Books › Mrs. Pollifax, innocent tourist
Mrs. Pollifax, innocent tourist
First published 1997 · 244 pages
An unassuming older woman uses her harmless appearance to navigate a dangerous web of Middle Eastern espionage.
What it feels like
This novel offers a delightful contrast between cozy, unassuming charm and genuine geopolitical danger. It reads at a brisk pace, sweeping the reader into a world of secret rendezvous, smuggled manuscripts, and hidden compartments. The mood balances the tension of a classic spy thriller with the comforting presence of a protagonist who uses her invisibility as an older woman to her distinct advantage. The prose is accessible and engaging, keeping the coils of intrigue unwinding rapidly without ever losing its lighthearted edge. It is perfect for readers who enjoy globe-trotting mysteries where underestimated women sleuths outwit dangerous adversaries through sheer resourcefulness, quick thinking, and a perfectly timed innocent smile.
- Mood
- intrigue-laden
- tense
- globe-trotting
- Tone
- adventurous
- suspenseful
- wry
- charming
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- deceptive appearances · unlikely heroism · international espionage · hidden truths
- The writing
- Accessible and engaging, balancing the cozy charm of its protagonist with the sharp, fast-moving edges of a spy thriller.
- The arc
- Begins with the charming premise of an unassuming disguise and escalates into a tense, high-stakes web of international danger.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love seeing underestimated women outsmart dangerous adversaries in globe-trotting espionage settings.
Content notes
- political oppression
- murder
About the book
"Mrs. Pollifax is on loan to her retired CIA friend, Farrell. Her bag lady act is the first phase of a mission to the Middle East: to smuggle out of Jordan the final manuscript of the dissident Iraqi novelist Dib Assen, who was recently murdered in an Iraqi prison. Allegedly fiction, the script encodes the shocking truth of Saddam Hussein's reign."--BOOK JACKET.
"Allah willing, Farrell is to rendezvous near Amman with a man called Ibrahim, who will deliver the manuscript. All Mrs. P. has to do is look as much like a tourist as possible to deflect suspicion from her "cousin," Farrell."--BOOK JACKET.
"But hardly are the two airborne when the coils of Middle Eastern intrigue begin to unwind. Mrs. Pollifax's seatmate is not the affable Arab businessman he seems and the little carved plaque he secretly stashes in her carry-on bag is not a mere souvenir."--BOOK JACKET.
Description from Open Library.
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