Mrs. Pollifax Books in Order

This reading order guide provides the complete list of Mrs. Pollifax books in order, from the very first to the latest, so you won’t miss anything!

About the Mrs. Pollifax Series

Ever thought what would happen if your sweet old neighbor became a spy and traveled the world? That’s basically what happens in the Mrs. Pollifax books by Dorothy Gilman.

The series started in 1966 and has 14 books, ending in 2000. People loved these for years and it’s easy to see why. The main character is Mrs. Emily Pollifax, a kind, widowed grandmother from New Jersey. She lives a quiet life—until one day she decides she wants more. So she ends up working for the CIA. Yes, really.

Mrs. Pollifax is not your average spy. She wears normal clothes, goes to garden club meetings and drinks tea. But don’t let that fool you—she’s smart, brave and always follows her gut. What starts as a way to add some excitement to her life soon turns into full on spy missions all over the world.

In the first book The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax there’s a mistake at the CIA and she gets sent on a real mission. From then on her life changes completely. In each book she goes to a new place—Asia, the Middle East, South America—and somehow always ends up in the middle of trouble she didn’t expect.

One reason the books work so well is that the author mixes mystery and action with a little humor and heart. It’s not just about solving cases—it’s also about people, growth and showing it’s never too late to do something new with your life. Mrs. Pollifax starts out nervous but by the end of every story she’s stronger—and usually has made a few new friends along the way.

There are a few characters that pop up throughout the series like Mr. Carstairs, a serious CIA boss and Bishop his assistant. Farrell, a smooth ex-agent with a mysterious past and Cyrus Reed who becomes important in her personal life. They make the books feel like you’re catching up with old friends.

Even though the books are set during the Cold War the places Mrs. Pollifax visits feel real and full of life. Sometimes they’re real countries, sometimes made up but they all feel believable. The missions include everything from stolen art and secret codes to smugglers and hidden royalty.My favorite in the series is Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief where she deals with stolen art and a puzzle. Another good one is Mrs. Pollifax Pursued where a young woman is hiding in her closet and it turns into a wild adventure across countries. There’s always danger but also kindness, cleverness and a little romance.

In 1971 they made a movie called Mrs. Pollifax–Spy with Rosalind Russell. The movie didn’t do as well as the books but it did introduce more people to this unique character.

If you like light mysteries, travel stories or just books with a strong and surprising heroine this series is worth reading. The writing is easy to follow, the stories are full of twists and Mrs. Pollifax is someone you’ll probably end up loving.