I Travel by Night / Last Train from Perdition

Trevor Lawson #1-2

by Robert McCammon

Two short novels featuring the vampiric gunslinger who seeks vengeance and justice across the Old West, from the New York Times–bestselling master of horror.

He was once a husband, father, lawyer, and Civil War soldier. Now he is a vampire struggling to hold onto his last thread of humanity—and to destroy the one who made him.

In I Travel by Night, Trevor Lawson handles matters from his lair at the Hotel Sanctuaire in New Orleans. When a prominent lumber man comes to him for help—to find and free his kidnapped daughter—Trevor senses a trap, for the man who signed the ransom note is one he knows too well. Traveling towards a ghost town in the dark of the swamps, Trevor soon finds himself preparing for a final showdown against the purest form of evil in the Dark Society and its bloodthirsty queen.

With his new sidekick, Ann Kingsley, Trevor travels to Montana in Last Train from Perdition. When they try to free a young man from an outlaw gang, an innocent woman is caught in the crossfire. To save her life—and bring their captured fugitives to justice—Trevor and Ann take the train to Helena, never expecting the ambush that awaits them. For an army of the undead has gathered in the snowy darkness with a very special surprise for a reunion with her father and sister, who no longer resemble the humans she once loved.

“Perfect for Deadwood fans and those who enjoy the American Vampire graphic-novel series by Scott Snyder. Clear a couple of hours, you’ll want to devour this in one sitting.” —Booklist

Genres: Horror, Vampires, Fiction, Westerns, Ebooks, Novella

237 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 5, 2022

About the author

Pseudonyms: Robert R. McCammon; Robert Rick McCammon

Robert McCammon was a full-time horror writer for many years. Among his many popular novels were the classics Boy's Life and Swan Song. After taking a hiatus for his family, he returned to writing with an interest in historical fiction.

His newest book, Leviathan, is the tenth and final book in the Matthew Corbett series. It was published in trade hardcover (Lividian Publications), ebook (Open Road), and audiobook (Audible) formats on December 3, 2024.

McCammon resides in Birmingham, Alabama.

Reviews

[John Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome

My first taste of McCammon and I must say that I am impressed. It’s basically a western Blade The Vampire Hunter novella. The first story has fun character building for Trevor, he is a Vampire For Hire who only drinks animal blood and works as a private investigator in a way. On the side, he’s searching for his maker to suck her dry to hopefully become human again.

Book 2 doesn’t pick off where the first one did and basically abandoned the main premise which was irritating but it was significantly more action packed so it paid off. It left off like there will be book 3 but I don’t know why there hasn’t been one…

[Paxton Holley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two novellas about Trevor Lawson, a confederate soldier who was turned into a vampire by the female LaRouge after nearly dying on the battlefield of the Civil War. Now Trevor’s a freelance adventurer who helps people while also hunting down LaRouge in the hopes killing her will change him back human.

These are pretty cool adventures. Trevor isn’t a full vampire yet, he’s more like a half vampire. He prolongs his humanity by drinking animal blood. But he still has a lot of their strengths and weaknesses. In the first story he’s lured into a trap at a sunken ghost town in the Louisiana swamps by LaRouge who wants to turn him into a full vampire. In the second story Trevor is trapped on a train with several humans, stuck in the snow, surrounded by hundreds of full vampires ready to kill everyone on board.

These are cool and different. I’d like to read more.

[Giuseppe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Travel by Night / Last Train from Perdition, which combines two short stories into one, is an enjoyable little book. While it doesn't have nearly as much fun or character development as you want, it's still an interesting and entertaining romp through the 1880s by way of a former Confederate-turned-vampire.

Last Train From Perdition was more enjoyable overall, partially because the backstory was already out of the way, and partially because it was faster-paced.

Overall, worth the short read but definitely feels like it could have been better if it were a longer, more fleshed-out novel.

[Vicky Stow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently purchased this book set. I already had I Travel by Night but not The Road to Perdition, so I purchased the two book set. It was sooo good. I love the character, Trevor Lawson, and I can only wonder if there will ever be a third book or more to eventually help Trevor find what he is seeking. Robert McCammon is one of my favorite writers, and these short novellas did not disappoint. Highly recommended.

[Carl Alves · Rating 4 out of 5]

These were two novellas that can be read together since The Last Train to Perdition immediately follows I Travel by Night. Robert McCammon is one of my all time favorite novelists, and he definitely delivered with these two novellas. He seems to have rediscovered himself as a historical speculative fiction writer, as compared to being a contemporary horror writer early in his career. I liked both the concept behind these stories, a post Civil War nineteenth century vampire who doesn’t want to be a vampire and is striving to undo his condition and become human again, going to war with the vampire community in the process. He takes difficult jobs as a private investigator/bounty hunter/gun for hire as his occupation while trying to find the vampire who turned him.

Of the two novellas, I preferred I Travel by Night, where Trevor Lawson takes on a job to rescue a banker’s daughter who has been kidnapped by the vampire society he hunts. He recognizes this as a trap for him but takes the job anyway. He is joined by Ann Kingsley, the kidnapped woman’s sister, who joins Lawson as his sidekick in the second novella and helps him by doing things by day that he cannot, although that isn’t really explored in either story. In The Last Train to Perdition, Lawson is hired to retrieve a politician’s son, who has fallen in with a group of bandits, where he once again is ambushed by the vampires he is trying to annihilate. I really enjoyed both novellas, but the problem with the second one is that it has a Deux Ex Machina ending that brings it down a notch.

The second novella ends with the promise of more to come in this story, and I look forward to reading more in this story world.

Carl Alves – author or Return to Blood Street

[Mark Redman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert McCammon takes us on a journey through shadowed streets with his vampire gunslinger Trevor Lawson in "I Travel by Night." In this gripping novella, Lawson a weary, introspective vampire roams the dark fringes of the American Wild West, a Civil War soldier turned undead. Only traveling by night, he fights to combat evil and hunts LaRouge, the vampire queen who turned him. If Lawson can trap her and drink her blood, he might return to mortal life. What makes this story stand out is Lawson’s quiet menace, hinting at dangerous depths beneath his calm exterior, blending noir style with unsettling horror. McCammon crafts a fast-paced, stylish tale that feels both timeless and fresh, propelled by Lawson's complex character and a haunting atmosphere.

The adventure continues in "Last Train from Perdition," plunging deeper into Lawson’s world. This darker, emotionally charged novella follows Lawson on a doomed journey filled with human cruelty and supernatural terror. With his new ally, Ann Kingsley, he travels to Montana. When they attempt to rescue a young man from outlaws, an innocent woman gets caught in the crossfire. Determined to save her and deliver the fugitives, Lawson and Ann board a train to Helena, never imagining the deadly ambush awaiting them. An army of the undead lurks in the snowy darkness, with a chilling surprise for Ann: a reunion with her father and sister no longer entirely human. McCammon explores themes of alienation and conscience, using the claustrophobic train setting to heighten suspense. The ending leaves the door open for more adventures, ensuring Lawson’s story will stay with readers long after the last page. Perfect for fans of Deadwood, both novellas can be devoured in just a few hours.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow interesting reading and a different take!

Vampire stories are numerous and I can say I have read many and this is different. I can’t recall many that have the vampire or turned as the main character and the ‘good guy’! I found this as a enjoyable reading time and will look if there are any more stories. Even if there are no further stories still will have no regrets with reading this book and these two stories.

[R X L · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 superb novellas about a vampire gunslinger in 1860s USA. Superb westerny vibe and awesome action throughout. I actually felt the characterisation was done really well for 2 very short novels just over a 100 pages long.

I wish this had been either one long book, a longer book of short stories or a full series about this character as I think there’s a lot of great stuff to build on here with the characters of Trevor Lawson and Ann.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure what I was expecting. Haven’t read a McCammon book since high school. The writing is corny as hell and his vampire/gunslinger/superhero is the kind of thing that would appeal best to adolescents. But it would be a lie to say if there wasn’t some enjoyment to be had. Think this will be my last venture in the renewed McCammon universe though.

[Nadine Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great horror western series! I loved the writing. I travel by night was a simple story but loved the more character driven accounts of the vampire bounty Hunter and his human companion Anne. The Last train from Perdition really amped up the action and ended on a bit of a set up for more books and I hope McCammon goes through writing more in this series.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 stories, fast read, both of them. very much in line with Gone South/Boys Life atmospheric feel. Action, near-death/last minute save adventures. Not anything i would read twice, but great for escapism fiction.

[Shawn Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great vampire story with a western twist.

A great horror vampire story with a western cowboy theme. Very well written and lots of action and drama. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes Anne Rice.

[What the Sam Hill are you reading? · Rating 4 out of 5]

Combined 4/5

I Travel By Night 5/5
Just a great vampire hunting tale! McCammon chose the perfect period and setting to deliver this story. I really liked Lawson as a character, a vampire hanging desperately onto the shreds of his humanity. While we really didn’t get to know Ann, she is primed to be a good partner for Trevor. The bad guys were creepy, and the action was badass!

Last Train to Perdition
3/5. This was not as compelling for me as the first story. I liked the ordeal around giving into the urges or not, and the more conflict was added into the story for Ann. The entrance of *spoilers* other anti-vampire vampires was interesting and the set up for this series to continue has potential. But after the big bad from the first novella, the baddies in this one just fell short. Although the big shoot out/battle at the end was entertaining.

If McCammon ever returns to this story, it could be a fun series to follow!

[Matthew A. Thiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creative and fun. A little trophy in spots, but on the whole a fun ride. Would make a great movie or video game series, like a red Dead Redemption with Supernatural elements. The stories are quick easy reads and are a great throwback to the mysterious gunslinger.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed both stories. Lawson is a likeable character and there is plenty of action and suspense. Lawson is on a quest to find the vampire who turned him while trying to avoid being killed by those that follow her. The western setting with no romance was refreshing.

[shawn murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it. I liked it a lot. First time reading McCammon. I enjoy an adventure Horror. This fit the bill.

[Ronald Herring · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have Fangs Will Travel

A really satisfying tale of Gunsmoke, Fate and being Human. Let's hope more tales are on the way. McCarron is a rare talent.

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best thing I've read from McCammon. Shallow characters, not very exciting story line. Has promise, but wasn't fleshed out.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a friggin vampire western by Robert McCammon. Why wouldn’t you read this?

[Tiffany Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

solid 4 never had any page turning moments but the author writes well so it stayed interesting enough for a vampire gunslinger story

[C. Mark Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read both of his vampire books. Very detailed story, trust me, you will love it if you like Steven Kings Salems lot, you will love these even more!

[BookMadLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

These two novellas are my first McCammon books but they are most definitely not my last. Read with a couple of Booksta people last month, I immediately fell in love with McCammon’s writing style, his simple but descriptive prose and the characters he created.

The novellas focus on vampire gunslinger Trevor Lawson, who seeks vengeance and justice across 1860s Old West (the vampire/cowboy combination is perfection). Lawson is slowly losing his humanity, his monstrous nature creeping to the surface and his one goal is to destroy the creature who made him.

The simplicity of McCammon’s stories, the vivid description along with the focus on Lawson’s struggles to retain his humanity were the highlights for me. The Last Train From Perdition was my favourite out of the two because of the fast paced nature of the story and the amount of action McCammon was able to pack into the novella. I really hope the author writes a third book because Lawson’s story deserves to be continued.

So if you’re looking for a western story with vampires, go check these out.

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trevor Lawson is a great character and I would love more stories about him.