The following code:
new JsonSerializer().Deserialize(new JsonTextReader(new StringReader("''")));
produces the following exception in multiple versions of Json.NET including 4.5 release 4:
System.NullReferenceException was unhandled
Message=Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
Source=Newtonsoft.Json
StackTrace:
at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateValueInternal(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, JsonContract contract, JsonProperty member, JsonContainerContract containerContract, Object existingValue)
at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateValueNonProperty(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, JsonContract contract, JsonConverter converter, JsonContainerContract containerContract)
at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.Deserialize(JsonReader reader, Type objectType)
at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializer.DeserializeInternal(JsonReader reader, Type objectType)
at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializer.Deserialize(JsonReader reader, Type objectType)
at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializer.Deserialize(JsonReader reader)
at ConsoleApplication1.Program.Main()