Holy Terror (The Destroyer)

The Destroyer #19

by Warren Murphy

The Divine Bliss Mission in India is just another money hustle - till its leader begins using his disciples to penetrate the higher U.S. echelons. The Blissful Master, alias whiz-kid Dom, has a nice line in drug-induced bliss for the converted and a sideline in painful death for unbelievers that have cost CURE four Agents. Remo and Chiun hit India, Dom flees, but curvaceous follower Joleen is prepared to embrace a new master - the outraged Chiun. Leaving behind them a trail of blissful dead, the three head for home - and more trouble.

Genres: Thriller, Adventure, Fiction, Pulp, Action, Mystery, Martial Arts

Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Warren Murphy was an American author, most famous as the co-creator of The Destroyer series, the basis for the film Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. He worked as a reporter and editor and after service during the Korean War, he drifted into politics.

Murphy also wrote the screenplay for Lethal Weapon 2. He is the author of the Trace and Digger series. With Molly Cochran, he completed two books of a planned trilogy revolving around the character The Grandmaster, The Grandmaster (1984) and High Priest (1989). Murphy also shares writing credits with Cochran on The Forever King and several novels under the name Dev Stryker. The first Grandmaster book earned Murphy and Cochran a 1985 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original, and Murphy's Pigs Get Fat took the same honor the following year.

His solo novels include Jericho Day, The Red Moon, The Ceiling of Hell, The Sure Thing and Honor Among Thieves. Over his career, Murphy sold over 60 million books.

He started his own publishing house, Ballybunion, to have a vehicle to start The Destroyer spin-off books. Ballybunion has reprinted The Assassin's Handbook, as well as the original works Assassin's Handbook 2, The Movie That Never Was (a screenplay he and Richard Sapir wrote for a Destroyer movie that was never optioned), The Way of the Assassin (the wisdom of Chiun), and New Blood, a collection of short stories written by fans of the series.

He served on the board of the Mystery Writers of America, and was a member of the Private Eye Writers of America, the International Association of Crime Writers, the American Crime Writers League and the Screenwriters Guild.

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find it interesting how tight a bead '70s conservative men had on con artists, and how the entire conservative movement was subsequently co-opted and corrupted by the most con-artisty swindler of them all in Donald Trump.

Standard Destroyer pleasures, here, with some amusing dialogue, and a propulsive narrative that makes one want to keep reading. The specifics of this particular book faded fairly fast, and the treatment of women and minorities will never not be a problem, I guess, but as these things go, an entertaining (relatively) early entry.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the spirit of all the fake religious charismatics, the Bliss King from Patna in India is bound for America to hold a rally for his devotees. His message is "bliss-for-all", and that includes free love, video games, and mind-altering drugs. Unfortunate for him, the adolescent power tripper makes moves on the U.S. government power structure and that get the operatives of CURE involved. Smith deploys Remo and Chiun to set things right.

After exhausting herself with Remo, Joleen, a reformed follower of the Bliss-meister, spends some reflective time with Chiun, listening to his ancient Sinanju wisdom. She finds his teachings to be a new form of an even greater bliss, and finds herself falling in love with Chiun (to his disgust). All throughout this episode, all that poor Chiun wanted was a submarine. But instead, he had to settle for a flying bucket.

There are a few racial slurs that are off-putting, but again, these books are from the 70s.

3/5

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the weakest of the Destroyer novels in the series so far. A religious cult, based in India, is spreading its influence across the United States essentially by using drugs to addict people and calling it some form of enlightenment. The cult has its fingers all over the U.S. in corporations, the federal government and many local governments and Remo has to figure out a way to stop it. That, of course, is the big weakness in the story. Remo’s solution does not appear to me to have resolved the country’s vulnerabilities, although it does provide a setback to the cult.

If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.

[Mr Alistair D Gillies · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, a fun and entertaining read.

[Stelios · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars.

[Jeff J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chiun’s antics redeem this pedestrian entry in the series which has Remo taking down a cult. The book has an uncharacteristically low body count.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Hilarious. Action-packed. Always something new with these two. I can’t wIt for the next one. Here we go. It’s assassin’s playoff.

[Paul, · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it. Somewhat serious look at addiction and morality mixed in with standard Destroyer stuff. Funny.

[Navaid · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was amazed to find out just how incredibly racist this book was.

[Balkron · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating Scale:
1 Star - Horrible book, It was so bad I stopped reading it. I have not read the whole book and wont
2 Star - Bad book, I forced myself to finish it and do NOT recommend. I can't believe I read it once
3 Star - Average book, Was entertaining but nothing special. No plans to ever re-read
4 Star - Good Book, Was a really good book and I would recommend. I am Likely to re-read this book
5 Star - GREAT book, A great story and well written. I can't wait for the next book. I Will Re-Read this one or more times.

Times Read: 1

One of the first series I read consistently. This series and the Executioner series are responsible for my love of reading and stories.

Characters - Looking back to my younger reading days, I loved Remo Williams and thought he was one of the coolest characters in history. I still think Remo is a good character. Unique in a number of ways even today.

Story - The stories are average and fairly typical. Bad guys going to kill or hurt, Remo is going to kill them first (no way he is going to die not with Chuin as his teacher). Not much in creativity but it really worked for me as a male teenager. I started learning Judo and Karate partly because of Remo.

Overall - I started reading these when I was 16. I enjoyed them up until about age 19. My tastes changed from Military intrigue to Fantasy / SciFi. I would recommend reading these especially for younger males.

NOTE: I am going to rate these all the books in this series the same. Some of the stories are a bit better or a bit worse but I can't find one that I would rate a 2 or 4.

[Bryan457 · Rating 3 out of 5]

CURE has lost four agents while they were investigating the Divine Bliss Mission. Smith is worried about the potential problem of thousands of religious fanatics running around especially since many government leaders seem to be followers. Remo is sent to find out what the mission is up to and end it if necessary.

Favorite tidbits: Remo stops a rape by rendering the offending instrument harmless. Chiun at Disneyland was hilarious. Quotes, “Are these flower children? Why do they not smell like flowers?” “How will you white people ever improve yourselves if you don’t marry up to yellow?”

Warning, sex and graphic gory violence.

[Xion]

It's to short and I think is has hardily any action or espionage for an action spy novel.The villains are constantly racist agiast every one whites,blacks,Jews, you name it There (the authors)attempt at edginess was just annoying .Even chiun (one o f the protagonists) was a racist idiot constantly bashing Americans and white people. I have never read any of the other destroyer books But if all 145 are this bad then I am glad i have not read them.It did however contain funny lines E.G. remos complaint that every ran on computers now days (1975).

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the big men's adventure series from the 70's than ran an impressive 145 books. The series while an adventure/action story is also full of satire toward much of the mainstream fads and icons of the time. An interesting main character and the sarcastic mentor makes this a funny action/adventure read. The team must check out a deadly cult leader. Recommended

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Religion is an ugly business.

Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir offering. Suitable for teens and adults. Remo and chiun follow a blissful master and his followers around, trying to figure them out.

[Carl · Rating 3 out of 5]

twas ok

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cult leader from India plots a scheme to threaten the United States. Remo and Chiun are asked to intervene. Great fun!

[Miralinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Римо борется с религиозной сектой из Индии.