The Detonators

The Matt Helm Series, Book 22

De: Donald Hamilton

Narrado por: Stefan Rudnicki

A prim young lady needs a favor: help her father beat a bum drug rap. But when Dad’s boat detonates outside Miami Harbor, Matt discovers that young Amy isn’t as innocent as she looks. Lured to the Bahamas, he will discover an unlikely pack of fanatics hatching an explosive plan, and that daddy’s little girl is surprisingly deadly.

©1985, 2016 Donald Hamilton (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing and Skyboat Media

My Favorite Axcassin

Acceptable, but not up to Hamilton's usually standard. Still it is a Matt Helm novel. Rudnicki does his usual excellent job.

Outstanding, as usual.

Rudnicki’s reverent and excellent treatment has brought new life to the Helm series. It’s a treat to enjoy them once again.

More Matt

I enjoyed this Matt Helm book! I love Matt’s humor and constant dialogue. His evaluations of the dangerous and scary situations are always humorous.

Classic Hamilton

He never changes and I wish his novels never ended. I have read Matt Helm since the inception, and never tire of his wit and personality. Hamilton was a master at this genre and the character he created.

One of Matt Helms best

I only wish Donald Hamilton had been able to write three times as many Matt Helm novels. I have enjoyed each of them many times since they were published.

Disappointed

Not the best story of the series. Too much focus on relationship and less focus on action.

Weak Series Entry

This book shows its age and the apparent fatigue of the writer, lacking the tight plotting of many of the previous volumes.

Matt Helm spends much of this book not doing much to affect event, largely relying on known enemies to bring him where he wants to go. He also seems to be less competent and more gullible than has been typical in other books.

What should be the climax of the book ends up being a series of anticlimaxes.

And Helm seems to be curiously prudish, apparently only his quirks are acceptable.

Where there is action, though, it's written well. This was an entertaining read, but not a particularly memorable read.

Aside: Hamilton apparently spent quite a bit of time living on his boat, and his contempt for the US Coast Guard comes through clearly. This isn't entirely out of character, but I found it a bit distracting.

There are a few volumes left in the series, and I'll probably read them at some point, but that won't be a priority.