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Killmaster #60
The Death Strain
1st edition Tandem 1971 paperback, vg++ In stock shipped from our UK warehouse
Paperback
First published August 1, 1970
1 person is currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Nick Carter
1,060 books46 followersNick 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 8, 2025
"My card told her I was an AXE Agent N3, rating Killmaster, could pilot a plane, drive Formula 1 racing cars, speak three languages perfectly and four more passably. It also told her I was single, and when she handed me back my card her eyes were full of interest. I made a mental note to get her name."
It is 1970 and a scientist specializing in lethal viruses has used his clearance to infiltrate a US bioweapons lab and leave with a virus in hand. Dr. Carlsbad is your mad scientist in this one and he's threatening to unleash this "Death Strain" if the world's leaders don't abandon their militaristic ways. Nick Carter is on the case, hunting Carlsbad and the murderous strain, visiting Northern Virginia, Mongolia, and New York City where a conference of world leaders is scheduled to occur.
This is the 60th installment of the Nick Carter Killmaster series and it was ghost-written by John Messmann. Nick Carter the author is a pseudonym used by several authors writing for the series for Award Books, with Nick Carter also being the name of the protagonist character, an American version of James Bond. This series has adult content.
Verdict: I've read about a dozen of these Nick Carter books now and "Death Strain" so far takes the cake as far as just pure adventure is concerned. Fun action sequences, scandalously lurid female encounters, a team of international agents on a desperate manhunt, some great one-liners ("I'd long since learned that there was nothing so calloused as the idealist who thinks he's got his hand on the true light"), some over-the-top stereotypically cartoony villains, surprising twists and turns and traps and traitors, and an exciting finale. Just awesome.
Jeff's Rating: 4 / 5 (Very Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: R
It is 1970 and a scientist specializing in lethal viruses has used his clearance to infiltrate a US bioweapons lab and leave with a virus in hand. Dr. Carlsbad is your mad scientist in this one and he's threatening to unleash this "Death Strain" if the world's leaders don't abandon their militaristic ways. Nick Carter is on the case, hunting Carlsbad and the murderous strain, visiting Northern Virginia, Mongolia, and New York City where a conference of world leaders is scheduled to occur.
This is the 60th installment of the Nick Carter Killmaster series and it was ghost-written by John Messmann. Nick Carter the author is a pseudonym used by several authors writing for the series for Award Books, with Nick Carter also being the name of the protagonist character, an American version of James Bond. This series has adult content.
Verdict: I've read about a dozen of these Nick Carter books now and "Death Strain" so far takes the cake as far as just pure adventure is concerned. Fun action sequences, scandalously lurid female encounters, a team of international agents on a desperate manhunt, some great one-liners ("I'd long since learned that there was nothing so calloused as the idealist who thinks he's got his hand on the true light"), some over-the-top stereotypically cartoony villains, surprising twists and turns and traps and traitors, and an exciting finale. Just awesome.
Jeff's Rating: 4 / 5 (Very Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: R
February 26, 2016
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.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews