I first read Mrs. Pollifax at the urging of a book loving friend about two decades ago.   There are 14 Mrs. Pollifax books and with these two I’ve now read ten.  They are short and cozy and feature a woman in her 60’s that seems to be hitting her prime years as an asset to the CIA.  I just love these quaint books that take me to exotic locales but also to a bit of a simpler time.

 Mrs. Pollifax Pursued.  Finished 9-15-19, mystery, 3.5/5 stars, pub. 1995

Mrs. Pollifax series #11

The last thing Mrs. Pollifax expects to find in her closet is a young woman hiding. Kadi Hopkirk insists that that she’s being pursued by two men in a van. Under the cover of darkness, Mrs. P. tries to drive Kadi home to Manhattan, only to have a dark green sedan give them a run for their money and, Mrs. P. begins to suspect, their lives.

Finally Kadi shares the startling truth: her friend, Sammy, is the son of the assassinated president of an African country, and unbeknownst to the young man’s bodyguard, he passed her something important during a recent meeting. Ever resourceful, Mrs. P. puts in a call for help to her CIA colleague, Carstairs, who installs them in a safe house—at a carnival!   from Goodreads

Kadi sure is lucky that the house she chose to hide in belonged to Mrs. Pollifax who has friends in high places.  The carnival that served as their safe house was a lively addition to a mostly stateside story. As two stories intertwine Emily finds herself in the middle of a worldwide scandal and, as always, she proves she’s tough enough for the job.

 Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist. Finished 10-20-19, mystery, 3.5/5 stars, pub. 1997

Mrs. Pollifax series #13

Working with her retired CIA friend John Farrell, Mrs. Pollifax must smuggle a manuscript out of Jordan, a document that encodes the shocking truth of Saddam Hussein’s reign.

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 pretends to be. It is not imagination that persuades Mrs. P. that wherever they go, she and Farrell are followed. To elude their pursuers in such a politically volatile country isn’t easy. In fact, it can be downright deadly…     from Goodreads

I always love the different places that Mrs. Pollifax finds herself in and I was equally happy to find an old friend, John Farrell.  The two of them share a friendship borne out of danger, trust, and respect.  The Jordan setting was perfect for some insight into the people and the international stage.  Mrs. Pollifax is at her best when learning new things and engaging with new people.  I aspire to be just like her when I’m in my 60’s 🙂