First, a comment on Helm himself. Spiritually, he seems to be
an empty
vessel, despite his telling us about his family and his
background. His
attitude towards Lou, the photographer's wife in Murderer's
Row, is
strikingly ambiguous. I got the impression that Helm didn't
quite know
who he was and changed like a chameleon depending on
circumstances. He
strikes me as an anti-romantic hero par excellence. He is not
admirable
except as a professional. He does not care too much about
people, and
only a little more about himself. Whatever he reveals, it's
only in the
course of the action.
Second, Donald Hamilton's matter-of-fact, ice-cold style
suits the
setting in Sweden perfectly. While the book bears some traces
of quick
writing, it does not lose vigor because of this fact.
Third, and in keeping with the definitional mania that we
often fall
into, I would say that _The Wrecking Crew_ is about 52% noir,
37%
hardboiled, and 11% western. It's a good mix that
scientifically
explains why the Helm series is so enduring.
Regards,
mt
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