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Matt Helm #19
Matt Helm: Vendetta sul mare
Matthew Helm, detto Matt, alias Eric, torna in scena. E ci torna come uno con alle spalle decine di indimenticabili missioni, che ci hanno avvinto in "Segretissimo" o sui grandi schermi, e un curriculum sentimentale fitto come un elenco telefonico. È proprio da una passata storia d’amore che riparte l’avventura. Qualcuno ha ucciso il marito di un’ex fidanzata di Matt, la quale - guarda caso - è anche figlia del Capo della sua agenzia. Lo stesso qualcuno costringe al suicidio un’altra signora che Matt aveva ospitato nel proprio letto, e ne fa ammazzare una terza, anche lei nel giro dell’eroe. E così, di vecchia fiamma in vecchia fiamma, si rivela un pericoloso intreccio di vendette e di conti da regolare che minacciano Matt, la sua organizzazione, e tutta l’America.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
32 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Donald Hamilton
101 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 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 3, 2021
Longer than his previous books with some repetition, but still great. These books should definitely be read in order. This one in particular is 'old home week'. A lot of old characters show up. As usual, fantastically narrated by Stefan Rudnicki. I hope a few more of these are turned into audio books this year.
June 16, 2017
This is a top-notch, excellent novel with rich, deeply- drawn characters, a fascinating plot, and lots of action. The storyline takes the reader from the high mountains of New Mexico to the Florida marinas to the sun-drenched Bahamas and even to the dreaded Bermuda Triangle.
If you haven't read a Helm novel before, be prepared for the most realistic, hardboiled secret agent you've ever encountered. Helm knows what it takes to get the job done and even notes that there have to be brave men and women willing to execute their missions for our society to survive. In his world, there are no hostages to save and he is expected to take whatever actions are necessary.
There was a five-year gap between the publication of the previous Helm novel and this one. You don't need to read any previous Helm books (18 of them) to either understand or enjoy this story. Nevertheless, this story, more so than other Helm novels, harkens back to include a number of characters from his past. Perhaps Hamilton was starting to draw the series to a close -- although he went on to write seven more in the series.
This novel in some ways reminded me of John MacDonald's McGee series both in the in -depth analysis of some of the characters and how here Helm does indeed tend to some wounded sparrows. The novel also includes a houseboat in a Florida Marina and various nautical adventures. None of this detracts from the story. It simply at times has a different pace from the usual Helm novel.
Hamilton throws a lot in this novel including pirates at sea, journalists and what they'll stoop to, gangsters, politicians, environmentalists, fueling agencies .....
All in all, simply a terrific novel, perhaps even a standout among the Helm novels.
If you haven't read a Helm novel before, be prepared for the most realistic, hardboiled secret agent you've ever encountered. Helm knows what it takes to get the job done and even notes that there have to be brave men and women willing to execute their missions for our society to survive. In his world, there are no hostages to save and he is expected to take whatever actions are necessary.
There was a five-year gap between the publication of the previous Helm novel and this one. You don't need to read any previous Helm books (18 of them) to either understand or enjoy this story. Nevertheless, this story, more so than other Helm novels, harkens back to include a number of characters from his past. Perhaps Hamilton was starting to draw the series to a close -- although he went on to write seven more in the series.
This novel in some ways reminded me of John MacDonald's McGee series both in the in -depth analysis of some of the characters and how here Helm does indeed tend to some wounded sparrows. The novel also includes a houseboat in a Florida Marina and various nautical adventures. None of this detracts from the story. It simply at times has a different pace from the usual Helm novel.
Hamilton throws a lot in this novel including pirates at sea, journalists and what they'll stoop to, gangsters, politicians, environmentalists, fueling agencies .....
All in all, simply a terrific novel, perhaps even a standout among the Helm novels.
October 23, 2014
Old home week, indeed. Quite a few characters from past books come together in a flurry of non-stop action as Helm plays bodyguard to a nosy reporter who is writing an exposé on him & his organization. Helm as a bodyguard is a complete reversal from his usual role, but he handles it well, even as he bucks interference from another government agency.
Hamilton's boating experience shines through in this book. While Helm doesn't know much about boats of any kind, Hamilton was an expert & the plot of this book is near & dear to many a sailor's heart. "The big bastards think they own the ocean." Enough said...
On to the next book, The Annihilators!
Hamilton's boating experience shines through in this book. While Helm doesn't know much about boats of any kind, Hamilton was an expert & the plot of this book is near & dear to many a sailor's heart. "The big bastards think they own the ocean." Enough said...
On to the next book, The Annihilators!
May 31, 2022
Who are these people giving any of these books a star rating better than 1? I don't get it.
This is book # 19 and it is the worst yet - why,? the thing was 12 hours! That is twice as long as the longest previous book. OMG! Stop!
Seriously, if the remaining 9 books are 12 hours, I'm out. I can't take it anymore.
Save me from myself.
This is book # 19 and it is the worst yet - why,? the thing was 12 hours! That is twice as long as the longest previous book. OMG! Stop!
Seriously, if the remaining 9 books are 12 hours, I'm out. I can't take it anymore.
Save me from myself.
February 11, 2019
More "fun" in the High seas
For a New Mexico country boy land lubber, our hero Matt sure spends a lot of time on boats. He's back in the Bahamas again, playing bodyguard, and finding out why a lot of large ships aren't making it back to port.
For a New Mexico country boy land lubber, our hero Matt sure spends a lot of time on boats. He's back in the Bahamas again, playing bodyguard, and finding out why a lot of large ships aren't making it back to port.
July 9, 2021
Matt again saves the day in his unique way while juggling 3 different love interests. He seems to want to settle down. It's as well he should since he's getting on in years.
January 3, 2022
Longest book in the series so far... but still good.
January 3, 2022
We enter upon a conversation between Helm and Mac. Mac’s daughter, Martha Devine has recently been widowed by a shotgun blast, violently cutting her late husband Bob, an agent like Helm, in two in her presence. Mac feared that his daughter, feeling guilty, may seek out the killer and take revenge upon herself. In a stressful and unprotected moment, Martha shared much of her personal life, along with Bob’s professional life, with someone she believed to be a close friend. The friend, Elenor Brand a writer, published everything Martha had confided in an Inquire-like rag. Shortly after, Bob Devine was killed. Mac asked Helm to look into the matter and stop his daughter from doing anything untoward. So much for the setup of the story. It didn’t take Helm long to discover what had happened concerning Bob Devine. On the other hand, there was still an issue with Elenor Brand. Mac’s organization wasn’t in the protection business but they didn’t want anything fatal to happen to Elenor right now. Considering they were mentioned in her article, they didn’t want the backlash that might result. Helm embarked on the new mission. Circumstances were very strange to Helm, he kept running across people and incidents from the past. He didn’t know what to make of it but he pushed forward, dealing with one situation after another. This novel is twice the length of others in the series, full of déjà vu moments, and the last volume in the Audible series. It’s been an exciting and interesting run.
April 14, 2016
A little too elaborate and too eager to sweep a lot of old history away but still absorbing till the end..
May 23, 2024
This is not the Matt Helm you may have seen portrayed by Dean Martin in several goofy spy-spoofs. This Matt Helm is the original - and he's the polar opposite of the film-Helm, the original is tough as nails - easily on par with the early James Bond. Hamilton tells his stories in the first-person narrative - and I very much enjoyed being along for the ride in Matt Helm's mind. He has a sharp mind, he's acerbic, he fights (and fights well) when he has to, he knows his weapons, likes his women - but none of it feels cheap - he's a character and yes, let's remember that he's a character written in 1960. So he's not exactly politically correct - and there are more than a few moments when what he says and does makes you smile.
This, the 19th of the Matt Helm novels, was quite weird and meandering. It starts out with a funeral of Mack's (Helm's boss) daughter's husband. The man had also been a covert operator like Matt Helm - so then we're there and for a long while Helm hangs around after the funeral and very insightfully discovers who killed the husband. A good bit of sleuthing.
But then there's a journalist who wrote about the covert operations and now Mack's worried that, if anything should happen to her, then the organization would be blamed. So he assigns Helm to watch over her ... pretty odd.
Then that journalist goes south to investigate the Bermuda Triangle where ships have gone missing! The story just meanders and meanders and Helm is still the excellent Helm and good stuff happens with deductions and fights and women (the relationship development with the journalist is excellent) and then there's an senator with a shady past and his daughter who wants to avenge her lover by destroying ... I'll pause here, no spoilers! It's one of the longer Matt Helm novels - and it didn't need to be. Could have made it crisp and focused - but hey, it's still Matt Helm!
She gets in touch because there's trouble. Helm's ex-wife's husband was a heavy in his past, there's a drug lord, and the drug lord's lovely daughter (pretty young, but Helm doesn't mind), there are the kids and a rabbit-hunting hound and a baddie whose undercover. As always, Matt Helm rises to the challenges, fights the good fight by any means necessary, doesn't hesitate to kill - and ends up getting the job done once he's stepped over a few bodies and puddles of blood. To my mind, because it was personal with his ex there - this wasn't quite as satisfying as the first and the second outing - but still, hey, this is Matt Helm and I'd love to see him go toe-to-toe with Jack Reacher. They're very much alike - except that Matt officially has license to kill and does so without hesitation.
This, the 19th of the Matt Helm novels, was quite weird and meandering. It starts out with a funeral of Mack's (Helm's boss) daughter's husband. The man had also been a covert operator like Matt Helm - so then we're there and for a long while Helm hangs around after the funeral and very insightfully discovers who killed the husband. A good bit of sleuthing.
But then there's a journalist who wrote about the covert operations and now Mack's worried that, if anything should happen to her, then the organization would be blamed. So he assigns Helm to watch over her ... pretty odd.
Then that journalist goes south to investigate the Bermuda Triangle where ships have gone missing! The story just meanders and meanders and Helm is still the excellent Helm and good stuff happens with deductions and fights and women (the relationship development with the journalist is excellent) and then there's an senator with a shady past and his daughter who wants to avenge her lover by destroying ... I'll pause here, no spoilers! It's one of the longer Matt Helm novels - and it didn't need to be. Could have made it crisp and focused - but hey, it's still Matt Helm!
She gets in touch because there's trouble. Helm's ex-wife's husband was a heavy in his past, there's a drug lord, and the drug lord's lovely daughter (pretty young, but Helm doesn't mind), there are the kids and a rabbit-hunting hound and a baddie whose undercover. As always, Matt Helm rises to the challenges, fights the good fight by any means necessary, doesn't hesitate to kill - and ends up getting the job done once he's stepped over a few bodies and puddles of blood. To my mind, because it was personal with his ex there - this wasn't quite as satisfying as the first and the second outing - but still, hey, this is Matt Helm and I'd love to see him go toe-to-toe with Jack Reacher. They're very much alike - except that Matt officially has license to kill and does so without hesitation.
February 4, 2022
Okay, there are like 27 Helm books, but this is the last I have either in print or audio so now I must begin the hunt to run the rest down. In the last few days I've been finishing up my collection so spending time in Helm's world.
I like these books. I think now I need to pause and note something. These books are NOT PC. I'm sure some people will be offended by some part of the novels (of course you can barely put a foot out the door or go on line at all these days without offending someone). Just be prepared, okay?
Also another note. These are novels, they are fiction. However with certain caveats ( I still hate it when a magazine is called a "clip") these books will probably appeal more to those of us with a certain outlook on life. Dare I say those who may have been "shot at" (yes I know, "those at whom bullets have been fired" is more correct but "shot at" says it better) will get a lot of what's said here better than those who have the luxury of feeling superior to the "ruffians" in occupations which may have called for (or still call for) violence.
You know the people who think making all firearms illegal will end ALL crime (it never occurs to them that only people who respect and/or obey the law are the only ones this will disarm). OR the people who were SHOCKED and DISMAYED to find that America had ever participated in a political assassination. The ones who want to defund the police and shut down the military...
In other words those who say proudly they are "anti-war" The ones who harken back to John Lennon's question, "What would happen if they gave a war and nobody came?"
Of course the answer is they bring the war to you. Just ask Neville Chamberlain. Very few people WANT a war. War (be it open or secret) is like an armed robbery and assault writ large. You can resist or just role over and give up.
Old sayings often get said a lot because they are the best way to express certain truths. The ones of us who like these novels the most may also be the ones who realize that:
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”
I like these books. I think now I need to pause and note something. These books are NOT PC. I'm sure some people will be offended by some part of the novels (of course you can barely put a foot out the door or go on line at all these days without offending someone). Just be prepared, okay?
Also another note. These are novels, they are fiction. However with certain caveats ( I still hate it when a magazine is called a "clip") these books will probably appeal more to those of us with a certain outlook on life. Dare I say those who may have been "shot at" (yes I know, "those at whom bullets have been fired" is more correct but "shot at" says it better) will get a lot of what's said here better than those who have the luxury of feeling superior to the "ruffians" in occupations which may have called for (or still call for) violence.
You know the people who think making all firearms illegal will end ALL crime (it never occurs to them that only people who respect and/or obey the law are the only ones this will disarm). OR the people who were SHOCKED and DISMAYED to find that America had ever participated in a political assassination. The ones who want to defund the police and shut down the military...
In other words those who say proudly they are "anti-war" The ones who harken back to John Lennon's question, "What would happen if they gave a war and nobody came?"
Of course the answer is they bring the war to you. Just ask Neville Chamberlain. Very few people WANT a war. War (be it open or secret) is like an armed robbery and assault writ large. You can resist or just role over and give up.
Old sayings often get said a lot because they are the best way to express certain truths. The ones of us who like these novels the most may also be the ones who realize that:
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”
November 10, 2024
Helm is sent to investigate the death of a former agent named Bob Devine, who is now married to Mac’s daughter, Martha, who appeared in “The Intriguers.” It is believed he was targeted after a story by Elinor Brandt outed Devine. Helm is assigned to protect Brandt, as her death would be blamed on his agency.
Brandt is now writing a story on Helm. She is digging into his past. This brings Harriet to his attention. She appeared in “Murderer’s Row,” Helm’s fifth outing.
He goes to see her and learns that terrorists are sinking tankers and cargo ships in the Atlantic. Then she is dead.
Helm is called to an official meeting and Bennett of the FSI demands to take over the protection of Brandt. Brandt skips out of the meeting and is kidnapped. Helm must rescue her and also stop the terrorists.
This was overlong, with extensive descriptions of nautical and sailing information, Helm’s constant nastiness to Brandt but his creeping affection for her and the lengthy experience while held captive by the terrorist.
Brandt is now writing a story on Helm. She is digging into his past. This brings Harriet to his attention. She appeared in “Murderer’s Row,” Helm’s fifth outing.
He goes to see her and learns that terrorists are sinking tankers and cargo ships in the Atlantic. Then she is dead.
Helm is called to an official meeting and Bennett of the FSI demands to take over the protection of Brandt. Brandt skips out of the meeting and is kidnapped. Helm must rescue her and also stop the terrorists.
This was overlong, with extensive descriptions of nautical and sailing information, Helm’s constant nastiness to Brandt but his creeping affection for her and the lengthy experience while held captive by the terrorist.
September 16, 2024
SPOILER AND CW: SEXUAL ASSAULT, CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT, INCEST.
As always, excellent writing and a masterful performance by Stefan Rudnicki. However, this one was tough to listen to, as it contains a very detailed description of a sexual assault, and later, a brief but nauseating reference to SA of a child by her father. It was surprising to encounter in the series; I get the sense that as he (and society) progressed, Hamilton was able/willing to address these issues. I must say it’s handled well, but definitely came as a shock.
As always, excellent writing and a masterful performance by Stefan Rudnicki. However, this one was tough to listen to, as it contains a very detailed description of a sexual assault, and later, a brief but nauseating reference to SA of a child by her father. It was surprising to encounter in the series; I get the sense that as he (and society) progressed, Hamilton was able/willing to address these issues. I must say it’s handled well, but definitely came as a shock.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2022
The Revengers
I liked the book from start to finish. It has good plot and some interesting twists and turns. Anybody that is into spy type stuff will enjoy the book. The series is good reading.
I liked the book from start to finish. It has good plot and some interesting twists and turns. Anybody that is into spy type stuff will enjoy the book. The series is good reading.
January 28, 2020
Easy,relaxing read.
October 31, 2023
A plot straight out of Bond for the anti-Bond!
June 1, 2023
One of the best Helms. Donald Hamilton was a really fine thriller writer, and here, after a 5-year break, he reintroduced his hero with a lengthy, retrospective and occasionally introspective air. Despite a few falsities of tone, and the usual chronological regularlity with which women's clothing loosens, and an unreconstructed attitude to lesbianism, this is one of the best Helm novels. The action sequences are as good as ANYONE writing this kind of stuff, and better than most. It's all delivered with real wit tempering the dryly jaded tone. It is politically conservative, and Helm's views on gun ownership are simplistic. But he feels like a real guy, a man with his heart in the right place. A hero who crosses over fascinatingly with the likes of Chandler (cynical knight errant), and is a match for Fleming (though their writing approaches are wholly different: Helm, for a start, is written in the first person, allowing the author to share his views in a way that's somewhat rare in the action genre); meanwhile, Hemingway feels like Hamilton's real inspiration. In my opinion, Hamilton was one of the very best writers in this genre, and this fairly late work showcases a great deal of what made him so good.
January 27, 2013
I'm now 19 books into this rereading of the Matt Helm series, and the thing you remember,quickly, when going back to these book, is that no one lives that long after getting close to Matt. In this book three characters that managed to live past an earlier appearance have death catch up to them.
If the image of Mr Helm wearing a hood and carrying a sickle comes to mind, that wouldnt be too far from the truth. It's also what you come to expect, the price of the ride, so to speak. The man who's job it is to deliver death,mostly for justifiable reasons, also has death follow him every where he goes.
Once again this is great escapist reading, not for the faint of heart. Sometimes its heavy on the technical side,but always heavy on the character too.
There was a lot of this kind of spy vs spy stuff written at this time,but Donald Hamilton might have been the best at it, and I read it all,including Bond. This is the only series I have ever considered going back to read, in this genre.
Oh yea, Helm lives to on to book 20. I'll get to that one in a couple of weeks
If the image of Mr Helm wearing a hood and carrying a sickle comes to mind, that wouldnt be too far from the truth. It's also what you come to expect, the price of the ride, so to speak. The man who's job it is to deliver death,mostly for justifiable reasons, also has death follow him every where he goes.
Once again this is great escapist reading, not for the faint of heart. Sometimes its heavy on the technical side,but always heavy on the character too.
There was a lot of this kind of spy vs spy stuff written at this time,but Donald Hamilton might have been the best at it, and I read it all,including Bond. This is the only series I have ever considered going back to read, in this genre.
Oh yea, Helm lives to on to book 20. I'll get to that one in a couple of weeks
December 14, 2016
In high school and college, I was a big fan of Donald Hamilton's Matt Helm books and I thought I had read all 18 books but this past year I found out that Hamilton wrote 27 Matt Helm books plus an unpublished 28th book, The Dominators. I enjoyed this book but it is a little dated (originally published in 1982). Before the 2016 election, I would have said that Matt Helm's character and opinions were very out dated but not now;) I would recommend this book to any Matt Helm's fans. Kudos to Titan Books for releasing the Matt Helm series especially in eBook format
October 17, 2014
The writing is bloated, compared to earlier Matt Helms. My take? Don't bother with this one unless you are a die-hard Matt Helm fan. A few good scenes, but Hamilton is past it. Bonus: Matt allows himself to be captured by the bad guys; I think that makes 24 times for the series, so far.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews