Death of a Citizen: Matt Helm #1
by Donald Hamilton
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Book Summary Information
Author: Donald HamiltonEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Published: 1960
ISBN: N/A
Publisher: Fawcett
Book Reviews of Death of a Citizen: Matt Helm #1
Book Review: Birth of a cult Hero
Summary: 5 Stars
Matt Helm series
Mission One: Death of a Citizen
Donald Hamilton is celebrated mostly for his long running series on the adventures of secret agent Matt Helm. After reading so much about it I prayed it would be as good as it sounds.
Well it is. I bought the first 18 books in the series from EBay and they look good. I mean for such old out-of-print books, the binding was perfect and they were in best condition with only the pages getting yellowed with time. Of course pulp fiction was printed on pulp so I am very happy with this small collection I was able to grab online.
The first book is what I started my reading with and it is awesome. The agent is retired from the killing "line of business" and happily into a quaint family lifestyle with friends in a quiet township. He writes novels now on cowboys and Indians. He is happy or so he wants to believe. Then the past strolls in, in a pretty black party dress.
From the first chapter to the last 31st chapter, this book is a thrilling page-turner. You go through Matt Helm's emotions and decisions first hand with the book being written in first person perspective of this gritty, determined and skilled protagonist. The man doesn't want to be dragged out of his comfort. He laid the beast inside him to sleep and now some people are creating a racket that will wake him up. Matt's reactions are entirely believable and though the results of his reactions are shocking you will read on to know they were entirely logical. The story flows smoothly as Matt walks in or rather cruises in his Chevy truck towards deep end of the filth during peacetime.
Yes, the War is long over, 15 years ago; but the battle rages on with trained lethal agents executing their plans to dismantle American progress in technology. Helm is joined in by a mysterious past comrade who was also a love interest. But Helm never forgets who he is now - married with 3 kids and a respectable position in society. Soon as a dead body is discovered Helm realises who he really is. Has he gone soft? Has he still got what it takes to wage covert war? The chapters unfold revealing intricacies not just of the plot but also of Helm's past. He has come a long way to wash his memory of blood spilled in the line of duty but the enemy isn't dead and Helm is the man with that ability to snuff out threats.
The whole novel comes together very well towards the last 5 to 7 chapters. Actually from Chapter 16 I didn't put it down and read it to finish. At 142 pages, with its easy language, it is not at all a challenge. There are other interesting things on modern cars (1960 of course), the Apaches and Red Indians, the Old West, the guns and you would be surprised at the depth of information garnered by Donald Hamilton to author this book and build character of Matt Helm. And it works, that is why the first book didn't stop there and there are so many of Helm's adventures and missions to read about.
I won't talk about the action so as to not give away the plot and ruin it for you. Other interesting mentions would be how he feels about women and women in pants and women in dresses. His brief encounter with his lovely wife at his own home after returning from the Amos Darrel's party will get you in the mood for more shocking things to come early on. It definitely carved in my mind the image of Helm as the ruthless war machinery that he is. We get other descriptions too to shape the personality of Matt Helm.
On the writing itself, I found that Donald Hamilton makes excessive, noticeable use of the phrase "I'd" but it does add to Helm's character in a way. Otherwise it is a flawless action packed cult novel series and you should definitely start at the beginning by reading this one.
Mac, who was Helm's old Boss during War is back and Helm is getting back in fighting form. This story will haunt you if not make you restless with its cruelty.
Extract: She added, "Washington is the city of the soft heads and the chicken hearts."
****
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