In 2013, I read 7 mysteries by Dorothy Gilman, from her series on Mrs. Pollifax.
I presented here earlier on The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax and Mrs. Pollifax on Safari.

So I’d like to highlight quickly the 5 others I read, as well as 3 mysteries by Agatha Christie I read in the very last days of 2013, and 1 by Alexander McCall Smith.

The books by Dorothy Gilman count for the following Reading Challenges:

        

I have listened actually, not read, all these by Dorothy Gilman. The narrator, Barbara Rosenblat, is phenomenal. Her voice fits perfectly for me the profile of Emily Pollifax, this grand-mother who went to look for some spy job with the CIA as she was getting bored, not feeling busy enough with her garden club and her karate classes.

As a grand-mother, she has a great connection with kids and young people, and I believe this aspect comes up in every book of the series: there’s always a kid showing up who is going to be instrumental in helping Emily solve the case or even plainly escape and survive a tough and dangerous situation.

Another thing which is really good in the series is that each book takes place in a different country. There are lots of details about the landscape, society, and history of the country. The plot of each book is very closely connected to a reality proper to that country.

These elements make these mysteries very smart and enjoyable reads. I’m just sad to see that I only have 3 more to go, and the series will be over.

Emily Pollifax takes 8 passports for Bulgaria Resistance leader Tsanko from CIA Carstairs.
Emily must elude bossy Balkantourist agent Nevena, vicious General Ignatov,
and free passport recipients from infamous Panchevsky Institute,
along with student Philip Trenda, kidnapped for ransom.
Athletic Debby also learns her strengths and the value of life [Goodreads]

This one in Bulgaria highlights realities of the Cold War
and the Russian hegemony over surrounding countries,
and the inevitable resistance movements.

On the very morning Mrs. Pollifax and her husband Cyrus are leaving for Bangkok,
the CIA arrives on her doorstep with an urgent request for help.
All she’s got to do is carry a small object to someone named Ruamsak,
and get something from him in exchange.
After her arrival, however, she discovers the body of a murdered man and, moments later,
watches in horror as Cyrus is kidnapped!
Soon Mrs. Pollifax is tramping through the ominous Thai countryside
— known for its smugglers and drug warlords — led by a curious called Bonchoo,
who may be trying to help find her husband. Or may have other, more sinister plans… [from Mrs Pollifax Fan Blog]

This one in Thailand is on the background of the network of drug trafficking.

 

Emily Pollifax goes to the Sicilian countryside for a CIA rescue mission.
Comrade John Sebastian Farrell was shot tracking down a document
that allegedly bears the signature of Julius Caesar.
Feisty vacationing Kate Rossiter joins them to find the truth.
Farrell and Kate flirt, danger threatens, and a deadly cartel is uncovered. [from Goodreads]

This one in Sicily is about art thieves and the mob.

 

Once again, Mrs. Pollifax, the cheerful little woman with the flyaway white hair
and a penchant for old hats
is plunged headfirst into another hair-raising CIA mission.
Posing as a tourist in China,
Emily Pollifax meets the sinister challenges of the Orient
to safeguard a treasure for the CIA…
and all but loses her life in the bargain. [Goodreads]

This mission in China is within the context of repressed freedom and labor camps.

 

Emily Pollifax goes to Hong Kong for CIA Bishop
and young friend Sheng Ti.
Feng Imports has sent false reports for two months,
co-owner Detweiler, now addict, lives in store.
Psychic Hitchins seeks Inspector Hao for his son Alec.
Eric the Red leads terrorists to take over the citadel and city within days.
Robin, now with Interpol, and Cyrus help. [Goodreads]

This one in Hong Kong is with independentist terrorists,
with the relation between Hong Kong and mainland China,
before its transfer to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

 

AND HERE ARE THE THREE MYSTERIES
BY AGATHA CHRISTIE I READ

The volume contains actually three stories:
“Dead Man’s Mirror”,
“Murder in the Mews”,
and “Triangle at Rhodes”.

There is no rest or relaxation for Miss Marple.

Miss Jane Marple (this is case #10 here),
Agatha Christie’s most appealing sleuth,
returns in this classic baffler of a vacation-turned-deadly.

 

Despite her best efforts, Gwenda is unable to modernize her new home.
Worse still, she feels an irrational fear every time she climbs the stairs.
With Miss Marple helping to exorcise the ghosts,
the two women uncover a crime committed years ago.

This is Mrs Marple’s last case. I really enjoyed it very much,
it is very well constructed, and as usual, once you think you got it,
you turn a page and discover the truth is miles away from what you thought,
at least what I thought. Very easy, cozy, enjoyable readings at the end of the year.

I enjoy good vibrant, suspenseful mysteries.
As I had not yet read any by the famous Alexander McCall Smith,
and felt a bit ashamed about it,
I decided to remedy the situation a few months ago,
and finally set to read this popular book.

Mma Ramotswe is the only lady private detective in Botswana.
She set up her agency with money from her dad’s big cattle sale, when he died.
After telling us about her dad and her own education,
the author invites us to follow the detective in cases for her first clients.
Actually, she always feels she shouldn’t agree on helping with some cases,
but ends up doing it anyway, wanting to help desperate clients.

I got quite of a shock, seeing how boring the book was ! There are basically 60 pages of introduction. These pages were good on…

= to read my whole review, please come this way. I’d like your input, see the questions at the end of that very unhappy review.

 

HAVE YOU READ ANY OF THESE?
WHICH ONE BY AGATHA CHRISTIE IS YOUR FAVORITE?

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