The Code

Killmaster #77

by Nick Carter, Larry Powell (Ghostwriter)

Killmaster in a savage death dual with Mafia's top assassin!

183 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Nick Carter is a house pseudonym used by Award, Ace, and later Jove, publishing for the series Nick Carter who later graduated to a special agent for the Killmaster novels, a series of 261+ spy adventures published from 1964 until late 1990s.

A great number of writers have written under the pen-name over the years, beginning in September 1886 when Nick Carter first appeared in the 'New York Weekly' in a 13-week serial, entitled 'The Old Detective's Pupil; or, The Mysterious Crime of Madison Square'.

The Nick Carter character was originally conceived by Ormond G. Smith, the son of one of the founders of Street & Smith, and realized by John R. Coryell.

Reviews

[Jeff Tankersley · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is 1973 and US agent Nick Carter is assigned to find out who killed a fellow member of AXE. Kirby had been a valuable and trusted agent, and was working with an informant in the mafia and then both of them were killed in a barrage of machine gun fire. Nick's investigation takes him from brothel to brothel across the west coast and Vegas to check in on a bad guy's various women and he gets beat up, shot, and run off the road a few times. "The Code" in this case is the mafia's code of conduct, which some of its members are breaking with their actions here.

This is the 77th installment of the Nick Carter Killmaster series and it was ghost-written by Larry Powell. Nick Carter - the author - is a pseudonym used by several authors writing for the series, with Nick Carter also being the name of the protagonist character, a superhero American James Bond-style agent. These stories have adult content.

Verdict: This episode of the Carter series is less Bond-agent-y and more mob-infight and hooker interrogations and except for a few fun mystery twists is kinda boring. I'm noticing a pattern now with a number of these Nick Carter books where the villains are mafia guys ("Operation: Moon Rocket," "Mark of the Cosa Nostra," "The Devil's Dozen" and now "The Code") and they are not as fun or as interesting as the international spy capers or the warzone clandestine adventures.

Jeff's Rating: 2 / 5 (Okay)
movie rating if made into a movie: R

[Bruce Kirby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lusty, sleazy and sexy, just like you would expect. Another Killmaster classic.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice rewrite of an old Pulp character. Recast more in the James Bond spy mode. Good quick men's adventure read. If you are looking for some fast paced action and adventure then this is a recommended read.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a fast paced thrilling read. There was action all through the book. Extremely exciting. It lived up to its James Bond feel, lots of girls, gunfire and death.