Destination Unknown, Agatha Christie

 

The Book

Brilliant scientist Tom Betterton disappeared from Paris. Now six months later, his wife Oliva is traveling abroad. The British government believes she is travelling to meet her husband. But on her way to Casablanca, Olive's plane crashes. She survives, briefly, but her wounds are fatal. 

Meanwhile in Casablanca, Hilary Craven, distraught over her husband's desertion and the death of her much beloved child is preparing to take her own life. She is discovered by the mysterious Jessop and recruited to go on a dangerous mission, switching places with Olive to find out the truth about Tom. Since there is a small chance of survival, Hilary agrees. She meets with Olive, who tells Hilary to warn Tom about his cousin Boris Gilmyr. Hilary agrees. 

From there Hilary travels as Olive. She meets a friendly American woman, Mrs. Clive Baker, a distracted British knitter, Miss Heatherington, a wealthy rich Greek, Mr. Aristides and a mysterious Frenchman Mr. Laurier. Hilary, deeply confused, but practically smart glides along in this world the best she can, finding that many of Olive's problems have been pre-solved for her. This leads her to more mysterious travels where she meets several traveling companions. 

With Allen Peters, Torquil Ericsson, Dr. Barron, and Miss Nieheim, she travels on to her final destination, a compound at a leprosery colony where she is reunited the Tom. She's nervous, wondering what will happen if Tom disavows her. She takes charge of the situation and disavows him first, not knowing if she's made the right choice or not. Crazily enough, he laughs and claims her as his wife, much to her surprise. Together they start plotting their escape, but Tom is so erratic he can't really help. 

Into the this Allen Peters, also starts to go stir crazy. He confides to Olive that he will get her out. Tom notices and congratulates Hilary on her conquest, but Hilary denies anything real is going on between her and Peters, even though she is secretly in love with him. From there she discovers that very few people are who they seem. And what everyone thought was a Communist Plot to horde the scientist, was actually a Capitalist Plot to horde scientist. And like all of the thrillers, our lovers live happily ever after. Once Tom Betterton is arrested for killing his first wife. 

My Thoughts

I've never been overly fond of Agatha Christie's thrillers, and this one seems a little too far fetched to me. Even though, there are several plots of similar nature floating around when she wrote it. I guess I don't do Grand Conspiracy very well. The tiny, degradation of one's enemies, and how a strike or a series of strikes will weaken them, that I get. But this we will take over the world, that kind of megalomania doesn't appeal to me as fiction. 

Parts of this book are a breezy ready, parts are a slog. And I think I agree with other critiquers, who think that Christie's overstuffed, over complicated plots are delicious to unwind as mystery fair, they don't translate as well to the thriller genre. I'm glad I read it. Because I am getting ready to write a political thriller myself, so I must remember when I'm plotting and revising not to make it too complicated. 

How Much My Library Card Saved Me

This book came to me from Glenview Public Library. This book entered their system May 16, 2012. It's in pretty good condition for being that old. There are only a couple of pages that have been dogeared at the bottom, and I'm not certain that was intentional, as there is a small crease in the back cover which looks to be the result of a fall, perhaps.  Anyway, this book has several more reads in it and I hope some people find this book awesome. 

The back cover says the book cost $12.99 and that's the number we will use for this 248 page book. 

This Book                                                         $12.99

Items Reviewed This Year                             $649.99

Private Books

This Book                                                         $0.00

Total of Private Books                                    $52.88

Total of All Items Reviewed This Year         $702.87

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