The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman 1966 Fawcett Crest Books Thriller mystery
Widow Virgil Pollifax, in her 60s and without anything to do but volunteer, goes to Washington, D.C. to spy for the CIA. Agent Bll Carstairs needs an ordinary tourist to pick up a package in Mexico and decides Mrs. Pollifax is perfect for the part. She is instructed to go to the Parrot Bookstore on Aug. 19, ask for “A Tale of Two Cities” and pick up a package. Unknown to her, it has information on agents gathered by Agent Tirpak.
Pollifax is enjoying her vacation but worried about finding the bookstore, she locates it and passes it several times before she decides to buy a book on Aug 17. She meets the owner Jose DeGamez and his parrot and they talk about family, traveling, and solitaire. He gives her a book on 77 different ways to play solitaire and tosses her a box of cards as she is leaving. She spends a lot of time playing solitaire to pass the time.
Two days later she returns for her assignment but Jose isn’t there. A man claiming to be the owner offers her tea and drugs her. She and agent Farrell, who was lured to the bookstore, are prisoners of General Perdido who is known for torturing prisoners. Pollifax’s easy assignment has just gone south.
Gilman plays the danger straight as Pollifax and Farrell are taken to a mountain prison in Albania where the Chinese have replaced the Russians and are developing a missile site. Farrell tries to jump to his death and breaks his leg and his shot. Pollifax demands medical supplies and takes care of Farrell, which Perdido agrees to, knowing he can’t torture him if he dies.
While Perdido is away, Pollifax befriends the guards with friendly chatter, a back massage, and daily walks. Lulash, a native of Albania, loans her a book which has a map of the country in it. Farrell copies it as Pollifax begins to plan their escape. She communicates with a prisoner in the neighboring cell and distrusts the new prisoner, Nexdhert, who is spying on them while Perdido is away. She gathers bullets, guns, a knife, a crutch for Farrell and rocks to knock out the guards.
Nexdhert is a Russian spy reporting about Perdido and helps them escape. They free the prisoner in the next cell and take him along, calling him Genie because of his appearance. The escape takes several twist and turns, a few surprises, and a dangerous shoot out. Pollifax won’t be bored with her life, if she survives.
Pollifax is a great older heroine, who use her common sense, experience from life, and perseverance to keep going no matter what happens. Her personality makes the story enjoyable. The wisecracks between her and Farrell are fun and balance the danger. Her open trust and honesty with her prisoners wins them over and makes you believe they’re rooting for her escape.
What’s fun is that Gilman wrote a whole series of Mrs. Pollifax books. Enjoy.
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