Victoria Jones, a young shorthand typist with a talent for mimicry and fabrication, follows a brief romantic interest from London to Iraq. Upon arriving in Baghdad, she becomes entangled in a high-stakes international conspiracy involving a secret summit of world leaders. After a wounded British agent dies in her hotel room, Victoria must navigate a web of spies and underground organizations. The plot centers on the discovery of a scientific breakthrough that a shadowy group intends to use to disrupt global peace.
Fans of mid-century espionage and adventure fiction read this for its departure from traditional village mysteries. Readers observe the intersection of archeological expeditions and geopolitical maneuvering within a Cold War setting. The narrative provides an atmospheric look at the Middle East through the lens of a 1950s traveler. One finishes the book with an understanding of how Christie blended her personal experiences on excavations with the thriller tropes of her era to create a lighthearted survival story.
Practical, outward-looking, clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1951
- Language
- EN
