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Emily Pollifax accompanies her young friend Kadi back to Africa, where a mutual friend is to be crowned king of his small country. But when several people are slashed by murderous lion claws and Kadi disappears, Mrs. Pollifax must begin a perilous investigation. Fortunately for all, staunch determination and polished karate skills are on her side. In response to a desperate SOS, Kadi Hopkirk flies to the African country of Ubangiba, where her childhood friend, Sammat, is soon to be crowned king. Mrs. Pollifax, reluctant to allow the girl to venture alone into what she fears may be grave danger, crashes the party. On arrival, Kadi and Mrs. P. soon discover that Sammat has dangerous enemies. Rumors are springing up that he is a sorcerer who is responsible for a rash of shocking murders in which the victims appear to have been clawed to death by a lion. These crimes are especially terrifying because there are no lions in Ubangiba. So Mrs. Pollifax wades into the fray, hunting for the source of the bloody terrorism that threatens Sammat and Ubangiba - not to mention Kadi and Mrs. Pollifax. . . .… (more)
User reviews
Mrs. Pollifax is made to sound as though she were in her 80s...but though I work with a large number of extremely active octogenarians, I doubt if even
I also criticize Gilman in this book for her unspoken racism. What is the purpose in describing someone's hand as "black" when speaking of an African? She didn't resort to it too often, but often enough that it caught my attention.
Rosenblat, as a narrator must be commended for the wide range of voices she brings to her work. But I still find myself constantly wondering if she wears false teeth or is constantly sucking on a piece of hard candy. The shlurping sound that accompanies many (most? all?) of her voices is irritating.
This review is to the audible.com recording
Kadi Hopkirk is a reminder of the violent past of
The country of Ubangiba has been impoverished by megolomaniac rulers since Sammat's grandfather was assassinated and even now there is a group murdering people but making it look as if they have been killed by a lion. But there are no lions in Ubangiba. We are talking here of a population that still believes in witchcraft.
On the surface Emily Pollifax is an elderly woman, but, some years before, at the age of 60 she became a part time CIA agent, and she has rather Marple like qualities of observation. Soon after their arrival young Kadi is attacked in the palace grounds, and, having survived that attack, she is abducted. Mrs Pollifax thinks king-designate Sammat is altogether too trusting of those around him.
About the author
Dorothy Edith Gilman (June 25, 1923 – February 2, 2012) was an American espionage and mystery fiction writer. She was best known for the Mrs. Pollifax series. Emily Pollifax, her heroine, became a spy in her 60s and is very likely the only spy in literature to belong simultaneously to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the local garden club.
In 2010 Dorothy Gilman was awarded the annual Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America.
She died in New York of Alzheimer's disease in 2012, aged 88.
Even though this is a fictional African country it's easy to identify the many elements that make it similar to real countries in Africa. Beneath the cozy exterior of this story are some quite serious issues. Mrs. Pollifax is always entertaining and her affection for Kadi and Sammy is quite apparent. If you enjoy the antics of Mrs. Pollifax you will really have a good time with this one.