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Parker Pyne #10
Death on the Nile
Parker Pyne is still on his middle east holiday. He's now on a ship sailing down the Nile from Aswan (spelled Assouan here) to Cairo. He is doing his best to avoid getting dragged into "Are You Happy?" consultations but he fails once again.
On this occasion, his fellow passengers include a group of wealthy British travelers and their companions. One of them, Lady Grayle, pulls him aside and informs him that someone is trying to poison her. All the evidence points to her husband; can Pyne prevent the killer from accomplishing his task?
Librarian's note #1: this Parker Pyne short story should not be confused with the novel of the same name. Also by Christie - but it starred Hercule Poirot. It came out several years later. The title and locale are the same, but the contents are quite different. It is not an update of this story. The Poirot novel can be found elsewhere on Goodreads.
Librarian's note #2: this entry relates to the short story, Death on the Nile with Parker Pyne. Collections and the other stories by the author are located elsewhere on Goodreads. The 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 #3: the story was published in the print anthologies, Parker Pyne Investigates and Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective but it first appeared in 1933 in Cosmopolitan magazine.
Librarian's note #3: this is #11 of the 14 stories.
On this occasion, his fellow passengers include a group of wealthy British travelers and their companions. One of them, Lady Grayle, pulls him aside and informs him that someone is trying to poison her. All the evidence points to her husband; can Pyne prevent the killer from accomplishing his task?
Librarian's note #1: this Parker Pyne short story should not be confused with the novel of the same name. Also by Christie - but it starred Hercule Poirot. It came out several years later. The title and locale are the same, but the contents are quite different. It is not an update of this story. The Poirot novel can be found elsewhere on Goodreads.
Librarian's note #2: this entry relates to the short story, Death on the Nile with Parker Pyne. Collections and the other stories by the author are located elsewhere on Goodreads. The 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 #3: the story was published in the print anthologies, Parker Pyne Investigates and Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective but it first appeared in 1933 in Cosmopolitan magazine.
Librarian's note #3: this is #11 of the 14 stories.
31 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1933
92 people are currently reading
648 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,794 books76.1k 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)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
July 29, 2025
DEATH ON THE NILE!
The lesser known story...
This is not to be confused with Christie's more famous full-length novel of the same name.
Lady Grayle is extremely distressed to learn that she and her traveling companions will have to share a boat with some peasant named Parker Pyne while they cruise down the Nile.
Or she was. Once she suspects that she's being poisoned (by her husband) she thinks it might be a good thing to have a detective of sorts in her confidence.
She seems to be getting sick every time her husband comes home for a few weeks, and getting better every time he leaves.
But there's something she isn't telling Pyne.
Does she want her husband to be guilty?
And if so, why?
This was read as part of the short story collections Parker Pyne Investigates & A Deadly Affair.
The lesser known story...
This is not to be confused with Christie's more famous full-length novel of the same name.
Lady Grayle is extremely distressed to learn that she and her traveling companions will have to share a boat with some peasant named Parker Pyne while they cruise down the Nile.
Or she was. Once she suspects that she's being poisoned (by her husband) she thinks it might be a good thing to have a detective of sorts in her confidence.
She seems to be getting sick every time her husband comes home for a few weeks, and getting better every time he leaves.
But there's something she isn't telling Pyne.
Does she want her husband to be guilty?
And if so, why?
This was read as part of the short story collections Parker Pyne Investigates & A Deadly Affair.
November 21, 2025
“I’m thinking of going incognito to Greece. I really m u s t have a holiday!” — Parker Pyne
Poor Parker Pyne is trying to have a holiday, but once again the Times agony column which brings him business has also made his name ring a bell in the oddest corners of the world. This time it’s on the S.S. Fayoum.
Lady Grayle is being a pain to everyone on the boat, from her husband to her niece. Only the secretary Basil, who is secretly carrying on a love affair with the niece, Pamela, is immune from her constant nitpicking; that is only because his smile manages to disarm everyone in his orbit.
Lady Grayle fumes when she discovers Parker Pyne has latched onto the excursion at the last second, which she was told would be exclusive to her small party. She’s either in bad straights or a hypochondriac. Her nurse, Miss MacNaughton tends to her needs, and runs kindly interference between the old bag and her kept husband.
The reader is as surprised as Parker when she hangs back from a trip off the boat and wants Pyne to help her discover whether her husband is trying to poison her. Before Parker has two seconds to figure out whether that’s real, made up, or which way she wants it to turn out, she is indeed murdered.
Some romantic intrigue, a partially burnt note, and something said offhand during a conversation is all Parker Pyne needs to figure it out. In the solution, Parker may have even facilitated a romance, which is more in his line. But it might not be the romance the reader unexpected.
Because Agatha Christie reused the title for a Hercule Poirot novel which became extremely famous, this very different short story with the same title has long lived in its shadow. Judged on its own as a short mystery story, Death on the Nile is great fun. One of the more enjoyable Parker Pyne stories.
Poor Parker Pyne is trying to have a holiday, but once again the Times agony column which brings him business has also made his name ring a bell in the oddest corners of the world. This time it’s on the S.S. Fayoum.
Lady Grayle is being a pain to everyone on the boat, from her husband to her niece. Only the secretary Basil, who is secretly carrying on a love affair with the niece, Pamela, is immune from her constant nitpicking; that is only because his smile manages to disarm everyone in his orbit.
Lady Grayle fumes when she discovers Parker Pyne has latched onto the excursion at the last second, which she was told would be exclusive to her small party. She’s either in bad straights or a hypochondriac. Her nurse, Miss MacNaughton tends to her needs, and runs kindly interference between the old bag and her kept husband.
The reader is as surprised as Parker when she hangs back from a trip off the boat and wants Pyne to help her discover whether her husband is trying to poison her. Before Parker has two seconds to figure out whether that’s real, made up, or which way she wants it to turn out, she is indeed murdered.
Some romantic intrigue, a partially burnt note, and something said offhand during a conversation is all Parker Pyne needs to figure it out. In the solution, Parker may have even facilitated a romance, which is more in his line. But it might not be the romance the reader unexpected.
Because Agatha Christie reused the title for a Hercule Poirot novel which became extremely famous, this very different short story with the same title has long lived in its shadow. Judged on its own as a short mystery story, Death on the Nile is great fun. One of the more enjoyable Parker Pyne stories.
January 12, 2021
Is this a picture of a grandmother or a woman thinking about murder?
Fans of Agatha Christie know – it’s both.
With over one billion books sold translated into over one hundred languages, I am late to the party. What a firecracker she was.
Death on the Nile, a short story, did not have Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple, the characters this brilliant author is known for, but the main lead, Parker Pynes, is a close cousin, if not a sibling to those two leads. Like anything Agatha Christie does, there is some flair. Of course, it has to be a riverboat cruise down the Nile to visit the ancient Egyptian temple of Dendara. But readers didn’t read her books for the temples; they read them for the murders. And she did not disappoint. Although this is only a short story, I imagine it is a proper appetizer to the Christie canon.
Like the grandmother she was, she wasn’t an author who killed her darlings. You know what I’m talking about. Those sentences or phrases that pop out because they sound like writing. I typically slaughter mine, editing them out and leaving the extra adjectives and adverbs for a more literary author to play with. But not Christie. For example, she wrote a line, “his face was ludicrously pathetic," and it jarred me out of the story's rhythm. But it’s freaking Agatha Christie, so, of course, it works. Victorians loved a little sugar, and she relished in it, with a sly word or sassy dialogue that might seem dated today but is still relatively timeless. I see more and more GR reviewers reading her books, and it was their insightful book reviews that pulled me into the Agatha Christie sphere.
But will I now dive headfirst into her world, as I did with Arthur Conan Doyle in my youth? Maybe not. But I will visit a little more often, as you should when we’re talking about the great grandmother of mystery authors.
If you’re like me and are behind the times, check her out.
October 24, 2021
SYNOPSIS: "PARKER PYNE is still on his middle east holiday, now on a ship sailing down the Nile from Aswan (spelled Assouan here) to Cairo. He is doing his best to avoid getting dragged into "Are You Happy?" consultations, but failing.
On this occasion, his fellow passengers include a group of wealthy British travelers and their companions. One of them, Lady Grayle, pulls him aside and informs him that someone is trying to poison her. All the evidence points to her husband; can PYNE prevent the killer from accomplishing his task?
Librarian's note #1: this PARKER PYNE short story should not be confused with the novel of the same name. Also by Christie. But it starred Hercule Poirot. The title and locale are the same, but the contents are quite different. The Poirot novel can be found elsewhere on Goodreads...
The story was published in the print anthologies, "PARKER PYNE Investigates" and 'Mr. PARKER PYNE, Detective." It first appeared in 1933 in "Cosmopolitan" magazine."
On this occasion, his fellow passengers include a group of wealthy British travelers and their companions. One of them, Lady Grayle, pulls him aside and informs him that someone is trying to poison her. All the evidence points to her husband; can PYNE prevent the killer from accomplishing his task?
Librarian's note #1: this PARKER PYNE short story should not be confused with the novel of the same name. Also by Christie. But it starred Hercule Poirot. The title and locale are the same, but the contents are quite different. The Poirot novel can be found elsewhere on Goodreads...
The story was published in the print anthologies, "PARKER PYNE Investigates" and 'Mr. PARKER PYNE, Detective." It first appeared in 1933 in "Cosmopolitan" magazine."
March 26, 2023
3.75⭐️
A woman suspects her husband is slowly poisoning her and she seeks the help of Parker Payne….then someone is murdered…
A woman suspects her husband is slowly poisoning her and she seeks the help of Parker Payne….then someone is murdered…
November 6, 2025
4 Stars. Haven't I read this one before? Haven't I seen it on TV? Actually no, that's the Hercule Poirot novel with the same title. With the same premise, a murder on a small tourist ship travelling on the Nile. From there on, the story lines are very different. If Agatha Christie ever remarked on two of her mysteries having the same title, I haven't heard of it. Here we have Parker Pyne continuing his lengthy middle east holiday with a last-minute voyage down the Nile from Aswan to Cairo. No more than a few minutes after boarding, a 48-year-old tempest, Lady Grayle, complains to the dragoman, the official guide, "They told me distinctly ... that we were the only passengers. It's an absolute swindle." She's referring to the plump little man lounging in a deck chair. Pyne. She soon changes her tack, having found out that he's the Parker Pyne from the Times agony column. The next day she arranges a private tea with him and confides that she's certain someone is trying to poison her. Something does happen. You are sure to enjoy the conclusive line from Pyne to the perpetrator, "A confession would be best. Just write it out, will you?" A good one. (Au2021/No2025)
May 10, 2021
Mr. Pyne is traveling on the Nile and is asked by a woman to investigate if her husband is poisoning her. Then, the woman’s companion suggests to Mr. Pyne that someone is poisoning the same woman. So, is it true? That night, the woman dies from apparent poisoning so it looks like her husband’s fate is sealed. But not so fast, says Mr. Pyne. He finds a scrap of partially burned paper in the woman’s room that suggests that she took the poison willingly and he figures out that the husband’s secretary had seduced the woman and had been poisoning her but only when the husband was around to make it appear that he was the culprit. He would then marry the woman’s niece, who was rich and die to inherit the woman’s money. But he was foiled by Mr. Pyne.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2021
The audio with Kenneth Branagh is pure bliss. The characters come to life with his many voices and he excels at accents. The story is one of Christie’s most famous and the exotic setting makes it the perfect 20s novel. Looking forward to watching the movie.
September 30, 2025
This was such a fun and quick read and I really enjoyed it.
June 22, 2014
Death on the Nile is a short story featuring Parker Pyne. Parker is on holidays and even though his holiday has been previously interrupted by clients, he's hoping that it won't be interrupted even further. However the other occupants on his cruise have other ideas. One Lady Grayle asks him to find out if she is being slowly poisoned by her husband. He sets out to investigate but before he can uncover the truth Lady Grayle ends up dead.
I find the title of this short story amusing because Agatha Christie has a full length novel under the same title. The full-length Death on the Nile is of course widely popular, having been made into several movies, featuring Hercule Poirot. This short story was unknown to me until I picked it up. The short story was published three years before the novel. I do wonder if perhaps the short story was inspiration for the novel.
In any case it was a good, little story. Parker Pyne doesn't usually solve murders, so it was interesting watching him try his hand at this one. With limited suspects and evidence aplenty, Parker managed to solve it in time.
Another good Parker Pyne mystery.
I find the title of this short story amusing because Agatha Christie has a full length novel under the same title. The full-length Death on the Nile is of course widely popular, having been made into several movies, featuring Hercule Poirot. This short story was unknown to me until I picked it up. The short story was published three years before the novel. I do wonder if perhaps the short story was inspiration for the novel.
In any case it was a good, little story. Parker Pyne doesn't usually solve murders, so it was interesting watching him try his hand at this one. With limited suspects and evidence aplenty, Parker managed to solve it in time.
Another good Parker Pyne mystery.
July 19, 2015
Whenever I read anything by Agatha Christie I want to read ALL the things by Agatha Christie! Her characters are so richly developed they immediately draw the reader in.
This story is about a traveling party of British citizens vacationing in Egypt . The Lady Gayle, the matriarch of the group is a very rich, yet very unhappy woman. She makes excessive demands of her nurse and family and when she discovers Parker Pyne is on her trip she tries to get him throne of the boat! However once she learns his identity she consults with him. Lady Gayle suspects she is being poisoned and that her husband is the culprit
Before Parker can investigate Lady Gayle dies and Parker must use his skills to find the criminal .
A very solid read. I really liked Parker and want to track down more of his stories
This story is about a traveling party of British citizens vacationing in Egypt . The Lady Gayle, the matriarch of the group is a very rich, yet very unhappy woman. She makes excessive demands of her nurse and family and when she discovers Parker Pyne is on her trip she tries to get him throne of the boat! However once she learns his identity she consults with him. Lady Gayle suspects she is being poisoned and that her husband is the culprit
Before Parker can investigate Lady Gayle dies and Parker must use his skills to find the criminal .
A very solid read. I really liked Parker and want to track down more of his stories
April 13, 2015
I listened to the BBC's Radio Theater version of this story. The story was okay, but seemed to be full of jealous female and overly protective male stereotypes. Though the voice actors were excellent, I had a hard time getting into the story.
April 22, 2015
Poirot is on a ship for a short vacation. As usual he observes the people around him quite closely.
Threats are made to a young heiress by a former friend but is she the only one who wants the young woman dead?
Agatha Christie is one of the best!
Threats are made to a young heiress by a former friend but is she the only one who wants the young woman dead?
Agatha Christie is one of the best!
May 14, 2015
This was my first Agatha Christie book I have read and what a joy! I love the style of writing and how the story unfolds...and what a character Hercule Poirot is! I guess I have a great many books more to read! Can't wait to get started!
July 9, 2015
I think I would have enjoyed this better if I had read it instead of listening to it. The performance is horrible.
September 11, 2017
So this isn't the well-known novel Death on the Nile!
January 11, 2023
Interesting okay. I think the best part is how Parker Pyne traps the culprit.
October 22, 2025
Definitely a surprise ending...
It's weird that she named two of her stories the same...
It's weird that she named two of her stories the same...
October 15, 2025
Entertaining mystery. I like the plot twist. This was fun.
Listened to audio read by Hugh Fraser.
Listened to audio read by Hugh Fraser.
July 13, 2021
Goodreads book description is from another book.
October 16, 2018
Not sure why she named two books of hers Death on the Nile but I like them both (the longer one better ofc). I guessed who it was but only because that kind of person is guilty a lot in Agatha Christie's stories (if you want to know what kind of person I'm talking about: ).
Still interesting, though.
Still interesting, though.
August 19, 2017
After reading the this short story I am so interested to read the other one with the same name but a novel instead. It was a very enjoyable journey with only little to go with, hopefully the novel is even better.
November 1, 2017
A quick adventure
Not much description...was looking for more description of the scenery on the Nile, but that isn't always possible in a short story. Main characters nicely drawn. Great twist at the end.
Not much description...was looking for more description of the scenery on the Nile, but that isn't always possible in a short story. Main characters nicely drawn. Great twist at the end.
November 25, 2019
As a huge Christie's fan, I must admit that this is not one of her best works. The ending felt quite obvious to me, or may be it is just that I am getting too used to her way pf building up a story and the clues seem obvious to me.
January 1, 2023
Overshadowed by its synonymous novel featuring Hercule Poirot, this Parker Pyne story has its own charms and wit. Especially, few lines pronounced by Mr. Pyne brightens up the otherwise gloomy and tense drama to a considerable extent.
Recommended.
Recommended.
October 26, 2023
In an odd twist of events, here is another story of the same title as the famous book. Still on holiday in Egypt, Pyne is called into a case of poisoning and murder yet to happen. But, is the husband the prime suspect?
November 18, 2022
True to what it is. Very entertaining and a good little puzzle solved.
May 8, 2015
AC never disappoints!! Very entertaining.
May 26, 2015
Very good. loved it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews