The assignment is a snap: Mrs. Pollifax just has to shoot some pictures at a quiet funeral outside Washington and take them to Sicily, where her old friend Farrell — a former CIA agent turned art dealer — anxiously awaits them. But like all Mrs. P’s assignments, so ostensibly suitable for the CIA’s favorite garden club member, this one quickly turns lethal. Her welcoming committee in Palermo includes a most unlikely CIA agent and several unseen enemies. Unfriendly eyes also observe Mrs. P’s rendezvous with Farrell in a secluded mountain village and weapons are soon displayed. With mysterious forces hot after them, she and Farrell scurry for safety to a fortified country villa, where the bizarre chatelaine, once a star on Madison Avenue, is almost as unnerving as the dangers she’s protecting them from. So, though the sun shines brightly, the food is delicious, and romance is in the air, Mrs. Pollifax is too busy handing out karate chops and playing catch-me-if-you-can with an assassin to enjoy the amenities . . . . "Mrs. Pollifax gives Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple a rival to reckon with." — The Toronto Star
Dorothy Gilman (1923–2012) was the author of 14 Mrs. Pollifax novels, including The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax, the series debut; Mrs. Pollifax Pursued; Mrs. Pollifax and the Lion Killer; Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist; and Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled. She was also the author of many other novels, among them Thale’s Folly.
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Author Essay
My grandmother is a big fan of the MRS. POLLIFAX mysteries by Dorothy Gilman. I was at first hesitant to try the books, because I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to relate to mysteries featuring a suburban grandmother working for the CIA. But because my grandmother’s taste in literature has always been impeccable, I decided to delve into Mrs. Pollifax’s adventures. I began with THE UNEXPECTED MRS. POLLIFAX, the first in the series, and immediately found them delightful. Mrs. Pollifax is just the kind of grandmother I’d love to have: resourceful, intelligent, somewhat sly, and, of course, a secret CIA operative. Her adventures take her to all corners of the globe: from an authentically described communist China (MRS. POLLIFAX ON THE CHINA STATION) to an exhilarating safari across Africa (MRS. POLLIFAX ON SAFARI). I’ve thoroughly enjoyed joining her on her adventures, and intend to read them all. I recommend them to everyone who’s interested in learning about different countries and cultures–and, obviously, espionage!
