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Tiger Mann #4
By-Pass Control
More information to be announced soon on this forthcoming title from Penguin USA
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1966
11 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Mickey Spillane
316 books446 followersMickey Spillane was one of the world's most popular mystery writers. His specialty was tight-fisted, sadistic revenge stories, often featuring his alcoholic gumshoe Mike Hammer and a cast of evildoers who launder money or spout the Communist Party line.
His writing style was characterized by short words, lightning transitions, gruff sex and violent endings. It was once tallied that he offed 58 people in six novels.
Starting with "I, the Jury," in 1947, Mr. Spillane sold hundreds of millions of books during his lifetime and garnered consistently scathing reviews. Even his father, a Brooklyn bartender, called them "crud."
Mr. Spillane was a struggling comic book publisher when he wrote "I, the Jury." He initially envisioned it as a comic book called "Mike Danger," and when that did not go over, he took a week to reconfigure it as a novel.
Even the editor in chief of E.P. Dutton and Co., Mr. Spillane's publisher, was skeptical of the book's literary merit but conceded it would probably be a smash with postwar readers looking for ready action. He was right. The book, in which Hammer pursues a murderous narcotics ring led by a curvaceous female psychiatrist, went on to sell more than 1 million copies.
Mr. Spillane spun out six novels in the next five years, among them "My Gun Is Quick," "The Big Kill," "One Lonely Night" and "Kiss Me, Deadly." Most concerned Hammer, his faithful sidekick, Velda, and the police homicide captain Pat Chambers, who acknowledges that Hammer's style of vigilante justice is often better suited than the law to dispatching criminals.
Mr. Spillane's success rankled other critics, who sometimes became very personal in their reviews. Malcolm Cowley called Mr. Spillane "a homicidal paranoiac," going on to note what he called his misogyny and vigilante tendencies.
His books were translated into many languages, and he proved so popular as a writer that he was able to transfer his thick-necked, barrel-chested personality across many media. With the charisma of a redwood, he played Hammer in "The Girl Hunters," a 1963 film adaptation of his novel.
Spillane also scripted several television shows and films and played a detective in the 1954 suspense film "Ring of Fear," set at a Clyde Beatty circus. He rewrote much of the film, too, refusing payment. In gratitude, the producer, John Wayne, surprised him one morning with a white Jaguar sportster wrapped in a red ribbon. The card read, "Thanks, Duke."
Done initially on a dare from his publisher, Mr. Spillane wrote a children's book, "The Day the Sea Rolled Back" (1979), about two boys who find a shipwreck loaded with treasure. This won a Junior Literary Guild award.
He also wrote another children's novel, "The Ship That Never Was," and then wrote his first Mike Hammer mystery in 20 years with "The Killing Man" (1989). "Black Alley" followed in 1996. In the last, a rapidly aging Hammer comes out of a gunshot-induced coma, then tracks down a friend's murderer and billions in mob loot. For the first time, he also confesses his love for Velda but, because of doctor's orders, cannot consummate the relationship.
Late in life, he received a career achievement award from the Private Eye Writers of America and was named a grand master by the Mystery Writers of America.
In his private life, he neither smoked nor drank and was a house-to-house missionary for the Jehovah's Witnesses. He expressed at times great disdain for what he saw as corrosive forces in American life, from antiwar protesters to the United Nations.
His marriages to Mary Ann Pearce and Sherri Malinou ended in divorce. His second wife, a model, posed nude for the dust jacket of his 1972 novel "The Erection Set."
Survivors include his third wife, Jane Rodgers Johnson, a former beauty queen 30 years his junior; and four children from the first marriage.
He also carried on a long epistolary flirtation with Ayn Rand, an admirer of his writing.
His writing style was characterized by short words, lightning transitions, gruff sex and violent endings. It was once tallied that he offed 58 people in six novels.
Starting with "I, the Jury," in 1947, Mr. Spillane sold hundreds of millions of books during his lifetime and garnered consistently scathing reviews. Even his father, a Brooklyn bartender, called them "crud."
Mr. Spillane was a struggling comic book publisher when he wrote "I, the Jury." He initially envisioned it as a comic book called "Mike Danger," and when that did not go over, he took a week to reconfigure it as a novel.
Even the editor in chief of E.P. Dutton and Co., Mr. Spillane's publisher, was skeptical of the book's literary merit but conceded it would probably be a smash with postwar readers looking for ready action. He was right. The book, in which Hammer pursues a murderous narcotics ring led by a curvaceous female psychiatrist, went on to sell more than 1 million copies.
Mr. Spillane spun out six novels in the next five years, among them "My Gun Is Quick," "The Big Kill," "One Lonely Night" and "Kiss Me, Deadly." Most concerned Hammer, his faithful sidekick, Velda, and the police homicide captain Pat Chambers, who acknowledges that Hammer's style of vigilante justice is often better suited than the law to dispatching criminals.
Mr. Spillane's success rankled other critics, who sometimes became very personal in their reviews. Malcolm Cowley called Mr. Spillane "a homicidal paranoiac," going on to note what he called his misogyny and vigilante tendencies.
His books were translated into many languages, and he proved so popular as a writer that he was able to transfer his thick-necked, barrel-chested personality across many media. With the charisma of a redwood, he played Hammer in "The Girl Hunters," a 1963 film adaptation of his novel.
Spillane also scripted several television shows and films and played a detective in the 1954 suspense film "Ring of Fear," set at a Clyde Beatty circus. He rewrote much of the film, too, refusing payment. In gratitude, the producer, John Wayne, surprised him one morning with a white Jaguar sportster wrapped in a red ribbon. The card read, "Thanks, Duke."
Done initially on a dare from his publisher, Mr. Spillane wrote a children's book, "The Day the Sea Rolled Back" (1979), about two boys who find a shipwreck loaded with treasure. This won a Junior Literary Guild award.
He also wrote another children's novel, "The Ship That Never Was," and then wrote his first Mike Hammer mystery in 20 years with "The Killing Man" (1989). "Black Alley" followed in 1996. In the last, a rapidly aging Hammer comes out of a gunshot-induced coma, then tracks down a friend's murderer and billions in mob loot. For the first time, he also confesses his love for Velda but, because of doctor's orders, cannot consummate the relationship.
Late in life, he received a career achievement award from the Private Eye Writers of America and was named a grand master by the Mystery Writers of America.
In his private life, he neither smoked nor drank and was a house-to-house missionary for the Jehovah's Witnesses. He expressed at times great disdain for what he saw as corrosive forces in American life, from antiwar protesters to the United Nations.
His marriages to Mary Ann Pearce and Sherri Malinou ended in divorce. His second wife, a model, posed nude for the dust jacket of his 1972 novel "The Erection Set."
Survivors include his third wife, Jane Rodgers Johnson, a former beauty queen 30 years his junior; and four children from the first marriage.
He also carried on a long epistolary flirtation with Ayn Rand, an admirer of his writing.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 12, 2025
Mickey Spillane's Tiger Mann #4, the last of this series that was published - not that is has a conclusion any differently to the other three - I suppose Spillane was keeping his options open with his espionage / counter espionage character he ran in parallel with Mike Hammer, the detective. Published in 1966.
Tiger Mann, by the time we get to book 4 is pretty slick - far cleverer than book one, where quite frankly, he came across as not being able to see the most obvious things. He pits his skills against Russia's top assassins, one being killed on page 1 of this book, another at the end. The Russian assassins are not only after Tiger Mann (he is top of their list of hits generally) but are after the other main antagonist of this story, a scientist who has embedded the titular 'by-pass control' in the American Intercontinental Ballistics Missile system, whereby he can deny the authorities control or set the missiles off himself.
Tiger gets embroiled again with IATS (the government spy agency), who ostensibly are out to close down Martin Grady's private spy agency, but are again forced to work with Tiger, as nobody else has the leads he does. Rondine features, but only very briefly in this story, but Tiger picks up another ladyfriend to keep him amused on the way.
Overall, this series is easy to read, amusing enough, but never really challenges the reader to much. It makes a nice break from Mike Hammer, but must admit, I am keener for another Hammer episode.
3 stars
Tiger Mann, by the time we get to book 4 is pretty slick - far cleverer than book one, where quite frankly, he came across as not being able to see the most obvious things. He pits his skills against Russia's top assassins, one being killed on page 1 of this book, another at the end. The Russian assassins are not only after Tiger Mann (he is top of their list of hits generally) but are after the other main antagonist of this story, a scientist who has embedded the titular 'by-pass control' in the American Intercontinental Ballistics Missile system, whereby he can deny the authorities control or set the missiles off himself.
Tiger gets embroiled again with IATS (the government spy agency), who ostensibly are out to close down Martin Grady's private spy agency, but are again forced to work with Tiger, as nobody else has the leads he does. Rondine features, but only very briefly in this story, but Tiger picks up another ladyfriend to keep him amused on the way.
Overall, this series is easy to read, amusing enough, but never really challenges the reader to much. It makes a nice break from Mike Hammer, but must admit, I am keener for another Hammer episode.
3 stars
September 28, 2018
Typical awesome Tiger Mann novel by the most excellent Mickey Spillane. I'm sorry he didn't write more of these.
May 15, 2017
Spillane's greatest work was his Mike Hammer series. Some of his other series have their moments, but not like that. The Tiger Mann series consists of four secret agent novels. A secret agent, though, prone to sudden explosions of violence Hammer-style, leaving blood, guts, and bodies strewn about. Indeed, the book opens with the following: "The guy was as good as dead and knew it. Crouched there on the floor he looked like a shapeless bundle and only a bloodied face with still-hard bright eyes marked him as a man. His breath came in short, sobbing gasps and he tried to keep his guts in with both hands pressed to his stomach."
By-Pass Control is a bit weak on the plot - a scientist with a secret code to control all the ICBMs has disappeared and the race is on to find him. Mann battles his way up and down the coast, leaving a trail of Bodies in his wake and maybe a few broken hearts after some highly charged scenes. Tiger Mann is a ladies man in a the hard-charging macho-style, telling one lady that She was more than a woman. In fact, she was "a doll with everything going for her from a beautiful face to a wild body with a mind to match and I love you like hell. You have capabilities only I can appreciate and I want them all.” Of course, he saves his best appreciation for Rondine ( the new one): she of the "ruby-hued tips like tiny warheads capable of destroying a man on contact unless they were disarmed first with a gentle touch."
February 4, 2017
#4 in the Tiger Mann series. The finale of a short lived series in the erratic writing career of author Spillane. I don't know how well this series was received by the book buying public but I thought it was comparable to Spillane's Mickey Spillane series, although that series only had two more entries before Spillane went into a 16 year writing hiatus. An enjoyable series character, gone but not forgotten.
Tiger Mann series - One day a scientist decided to play God. He made a small improvisation in the US Intercontinental Ballistics Missile system. A slight change that made it possible to push a button - and wipe America off the map. Then he disappeared.
Tiger Mann's got the toughest job of his career. He's got to find the scientist before the Russians do. Tiger kills an enemy master-spy and invades the lair of the spider-woman - a femme with a steel-trap mind and an ever-lovin' body. It's a wild and violent chase that winds up on a lonely North Carolina beach.
Tiger Mann series - One day a scientist decided to play God. He made a small improvisation in the US Intercontinental Ballistics Missile system. A slight change that made it possible to push a button - and wipe America off the map. Then he disappeared.
Tiger Mann's got the toughest job of his career. He's got to find the scientist before the Russians do. Tiger kills an enemy master-spy and invades the lair of the spider-woman - a femme with a steel-trap mind and an ever-lovin' body. It's a wild and violent chase that winds up on a lonely North Carolina beach.
August 31, 2007
Makes Elmore Leonard books seem like Judy Bloom.
August 7, 2024
Chiusura col botto della seria di Tiger Mann, purtroppo durata solo 4 romanzi. Fu in effetti una serie altalenante, costituita di avventure talora mediocri, talora molto avvincenti. "Il bottone della morte" è tra le meglio realizzate: storia credibile e avvincente, bell'intrico di trama, colpo di scena finale. Insomma, qui ci sono tutti gli ingredienti che si possono ricercare in un hard-boiled concepito e realizzato a regola d'arte.
December 22, 2017
This is the first story that I have read with Tiger Mann as the hero and I wasn't sure that I would like it, preferring the 87th precinct stories; but this is excellent suspense and plot of staying ahead of the guys on the other side while looking for the inventor of the by-pass control. A surprise ending in just the last couple of pages ... I like it.
July 25, 2025
Spionistico. Macho. Divertente.
May 28, 2020
One of my brother's books which I used to read when I visited my parents on the basis that there was little else to read there!
December 20, 2011
I think I have read enough Mickey Spillane to be sure that I don't like his books. This is just under 200 pages long and about 10 of this pages are filled with gritty, suspenseful action. The rest of the book is the extremely boring description of the investigation that the protagonist is going through to find a scientist and save the world from the evil Russians. This book has an intriguing, sexy cover with an image of a (possibly) naked blond woman. There are no sexy blonds in the story at all. Not that it matters, but it goes to show that the cover is as much of a letdown as the interior. The book may have been saved if the protagonist was interesting or colorful. But he isn't, he's just a prick who occasionally makes asshole speeches and is really good at killing people.
I'm sorry that you passed away Mickey Spillane. But I'm even sorrier that so many people were duped into reading your crappy books. I'm looking forward to reading some Donald Westlake soon, I know it won't be a waste of time.
I'm sorry that you passed away Mickey Spillane. But I'm even sorrier that so many people were duped into reading your crappy books. I'm looking forward to reading some Donald Westlake soon, I know it won't be a waste of time.
January 3, 2010
Given the cover copy and the ridiculous name ("Tiger Mann!") I was expecting something completely over-the-top. But at least plotwise, it was fairly grounded.
It plays out like an adolescent power fantasy. Tiger Mann is deadly competent, imbued with authority and money, and for some reason a hit with the ladies. He uses these to bludgeon down opposition when necessary (although usually he gets his way with just a killer stare). Everyone dealing with him comes away impressed and more than a little frightened, especially if he intimates that The World Is In Grave Peril.
He plays that card so often it's almost comical. That one and the Rebel Loner No Time For Backup.
In all, I wasn't impressed. The spywork is realistic (which is to say methodical and forensic and dull) but there's a mismatch between this and Mr. Mann's behavior.
The idea of an agency sponsored and run by industry also doesn't sit well.
It plays out like an adolescent power fantasy. Tiger Mann is deadly competent, imbued with authority and money, and for some reason a hit with the ladies. He uses these to bludgeon down opposition when necessary (although usually he gets his way with just a killer stare). Everyone dealing with him comes away impressed and more than a little frightened, especially if he intimates that The World Is In Grave Peril.
He plays that card so often it's almost comical. That one and the Rebel Loner No Time For Backup.
In all, I wasn't impressed. The spywork is realistic (which is to say methodical and forensic and dull) but there's a mismatch between this and Mr. Mann's behavior.
The idea of an agency sponsored and run by industry also doesn't sit well.
July 29, 2016
Фен съм на Спилейн, но предпочитам историите му с Майк Хамър. Това е първия роман с главен герой Тайгър Мен. Щеше да е доста хубав криминален роман ако не беше политическия момент. Тайгър Мен - гениален детектив-разузнавач, лови съветски агенти в разгара на Студената война.
В центъра на историята е Луи Аграунски - гениален инженер, който в пристъп на лудост инсталира устройство в системата за изстрелване на американските ядрени ракети, което му позволява да ги контролира. Американците естествено искат да премахнат устройството, а Съветския съюз - да сложи ръка върху него.
Според в романа липсва тръпката иначе толкова типична за историите с Майк Хамър, така че Тайгър Мен не успя да ми стане любимец.
В центъра на историята е Луи Аграунски - гениален инженер, който в пристъп на лудост инсталира устройство в системата за изстрелване на американските ядрени ракети, което му позволява да ги контролира. Американците естествено искат да премахнат устройството, а Съветския съюз - да сложи ръка върху него.
Според в романа липсва тръпката иначе толкова типична за историите с Майк Хамър, така че Тайгър Мен не успя да ми стане любимец.
March 10, 2023
The 4th, and last, of the Tiger Mann series. Good enough but I still prefer the Mike Hammer character.
3/10/23 Afer reading this a second time, I don't think that I have anything to add to the above comment except that I think this was a better story overall than the previous book or two in this series.
3/10/23 Afer reading this a second time, I don't think that I have anything to add to the above comment except that I think this was a better story overall than the previous book or two in this series.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews