Oh how I hate that I’ve finished this series. And I’m a little surprised that the ending didn’t at least hint that it was The End.

Still though, a fabulously atmospheric romp through the grim perils of Syria.

(It made me unspeakably sad to know that since Ms Gilman wrote this novel, the ancient treasures of Palmyra had been destroyed).

Thank you Emily Pollifax and your late creator for a wonderfully fascinating and un-put-downable series of tales brilliantly told. I’m going to miss you. ( )

I love the Mrs. Pollifax series - easy reading & fun. They are completely unbelievable, but who cares? I'm reading them for entertainment value only... and this one was set in Syria, so it was interesting just for that. Just right for vacation reading. ( )

It is sad that this is the end to such a great series, but as I've been skipping around on my reread there are more ahead of me. And I can always come back to the series. ( )

Last one in the series... and I have a sad feeling that it will remain the last one. It was published in 2000, Gilman's most recent book was published in 2002, and she's 87. Sigh.
Still, as with all of these, it was fun (and quick) to read. In this installment, Mrs. Pollifax is off to the Middle East again, this time to investigate the possible kidnapping of a young American woman. As usual, inquiries lead to dangerous and adventurous events... ( )

Believing an American woman has been captured or killed in Syria, the CIA calls on Emily Pollifax and free-lance agent, John Sebastian Farrell to travel to Syria and investigate. Rumors suggest that Amanda Pym is still alive after having been kidnapped six weeks earlier. When Mrs. Pollifax and Farrell arrives in Damascus and checks into the hotel, Mrs. Pollifax finds a message that directs them to go to the Citadel. Things really heat up as Farrell gets taken into police custody. Traveling the following day in a borrowed land rover in search of the shepherd who may have seen Amanda Pym, Mrs. Pollifax and her guide, Joe Fleming, find a burned American passport. Now the question is, will they be able to find Amanda before it's too late?

Mrs. Pollifax a very clever character. She uses her life experience and common sense to figure out what needs to be done. She's the kind of person that others feel comfortable talking with so she's able to use that to her advantage. Some readers may be concerned about the improbability of the novels’ basic premise, but in a genre in which women spies are usually young and attractive, Mrs. Pollifax makes an irresistible, early feminist heroine. Even though she remarries halfway through the series she's content to leave her husband at home and travel the world as a CIA operative.

I've spent the year reading the fourteen volume set of Mrs. Pollifax adventures. She’s a great character and I will definitely miss her now that my time with her is over and the author has died. I highly recommend the audiobooks narrated by Barbara Rosenblat. ( )