The Devastators is the ninth book in the Matt Helm series, possibly the most realistic spy fiction out there. Helm is tough, cynical, suspicious, and a trained killer. He's part of a little known squad no one talks about that does the dirty work no one likes to talk about. Although there are twists and doublecrosses, the novel is focused on what goes on in Helm's head-- such as who can he trust and why. It details the awkwardness of agents posing as husband and wife on their honeymoon and what it's like to deal with professionals and with amateurs. Although there are mad scientist/ science fiction aspects to this story, the center of it is on Helm's experience as an agent, not on who has the fastest ray gun or super secret shoe phone. The Helm books are cynical and hardboiled and unsentimental. Helm can't always afford to be a gentleman or to ask first and shoot later. This book pits agents from four different countries against each other and takes place in the Highlands of Scotland. It also marks the return of Vadya, Helm's sexy Russian counterpoint. ( )

Helm goes to London & then up to the Scottish Highlands in search of a scientist who is developing diseases. As usual, plenty of action & Helm is at his logical best in this one nicely compared to a very civilized British agent. We also get to meet Vadya, Helm's Russian counterpart, again.

Helm's cold logic is one of the things I like best about these books. Our hero is sent to out to do an assignment. They're not handed out for fun, but because they are very important & he gets the job done without regard for sentiment, usually. This is very well illustrated in this book when one agent says, "I couldn't shoot her in cold blood." Helm asks exasperatedly, "What does temperature have to do with it?"

The characters & scenery are well drawn, the action is all very logical without extraneous nifty devices. The time is the mid-60s & Helm is in his early to mid-40's.

Helm's age is a guess. He's supposed to be 36 in the 2d book, which would put his birthday about 1922 or 3. In other books, he mentions attending college & working for a newspaper before the war, so that could push his age up by several years.

Great read! On to the next book, [b:The Betrayers|2566330|The Betrayers (Matt Helm, #10)|Donald Hamilton|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51sYAWCUWeL._SL75_.jpg|2574968]! ( )

Helm is off to Scotland to eliminate a scientist who appears to be developing a deadly plague to spring upon the world. Not one of the best in the series so far (this is number nine), but Helm does manage to save the world (at least the non-Chinese part), and there is an extremely good torture scene when he is trying to get information out of his Russian nemesis and semi-ally Vadya. He certainly doesn't get any help from Washington in this one. ( )