Dorothy Gilman

Dorothy Gilman

When Gilman began writing her spy thriller series Mrs. Pollifax, she switched to her maiden name. The fourteen Mrs. Pollifax novels, chronicling the adventures of a retired grandmother turned CIA agent who travels the world on adventures, became a huge success selling millions of copies.

Gilman shared several traits with her fictional heroine. She too was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She was an avid traveller. And she was a gardener, growing most of her own vegetables and herbs when she lived on her farm in Nova Scotia, Canada in the 1970s. She recounts this experience in her memoir, A New Kind of Country. She also authored many other novels, including Thale’s Folly, The Clairvoyant Countess and Uncertain Voyage. Most of her books feature strong women adventuring around the world.

In 2010, Gilman was awarded the annual Grand Master Award by the Mystery Writers of America. She passed away at age 88 of complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

Recommendations For Dorothy Gilman

Recommended by Claire Edwards

Dorothy Gilman’s Mrs Pollifax series is an excellent mystery series with a dollop of humor and scary

Recommended by Audrey Stewart

Mrs. Polifax is so much fun. We listened to her books as a whole family on road trips and even the t

Recommended by Alice Collins

The Mrs Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman are beyond terrific. The books are about a middle aged, mi

Recommended by Sadie Morris

My all-time favorite is Dorothy Gilman’s Mrs. Pollifax. I cried when Dorothy died.

Share Your Recommendations

Books By Dorothy Gilman

Tips and Resources From Your Dorothy Gilman Book Club Friends:

Filled with humour and charm, mystery and adventure, Dorothy Gilman’s Mrs. Pollifax series has delighted millions of readers since her debut appearance in 1966’s The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax. The unconventional spy embarks on an exciting career as a CIA agent after accidentally becoming recruited. Despite her inexperience and age, Emily Pollifax is courageous and resourceful in the heat of danger as she falls into misadventures in exotic locales around the world. And it helps that she knows karate. What characteristics of the Mrs. Pollifax books do you like the most? Are you a member of your local garden club like her? Have you read all of Mrs. Pollifax’s adventures? How about Gilman’s other mystery suspense books? Let’s debrief together.

the order of the Books and all Related Books Available

All Dorothy Gilman’s Book Series in Order of Publication

Find the right order of the books in the series.

Mrs Pollifax Books In Order

Madame Karitska Books In Order

Recommendations From Dorothy’s Fans

Nita Prose

Recommended by Vera Green

I want to recommend Nita Prose. I just finished “The Maid” and really enjoyed it. It took me a while

Deanna Raybourn

Recommended by Lindsey Smith

I highly recommend Deanna Raybourn. Her books are fabulously fun.They are also pretty funny and all

Sue Grafton

Recommended by Gia Hill

I’ve binge-read all of Sue Grafton’s books from A to Y again recently and they are still as good as

Richard Osman

Recommended by Janet Lee

I just finished Richard Osman’s 4th Thursday Murder Club Mystery. I think it’s

Iona Whishaw

Recommended by Nora Young

I’ve fallen in love with Iona Whishaw’s Lane Winslow Mystery books. They are great reads that aren’t

Rhys Bowen

Recommended by Felicity Hall

My favorites Rhys Bowen books are the Molly series. An immigrant in NYC. Begin with the first one an

MC Beaton

Recommended by Flora Allen

I recommend MC Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth series set in northern Scotland. I have read every Hamish boo

Daniel Silva

Recommended by Anna Fisher

Daniel Silva Gabriel Allon series are fabulous books!! Good political thrillers with interesting plo

Janet Evanovich

Recommended by Gia Hill

Stephanie Plum is my “go to” when I want a laugh and pure escapist fun and she never disappoints.

Share Your Recommendations

Recommended Books From Dorothy Gilman Fans

Five Christmas Gifts: A Holiday Short Story Collection

But For The Grace: A DC Smith Investigation

At the Reunion Buffet: An Isabel Dalhousie Story

Invitation to Die: A Short Story of Falco's Rome

In Farleigh Field: A Novel of World War II

Wednesday's Child: An Inspector Banks Novel

The Woman in the Water: A Prequel to the Charles Lenox Series

Watching the Dark: An Inspector Banks Novel

Persons of Interest: A DC Smith Investigation

Ring In the Dead: A J. P. Beaumont Novella

Agatha Raisin and The Witch of Wyckhadden

Hallowed Ground: A Kate Burkholder Short Story

Too Close for Comfort: The Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series

Weighed in the Balance: A William Monk Novel

The Custom of the Army: An Outlander Novella

Death of a Laird: A Hamish Macbeth Short Story

In Plain Sight: A Kate Burkholder Short Mystery

Girls' Night Out: A J. P. Beaumont Short Story

The Dead Ringer: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

The Kidnapping: An Ian Rutledge Original Short Story

“People need dreams, there’s as much nourishment in ’em as food.”

Dorothy Gilman, Caravan

Gail W

“Mrs. Pollifax is so much fun! I mean who can’t like a widowed grandmother with a penchant for gardening who turns into a CIA agent? The books are filled with plenty of humour, adventure and unexpected twists and turns. I loved learning that Dorothy Gilman visited all the countries that Mrs. Pollifax goes to. No wonder she could describe them so wonderfully.”

How can I share my favourite quotes?

See More From Book Club Friends

Sign up and log in to post, comment and join the conversation.