30. Destination Unknown
by Agatha Christie
mystery, 1954
library book seven
Nook book 10
finished 5/24/12
I don't know why more agencies in real life don't do as Agatha did in this book. A young woman wants to kill herself. A spy fellow offers her a dangerous job. Since she wants to die anyway, why not do it in a way that may help the world? Hilary Craven's child has died, and her husband has left her. She is understandably at the edge of despair with nothing to live for and no will to go on. She accepts the reasonable offer, and changes her life in the process.
This book is yet another one that had me shaking my head in amazement at Agatha. The woman can go from writing about a sweet little lady in a garden to a thrilling espionage story worthy of Ian Fleming's James Bond tales.
The place Hilary ends up is in fact right out of a James Bond story. It is a compound in the Atlas Mountains, supposedly a leper colony.
The book also had a feel of The Prisoner, the old British tv show where life is seemingly perfect. All is taken care of. But no one can leave.
Another most satisfying book from Agatha Christie.
I had never heard of this one! I've been (more slowly than you) making my way through AC's books recently.
ReplyDeleteShe is just so amazing to me.
DeleteThis sounds most intriguing - I had no idea Agatha Christie wrote such a book, and can't remember having found it mentioned in "The World of Agatha Christie", a book I was given by my mother-in-law.
ReplyDeleteShe has some other spy sorts of books, though I haven't read any but this one, yet. I looked up the book you mentioned, and you might like to read this reader comment at amazon :<)
Deletehttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580621600/
I think I may post my own review there, too! In case you have not read it when I originally posted it in 2011, here it is:
Deletehttp://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.de/2011/05/read-in-2011-12-world-of-agatha.html
Do you know this is one AC book that I don't think I've ever read? I know that there are several actually that I've not experienced, mostly ones that don't feature her main detectives. I'm putting it on my list.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if anyone can ever read every single book she wrote! Like PG Wodehouse. A lifetime may not be enough! I've liked many of her stand-a-lones (is that the right word??).
DeleteNan, your banner photos have ben beautiful, but this one, a peony I assume, is absolutely intoxicating. What a fabulous shot!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this one by Agatha Christie - it sounds like I should.
Oh, thank you, thank you! I really should do a blog post on this new camera. It practically runs itself. I just hold it, and push a button. It figures out everything for me! My kind of camera. :<)
DeleteI think she was quite the genius...amazing how she turned out stellar books with amazing plots time afer time!
ReplyDeleteI really don't think genius is too strong a word. She was so talented at what she did.
DeleteYou might like D.E. Stevenson's Empty World for the category of perfect world but no one can leave.......I think Anglophilebooks.com still has some copies....It's different than the books she is most known for.......
ReplyDeleteWow, it does sound different from her usual style. I'll see if the library has it. Thanks.
DeleteThis is another of my favourite Christie novels, I have it on audio and listen to it while I'm ironing. It will be next on the list when I've finished the current audio book.
ReplyDeleteIt is so good. I really enjoyed it, and could picture the place so well.
DeleteThanks for this contribution to the Blog Carnival Nan. I'm not sure I've ever seen reference to this one. Wikipedia says it has an alternative title So Many Steps to Death. I'm reading A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED myself.
ReplyDeleteIt's a really good one!
DeleteI tuned in to have a look at the Agatha Christie title, one I have not read nor heard about.... but like others, I wanted to comment on the peony. What a fabulous shot! I have two tree peonies and three of the other kind in my garden. Short flowering life but worth it every year. Thank you for the photo!
ReplyDeleteI so love peonies. This has been a good year with no heavy rains to destroy the flowers early. I've ordered 6 new ones to plant this fall. I've had only 2 for years and years. I have this scheme to put them in along a sidewalk.
DeleteThank you for the compliment. It is all down to the new camera. I just hold it. :<)
I thought I had read everything Christie ever wrote - some a few times over. But I'm fairly certain I've never read this one - must get to!
ReplyDeleteIt is quite a good book! I so enjoyed it.
DeleteI love this book, Nan. I'm so glad you liked it as well. I've read it countless times and still reach for it when I'm in the mood to get away. This, THEY CAME TO BAGHDAD and THE MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT are my 'getaway' Christie 'vacations'.
ReplyDeleteI defy anyone to guess the ending of DESTINATION UNKNOWN aka SO MANY STEPS TO DEATH. Occasionally I see negative reviews of this and I shake my head. Nope. It is a fabulous book.
I do love the Baghdad book; one of my fave AC stories. Still haven't read The Man in the Brown Suit.
DeleteI agree, a most satisfying book - I read it for the first time only a few years ago!
ReplyDeleteAC is quite amazing!
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