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rellimreads's review against another edition
3.0
I’m kind of mixed on this. Published in 1960, there’s sort of a fun historical, almost campy, look at spy craft - but then it’s also heavily laden with misogyny that became overwhelming.
I did enjoy the bones of the story which consisted of reactivating Helm as an agent and his first case. There was some predictability as well as twists and turns I didn't expect.
Biggest complaint: (spoiler)
I’m just not sure whether I’ll continue the series even thought it’s free to borrow via Plus.
Narration:
Stefan Rudniki has kind of a gruff “announcer” voice that worked well for the characters and time. I enjoyed his performance.
I did enjoy the bones of the story which consisted of reactivating Helm as an agent and his first case. There was some predictability as well as twists and turns I didn't expect.
Biggest complaint: (spoiler)
Spoiler
Matt has an affair with an old flame like 12 hours into the story and just kind of blows it off as a normal thing due to adrenaline. Then he's just back with his wife as if it's nothing.I’m just not sure whether I’ll continue the series even thought it’s free to borrow via Plus.
Narration:
Stefan Rudniki has kind of a gruff “announcer” voice that worked well for the characters and time. I enjoyed his performance.
trulyori's review against another edition
3.5
I'm very conflicted with this review. If I'm going by the enjoyment I got conside ing this is a regular detective/cop book, then it would almost be 5 stars, but if I'm going by how much I liked the writing and stuff like that it would be 3 stars, barely, so 4 seems like a decent compromise, maybe
tittypete's review against another edition
4.0
Quick and fun. Succinct. I read it on on round trip flight from SF to NYC. Sometimes I need a little pulpy book like this. Well written and cool but nothing super original. Easy enough that I may pursue more of the same series.
Second time. Still fun but misogynist in a preening superman way. But fun regardless. Love that Helm uses a Colt Woodsman. and crushes the tang on the reg.
Second time. Still fun but misogynist in a preening superman way. But fun regardless. Love that Helm uses a Colt Woodsman. and crushes the tang on the reg.
ianl1963's review against another edition
3.0
Entertaining listen, moves along and fits Stefan Rudnicki.
Drivel really, candy for adolescent "boys", avoid analysis!
Brings back memories of Dean Martin!
Drivel really, candy for adolescent "boys", avoid analysis!
Brings back memories of Dean Martin!
rschmidt7's review against another edition
5.0
Not quite on the level of James Bond, as it's compared with on its back cover, but Death of a Citizen is a helluva good read if you enjoy your spy fiction with a side of hardboiled noir. I loved this book, and I'm a little confused as to how it's taken me so long to discover the Matt Helm series. If the rest of the books are as good as this first one, it seems the series has unjustly fallen into relative obscurity.
Matt Helm is an average citizen living the domestic dream in postwar America. But behind the mortgage, the respectable home, the loving wife and three kids, lies a secret wartime past, one that refuses to stay in the past.
The reappearance of an old ally sets in motion events that plunge Matt back into this violent and deadly world, and the law abiding, straight-laced citizen he had become is the first casualty.
Definitely worth the read if you love the James Bond books or a quick, easily read thriller. I'm looking forward to reading the others in the series!
Matt Helm is an average citizen living the domestic dream in postwar America. But behind the mortgage, the respectable home, the loving wife and three kids, lies a secret wartime past, one that refuses to stay in the past.
The reappearance of an old ally sets in motion events that plunge Matt back into this violent and deadly world, and the law abiding, straight-laced citizen he had become is the first casualty.
Definitely worth the read if you love the James Bond books or a quick, easily read thriller. I'm looking forward to reading the others in the series!
ianl1963's review against another edition
3.0
Entertaining listen, moves along and fits Stefan Rudnicki.
Drivel really, candy for adolescent "boys", avoid analysis!
Brings back memories of Dean Martin!
Drivel really, candy for adolescent "boys", avoid analysis!
Brings back memories of Dean Martin!
krep___'s review against another edition
3.0
I have to admit my curiosity about the Matt Helm series was piqued by nostalgia for the Dean Martin spy-spoofs of my adolescence, not that that was what I expected from the books. The hard-boiled protagonist is a little reminiscent of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe or one of Hammett's but a little more loquacious in his first-person narrative. As a result this story which contained less than half the interesting stuff that Hammett would have packed into a Continental Op short story is extended into a short novel. You are not left with your head spinning by any stretch. The setting is Cold War spy stuff rather than private eye murder mysteries. Written in 1960, it's unsurprisingly sexist and, I expect, bordering on misogynistic, but if I lay that on the character rather than attributing it to the author himself, I can get past it. It was a quick enough read in a pleasant enough style to prompt me to try another in the series.
yoteach87's review against another edition
3.0
A fun, quick story that features double-crossing, tails, fakes, frauds, hits, guns, kidnapping, and kill shots. Not terribly detailed, but when you have 20+ in a series, there is no need to be. I'd be willing to read more in the Matt Helm series.