Assignment Lili Lamaris

Sam Durell #10

by Edward S. Aarons

The previous agent of the assignment has been killed and Durell, not knowing yet what the mission is, has to fly to Rome to take the slain agent's place. He may be ignorant of the true nature of the job, however, he is not ignorant of the fact that he is being followed by the killer.

Genres: Espionage, Thriller

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

AKA Paul Ayres, Edward Ronns.

Edward Sidney Aarons (September 11, 1916 - June 16, 1975) was an American writer, author of more than 80 novels from 1936 until 1962. One of these was under the pseudonym "Paul Ayres" (Dead Heat), and 30 were written using the name "Edward Ronns". He also wrote numerous articles for detective magazines such as Detective Story Magazine and Scarab.

Aarons was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and earned a degree in Literature and History from Columbia University. He worked at various jobs to put himself through college, including jobs as a newspaper reporter and fisherman. In 1933, he won a short story contest as a student. In World War II he was in the United States Coast Guard, joining after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He finished his duty in 1945, having obtained the rank of Chief Petty Officer.

Reviews

[Paul Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even in Bangkok, a mid November night can come early and the air feel crisp and cool. Just the perfect weather to read another well written Sam Durell spy thriller. And Lili Lamaris is a good one. Set first in Rome, it moves briefly to Switzerland before heading to an end in a German village. Along the way, Sam tries to work out just who is at the top of a narcotics ring that also funds a network of Soviet spies. His only trail to follow is that of Lili Lamaris, a dancer whose father is one of the richest and most powerful people in the West. Her lover, on the other hand, is a hoodlum, a mafioso with dreams of better things. But who is in charge? Yes, yes, I should have seen it coming. But it was a surprise to me anyway. I'll not give away the story, but it's worth getting to the end of this Sam Durell adventure, because it is a surprise. That is sort of unusual, for in most cases the last few pages of the Durell novels I've read just let things play out. The joy is in following the action, watching the people, and sometimes seeing them change. That change is here in Lili Lamaris but the turn of events at the end comes as a jolt. I just didn't see it. And I should've! But so good is Aarons at creating atmosphere that I was completely sucked in for the ride. Good story.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid entry in the “Assignment” series featuring CIA agent Sam Durell. This time around K Section has loaned Durell out to the narcotics division of Treasury to replace a slain agent. Most of the action takes place in Italy as Durell pursues the connection between a beautiful star ballerina, her father (who also happens to be a shady Greek tycoon), and an American syndicate man who seems to be running a major narcotics ring.

Even though written in the late 1950’s, these books are still fun reads with tightly woven plots. The author threw in some good misdirection in this one and I didn’t put it together until the same moment that Sam Durell did. That’s always a good thing when reading a book such as this.

[Kurt Reichenbaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lili Lamaris is a world famous ballerina. Her father is a shady Greek tycoon, her boyfriend is a shady American syndicate man. Sam Durell is a CIA operative who is tasked to use Lili Lamaris as the means to bring down a drug network between the Red Chinese and the mafia...or something like that. Spies get tortured and killed all because Lili Lamaris has traded in her ballet slippers for a monkey on her back. There is also an evil German doctor who is confined to a wheelchair and a hot Italian prostitute just to round out the nationalities and make things pop for our hero.

[John Peel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any Sam Durell novel is worth reading, and this is no exception. Sam's latest assignment has already killed one agent working on the case. A spy network is raising money to finance its activities through selling drugs, and the biggest score of its career is coming up. Sam has to prevent it - but is Lili Lamaris a friend or foe? Sam has her father and her thuggish boyfriend on his back, but which one will get him first? An enjoyable romp, as ever.

[Rich · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fairly early entry in the Sam Durell series by Aarons, 1959, the tenth book in the series. Sam, section chief for the CIA K Section, which handles only the most delicate of situations. Here, Sam is sent to Rome after another agent on this assignment has been found with his throat slit. A world-famous ballerina is the key to an international drug and money laundering ring.

She's fallen for a criminal mastermind who just may be running the whole show. On the other hand her father--a dubious Aristotle Onasis type--wants her back. Both men are willing to use deadly force to either keep her or get her back and Sam is in the middle. And someone knows everything Sam is doing.

This books is paced nicely, with plenty of mystery, intrigue and action. In this one Durell is a more ruthless with the physical violence than in later books. But it was also the glory days of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer books, and I'm certain that colored the writing a lot. The ending has a twist I don't completely buy, but it's a definite surprise.

The Sam Durrell books were part of the Fawcett Gold Medal Library, which also brought us Travis Mcgee and Matt Helm, two series which have enjoyed more longevity and popularity. I like going to these books from time to time. They're brain candy and take me back to my junior high and high school days when I first started reading them.

[Tomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Short Answer
A surprisingly solid spy adventure full of twists, turns, and atmosphere. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for an old school spy novel.

The Long Answer
A friend recommended this to me and so I went in a bit blind. I can count on one hand the number of spy books I've read in my life, and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this on.

The story itself is a pretty standard scenario of trying to take down a drug ring and finding out things are more complicated than expected. But it's well told, the stakes are very real, and the characters are well fleshed out. Most importantly, the twists feel natural, and the atmosphere is thick and full of tension.

I also love how this book heavily markets the sex angle. Especially because, while there are a few beauties in the book, there is almost no sex to speak of. A true classic bait and switch maneuver. Though I can't complain, the book actually works better with no sex.

While it's definitely no literary classic, I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a tense spy novel.

[Sean Young · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wanted to give it a 2.5. The Durrell books are serviceable but uninspired, I just kept wishing I was reading a Matt Helm novel. Some stilted dialogue and exposition, but it moved quickly and kept me entertained.

[Gu Kun · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bit simple.

[Mandy J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable Sam Durell novel but not the best I’ve read. I have about 6 more in my collection & would love to get my hands on some more but they are rare.

[Tom Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam Durell #10: “Assignment Lili Lamaris by Edward S. Aarons. In Europe there is a spy ring and moneyman, supplying funds to train enemy agents. Sam is sent to Rome to find Mitch Martin, and American gangster who has supposedly stolen the heart of a young ballerina, the daughter of a rich shipping magnate. Martin supposedly wants to be connected to Lili Lamaris’ father and his power. Plus, Martin may already be connected to the soy and money ring Durell is trying to find, so he must capture the elusive gangster while protecting Lili Lamaris. Well, this was a typical Sam Durell action novel, but one I had trouble believing. I knew where it was headed, but it didn’t make any sense. Aarons takes a simple plot and tries to twist the ending, but it fell flat on its face, as far as I was concerned. The story and action were good, as was the plot. It’s the twist I didn’t buy.