Customer Reviews

The Killing Man

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Spillane novels are a great diversion from the heavy history and political philosophy books that form the greater part of my reading list. His style is easy to read and the storys are fun to get into and get lost in after a rough day at work. Spillanes detractors should realize this as a valuable purpose for this kind of genre of which Spillane is the best.

THE KILLING MAN by Mickey Spillane marks the return of Mike Hammer, one of the most viral of the detective genre.

Mike walks into his office to discover his beloved secretary, Velda, unconscious, the brutal murder of ex-mobster Anthony DiCica at Mike's desk, and a note from the killer signed Penta.

Mike is in the middle and taking hits from the DA's office, the FBI, the CIA, and the mob, while being assumed to have been the intended victim when DiCica was murdered.

For none stop action with a satisfying conclusion from an author that delivers a good yarn nothing can be better than a Mickey Spillane.

Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS and QUALIFYING LAPS.

The Killing Man is a typical Mike Hammer murder mystery, only in this story, the tables are turned and bad things are happening to Hammer himself. The tale begins as Hammer walks into his office and finds his darling secretary, Velda, knocked unconscious and a strange man, brutally murdered, occupying the office chair. From there, things only get worse for the detective, and the reader finds himself in a fast-paced, sexy and interestingly plotted adventure. Reader beware, however, this is Mike Hammer, a guy who doesn't know the meaning of, `a feminine side.'

Here's a quick example of what I mean: (The story is written in the fist person. Hammer is speaking.)

"I cocked the .45, took real deliberate aim and touched the trigger. The gun blasted into a roaring yellowish light and for that one second I saw the leg jerk and twitch with a grotesque motion, and even before he could scream, I did it again to the other leg...

The pain really hit him...He glanced down and was ripping at his clothes again and screamed, `You killed me!'

`Not yet,' I told him... Then he found the small-caliber pistol his hands had really been groping for and brought it up in a sweeping, deadly arc, one finger tightening around the trigger.

There was one smashing roar of the .45. His blood went all over the place. Fresh specks of crimson were on the back of my hand. I stood up slowly and gave him a hard grin he couldn't see any more.

I said, `Now I killed you.'

If you like Pulp Fiction, you'll like this one.

Gerard Bianco, author of the mystery novel, Dying For Deception (www.dyingfordeception.com)

This was the second Mike Hammer book I picked up (the first being "Kiss Me, Deadly"), and it got me hooked into the series. Spillane's classic descriptions of New York and great lines are all present. Like most Hammer books, the ending seems to come too abruptly, but that is my only complaint. A lesser book than "I, the Jury" and "My Gun is Quick", it is still a strong entry.

Got the book in great time. IT was in great shape. I would recommend anyone to buy from these people. I know I will again.

I'm not sure if this book was written before or after Spillane became a Jehovah's Witness, but this book seems a bit toned down. Violence is still here, but the sex is all but gone. This book is pretty good though. There were various bits I liked about this book. Very hard-boiled. The mystery is still intriguing, but it's the cheap way that our detective solves the mystery in the last chapter that flaws this book.

The first and only (so far) that I've read from this author. To be honest I found it a little boring and predictable. It was ok to pass time by the pool his summer.