The Removers

Matt Helm, Book 3

By: Donald Hamilton

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

The third installment in the legendary Matt Helm thrillers

A year after having been reactivated as a spy, Matt Helm receives a message from his ex-wife asking for his aid. The threat is an enemy agent named Martel, disguised as a mob hit man. To protect his family, Helm must remove the threat before his own children pay the ultimate price.

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 ardent fans.

©1961 Donald Hamilton (P)2014 Skyboat Media

Tough and brilliant bastard

Matt Helm is nothing like the spoof spy movies that starred Dean Martin in the title role. Remember the early James Bond? The man who was a consummate killer, cold-blooded to the point where he’d strangle a woman with her own bra? Well, that’s pretty close to the Matt Helm of Donald Hamilton’s novel. He’s tough, he focused on the kill, he’s smart and savvy but there’s no hint of debonaire about him. Unlike Bond, Helm is American and more down to earth and wry-humored. This was the third book in the long-running series and here it gets personal as he has to protect his ex and the children - but remember, he’s a tough bastard, the objective always comes first. Frankly, I’d love to watch these stories as Netflix (or some such) miniseries!

The removers

Hey...this was pretty good! the characters were very colorful and different from what I would have thought they'd be.

Enjoyed I really got into the listen

Great overall story line. A little wordy.
I’m going to follow the series. Lots of plots.

excellent!

look ,let's face t, this is an excellent spy book, and read exactly the way a Matt Helm book should be read! this really is a d--n good job,Helm fans should love 💘 this audio version of the novels! very high quality !!

greatest spy novels ever written superb actor

If you could sum up The Removers in three words, what would they be?

thrilling and convincing

Who was your favorite character and why?

Matt Helm is, I think by far the most interesting and believable man imagined as the central character in any series of detective or spy or crime novels.

What does Stefan Rudnicki bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voice is superbly suited to the characters and when he speaks the dialogue it lives.

Any additional comments?

I hope that rudnicki gets round to The Interloper, The Intriguers, and The Intimidators, 3 classic espionage novel that feature Matt Helm

GREAT book. GREAT story.

For me, flawless. Each moment, each character, every sentence was exciting and kept me entertained. I’m so happy,- there’s so many other books by Donald Hamilton to listen to!!!

a good series

a good student never get a break on anything but it's awesome what he does and the numerator doesn't Justice

Good stories

I’m enjoying these stories that appear to be brought into current times by having them read into the new technology.
Thanks for thinking of it!

Getting better

I found the first two titles in the Matt Helm series disappointing. This, the third in the series, is more engaging. Perhaps the author is finally hitting his stride here. There are some plot howlers and other silliness that you have to look past. For example, the hero is capable of going for days without sleep. Suffering a concussion, and drinking a great deal of booze, do not impair his mental clarity or physical reflexes. On the other hand, the plot does put me on the edge of my seat eager to find out what will happen next. And that's the main reason for reading suspense fiction, so this book delivers where it counts.

A twist of fate!

Matt Helm, “Eric” no cover story this time, and “reactivated” counter-agent, aka assassin. Helm receives a surprise telephone call from his ex-wife Beth asking for his help. Beth had remarried to a man named Larry (Duke) Logan and they had a ranch outside Reno, Nevada. How ironic; a twist of fate well deserved. They’ve been experiencing trouble with rustlers and the leader was a mob hit-man named Martel. Helm arranged some time off to visit the ex-wife’s ranch. After a terse visit to the ranch, Helm headed back to the city. At the ranch Helm met a young lady named Moira who happens to be the mob boss’s daughter. Helm offers to take over co-operator Paul’s assignment when Paul turns up dead outside Helm’s motel. Paul’s assignment was an enemy agent posing as a mob hit-man named Martel. What a coincidence! As we can see, the mob’s presence is intertwined in everything in and around Reno. Helm will need to bring all his experience to bear to complete multiple missions, help his family, and make it out alive.

I don’t understand what Helm sees in Beth, or why he continues to fawn over her. Yes, yes, he loves her. She tossed him out, married another within a year, winds up with a similar man she shunned in Helm, then calls him in despair for help. The woman is damn near useless. She’s done nothing but screw things up throughout the story, and can’t follow simple instructions. Adjectives are numerous: disloyal, timid, uptight, naïve, miserable, unfulfilled, depressed, and fickle. Quite irritating, to say the least.