
The Wrecking Crew
The Matt Helm Series, Book 2
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Narrated by:
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Stefan Rudnicki
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By:
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Donald Hamilton
About this listen
The second installment in the legendary Matt Helm thrillers.
Matt Helm, code name Eric, has been recently reactivated as an operative for a secret American government organization after 15 years as a sedentary photographer and family man in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In his first assignment after returning to the service, he is sent to Sweden to eliminate Caselius, a long-time enemy agent. In order to do so, he must leave a trail of bodies in his wake.
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, 2013 Donald Hamilton (P)2014 Skyboat Media, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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One note - they are short books - 5 hours and I listen at 1.1 speed, so that makes them about 4 1/2 hours, which isn't worth a credit, but they are free in the Plus Catalogue, if you are a member with that privilege.
Definitely enjoying this series
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What made the experience of listening to The Wrecking Crew the most enjoyable?
A combination of the Narrator and how well the character Matt Helm is written.What did you like best about this story?
How clever, cold and pragmatic Matt is while still being a human believable character. He doesn't have any obligatory humanizing traits yet never feels like a superhero.Have you listened to any of Stefan Rudnicki’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Other Matt Helm novels. Just as amazing.Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No. It started off a little spread out. Then it was a litttttleee hard to follow. However when it all started coming together, near the last third, I just couldn't stop listening.Any additional comments?
Matt is truly a professional and a joy to ride along with. The well illustrated tension makes his skill much more respectable. As a Clancy fan, Matt Helm is not quite as technical as I like BUT it makes up for it with soul and interesting yet believable characters.Incredible
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If you could sum up The Wrecking Crew in three words, what would they be?
great characters/plotDid the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?
constant surprise yet always convincingHave you listened to any of Stefan Rudnicki’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
his Helms series is always superbWas this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
yes and no. I wanted it to last forever.Any additional comments?
I hope that Rudnicki will get round to Hamilon's The Interlopers, one of the greatest of all spy thrillers.greatest spy novels ever written great actor
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the series is really great
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Not like the movies at all
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Great series.
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Cold war spy adventures in the vein of James Bond without the gimmicks. lI's been called a grittier and more realistic James Bond, but with all espionage ,action, fun, pretty girls, and sexy women that characterized the pulp fiction including the Bond novels or the time.
The protagonist is a down to earth and more human than the Bond character, and makes him much more accessible.
It is refreshing! Pure fun and storytelling without the subtext and overt lectures that infect contemporary literature and media.
Though written quite a while ago, it reads as if it could have been written yesterday.
Fantastic - On par with Bond
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Words have changed meaning
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Cold War in Sweden!
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In this second of Hamilton's Matt Helm novels - Helm's firmly back in business - and he's sent to Sweden to track down and kill a baddie. Naturally, there are women and thugs and fights and guns and more than a few deaths. Good story, a few twists - but overall it's just fun to go along with Helm - he delivers. 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.
Tough as nails, a bit of Bond, a bit of Reacher
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