Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Fawcett Publications, Inc (1970), Mass Market Paperback
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Mrs. Virgil (Emily) Pollifax of New Brunswick, New Jersey, was a widow with grown children. She was tired of attending her Garden Club meetings. She wanted to do something good for her country. So, naturally, she became a CIA agent. This time, the assignment sounds as tasty as a taco. A quick trip to Mexico City is on her agenda. Unfortunately, something goes wrong, and our dear Mrs. Pollifax finds herself embroilied in quite a hot Cold War�??and her country's enemies find themsleves entangled with one unbelievably feisty la
User reviews
LibraryThing member SeriousGrace
Mrs. Pollifax is a bored, retired widow looking for excitement. So, what does she do? She takes a trip to Washington D.C. and inserts herself as a spy for the CIA. It's really quite simple. They need an unassuming, nondescript individual to pick up a package in Mexico City and Mrs. Pollifax has
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nothing better to do but volunteer. What starts off as an innocent vacation turns dramatic when the package isn't there and Mrs. Pollifax goes missing. It's a hard-to-believe tale but one thing is for sure, Mrs. Pollifax is definitely unexpected. You will fall in love with her immediately. Show Less
LibraryThing member FKarr
light mystery yarn about a senior citizen spy; good thing to get one back in the reading mood
LibraryThing member nolak
Emily Pollifax, a widow, of New Brunswick, New Jersey has gotten tired of her boring life with the Garden Club and other seniors. She goes to her roof to consider ending her life. Fate intervenes when she receives a phone call to the CIA. A case of mistaken identity creates a very great thing, as
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she becomes a superior intelligence agent with lots of humor to keep you laughing along the way. Rescue in a boat with Farrel in the Adriatic Sea causes even more fun. Very fun book with lots of people loving Mrs. Pollifax. Show Less
LibraryThing member Cecilturtle
A quirky and delighful read about a spunky old lady!
LibraryThing member robreadsbooks
This was a fun book to read. The character of Mrs Pollifax is charming. I wish I knew her. She's down to earth, smart, and unintentionally funny. It's a light read, something good to take on a vacation or long trip. While I did enjoy this book and will recommend it, I'm not sure I'll continue in
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the series. I didn't think the author created a story as good as the characters she put in it. Towards the end, the believability factor kept getting lower. I just found it hard to believe a woman that age would be able to survive all that she'd been through, especially after the escape. But if you just take it for what it's worth (a light, fun read) as I did, then you certainly will enjoy it. Like I say, Mrs Pollifax is a great character. Show Less
LibraryThing member annbury
First novel in the Mrs. Pollifax series, and one of the best. Very soft-centered, and hardly a realistic portrayal of CIA activities, but charming, and great fantasy reading for the senior set.
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
The "unexpected" Mrs Polifax is the unlikely Mrs Polifax at least on first impressions. She's a white-haired sixty something, a widow from New Brunswick, New Jersey with grown children who are living lives apart from her. In the beginning of the book she's depressed, feeling useless. Her doctor
So naturally she travels to Langley, Virginia and volunteers to work for the Central Intelligence Agency. Someone in clandestine operations spots her and thinks she'd be perfect to play an innocent American tourist, and a polygraph exam and a security check later, she's off to Mexico to pick something up for the Agency. Unlikely? Yes. And in another book I probably wouldn't forgive it, but this work isn't trying for grit but charm. While Le Carre and Furst and Ambler are what might be called "hard-boiled" if they were in the mystery genre, the Mrs Pollifax series is what would be called a "cozy." Light, fluffy reading really, even if adventurous and at times suspenseful, taking us from Mexico to the Balkans. Gilman's CIA agents might have a ruthless streak, but they're very much the good guys. You'll have to go for your angst and moral ambiguities elsewhere. But it really was a pleasure watching Emily Polifax find courage and resourcefulness not even she suspected lay within her.
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asks her if there is anything she would like to do now that she has time on her hands, and she answers, "be a spy."So naturally she travels to Langley, Virginia and volunteers to work for the Central Intelligence Agency. Someone in clandestine operations spots her and thinks she'd be perfect to play an innocent American tourist, and a polygraph exam and a security check later, she's off to Mexico to pick something up for the Agency. Unlikely? Yes. And in another book I probably wouldn't forgive it, but this work isn't trying for grit but charm. While Le Carre and Furst and Ambler are what might be called "hard-boiled" if they were in the mystery genre, the Mrs Pollifax series is what would be called a "cozy." Light, fluffy reading really, even if adventurous and at times suspenseful, taking us from Mexico to the Balkans. Gilman's CIA agents might have a ruthless streak, but they're very much the good guys. You'll have to go for your angst and moral ambiguities elsewhere. But it really was a pleasure watching Emily Polifax find courage and resourcefulness not even she suspected lay within her.
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LibraryThing member AlmaB
I love the entire series. Are there flaws..sure, but I don't care. Over all they are superbly well written and just plain make you feel good. Old fashioned feel good books...they aren't that easy to find. Treat yourself to a shortcut during your search and try the Mrs. Pollifax batch first. There's
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more than a baker's dozen just waiting to be discovered. Show Less
LibraryThing member kaulsu
Of course, not great literature, but a wonderful escape, fun to listen to while driving, walking, and working on my cross stitched pillow! Nothing in the story was credible, but that was all to the better, since I had to suspend all critical faculties from the get-go!
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Lovely as always. Mrs. Pollifax is a delight - and this is the best one, where she knows absolutely nothing and still manages on grit and determination and calm, and especially on her gift of making friends in the _oddest_ places. First meeting with Carstairs and Farrell, met up with an assortment
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of bad guys and some that weren't so bad, found her physical limits and that they were a lot further out than she'd expected. Of course now I want to read the rest (Ok, some of the rest) of the series - soon. Show Less
LibraryThing member Michael.Rimmer
An easy, humorous and exciting read - great if you're stuck inside on a rainy day (of which we've recently had numerous here in Lancashire!).
Mrs Pollifax is amusingly naïve, but Gilman shows from the outset that there is steel inside her. While there are some extraordinary coincidences and
As others have said, the story is a kind of mash-up of the spinster-detective and cold-war spy genres, and Ms Gilman does a sterling job of it. Mrs Pollifax is endearing and eccentric, without being a caricature - you do feel her actions are natural and understandable for an ordinary, and resourceful, person thrown into extraordinary situations (with the necessary sprinkling of luck and good-fortune, of course).
I'll certainly look out for more in the series.
Mrs Pollifax is amusingly naïve, but Gilman shows from the outset that there is steel inside her. While there are some extraordinary coincidences and
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misunderstandings involved in getting Mrs Pollifax off on her adventures, these are not allowed to persist, and so credulity is not excessively strained.As others have said, the story is a kind of mash-up of the spinster-detective and cold-war spy genres, and Ms Gilman does a sterling job of it. Mrs Pollifax is endearing and eccentric, without being a caricature - you do feel her actions are natural and understandable for an ordinary, and resourceful, person thrown into extraordinary situations (with the necessary sprinkling of luck and good-fortune, of course).
I'll certainly look out for more in the series.
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LibraryThing member jepeters333
Emily Pollifax in the "twilight of her years" - a phrase she herself would deters - lives alone at the Hemlock Apartments, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Her children up and gone, every volunteer occupation tediously similar, and a "respectable widowhood" awaiting her, Mrs P. decides she is definitely
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ready for a change. And what Emily Pollifax decides, Emily Pollifax does. The recruiting officer at the CIA would have saved himself a lot of unnecessary time and embarrassment if he had realized that from the start. If Mrs. Pollifax had chosen spying as a second career, there was little or nothing that could stop her. She is, as the CIA and its enemies are soon to find out, quite unexpected. Show Less
LibraryThing member simchaboston
Great fun, with fast-paced action and memorable characters. The plot is a little preposterous, but if you're choosing to read a story about a grandmother who decides to volunteer for the CIA, realistic detail shouldn't be high on the list of things you're looking for.
LibraryThing member leslie.98
This was my fourth or fifth reading of this first installment of the Mrs. Pollifax series since I was introduced to it in the 1970s. Despite knowing the plot so there are no longer any surprises or thrills, I still love reading about Mrs. Pollifax and the characters she meets during her
Younger readers may find the 1966 Cold War attitudes dated.
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adventures.Younger readers may find the 1966 Cold War attitudes dated.
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LibraryThing member TheBoltChick
I just loved this book. I watched the movie years ago, but only got around to reading the book recently. Sure it isn't plausible, but its fun! Mrs. Emily Pollifax is widowed; her children are grown, and she is feeling useless and bored. So she goes to the CIA to get a job as a spy.
This is her
This is her
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first story of misadventure in the spy game. A cozy mystery that is very enjoyable. Now I will have to read the rest of the series! Show Less
LibraryThing member susiesharp
Again, I did not want to start another new series but oh Mrs. Pollifax you are quite the woman!
Retired, widowed, grown children and bored so what is a woman to do when she is looking for some excitement? Well join the CIA and become a spy right??!!?? That is exactly what Mrs. Pollifax does; the CIA
However this unexpected turn of events shows us that Mrs. Pollifax can take care of herself and she is no one to be messed with. She can also take care of others when things go horribly wrong, I loved her no nonsense attitude and her view of life and her friendship with Farrell and I hope there will be more of him in future books, there are a few characters I will be interested to see if they pop back up in the future. Mrs. Pollifax made me giggle and made me want to read more!
Barbara Rosenblatt narrated the audiobook and as always a fantastic job with many different characters, dialects and accents. You can never go wrong with this narrator.
I really enjoyed this book if you are a fan of Miss Marple or cozy mysteries give this one a try you won’t regret it.
4 Stars
Retired, widowed, grown children and bored so what is a woman to do when she is looking for some excitement? Well join the CIA and become a spy right??!!?? That is exactly what Mrs. Pollifax does; the CIA
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agent gives her a try, since no one would suspect a little old woman as being a spy but this simple hand off of information turns into something different from what Mrs.Pollifax or the CIA expected.However this unexpected turn of events shows us that Mrs. Pollifax can take care of herself and she is no one to be messed with. She can also take care of others when things go horribly wrong, I loved her no nonsense attitude and her view of life and her friendship with Farrell and I hope there will be more of him in future books, there are a few characters I will be interested to see if they pop back up in the future. Mrs. Pollifax made me giggle and made me want to read more!
Barbara Rosenblatt narrated the audiobook and as always a fantastic job with many different characters, dialects and accents. You can never go wrong with this narrator.
I really enjoyed this book if you are a fan of Miss Marple or cozy mysteries give this one a try you won’t regret it.
4 Stars
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LibraryThing member morandia
How have I missed this series? Friends turned me on to it and I am most grateful. Well written and funny, I highly recommend them
LibraryThing member hemlokgang
A fun read even if the plot is a bit thin. I could envision Maggie Smith as Mrs. Pollifax!
LibraryThing member Jean_Sexton
What an unexpectedly pleasant start to the series! This book is set during the Cold War era, so it helps to have some knowledge of the political situation in the 1960s. I can almost hear younger readers thinking about cell phones, email, and solitaire played with real cards!
The story is a fun one
This book was well worth the reading; I have already downloaded the sequel. If you enjoy cozy mysteries I think you'll like this spy story.
The story is a fun one
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with a hint of danger. Of course, when it was written there wasn't a sequel, so to the reader Mrs. Pollifax would be in real danger during her situation. There is a part of me that wants to be Mrs. Pollifax, going out on adventures. The other part is content to read about them.This book was well worth the reading; I have already downloaded the sequel. If you enjoy cozy mysteries I think you'll like this spy story.
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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
This is probably my third or fourth reading of this novel and there are a number of good reasons. One, Mrs. Pollifax is funny - not in a bumbling way, but in a smart way. She never takes herself too seriously, yet at the same time she is so resourceful. Second, the writing is good - smart and
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interesting. This novel was written in the sixties and reflects world politics of the day, but is still a rollicking adventure. Show Less
LibraryThing member nmhale
This book is a hoot! Mrs. Pollifax is a widowed, retired grandmother, who feels that she needs something more substantial to fill her time than just the garden club, church events, and her karate class. On a lark, she heads down to the CIA and offers her years of experience. Of course, the CIA men
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are baffled, and slightly amused, and tell her they'll call her. Mrs. Pollifax thinks that is that; yet, to the surprise of everyone, the CIA does need her! A very short while later, they call her and tell her that she is to be a courier. A simple job with no danger involved, they just need someone not suspicious, and Ms. Pollifax is as non-threatening as they come. She's delighted, although upset at the hurried and hush-hush nature of her departure (that's the point, though, to do something new), and heads off to Mexico. Of course, this wouldn't be much of a story if everything went smoothly, and Mrs. Pollifax soon finds herself embroiled in international espionage, complete with evil men, imprisonment, and daring escapes. What a refreshing alternative to the James Bond mold of books. Mrs. Pollifax never stops being who she is - she worries about ruining her hat, wonders about the bake sale she is supposed to aid in a few days, and is always a courteous grandma to the young folk involved - but she is just as effective as the reckless spry spies, if a little amateur. I love her attitude and her stubborn streak, and especially the way she astounds them all at the end with her success. A fun and quick little series of which I am sure to read more. Show Less
LibraryThing member clong
Cozy mystery meets James Bond in this highly enjoyable and satisfying, if not particularly believable, novel. I had enjoyed several of the books in this series as a teen and recently picked up this first book in the series at the library for a re-read. The book's cold war milleu may feel a bit
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dated today, and the Chinese and Albanian heavies may feel overly inept, but it's still a lot of fun. There is something very likable about the unlikely Mrs. Pollifax. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
Emily Pollifax is bored in retirement. Her husband is deceased. Her children and grown and married. She still volunteers for various charities, but that’s getting old, too. But what else could she possibly do? America is engage in the Cold War against Communist countries. She figures she’s
Well, how difficult could this be? She only has to go to Mexico City (paid for entirely by the CIA, of course), play the tourist for nearly three weeks, and then on a particular day go to a particular book shop and ask for a specific book, commenting on one of the characters. The proprietor will sell her the book and she will bring it back to America. But the best laid plans … oft go awry. And this one is no exception.
But Emily Pollifax IS perfect as a spy. She’s bright, inquisitive, observant and has a great deal of courage. She may be an amateur but she handles herself very well against the enemy. Some of the plot turns really stretch credulity, and the whole thing is obviously dated, but it’s a fun read nonetheless. I figured out the secret right away, but I was still entertained. I’ll definitely read more of this series.
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resourceful, intelligent, patriotic, loyal, and good at puzzles, so she leaves her New Jersey home and goes to Washington DC to meet with the CIA and offer her services as a spy. It so happens they are looking for the perfect operative to pose as a tourist in Mexico City and pick up a certain package, and the director calls in a certain candidate for an interview. He’s charmed by the woman he meets in the interview room, and before he discovers his mistake, he has offered Mrs Pollifax the job.Well, how difficult could this be? She only has to go to Mexico City (paid for entirely by the CIA, of course), play the tourist for nearly three weeks, and then on a particular day go to a particular book shop and ask for a specific book, commenting on one of the characters. The proprietor will sell her the book and she will bring it back to America. But the best laid plans … oft go awry. And this one is no exception.
But Emily Pollifax IS perfect as a spy. She’s bright, inquisitive, observant and has a great deal of courage. She may be an amateur but she handles herself very well against the enemy. Some of the plot turns really stretch credulity, and the whole thing is obviously dated, but it’s a fun read nonetheless. I figured out the secret right away, but I was still entertained. I’ll definitely read more of this series.
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LibraryThing member ethel55
Who wouldn't want a bit of Mrs. Pollifax's vigor and desire to be useful when widowed and post-retirement? Though a bit dated in political tone, I will never tire of Emily Pollifax of New Brunswick, New Jersey and her forthright decision to march into Langley asking to be a spy.
LibraryThing member JenW1
Completely unrealistic but hilarious! I love Mrs. Pollifax. I found myself laughing and cheering her on from the very beginning. Some parts were predictable, but still a thoroughly enjoyable read!
Subjects
Awards
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 1966)
Language
Original publication date
1966
Physical description
208 p.; 6.94 inches
ISBN
0449208281 / 9780449208281
Other editions
Unexpected Mrs Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman (Paperback)