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Sweepers
The U.S. Navy made him the ultimate killer. Now they can't stop him...
It begins with a routine police investigation. A beautiful woman is dead. A detective needs answers. And a newly appointed Pentagon admiral is scrambling for his career and for his life. Suddenly, the inner ring of the Pentagon is being rocked by a living a Sweeper-a trained covert assassin, an ex-SEAL scarred by one horrific episode in Vietnam-has gone rogue. And his killing has just begun...
With a searing insider's view of Pentagon politics, retired Navy captain P.T. Deutermann writes military suspense worthy of Tom Clancy and Nelson DeMile. Now, in his electrifying new novel, a powerful ex-Marine and a courageous woman face a kill of deception, ambition, and sweeping revenge...
It begins with a routine police investigation. A beautiful woman is dead. A detective needs answers. And a newly appointed Pentagon admiral is scrambling for his career and for his life. Suddenly, the inner ring of the Pentagon is being rocked by a living a Sweeper-a trained covert assassin, an ex-SEAL scarred by one horrific episode in Vietnam-has gone rogue. And his killing has just begun...
With a searing insider's view of Pentagon politics, retired Navy captain P.T. Deutermann writes military suspense worthy of Tom Clancy and Nelson DeMile. Now, in his electrifying new novel, a powerful ex-Marine and a courageous woman face a kill of deception, ambition, and sweeping revenge...
464 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1997
61 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
P.T. Deutermann
41 books300 followersP. T. Deutermann is a retired Navy captain and has served in the joint Chiefs of Staff as an arms control specialist. He is the author of eighteen novels, and lives in North Carolina. His World War II adventure novel Pacific Glory won the W. Y. Boyd Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction, administered by the American Library Association; his other World War II novels are Ghosts of Bungo Suido and Sentinels of Fire. His most recent novel is Cold Frame, a contemporary thriller set in Washington, D.C.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 29, 2025
Deutermann has no sympathy for his readers! Yeech!
This was not one of those tales where one can relax, feet up and quietly enjoy a good read! Oh, no….the reader is jerked around and lead thru some stormy seas as his principal characters manage to stay alive (well, at least some….) thru the story’s denouement. I’m fortunate to have known him from our times in the Navy. If one has not kept abreast of his writing derringer do, I highly recommend starting off your literary adventure by reading Scorpion in the Sea, his first book!
This was not one of those tales where one can relax, feet up and quietly enjoy a good read! Oh, no….the reader is jerked around and lead thru some stormy seas as his principal characters manage to stay alive (well, at least some….) thru the story’s denouement. I’m fortunate to have known him from our times in the Navy. If one has not kept abreast of his writing derringer do, I highly recommend starting off your literary adventure by reading Scorpion in the Sea, his first book!
July 16, 2012
At first, I was going to ditch this book, then decided to stay with it a little longer, and I got into the rhythm of the story. The main characters are U.S. Navy, and one former Marine, with the villain being one of the so called Sweepers, who got left behind by a Swift boat in Viet Nam. There is the beautiful widowed Commander, the tragic Admiral with his disfunctional son, and the Man Mountain Teutonic trainer of dogs, and descendant of German military around the time of Baron von Steuben, which is how he can afford the really nice house he inherited. Lots of action--at least one device which was new to me.
September 21, 2016
Sweepers Indeed!
Every time I read another book written by P.T. Determine I think it CANT be better than the one I just finished, and every time I am surprised because it is. This one would be great as a movie, as well.
Every time I read another book written by P.T. Determine I think it CANT be better than the one I just finished, and every time I am surprised because it is. This one would be great as a movie, as well.
December 6, 2025
Spoilers ahead. I'm a big fan of this author but to be honest the plot of this book was underwhelming and it's the same reason many of Deutermann's books are bad: the plot tree is overly complicated, there are too many characters and you're seeing the action from too many POVs. The best plot stories are when you're following one POV and really just looking over the protagonist's shoulder as he/she unravels some mystery.
When you're looking over multiple shoulders and sometimes from the antagonist's POV, you're seeing the entire plot. In this case, some of the story is hidden until the end but you could pretty much guess the twist ending and not much use was made of the title characters. I might as well tell you that a sweeper is top level assassin who kills rogue assassins, all of whom the US government uses for wet work. And no, it isn't a surprise to me that the US government uses sweepers, assassins or topples foreign governments.
Plot reveal: Sherman is a newly minted 1 star admiral and his girlfriend accidentally falls down the basement steps and dies. But the crime scene is a bit weird: she's carrying a laundry basket but she does her laundry upstairs, she's wearing a pair of slippers that she absolutely hates and only the ground floor appears to be completely swept clean, like crime scene clean.
Another suspicious thing is that her insurance policy in the amount of $250K names Sherman as the beneficiary. Alright, the local PD believes he's innocent but then a good friend of his dies of a heart attack and leaves him everything.
Commander Karen Lawrence from JAG is told to take a look at this to make sure Sherman is absolutely clean. But then Sherman says that this might be some kind of revenge plot where a SEAL he left to die during the Vietnam War has promised to come back and destroy everything dear to him. And that is the premise of the plot: the SEAL coming back to "get" him. And therein lies the title, the SEAL escapes from the Vietnam and becomes a sweeper for the US government, so he's extra scary.
There are a few twists here and there but since we already know the story, we're just going through the motions until they "get" the SEAL or he gets Sherman. I rather like Deutermann's WW2 stories where there wasn't a "plot" per se. The problem here is that there isn't much suspense and there are too many characters for the reader to get vested in. Maybe the next book will be better.
When you're looking over multiple shoulders and sometimes from the antagonist's POV, you're seeing the entire plot. In this case, some of the story is hidden until the end but you could pretty much guess the twist ending and not much use was made of the title characters. I might as well tell you that a sweeper is top level assassin who kills rogue assassins, all of whom the US government uses for wet work. And no, it isn't a surprise to me that the US government uses sweepers, assassins or topples foreign governments.
Plot reveal: Sherman is a newly minted 1 star admiral and his girlfriend accidentally falls down the basement steps and dies. But the crime scene is a bit weird: she's carrying a laundry basket but she does her laundry upstairs, she's wearing a pair of slippers that she absolutely hates and only the ground floor appears to be completely swept clean, like crime scene clean.
Another suspicious thing is that her insurance policy in the amount of $250K names Sherman as the beneficiary. Alright, the local PD believes he's innocent but then a good friend of his dies of a heart attack and leaves him everything.
Commander Karen Lawrence from JAG is told to take a look at this to make sure Sherman is absolutely clean. But then Sherman says that this might be some kind of revenge plot where a SEAL he left to die during the Vietnam War has promised to come back and destroy everything dear to him. And that is the premise of the plot: the SEAL coming back to "get" him. And therein lies the title, the SEAL escapes from the Vietnam and becomes a sweeper for the US government, so he's extra scary.
There are a few twists here and there but since we already know the story, we're just going through the motions until they "get" the SEAL or he gets Sherman. I rather like Deutermann's WW2 stories where there wasn't a "plot" per se. The problem here is that there isn't much suspense and there are too many characters for the reader to get vested in. Maybe the next book will be better.
March 11, 2024
Sweepers
P. T. Deutermann
Fascinating and unpredictable military thriller!
All I can really say here is that "this author can write!" This is an engrossing and complex novel with memorable characters and a twisty plot that at first seems predictable but which, in fact, is anything but. Author P. T. Deutermann has a profound understanding of the US Navy, its politics, and its operations that provides the backdrop for this (and other) excellent novels.
In this one, a US Navy Swift Boat skipper is haunted by a SEAL who was apparently a casualty of a special operation in which the captain had been involved. It is now many years later and the skipper is now a Rear Admiral in his first assignment. More would be telling, but of course the past comes back to haunt him in this twisty and dark novel.
Deutermann has a knack for creating memorable and realistic characters who actually behave as do real people. Combined with Deutermann's vivid imagination and deep knowledge of the Navy, this makes for superb reading. Highly recommended.
P. T. Deutermann
Fascinating and unpredictable military thriller!
All I can really say here is that "this author can write!" This is an engrossing and complex novel with memorable characters and a twisty plot that at first seems predictable but which, in fact, is anything but. Author P. T. Deutermann has a profound understanding of the US Navy, its politics, and its operations that provides the backdrop for this (and other) excellent novels.
In this one, a US Navy Swift Boat skipper is haunted by a SEAL who was apparently a casualty of a special operation in which the captain had been involved. It is now many years later and the skipper is now a Rear Admiral in his first assignment. More would be telling, but of course the past comes back to haunt him in this twisty and dark novel.
Deutermann has a knack for creating memorable and realistic characters who actually behave as do real people. Combined with Deutermann's vivid imagination and deep knowledge of the Navy, this makes for superb reading. Highly recommended.
August 28, 2017
When I read mystery send thrillers are usually expect them to be full of action. This one unfortunately I was disappointed at. I felt it was mainly interviewing and enquiring.
December 18, 2017
Being a retired sailor I like all of P. T. Deutermann's navy related works. This one was very good and took me back to my old Navy days riding the rivers of Vietnam.
August 27, 2018
Both RR and I enjoyed this book, its intriguing plot and realistic characters.
September 13, 2019
I bet it took a long time to write. It seemed to take a long time to read.
August 18, 2020
Audible Audiobook
March 30, 2022
Read in 2000
A sweeper (assassin’s assassin) left behind in Vietnam frames an admiral with the deaths of two friends. A naval investigation is conducted.
A sweeper (assassin’s assassin) left behind in Vietnam frames an admiral with the deaths of two friends. A naval investigation is conducted.
November 18, 2022
It was a great read with a lot of twists and turns.
November 7, 2023
A good thriller, tightly written. A nice look at the odd workings of the higher echelons of the Navy.
March 19, 2024
Good read about secret happenings within our Naval system. We know they exist but try to pass it of as a no concern. Good story!
May 17, 2025
Not the best Deuterman but acceptable…a little long in my estimation
August 30, 2025
Tightly written JAG procedural that was a was log of fun to read. Only gave it four stars on account of it being so utterly inconsequential.
December 11, 2017
I think ole' PT ought to stick to Naval engagements. When he stretches into police/spy genre, the stories just lose the authenticity he brings to Naval fiction.
July 26, 2019
You did that hungry!! I loved it, every twist and turn caught me by surprise!! I can’t wait to read more of your books....
July 27, 2015
This was a little out of my league with all the military lingo. It wasn't too heavy though so I was able to follow. I enjoyed this book and actually thought this was a pretty good audio version. I'm not usually one to listen to audio books since I'd rather read the whole book (this one is abridged) allowing me to use my own imagination and keep my own pace. I was actually surprised at Dick Hill's talent. He did a pretty good job with this one. I especially liked the sound effects making phone calls and radio transitions sound accurate.
This story starts out with the death of young woman. The death appeared to be accidental but things were just too clean leaving some lingering questions. They called in her past boyfriend, Pentagon Admiral Sherman, to question him "unofficially" so as to avoid an embarrassing problem. The fact that the woman had a large life insurance police on her payable to Sherman rose some eyebrows. Then, another death..... by heart attack with another reference to Sherman. More questions. More doubts about this Sherman. This story layers on more military departments and confusing double talk.
Navy Commander Karen Lawrence is assigned to review the case. She teams up with NIS civilian investigator named "Train" von Rensel to try to get around all the layers of bureaucratic tape and find out what is really going on.
This story starts out with the death of young woman. The death appeared to be accidental but things were just too clean leaving some lingering questions. They called in her past boyfriend, Pentagon Admiral Sherman, to question him "unofficially" so as to avoid an embarrassing problem. The fact that the woman had a large life insurance police on her payable to Sherman rose some eyebrows. Then, another death..... by heart attack with another reference to Sherman. More questions. More doubts about this Sherman. This story layers on more military departments and confusing double talk.
Navy Commander Karen Lawrence is assigned to review the case. She teams up with NIS civilian investigator named "Train" von Rensel to try to get around all the layers of bureaucratic tape and find out what is really going on.
October 20, 2014
Nineteen Sixty Nine: A Navy Seal on a secret mission is dropped
off in the Vietnam jungle. A few days later a U.S.gunboat
returns to pick him up but the young captain Lt William Sherman
panics under fire and leaves the Seal behind. Twenty years later
Lt Sherman is now an Admiral. A beautiful woman is found dead in
her home and Admiral Sherman comes under suspicion. Navy Commander
Karen Lawrence is assigned to conduct her own inquiry with the
help of a seasoned investigator ex-Marine "Train" von Rensel.
Karen soon finds herself confronting a Pentagon hierarchy
determined to avoid a scandal even at the cost of the truth. Soon
another friend of the Admiral is found dead and it is apparent
that the Seal is back. But he is now a sweeper, an intelligence
specialist who cleans things up when covert operations go wrong.
Only this time he is on a personal mission, revenge. This is one
of P T Deutermann's earlier novels from 1997. This is a page
turner so anyone looking for an older book to read this one is
well worth it.
off in the Vietnam jungle. A few days later a U.S.gunboat
returns to pick him up but the young captain Lt William Sherman
panics under fire and leaves the Seal behind. Twenty years later
Lt Sherman is now an Admiral. A beautiful woman is found dead in
her home and Admiral Sherman comes under suspicion. Navy Commander
Karen Lawrence is assigned to conduct her own inquiry with the
help of a seasoned investigator ex-Marine "Train" von Rensel.
Karen soon finds herself confronting a Pentagon hierarchy
determined to avoid a scandal even at the cost of the truth. Soon
another friend of the Admiral is found dead and it is apparent
that the Seal is back. But he is now a sweeper, an intelligence
specialist who cleans things up when covert operations go wrong.
Only this time he is on a personal mission, revenge. This is one
of P T Deutermann's earlier novels from 1997. This is a page
turner so anyone looking for an older book to read this one is
well worth it.
September 17, 2012
This was an older action thriller from 1997 that we got on sale but was a surprisingly good read. Nelson DeMille endorsed it and it reads a bit like his kind of thing in the sort of characters he constructs. Liked the world of the Navy JAG officers, which I thought he did a good job of both creating and explaining. Also a truly memorable bad guy in a SEAL bent on revenge. Nice atmosphere in the way of "The General's Daughter" (1999). Surprised nobody made this one into that type of film as it's very cinematic in feel. Even the technology still holds up today. Good little thriller. I'd definitely read another of his. - BH.
November 23, 2012
Forgot my book when headed out for T-Day. Picked this up at my Mom's and read it in a day. I don't read a lot of spy stuff, but this was a good read, as much mystery/investigator as it was spy novel and the military jargon and protocols were interesting. My only complaint is the great story started in the prologue isn't finished later in the same way. You find out what happened, but through character dialog which was not as satisfying.
August 3, 2013
Another new author. I really enjoyed this one as well. I really got into this book right away. It's about some Navy JAG officers who get a case they thought would be routine that was anything but. A lot of twists and turns and a nice surprise ending. Very, very good. It held my interest all the way through. I highly recommend it to anyone.
October 27, 2016
Happened upon this author by accident but was very satisfied with this novel. Deutermann constructs a very good story here with plenty of intrigue. The characters were well developed. Most of the action occurs in the second half of the novel but it was well worth the wait. Hoping I can find more of this author in the future.
December 17, 2018
Another trip with an old friend. I think this book was the first Deutermann book that I ever read. It's a fascinating murder mystery with deep politics ramifications. The author takes us along with the boots on the ground and gives insights into how D.C. politics really are played.
March 24, 2014
Fantastic
It's just another great book by PT. I have come to love reading his stuff...can't put it down. The detail puts you right there. I feel the pain and the excitement. I am almost done with everything he writes. I really love this stuff.
It's just another great book by PT. I have come to love reading his stuff...can't put it down. The detail puts you right there. I feel the pain and the excitement. I am almost done with everything he writes. I really love this stuff.
December 4, 2008
A very good book with government and military officials.
March 30, 2010
A Sweeper is a deep cover CIA assassin tasked with taking out renegade
CIA assassins. Good story.
CIA assassins. Good story.
December 16, 2012
I rather like most of Deutermann's books, but I think I remember this one being a bit creepy at the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews