Mrs. Pollifax and the Lion Killer

Mrs. Pollifax #12

by Dorothy Gilman

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...

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Cozy Mystery, Adventure, Africa, Suspense

218 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 23, 1996

About the author

Dorothy Edith Gilman started writing when she was 9 and knew early on she was to be a writer. At 11, she competed against 10 to 16-year-olds in a story contest and won first place. She attended Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and briefly the University of Pennsylvania. She planned to write and illustrate children's books. She married Edgar A. Butters Jr, in 1945, this ended in divorce in 1965. Dorothy worked as an art teacher & telephone operator before becoming an author. She wrote children’s stories for more than ten years under the name Dorothy Gilman Butters and then began writing adult novels about Mrs. Pollifax–a retired grandmother who becomes a CIA agent. The Mrs. Pollifax series made Dorothy famous. While her stories nourish people’s thirst for adventure and mystery, Dorothy knew about nourishing the body as well. On her farm in Nova Scotia, she grew medicinal herbs and used this knowledge of herbs in many of her stories, including A Nun in the Closet. She travelled extensively, and used these experiences in her novels as well. Many of Dorothy’s books, feature strong women having adventures around the world. In 2010 Gilman was awarded the annual Grand Master Award by the Mystery Writers of America. Dorothy spent much of her life in Connecticut, New Mexico, and Maine. She died at age 88 of complications of Alzheimer's disease. She is survived by two sons, Christopher Butters and Jonathan Butters; and two grandchildren.

Series:
* Mrs. Pollifax

Reviews

[Goodliffe Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh no! Only two more left!

Yes, only two more books to go and my lovely friendship with Mrs Polifax and her amazing adventures around the world will come to an end! I have loved all twelve so far, some a bit more than others, but love them all I have. Mrs. Polifax manages to have all the intriguing experiences that most of us more mature women only dream about. This particular book in the series of fourteen is one of the top loves.
I can only thank Mrs. Polifax for helping me emotionally survive the last nine months of the COVID pandemic isolation with much aplomb!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one takes place in a fictional African country. That made it a little difficult for me to engage with because normally, she is traveling in a real place and you get to read about the actual customs and people there.

[Stacie Haden · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely the weakest of the series! Part of what I love about the Mrs. Pollifax series is the travel to a foreign land and learning a bit about it as you're entertained by a solid mystery and a thoroughly likeable protagonist. In this book, Ubangiba is a fictitious country, there is barely a mystery and too little of what makes Emily Pollifax so remarkable. If you're reading this series, I'd say that you've missed nothing if you skip the 11th and 12th of the fourteen.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book #12 in the Mrs. Pollifax series and I just have to say how much I enjoy the MC, Emily Pollifax. She has fun to get to know through her adventures.

I liked the story line and the way the MC uncovers the clues. That is what I enjoy the most. At times this one moved a little slow but there always seemed to be something that needed to be remembered. So 3 stars.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in Ubangiba (Africa). 224 pp. This story and these characters just didn't pull me in. Maybe because I've jumped into the series at book 12? Maybe the African setting with these white MCs put me off? The audiobook narrator was quite good and was kept me going until the end. I didn't really care about the Kadi character at all.

Also used audiobook

Mrs. Pollifax and the Lion Killer (Mrs. Pollifax, #12) by Dorothy Gilman

[Chautona Havig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I rated it lower than most, because it's my least favorite of all I think, this is still a fun book with an interesting twist and I just want to say that I LOVED that the author never did just happen to make Cyrus be in Africa at the same time Emily had to dash over so he could just HAPPEN to zip back and save her from herself. Well done, Gillman. Still... wasn't my favorite but I like it better than a LOT of books.
Read it this time through Barbara Rosenblat's narration of it on audio.

[Jannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't like this very much as I found the characterisation of Kadi in general annoying. Possibly this was also because I first listened to the book in audio form where the narrator had a grating tone and especially whiny for Kadi. I don't it hard to listen to American female narrators

So overall I felt like I was uninterested for a while. It did pick up a bit later but I feel this was the weakest in the series in terms of pacing, plot and engagement of characters.

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sort of sequel to the last one, and with one of her terrible theological takes. A character argued that ancestor worship should be cool with Westerners because it's pretty much the same as Roman Catholic praying to saints. Nope. Praying to saints is unacceptable because it's pretty much the same as pagan ancestor worship.

Aside from that, I enjoyed this one almost as much as the last one.

[L Y N N · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sequel to the 11th installment and a little scarier! Gilman is so skilled at interwoven and complex plotting, as well as characterization! The best of both worlds, IMO! I particularly appreciated the "new" character Moses! Thank goodness for him...otherwise...

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars of comfort….

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

My least favorite in the series so far. It’s not as engaging, lacks much of the usual humor and intricate situations, feels a little more gruesome, and is set in a fictional country. I considered not finishing it, but I have enjoyed this series so I pressed on. It did get better near the end.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-read as audiobook.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed all of Mrs. Pollifax books that I have read. Maybe because I felt that she was about my age and was beginning a new exciting time in her life.

[Andrea]

Perhaps not the strongest of the Pollifax books, but still entertaining.

[Mark Oppenlander · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 12th entry in the Mrs. Pollifax series is a bit of an anomaly. It is a direct sequel to the previous book in the series, and it doesn't involve a CIA mission. Instead, Emily travels to the fictional African country of Ubangiba at the request of her young friend Kadi Hopkirk. Kadi's young friend Sammat has taken leadership of Ubangiba after the failed coup in the previous novel, but now faces a number of challenges, not the least of which is a series of mysterious deaths. Several people have been killed, apparently mauled by lions. There's just one problem: Ubangiba has no lions.

As much or more than any of the previous books, this one reads like a traditional drawing room mystery. Mrs. Pollifax must surreptitiously search for clues, interview suspects, and eventually face danger all alone. The answers to the mystery will be found in the past, when Kadi was a child, living with missionary parents, and when Sammat's father still ruled the country. Secrets and lies will find themselves uncovered.

The novel takes a good, long while to get going. The first half once again reads a bit like a travelogue, detailing Emily Pollifax's impressions of Ubangiba, which is clearly modeled after several other small, poor African countries. If Emily, Kadi, Sammi, and the other characters were not so likeable, this section might feel tedious. Instead, the meandering narrative is frequently charming, like our protagonist. It also provides some decent commentary and food for thought on the challenges that leaders face when trying to decolonize a country.

The latter half accelerates the adventure, and feels more like a traditional Mrs. Pollifax tale, although the politics are all domestic to Ubangiba, and not trans-national. Still, it's great to see our heroine in action, and helping her friends. I did miss seeing more of Carstairs, Bishop, and Cyrus in this one, but presume they will make more of a showing in the next installment.

This represents one of the lesser works in this series, and as such it is probably not the place for a newbie to start. Not worth skipping, but read it in sequence with the previous book, or it won't make a whole lot of sense.

[Beth Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this book in October 2021 and got 70% through the audiobook before abandoning for something else. But I love this series and I’m so close to the end that I came back and finished the book in physical form. This was probably the weakest in the series; I wish it was in a real country instead of a fictional one, and the plot was just a little too far fetched. But Emily Pollifax is wonderful as ever and I’m going to pick up the next one.

[Bobbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again, I find that these books are really good in the beginning and at the end, but sadly (for me) the whole middle is lost on me. Either my mind wanders off or I fall asleep from boredom. I’m sure that if I was reading this in a regular book or on my kindle instead of in audiobook form, I’d be flipping through the pages.

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Look, Emily Pollifax is such a delight. And I really do LOVE Cyrus. They are perfect together. And Kadi is cute, and what excitement!! Such a fun ride even without the CIA!

[Leslie Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up because I love the Pollifax series.

In this book we are in African and Mrs. Pollifax is once again using her skills. The Mrs. Pollifax series is my go to when I need a quick enjoyable read. I love the characters of Pollifax and Cyrus. Easy fun read.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am working on finishing up the series. This one really connects with #11 so it is important to read these two in order.
I really loved this one and there was a well done surprise in the book too.
I just love this series.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one feels half baked. It's enjoyable, but wafer thin. Transparent as water. Weak tea. How many other food comparisons can I make?

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another enjoyable Mrs Pollifax. The first time no mention of Bishop, who I missed. I also wish Cyrus played a bigger role because I love him. Every single time. He makes me laugh.

[Alisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant book, but a little harder to follow than the previous books in this series. Mrs Pollifax is delightful as ever.

[LindaJ^ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a direct followup to #11, once again involving Kadi, Sammat, and the fictional African country of Ubangiba. It starts 8 months after the end of #11. Mrs. Pollifax is recovering from a bad bout of the flu. Cyrus has a broken leg from a fall on the ice. Kadi, an orphan, has adopted them as replacement parents. Kadi calls late one night because she has received a desparate call from friend Sammat (soon to be crowned King of Ubangiba) asking her to come help him discover the source of rumours threatening his coronation. Cyrus says she cannot go alone and gets someone to help him so that Mrs. Pollifax can accompany her.

When the two arrive, they find out that Sammat is rumoured to be a sorcerer who is causing men to be killed by a demon that acts like a lion. Mrs. Pollifax meets Moses while buying a bicycle, which turns out to be a lifesaving encounter. Eventually the killer is discovered but not before Kadi has a bad encounter and Mrs. Pollifax's life is put in grave danger. No CIA business in this one.

[AKA · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up because I loved Moses!

Another trip to Ubangiba, another romp with Mrs. Pollifax! I was surprised to find that this one was entirely removed from the CIA and Mrs. P's official assignments in general. There was enough intrigue and macabre murders to distract from the lack of Car stairs and company. Overall, a decent mystery.

[rabbitprincess · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the Grade 6 reading log files:

"The book I am reading is called Mrs. Pollifax and the Lion Killer. It is about Sammat, future king of Ubangiba. There are rumours that Sammat is a sorcerer who is linked to the lion deaths. The victims look like they have been clawed to death by a lion, but everybody knows there are no lions in Ubangiba. Sammat sends an SOS to Kadi Hopkirk in Connecticut. She goes and tries to help him, and Mrs. Pollifax goes too. There have been three deaths by the time they reach Ubangiba, then two more victims are found. The latest was Esau Motoka, a woodcarver. Everyone is terrified. Then, as if it can't get any worse, Kadi is attacked by a knife-wielding madman. She manages to only get a cut arm. All of Ubangiba is stricken with terror with the five lion deaths. Who will be next? Also, someone stole the assassinated Pres. Simoko's top secret files. Lots of mystery, lots of suspense."

[Lenora Good · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my introduction to Mrs. Pollifax, so I have no idea how it compares to the rest of the series. I found it moderately entertaining, enough that I finished it. Mysteries are not my normal reading genre, and when I read them, I try not to figure out who the bad guy is so the ending won't be ruined when I get there.

This is a book I would be delighted to find on the hospital book cart, should I find myself confined to such a place. Mrs. P and the Lion Killer is easy to read, easy to put down, and easy to pick up again later.

The title is somewhat misleading; it is not about a person who goes to Africa to kill lions, but about the man who kills others like a lion might.

If you are a fan of the Miss Jane Marple books by Agatha Christie, I think you will enjoy the Mrs. Pollifax books. While there is violence, it is neither gratuitous, nor graphic, and there is a great deal of humor. And, true to the "cozy" format, it ends well for everyone but the antagonist.

[Sister · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I like about this series is that they are easy to read - a fine Sunday afternoon book. There is the main mystery to be solved - who is the person killing people like a lion? Then there are the ancillary ones: is someone following Mrs. P? Will the killers of Kadi’s parents come back for Kadi? I figured out who was following her early on (Moses, formerly Inspector Tembo) but didn’t pick up on the Lion Killer (Joseph) until the end. I wish Cyrus and Emily had asked Carstairs for someone to go with Emily & Kadi. There would have then been some Carstairs & Bishop, both of whom were completely absent. It also would have made more sense than sending a flu-enervated Emily “on a vacation “ to a poor country where people are being murdered!

Oh well. On to the last 2 books in the series.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

2021: This one is okay, but it’s the only Mrs. Pollifax that doesn’t include the CIA and it suffers a bit for it. The setting is interesting, and it’s not too exposition heavy except for the solution. Barbara Rosenblatt’s reading is magnificent.

2009: Mrs. P in fine form in a story connected to Mrs. Pollifax Pursued. Kadi is back and at the request of Sammi they travel to Ubangiba to deal with a Lion Killer and intrigue. I always miss Carstairs and Bishop when they're not included, though. Barbara Rosenblat brings the story to life with her reading.

[Ken Montville · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm marking this book as "read" because I'm putting it down for the long foreseeable future. I liked the first Mrs. Pollifax book I read (The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax) but I just can't get into this one. The characters are so shallow and imbecilic. The plot is so far-fetched and poorly developed.

I think this must be something that Dorothy Gilmer was cranking out to please her publisher and put a few dollars in her pocket.

I could go into the unbelievable plot line and characters but it's hardly worth it. It's a nice little escape piece if you really don't want to be challenged and you have nothing better to do.

I got to page 69 and just couldn't keep myself interested.