Better Dead

By: Max Allan Collins

Narrated by: Dan John Miller

It's the early 1950s. Ju McCarthy is campaigning to rid America of the Red Menace. Nate Heller is doing legwork for the senator, though the Chicago detective is disheartened by McCarthy's witch-hunting tactics. He's made friends with a young staffer, Bobby Kennedy, while trading barbs with a potential enemy, the attorney Roy Cohn, who rubs Heller the wrong way. Not the least of which for successfully prosecuting the so-called Atomic Bomb spies, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.

When famous mystery writer Dashiell Hammett comes to Heller representing a group of showbiz and literary leftists who are engaged in a last minute attempt to save the Rosenbergs, Heller decides to take on the case. Heller will have to play both sides to do this, and when McCarthy also tasks Heller to find out what the CIA has on him, Heller reluctantly agrees. His main lead is an army scientist working for the CIA who admits to Heller that he's been having misgivings about the work he's doing and elliptically referring to the Cold War making World War II look like a tea party. And then the scientist goes missing.

©2016 Max Allan Collins (P)2016 Recorded Books

Nate Heller returns

Where does Better Dead rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I own and have listened to all of the Nathan Heller audiobooks, this is right up there in this outstanding series.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Heller, but I enjoyed the creative representations of Joe McCarthy, Dashiell Hammett and other historical figures. That's the essence of this series and this work delivers.

Which scene was your favorite?

The HUAC interactions with famous celebrities. Represented conversations with Hammett, McCarthy, and the Rosenbergs.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

A feeling of reading satisfaction. Even after Max Allan Colilns health issues,he still has the chops to entertain with his unique combination of classic sleuth and historical settings. The personal information regards Ethyl and Julius Rosenberg. and the people involved in their spying case.

Any additional comments?

If you have enjoyed previous works in this,series you won't be disappointed.

Great

This was a great book. Collins weaves together two stories into one and leaves you with questions and things to ponder about our government and how it operates.

McCarthyism

3rd Try. Test review to see if it shows up. If so, will do full review again. Looks like my third attempt is in print. Going back to the original unpublished review, I found this take of blended fact and fiction an enjoyable listen. As usual, Nate gets himself in the middle of the action. The first part of the novel revolves around the conviction of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg for espionage against the US in sharing information with Russia. Nate is hired by both McCarthy and leftist columnist Drew Pearson to determine if there is a cause for an appeal. Before the story reaches a climax, Nate gets duped by a Communist inspired operative and a life and death climax.

Loosely connected, there is a second part to the novel as Nate meets Betty Page of pinup fame. Betty is hoping Nate can get her out of appearing before a congressional committee investigating pornography in magazines and comics. Before you know it, Nate is unraveling a CIA inspired conspiracy regarding the alleged experiments with LSD25.

This is another enjoyable outing which as will all Nate Heller ends up with an accounting of what happened ultimately to the real life participants. A good listen.

Great comeback

Mr Collins always writes great books and apparently even a stroke can't diminish his talent. He is the best living author of this genre. If you have not read one of his books read them all and if you have read some read the rest. Thanks again Max for sharing your talent with us.

I loved it!!! bravo to Nate Heller,max Collins

great audio by max Allan Collins & voiced Dan John Miller.another great novel with pi Nate Heller.takes place in 1950s USA,at the time of the Rosenberg trial & CIA experiments with LSD.very interesting, keeps your attention.highly recommended!!!!

2 for the price of 1

This is really two stories wrapped together in one book.

The first is the story of Julius and Ethyl Rosenberg, a husband and wife that were executed as Soviet spies in the 1950s. Nate Heller is called into action looking to see if there was any evidence out there that might help save them.

The second is the CIA's use of drugs and other items of an experimental nature that were used on American citizens without their knowledge in helping develop secret weapons to be used against the Soviets and other enemies of the US. Nate is again called in to get to the bottom of what was really going on.

One thing I did learn during the listening to this book was that the author had heart surgery and a stroke prior to writing this book. So there must have been a lapse in writing. The author might be most famous for the movie mad based on his books, 'Road to Perdition' starring Tom Hanks. The author it turns out, is a big fan of making movies. He tried to get a sequel to this book filmed that he called 'Road to Purgaratory' but none of the film companies were interested. The author has tried getting in other film ideas he's had but not much has happened. He says he has to make low or micro budget films as that's all he can afford. I wonder if his books won't become more popular over time, He sure has written plenty.