The ensemble of Day of the Guns welcomes readers into familiar territory with characters reminiscent of Spillane's earlier works. At the forefront stands Tiger Mann, a relentless former OSS officer now operating within the shadows of a clandestine agency known as IATS. He embodies Mike Hammer, albeit recast as a spy, retaining his distinctive traits and unwavering political beliefs. Leading this covert league is Colonel Charlie Corbinet, a figure from Tiger's past in the OSS, echoing the real-world transition of OSS veterans into the nascent CIA post-World War II. Among the ranks of IATS, where former military men abound, Ernie Bentley shines with his ingenuity, crafting ingenious gadgets reminiscent of those employed by James Bond in Fleming's legendary tales.

The Women of Intrigue

Within the gripping narrative, two formidable women emerge. Edith Caine, the younger sibling of Diana Caine, who was once a Nazi spy under the alias Rondine Lund and Tiger's perilous wartime lover. Their final encounter ended with her betrayal, leaving Tiger gravely wounded. Haunted by suspicions, Tiger believes Edith to be Rondine, transformed by surgery to appear younger. Meanwhile, Edith toils at the United Nations, where a security breach beckons Tiger to unravel its mystery. His suspicions latch onto Edith, whom he blames for the breach, setting a tense investigation in motion. Amidst this intrigue, Tiger finds an unexpected romance with Gretchen Lark, an artist dwelling in the bohemian enclave of Greenwich Village, imagining a future of matrimonial bliss and family life.

The story's climax reveals a stunning twist: Gretchen, not Edith, is the clever architect behind the espionage, siphoning secrets from the UN. Meanwhile, Edith stands vindicated, truly Diana's sister and a steadfast British ally.

The Shadowy Adversaries

Vidor Churis, the formidable Soviet adversary with a mangled hand—a lasting souvenir from a previous skirmish with Tiger—haunts the narrative's fringes until the climactic clash. In the bustling world of Broadway journalism, Wally Gibbs pens a column for The News, frequently feeding Tiger vital insider information. Suspicion also falls upon several diplomats as potential sources of the security leaks, notably Burton Selwich, a quintessential British bureaucrat leading his delegation. Gretchen's machinations threaten to derail the UN's delicate peace processes, with Selwich caught in the crosshairs of her schemes.