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Matt Helm #6
Matt Helm - The Ambushers
A brand-new edition of the classic novel.
A quiet mission of assassination is no sweat for legendary agent Matt Helm, until a shapely foreign agent he never got around to finishing off lures him into a strange trek in the wilds of northern Mexico, and a Russian missile smuggled out of Cuba falls into the hands of a political fanatic much too close to home.
A quiet mission of assassination is no sweat for legendary agent Matt Helm, until a shapely foreign agent he never got around to finishing off lures him into a strange trek in the wilds of northern Mexico, and a Russian missile smuggled out of Cuba falls into the hands of a political fanatic much too close to home.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1963
53 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Donald Hamilton
102 books108 followersDonald Hamilton was a U.S. writer of novels, short stories, and non-fiction about the outdoors. His novels consist mostly of paperback originals, principally spy fiction but also crime fiction and Westerns such as The Big Country. He is best known for his long-running Matt Helm series (1960-1993), which chronicles the adventures of an undercover counter-agent/assassin working for a secret American government agency.
Hamilton began his writing career in 1946, fiction magazines like Collier's Weekly and The Saturday Evening Post. His first novel Date With Darkness was published in 1947; over the next forty-six years he published a total of thirty-eight novels. Most of his early novels whether suspense, spy, and western published between 1954 and 1960, were typical paperback originals of the era: fast-moving tales in paperbacks with lurid covers. Several classic western movies, The Big Country and The Violent Men, were adapted from two of his western novels.
The Matt Helm series, published by Gold Medal Books, which began with Death of a Citizen in 1960 and ran for 27 books, ending in 1993 with The Damagers, was more substantial.
Helm, a wartime agent in a secret agency that specialized in the assassination of Nazis, is drawn back into a post-war world of espionage and assassination after fifteen years as a civilian. He narrates his adventures in a brisk, matter-of-fact tone with an occasional undertone of deadpan humor. He describes gunfights, knife fights, torture, and (off-stage) sexual conquests with a carefully maintained professional detachment, like a pathologist dictating an autopsy report or a police officer describing an investigation. Over the course of the series, this detachment comes to define Helm's character. He is a professional doing a job; the job is killing people.
Hamilton was a skilled outdoorsman and hunter who wrote non-fiction articles for outdoor magazines and published a book-length collection of them. For several years he lived on his own yacht, then relocated to Sweden where he resided until his death in 2006.
Hamilton began his writing career in 1946, fiction magazines like Collier's Weekly and The Saturday Evening Post. His first novel Date With Darkness was published in 1947; over the next forty-six years he published a total of thirty-eight novels. Most of his early novels whether suspense, spy, and western published between 1954 and 1960, were typical paperback originals of the era: fast-moving tales in paperbacks with lurid covers. Several classic western movies, The Big Country and The Violent Men, were adapted from two of his western novels.
The Matt Helm series, published by Gold Medal Books, which began with Death of a Citizen in 1960 and ran for 27 books, ending in 1993 with The Damagers, was more substantial.
Helm, a wartime agent in a secret agency that specialized in the assassination of Nazis, is drawn back into a post-war world of espionage and assassination after fifteen years as a civilian. He narrates his adventures in a brisk, matter-of-fact tone with an occasional undertone of deadpan humor. He describes gunfights, knife fights, torture, and (off-stage) sexual conquests with a carefully maintained professional detachment, like a pathologist dictating an autopsy report or a police officer describing an investigation. Over the course of the series, this detachment comes to define Helm's character. He is a professional doing a job; the job is killing people.
Hamilton was a skilled outdoorsman and hunter who wrote non-fiction articles for outdoor magazines and published a book-length collection of them. For several years he lived on his own yacht, then relocated to Sweden where he resided until his death in 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 28, 2018
April2018 Again I was impressed by the way Hamilton wrote such a spare story that spoke volumes. There's a dozen characters covering a few months worth of time, but he skipped all the boring stuff & made everything pop distinctively.
July2015: Great fun, again. Old favorites read by an excellent narrator come alive in new ways. I have to admit that the end is a bit hokey, but I liked it. Sets up a character for later books, too.
I've reviewed this book in 2 other editions:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
July2015: Great fun, again. Old favorites read by an excellent narrator come alive in new ways. I have to admit that the end is a bit hokey, but I liked it. Sets up a character for later books, too.
I've reviewed this book in 2 other editions:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 13, 2010
This is the first book in Donald Hamilton's Matt Helm series that I've read, and I don't think it'll be the last.
In this, the sixth in the series, American agent, assassin, and World War II veteran Helm is sent to the fictional Latin American nation of Costa Verde to kill a rebel leader from 350 yards away with a .30-06 rifle. During the course of his mission he discovers three things in Costa Verde that will propel the rest of the narrative; a scar-faced Nazi war criminal named Heinrich von Sachs, an American agent named Sheila who was sent on the same assassination mission as Helm but who was captured, starved, and tortured (rape is implied but never directly stated), and a Soviet-made ICBM that went missing after the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The Matt Helm series seems like a direct response to Ian Fleming's James Bond series. Like Bond, Helm is tough, cold, irresistible to women, and has a sentimental streak that he rarely allows to interfere with the completion of his objectives.
This novel and several others in the series were made into films in the '60s starring Dean Martin as Helm. I haven't seen any of them, but I get the feeling they were lighthearted spy-movie spoofs along the lines of "Our Man Flint." (For instance, in the film version of this novel, the ICBM is changed to a flying saucer.) While Helm's first-person narration is frequently wry and ironic, it's never satirical. "The Ambushers" is a tough-minded little thriller that is closer in tone to the violent action movies Rod Taylor starred in during the late '60s and early '70s like "The Mercenaries" than it is the James Bond films.
In this, the sixth in the series, American agent, assassin, and World War II veteran Helm is sent to the fictional Latin American nation of Costa Verde to kill a rebel leader from 350 yards away with a .30-06 rifle. During the course of his mission he discovers three things in Costa Verde that will propel the rest of the narrative; a scar-faced Nazi war criminal named Heinrich von Sachs, an American agent named Sheila who was sent on the same assassination mission as Helm but who was captured, starved, and tortured (rape is implied but never directly stated), and a Soviet-made ICBM that went missing after the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The Matt Helm series seems like a direct response to Ian Fleming's James Bond series. Like Bond, Helm is tough, cold, irresistible to women, and has a sentimental streak that he rarely allows to interfere with the completion of his objectives.
This novel and several others in the series were made into films in the '60s starring Dean Martin as Helm. I haven't seen any of them, but I get the feeling they were lighthearted spy-movie spoofs along the lines of "Our Man Flint." (For instance, in the film version of this novel, the ICBM is changed to a flying saucer.) While Helm's first-person narration is frequently wry and ironic, it's never satirical. "The Ambushers" is a tough-minded little thriller that is closer in tone to the violent action movies Rod Taylor starred in during the late '60s and early '70s like "The Mercenaries" than it is the James Bond films.
July 21, 2015
This is the new reprint by Titan books. Same story I reviewed here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
just nice to get a new copy since a 40 year old paperback, no matter how well treated, is getting tough to read. Even better, the plans are to reprint the entire series & FINALLY publish the last Matt Helm novel that Hamilton wrote. I think it's been on hold for 2 decades or so. Hamilton died almost a decade ago (2006) & his son is finally making the deal. Awesome!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
just nice to get a new copy since a 40 year old paperback, no matter how well treated, is getting tough to read. Even better, the plans are to reprint the entire series & FINALLY publish the last Matt Helm novel that Hamilton wrote. I think it's been on hold for 2 decades or so. Hamilton died almost a decade ago (2006) & his son is finally making the deal. Awesome!
October 23, 2014
Helm does a job as a sniper in a Central American country & then returns to the US to track down a wanted Nazi war criminal. Several important elements to the series are introduced in this book. Again, Hamilton does a great job painting the characters & scenery with minimalist strokes.
One of my favorite scenes in the book is where he buys a rifle for some short range sniping (250 yards) & sights it in with his partner. Hamilton shows just how well he knows guns & explains some of the finer points, although he does it with an economy that won't bore anyone not interested in them.
See these pages for more of Hamilton's work, about him, & the latest releases.
http://www.matthelmbooks.com/intro.html
http://www.benish-industries.com/hami...
http://goodreadergonebad.net/donaldha...
One of my favorite scenes in the book is where he buys a rifle for some short range sniping (250 yards) & sights it in with his partner. Hamilton shows just how well he knows guns & explains some of the finer points, although he does it with an economy that won't bore anyone not interested in them.
See these pages for more of Hamilton's work, about him, & the latest releases.
http://www.matthelmbooks.com/intro.html
http://www.benish-industries.com/hami...
http://goodreadergonebad.net/donaldha...
January 21, 2019
Heil Quintana?
Quite the international mix in this one - central/south American rebels, displaced Nazis, Russians, and Matt (of course). Once again, some nice twists and interesting characters helped carry the story.
Quite the international mix in this one - central/south American rebels, displaced Nazis, Russians, and Matt (of course). Once again, some nice twists and interesting characters helped carry the story.
June 15, 2020
This was just ok. Matt Helm gets old after a while. I kept thinking “so that’s where they got the idea for Capt. Kirk’s love life...”.
May 17, 2015
Government assassin Matt Helm gets involved in a fracas concerning tropical rebellion, a stolen nuclear missile, and an ex-Nazi who wants to start World War III. The usual sex and violence antics, but this time more dire than usual for all global concerns. THis one is not as intriguing as prior tales, but still a quick mind cleansing read.
March 6, 2014
More malevolent goodness from Matt Helm, one bad-ass dude.
March 6, 2016
Is one of the early ones and shows.. our hero is still getting to find his feet and therefore the plot is a little straightforward (only a little!) but then there is a nice twist towards the end..
April 22, 2021
Matt Helm was part of the paperback spy craze of the 1960s. In my mind it didn’t match up to Alistair Maclean and Ian Fleming. I started another, but never finished.
September 3, 2016
These Matt Helm books are just great. Spy pulp, love it
July 16, 2021
Helm’s mission is to put down a rebellion by assassinating General Jorge Santos in Costa Verde, Central America (Peru or Portugal?). Two 180 grain bullets to the chest from 550 meters did the trick. Muy hombre señor Helm! A bit more recon after the fact uncovered a mobile missile launcher complete with a missile; the Rudavich 3 or 4, a miniaturized version of the larger prototype intermediate-range ballistic missile, having a range of 1200-1600 miles, nicknamed the “Moscow Mite”. Neither version can hit the U.S. but the Panama Canal is within range. “Not good,” says Helm. In his debriefing with Mac, Helm is given another kill order on a former Nazi General von Sachs, high on the list of war criminals. He has been operating in the southwestern United States from Mexico and into Latin America, Argentina; putting together the usual fascist programs. So much for the setup of the story. Helm adds a partner agent whom he brought back from Central America to help with his cover story. In his search for von Sachs, Helm encounters dangerous situations with Nazi sympathizers and other organizations that want von Sachs as well. Then there was the question of the nuclear warhead capable ballistic missile. That had always been a part of von Sachs’ plan. Where was it now?
October 15, 2018
Matt Helm is back in action. After carrying out assassination in South America he accidentally crosses paths with a person from the past - ex-Nazi general doing some shadowy work with the pro-communist rebels. After losing their leader rebels start disintegrating but presence of high ranking Nazi general is something completely unexpected and possibly situation that can have very serious effect on the security of the US.
Further investigation reveals ex-Nazi identity and his involvement with the war-crimes during WW2. But what was he doing with the rebels?
Puzzled by this chance encounter Helm's agency sends him to northern parts of Mexico to figure out what exactly is going on and dispose of the said Nazi war-criminal.
As one can expect from Matt Helm adventure, story is fast-paced and Matt Helm is no-nonsense as usual. Man I like his approach to world and life.
Also interesting is the way author shows scars that undercover work leaves on the agents.
Highly recommended to all fans of action and thriller.
Further investigation reveals ex-Nazi identity and his involvement with the war-crimes during WW2. But what was he doing with the rebels?
Puzzled by this chance encounter Helm's agency sends him to northern parts of Mexico to figure out what exactly is going on and dispose of the said Nazi war-criminal.
As one can expect from Matt Helm adventure, story is fast-paced and Matt Helm is no-nonsense as usual. Man I like his approach to world and life.
Also interesting is the way author shows scars that undercover work leaves on the agents.
Highly recommended to all fans of action and thriller.
January 21, 2024
Helm has been sent to Costa Verde to shoot a local rebel leader. One attempt had already been made. Helm completes his assignment and rescues a female operative who has been tortured and abused by the rebels. While there he sees a short-range nuclear missile of Russian manufacture and a former Nazi named von Sachs.
He is given a new assignment once he returns to the US: find von Sachs and take care of him. It seems he is building an army of fascists in the mountains of northern Mexico. He takes Sheila, the operative he rescued, as his partner.
Helm and Sheila run into two foreign agents who are also after von Sachs. They are Max and Katherine. I guess Helm assumes they are Mossad. They form a shaky alliance that will not survive the week. They also find the missile.
In the end, Helm learns Katherine is a Russian agent named Vadya.
He is given a new assignment once he returns to the US: find von Sachs and take care of him. It seems he is building an army of fascists in the mountains of northern Mexico. He takes Sheila, the operative he rescued, as his partner.
Helm and Sheila run into two foreign agents who are also after von Sachs. They are Max and Katherine. I guess Helm assumes they are Mossad. They form a shaky alliance that will not survive the week. They also find the missile.
In the end, Helm learns Katherine is a Russian agent named Vadya.
March 2, 2022
Closer to a 3.5, though I did enjoy it overall. This time Helm is on a job to take out a bandit leader in Costa Verde. While doing this mission (along with secondary mission of rescuing a woman agent sent in before), he finds out about a nuclear missile in the wilds of the country. When debriefed he is suppose to go after another target (that also was there in Costa Verde) that's closer to home in Mexico. That pesky missle will show back up as well.
Highly recommended, just for the Helm character and the great prose by Donald Hamilton. The minor plot quibbles I have don't matter when I still enjoyed it as much as I did.
Highly recommended, just for the Helm character and the great prose by Donald Hamilton. The minor plot quibbles I have don't matter when I still enjoyed it as much as I did.
July 2, 2024
Donald Hamilton created a tough-as-they-come assassin/agent of a secret government organization. Yes, he absolutely does have license to kill - in fact, that is what he's usually brought in for. This time around he ends a South American rebellion with a few shots ... then things get more complicated. There's a Russian missile - and a Nazi - and, of course, a woman he finds himself attracted to. This time around it's actually quite interesting as she was severely abused and he brings her to safety - out of that circumstance a partnership grows - and grows stronger over time.
January 27, 2019
DH. has penned a Matt Helm novel that finds him working with a Russian spy before the mission begins she pays down one ground rule. I do not like to be touched. The two combine their talents to thwart a mission by an ex Nazi agent who is assisting the Russians to place nuclear weapons in Cuba. The mission for the two ex agents is to stop or make arrangements to have the middle stoped from entering Cuba. This is an excellent read for the genre....DEHS
October 3, 2020
Donald Hamilton at his best. The entire story is strong and the character arc involving a female agent rescued by Matt early in the novel is very involving. The action is great. Both the opening chapters (involving an assassination mission in Central America and the rescue of that agent) and the finale (involving a machete duel with an ex-Nazi and a plan to destroy a nuclear missile apparently going awry) are superb and edge-of-your-seat action set pieces.
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April 16, 2021The Matt Helm series is one of the best spy/adventure series around, and this is a perfect example why. Helm is sent to assassinate a South American rebel general, and, in the process, rescue an agent who's been captured. She turns out to be an emotional wreck - but he needs her help to finish off his assignment when a stolen Russian atomic missile goes missing... Helm is a terrific creation, and this is an excellent example of why he's so appealing.
February 1, 2023
This one starts off badly with Matt Helm browning up for work in Mexico, and he's still moaning non-stop about women wearing trousers. But he deals quite sensitively (for him) with an agent traumatised by her mistreatment after being captured. Stefan Rudnicki's reading makes his transformation believable.
November 7, 2023
Whoever wrote up the above synopsis.. did NOT read the book. There are two female agents, one foreign amd one from Helm’s department. One cant stand to be touched , the other is very forward.
This book moves along good with many plot twists and surprises in between quick bursts of violence.
Matt Helm in one of his best.
This book moves along good with many plot twists and surprises in between quick bursts of violence.
Matt Helm in one of his best.
July 22, 2018
Ihave only read a few of this authors books and they always seem to get 5 stars or one star. This started ok but then turned into an old rerun of his other shallow novels. It seems to me that the only books I like by Hamilton are his westerns,
August 15, 2019
Better than Bond
Protagonist Matt Helm is a wonderful character and the author consistently delivers a clever story. If you like spy fiction and action you can't go wrong with this series.
I
Protagonist Matt Helm is a wonderful character and the author consistently delivers a clever story. If you like spy fiction and action you can't go wrong with this series.
I
July 18, 2021
Another great addition to the Matt Helm series. This time he is assigned to kill a leading Nazi who has designs to set up a Fourth Reich in Latin America. Add in a missing Russian missile and counterspies for a thrilling adventure.
January 22, 2018
Another really great Matt Helm book.
March 21, 2018
I’m reading my way through the Matt Helm books again for the third time since discovering them back in 1969 while in the Army stationed at Ft Hood, Texas. Highly entertaining reads.
May 9, 2021
The book was a good read all around. The action and the story was good and kept your interest.
January 3, 2022
This is a good entry in the series, possessing some nice South American colour and seeing the entry of the tough Russian agent Vadya.
January 24, 2022
Starts off great in the jungle with Helm helping out as a sniper, then continues all over the place, and it sure is a lot of fun.
June 20, 2024
This series is like a bag of potato chips, so easy to keep going without thinking! Great background to the workday.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews