Death of a Citizen

Matt Helm, Book 1

By: Donald Hamilton

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

The first installment in the legendary Matt Helm thrillers

Matt Helm, one-time special agent for the American government during the Second World War, has left behind his violent past to raise a family in Santa Fe, New Mexico. When a former colleague turns rogue and kidnaps his daughter, Helm is forced to return to his former life as a deadly and relentless assassin.

Originally released in the era of the James Bond novels, the Matt Helm novels were considered grittier and more realistic than Bond, garnering them critical praise and an ardent audience.

©1960, 2014 Donald Hamilton (P)2014 Blackstone Audio

More than James Bond

Written better, more _real_, less dumb adventures, no treating women as b****es...
Love it.
Too bad it's short. Wish Audible made omnibuses.

Pretty good start

Good start to a new series. Held my interest. Pretty ruthless protagonist, don’t mess with his family! Will be interesting to see how Hamilton incorporates him being an author, all kinds of possibilities. Is it real or is it his book?! Eagerly on to book two

Tough as nails, a bit of Bond, a bit of Reacher

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.

As for the story, this is number one - we meet him fifteen years after he quit his WWII job as hired killer for the US government. He's settled, married with kids, a hobby photographer and a writer of Western novels ... then, of course, the past comes roaring back and soon there's blood and bullets and death - and Helm realizes that he's returned to being who he's always been. Very much enjoyed the book. And I'll be the first to admit that I always loved the very goofy Dean Martin Matt Helm spoofs! There really is no connection - they bought the rights, kept the protagonist's name and took the titles of some of the novels - and the similarities end there.

Not the Matt Helm you're thinking ...

Where does Death of a Citizen rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very good thriller.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yep. Loved Helm's being torn between two worlds. I enjoyed the grittiness of the writing; so far from the Hollywood Dean Martin movies as you can imagine.

Have you listened to any of Stefan Rudnicki’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Top of his game. He's always amazing. Could read my grocery list.

Any additional comments?

Book is too short! I'm on to the next in the series.

Good Book For The Time Period

I hated it at first but after realizing it was written in the 60's it turned out to be a good book. I will definitely continue with the series.