What do you think?
Rate this book
Matt Helm #10
The Betrayers
Matt Helm finds himself in Hawaii, trying to unhatch a plot of unrivalled viciousness. When an agent turns bad, nobody's business is private anymore, and when that agent decides to start a war, someone has to finish him--fast. Between the rogue agent and the stranger who insists she is his sister-in-law, this won't be a relaxing Pacific holiday.
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1966
19 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
May 2, 2018
Another excellent book very well read by Stefan Rudnicki. His voice is perfect for Helm & he does a good job on the other characters. The only problem I have with this book is I'd love to be able to read just how Helm's "wife" died between this book & the last. Maybe that's not really a problem. It's referred to often & tantalized me the entire time. It's one of the several threads that keep the book alive in my mind once it's put down.
While this isn't the first book where Helm deals with boats, it is the first where he does any sailing. Wonderful descriptions!!! Our brave hero of Viking descent certainly has the will, but not the know-how. That's a tough sell in this sort of book, but Hamilton pulled it off masterfully.
While this isn't the first book where Helm deals with boats, it is the first where he does any sailing. Wonderful descriptions!!! Our brave hero of Viking descent certainly has the will, but not the know-how. That's a tough sell in this sort of book, but Hamilton pulled it off masterfully.
June 14, 2014
This is one of my favorite Matt Helms.
Not to disappoint, once again Donald Hamilton has his hero Matt Helm trying like hell to get himself captured by the enemy, so he can complete his mission.
Aside from a bit of awkwardness immediately after Matt is captured by "the enemy" I like everything about this novel.
In THE BETRAYERS, Matt has to deal with a rogue agent in his own organization who is collaborating with both Russian and Chinese agents.
The curve-ball here is a wealthy relative by marriage of Matt's who attaches herself to him, confusing everyone involved.
Let's count the stats on the Matt Helm Smooth Move. 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
10 novels in the series, 14 instances of this plot device.
(Matt is captured twice in this novel by adversaries, but once it is unintentional.)
@hg47
[my copy of this book is falling apart; some pages are separated from the spine, some are torn; I have to turn the pages with care and not open the book too wide . . .]
October 23, 2014
My original, quick review was, "I think it as well written as any other in the series, but I never liked it quite as much as the others." I must have been in a bad mood that day. I quite enjoyed it this time around.
Even in a small, tightly run organization like the unnamed one that Helm works for, there are people that go bad. A perfect storm of circumstance has a grieving Helm his vacation in Hawaii where his organization is mostly run by another agent that he doesn't get along with & who is suspected of selling out. Mac, Helm's boss, is quite efficient & uses Helm as a backup, but he winds up in the thick of a confusing mess that he has to fight his way through. Very well done.
A new character is introduced in this book that will show up in a couple more, Mr. Soo. No longer is Helm dealing with just Russians, but now the Chinese.
One of the most interesting facets of this book is Helm's age. This is, I believe, the last one in which he is referred to as a WWII veteran. The year is the mid to late 1960's, which would make Helm about 45 or a bit older. He's getting up there for a man of action. To keep the series going, he now becomes ageless. After this, we no longer think of him as young, but he pretty much stays this age for another 10 books, if I recall correctly.
Even in a small, tightly run organization like the unnamed one that Helm works for, there are people that go bad. A perfect storm of circumstance has a grieving Helm his vacation in Hawaii where his organization is mostly run by another agent that he doesn't get along with & who is suspected of selling out. Mac, Helm's boss, is quite efficient & uses Helm as a backup, but he winds up in the thick of a confusing mess that he has to fight his way through. Very well done.
A new character is introduced in this book that will show up in a couple more, Mr. Soo. No longer is Helm dealing with just Russians, but now the Chinese.
One of the most interesting facets of this book is Helm's age. This is, I believe, the last one in which he is referred to as a WWII veteran. The year is the mid to late 1960's, which would make Helm about 45 or a bit older. He's getting up there for a man of action. To keep the series going, he now becomes ageless. After this, we no longer think of him as young, but he pretty much stays this age for another 10 books, if I recall correctly.
January 30, 2016
So, I've been burning through these (though I will probably take a break before I move on to the next). These are excellent brain junk food (I mean I can't really say brain-candy as they're a bit violent. maybe they're brain cheeseburgers?). Well written, fast moving, the character(s) remain true to themselves and their (actually his as it's mostly Matt but there are some other recurring characters) development is logical.
As I've noted before I was a big fan of the genre "spy/fi". I read the Bond books, I reas books based on spy/fi movies and TV and watched the said movies and TV (I Spy, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Secret Agent/Danger man etc.). These however I gave a pass. The reason is exclusively the Dean Martin movies. I even side stepped the later TV series staring Anthony (Tony) Franciosa and it turns out that it did owe more to the movies than the books.
So if your experience of Matt Helm comes from movies or TV forget that. Helm is a gritty realistic agent of a group that gets called (in an earlier book) The Wrecking Crew. Helm is at least in part an assassin. These books (including this one) deal with a pragmatic man who knows that there are times that not pulling the trigger can be worse than pulling it and that you can't afford to trust...well anyone, most of the time.
Good books, recommended if you like action also if you like edgy spy fiction.
Enjoy.
As I've noted before I was a big fan of the genre "spy/fi". I read the Bond books, I reas books based on spy/fi movies and TV and watched the said movies and TV (I Spy, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Secret Agent/Danger man etc.). These however I gave a pass. The reason is exclusively the Dean Martin movies. I even side stepped the later TV series staring Anthony (Tony) Franciosa and it turns out that it did owe more to the movies than the books.
So if your experience of Matt Helm comes from movies or TV forget that. Helm is a gritty realistic agent of a group that gets called (in an earlier book) The Wrecking Crew. Helm is at least in part an assassin. These books (including this one) deal with a pragmatic man who knows that there are times that not pulling the trigger can be worse than pulling it and that you can't afford to trust...well anyone, most of the time.
Good books, recommended if you like action also if you like edgy spy fiction.
Enjoy.
February 18, 2022
I wonder sometimes if the CIA of the past 40 years doesn't require all agents to consume all of the Donal Hamilton canon, thus creating the absolutely inane situations our country finds itself in. Perhaps the best and brightest of the CIA field ops are only as good as what they have read in the Matt Helm series, IDK, but it seems likely.
I am making my way through the entire original 27 books, so far, they are pretty bad and sad, but i soldier on. Most will receive a rating of 2 stars, thus relegating the series into the dustbin of history.
I am making my way through the entire original 27 books, so far, they are pretty bad and sad, but i soldier on. Most will receive a rating of 2 stars, thus relegating the series into the dustbin of history.
March 14, 2015
"Οι προδότες", εκδόσεις ΒΙΠΕΡ.
Πρόκειται για το δέκατο βιβλίο της σειράς και αυτή την φορά ο Χελμ, που υποτίθεται ότι πηγαίνει για διακοπές στην εξωτική Χαβάη, καλείται να αντιμετωπίσει έναν πράκτορα της υπηρεσίας του, τον Καλόγερο, που φαίνεται ότι άλλαξε πλευρά και που πιθανότατα σχεδιάζει κάτι μεγάλο, κάτι που μάλλον έχει σχέση με το γεμάτο 3.000 στρατιώτες μεταγωγικό πλοίο που πλέει στ'ανοιχτά της Χαβάης. Ο Καλόγερος είναι παλιός γνώριμος του Ματ Χελμ, μιας και οι δυο τους είχαν συνεργαστεί στην Γερμανία κατά το παρελθόν, έτσι ο Χελμ γνωρίζει τα κουσούρια του, όπως π.χ. να βάζει βόμβες και να απολαμβάνει εκρήξεις. Ο Χελμ όμως θα συναντήσει και δυο όμορφες γυναίκες, με την μια εξ'αυτών να είναι εχθρική πράκτορας...
Όλα τα βιβλία της σειράς που έχω διαβάσει μέχρι στιγμής είναι από καλά έως πολύ καλά και αυτό, φυσικά, δεν αποτελεί εξαίρεση. Έχει όλα τα καλούδια που έχουν οι ιστορίες με ήρωα τον Ματ Χελμ, δηλαδή μυστήριο, δράση και αποκαλύψεις. Και εννοείται σούπερ ατμόσφαιρα, ακριβείς περιγραφές και σαρκαστικό χιούμορ. Δεν πιστεύω ότι είναι για όλα τα γούστα, ευτυχώς όμως ταιριάζει απόλυτα με τα δικά μου, γι'αυτό και απολαμβάνω κάθε ιστορία του Ντόναλντ Χάμιλτον που πέφτει στα χέρια μου.
Πρόκειται για το δέκατο βιβλίο της σειράς και αυτή την φορά ο Χελμ, που υποτίθεται ότι πηγαίνει για διακοπές στην εξωτική Χαβάη, καλείται να αντιμετωπίσει έναν πράκτορα της υπηρεσίας του, τον Καλόγερο, που φαίνεται ότι άλλαξε πλευρά και που πιθανότατα σχεδιάζει κάτι μεγάλο, κάτι που μάλλον έχει σχέση με το γεμάτο 3.000 στρατιώτες μεταγωγικό πλοίο που πλέει στ'ανοιχτά της Χαβάης. Ο Καλόγερος είναι παλιός γνώριμος του Ματ Χελμ, μιας και οι δυο τους είχαν συνεργαστεί στην Γερμανία κατά το παρελθόν, έτσι ο Χελμ γνωρίζει τα κουσούρια του, όπως π.χ. να βάζει βόμβες και να απολαμβάνει εκρήξεις. Ο Χελμ όμως θα συναντήσει και δυο όμορφες γυναίκες, με την μια εξ'αυτών να είναι εχθρική πράκτορας...
Όλα τα βιβλία της σειράς που έχω διαβάσει μέχρι στιγμής είναι από καλά έως πολύ καλά και αυτό, φυσικά, δεν αποτελεί εξαίρεση. Έχει όλα τα καλούδια που έχουν οι ιστορίες με ήρωα τον Ματ Χελμ, δηλαδή μυστήριο, δράση και αποκαλύψεις. Και εννοείται σούπερ ατμόσφαιρα, ακριβείς περιγραφές και σαρκαστικό χιούμορ. Δεν πιστεύω ότι είναι για όλα τα γούστα, ευτυχώς όμως ταιριάζει απόλυτα με τα δικά μου, γι'αυτό και απολαμβάνω κάθε ιστορία του Ντόναλντ Χάμιλτον που πέφτει στα χέρια μου.
February 11, 2016
Another rollicking adventure full of betrayals and counter-betrayals, cliff-hangers, some lush settings and snappy banter
September 14, 2021
The Betrayers (1966) (Matt Helm #10) by Donald Hamilton. Remember this book is set in 1966. International tensions abound, worries about the Russians and the Chinese stoke many diplomatic decisions, and there was a little war going on over in Nam. That is the backdrop for this spy thriller that finds Matt Helm once again battling for his country.
Forced to take a leave after saying injudicious things about the U.S. involvement in southeast Asia, Helm plans a great tour of Hawaii. But like so many things in the life of a spy, this proves to be too much of a coincidence to let go. Seems the station chief in that area “may” have gone rogue. There “might” be something that Agent In Charge (AIC) Monk is planning. The agency wants Helm to look into it under his already scheduled vacation.
Of course there is something going on. Of course there are beautiful women falling into our hero’s path, and there is a growing danger. But we never see outright just what the danger is, at least until the trap is sprung. There is the young blond surfer who might be an Agency mole, or she could be working straight out for the Monk. Then there is the socialite wife of a failing businessman who might be Helm’s unknown sister-in-law, or a Russian spy.
And what are the Chinese doing in this. And just what is the evil plot?
Matt has to navigate these dangerous waters without a guide, discover what the scheme is, foil it and not get killed in the process. But who is he to trust? Along the way we get a tourist’s view of mid-sixties Hawaii including several of the different islands and local customs. Keep in mind that Hawaii had become a state less than 20 years before so it was still considered very exotic, not that it isn’t now.
If you only know Matt Helm from the Dean Martin starring movies, you don’t know Helm at all. More assassin that white knight, he is pragmatic when it comes to using the lives of the people around him, a realist about his job, and finally true to himself and his worth in the larger picture. With this character Donald Hamilton sealed his place in the world of spy fiction for all time.
Forced to take a leave after saying injudicious things about the U.S. involvement in southeast Asia, Helm plans a great tour of Hawaii. But like so many things in the life of a spy, this proves to be too much of a coincidence to let go. Seems the station chief in that area “may” have gone rogue. There “might” be something that Agent In Charge (AIC) Monk is planning. The agency wants Helm to look into it under his already scheduled vacation.
Of course there is something going on. Of course there are beautiful women falling into our hero’s path, and there is a growing danger. But we never see outright just what the danger is, at least until the trap is sprung. There is the young blond surfer who might be an Agency mole, or she could be working straight out for the Monk. Then there is the socialite wife of a failing businessman who might be Helm’s unknown sister-in-law, or a Russian spy.
And what are the Chinese doing in this. And just what is the evil plot?
Matt has to navigate these dangerous waters without a guide, discover what the scheme is, foil it and not get killed in the process. But who is he to trust? Along the way we get a tourist’s view of mid-sixties Hawaii including several of the different islands and local customs. Keep in mind that Hawaii had become a state less than 20 years before so it was still considered very exotic, not that it isn’t now.
If you only know Matt Helm from the Dean Martin starring movies, you don’t know Helm at all. More assassin that white knight, he is pragmatic when it comes to using the lives of the people around him, a realist about his job, and finally true to himself and his worth in the larger picture. With this character Donald Hamilton sealed his place in the world of spy fiction for all time.
July 28, 2021
Helm was going to Hawaii for a long-deserved vacation. Mac slyly mentioned that another agent called Monk was in Hawaii, probing Helm for his recollection. Helm had worked with Monk and he wanted nothing to do with him again. Mac had other ideas. There were suspicions of Monk having ties with Peking. This must be investigated very quietly and without bringing dishonor on Monk’s reputation. Arriving in the Paradise of the Pacific, Helm opens a letter from an attorney that was waiting for him. It states that his late wife Winifred Philipa Marner, aka Claire, was one of two principal legatees of a man named Philip Grant Marner. A woman named Isabel McClain was also waiting for Helm. She had a distinct connection with the letter. So much for the setup of the story. A young, rather inexperienced agent named Jill Donelly was put on Helm by Monk. She was also Helm’s contact and something more. The business with the letter and Isabel is a side issue, although a surprising one, and does develop dramatically later. The main plot is Monk and what he was up to. It just takes a while to get there but when we do, it’s quite exciting. All-in-all it’s a pretty good story with several twists and turns.
June 10, 2017
The tenth Matt Helm novel, the Betrayers, is one of the best. It is taught, well-put-together, and simply a straightforward spy novel. Here, Helm goes to Hawaii, originally for some R & R, but then to outwit a possibly-rogue agent and his group of anti-war activist newbies. This novel features the sun and surf of Oahu and Maui, including Helm getting surf lessons from a blonde bikini-clad agent and enough action and bodies strewn in his wake to make this action- packed thriller. There are plenty of twists and turns and double agents and double crosses to make this one a terrific read. One of the things that makes this Helm novel so terrific is that Hamilton doesn’t try to make the story too big or have it go in too many directions. It is a straight- ahead espionage novel with one agent pitted against another agent and the guessing game of who is on whose side and who has crossed over. It is hard to avoid being cynical and distrustful when everyone is whispering secrets to everyone else and it seems as if they all think you are suddenly the most interesting man in the world.
April 9, 2024
Matt is on vacation in Hawaii. Mac, however, has given him an assignment: eliminate Monk. Helm knew Monk long ago, regrettably, in fact, he saved Monk during a mission.
Monk runs the Pacific arena. He seems to be moving closer to the Chinese. Helm has been given a cover, that he is dissatisfied with current US policy.
We learn that Matt’s wife, Winnie, code-named “Clare”, in the last mission has died. He receives a letter from her attorney, notifying him that he is a beneficiary in her will.
Helm arrives in Hawaii, and he is approached by two women: Jill and Isobel Marner. Jill works for Monk but is also involved with a peacenik group. Isobel claims to be the sister-in-law of Winnifred. She tells him a story about Winnie’s will.
For his own protection, he must decide which of these lovely woman will not betray him.
There is a final confrontation with Monk off Oahu.
He is really hard on women, or should I say that women have a rough time as spies.
Monk runs the Pacific arena. He seems to be moving closer to the Chinese. Helm has been given a cover, that he is dissatisfied with current US policy.
We learn that Matt’s wife, Winnie, code-named “Clare”, in the last mission has died. He receives a letter from her attorney, notifying him that he is a beneficiary in her will.
Helm arrives in Hawaii, and he is approached by two women: Jill and Isobel Marner. Jill works for Monk but is also involved with a peacenik group. Isobel claims to be the sister-in-law of Winnifred. She tells him a story about Winnie’s will.
For his own protection, he must decide which of these lovely woman will not betray him.
There is a final confrontation with Monk off Oahu.
He is really hard on women, or should I say that women have a rough time as spies.
March 12, 2019
Matt Helm goes surfing!
Part of the fun in this series is that Donald Hamilton puts a lot of truth into his lies. I'm not saying the author ever stabbed anyone with a knife but Hamilton has clearly had a lot of the experiences he writes for his main character. He's travelled to the places Matt Helm visits. He's fired the same guns and driven the same cars. In this story, Matt Helm takes a surf lesson and, having taken a surf lesson or two in my time, I can verify the accuracy.
I'm not really making you want to read the book, am I? All right, how about this? The bad guy gets killed real, real good at the end. I mean, this is the tenth book in the series and all the mayhem should be a blur at this point and yet I remember this particular kill vividly. Fun stuff.
Part of the fun in this series is that Donald Hamilton puts a lot of truth into his lies. I'm not saying the author ever stabbed anyone with a knife but Hamilton has clearly had a lot of the experiences he writes for his main character. He's travelled to the places Matt Helm visits. He's fired the same guns and driven the same cars. In this story, Matt Helm takes a surf lesson and, having taken a surf lesson or two in my time, I can verify the accuracy.
I'm not really making you want to read the book, am I? All right, how about this? The bad guy gets killed real, real good at the end. I mean, this is the tenth book in the series and all the mayhem should be a blur at this point and yet I remember this particular kill vividly. Fun stuff.
April 8, 2022
I picked up a used Matt Helm book from the donated books shelf at the beach in 1976 when I was working as a lifeguard. I found most of the old ones in book stores and read most of the newer releases as they were published. Around 15 years ago, I reconstructed the whole series mostly from Abe. I consolidated houses a year ago and sadly tossed them in the dumpster. I now have the whole collection as eBooks and I’m working my way through them.
This book is significant because it’s the first Matt Helm as inept seaman. A recurring theme in subsequent books with the New Mexico desert rat having repeated nautical misadventures.
This book is significant because it’s the first Matt Helm as inept seaman. A recurring theme in subsequent books with the New Mexico desert rat having repeated nautical misadventures.
August 31, 2022
Another fun Helm story. This time while planning his vacation to Hawaii he just happened to be given a mission that involved the area. The head of the his department in that isolated area was basically ran by an old colleague, in that they had worked together though they didn't like each other. This man was found out to be a traitor and Helm needed to find out what the plan was that he was working on, then do what they do and get rid of him.
Highly recommended, does a good job mixing around a lot of characters that you never really know what side they are on. Hamilton is a great writer, and using Helm as the narrator always works.
Highly recommended, does a good job mixing around a lot of characters that you never really know what side they are on. Hamilton is a great writer, and using Helm as the narrator always works.
March 23, 2021
An excellent entry in the series. This one has several wonderful and unexpected plot twists as Matt travels to Hawaii on a nominal vacation and ends up clashing with another agent who has apparently turned traitor. Two different women are soon involved and the plot twists involve who they are and whether or not they can be trusted. It's handled beautifully, with each revelation about the ladies forcing us to continually change our opinions about whether they are Matt's p0tential allies or deadly enemies. Great stuff.
September 19, 2020
Matt Helm adventures are always huge fun to read - cynical spy stories with a touch of humor - and this is no exception. Helm is supposed to be on Vacation in Hawaii, but (of course) it doesn't work out that way. He runs into a renegade American agent and a woman who claims to be his sister-in-law, by way of a fake wife from the previous story. Things go downhill (or down-wave) from there. Delightful.
February 1, 2021
The Betrayers
In the latest Matt Helm series Matt is still trying to recover from losing his Beautiful Partner and decides to go to Hawaii to recover. While there he is ordered to check on another agent that may have gone rogue. He's introduced to 2 beautiful women, the younger one is obviously agent, the older exotic one could be an agent. Helm must decide which woman he can trust or he might lose his life .
In the latest Matt Helm series Matt is still trying to recover from losing his Beautiful Partner and decides to go to Hawaii to recover. While there he is ordered to check on another agent that may have gone rogue. He's introduced to 2 beautiful women, the younger one is obviously agent, the older exotic one could be an agent. Helm must decide which woman he can trust or he might lose his life .
February 12, 2022
27 kitaplık Matt Helm serisinin 10. kitabı İhanet (orijinal adı The Betrayers).
Casusiye sevip, seriyi henüz okumamış olanlara tavsiye ederim. Yazar Donald Hamilton'ın kahramanının ağzından anlattığı hikaye, kurguya kattığı gerçekçilik unsurunun da etkisi ile okuyucuyu hiç sıkmadan akıyor.
Serinin dört kitabı, başrolünü Dean Martin'in oynandığı sinema filmleri ile 60'lı yıllarda izleyicinin beğenisini toplamış, ancak dönemin en popüleri James Bond'un parodisi olarak anılmaktan kurtulamamıştır.
Casusiye sevip, seriyi henüz okumamış olanlara tavsiye ederim. Yazar Donald Hamilton'ın kahramanının ağzından anlattığı hikaye, kurguya kattığı gerçekçilik unsurunun da etkisi ile okuyucuyu hiç sıkmadan akıyor.
Serinin dört kitabı, başrolünü Dean Martin'in oynandığı sinema filmleri ile 60'lı yıllarda izleyicinin beğenisini toplamış, ancak dönemin en popüleri James Bond'un parodisi olarak anılmaktan kurtulamamıştır.
July 20, 2018
Plenty of action and intrigue with Matt Helm in Hawaii. Thoroughly enjoyable story and refreshingly unapologetic. The tropical setting lends itself well to the plot. A great read if you're looking for a fun, hard-hitting thriller.
December 28, 2021
True to form
Another great story of an agent as you would expect our secret agents to be. Hard to put down! Story believable and edge of your seat page turner. Join the Helm series...you will be glad you did!!
Another great story of an agent as you would expect our secret agents to be. Hard to put down! Story believable and edge of your seat page turner. Join the Helm series...you will be glad you did!!
February 1, 2022
#10 in the Matt Helm series. This 1966 series entry by author Donald Hamilton is quite enjoyable. The reader (and Helm) will try to decide who is the enemy agent, the dupe, and/or the innocent bystander in this fast-moving espionage thriller taking place in tropical Hawaii.
March 8, 2023
Matt Helm goes to Hawaii where Russian, Chinese and turncoat US agents are up to no good. I think this was the worst of the ten books so far, but it did enough to keep me entertained at my desk for a long stretch of slightly boring typesetting work.
January 26, 2019
Hawaii's turn
This one has it all - rogue agents, Russian agents, Chinese agents - with good old Matt trying to spoil it all. And this time he gets help from a civilian. Fun stuff.
This one has it all - rogue agents, Russian agents, Chinese agents - with good old Matt trying to spoil it all. And this time he gets help from a civilian. Fun stuff.
June 14, 2019
Another great Matt Helm novel.
July 16, 2019
Lightning-fast page-turning Matt Helm yarn, part espionage thriller and part Hawaiian travelogue.
January 7, 2021
Eric saves the day again!
June 27, 2021
The Betrayers
Good action from the start. The story has twists and turns all through out the story. It was an enjoyable read.
Good action from the start. The story has twists and turns all through out the story. It was an enjoyable read.
December 27, 2025
Good story, interesting characters.
September 13, 2016
One of the weaker in the HELM series. Secret government agent Matt Helm is supposed to be vacationing in Hawaii after a tragic mission in Europe, but a double agent from the past is also there and planning something nefarious involving a navy transport ship. Plus, Matt is trying to figure which of the lovely women who seem interested in him are playing it for real or planning to have him killed. This one is mostly about who you can trust and how even the human nature savvy Helm can be mistaken. It starts off weak and then moves into a lot of violent action but then peters off again. Also, modern readers will find Helm's use of the word 'rape' a bit disconcerting in the terms of romance. *shudder* Well, it was 1966.
May 21, 2023
A superbly structured, constantly surprising entry in the Matt Helm series -- and one that gives Matt a chance to helm a sailing vessel. Its theme turns out to be (no spoilers) of considerable relevance today, something that cannot often be said of the Hamilton oeuvre. The author also gives his hero a chance to denounce racism. But some will find the sexual language offensive.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews