Gilman, Dorothy (1924 - )

Genre: Mystery

Born in New Brunswick, NJ, Gilman lives in Westport, Conn., and Portland, Maine. She began her career writing fiction for children and young adults under her former married name, Dorothy Gilman Butters. She is best known for adult mysteries, particularly the series featuring Emily Pollifax, a retired widow turned CIA agent. The Mystery Writers of America selected Gilman as the Grand Master for 2010, an award which "represents the pinnacle of achievement in mystery writing."

Selected Bibliography

  • Enchanted Caravan (1949/1954)
  • Papa Dolphin's Table (1955)
  • Girl in Buckskin (1956/1990/1994; Young Adult)
  • Ten Leagues to Boston Town (1962; historical fiction)
  • The Bells of Freedom (1963/1995; young adult, historical fiction)
  • Maze in the Heart of the Castle (1983/1991; Young Adult fantasy)
  • Uncertain Voyage (1967/1988/1990/2001-LP; mystery)
  • The Clairvoyant Countess (1975/1976/1987/1996; mystery)
  • A Nun in the Closet (1975/1986/1990/1993)
  • A New Kind of Country (1978/1979/1989/1991; autobiographical work about Gilman's life in a lobstering village in Nova Scotia)
  • The Tightrope Walker (1979/1980/1986/1992/1997; mystery)
  • Incident at Badamaya (1989/1990/1995; adventure, set in 1950s Burma)
  • Caravan (1992/1993; North African adventure story, set in 1914)
  • Kaleidoscope (2002; features Madame Karitska, from The Clairvoyant Countess)

Mrs. Pollifax Mysteries

  • The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax (1966/1970/1972/1984/1985/1992/1998)
  • The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax (1970/1983/1985/1992)
  • The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax (1971/1983/1987/1988/1993)
  • A Palm for Mrs. Pollifax (1973/1983/1985)
  • Mrs. Pollifax on Safari (1977/1987)
  • Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station (1983/1984/1985)
  • Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha (1985/1986)
  • Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle (1987/1989)
  • Mrs. Pollifax and the Whirling Dervish (1990/1991)
  • Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief (1993/1994/1995)
  • Mrs. Pollifax Pursued (1995) (set at a Maine carnival)
  • Mrs. Pollifax and the Lion Killer (1996/1997)
  • Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist (1997)
  • Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled (2000)

Selected Resources

Material from Maine State Library files