Complex 90

Mike Hammer, Book 18

By: Mickey Spillane, Max Allan Collins

Narrated by: Stacy Keach

When private investigator Mike Hammer accompanies a conservative politician to Moscow on a fact-finding mission, he is arrested and imprisoned by the KGB on a bogus charge. He quickly escapes, creating an international incident by getting into a firefight with Russian agents.

On his stateside return, the government is none too happy with Hammer. Russia is insisting upon his extradition, and various government agencies are following him. A question dogs our hero: Why him? Why does Russia want him back, and why was he singled out to accompany the senator to Russia in the first place?

The legendary Mike Hammer continues to thrill readers everywhere, even after the passing of his brilliant creator, Mickey Spillane.

©2013 Mickey Spillane Publishing, LLC (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[A] fast-paced thriller…and like all Mike Hammer tales, there’s plenty of two-fisted action along the journey." ( Pulp Fiction Reviews)

"Collins has Spillane down cold, from Hammer’s manic grin to his charged patter with the lovely Velda. And while there are hints the world is changing, Hammer hasn’t changed a bit. He’s still an unreconstructed, red-blooded American male who holds lily-livered bureaucrats in sneering contempt.… Entertaining." ( Booklist)

the constant action.

this would have made an incredible pilot movie, or 1st season for Mike Hammer with Stacy Keach in his prime.

Great

Loved every second of this Cold War saga featuring the best of both authors and the great Stacy Keach!

Captivating Story

This is an awesome Mike Hammer story by the great Mickey Spillane and co-author Max Allan Collins, much of the story takes place in and about the Soviet Union. Hammer accompanies a U.S. Senator to Moscow, where soon after he is arrested by the KGB on a humbug charge. He escapes his captors with plenty of action and lead flying everywhere. He returns to the U.S. and some in the intelligence community are not very happy with Mike, and the KGB wants them to extradite him back to Russia, but he is having none of that...Okay that's enough, no more spoiling, but get the book, you will like it...Stacy Keach the great actor, narrates this book flawlessly.

Super!

Another top notch Spillane \ Collins collaboration, perfectly read by Stacy Keach, this one part of the early chronology. Excellent!!!

Me of the BEST !

Complex story, great suspense. As someone who grew up during the Cold War with Russia- this hit home

Kept me on the edge of seat the whole time

One of the best Spillane books I have read. Too bad he is no longer around to keep us thrilled.

Mike the Hammer

This is my second Mikey Hammer, both by the dual authors, and I think I’m starting to get a feel for the character, tough as nails, gets the job done, would just as soon shoot to kill rather than arrest and likes the pretty ladies. Something like that.

I picked this book as I like the idea is the Soviet involvement rather than just crime in NYC.

This book went fast as it’s only 7 hours. But it was action packed from start to finish. My guess is all Mike Hammer books follow this mode.

S'long Mike

The tone of the long, main characters sex act scene disturbed me. Over the macho line into anti-female. I've read Spillane, felt no longer shocked by his dangerous personality, including with women. In fact it was interesting because well written. Until now.

Excessive use of information

Too much gratuitous sex descriptions for Male readers only. One has to be a real fan of fiction to go wit6the story. Also excessive use o foul language.

Politics!

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I happen to subscribe to S.S Van Dine's Twenty Rules for Writing Detective Stories where, among other rules, the detective novel must be just that, no side issues of "dallying" with "atmospheric preoccupations," particularly politics. If you share this view, you can easily skip this one.