The Night Caller

By: John Lutz

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's Summary

Ezekiel "Coop" Cooper is lonely. He's no longer with the NYPD due to cancer that's in remission. His daughter Bette is in New Jersey, and he doesn't talk with her about anything personal, but he loves her. He's looking forward to seeing her at the family bungalow, but when he gets there, he finds her dead, curled up in a way that suggests a ritual murder. He investigates the death, eventually joining forces with a mystery writer who believes a serial killer has murdered Bette. By the time they put all the pieces together, they realize that the killer is extremely dangerous, and could be headed to kill more people they know. This book puts a new shine on a classic thriller plot.

©2001 John Lutz; (P)2001 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Lutz, an award-winning master craftsman, takes a tired thriller formula and gives it fresh sizzle." (Booklist)

Suspenseful

I had previously listened to and really enjoyed Lutz's "The Night Spider." I enjoyed "The Night Caller" as well. I liked, related to and sympathized with the main character - Lutz has a great writing style. The plot was also suspenseful - I listened to the entire book very quickly. I took off only one star - because the killer in the book seemed to echo the killer from "The Night Spider" a bit too much for me. Oh - and don't forget Scott Brick, who is one of the best readers period.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Older Lutz but still a good one...

This is an older John Lutz book but still very very good. In my opinion it is made even better with the narrating done by Scott Brick.
The one thing I noticed about the book that I thought was kind of dating is NO CELL PHONES! How bizarre how that has become what tells the reader if a book is current.
Anyway, this is a very suspenseful book. The protagonist is an ex cop (Ezekiel Cooper). He had cancer which is in remission and he tentatively looks to his future with apprehension until his only daughter is the victim of a serial killer. After that most, not all caution is thrown aside while he looks for the person who took his daughter. Along the way he meets others whose friends or relatives are also taken from them. I mention this only because one of them has a major impact on his life and future. The killer is a real mystery and you don't find out the who and why until almost the end. At one point even Cooper is framed. It's a definite edge of the seat book.

This and all the rest in the Night series (including Night Spider and Chill of Night) are excellent books.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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10 of 15 people found this review helpful

Disappointed

I have read other books by this author and I really like the Frank Quinn series. But this book was well below those. I found the characters unlikable, Cooper continues to deal with the miserable female characters His ex is a complete nutcase the writer and the editor only care about the book not about the murders, or Coopers loss of his daughter. I just don't see how they added to the story to me they were useless characters that almost had me not finishing.

Another great book! Keep them coming!!!

Loved the book, completely enjoyable I can't wait for the next one. Another GREAT performance by Scott Brick.

Good story – terrible narrator

I really liked this book. At least I really liked the story, but it was really hard to stay focused on the writing what with the narrator, Scott Brick, treating every sentence as a dramatic reading. I had to keep backing up to re-hear passages since in my annoyance I would start thinking of how a normal person would narrate it. What a Drama Queen he is. Author and story were great though. I would have given more stars if it were a better narrator

Enjoyed this book

It was suspenseful and well written.

8 of 19 people found this review helpful