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Matt Helm #12
The Interlopers
This time Mac has gone too far. For Helm to impersonate a Communist courier to whom he bears no resemblance is suicide, and that isn't all. Someone wants to get the layout of the Alaskan North-west Coastal Defence System, but they aren't the goodies or the baddies. So who the hell are they? And who is the mysterious Holz that Helm is meant to kill?
330 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
27 people are currently reading
141 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 32 reviews
November 20, 2012
If Matt Helm and Jack Reacher had a fight, Matt Helm would win with his eyes closed whilst sleeping with a dozen beautiful women who would take one look at his opponent and dismiss him to oblivion. Possibly the major basis for Sterling Mallory Archer.
Mostly read on the coach from London to Paris.
This was my first book from Hamilton after having him recommended in the pulp fiction group and I can safely say I am impatient to read more. Despite being the twelth instalment in the series at no point did I feel like I was missing something thanks to the excellent storytelling.
Helm really is a badass character and if this was a typical example of his adventures then the quote from Anthony Boucher about bringing the hardboiled realism of Hammett to the spy genre is completely accurate.
The style of the first person narrative almost immediately brought to mind the one Parker/Stark book I've read to date. To use that phrase that has been used to death by desperate publishers if you like Parker then you'll love Helm.
This story is wonderfully Chandleresque in its convoluted nature finding Helm assigned to go undercover in a Communist spy ring whilst ensuring the safety of the free world by assassinating a potential presidential assassin. Hamilton adds a layer of realism from his research/knowledge of dogs, guns, fishing and women and manages the seemingly impossible task (for modern authors at least) of not boring the reader to tears for pages at a time by using the knowledge sparingly and in an entertaining manner.
If you have never heard of Matt Helm read one soon, if you've previously considered it then do so and if you know you should have tried him already, now's the time - Matt Helm will seriously kick your literary ass.
Mostly read on the coach from London to Paris.
This was my first book from Hamilton after having him recommended in the pulp fiction group and I can safely say I am impatient to read more. Despite being the twelth instalment in the series at no point did I feel like I was missing something thanks to the excellent storytelling.
Helm really is a badass character and if this was a typical example of his adventures then the quote from Anthony Boucher about bringing the hardboiled realism of Hammett to the spy genre is completely accurate.
The style of the first person narrative almost immediately brought to mind the one Parker/Stark book I've read to date. To use that phrase that has been used to death by desperate publishers if you like Parker then you'll love Helm.
This story is wonderfully Chandleresque in its convoluted nature finding Helm assigned to go undercover in a Communist spy ring whilst ensuring the safety of the free world by assassinating a potential presidential assassin. Hamilton adds a layer of realism from his research/knowledge of dogs, guns, fishing and women and manages the seemingly impossible task (for modern authors at least) of not boring the reader to tears for pages at a time by using the knowledge sparingly and in an entertaining manner.
If you have never heard of Matt Helm read one soon, if you've previously considered it then do so and if you know you should have tried him already, now's the time - Matt Helm will seriously kick your literary ass.
December 16, 2017
As usual, it was a pleasure. I've read the book quite a few times, an old paperback that's somehow still hanging together. Still, listening to it narrated by Stephen Rudnicki was a pleasure. His voice is perfect for Helm.
Hamilton always impresses me with the knowledge of what he writes. He doesn't beat me to death with details, but I just know that he's hunted the area, had a Lab pup, & used the guns. His knowledge is too intimate to be faked. All he does is change the game to the most dangerous sort.
On top of that, there's a hard headed realism that pours through. For instance, Helm gets his hands on a rifle which he must use to make a long shot at a man who has an identical rifle. He doesn't take it for granted that it's sighted in, but expends 1 of the 3 bullets he has confirming that it was & wasn't damaged. Best to know rather than hope. He doesn't put any stock in that.
I sure hope they keep making these audio versions. They're great. I really hope Hamilton's kid quits playing footsies with movie makers & gets the last novel published, too.
Hamilton always impresses me with the knowledge of what he writes. He doesn't beat me to death with details, but I just know that he's hunted the area, had a Lab pup, & used the guns. His knowledge is too intimate to be faked. All he does is change the game to the most dangerous sort.
On top of that, there's a hard headed realism that pours through. For instance, Helm gets his hands on a rifle which he must use to make a long shot at a man who has an identical rifle. He doesn't take it for granted that it's sighted in, but expends 1 of the 3 bullets he has confirming that it was & wasn't damaged. Best to know rather than hope. He doesn't put any stock in that.
I sure hope they keep making these audio versions. They're great. I really hope Hamilton's kid quits playing footsies with movie makers & gets the last novel published, too.
May 5, 2018
May2018: I hadn't planned on listening to all the Matt Helm books again, especially since it's only been 6 months since I listened to this one, but I was forcing myself to get through a horrible classic so turned to them for sanity's sake. Besides, Stephen Rudnicki told me 3 more Helm books are due out this year from SkyBoatMedia. While I can't wait to listen to them, I really wish Donald's kid would get his thumb out & publish the last book of the series. I've been waiting for that now for too many years.
Dec2017: Another agency needs a gent that is 6'4" tall & 190 lbs that can take the place of a courier that is killed & continue his mission up the west coast from Washington state into Alaska. Helm fits the description & takes the job. As usual, his boss, Mac, never cooperates for free, so Helm winds up in some very interesting situations & with a dog for a partner.
As usual, Hamilton does a great job with the dog & the various guns. You can tell he's very familiar with both, although he doesn't beat you to death with detail.
It's a great journey & shows Helm off at his best. This is probably one of the very best books to read if you're trying to get a handle on Helm's character without reading the entire series. He's in perfect form.
Dec2017: Another agency needs a gent that is 6'4" tall & 190 lbs that can take the place of a courier that is killed & continue his mission up the west coast from Washington state into Alaska. Helm fits the description & takes the job. As usual, his boss, Mac, never cooperates for free, so Helm winds up in some very interesting situations & with a dog for a partner.
As usual, Hamilton does a great job with the dog & the various guns. You can tell he's very familiar with both, although he doesn't beat you to death with detail.
It's a great journey & shows Helm off at his best. This is probably one of the very best books to read if you're trying to get a handle on Helm's character without reading the entire series. He's in perfect form.
September 3, 2019
Yeah I know...subjective rating. I like these books. Yes they are complete and total brain candy...or possibly brain cheese burger.
If (as I say in every review of the Matt Helm books) you are only familiar with the idiotic Matt Helm movies from the 1960s...you don't know Matt Helm. The movies were turned into parodies of the entire spy-fi genre and of Helm himself specifically.
The films (and also the horrid and short lived TV series) were so bad I never even picked the books up. That is I didn't pick them up until now. and as they say, Low! and Behold! they are great reads.
If you liked Ian Fleming these are a much gritter and more action packed view of spy-fi. Helm is basically an assassin for a division of the U.S. Government that doesn't exist.
Think about it.
Here Matt finds himself "loaned out" to another branch of the "intelligence community" and still barely makes it out alive. I mean when you can't tell the good guys from the bad guys, allies from enemies and so on...well you can see how life could get interesting.
Recommended. Enjoy.
If (as I say in every review of the Matt Helm books) you are only familiar with the idiotic Matt Helm movies from the 1960s...you don't know Matt Helm. The movies were turned into parodies of the entire spy-fi genre and of Helm himself specifically.
The films (and also the horrid and short lived TV series) were so bad I never even picked the books up. That is I didn't pick them up until now. and as they say, Low! and Behold! they are great reads.
If you liked Ian Fleming these are a much gritter and more action packed view of spy-fi. Helm is basically an assassin for a division of the U.S. Government that doesn't exist.
Think about it.
Here Matt finds himself "loaned out" to another branch of the "intelligence community" and still barely makes it out alive. I mean when you can't tell the good guys from the bad guys, allies from enemies and so on...well you can see how life could get interesting.
Recommended. Enjoy.
August 17, 2018
"Παράξενη αποστολή", εκδόσεις ΒΙΠΕΡ.
Μπορεί πέρυσι τον Μάρτιο να διάβασα βιβλίο του Ντόναλντ Χάμιλτον (το πολύ δυνατό και ρεαλιστικό γουέστερν με τον τίτλο "Πυρετός στο Τέξας"), όμως τελευταία φορά που διάβασα περιπέτεια με ήρωα τον Αμερικανό κατάσκοπο Ματ Χελμ, ήταν τον μακρινό Μάιο του 2015. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι μου έλειψε ο μάγκας. Αυτή είναι η δωδέκατη περιπέτεια στη συγκεκριμένη κατασκοπευτική σειρά, και ενώ μπορεί να μην είναι και η πλέον δυνατή, σίγουρα όμως είναι και αυτή πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα και καλογραμμένη. Αυτή τη φορά ο Ματ Χελμ θα παραστήσει τον μανιώδη ψαρά και φυσιολάτρη (παρέα με ένα μαύρο Λαμπραντόρ), κάπου στον Καναδά και την Αλάσκα, παίρνοντας τη θέση ενός δολοφονημένου "ταχυδρόμου", ενός ενδιάμεσου δηλαδή που μετέφερε επικίνδυνες πληροφορίες (και όχι μόνο) σε πράκτορες της Σοβιετικής Ένωσης. Όμως η πραγματική αποστολή του Χελμ είναι κάπως διαφορετική και θα τη μάθει στην πορεία, προσπαθώντας πρώτα να ξεμπλέξει από δύσκολες καταστάσεις με διπλούς πράκτορες, επικίνδυνες γυναίκες και έναν μυστηριώδη εκτελεστή... Κάποια πράγματα στην πλοκή δεν με έπεισαν απόλυτα, όμως γενικά ευχαριστήθηκα δράση, μυστήριο και κάποια φοβερά τοπία. Όσον αφορά τη γραφή, είναι κλασικά πολύ καλή, με ρεαλιστικές περιγραφές τοπίων, σκηνών δράσης και χαρακτήρων, ενώ φυσικά δεν λείπει και το καυστικό χιούμορ του φοβερού Ματ Χελμ.
Μπορεί πέρυσι τον Μάρτιο να διάβασα βιβλίο του Ντόναλντ Χάμιλτον (το πολύ δυνατό και ρεαλιστικό γουέστερν με τον τίτλο "Πυρετός στο Τέξας"), όμως τελευταία φορά που διάβασα περιπέτεια με ήρωα τον Αμερικανό κατάσκοπο Ματ Χελμ, ήταν τον μακρινό Μάιο του 2015. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι μου έλειψε ο μάγκας. Αυτή είναι η δωδέκατη περιπέτεια στη συγκεκριμένη κατασκοπευτική σειρά, και ενώ μπορεί να μην είναι και η πλέον δυνατή, σίγουρα όμως είναι και αυτή πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα και καλογραμμένη. Αυτή τη φορά ο Ματ Χελμ θα παραστήσει τον μανιώδη ψαρά και φυσιολάτρη (παρέα με ένα μαύρο Λαμπραντόρ), κάπου στον Καναδά και την Αλάσκα, παίρνοντας τη θέση ενός δολοφονημένου "ταχυδρόμου", ενός ενδιάμεσου δηλαδή που μετέφερε επικίνδυνες πληροφορίες (και όχι μόνο) σε πράκτορες της Σοβιετικής Ένωσης. Όμως η πραγματική αποστολή του Χελμ είναι κάπως διαφορετική και θα τη μάθει στην πορεία, προσπαθώντας πρώτα να ξεμπλέξει από δύσκολες καταστάσεις με διπλούς πράκτορες, επικίνδυνες γυναίκες και έναν μυστηριώδη εκτελεστή... Κάποια πράγματα στην πλοκή δεν με έπεισαν απόλυτα, όμως γενικά ευχαριστήθηκα δράση, μυστήριο και κάποια φοβερά τοπία. Όσον αφορά τη γραφή, είναι κλασικά πολύ καλή, με ρεαλιστικές περιγραφές τοπίων, σκηνών δράσης και χαρακτήρων, ενώ φυσικά δεν λείπει και το καυστικό χιούμορ του φοβερού Ματ Χελμ.
August 18, 2017
Matt Helm and James Bond have only two main traits in common. Each are government sanctioned assassins called a code name/number during business hours who bring hands-on violence to the table for the good of his country and both of their bosses have short names that begin with M (and in the case of Bond that is his boss's name).
Bond lives in London and motors around in an Aston-Martin in the line of duty, Helm drives a chitty chitty bang bang pickup with a camper and New Mexico is home. Fleming envisioned 007 on paper as resembling Hoagy Carmichael, while Eric is a skinny 6'4" beanpole, and is addressed as such by more than one of his foes. Bond's hobbies are drinking, smoking, gambling, high performance motorcars and womanizing, but our man Helm is a hunting fishing outdoorsman into photography, who coincidentally can womanize with the best of his counterparts across the pond in MI6. While Bond might travel in Old World style aboard the sleek Orient Express, Helm spends most of his time in THE INTERLOPERS in his truck with Hank, his new bird dog, and not some blonde babe with a rack that'd've incited envy in Jayne Mansfield. Don't think because Hamilton hasn't got the sex on the front burner it'll be a bland meal, he's brought the violence to a boil here. There's some serious bloodletting in this novel. Helm racks up a remarkable body count. Driving his nondescript vehicle along a convoluted courier route he spends some quality time aboard a ferry and has close encounters with the occasional ambuscade. The dog is as much a main character as any speaking member in the cast.
THE INTERLOPERS is unarguably among the two or three best books Hamilton wrote about Helm, the others being DEVASTATORS and TERMINATORS. This is a visceral thriller featuring the most likable sociopath in fiction at his most savage. Not even an OJ caliber challenger can best Eric when it comes to handling cutlery.
Bond lives in London and motors around in an Aston-Martin in the line of duty, Helm drives a chitty chitty bang bang pickup with a camper and New Mexico is home. Fleming envisioned 007 on paper as resembling Hoagy Carmichael, while Eric is a skinny 6'4" beanpole, and is addressed as such by more than one of his foes. Bond's hobbies are drinking, smoking, gambling, high performance motorcars and womanizing, but our man Helm is a hunting fishing outdoorsman into photography, who coincidentally can womanize with the best of his counterparts across the pond in MI6. While Bond might travel in Old World style aboard the sleek Orient Express, Helm spends most of his time in THE INTERLOPERS in his truck with Hank, his new bird dog, and not some blonde babe with a rack that'd've incited envy in Jayne Mansfield. Don't think because Hamilton hasn't got the sex on the front burner it'll be a bland meal, he's brought the violence to a boil here. There's some serious bloodletting in this novel. Helm racks up a remarkable body count. Driving his nondescript vehicle along a convoluted courier route he spends some quality time aboard a ferry and has close encounters with the occasional ambuscade. The dog is as much a main character as any speaking member in the cast.
THE INTERLOPERS is unarguably among the two or three best books Hamilton wrote about Helm, the others being DEVASTATORS and TERMINATORS. This is a visceral thriller featuring the most likable sociopath in fiction at his most savage. Not even an OJ caliber challenger can best Eric when it comes to handling cutlery.
June 28, 2017
This entry in the MATT HELM spy adventure series proves something more than any of the 12 I have read and enjoyed, so far ... Donald Hamilton writes great westerns. These are not westerns in the total definition of that genre, but the climaxes and mano a mano death defying confrontations are PURE oater. After doing a bit of research, I discovered that Hamilton did write two western novels and both were turned into well known feature films, those being THE BIG COUNTRY and THE VIOLENT MEN.
The plot of THE INTERLOPERS involves Matt Helm in disguise as an outdoorsman on a vacation with his dutiful black labrador retriever. He is posing as an undercover courier who is retrieving small bits of stolen intelligence to deliver to some enemy agents, who will eventually be thwarted. Of course, Helm doing this for one part of US government, while his boss has him also trying to find the man in the enemy camp who is planning to assassinate a political presidential nominee. It's all duplicity and pretty girls and hippie 'interloper' agents (this takes place in 1969) and machismo and lots of violence, plus the usual swinging 60s attitudes. The best part of this one is that Helm grows attached to his partner more than he does to human beings ... that partner being his canine companion Hank.
The climax, that of Western genre influence, is a great taut Alaskan mountainside chase and shootout between Helm and his enemy Hans Holz. It even includes horses and long rifles. It's great.
The plot of THE INTERLOPERS involves Matt Helm in disguise as an outdoorsman on a vacation with his dutiful black labrador retriever. He is posing as an undercover courier who is retrieving small bits of stolen intelligence to deliver to some enemy agents, who will eventually be thwarted. Of course, Helm doing this for one part of US government, while his boss has him also trying to find the man in the enemy camp who is planning to assassinate a political presidential nominee. It's all duplicity and pretty girls and hippie 'interloper' agents (this takes place in 1969) and machismo and lots of violence, plus the usual swinging 60s attitudes. The best part of this one is that Helm grows attached to his partner more than he does to human beings ... that partner being his canine companion Hank.
The climax, that of Western genre influence, is a great taut Alaskan mountainside chase and shootout between Helm and his enemy Hans Holz. It even includes horses and long rifles. It's great.
March 25, 2017
Another helm hit
Donald Hamilton always comes up with a fresh storyline. This one doesn't disappoint. Another classic in the Matt helm series.
Donald Hamilton always comes up with a fresh storyline. This one doesn't disappoint. Another classic in the Matt helm series.
March 18, 2022
Once again I find myself in the role of an outlier, this book was the worst yet in a pretty abysmal series of awful books. I am too lazy to actually look up my last ratings of the Matt Helm series, but I'll venture a guess and say most have earned two stars, no more. This one doesn't rate even one star and yet the average is a staggering 4.10! Who in the hell are you people rating these books so high? And for crying out loud, Matt Helm is no James Bond, and certainly not Travis McGee. I admit, I am not a dog lover, and sadly one of the main characters was a dog. Let that marinate for a second, that is just how goofy this story is. A dog! Save me from this nonsense.
But wait, I am committed, I have read the first 12 books and plan to mottle my way through the remaining 14 or so in the original canon. I suspect from here on, each will be worse than the last. Stay tuned.
I'll stop here, because i know there will be more to come.
Please someone who gave this book 4 or 5 stars, respond and tell me what is so darn good. To me they are simply inane, inept, and foolish. Now that I think about the Keystone Kops running the FBI and the CIA, they are probably using the Matt Helm series as training manuals for our agents.
Goog Grief.
But wait, I am committed, I have read the first 12 books and plan to mottle my way through the remaining 14 or so in the original canon. I suspect from here on, each will be worse than the last. Stay tuned.
I'll stop here, because i know there will be more to come.
Please someone who gave this book 4 or 5 stars, respond and tell me what is so darn good. To me they are simply inane, inept, and foolish. Now that I think about the Keystone Kops running the FBI and the CIA, they are probably using the Matt Helm series as training manuals for our agents.
Goog Grief.
June 22, 2014
THE INTERLOPERS is one of my fave Matt Helm novels, and it is unusual in several respects. Matt's partner is a dog, a well-trained black Labrador retriever. It is the bloodiest Matt Helm so far, Copyright 1969, written 45 years ago, the whole plotline of stolen military defense information hidden on microdots, split up into many separate separate deliveries to enemy agents, with our side trying to substitute phony microdots that we would actually love if the enemy agents took back to their country and took seriously… the plot requires a bit of additional suspension of disbelief, but then again, all Matt Helm novels require that; I don't mind.
As always, Matt proves himself expert at extricating himself from difficult situations. Getting an accurate count of the number of times Matt Helm presents himself helpless to his enemies (so as to advance the mission objectives), is difficult for me in this novel.
I enjoyed the interactions between Matt and his dog Hank; and I think it's cute how after Matt completes his mission, he gives Hank a treat.
Number of times Matt Helm uses himself as bait, and allows himself to be captured by the opposition (or presents himself directly to the opposition allowing the opposition to do whatever they please with him):
0 = DEATH OF A CITIZEN
1 = THE WRECKING CREW
2 = THE REMOVERS
1 = THE SILENCERS
1 = MURDERERS' ROW
3 = THE AMBUSHERS
2 = THE SHADOWERS
2 = THE RAVAGERS
1 = THE DEVASTATORS
1 = THE BETRAYERS
1 = THE MENACERS
3 = THE INTERLOPERS
Total for the series, so far = 18
Total novels in the series so far = 12
@hg47
June 10, 2017
This novel takes place in the woods and mountains of the Pacific Northwest ranging from Portland up through the Yukon Territory and along the Alaskan coast. Helm has a target and to get to his target he is inserted into an operation of a Communist spy ring. There are agents and double agents and it's often difficult for Helm to tell who's on who's side and who is doublecrossing whom. Is the lady really interested in him or is the seduction part of something more sinister ? Helm is constantly tasked with dealing with amateurs and with sister agencies who question his methods. But if the free world is depending on this mission, do a few more bodies really matter? This is not a game for prissy amateurs. This is a solid action filled story that will have you turning the pages rapidly. The secret notes and secret passwords are a bit goofy, but even Helm points that out. Good stuff.
January 12, 2018
Written in 1969, so quite dated and patriarchal. Why did I read it? My Dad does a lot of reading in his retirement, and he noted this one was "a very good book" so I thought I'd found out what he liked about it. It was interesting, dramatic, and it felt good to hold an old cheap paperpack in my hands - .75 cover price.
March 18, 2016
Thrilling as usual with many more layers of betrayal..
October 14, 2024
Of the early Matt Helm novels, “The Interlopers” is probably my favorite. It may not be the best book in the series, but it’s the most engaging. Probably because Helm’s constant companion in this one is a black Labrador retriever named “Hank.” Dogs seem to bring out the humanity in Helm—or what’s left of his humanity at this point in his career.
Of course, “The Interlopers” isn’t just about a man and his dog. Helm is impersonating an outdoorsman, Grant Nystrom, on a fishing trip that takes him from Washington State to Alaska. Nystrom uses his trips as cover while acting as a courier for a West Coast Communist spy apparat. Only on this trip “Nystrom” is providing falsified information to his handlers. As Helm has taken Nystrom’s place, the dog Nystrom always takes along with him on these trips also needs a double. So Helm has been paired with another Lab. Call him Secret Agent Hank. Or Undercover Retriever.
An agent infiltrating the enemy to pass along false information is classic spy novel stuff, and Donald Hamilton handles it expertly. When Hamilton was on the top of his game, he was one of the best spy novelists of the '60s. In "The Interlopers" he provides plenty of twists and turns as numerous agents, both friends, enemies and frenemies, get involved in the case. And it wouldn’t be a Matt Helm adventure unless a fair number of those agents didn’t make it to the last page.
In "The Interlopers" Hamilton gives us all of the familiar elements of Matt Helm thriller. Helm working with hopelessly naive agents from another intelligence agency. The type of agents Helm refers to has boyscouts and Rover Boys “brought up on togetherness and TV.” Helm on a road tip with a female companion. Helm knocked unconscious and captured by the enemy. We also get Helm’s customary critique of some contemporary women’s fashion. in this case an outfit he describes as a “pale blue romper suit.”
But most of all we get Hank, the faithful Labrador retriever.
Of course, “The Interlopers” isn’t just about a man and his dog. Helm is impersonating an outdoorsman, Grant Nystrom, on a fishing trip that takes him from Washington State to Alaska. Nystrom uses his trips as cover while acting as a courier for a West Coast Communist spy apparat. Only on this trip “Nystrom” is providing falsified information to his handlers. As Helm has taken Nystrom’s place, the dog Nystrom always takes along with him on these trips also needs a double. So Helm has been paired with another Lab. Call him Secret Agent Hank. Or Undercover Retriever.
An agent infiltrating the enemy to pass along false information is classic spy novel stuff, and Donald Hamilton handles it expertly. When Hamilton was on the top of his game, he was one of the best spy novelists of the '60s. In "The Interlopers" he provides plenty of twists and turns as numerous agents, both friends, enemies and frenemies, get involved in the case. And it wouldn’t be a Matt Helm adventure unless a fair number of those agents didn’t make it to the last page.
In "The Interlopers" Hamilton gives us all of the familiar elements of Matt Helm thriller. Helm working with hopelessly naive agents from another intelligence agency. The type of agents Helm refers to has boyscouts and Rover Boys “brought up on togetherness and TV.” Helm on a road tip with a female companion. Helm knocked unconscious and captured by the enemy. We also get Helm’s customary critique of some contemporary women’s fashion. in this case an outfit he describes as a “pale blue romper suit.”
But most of all we get Hank, the faithful Labrador retriever.
August 8, 2021
We find Helm on the Columbia River across from the Hanford Atomic Energy Plant in southeastern Washington State, which produced plutonium back in 1943, attempting to look like a fisherman with his Black Lab, Avon’s Prince Hannibal of Holgate; “Hank” for short. Helm’s primary mission from Mac is to kill a man named Hans Holz before he kills the President. Helm’s cover, as Grant Nystrom is to take over the real Nystrom’s courier route since Nystrom and his dog had met a fatal end. Helm’s cover, which is not very accurate, is planned that way to draw Holz in to eliminate Helm. Helm to assassinate the assassin. So much for the setup of the story. While fishing, Helm met a pretty young woman named Pat Belman who chatted about fishing and was quite interested in Hank. She had a bitch Lab that she wanted to breed and asked about using Hank, wanting to see his papers. Helm was unsure whether this woman was his contact or not. Pat Belman not so much, but Libby Meredith was. As the title implies, a youthful gang of interlopers is giving Helm all kinds of trouble. Eliminate or not? Helm has a certain antipathy towards eliminating females. He’s displayed it many times, and one of these times it’s going to fatally bite him in the ass. The dual mission took Helm and the overabundance of followers across British Columbia, Alberta, and into the Yukon Territory. It was quite the chase, leaving a fair amount of bodies along the way. All-in-all an exciting adventure. Hank was my favorite!
February 7, 2021
"...Do you understand, Eric?"
I said, "Let us say that outlines are appearing through the fog. But perhaps you would care to blow the mists aside a little farther, sir."
Mac nodded. "As far as our associates are concerned, you are impersonating the dead man to the best of your ability, as of course you are. You will endeavor to carry out the mission they have assigned you. You will do your best to keep your cover intact, such as it is. However, you know and I know that your best will probably not be good enough. This type of impersonation is inherently improbable anyway..."
"Yes, sir," I said. "So you expect my cover to be blown, sooner or later. And then what?"
"That," he said, "is a very foolish question, Eric."
"Excuse me. Of course. When my cover is blown, they'll kill me. Or try."
"Precisely. And whom will they call upon to perform this distasteful task? The average spy is a specialist at gathering information'; he is not required to be particularly brave or skilled with weapons in violence. And it happens that the murder specialist assigned by the Communists to this particular espionage ring for this particular mission is Mr. Hans Holz....this is no vendetta..We were looking for Holz long before he killed Kingston."
I said, "Let us say that outlines are appearing through the fog. But perhaps you would care to blow the mists aside a little farther, sir."
Mac nodded. "As far as our associates are concerned, you are impersonating the dead man to the best of your ability, as of course you are. You will endeavor to carry out the mission they have assigned you. You will do your best to keep your cover intact, such as it is. However, you know and I know that your best will probably not be good enough. This type of impersonation is inherently improbable anyway..."
"Yes, sir," I said. "So you expect my cover to be blown, sooner or later. And then what?"
"That," he said, "is a very foolish question, Eric."
"Excuse me. Of course. When my cover is blown, they'll kill me. Or try."
"Precisely. And whom will they call upon to perform this distasteful task? The average spy is a specialist at gathering information'; he is not required to be particularly brave or skilled with weapons in violence. And it happens that the murder specialist assigned by the Communists to this particular espionage ring for this particular mission is Mr. Hans Holz....this is no vendetta..We were looking for Holz long before he killed Kingston."
August 13, 2021
Matt is loaned to another agency to take the place of a murdered courier who was working for the Russian. But his own agency has its own agenda--Matt is also a decoy to flush out a Russian assassin who has to be disposed of.
Soon, things get even more complicated. This is an excellent book, mixing in at least two sets of bad guys and forcing Matt to work with people he knows he can't trust. The sort of plot twists at which Hamilton excels come at a fast and furious pace. And, no matter how much you know that a Matt Helm novel will have its moments of violence, those moments always seem to catch you by surprise.
Matt maintains his usual professional cold-bloodedness for most of the novel, but grows fond of the dog he brings with him to maintain his cover. This tiny bit of unprofessionalism has its consequences.
But even when things go sour, Matt continues to think, observe and look for even the tiniest advantages.
Soon, things get even more complicated. This is an excellent book, mixing in at least two sets of bad guys and forcing Matt to work with people he knows he can't trust. The sort of plot twists at which Hamilton excels come at a fast and furious pace. And, no matter how much you know that a Matt Helm novel will have its moments of violence, those moments always seem to catch you by surprise.
Matt maintains his usual professional cold-bloodedness for most of the novel, but grows fond of the dog he brings with him to maintain his cover. This tiny bit of unprofessionalism has its consequences.
But even when things go sour, Matt continues to think, observe and look for even the tiniest advantages.
April 22, 2020
Having seen the Matt Helm movies with Dean Martin, I was somewhat reluctant to read this book, but did so based on my Dad's recommendation. Good advice, Dad! The Matt Helm in this book is much darker and more deadly than the goofy one in the movies. Here, he is asked to find an experienced killer for the other side, which is never precisely defined, while also participating in a scheme to go undercover and gather intelligence for another vaguely specified enemy spy ring. Matt is good with his guns and fists, but recognizes his own limitations. Helm has a good sense of his weaknesses and frequently second guesses himself, which makes him human. The story is not overly complicated (which is good for me), the dialogue is crisp and sometimes clever, and the level of suspense stays high throughout. The Matt Helm character is well drawn and most of the other characters are pretty good.
November 28, 2022
Enjoyed this one though not my favorite in the series by any means. I really like the Matt Helm character, written by Hamilton and the first person narrative he uses. The overall story was interesting in that he was helping another agency to put himself in line to do his actual assignment which was to take out an assassin. However the plotting was a little off in this one, characters show up for no reason or at best for dumb reasons. Though that didn't bother me to much, it could probably be shorter and if it was probably could have cut out some of the more messy plot points.
Recommend, but only if you are reading the series anyway, its a weaker one for me. However a weak Helm by Hamilton book is going to be more fun then a lot of other books.
Recommend, but only if you are reading the series anyway, its a weaker one for me. However a weak Helm by Hamilton book is going to be more fun then a lot of other books.
May 18, 2024
Helm is in the Pacific Northwest, working for another agency under the name, Grant Nystrom, who was killed in San Francisco. Nystrom had a black Lab and to complete his disguise, so does Helm. He is named Hank. Nystrom was undercover as a courier picking up stolen confidential information.
Helm is under orders from Mac to kill a foreign assassin named Holz, who seems to be working with the crew stealing information. Holz is on this continent to kill a political candidate.
On the trip along the Canadian/Alaskan coast to pick up the stolen information, Helm runs into two women agents who seem to have their own agendas.
This one has a higher head count than some of the other outings. The books are getting formulaic at this point.
Helm is under orders from Mac to kill a foreign assassin named Holz, who seems to be working with the crew stealing information. Holz is on this continent to kill a political candidate.
On the trip along the Canadian/Alaskan coast to pick up the stolen information, Helm runs into two women agents who seem to have their own agendas.
This one has a higher head count than some of the other outings. The books are getting formulaic at this point.
September 7, 2020
3-1/2 * well written spy plot and lotsa twists. Enjoyable narration by Stefan Rudnicki, who has a voice worth listening to (I woulda listened even if the plot was bad!). Sexual situations (not graphic) and profanity (not frequent) without these in the plot I would have given it a 4*. If you remember the Matt Helm films with Dean Martin, I think these are a continuation. If you disagree, let me know ... thx.
March 1, 2022
#12 in the Matt Helm series. This 1969 series entry by author Donald Hamilton has Matt on loan to an unnamed government agency to impersonate a Communist courier and pick up and deliver messages on the way to Alaska. Boss, Mac, has another mission for Matt. He has word that a killer named Holz is going to assassinate the winner of the upcoming Presidential election. Therefore, if Matt comes across Holz, he should terminate him.
September 19, 2023
This book/series was completely new to me. Why do I like it? Because the witty, dry sarcasm, and somewhat humorous wording throughout this story is wholly entertaining. Heralding the bygone simplicity of good old fashioned 60's American lore surrounding politics, espionage, hot women, betrayal, secrecy with a healthy dose of guns and stabbing - this book is just a really fun read. I love the setting and the mixture of corny but edgy storyline. "Go to hell, sir." 😂
January 29, 2019
A wild ride...
... thru the wild country of western Canada and Alaska. Matt has to sort thru unhelpful playmates, as well as enemies from several different camps. As usual, things don't go well for most of the enemies, or for some of the playmates.
... thru the wild country of western Canada and Alaska. Matt has to sort thru unhelpful playmates, as well as enemies from several different camps. As usual, things don't go well for most of the enemies, or for some of the playmates.
September 9, 2022
CHIRP AUDIOBOOK
Matt Helm is an American version of Bond 007… The book was funny, with lots of plot twists and the addition of a Labrador Retriever as his sidekick was great. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this Chirp audiobook and plan to get more from this author. RECOMMENDED!
Matt Helm is an American version of Bond 007… The book was funny, with lots of plot twists and the addition of a Labrador Retriever as his sidekick was great. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this Chirp audiobook and plan to get more from this author. RECOMMENDED!
February 3, 2019
Dull. A talk-fest. The action could fit into a short story. The series has lost all of the energy of the earlier books. Somebody let the air out of the tires.
June 7, 2020
Another great Matt Helm thriller. What’s not to like.
January 11, 2022
The Interlopers
I would be lying in saying I did not like the Matt Helm series. I read the whole stack of Helms books over 30 years ago. I still like reading them today.Very
I would be lying in saying I did not like the Matt Helm series. I read the whole stack of Helms books over 30 years ago. I still like reading them today.Very
March 22, 2023
Didn't need to be so much longer than the previous books, but the bits with the dog were nice.
June 17, 2023
This is a huntin' fishin' Helm; we know Hamilton was an outdoorsman, and in this novel it really shows. Trouble is, the plot is too convoluted, the characters blend into each other, and the main love interest is a dog. Helm, for all his protestations, gets sentimental as the series progresses. Also, this one feels as though it is scrabbling to keep up with the times -- mini skirts and men with long hair are not Matt's comfort zone. I'm reading these in order, and I'm only halfway through the series, but at this point I feel its heights may be behind it. (Later addition: having now read the whole series, I would add that happily there are still some good ones to come.)
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