Mike Hammer: Murder Never Knocks

Murder Never Knocks finds iconic detective Mike Hammer in the line of fire of a hit-man he does not know and must seek them out. It is a game of wits that Hammer usually wins, but here it is not clear that he is really the target or who else is involved. Murder Never Knocks is a novel started by Mickey Spillane (1918-2006), but finished by mystery writer Max Allan Collins (1948-) who found it a big honor to get these novel completion assignments from Spillane. This is one of a series with Spillane being the bestselling American mystery writer of the 20th century. Max Allan Collins has won awards.

This story has Hammer working with Broadway producers and is set in the greater New York City area. There are scenes in the city and nearby areas. The book requires a close read and it is not really clear who is responsible for the problem until the end of the books. Hammer entertains as a wise-cracking detective and some of the regulars in his novels are here, including his colleague and sometime ladylove Velda. A sadistic Hammer goes about setting things right in a tale that keeps one guessing.