Problem at Pollensa Bay

Problem at Pollensa Bay is a Parker Pyne short story written by Agatha Christie which was first published in the U.K. in The Strand Magazine in November 1935. In the U.S. it was first published in Liberty magazine in September 1936 under the title Siren Business. The story was included as part of the collection The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories in 1939 in the U.S. In 1943 it appeared in the U.K. as part of a fairly rare collection Problem at Pollensa Bay and Christmas Adventure. In 1961, it appeared as part of the collection Thirteen for Luck! and then in 1991 as the lead story in Problem at Pollensa Bay and Other Stories.

Synopsis

Parker Pyne can't escape his talent of solving people's problems even when he's on holiday on Mallorca. In fact his fellow guest Mrs Chester leaps on the opportunity for someone to save her son from an unfavourable marriage.

Plot summary

(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read)

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Characters

• Parker Pyne
• Basil Chester
• Mrs Adela Chester
• Nina Wycherley
• Betty Gregg
• Hans
• Stella
• Madeleine de Sara

Locations

• Pollensa, Majorca
  • Hotel Pino d'Oro
  • Hotel Mariposa

Film, TV, or theatrical versions

This story has not been adapted for media.

Publication history

• 1935: The Strand Magazine, Issue 539, November 1935, illustrated by Jack M. Faulks.
• 1936: Liberty, 5 September 1936 as "Siren Business"
• 1939: The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories, Dodd Mead and Company (New York), 1939
• 1943: The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories, Bestseller Mystery No 36 abridged version, Lawrence E. Spivak (New York).
• 1943: Problem at Pollensa Bay and Christmas Adventure, Todd (London), 1943
• 1946: Poirot Lends a Hand, Polybooks, March 1946. One of three stories.
• 1956: The Saint Detective Magazine, vol. 6 no. 4, Oct 1956.
• 1961: 13 for luck! A selection of mystery stories, Dell (New York), 1961
• 1966: 13 for luck! A selection of mystery stories, Collins (London), 1966
• 1988: Ladies' Home Journal, vol. 105 no. 2, Feb 1988, as "Siren Business".
• 1991: Problem at Pollensa Bay and Other Stories, Harper Collins (London), November 1991
• 2008: Detectives and Young Adventurers: The Complete Short Stories, HarperCollins (London), 2008
• 2020: Midwinter Murder, HarperCollins (London), 2020.