Not all communists are irredeemable – one socialite who had been seduced into working for the cause sees the errors of her ways – but its influence is a corrupting cancer that must be excised.
This was at the height of the McCarthy HUAC investigations and Spillane plays on fears of infiltration by the alien ideology. Much of the plot is taken up with rants about communism and its negative effect on American politics, featuring the penetration of Moscow agents into everyday American life. Then Hammer’s enquiries intersect with a rare type of politician who is out to do good and attempts by his enemies to smear him prior to an election. From this unsettling incident, and finding some oddly-shaped green-coloured cards (as opposed to green cards) that turn out to denote membership of the Communist Party, the plot spirals in increasing complexity. 45, but the woman, believing Hammer to be a threat as well, jumps into the river. Seething, Hammer walks to the state line on a damp foggy night to get it out of his system.Ĭrossing a bridge he suddenly meets a terrified woman, and following her is a man with a gun.
He had killed in self defence but the judge considered he had crossed a line and, although Hammer might be technically innocent of murder, saw him for what he was. Mickey Spillane’s 1951 novel has a bravura opening with Mike Hammer smarting from a judge’s unflattering assessment of his personality.
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