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The Destroyer #77
Coin of the Realm
Moo wasn't exactly your
typical island paradise
Its fat-cat master made his subjects slaves to his freed. Its beautiful princess was motivated by lust--for money or whatever. Its people were far deeper into digging their ruler's grave than his mines. And its only tourists were a dollar-demented psychic charlatan named Shane Billiken and a crew of money-mad murderers from the back pages of Soldier of Fortune.
In short, Moo was a bubbling caldron of every cardinal sin...and Remo and Chiun had to sweat blood to keep the lid on...as Chiun ran into an evil with too many tentacles even for him...and Remo found how dangerous a royal female could be when it came to attacking his principles--or whatever....
typical island paradise
Its fat-cat master made his subjects slaves to his freed. Its beautiful princess was motivated by lust--for money or whatever. Its people were far deeper into digging their ruler's grave than his mines. And its only tourists were a dollar-demented psychic charlatan named Shane Billiken and a crew of money-mad murderers from the back pages of Soldier of Fortune.
In short, Moo was a bubbling caldron of every cardinal sin...and Remo and Chiun had to sweat blood to keep the lid on...as Chiun ran into an evil with too many tentacles even for him...and Remo found how dangerous a royal female could be when it came to attacking his principles--or whatever....
- GenresAdventure
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1989
13 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Warren Murphy
295 books124 followersWarren Murphy was an American author, most famous as the co-creator of The Destroyer series, the basis for the film Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. He worked as a reporter and editor and after service during the Korean War, he drifted into politics.
Murphy also wrote the screenplay for Lethal Weapon 2. He is the author of the Trace and Digger series. With Molly Cochran, he completed two books of a planned trilogy revolving around the character The Grandmaster, The Grandmaster (1984) and High Priest (1989). Murphy also shares writing credits with Cochran on The Forever King and several novels under the name Dev Stryker. The first Grandmaster book earned Murphy and Cochran a 1985 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original, and Murphy's Pigs Get Fat took the same honor the following year.
His solo novels include Jericho Day, The Red Moon, The Ceiling of Hell, The Sure Thing and Honor Among Thieves. Over his career, Murphy sold over 60 million books.
He started his own publishing house, Ballybunion, to have a vehicle to start The Destroyer spin-off books. Ballybunion has reprinted The Assassin's Handbook, as well as the original works Assassin's Handbook 2, The Movie That Never Was (a screenplay he and Richard Sapir wrote for a Destroyer movie that was never optioned), The Way of the Assassin (the wisdom of Chiun), and New Blood, a collection of short stories written by fans of the series.
He served on the board of the Mystery Writers of America, and was a member of the Private Eye Writers of America, the International Association of Crime Writers, the American Crime Writers League and the Screenwriters Guild.
Murphy also wrote the screenplay for Lethal Weapon 2. He is the author of the Trace and Digger series. With Molly Cochran, he completed two books of a planned trilogy revolving around the character The Grandmaster, The Grandmaster (1984) and High Priest (1989). Murphy also shares writing credits with Cochran on The Forever King and several novels under the name Dev Stryker. The first Grandmaster book earned Murphy and Cochran a 1985 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original, and Murphy's Pigs Get Fat took the same honor the following year.
His solo novels include Jericho Day, The Red Moon, The Ceiling of Hell, The Sure Thing and Honor Among Thieves. Over his career, Murphy sold over 60 million books.
He started his own publishing house, Ballybunion, to have a vehicle to start The Destroyer spin-off books. Ballybunion has reprinted The Assassin's Handbook, as well as the original works Assassin's Handbook 2, The Movie That Never Was (a screenplay he and Richard Sapir wrote for a Destroyer movie that was never optioned), The Way of the Assassin (the wisdom of Chiun), and New Blood, a collection of short stories written by fans of the series.
He served on the board of the Mystery Writers of America, and was a member of the Private Eye Writers of America, the International Association of Crime Writers, the American Crime Writers League and the Screenwriters Guild.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 12, 2025
This was an exceptionally unique story about a dying empire. Chiun really shows his quality and loyalty to the house of Sinanju as he tries to honor an ancient relationship between Sinanju and the island nation of Moo. Assassins have infiltrated the island to overthrow the king of the island, known as the High Moo, and Chiun is determined to stop them dead in their tracks.
We learn how crazy and greedy a new age Hollywood mystic guru can be. The fake mystic is torn between keeping his current girlfriend and the daughter of the island king, that he finds washed up on his private beach, and must make a decision between the two women. He ultimately dismisses his girlfriend and forces the new love in his life into being his sycophant in his Hollywood stage productions. The daughter of the island king, completely helpless, is then liberated from the clutches of the evil fake mystic by Remo and Chiun. They save the day and return her to the island to be reunited with her people.
Once they reach the island, the assassins try to eliminate Remo by sicking their attack octopus on him, but thanks to his ability to hold his breath for an indeterminate amount of time underwater, as well as see in the dark and fight underwater, he escapes the clutches of the beast. The assassins then try using blowgun darts to kill him, but his super ability to hear them breathing enables him to evade the darts. The island undergoes an earthquake, not necessarily caused by the assassins, that requires Remo and Chiun to leap to the top of the banyan trees and swing from tree to tree to reach higher ground.
Dolla Dree, the Low Moo, and daughter of the king, then becomes obsessed with Remo and his sexual prowess in pleasing just about every servant girl on the island, and begs her father to let her keep Remo as a husband...or something like that. Ignoring her pleas, her father becomes irritated at her whinging and puts his foot down. Remo catches feelings for the princess but is saved from her attempt to dominate him as Chiun intervenes and sets him straight by warning him of her true intentions.
Smith breaks down because he can't find Remo for days with no contact and is having a fit trying to figure out who his new neighbors are on his suburban street in Rye, NY.
A unique story to be sure. 3/5
We learn how crazy and greedy a new age Hollywood mystic guru can be. The fake mystic is torn between keeping his current girlfriend and the daughter of the island king, that he finds washed up on his private beach, and must make a decision between the two women. He ultimately dismisses his girlfriend and forces the new love in his life into being his sycophant in his Hollywood stage productions. The daughter of the island king, completely helpless, is then liberated from the clutches of the evil fake mystic by Remo and Chiun. They save the day and return her to the island to be reunited with her people.
Once they reach the island, the assassins try to eliminate Remo by sicking their attack octopus on him, but thanks to his ability to hold his breath for an indeterminate amount of time underwater, as well as see in the dark and fight underwater, he escapes the clutches of the beast. The assassins then try using blowgun darts to kill him, but his super ability to hear them breathing enables him to evade the darts. The island undergoes an earthquake, not necessarily caused by the assassins, that requires Remo and Chiun to leap to the top of the banyan trees and swing from tree to tree to reach higher ground.
Dolla Dree, the Low Moo, and daughter of the king, then becomes obsessed with Remo and his sexual prowess in pleasing just about every servant girl on the island, and begs her father to let her keep Remo as a husband...or something like that. Ignoring her pleas, her father becomes irritated at her whinging and puts his foot down. Remo catches feelings for the princess but is saved from her attempt to dominate him as Chiun intervenes and sets him straight by warning him of her true intentions.
Smith breaks down because he can't find Remo for days with no contact and is having a fit trying to figure out who his new neighbors are on his suburban street in Rye, NY.
A unique story to be sure. 3/5
June 1, 2024
This novel opens with a piece of the very ancient past—the sinking of the mythical island empire of Mu, which turned out to be a major client of the assassins of Sinanju. In the modern day, survivors of Mu return seeking the support of Chiun and Sinanju. Chiun is ecstatic and immediately sets out to find Mu and restore a great paying client to the rolls of Sinanju. As one might expect, lots goes wrong on this quest. It is a basically enjoyable adventure, but the side story about Harold Smith is probably of greater interests as he goes to great lengths to discover who his new neighbors are. Readers of the last book will figure this out very quickly and smile. Smith will no longer be able to leave his stressful job at the office.
August 2, 2024
Rating 3.5
An okay entry in the series.
I assume that this was written by a new writer as several times the characters felt off to me, behaved and spoke not like the usually do.
The plot was a basic one but did give further history to Sinanju which was good.
Overall a fairly standard story that was entertaining and a quick read.
An okay entry in the series.
I assume that this was written by a new writer as several times the characters felt off to me, behaved and spoke not like the usually do.
The plot was a basic one but did give further history to Sinanju which was good.
Overall a fairly standard story that was entertaining and a quick read.
February 15, 2016
One of the big men's adventure series from the 70's than ran an impressive 145 books. The series while an adventure/action story is also full of satire toward much of the mainstream fads and icons of the time. An interesting main character and the sarcastic mentor makes this a funny action/adventure read. When Chiun receives a message from the leader of the country of Moo, he and Remo leave immediately. Moo is the first major client that the House of Sinanju ever had and Chiun knows it is important to keep former clients happy. Recommended
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews