Customer Reviews

Nightwalkers (Cam Richter Series)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
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P.T. Deutermann continues as a must-read author for me and I am surprised that his work is not more reviewed. His four Cam Richter novels deliver the same well written, engrossing story lines as just about anyone in the suspense/thriller genre today. Certainly Richter as a protagonist is as fun to read, and as intriguing and capable as Dave Robicheux, Jack Reacher, and Doc Ford. And, for animal lovers, Cam is capably assisted in each adventure by his ever present well-trained and loyal German shepherd dogs.

In "Nightwalkers", Cam is still searching for his destiny and place in life. He decides to abandon the city life to buy a 700 hundred acre ante-bellum plantation in his beloved North Carolina countryside. He is quickly introduced to the eccentricities of rural life in a part of the South that still remembers the Civil War as a recent event. His neighbors and potential landlords across the street (The Lee family) seem stuck in the ante-bellum era including costume, manners, and lifestyle. There is a deep back history that includes a Civil War era massacre that occurred on Cam's potential land, a Confederate era scandal involving his new neighbors, and a crazed Lee family member (The Major) who rides the countryside at night hunting Yankee spies.

Cam no sooner begins to settle in while digesting all this Old South vs. New South conflict when he finds himself exposed to a series of pranks and threats of violence from a mystery person who wants him dead for unknown reasons. Initially he thinks he has acquired a "ghost", a term for a released prisoner who becomes a revenge seeking stalker; however, the threat of violence soon heats up until the past and the present catch up with Cam as he decides whether to pursue the bucolic life the plantation offers or to return to the city--a decision that must wait until he sorts through the craziness surrounding his land, discovers his stalker, and decides on his feelings for a new woman in his life.

As usual, Deutermann's novel is tightly plotted, exciting, fast-paced, and filled with challenging mysteries. While his very able canine helpers, Frick, Frack, and now Kitty are ever present, their roles are more subdued in this installment; nonetheless, the interaction between Cam and his canine companions is something to enjoy and marvel. For those who have not discovered P.T Deutermann or his signature character, Cam Richter, I highly recommend this great series.

It began with "The Cat Dancers" and now in this fourth book, Cam Richter needs a break. "Hide and Seek Investigations" is doing well and the events of "The Moonpool" case are finally beginning to fade somewhat. Cam is tired of living in Triboro and tired of the tedium of the usual cases the company has going. Unlike Sharon McCone in "Burn Out" (written by Marcia Muller) he isn't depressed or anything like that. Cam Richter has always done best when he has had a challenge and these days he needs a new challenge and a change of scenery.

He may have found both with his purchase of "Glory's End." A sprawling antebellum plantation of 700 acres located on the banks of the Dan River in North Carolina that also happens to be home to a Civil War massacre. History that hasn't ever changed for some of his neighbors and is just as powerful today as then. Their ways are very strange to Cam and he has to adjust to their expectations as well as changing a few of his own.

Cam has another problem that takes a higher priority over the home renovation project. Renovation of the plantation home could take years. He won't have that time if ex-con Billie Ray Breen follows through on his often made threats to get even. Billie Ray Breen unfortunately survived the shoot out with Cam years ago and the nasty piece of work is getting early release from prison.

Before long, "Glory's End" becomes the site of a psychological and occasional shooting war as Cam deals with the past in more ways than one. Vendettas are an age old theme of the human race and its literature and that idea is worked well here.

This fourth in the series sheds little new light on the Cam Richter character or for that matter any of his team from "Hide and Seek Investigations." Instead, much like what James Lee Burke often does in his Dave Robicheaux novels, the primary focus is on the past. The past becomes a character in its own right and that certainly is true here. "Glory's End" officially established in 1838 has had a long and storied history as has the surrounding North Carolina and Virginia countryside. There is literally blood in the land and the land still draws blood in this modern age. Deutermann brings that Civil War past to life and pays homage to it while at the same time not celebrating the heinous aspects of it.

Along the way, he populates the book with a complex mystery that is obvious only in a couple of spots, plenty of action and intrigue, along with fully formed realistic characters engaged in their lives. The result is another very good book in a series that one hopes is not ending but branching off into a new direction for Cam and his dogs.


Kevin R. Tipple (copyright) 2009

Pete Deutermann again delivers a mystery story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The solution of the mytery proceeds like the unpealing of an onion until the last 10 or so pages when the kernel of the mystery is revealed.

I've read all od P.T. Deutermann's books and they continue to uphold the quality found in the beginning novels in terms of structure and story!

I just recently came across P.T. Deutermann at the library in the new section so brought home Nightwalkers and then realized it was part of a series so went back to the library thinking it would be better to start at the beginning but alas the library doesn't have any of his previous books except Moonpool so did read it first and then followed with this one. I liked this author so much I ordered the first 2 in the Cam Richter series and looking forward to reading them. That said I think I have found yet another favorite author to add to my list. Since I read a lot it is exciting to find another author you really look forward to reading.


I find the characters likable though we perhaps don't know them in depth. Maybe the first 2 books tell us more about them-like how did Cam become wealthy as he was a cop so thinking there must be more to the story. I like the style of this author who gives you enough description to set the scene but doesn't keep repeating it and the same for converstaions. I finished recently another book that could have been pages shorter just for the repeated conversations that went on for pages and really made the book drag. You feel like they are just filling pages-not so with Mr. Deutermann.

I found the book easy to follow and loved the German Shepherds and also how the humor is inserted in just the right places. I hate reading a book that is so tense and suspenseful with no humor-makes it depressing. There is a touch of a romance in this one but not the focus of the book. Carol was a good match for Cam and very likable. I enjoyed a main character in his 50's as so many authors think they have to be 20's or 30's and they haven't reached the maturity yet to deal with things as Cam did. Also I liked the romance angle of Cam in his 50's and Carol in her 40's. It was them being friends and more "comfortable " with each other without the sexual tension of so many books.

It's a good storyline with the Civil War as a back drop in the story and a family who still live in the past and of a ghostly nightrider. OF course I love the old south setting so for me was an extremely fun read even with the mystery of why this person wanted Cam dead.

I would love to read more of Cam Richter and his team (dogs and men) but have the feeling this is the last in the series.

This is a good stand alone book but since the character refers to events from other books might make it more interesting to have read the first 3 books before this one. I am going to look up more of MR. Deutermann's books. He has joined my list of favorites along with James Lee Burke-James Grippando-David Baldicci.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and anything I enjoy that much and hate for it to end gets 5 stars from me!

This is my first novel by this author, but it probably won't be my last. I liked the setting and the characters, and I liked the idea of people still trying to live in the Civil War South as if it was still going on. Interesting premise. The ghostly night rides of the Major, the Auntie Bellums, and of course the shepherds just added to the book. Kept me interested and entertained from the very first chapter through the last page. I was pleasantly surprised by this author and would now like to go back and read the first 3 novels. I also would like to find out how a former "cop" got so rich . . . that was the only part that wasn't explained in this novel. If he is this rich, why is he still working . . . entertainment? Anyway, I did enjoy the Nightwalkers and will likely read many more by P.T. Deutermann. If you pick up this novel, you will not be disappointed.

I discovered P.T. Deutermann and his Cam Richter series last year. I've read/listened to books 2-4. Being a North Carolinian, it is excited to see where the events happen (some happen in existing towns & counties and some where the names have been changed). It is an interesting series and could see it being picked up as a movie series.
Nightwalkers is the 4th book in the series. In this book Cam is using his police/P.I. skills, dog training skills, and a lot of help from friends. He seeking to buy a house and land that has a wild history. Much of it centers around the Civil War. This book has the cat and mouse drama, Southern/Civil War elements, and much more. I enjoyed it a great deal. I enjoyed Moonpool (Book 3 The Moonpool: A Novel) but not as much as Spider Mountain (Book 2 Spider Mountain: A Novel). I need to read The Cat Dancers soon (Book 1 The Cat Dancers: A Novel).
This one is just as good as Book 2. It is a great series. So get out there and start reading!

I have all of P T Deutermann's books and have enjoyed reading every one of them. I gave this book 4 stars because there are several of Mr Deutermann's books such as Hunting Season, Sweepers and Train Man that I would definitely give 5 stars. I look forward to more of his books.

PT Deutermann is a fantastic writer and this novel is no exception - kept me going into the whee hours of the a.m. reading this exciting novel.

I have been a P.T.Duetermann fan for many years and this book did not disappoint in any way. One of the best action-suspense writers around.

P.T. Deutermann continues his highly successful series of novels on the adventures of Cam Richter the retired Lt. from a large sheriff's dept. turned CEO of a private investigations company. Cam is looking for a change of pace and buys an old southern mansion with a seven hundred acre antebellum plantation. He finds himself embroiled in a wild ride of secrets from the Civil War, being the target of an elusive killer, and more. Deutermann does not disappoint.