in favour of simple accuracy. But what little she's written she's written well.
I enjoyed this very much.
September 28, 2025
Short stories are typically not my thing but I decided to give this a chance and it was an enjoyable quick read but also not the best thing I have ever read. I have tried a few different Agatha Christie stories now and I’ve learned that I do enjoy the stories but they tend to be 3⭐️ reads for me which I know to some may seem like a not so good thing but on my rating scale it is still a good thing it means I enjoyed the book quite a bit but it’s not a favourite and something I may not ever think about after this point but I may still consider reading again.
December 18, 2024
A hilarious little story.
August 17, 2024
I wasn’t a huge fan of this one. It didn’t really capture my attention. I did enjoy some parts but not enough to make me really get into the story.
December 11, 2025
eponymous-ey sentence:
p5: "...I think there is a young lady concerned in the case--perhaps a young lady in your husband's office."
How quaint--a professional gigolo. I guess somebody has got to do it at some point.
Read as part of the collection Parker Pyne Investigates.
p5: "...I think there is a young lady concerned in the case--perhaps a young lady in your husband's office."
How quaint--a professional gigolo. I guess somebody has got to do it at some point.
Read as part of the collection Parker Pyne Investigates.
August 8, 2018
Another great short story by Agatha Christie except it is not a mystery. It is about human nature and Agatha Christie uses this feature in many of her stories to help the detective arrive at the answer. Mr. Parker Pyne knows all about human nature and he nows runs a business that helps people with problems to resolve the problem most satisfactory.
A middle-aged wife reads Mr. Pyne's business ad in the newspaper and decides to go see if he may be able to help her. After all, his ad said he could help someone who was not happy. The wife has been married to the same man for many years. As a good wife, she helped him become successful in all those often overlooked ways that a good wife does and a husband forget about when it suits him. She is unhappy because he has been taking one of his employees out dancing and to eat on a regular basis. If the wife wasn't such a nag she would understand the poor girl cannot afford to have a nice meal or an evening of fun with a brother to support and she is such a charming, attractive girl that a man feels younger just by being around. Older women are so petty and jealous.
When the nagging wife goes to talk to Mr. Pyne, he tells her Henan fix her unhappiness but it will cost her two hundred guinea. Now really--he charges too much! Until she thinks about how seldom her husband takes her out to eat and how he complains he is too tired to take her dancing when he knows she really enjoys it. So maybe Mr. Pyne's solution is worth the price . So she pays and by following his instructions, she finds that her happiness has returned and life with her husband is changed for the better.
This was a delightful little tale that is different than most of Agatha Christie's other stories. Somehow, I enjoyed the change of pace while still enjoying her writing style. Another great story by a fabulous author.
A middle-aged wife reads Mr. Pyne's business ad in the newspaper and decides to go see if he may be able to help her. After all, his ad said he could help someone who was not happy. The wife has been married to the same man for many years. As a good wife, she helped him become successful in all those often overlooked ways that a good wife does and a husband forget about when it suits him. She is unhappy because he has been taking one of his employees out dancing and to eat on a regular basis. If the wife wasn't such a nag she would understand the poor girl cannot afford to have a nice meal or an evening of fun with a brother to support and she is such a charming, attractive girl that a man feels younger just by being around. Older women are so petty and jealous.
When the nagging wife goes to talk to Mr. Pyne, he tells her Henan fix her unhappiness but it will cost her two hundred guinea. Now really--he charges too much! Until she thinks about how seldom her husband takes her out to eat and how he complains he is too tired to take her dancing when he knows she really enjoys it. So maybe Mr. Pyne's solution is worth the price . So she pays and by following his instructions, she finds that her happiness has returned and life with her husband is changed for the better.
This was a delightful little tale that is different than most of Agatha Christie's other stories. Somehow, I enjoyed the change of pace while still enjoying her writing style. Another great story by a fabulous author.
February 28, 2018
Parker Pyne spent thirty-five years in a government office compiling statistics, and he's turned all that knowledge into a rather delightful business aimed at making people happy. He is a keen observer and has a vast understanding of human psychology, and with the help of a few assistants, it seems that he can work miracles. The delight for me is that the way Pyne conducts his business makes him almost appear to be a magician and the way he plans, organizes, and conducts his solutions reminds me of one of my favorite movies, George Roy Hill's The Sting. An added bonus in the story is the appearance of Miss Lemon as Pyne's secretary. Any Christie fan will be able to tell you that Miss Lemon is better known as Hercule Poirot's personal assistant.
It seems to me that Parker Pyne and Miss Marple have quite a lot in common. They are both keen observers and have a vast knowledge of human nature. The only real difference between them is that Pyne gets paid for his skills. I enjoyed this story so much that I bought an entire collection of Parker Pyne short stories, and I'll be letting you know what I think of them in the near future.
It seems to me that Parker Pyne and Miss Marple have quite a lot in common. They are both keen observers and have a vast knowledge of human nature. The only real difference between them is that Pyne gets paid for his skills. I enjoyed this story so much that I bought an entire collection of Parker Pyne short stories, and I'll be letting you know what I think of them in the near future.
August 22, 2021
Wow. These characters did not age well.
December 24, 2020
Interesting story!
The concept is new to me. I have never read such stories or known about the existence of such business before.
The writing style is different from other Agatha Christie's books and series. Although, it is too early for me to judge since this is the first book I read in the 'Parker Pyne Series'. I do have to point that there is so little introduction to our Mrs. Maria Packing and her background, we notice a direct dive into the story and the main events.
Mr. Parker Pyne, I am not a real fan of him yet I am willing to read more about him, he has a little case of ego-centralism going on despite being a scientist (from what I gathered). I hope to see this aspect play in further stories. Mrs. Packington, on the other hand, has a personality like described by her husband... sort of... but her sense of wander and wonder that develops at the end is what could lead her to find true happiness. I would like to also applause the young gigolo/ lizard that grows a brain and decides to possibly quit his job.
The concept is new to me. I have never read such stories or known about the existence of such business before.
The writing style is different from other Agatha Christie's books and series. Although, it is too early for me to judge since this is the first book I read in the 'Parker Pyne Series'. I do have to point that there is so little introduction to our Mrs. Maria Packing and her background, we notice a direct dive into the story and the main events.
Mr. Parker Pyne, I am not a real fan of him yet I am willing to read more about him, he has a little case of ego-centralism going on despite being a scientist (from what I gathered). I hope to see this aspect play in further stories. Mrs. Packington, on the other hand, has a personality like described by her husband... sort of... but her sense of wander and wonder that develops at the end is what could lead her to find true happiness. I would like to also applause the young gigolo/ lizard that grows a brain and decides to possibly quit his job.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
August 26, 2016The Case of the Middle-aged Wife
Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple are old friends of mine. This short story by Ms. Christie, features Parker Pyne as her new main character. I found this story delightful and light, but definitely veering away from the normal Christie mystery. I didn’t find the mystery or the murder in this book.
Parker Pyne has a strange business; to make others who are unhappy, happy. The unfulfilled wife, Mrs. Packington, answers an ad that Parker put in the newspaper; “Are you happy? If not, contact Mr. Parker Pyne, 17 Richmond Street." Our Mrs. Packington nervously goes to see Mr. Pyne and is immediately swept away on a fantasy affair set up just for her.
This story was an extra fast read and written in Agatha Christie’s style, though not in the same genre. I give this story 4 stars and would suggest it to anyone over thirteen years old, as it is very “clean” and entertaining.
Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple are old friends of mine. This short story by Ms. Christie, features Parker Pyne as her new main character. I found this story delightful and light, but definitely veering away from the normal Christie mystery. I didn’t find the mystery or the murder in this book.
Parker Pyne has a strange business; to make others who are unhappy, happy. The unfulfilled wife, Mrs. Packington, answers an ad that Parker put in the newspaper; “Are you happy? If not, contact Mr. Parker Pyne, 17 Richmond Street." Our Mrs. Packington nervously goes to see Mr. Pyne and is immediately swept away on a fantasy affair set up just for her.
This story was an extra fast read and written in Agatha Christie’s style, though not in the same genre. I give this story 4 stars and would suggest it to anyone over thirteen years old, as it is very “clean” and entertaining.
December 29, 2013
Maria Packington is unhappy. She believes her husband, George, is having an affair and she calls on Parker Pyne to help her find out.
This was my first Parker Pyne mystery and it was quite okay. It was interesting to see that Parker didn't investigate the husband, but more so assumed the husband was guilty and tried to bring George and Maria back together. More like Parker Pyne, Detective and Love Specialist!
I found it interesting that Parker Pyne has a assistant called "Miss Lemon" and so does Hercule Poirot (as told in The Mystery in the Spanish Chest). I'm not sure if this was intentional on the part of Agatha Christie, but something to note as I listen to these stories.
Hugh Fraser is the narrator and as I've said before he's flawless as a narrator of these mysteries and I can't wait to listen to him again.
This was my first Parker Pyne mystery and it was quite okay. It was interesting to see that Parker didn't investigate the husband, but more so assumed the husband was guilty and tried to bring George and Maria back together. More like Parker Pyne, Detective and Love Specialist!
I found it interesting that Parker Pyne has a assistant called "Miss Lemon" and so does Hercule Poirot (as told in The Mystery in the Spanish Chest). I'm not sure if this was intentional on the part of Agatha Christie, but something to note as I listen to these stories.
Hugh Fraser is the narrator and as I've said before he's flawless as a narrator of these mysteries and I can't wait to listen to him again.
March 22, 2019
Parker Pyne is hands down my favorite Agatha Christie character, I love this chaotic good man! In this one, a middle aged woman, who has wasted her good years being the house wife behind a successful man, is miserable because now that they have money to do enjoy life, he's showering it on a younger prettier girl. The age old story tale.
She seeks Parker's help and he sets a young man in her path, to give the husband for some sweet sweet payback. What follows, is an excellent read with an interesting end. I love how he kills killed two birds with one stone.
She seeks Parker's help and he sets a young man in her path, to give the husband for some sweet sweet payback. What follows, is an excellent read with an interesting end. I love how he kills killed two birds with one stone.
May 27, 2021
Ok soooooooo yea
Such a weird story! Definitely dated in terms of the way the main characters marriage functions (but it was written in the early 1930's...)
I appreciated the character Claude. He had a good story arc and at the end I liked him.
The consultant/Investigator comes across pretty much like someone who is not a nice person at all. But the collection of short stories are all about him. Not sure how it will all turn out but I'll try the next story...
2.5/5
Such a weird story! Definitely dated in terms of the way the main characters marriage functions (but it was written in the early 1930's...)
I appreciated the character Claude. He had a good story arc and at the end I liked him.
The consultant/Investigator comes across pretty much like someone who is not a nice person at all. But the collection of short stories are all about him. Not sure how it will all turn out but I'll try the next story...
2.5/5
May 2, 2017
Parker Pyne Investigates
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
October 24, 2018
The narration is awesome but there the mystery quotient is missing from the story. Being the first short story of Parker Pine, Agatha was trying more on building his image as a happiness expert rather than the surprise elements in the short tale. Nevertheless, it worth reading and I enjoyed the characters.
July 4, 2017
I usually don't like when the man get away with his betrayal, yet the way she but it making him the one who is pathetic makes it up to the whole thing. I really loved every feeling this story gave me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews