Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station

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!

–Malinda Lo, Editorial Assistant