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Mrs. Pollifax on Safari (Mrs. Pollifax #5)
"Mrs. Pollifax is the American cousin to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple."
TORONTO STAR
Mrs. Pollifax has been sent on safari by the C.I.A. and told only to take pictures of all of her companions, in order to find the international assassin whose next target is the president of Zambia. It sounded so simple, but shortly after Mrs. Pollifax started taking pictures, someone stole...more
TORONTO STAR
Mrs. Pollifax has been sent on safari by the C.I.A. and told only to take pictures of all of her companions, in order to find the international assassin whose next target is the president of Zambia. It sounded so simple, but shortly after Mrs. Pollifax started taking pictures, someone stole...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
December 12th 1987
by Fawcett
(first published 1976)
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Mrs. Pollifax is sent on assignment to Africa - on safari, as we already know from the title - with instructions from the CIA to photograph everyone in her safari party, as one of them is an international assassain with the code name of Aristotle. So she stops at Abercrombie's to get properly outfitted, and heads off to Zambia. As an added bonus, her old friend John Sebastian Farrell is now rumored to be living in Zambia, so she hopes to look him up as well. But neither of those intentions go ac...more
A cozy mystery, indeed. But this does not take place in the English countryside. No, Mrs. Pollifax participates in an adventure in Zambia. What I find interesting are the tensions demonstrated by this book.
* The book has a jaunty tone, typical of cozy mysteries; however, it includes life-and-death forces such as serious civil unrest in a foreign country where Mrs. Pollifax is grossly unschooled about these dangers.
* Mrs. Pollifax is not a career spy. She's a suburbanite-turned-spy. So there ar...more
* The book has a jaunty tone, typical of cozy mysteries; however, it includes life-and-death forces such as serious civil unrest in a foreign country where Mrs. Pollifax is grossly unschooled about these dangers.
* Mrs. Pollifax is not a career spy. She's a suburbanite-turned-spy. So there ar...more
I recently jumped back into the Mrs Pollifax series when I got a pair of books off the discard shelf. Some of the memories in book #13 were unfamiliar to me (who is this man? when did he become so important?) so I tried to figure out where I'd left off before. This title seemed familiar, but the plot was not, so I guess it was a good place to dive back in!
Mrs Pollifax is an older woman who does a bit of work for the CIA, under the cover of 'innocent tourist.' In this book, she goes on a photo sa...more
Mrs Pollifax is an older woman who does a bit of work for the CIA, under the cover of 'innocent tourist.' In this book, she goes on a photo sa...more
Amusing restful fluff. I believe I had read it years ago, but recently picked up an ex-library copy that was easily worth the 20 cents I paid. I was struck by the changes in politics since it was written. At the beginning the heroine is carefully assured the branch of the CIA she works for is not the "bad" part. In the main plotline the good guys are the opponents of the white Rhodesian government -- in part, guerillas who presumably are working with Mugabe, though this is left unspecified -- wh...more
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Plot: The assignment from Carstairs sounds simple enough. Mrs. Pollifax is to go on safari in Zambia and take photographs of the other participants. One of them may be an assassin. She's also asked to track down John Sebastian Farrell (from book 1) to see if he'd come back to work for the CIA. Mrs. Pollifax finds more than she bargained for, even something she didn't know she was looking for.
Why I picked it up: I'm completely hooked on this series now.
Why I kept reading: It was the interaction b...more
Why I picked it up: I'm completely hooked on this series now.
Why I kept reading: It was the interaction b...more
I just finished listening to this book again after many years of re-reading the paper copy. Although I knew what was going to happen, it was refreshing to listen to being read for the first time. This book takes Mrs. Pollifax to Zambia and on safari. She is to take pictures, contact Farrell and generally keep out of trouble. Instead she meets Cyrus Reed who takes a fancy to her, and advertises for Farrell. Between kidnapping and using karate she makes it the capital only to have to take down the...more
I love it when you read a series that becomes better as you move into it. Better because you become more attached to the characters, more invested in their development, and pay more attention to the writing. I find Dorothy Gilman's writing to have lovely poetic glimpses and thoughtful moments. I also enjoy the specific time settings (cold war era) that nevertheless have a timeless feeling. They are "dated," but in a good, comfortable way.
In this book, I loved Mrs. Pollifax having a real romantic...more
In this book, I loved Mrs. Pollifax having a real romantic...more
A fun book to read (listen to) while quilting! Mrs. Pollifax is an adorable character. I remember seeing "Mrs. Pollifax - Spy"...Rosalind Russell's last movie...in 1971 with my sister. We got the giggles in the theatre (I think we were the only ones!) and it's a fun memory. Russell is also adorable, though with those dancer's legs...even at age 64...she is not the grandmotherly image that I have of Mrs. Pollifax. The movie follows the plot of the first Dorothy Gilman, Mrs. Pollifax book. Wasn't...more
Mrs. Pollifax is a widower in her 60′s and instead of settling down to garden club meetings she has become an improbable asset to the CIA. The missions never seem to be dangerous, at least until Emily arrives on the scene, and this assignment is no different. She is excited to be assigned the job of taking pictures on an African safari. Not bad, right? Well, it ss a great experience until she goes and gets herself kidnapped.
I read a few of the Mrs. Pollifax series way before I became obsessed wi...more
I read a few of the Mrs. Pollifax series way before I became obsessed wi...more
Another Mrs. Pollifx, sixty something window, part time CIA agent mystery. This time she is off to Zambia for a safari for the purpose of taking pictures of the other 8 people on the safari. One of whom is supposed to be a high profile assassin who no one knows what he looks like. As usual, what is supposed to be a low profile, fairly easy mission runs into complications which expose Mrs. Pollifax to great risks which she deftly manages to over come and do more than she was assigned to do.
Mrs. Virgil (Emily) Pollifax of New Brunswick, New Jersey, was a widow. Her children grown, tired of attending her Garden Club meetings, she wanted to do something different, but something that would allow her to serve. So, naturally, she became a CIA agent. This series is as delightful as this character sounds. Full of adventure, suspense, fun, even a bit of romance, and warm heartedness, the books are light and entertaining, and almost unfailingly warm and fuzzy.
As the title says, Mrs. Pollifax heads out on safari in Zambia where she is to take pictures of everything - including those on safari with her. One of them is an assassin, and Carstairs hopes to thwart the next attempt. Of course, by sending Mrs. Pollifax, he pretty much guarantees that he will. I do like the introduction of Cyrus Reed, the retired judge who falls for Mrs. Pollifax (even though I prefer that her adventures be without him). I like that regular and practical people fall in love.
Mrs. Pollifax mysteries are comfort books; funny, exciting and everything wonderful. I reread them the way a child carries around a "blankie." They are comfort books. I have read almost everything Dorothy Gilman has ever written, except one children's book which I've been unable to find (RAGAMUFFIN something). I sent a fan letter to Dorothy Gilman years ago and treasure her kind reply.
Love, love, love these books.
Love, love, love these books.
I may have surprised some with my universally high ratings for the books in this series, but I (and my wife) enjoyed them greatly. In this one Emily Pollifax sets out to "find and photograph" an assassin...though she makes a rather dangerous misstep.
Romance enters into Mrs. Pollifax's life again in this book and we still get lots of adventure and humor. Good novels highly recommended.
Romance enters into Mrs. Pollifax's life again in this book and we still get lots of adventure and humor. Good novels highly recommended.
Mrs. Pollifax goes on a safari to take pictures, in hopes the CIA can find a potential assassin before he kills the president of Zambia. However, she gets kidnapped by Rhodesian terrorists, has her film stolen and meets Cyrus. Ferrell turns up again too. He's not as charming as Robin, but a good sidekick, even if he isn't meant to be a sidekick.
Cute mystery fluff. a grandmotherly type ends up helping the CIA, because who would ever suspect a grandmother to be a spy? yeah, yeah, a little suspension of disbelief is needed, but it won't take much effort, i promise. i'm looking forward to the other books in the series that i got in the latest book dump from my parents. :)
Ah ha! Mrs. Pollifax gets a boyfriend! Although the adventures of Mrs. Pollifax always involve unexpected events and new characters who quickly recognize her admirable qualities, a romantic admirer was most unexpected for me. After all, she is an elderly widow. I definitely have to get the next book to see what comes of that.
These books are a return to a much simpler time and I enjoy that Mrs. Pollifax is a "senior citizen" and sometime CIA "agent" who has many adventures all over the world and is very clever. I especially liked this one because it took place in Zambia so I had a connection from the Church's mission trips there.
I like this series because it is light reading but still a "who done it". Mrs. Pollifax reminds me of "Miss Marple", American style. Mrs. Pollifax has a lot more zip. Hope eternal for the young at heart. Could not wait to see what she would get into (and out of) next.
I love this whole series, and this particular book is tied for first place in my mind with the first book in the series. This series makes me believe that you are never to old to start your life again, and find something that makes you feel alive.
I really enjoyed this series. I couldn't believe how the series began, and then I was hooked, I had to read the entire series. I think when I was much younger, I had dreams of being Mrs Pollifax (becoming a spy), so I really enjoyed having the opportunity to read spies and the lives.
I love how Mrs. Pollifax never needs rescued except for in this book. But really, that just needed to happen so that Cyrus could propose :) Memory- my sisters and I would talk like Amy Lovecraft and call people "ducks" all the time.
Once again I was led astray from my other readings to take a ride with Mrs. Polifax. I always have 4 or 5 books on the go but I sometimes just really need the break of a good adventure and Dorthy Gilman never lets me down.
I love this series of books. Mrs Pollifax goes to such interesting locations where such interesting politics is going on. In this book, she travels to Zambia for a safari, and the politics of the day is the creation of Zimbabwe. It was an interesting book and lots of fun, as usual!
A nice touch of romance added to the usual escapades of the inimitible karate fighting, new jersey grandmother who joined the CIA when she realized gardening club wasn't keeping her interest in life.
Seeming a simple yet exciting mission. Go on a Safari and photograph all your fellow travelers. Easy, right? Not quite. Another delightful story and this one brings back John Farrell from the first book. YAY!
Mrs. Pollifax has been sent on safari by the C.I.A. and told only to take pictures of all of her companions, in order to find the international assassin whose next target is the president of Zambia. It sounded so simple, but shortly after Mrs. Pollifax started taking pictures, someone stole her film. And right after that she was kidnapped by Rhodesian terrorists. And right after that--well, read for yourself....
My dad introduced me to the Mrs. Pollifax series awhile back. It's an old series - about a Grandma who becomes a spy - SOO fun and full of interesting info! I got them all and loved them! (=
Cute but somewhat awkward melding of a "cosy" mystery and protagonist with a more hard-eged thriller. I've never read any of Pollifax series and, while this was mildly enjoyable, probably won't be ready any more.
This book came out in 1976 I think, but if you're a fan of cozy mysteries or Miss Marple you'll probably like it. I liked it partly because the heroine is an older woman.
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Dorothy Gilman started writing when she was 9. At 11, she competed against 10 to 16-year-olds in a story contest and won first place. Dorothy worked as an art teacher and telephone operator before becoming an author. She wrote children’s stories for more than ten years under the name Dorothy Gilman Butters and then began writing adult novels about Mrs. Pollifax–a retired grandmother who becomes a...more
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