Mr. Parker Pyne was a government functionary, but now runs an ad in the Personal Section of the newspaper: "Are you happy? If not, consult Mr. Parker Pyne." The first 6 stories are not really mysteries, but rather Mr. Pyne's remedies for unhappiness. Mr. Pyne relies on his vast understanding of human nature. The second six stories are crime and mystery stories.
Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective was published in 1934. According to Nancy Wynne, the 1930s was Christie's most prolific decade. She wrote 17 novels and six short story collections. It was at this time that she earned the title "Queen of Crime." Even though Christie had published several novels in the 1920s, Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective seemed a bit unpolished to me. The first six stories are a bit formulaic and Christie appears to test out characters that she uses later. For example, Mr. Pyne's secretary is named Miss Lemon. Miss Lemon is Hercule Poirot's secretary and is more developed as a character in the television series than in the Poirot novels. Mr. Pyne is also friends with the famous mystery writer Mrs. Oliver. Mrs. Oliver is good friends with Poirot. Although Poirot, Miss Marple, Tommy and Tuppence, and Mr. Pyne had overlapping lifespans, they and their associates don't usually mix. So, I found it unusual to see Miss Lemon and Mrs. Oliver mentioned in the Mr. Pyne stories when in later works they work closely with Poirot.
More information about Mr. Pyne and similarities between him and Mycroft Holmes. http://www.agathachristie.com/characters/parker-pyne
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