In Nick Carter assumes the identity of a man long dead and becomes involved with a woman whose body was built for betrayalDavid Hawk, chief of AXE, is asked by the head of British intelligence to assassinate Richard Philston – former head of MI6 who subsequently defected to Russia.
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.
Even I, a connoisseur of this sort of thing, felt faintly queasy at Nick Carter ogling teenage Japanese girls who speak in outrageous stereotypese. The fact that they turn out to be in their twenties, and to be putting on the speech pattern, does NOT help. There's some impressively gory stuff in this one and some sort of revenge plot against a British Secret Service double agent subtly named 'Philston'.
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.