The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories: Featuring Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Mr. Parker Pyne

Hercule Poirot #21

by Agatha Christie, Hugh Fraser (Reading), Joan Hickson (Reading)

There's a body in a trunk; a dead girl's reflection is caught in a mirror; and one corpse is back from the grave, while another is envisioned in the recurring nightmare of a terrified eccentric. What's behind such ghastly misdeeds? Try money, revenge, passion, and pleasure. With multiple motives, multiple victims, and multiple suspects, it's going to take a multitude of talent to solve these clever crimes.






In this inviting collection, Agatha Christie enlists the services of her finest—Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Parker Pyne—and puts them each to the test in the most challenging cases of their careers.

Genres: Mystery, Agatha Christie, Short Stories, Fiction, Classics, Audiobook, Crime

Audiobook

First published June 1, 1939

About the author

Agatha 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)

Reviews

[Flo Camus · Rating 4 out of 5]

[3.6⭐] 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙖 𝙚𝙣 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙖 es una recopilación de cuentos de Agatha Christie publicada en 1939. Este libro reúne una variedad de misterios, algunos más clásicos en su estructura y otros que se alejan de la fórmula habitual de la autora. Si bien no es un libro que destaque por tener un hilo conductor claro, ofrece relatos con giros interesantes y personajes característicos del universo Christie. 


Para esta reseña, he decidido opinar de cada cuento en particular. 

𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙖 𝙚𝙣 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙖:
Este fue mi primer encuentro con Parker Pyne y, aunque su metodología me pareció interesante, eché de menos la estructura clásica de los detectives de Christie. 
El cuento no es un thriller en el sentido estricto de la palabra, pero sí mantiene el interés gracias a un desarrollo dinámico y un giro final que, si bien no es tan impactante como las novelas características de la autora, funciona dentro del relato. Es una historia ligera y entretenida, sin llegar a ser de las más memorables de Christie. 

𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤 𝙚𝙣 𝙡𝙖𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙨:
A diferencia de Poirot o Miss Marple, Pyne no se basa en el razonamiento deductivo, sino en su comprensión de la naturaleza humana, lo que hace que la resolución se sienta distinta. Aun así, el cuento es entretenido y mantiene la curiosidad hasta el final.  

𝙀𝙡 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙛𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙚 𝘽𝙖𝙜𝙙𝙖𝙙:
Aquí volvemos a la fórmula más clásica de Christie, con Poirot y Hastings en acción. Es el típico caso que uno espera de la autora; con pistas bien colocadas, una resolución ingeniosa y la presencia de su detective más famoso. Disfruté mucho de reencontrarme con esta dupla, especialmente después de los relatos anteriores, que se alejan un poco de este estilo.  

¿𝘾𝙤́𝙢𝙤 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙪 𝙟𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞́𝙣?:
Este cuento me resultó predecible y poco atractivo. Se siente casi como una repetición de 𝙀𝙡 𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙙𝙤, con demasiadas coincidencias: una anciana que tiene miedo por su vida, una carta de advertencia dirigida a Poirot (que suena incoherente), Poirot que no llega a tiempo para evitar la muerte, una herencia sospechosa, la misma manera de matar y la misma naturaleza del asesino. Es el relato más flojo de la recopilación, lo más seguro es que haya escrito este cuento y luego lo haya convertido en novela.

𝙄𝙧𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙤: 
La historia está muy bien construida, con una intriga que se mantiene hasta el final y una resolución que realmente sorprende. Es el tipo de relato que hace que valga la pena leer toda la recopilación. Sin duda, uno de los mejores.

𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖 𝙪𝙣𝙖 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙖:
Lo que más me gustó de este cuento es su estilo narrativo. Se siente diferente a los otros relatos y tiene un aire más original. Miss Marple, con su aguda observación y su intuición certera, demuestra una vez más su destreza a la hora de resolver un caso.

𝙀𝙡 𝙨𝙪𝙚𝙣̃𝙤:
Este es, sin duda, el crimen más complejo que he leído en esta recopilación. La forma en que se presenta la historia, la manera en que las pistas se van entrelazando y el desenlace lo convierten en un relato muy bien construido, pero imposible de acertar.

𝙀𝙣 𝙪𝙣 𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙟𝙤:
Un cuento atípico dentro de la obra de Christie y, en mi opinión, el mejor que ha escrito en este formato. Tiene un aire inquietante y un desenlace que pone los pelos de punta. Aunque intuía hacia dónde iba la historia, no dejó de impactarme. Me recordó a relatos como 𝙇𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙙 𝙙𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨 y 𝘼𝙭𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙩𝙡 de Cortázar, por la forma en que juega con la percepción de la realidad.  

𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙖 𝙚𝙣 𝙚𝙡 𝙢𝙖𝙧:
Me gustó especialmente la referencia a Sherlock Holmes, lo que le da un toque especial al relato. Además, sentí que este caso tenía el potencial de convertirse en una novela más extensa. La ambientación, los personajes y la intriga están muy bien construidos, pero el formato de cuento hace que todo se resuelva demasiado rápido.  


Finalmente, puedo decir que 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙖 𝙚𝙣 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙖 es una recopilación variada, con relatos que van desde los más clásicos hasta otros que exploran nuevas formas narrativas dentro del universo de Christie. No todos los cuentos son igual de buenos, pero hay varios que destacan por su originalidad y complejidad. Hay altibajos, pero sigue siendo una lectura entretenida que ofrece un buen equilibrio entre misterio y entretención.  

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good collection of Christie's shorts.
Although most feature Poirot, you do get Marple, Pyne, and one stand-alone mystery.
I have linked slightly longer reviews to each of the stories you are interested in one in particular, mostly in an effort to make sure I'm not personally missing any.

The Regatta Mystery
This one is the headliner starring Parker Pyne, and it has a cool story to go along with the actual story. It originally started out a few years before as Poirot and the Regatta Mystery. Maybe the real mystery is why Christie changed it up?

But the gist of the story is that a jewel goes missing from a small party after a teenage girl in attendance bets a diamond merchant that she knows a way to steal his good luck charm. After she beats him and wins the bet, it appears that The Morning Star has actually been stolen. She tearfully explains how she did it but is then baffled by it not being where she hid it.
It appears that someone in the room took advantage of the situation and stole the diamond for real!



The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest
Poirot helps a young widow prove that the man she loves didn't kill her husband.
This is a twisty one! And yet, if the plot seems familiar, it is.
This story was later expanded into the Mystery of the Spanish Chest.



How Does Your Garden Grow?
Did a greedy maid poison her mistress?
Poirot receives a letter from an elderly woman who wants his advice. Intrigued by her phrasing, he asks Miss Lemon to send a letter back agreeing to come to her home. Before he can see her, he receives word that she has died.
Poisoned!
As an interesting side note, this is the 1st appearance of Miss Lemon.



Problem at Pollensa Bay
Parker Pyne helps a momma out.
And like most of the help he gives his clients, it's not the help they asked for but the help that they actually need.



Yellow Iris
This was the basis for the novel Sparkling Cyanide, but the plot was changed up quite a bit from that one to this one. It was still very recognizable, though, because the widower gathers everyone for a creepy reenactment of the night his wife committed suicide and/or was murdered.
POISON!?



Miss Marple Tells a Story
I loved the way Miss Marple narrated the story in a hilarious humblebrag kind of way.
When a lawyer brings his client to Jane and asks her to listen to the story of the events leading up to him finding his wife dead in their hotel room, the client in question thinks it's a waste of time.
However, just as her lawyer friend hoped, the fluffy old lady manages to see a few things that everyone else missed and ends up saving his bacon.



The Dream
A millionaire tells Poirot that he's dreaming of suicide every night.
And to make matters more strange, he always kills himself at an oddly specific time in his office in this dream.
Has someone hypnotized him in the hopes that he will go mad and do himself in? Or is he secretly miserable and actually wants to end it all?



In a Glass Darkly
Once again, Christie has her heroine getting strangled by the man who claims to love her.
What was wrong with you, Agatha?!
A young man has a vision of a beautiful woman being strangled in the room next to his while at a house party.
Can he save her from her fate?



Problem at Sea
Who killed the obnoxious Mrs. Clapperton?
It should have been her henpecked husband, but he has an airtight alibi as he was on shore with two cute young women. It looks as though it was one of those dirty natives snuck into her room and killed the woman while she slept, then riffled her room looking for things to steal.
But that doesn't make sense to Poirot.



Recommended for fans of Agatha Christie and cozy mysteries.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be clear upfront, I read these stories nearly two decades ago as a teenager. I'm about to embark upon another read of them but as a consolidated anthology, so... I wanted to properly document that I've read them twice. I vividly recall this particular collection, at least the Marple stories, because they helped develop my desire to write mysteries.

Marple is charming, if not obtuse at times, but she is always kind until shoved too far by a murderer. I cannot imagine what today's mysteries would be like without her pushing the envelope in terms or forcing readers to think critically about the specific words being chosen in a book.

This one combines a few of her series. Marple has always been my preference over Poirot, but he is a top fave all around of mine too. I've scene these stories in various tv stories too, so it seems my life is all about Agatha Christie! :)

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entertaining bunch of Agatha Christie short stories featuring Miss Marple, Parker Pyne, and – my personal favorite – Hercule Poirot. My opinion on these Agatha Christie story collections is always the same, and this one is no exception: I don't find Christie's stories to be quite as delightful as her full-length novels, but they're still worth a read if you're a fan.

My favorite of the bunch was probably “In a Glass Darkly,” which tells the tale of a man who briefly sees into the future and witnesses a potential murder (this story was also featured in Miss Marple's Final Cases, despite the fact that it's not actually a Miss Marple story).

3.75 stars, rounded up. If you're a fan of Dame Agatha, definitely give these a read. If you're new to Christie's works, still give these a read, but perhaps read one (or more) of her full-length novels first – they'll give you a more robust introduction to her talent.

[Francesc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una lectura muy agradable.
Novela de relatos cortos resueltos por los personajes más famosos de la literatura de Christie: Parker Pyne, Marple y Poirot. Cada investigador tiene su propio estilo deductivo. Hay algún relato independiente donde no están presentes ninguno de estos personajes.
El título de la novela nace del primer relato que se desarrolla en Mallorca, en un pequeño hotel de Pollença.
Es una lectura ligera y amena.

------------------------------

A very enjoyable read.
A novel of short stories solved by Christie's most famous characters: Parker Pyne, Marple and Poirot. Each investigator has his own deductive style. There are some independent stories where none of these characters are present.
The title of the novel comes from the first story, which takes place in Mallorca, in a small hotel in Pollença.
It is a light and enjoyable read.

[Werner · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Dame Agatha Christie was perhaps best known for her mystery novels, she was an able author of short fiction as well. This collection of nine stories, first published in book form in 1939, showcases that side of her talent. I've read it twice; the dates given below are for the reread, done with a number of reading buddies in one of my Goodreads groups, but the previous read was, I think, over 30 years ago.

Christie's most famous series sleuth, Hercules Poirot, is the protagonist of a majority (five) of the tales here. Two feature another of her series characters, Parker Pyne; Miss Jane Marple narrates another, and one, "In a Glass Darkly," has no detective character at all, amateur or professional. That one, centered around a strange premonitory vision, is more a story of the uncanny than a mystery (Christie wrote in the former vein elsewhere at times, as well); it was actually one of my favorites in her entire short-story corpus that I've read so far, despite the fact that I guessed the twist from the clue she "hides" in plain sight well before it's revealed. (Since I have very little conscious memory of most of the stories, including this one, from the earlier read, I doubt if I was aided by any subconscious recollection.)

Besides the two Parker Pyne stories here, that character appears only in Christie's story collection Parker Pyne Investigates (1932), which I've never read. He's not as well-known a character in the Christie canon as Poirot or Marple, and I personally didn't find him as well-developed or appealing as the latter two (though, in fairness, the material here doesn't afford a lot of scope for development). Wikipedia provides an article which fleshes him out more, based mostly on the earlier book, here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_... . (I had picked up the impression from one of these stories that he was into phrenology, but that's not really suggested here, and there's no evidence that I can find that it's suggested in any other story, either.) One of his adventures here, "Problem at Polensa Bay," set on the Spanish island of Majorca, doesn't involve crime at all; the problem is just plain old human prejudice, and the mysteries plumbed are those of love and human nature. (It's also, along with "Problem at Sea," one of the only two stories here not set in England.) The title story finds him applying his talents to the solution of a very ingenious jewel theft.

All six of the other stories deal with murder. "Miss Marple Tells a Story" is a rare (and possibly unique) instance in the Marple canon where Christie uses first-person narration; I had my doubts about that going in, but I have to say it works well, and affords us a rewarding glimpse into Miss Marple's gentle and self-effacing mind, which we wouldn't otherwise get in as personal a way. This story involves a well-planned murder in a hotel suite; as it's written, there's a discrepancy in the treatment of a key physical detail in the suite's layout, but Christie herself apparently didn't catch it when she proofread, and presumably many readers don't either. As it happened, I'd seen adaptations of all of the Poirot stories here, except "The Dream," on the old PBS Mystery! series, starring David Suchet; so I already knew the identity of the murderers, and the basic M.O.s of the crimes. (And in the case of "The Dream," I very quickly divined one key hidden fact in the first few pages, well before Poirot did.) But that didn't keep me from enjoying the stories; the pleasure is in Christie's artistic narration, and in following Poirot's deductive process. (Then too, the adaptations differ from the original stories in various ways, and it's fun to compare them.)

All in all, these are solidly entertaining reads for the mystery fan who appreciates the short format. They're not ground-breaking, and don't grapple with deep questions, in the manner of great fiction; but they are good fiction, telling enjoyable stories and telling them well.

[Ian M. Pyatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with the majority of short story books, there are stories that range from good to bad to in-between.
This is the case here. I don't rate each story separately on this site, but my rating is an my own average of all stories.

I really liked The Regatta Mystery, Baghdad Chest, Garden Grow, The Dream and Problem at Sea. I was expecting them all to have a murder mystery in them, so didn't understand why Pollensa Bay (I didn't even find this one entertaining) and Glass Darkly were included (though this one was good)

[Rachel (Kalanadi) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parker Pines and Miss Marple were new to me in this collection. Good short and sweet mystery stories, and dapper, polite Hercule Poirot is always great.

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars for The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (audiobook) by Agatha Christie read by a full cast.

It was fun getting a little taste of all of Agatha Christie’s characters.

[Antu Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

ইম্পসিবল ক্রাইম যাকে বলে ঠিক তা নয় কিন্তু অপরাধগুলো খুব সহজে ব্যাখ্যা করা গেলেও অপরাধীর কাজের মধ্যে একটা প্যাঁচ এমন থাকবে যেটার কোনো সহজ ব্যাখ্যা নেই। এখানে অপরাধী শনাক্তকরণ তুলনামূলক সহজ। কিন্তু ওই প্যাঁচটাই আগাথা ক্রিস্টির ছোটগল্পের ম্যাজিক্যাল টাচ!
এই সংকলনে পোয়েরোর পাঁচটা, মিস মার্পলের একটা, পার্কার পাইনের দুটো আর একটা ছোট অলৌকিক গল্প আছে। পার্কার পাইনের সঙ্গে প্রথম পরিচয় এখানেই। পার্কার পাইনের গল্প রোজেটা মিস্ট্রিকে গোয়েন্দা কাহিনী বলা গেলেও পরবর্তী গল্পটা ঠিক তা নয়। এই সিরিজে নতুনত্ব আছে তবে খুব ভালো লাগেনি। পোয়েরোর গল্পগুলো বরাবরের মতোই দারুণ ছিল। দ্য ড্রিম, দ্য মিস্ট্রি অব বাগদাদ চেস্ট গল্পদুটো একদম ফার্সক্লাস! আর ওই অলৌকিক গল্পটাও খুব ভালো লেগেছে।

[Aishu Rehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genius plots and beautiful stories are part of Christie's legacy. A must read.

Titles: The Regatta Mystery, The Mystery of the Bagdad Chest, How Does Your Garden Grow?, Problem at Pollensa Bay, Yellow Iris, Miss Marple Tells a Story, The Dream, In a Glass Darkly, Problem at Sea.

[Cleo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read January 24, 2026

A compilation of short stories from the queen of crime, featuring Mr. Parker Pyne, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple and an unknown character. All the stories are engaging and well thought out. Would recommend for all Christie fans!

[Rodrigo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entretenido.

[Obsidian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this collection though some of the stories I read in different anthologies or Kindle singles. The only ones totally new to me were the Parker Pyne stories. 

Per usual, since this is a collection of short stories, I gave my overall rating (5) first and then you can read below on the individual ratings for each story.

The Regatta Mystery (4.5 stars)-This story follows a young man being who fears that many believe that he stole a priceless diamond. He goes to Mr. Parker Pyne for help who apparently by story alone was able to figure out who did what and how. The main reason why this story tickled me is I was able to figure out what happened fairly easily (this never happens usually) and Mr. Pyne seems to be an English version of Poirot which I liked.

The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest (5 stars)-I read this one before in another collection. This story follows Poirot. He is asked to help a widow who wants to figure out how her husband was found stabbed to death in a friend's chest in his parlor. There's a lot of interesting characters in this one, but I like how Poirot solves it. 

How Does Your Garden Grow (4.5 stars)-I also read this one before, it follows Poirot again. He gets sent a mysterious letter and then the writer ends up dead. Poirot decides to visit the dead woman's home to figure out what happened. What makes me laugh though is we get Poirot missing Hastings and saying that his secretary, Ms. Lemon does not have Hastings capacity for thinking up (wrong) ideas for Poirot to pick apart. I thought it had a relatively neat solution. 

Problem at Pollensa Bay (5 stars)-I fell out laughing at the end and also shaking my head throughout. This one also stars Mr. Parker Pyne who is trying to just enjoy a vacation. He gets dragged into a situation between a mother and son though. I honestly thought the character of Basil was not worth all the bother. But what do I know.

Yellow Iris (3.5 stars)-I also read this one before, and it stars Poirot. This one honestly feels so convoluted that I don't think I liked it the first time through either. Or maybe the one I read was lengthier? This one feels fairly short compared to the one I read in the Poirot anthology. Now I am going to have to dig that thing out and see later. 

Miss Marple Tells a Story (5 stars)-So this is why this considered a Miss Marple story. We finally get one starring her. Miss Marple tells her nephew Raymond and his wife Joan about how she ended up saving a young man who was accused of murdering his wife. 

The Dream (5 stars)-I read this one before and I do like how Poirot figures out the solution to this one. 

In a Glass Darkly (5 stars)-This one weirdly does not showcase Pyne, Poirot, or Miss Marple. Instead we get into what I like to call, Christie's paranormal stories. I have read other collections that she did and you can see that Christie liked paranormal/ghost stories. This one follows an unnamed man who has a premonition of a woman being strangled to death by a man with a long scar down his cheek. When he meets his hosts sister, he realizes that it is she he has seen and he thinks her finance may be the one to do it. But the story has lot of fun twists to it. The story takes place before the first world war and some time after it. 

Problem at Sea (4.5 stars)-This one ends on a Poirot story. I always feel so sorry for the character of Miss Ellie Henderson at the end of this one. 

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a re-read for me but first time in English (except for Yellow Iris, which I have read 3 times, in Portuguese and English). Some stories were published in other compilations/publications.

I’m only rating each story and sharing some publication details.

This compilation was entertaining but it is not the best one (I much prefer “Midwinter Murder”, published in 2020, which I rated 5 stars).

1. “The Regatta Mystery” was first published as “Poirot and the Regatta Mystery” in the USA in the Chicago Tribune, May 3, 1936, and then in Strand Magazine, June 1936. It first appeared in its current form in the American book The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories, published by Dodd, Mead, June 1939. (3 stars) ⭐️⭐️⭐️
2. “The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest” (published in 1932. It was later expanded into “The Mystery of the Spanish Chest” for the book “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding and a Selection of Entrées). A Poirot short story (3 stars) ⭐️⭐️⭐️
3. “How Does Your Garden Grow” - this story appeared in the Ladies Home Journal in 1932, and was not published in book form until 1939 in the US collection The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories. It was finally published in the UK in 1974 in the UK collection Poirot's Early Cases. In 1991 it was adapted for TV and starred David Suchet as Poirot. The adaptation included the characters of Hastings (Hugh Fraser), Inspector Japp (Philip Jackson) and Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran). A Poirot short story (3 stars) ⭐️⭐️⭐️
4. “Problem at Pollensa Bay” was first published in Strand Magazine, November 1935, and then in the USA as “Siren Business” in Liberty, September 5, 1936. (2 stars) ⭐️⭐️
5. “Yellow Iris” was first published in The Strand, July 1937, starring Poirot, and in 1947 it was extended to “Sparkling Cyanide”, but presenting Colonel Race instead of Poirot. (3 stars) ⭐️⭐️⭐️
6. “Miss Marple Tells a Story” This story was published in Home Journal in 1935 under the title Behind Closed Doors. Miss Marple solved the puzzle from her dining room, rather than her drawing room, because “in early spring I think it is so wasteful to have two fires going.” It was unusual for an Agatha Christie story because it was initially commissioned for radio, before being printed in a magazine, and was read out by Agatha Christie (who hated public speaking) in 1934 on the BBC. Miss Marple Tells a Story is included in collections The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (US, 1939)and Miss Marple's Final Cases (UK, 1979) (3 stars) ⭐️⭐️⭐️
7. “The Dream” was first published in the USA in the Saturday Evening Post, October 23, 1937, then in The Strand, February 1938. The story first appeared in a book collection in The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding, 1960. It was adapted for TV starring David Suchet in the first season of Agatha Christie’s Poirot in 1989, and included the characters of Hastings (Hugh Fraser), Japp (Philip Jackson), and Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran). 3 stars) ⭐️⭐️⭐️
8. “In a Glass Darkly” was first published in the USA in Collier’s, July 1934, and then in Woman’s Journal, December 1934. However, its very first public airing was on April 6, 1934 when Agatha Christie read the story on BBC Radio’s National Programme. No recording of this 15-minute performance is known to exist. (3 stars) ⭐️⭐️⭐️
9. “Problem at Sea” was first published in the USA in This Week, January 12, 1936, then as “Poirot and the Crime in Cabin 66” in The Strand, February 1936. (3 stars) ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[OonaReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories. Fun who-dun-it's from Agatha Christie. Miss Marples, Hercule Poirot, Mr Parker Pyne. The writing and references are dated but trying to figure it out before the sleuth... well I never did! Fun read. Beach read. Rainy day read.

[Anissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Regatta Mystery is my first instance of reading about Parker Pyne. He may be more memorable a character in other stories but here he feels rather generic. It can't be easy to be compared to Poirot or Marple (or even Tommy and Tuppence Bereseford). Still, I liked Pyne and it was a solid mystery with a good solution. I also quite enjoyed his handling of a bit of a domestic issue in Problem at Pollensa Bay. I got to learn a bit more about Pyne as a person and he showed himself to be compassionate but not indulgent and I liked that. I don't know how many other works I'll come across Pyne but I look forward to it.

I'm not sure why The Regatta Mystery was chosen to be the lead story (perhaps to have the neat cover here) but not everything needs to have Poirot as the pull. I enjoyed reading the rest of the stories and got in quite a few chuckles at Captain Hastings descriptions of Hercule's preening and redoubtable ego and powers of deduction. It's got to be part of Hercule's charm and why he's so very loved.

This is a good collection of shorts by Christie and I can cross off more of her work as "Read" in my quest to get all of her works under my skull eventually. Recommended for fans of Christie and also for those who are looking to get in on Christie and want to wade in with short stories first.

[Jack Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars. Three of Christie's stars lead the way in the nine stories here. There are two Parker Pyne entries, actually the first two I've ever read. He appears in only 14 stories, but apparently everyone in London England knows his little ad in the personal section of "The Times." It says, "Are you happy? If not consult Mr. Parker Pyne." Superb advertising. In one case he is at a dinner when a valuable jewel disappears. In the other he referees the relationship between an engaged young man and his mother who is concerned about the young woman's suitability for her precious son! Miss Marple only appears once of the nine, "Miss Marple Tells a Story." She is consulted by a lawyer for his client about his pending murder charge. She finds the answer. There are also five Poirot mysteries with the highlights being "Yellow Iris," and "Problem at Sea." In the first case Poirot saves a woman's life; in the other, he's too late but finds a way to solve the impossible. For the last story, "In a Glass Darkly," the lead character is not even named. It's a touch of horror and supernatural fiction. Possibly the best of the lot. There's variety and something for everyone. (March 2021)

[AnnaG · Rating 3 out of 5]

This set of short stories is somewhat cobbled together consisting of Poirot, Miss Marple & Parker Pyne stories. If you are a Christie aficionado, it's an interesting read as some of these stories have the beginnings of other books. However if you are a more casual fan or just getting into Christie, it's a rather disjointed read.

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 9 stories in this collection are:

1. The Regatta Mystery,
2. The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest,
3. How Does Your Garden Grow,
4. Problem at Pollensa Bay,
5. Yellow Iris,
6. Miss Marple Tells a Story,
7. The Dream,
8. In a Glass Darkly, and
9. Problem at Sea.

This collection is like Christie’s version of a greatest hits sampler pack — no two stories are alike, and the detectives tag in like it’s Murder Avengers Assemble.

You’ve got Poirot, Parker Pyne, Miss Marple, and even the mysterious Harley Quin making cameo appearances. It’s chaotic in the best way.

The title story, The Regatta Mystery, was originally a Poirot case but gets a Parker Pyne remix here — and the vibes are immaculate: stolen diamonds, seaside mischief, and more twisty turns than a dance floor at a summer gala.

What do you look for in the book?

1) Parker Pyne is the underrated MVP — imagine if a self-help columnist and a detective had a baby and fed it plot twists for breakfast.

2) Poirot shines in stories like Problem at Sea and How Does Your Garden Grow?, where he unearths dark secrets with flair and hair oil.

3) One story (The Love Detectives) features Harley Quin, Christie’s most surreal creation — part enigma, part emotional therapist, part walking plot twist.

4) Wow to the variety of the tales!! This isn’t just murder after murder. You get theft, deceit, romantic sabotage, and even some light existentialism with cocktails. It’s Christie testing different storytelling gears — and she nails most of them.

So, final verdict? While it may not be as iconic as The Mysterious Affair at Styles or The ABC Murders, this collection is perfect for the short-attention-span sleuth.

Each story is like a crisp little biscuit: some sweet, some sharp, all satisfying.

Plus, where else do you get a detective lineup this diverse?

[Manuel Alfonseca · Rating 2 out of 5]

ESPAÑOL: Este libro se publicó en español con el título "Problema en Pollensa". Contiene nueve historias de Poirot, Miss Marple y Parker Pyne. La mejor, en mi opinión, es "Iris amarillo", aunque este cuento me recuerda mucho "El pudding de Navidad", y también "Cianuro espumoso", por otros motivos. En cambio, el cuento "Problema en el mar" no me gustó, porque Poirot, además de descubrir al asesino, actúa como juez y verdugo y le provoca la muerte. El final es un alarde de cinismo por parte de la autora. A la pregunta: "¿Sabía usted que padecía del corazón?" Poirot contesta esto: "Sí, pero este ha sido el mejor método".

ENGLISH: This book contains nine stories by Poirot, Miss Marple and Parker Pyne. The best one, in my opinion, is "Yellow Iris", although this story reminds me of "The Christmas pudding", and also "Sparkling cyanide", for different reasons. On the other hand, the story "Problem at sea" did not please me, because Poirot, in addition to discovering the murderer, acts as judge and executioner and provokes his death. The end is a display of cynicism on the part of the author. To the question: "Did you know that he suffered from the heart?" Poirot answers this: "Yes, but this has been the best method".

[Zala · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Regatta Mystery - a short and simple mystery but with a satisfying ending (3 stars)

The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest - a fully realized murder mystery that has a good, if a bit romantic, resolution (4.5 stars)

How Does Your Garden Grow? - not bad but not much of a mystery since it's quite clear who the culprit is (3 stars)

Problem at Pollensa Bay - men… (2 stars)

Yellow Iris - good with a slight twist, though nothing too unexpected (3.5 stars)

Miss Marple Tells a Story - fine (2.5 stars)

The Dream - I don't usually like mysteries that involve the kind of deception used here. don't find it entirely believable, though perhaps possible with a stranger. if you consider that an option (which I did but hoped it would go down another path), it's quite easy to figure out (2.5 stars)

In a Glass Darkly - the shortest of the bunch. this one was first made public when Christie read it on BBC Radio in 1934. it's different from all the other short stories and a bit predictable

Problem at Sea - easy to guess, and he just kills the man at the end! (2 stars?)

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting collection of short stories by Christie. Even though it's listed as a Poirot book, the famous Belgian detective only features in 5 of the 9 stories.

I've not read any Parker Payne mysteries before, so the two that featured him were interesting. I do think he's one of Christie's weaker characters though.
It's nice to have a Miss Marple too, the other story is told by an anonymous narrator.

But it's the Poriot stories that stand out, my favorite being 'The Dream' where a millionaire keeps having troubling dreams where he kills himself.

[Hossein · Rating 2 out of 5]

این کتاب شامل چند داستان هست که 4 تاش مربوط به هرکول پوآرو میشه و من هم حقیقتا چون یه جورایی شرطی شدم که تمام داستان های پوآرو رو بخونم همین چهار تا داستا رو خوندم . باید بگم که همشون بد بودند به جز داستان رویا که خیلی خوب بود..
رویا:4/5
مشکلی در دریا:2/5
باغ شما چگونه رشد می کند؟ 1/5
زنبق زرد:2/5

[adya · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Agatha Christie is the most widely published author of all time and in any language, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare." It are stories like these that show us just why this was the case.
The book comprises of a couple of Parker Pynes, one Miss Marple, one standalone, and other Poirot stories. Marvelously written, incredibly passionate, and exceedingly witty.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poirot bowed to her. "I will use a phrase from one of your detective story writers. 'I have my methods, Watson.'"

[Patty_pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ennesima raccolta di racconti!
La stella del mattino
Parker Pyne indaga sulla scomparsa di un diamante che si chiama proprio la stella del mattino. Indaga… più o meno… diciamo che deduce la verità.
Il mistero della cassapanca spagnola
Poirot legge il giornale che riporta la notizia di un omicidio. Una cena e un cadavere dentro una cassapanca. Incuriosito, sentendo inoltre la mancanza del fido Hastings, è però costretto a incaricare la sua segretaria di recuperare tutti i giornali che riportano notizie di tale avvenimento. La vedova dell’ucciso gli chiede aiuto. Poirot risolve da par suo!
Come va il vostro giardino?
Poirot riceve una strana lettera dalla signorina Barrowby, nella quale viene pregato di mettersi in contatto per una questione molto riservata. Poirot fa rispondere dalla sua segretaria, ma la signora Barrowby muore, a quanto pare improvvisamente, e Poirot viene gentilmente congedato dalla nipote Mary Delafontaine. Ovviamente, ciò stuzzica la curiosità di Poirot, il quale si reca immediatamente a casa della fu signorina Barrowby. Naturalmente è stato un delitto: avvelenamento. Ma Poirot è un acuto osservatore e risolverà il dilemma!
Il caso della baia di Pollensa
Parker Pyne sbarca a Maiorca. Nonostante qualche difficoltà, Parker trova alloggio in un delizioso albergo a conduzione familiare: il Pino d’oro. Per qualche giorno riesce a mantenere l’anonimato e a trascorrere una piacevole vacanza. Poi incontra una vecchia conoscenza che lo “smaschera” di fronte alla famiglia Chester con cui conversava. E come temuto, la signora Chester, appena saputo delle sue abilità negli affari di cuore, lo convoca e in lacrime lo prega di salvare suo figlio. Basil Chester è fidanzato con Betty Gregg e la madre disapprova totalmente. Basil è preso tra due fuochi e non sa come comportarsi. Parker Pyne, esperto dell’animo umano, risolverà brillantemente la situazione.
Iris gialli
Hercule Poirot viene attirato in un ristorante da una telefonata durante la quale una voce femminile, molto allarmata, lo prega di aiutarla. Un tavolo da sei posti e cinque invitati, pericolosamente identico a quello di quattro anni prima, quando venne uccisa o si suicidò la sorella di colei che poi risulterà essere l’autrice della telefonata. Poirot capisce e sventa il misfatto!
Miss Marple racconta una storia
Il signor Petherick, in compagnia del signor Rhodes, fa visita a Miss Marple per avere il suo parere. La moglie del signor Rhodes morì uccisa poco tempo prima e il vedovo teme di poter essere accusato. Non rimane soddisfatto della linea di difesa dell’avvocato assunto per una simile eventualità e decide di dar retta al signor Petherich di consultare Miss Marple in qualità di esperta dell’animo umano. Il racconto del signor Rhodes sulla morte della moglie lo fa apparire come l’unico possibile colpevole. Dopo alcune domande mirate, miss Marple esclama: “In questo caso, l’intera faccenda mi sembra di una semplicità singolare.”
Dopo aver letto la soluzione, non posso che concordare con lei!
Il sogno
Poirot osserva con attenzione la casa di Benedict Farley, uno degli uomini più ricchi del mondo, eccentrico, ma piuttosto riservato, il quale gli ha scritto invitandolo a recarsi nella sua abitazione londinese. Beh, in realtà, fu il segretario a scrivere la lettera, che Poirot mostrò su richiesta al maggiordomo. Poirot rimane un po’ stupito dal sentirsi raccontare un sogno. Il signor Farley sogna tutte le notti di togliersi la vita, seguendo sempre lo stesso copione.
Appurando di non poter soddisfare le “esigenze” di risoluzione del problema, Poirot viene congedato di fretta, con la preghiera di rendere la lettera. Poirot obbedisce, ma rimane sconcertato da tutta la faccenda, soprattutto dal colloquio avuto con il signor Farley.
Qualche giorno dopo, il sogno pare avverarsi: il signor Farley viene trovato morto, esattamente come nel sogno. Ma è stato davvero un suicidio? Ovviamente no, Hercule Poirot con qualche intoppo riesce a smascherare il colpevole.
In uno specchio scuro
Un uomo vede un omicidio riflesso in uno specchio: realtà o fantasia?
Non mi è piaciuto affatto!
Un problema in alto mare
Poirot è in vacanza su un battello. Una ricca signora muore e il nostro Poirot risolve il mistero anche questa volta.

Questi racconti non mi hanno entusiasmato, però alcuni di questi con protagonista Poirot sono stati oggetto di ottime trasposizioni televisive nella serie con David Suchet nei panni del belga!

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this old collection of Agatha Christie short stories that pulled together three of her detectives and a fab group of narrators.

Most of the stories can be found in other collections. There is no particular theme to the collection, but it is a good way to introduce Christie's writing to a newbie.

List of stories included:
The Regatta Mystery- Parker Pyne, nar. Hugh Fraser
The Baghdad Chest- Hercule Poirot, nar. ?
How Does Your Garden Grow - Hercule Poirot, nar. Simon Vance
4. Problem at Pollensa Bay- Parker Pyne, nar. Hugh Fraser
5. Yellow Iris- Hercule Poirot, nar. Hugh Fraser
6. Miss Marple Tells a Story- Miss Marple, nar. Joan Hickson
7. The Dream- Hercule Poirot, nar. Hugh Fraser
8. In a Glass Darkly- standalone Isla Blair?
9. Problem at Sea- Hercule Poirot, nar.David Suchet

[Jammin Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories featuring Hercule Poirot, Miss Jane Marple, and Mr. Parker Pyne. I'd never heard a story with Parker Pyne so that was a fun read. I had heard the Miss Marple stories before in another collection of short stories. The Hercule Poirot stories were also great fun.