A Palm for Mrs. Pollifax

Mrs. Pollifax #4

by Dorothy Gilman

A secret agent like no other, Mrs. Pollifax was leading a very full life: Garden Club, karate, yoga--and a little spying now and then. This time the mysterious Mr. Carstairs sent her to Switzerland--to a famous health resort where the world's intelligence agents had gathered. Her mission: to track down a missing package of plutonium--just enough to make a small atomic bomb. It was a job that suited Mrs. Pollifax's talents. She's good with people and even better at sniffing out their secrets. But it was not until she became enchanted with Robin, the young jewel thief, that her new adventure really began....

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

191 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1973

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

[Merry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so on the fence about this book. I have a cold and that could be why it only rates a 3.5* The writing was as good as the previous books. BUT the middle of the book slowed down a bit for me (or the cold dragged me down). Suspend all disbelief and transport yourself back to the 1970's. I like books where the bad guys are really bad and the good guys well, they're the ones that should win. The end was really tied up so neatly that the I knew what was going to happen before it did.

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 4 and Mrs. Pollifax is up to her shenanigans again, this time in Switzerland at a luxury health resort.

A dangerous amount of Plutonium has gone missing and Carstairs sends Mrs.P undercover to investigate the premises and the residents and see what she can find. As usual she meets some delightful characters and some very nasty ones as well and deals with both kinds with her usual aplomb.

This is a funny and very entertaining story. Mrs.P gets to practice her karate to great effect and the way she deals with the Plutonium is hilarious. She is a woman of many parts. indeed. Highly recommended.

[Megan Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I returned to this book this past week, as one of the best comfort reads I know. When the world is overwhelming, this series has been one of my best refuges, one of my favourite fictional universes to escape into when I have no energy to go anywhere new. (Other comfort reads include L.M. Montgomery, Robertson Davies and Spider Robinson books.)

Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.

In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 4 out of 5]

* I am not keen on empty like button clicks. Comments, if you have them, are this writer’s reward. *

I became an earnest Dorothy Gilman fan from the first standalone novel I read. I discovered the quadruple decade-running Mrs. Pollifax afterwards and bought them all brand new, which I am slowly savouring, at a two-year interval apiece. Her fantasy saga, “The Maze In The Heart Of The Castle” is a triumphant feat to acquire and too poorly-known for the masterful oeuvre that it is. Even Dorothy’s children’s adventures are great collector’s items and I deliberately postpone reading her autobiography for as long as I can. I caught the news of her death a few years ago and would have attended her service, had I lived reasonably near New York, USA. It is a personal quest to learn where she used to live in Nova Scotia; one of our proud, beautiful coastal provinces that gave this legendary authoress solace after her divorce.

Spending time with Dorothy’s words is not the mechanical reading of just another novel. It is for me, a most soothing and comfortable retreat. I read the historical youth drama, “The Bells Of Freedom”, last year but was due to reprise the heroic senior citizen, Emily’s, spy series with a mission in Switzerland published in 1973: “A Palm For Mrs. Pollifax”. I like it the least but four stars are respectable.

A partner got killed, while she recovered plutonium at a wealthy hospital retreat. Dorothy did not mask characters who looked suspicious and made a chase among them, the crux of her novel. It was funny that Emily astounded a thief, in her relief that he wasn’t a quarry in her mission! He wondered with whom he was dealing, to brush that aside! I disliked the dramatically-sad boy who became the focal point. This novel didn’t move me but much more energetic new friends made up for that.

[Debbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a delightful diversion. When I am feeling overwhelmed by my stacks of serious books. Mrs. Polifax is the ideal antidote. Clever and well written this series is never disappointing.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever and resourceful, Mrs. Pollifax may have actually saved the world this time! An attempted coup d'etat in a fictional Middle Eastern country, some stolen plutonium, and kidnapped woman and child... all solved in a medical-spa retreat type place in Switzerland.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these Mrs. Pollifax books. My only complaint is that either they are too short, or I consume them too quickly.

I am beginning to wonder if there is an autobiography written about Dorothy Gilman. I learned that she passed away in February 2012, a victim of Alzheimer's disease. I am curious about her research for the international intrigue she incorporates into these plots. This particular story made me pause, for there is mention of Jihad, the anti-Christ and the idea of using the threat of nuclear weapons to gain power in the world. Because this story was published in 1973, it almost felt like it was a foreboding of current times.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mrs Pollifax is sent on assignment to Switzerland to locate stolen plutonium. Sadly, the perpetrators are obvious from the start and there are no surprises in the plot at all. It’s well enough written, even thought provoking at times, but I enjoyed it less than the first three in the series. I’m hoping number 5 will be better.

[Sherri F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5+ stars: For me, Mrs. Pollifax never disappoints, and of the four I've read so far, this was my favorite. Since I gave the 3 others 4 stars (for ratings of 3.5 to 4+ so this deserved more). This time Mrs. P heads off to a medical spa in Switzerland and instead of being a more passive agent as in the past, this time she was lent to Interpol to assist their English agent search for stolen plutonium at the facility. Mrs. P always has a colorful array of supporting characters and this time they were stellar. From the book jacket: "a charming Englishman whose credentials aren't quite in order, a retired French general, a mysterious entourage from an oil-rich Middle-East nation, a beautiful Belgian from UNESCO, a not-very-sociable Egyptian in a wheel chair..." My favorites were Hafez, a 10-year old boy from the Zaybian entourage who is smitten w/Mrs. P in a grandmotherly way, and Robin, an Englishman Mrs. P befriends then learns he's a "cat burglar" and utilizes his skills for good. It is another fun, adventure filled, quick read with a few stressful moments.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

After someone manages to steal a plutonium from the U.S. and Great Britain, the CIA sends in their most powerful weapon: James Bond's grandma.

Just kidding. Kind of.

Mrs. Pollifax is back and this time with a top secret mission in Switzerland to track down missing plutonium. Never one to step down from a challenge, she jumps straight in and almost immediately manages to find a Nice Young Man to drag along for the ride.

With this whole series, you have to go in firmly thinking, 'this was the 1970s.' Because honestly, that explains so much but also ups the entertainment value considerably. Mrs. Pollifax is always going on about the wonders of democracy or the importance of morals and sometimes it is fun to just sit back and enjoy.

I'd have to say I this one felt a little strangled at the end, with some potential for suspense that I neve quite bought. But still fun.

[hotsake (André Troesch) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun entry in the series and a decent adventure but the ending was a bit of a let down. Two thirds of the book seemed to be setup and then the limp ending.

[Miriam Simut · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5
Loved this one!

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The inimitable Mrs. Pollifax returns here for her fourth adventure, this time finding herself at a ritzy convalescent hotel in Switzerland, on the hunt for some stolen plutonium. While searching for this dangerous contraband, she also befriends a charming young British man with a mysterious past and a young Arab boy who is apparently terrified of his companions. As is so often the case with Mrs. Pollifax, the friends she makes along the way to reaching her objective prove to be useful allies, and some of their stories end up being more than a little germane to the central conspiracy she winds up confronting...

Although I would not describe A Palm for Mrs. Pollifax as being quite the equal of its three predecessors - The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax , The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax and The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax - in terms of either hilarity or narrative excitement, it had more than enough of both to make it an engaging entry in the series. I enjoyed Robin Burke-Jones' character, and his amusing exchanges with Mrs. Pollifax, as they both learnt that the other was not what or whom they had thought, were quite humorous. The adventure with Hafez at the castle was also most engrossing, and the climb down the medieval latrine was entertaining. This was written in 1973, as terrorism in the Middle East was just beginning to become more religious, rather than nationalist in nature, so the conclusion, in which the villain, a Muslim zealot intent on creating a worldwide theocracy, escapes, presumably to carry on with his scheming, was also fascinating. I finished the book, written so many decades ago, thinking of how Islamist terror has since become one of the gravest troubles facing our world, and wondering what Gilman (who died in 2012) made of it all. Did she think of this story at all, after 9/11? Did she see any parallels between her villain and figures like Osama bin Laden? I certainly did.

Leaving such musings aside, this was an entertaining addition to the series, even if it has never been one of my personal favorites, and I recommend it to anyone who has read and enjoyed the first three Mrs. Pollifax books.

[Fedra · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Well, Mrs. Pollifax,” he said with a rueful smile, “here we go again"

The best in the series so far! Mrs Pollifax goes to Switzerland for a CIA/Interpol job about stolen plutonium. My perfect comfort read, sweet cozy mystery.

It takes a damnable lot of money to be rich.

On a side note, I get that this book was written in the 70s, but it is frustrating to read about people getting suspicious over MS (Multiple Sclerosis) patients. No, it's not so easy to fake.. That is why even now there are people (and sometimes doctors) not believing us without seeing our MRIs, thank heavens we got those now.
I think everyone should know that most of the time, people with MS can walk, but since in some cases their legs are too weak, they use wheelchairs. MS unfortunately can cause paralysis, but this is not the norm 💪

4.5 stars

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another highly enjoyable outing with Emily Pollifax....geriatric agent par excellence, apparently a secret weapon of the CIA goes after contraband plutonium. Adventure, danger, and confusion ensues, but of course E. Pollifax comes through.

These are fun reads and not a genre I usually read much... I highly recommend all of them.

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs. Polifax is learning karate. What could possibly go wrong?

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of the same, and that's just fine.

Part Cold-War espionage and spy "thriller," part travelogue, part period piece, part accidental tourist/spy, part gee-whiz-it's-a-series-and-it's-familiar-so-why-not?, part good clean fun (with a little drama and some bite-sized mayhem), and ... well not much else?

Left to my own devices, I'm not sure how much energy I'd put into the series, but ... my spouse (really) enjoys them, and, once we've bought one, it's free (to me), and it's fun to be able to share and discuss books in the home, so I expect we'll keep progressing through the series (although there's no rush)....

Of course, if you plan to try one, do not start here, be sure to start at the beginning. I'm sure they work just fine as standalones, but there's definitely a progression, and familiarity with the characters and the backstory adds color to what, frankly, are rather slender volumes (quick reads) anyway....

[Teri-K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has always been one of my favorite Mrs. Pollifax books. She goes to Switzerland to investigate plutonium thefts, and meets several interesting people - who will show up later in the series. Though other professionals are also on the case, her best helpers turn out to be a ten-year-old boy and a charming cat burglar. Gilman was a writer capable of creating memorable characters and devising fascinating plots that keep the story moving. Add in exotic settings and clean stories, and you have a great series that appeals to a wide variety of readers and can be read and reread. I love the audiobooks, too!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gilman is a writer that introduces us to a new cast of characters every time she writes, she does not recycle any of them and gives to us a new backdrop full of fresh characters and storyline.

I found her a little less bold this time probably to give Robin more decisive actions. Hope this character returns to the series.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books featuring Mrs. Pollifax are great fun with plenty of risky ventures, life threatening feats and colorful characters. She is working on some yoga moves when she is notified by CIA contact that plutonium is at risk and she is just the person they need at Lake Geneva clinic posing as old hag in need of rejuvenation. Little does the clinic know who they are admitting. Good entertainment!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

“…she had forgotten every scrap of her Latin with the exception of the phrase Fortes fortuna iuvat, or Fortune favors the bold. It was a phrase that contained a certain amount of comfort for her now…”

Mrs. Pollifax has boldness and fortune in spades and I love her for it! In this entry we follow her to Switzerland on the trail of plutonium which the CIA and Interpol thinks is being hidden at a Clinic in the Alps. Tasked with doing some snooping, Mrs. Pollifax once again finds both friends and enemies as she tries to discover what is really going on at this seeming peaceful retreat.

Another wonderful entry in one of my very favorite series!

[Andria Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reading this series just as I'm reading the Richard Jury novels by Martha Grimes and it's a pity the pair can't meet up. I've the feeling they'd get along splendidly. Mrs. Pollifax remains a delight. 5 ⭐.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series.

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 3 out of 5]

...to blur together.

[Sandy Sonnenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful adventure with Mrs. Pollifax!

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandmotherly Mrs. Pollifax has had several assignments for the CIA and gets one to go to a snazzy medical resort near Lake Geneva. The goal: find out what happened with some stolen plutonium that the CIA believes was sent there. Interpol is working with the CIA, but even before Mrs. Pollifax arrives, an agent meets a suspicious demise. When she gets there, a boy seeks her friendship and Mrs. Pollifax' knack for making helpful friends again serves her well. There is something odd going on with the boy and his grandmother, who is a patient there. Mrs. Pollifax wades in, snooping and caring, both.

This is the fourth in the series and the third one for me. Mrs. Pollifax faces the bad guys using most enjoyable common sense and positive attitude, so much that those are contagious for both her allies and readers. That she is, almost by definition, the underdog to the bad guys adds one more reason to love rooting for her. I will surely backtrack for number three and continue with the series.

[Susan (aka Just My Op) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first three books in this series for the fun, improbable stories they tell – a older woman who becomes a most unlikely operative for the CIA. She gets into impossible predicaments that she manages to escape, and her life has some amazing coincidences in it. Having said that, I didn't appreciate this book as much as the earlier ones. Same improbable plot, different country – that was okay. But in this one, she claims that Jihad as a holy war is one of the 5 pillars of the “Moslem” faith. Jihad can mean a holy war but many who practice Islam also practice Jihad in much gentler, kinder ways, not holy war. The one-sided view made me not appreciate this book as much as I had hoped. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. I borrowed this ebook from my local library.

[Jannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is maybe my 3rd or 4th reread because I love the world Gilman has made and its always such a nice time rereading it.
I do have to say she is alarmingly naive about the truth of Islamic scriptures and rulings and the fact that her later stories have a lot of people who are Muslim only show that. Its sad.. Because the popularity of this series means there's probably write a few misinformed out there..
I mean..esp on the villain of this piece... The guy supposedly read the Qur'an... What mad warped version exactly .?!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this may be my favorite Mrs. Pollifax, because I do so love the brilliant little boy Hafez and have always dreamed of overnighting in a museum. Emily visits a fancy hotel clinic in Switzerland to track down stolen plutonium, but something else is going on, and we get to rocket about the countryside and dawdle with the rich. She’s clearly a professional now, and although she does her usual collection of good people, this isn’t as repetitious as the earlier books can seem.

[itchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

my copy sucks (can't wait to find and buy a paperback) due to ocr errors

peaches, ha!