The Mrs. Pollifax books in order follow Emily Pollifax, a widowed New Jersey grandmother who unexpectedly becomes a part-time CIA operative. Dorothy Gilman’s lighthearted spy mysteries send her around the world on assignments that rarely remain as simple as promised.
Gilman wrote 14 Mrs. Pollifax novels between 1966 and 2000. The missions combine espionage, suspense, humor, and recurring characters, with Mrs. Pollifax repeatedly proving that anyone who underestimates her is making a serious mistake.
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Mrs. Pollifax Books in Order
There are 14 original Mrs. Pollifax novels. Read them in publication order, which is also the chronological reading order for the series.
- The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax (1966)
- The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax (1970)
- The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax (1971)
- A Palm for Mrs. Pollifax (1973)
- Mrs. Pollifax on Safari (1977)
- Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station (1983)
- Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha (1985)
- Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle (1988)
- Mrs. Pollifax and the Whirling Dervish (1990)
- Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief (1993)
- Mrs. Pollifax Pursued (1995)
- Mrs. Pollifax and the Lion Killer (1996)
- Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist (1997)
- Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled (2000)
The individual assignments are largely self-contained, but publication order preserves Mrs. Pollifax’s character development, relationships, and recurring characters. In particular, read Mrs. Pollifax Pursued before Mrs. Pollifax and the Lion Killer, which continues the story involving Kadi and Sammat.
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax was also published in the UK as Mrs. Pollifax, Spy. It is the same novel, not an additional series entry. Some bookseller and database listings show more than 14 books because they count omnibus editions or multiple editions separately. No novel is missing from the publication gap between Mrs. Pollifax on Safari and Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station.
Mrs. Pollifax Book-to-Screen Adaptations
There are two Mrs. Pollifax screen adaptations, and both are based on The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax. They are separate versions of the same basic story rather than sequels, so either can be watched on its own. In release order, they are:
- Mrs. Pollifax-Spy (1971)
- The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax (1999 TV movie)
Mrs. Pollifax-Spy stars Rosalind Russell as Emily Pollifax and Darren McGavin as Farrell. Russell adapted Dorothy Gilman’s first novel for the screen under the pseudonym C. A. McKnight. It was her final theatrically released film.
The 1999 television adaptation stars Angela Lansbury as Emily Pollifax and Thomas Ian Griffith as Farrell. It is an independent adaptation rather than a continuation of the 1971 movie.
About Dorothy Gilman
Dorothy Gilman was an American author best known for creating Emily Pollifax. Before writing adult mysteries and spy novels, she published books for younger readers under the name Dorothy Gilman Butters.
Gilman’s international travels helped shape the varied settings of the Mrs. Pollifax series. Her heroine is a grandmother and garden-club member whose ordinary appearance makes her easy to underestimate, but her curiosity, courage, common sense, and talent for connecting with people repeatedly help her survive dangerous CIA assignments.
In 2010, the Mystery Writers of America named Gilman a Grand Master in recognition of her contributions to mystery writing. She died in 2012 at age 88 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.
Looking for similar books in order?
If you want more mystery authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Mystery Books in Order index.