Agatha Christie - Destination Unknown (1954)

This is another of Christie's standalone spy thrillers.

Hilary Craven, amusing name since she's trying to kill herself in Morocco when the story begins,  is enlisted by a British agent Jessop to impersonate a missing scientist's dead wife. Scientists have been disappearing all over the world and Jessop believes Hilary is his best hope of locating where they've been spirited off to.

I really liked the journey across Africa and the different ideologies for the characters - these made up their different reasons for disappearing the way they did. They all thought they were going to their version of Utopia. In reality a very wealthy man was collecting 'resources' that the world would pay heavily to use. Christie wasn't blinded by the illusions thrown up to stop people seeing the realities of life - in the end it's always about money. Greed makes the world go round. Quite sad really, since money doesn't exist yet so much harm is done to acquire it.

Agatha Christie - The Man In The Brown Suit (1924)

 I read this Christie mystery at least once a year and it will always be one of my favourite-of-all-time novels. Not just because I'm half in love with Colonel Race either *sigh*. It's all of the characters, they feel so real and the adventure feels such fun. I'm there in Africa with Anne, I'm not just reading about it. I'm living the story.

Christie is one of the greatest authors ever, but I consider this in her top 10 best. The story is set in Africa (most of the time), with a master criminal who is charming and adorable, handsome dashing heroes and an in omnia paratus heroine - Anne. All of whom are searching for a murderer and Kimberley diamonds.

Anne is brilliant - she's so vibrant, ebullient, sparkling, vivacious... there just aren't enough words for how lively she is. You can feel Anne throughout the novel, everything she does and says. I couldn't relate to her one bit, I don't want to emulate her in any ways, I definitely didn't approve of the hero she chose for her husband - but I still adore her!

The only part of this novel that made me sad was the point where Colonel Race is described as a big game hunter (he's really British secret service, thankfully). I know everyone thought it was a fair fight back then, a bunch of guns and an unaware animal. But, I don't and never will. I know it continues today on private safari-slaughter sites in Africa and I'm appalled by it. Anyways, ending the rant - still a great novel!