Monday Mysteries: The Mrs. Pollifax Series

One of my favorite mystery series is the Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman. This series combines espionage, humor, and insight. The protagonist, Mrs. Emily Pollifax, is a retired widow. In the first book, The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax, she feels that her life is dull. The remedy? Apply to become a CIA agent!

By a fluke she becomes accepted and heads off to Mexico for "simple" courier work. Through plot twists, spunk, and unlikely alliances, she saves the day.

Mrs. Pollifax is both funny and wise. She detests violence--only once or twice in the 14 book series does she kill someone in self-defense--and prefers to rely on karate. She has flights of fancy and impulses that allow insight into the human condition.

I enjoy hearing from someone a lot older than me. She has experienced such a lot that she simply reacts to events differently than I would. I enjoy reading a mystery that has a heroine with seemingly simple yet complex personal problems. Not everyone has struggles with emotionally-charged problems like drugs, divorce, abuse, etc. I identified more easily because although she had some major conflicts--such as stopping assassins--she also undergoes issues of "culture shock," loneliness, exhaustion, and self-doubt.

Gilman's books are a much different sort than most mysteries. They are more similar to crime novels in some aspects because they always involve espionage, not just "who dunnit." Although Mrs. Pollifax is frequently compared to Agatha Christie's own detective, Miss Marple, she has entirely different adventures.

The books have interesting characters. Throughout them we meet gypsies, embittered co-agents, cat burglars, Bedouin, expert hit men, and Buddhist monks. Through Mrs. Pollifax's observations, we learn about each one and, no matter how detestable or how irritating, we learn how to see life through their eyes.

Gilman is excellent at describing each of the foreign countries that Mrs. Pollifax does work in. She skillfully inserts history and culture. Furthermore, Mrs. Pollifax stays out of "mainstream" foreign countries--France, England, Greece, Egypt--with the exceptions of once China and Italy. She ventures into off-beat places: Albania, Jordon, Morocco.

Gilman has great respect for the peoples of each country. Through Mrs. Pollifax, she roots for the underdog. She does not satisfy herself with stereotypes and tries to show the everyday lives of ordinary people.

Gilman does have a few "writing tics." For instance, Mrs. Pollifax frequently says dialogue "dryly" or "tartly." She also tends to wrap up the plot a little tightly for some readers. Altogether, however, these books will provide thrills, laughter, and plenty of exercise for brains that like to be tested.

How many of you have read Miss Marple or Mrs. Pollifax or both? I wonder how old ladies are different as detectives than the young and spry. How do you think Mrs. Pollifax compares to Miss Marple? Are there any mysteries starring retirement-age men? I would like to read one.