Parker Pyne is on holiday at the Hotel Pino D’Oro on the island of Mallorca, one of Spain's Balearic islands in the Mediterranean. He desperately wants to relax. Unfortunately also staying at the hotel are two fellow British guests, Mrs. Adela Chester and her dutiful son, Basil. When Mrs. Chester discovers that Pyne is a “wizard” at solving human problems, she calls on him to save Basil from a most unsuitable marriage. Librarian's note #1: an earlier version has Hercule Poirot as the lead character, with minor differences. Thus the entry on Goodreads shows both as leads. Librarian's note #2: this entry is for the story, 'Problem at Pollensa Bay', not the collection under the same name. Collections of short stories by the author, including the two mentioned below, are located elsewhere on Goodreads. Entries for all Parker Pyne stories can be found by searching Goodreads for: 'a Parker Pyne Short Story', and the same for Hercule Poirot stories: 'a Hercule Poirot Short Story'. The story was published in the anthologies, 'The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories', and 'Problem at Pollensa Bay and Other Stories'. It first came out in 'Strand Magazine' in November 1935, and then in the USA as ‘Siren Business’ in 'Liberty' in September 1936.
Author
Agatha Christie is the top-selling author of all time, with a legacy spanning 66 crime novels, 14 plays, and six romance novels under a pseudonym. Her works have sold over two billion copies globally, translated into at least 103 languages, making her the most translated author. She introduced the world to iconic characters Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple, and wrote *The Mousetrap*, the record-holding longest-running play in modern theater. The youngest in the Miller family, her experience as a nurse during WWI and later roles in pharmacies during both World Wars deeply influenced her mystery novels, often featuring poisons. Christie’s writing career launched in 1920 with *The Mysterious Affair at Styles*. Her life was as captivating as her fiction, notably her 1926 disappearance after her first husband’s affair became public, sparking a nationwide search. Christie's second marriage to archaeologist Max Mallowan enriched her life and work, with travels and homes like the Greenway Estate and Abney Hall providing settings for several novels. Her marriage to Mallowan lasted until her death in 1976. Christie's contributions to literature earned her the title Commander of the Order of the British Empire, solidifying her place in literary history.
