Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief/Large Print (G K Hall Large Print Book Series) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Dorothy Gilman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1994 | Series: G K Hall Large Print Book Series

Emily Pollifax, a suburban New Jersey grandmother and part-time CIA agent, is sent to Sicily to investigate an ancient document, leading her into a deadly confrontation with international arms dealers. 35,000 first printing. $35,000 ad/promo. Tour.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

That dignified New Jersey grandmother with the wicked karate chop embarks on her 10th CIA assignment, after Mrs. Pollifax and the Whirling Dervish , in this sunny Sicilian adventure. Former colleague John Farrell, hired to crack a safe and lift a document signed by Julius Caesar (who "launched his attack on Africa in 47 B.C. from the town of Lilybaeum" in Sicily) sends an SOS while dodging a professional assassin whom he and Mrs. P. jailed some years ago. Soon she too is ducking bullets and the old pals are forced to hole up in the Villa Franca--part farm, part medieval fortress and full-time residence of young CIA agent Kate Rossiter's eccentric aunt. Ancient artifacts, hair-raising chases, art forgery, arms traffic, a nighttime assault on the villa, mysterious millionaires, spectacular scenery and unexpected romance are some of the ingredients simmering in the plot. Gilman's smooth storytelling and slyly comic tone make it easy for readers to overlook a somewhat untidy ending.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Emily Polifax is a grandmother, garden club fan, and a part-time CIA operative who manages to hold her own in her assignments. In this outing, she is sent to Sicily to help rescue Farrell, a former agent who was shot while attempting to steal a document bearing the signature of Julius Caesar. Polifax teams up with another agent, Kate Rossiter, who is vacationing in Sicily. Upon finding Farrell, they become embroiled in a scheme involving art forgers, secret cartels, and professional killers. This is a delightful romp, with the quick pacing and well-drawn characters that mark Gilman's series (e.g., Mrs. Polifax and the Golden Triangle , Audio Reviews, LJ 11/15/93). The narration by a full cast of readers is played for all its worth. Strongly recommended for all libraries.
- Susan B. Lamphier, Somerville P.L., Mass.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: G K Hall & Co (February 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816159173
• ISBN-13: 978-0816159178
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,624,817 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dorothy Gilman is the author of thirteen Mrs. Pollifax novels, beginning with The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax and continuing through Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist. She lives in Westport, Connecticut.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Different voice?, February 1, 2005

By 

Virginia Hammon (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief (Mass Market Paperback)

Dorothy Gilman is one of my favorite mystery writers. I've read all of her first nine books many, many times, and highly recommend them. In this book and the ones that follow the author's voice shifts so completely, I wonder if she is actually the one continuing to write them. Mrs. Pollifax's character changes, she is "cross" several times in the first few chapters and the old Mrs. Pollifax was curious and philosophical and observant. This philosophical bent disappears entirely from these later books.

The adventures no longer sizzle along. An early chase in this book is poorly crafted; as it happens it is described without enough detail to make it interesting or suspensful and we are told Mrs. Pollifax looks back on it as a "nightmare," when there is no basis for this in the story. The earlier Mrs. Pollifax would roll with the punches and reserve "nightmare" for full fledged torture. These later books are so disappointing because the first nine are so wonderful....

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Recent books disappointing, April 24, 2001

By 

C. Dong (Corona, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief (Mass Market Paperback)

The first 4 or 5 books in the Pollifax series are wonderful. This is the worst of those that follow. I think the problem that I am having is that Mrs. Pollifax no longer seems to be the author of her own success. Lucky chance may be the reason she wins through in the end, or some individual she meets up with does it all for her. And I don't care for these partnerships, especially with Farrell. The wonderful thing in the past was how Mrs. Pollifax would come to a case with lovely excitement and by being herself assemble a group of unusual people around her and inspire them to great things. The recent Pollifaxes have seem tired and dependent.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A surprising disappointment..., July 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief (Mass Market Paperback)

I can wholeheartedly recommend all other Mrs. Pollifax books, but this one left me wishing it hadn't happened. The plot was obvious and contrived - not her usual level of writing at all. While it was nice to see old friends, they were not as entertaining and funny as they have been both before and since. I'd pass on this one.