The Queen of Bedlam

A Matthew Corbett Novel, Book 2

By: Robert R. McCammon

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

Length: 23 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

His epic masterwork Speaks the Nightbird, a tour de force of witch hunt terror in a colonial town, was hailed by Sandra Brown as "deeply satisfying...told with matchless insight into the human soul."

Now, Robert McCammon brings the hero of that spellbinding novel, Matthew Corbett, to 18th-century New York, where a killer wields a bloody and terrifying power over a bustling city carving out its identity - and over Matthew's own uncertain destiny.

The unsolved murder of a respected doctor has sent ripples of fear throughout a city teeming with life and noise and commerce. Who snuffed out the good man's life with the slash of a blade on a midnight street? The local printmaster has labeled the fiend "the Masker," adding fuel to a volatile mystery...and when the Masker claims a new victim, hardworking young law clerk Matthew Corbett is lured into a maze of forensic clues and heart-pounding investigation that will both test his natural penchant for detection and inflame his hunger for justice.

In the strangest twist of all, the key to unmasking the Masker may await in an asylum where the Queen of Bedlam reigns - and only a man of Matthew's reason and empathy can unlock her secrets. From the seaport to Wall Street, from society mansions to gutters glimmering with blood spilled by a deviant, Matthew's quest will tauntingly reveal the answers he seeks - and the chilling truths he cannot escape.

©2007 Robert McCammon (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

One of his best yet!

This is one fabulous tale of suspense and historical fiction . The narrator is perfect. PERFECT! He effortlessly switches between English accents and colonial American and brings this thriller to life. My favorite Matthew Corbett book yet, I couldn't put it down.!!

Throughly enjoyable!!

If you are looking for book set in a much earlier time , full of action, adventure, murder, and elaborate conspiracies this is the book for you!!while reading this book I was in New York in the 1700’s, I could all but here the horses and wagons, the people going to and fro! Enjoyable!!

another great book about Matthew Corbett

What about Edoardo Ballerini’s performance did you like?

Again Edoardo is absolutely fantastic...really makes the story come alive

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

towards the end could not stop listening, not sure how many back roads I took to add time listening

Any additional comments?

Slow beginning, great build up of characters though, the ending well worth it, just purchased the 3rd one of the series...can't wait

I'm officially a fan of this series and McCammon

These books start a bit slowly but the characters are enjoyable and you grow to know them. Edoardo Ballerini does a great job of reading. His accent is perfect for Matthew and his voice changes are excellent and easily distinguishable. The story line is entertaining and one of things I enjoy most is that while Matthew is extremely intelligent the author doesn't allow him to make absurd leaps to conclusions or seem too super intelligent. Even the heroes of the story have their flaws and I think too often in these books the main characters are too smart, too perfect, too unrealistic.

I am well over 125 audio books in at this point and have only recently discovered Robert McCammon. Starting with Swan Song and now this series - a much different kind of book from Swan Song - I am thoroughly enjoying his writing.

Just wonderful.

I can’t wait for book three. But first...Swan Song. McCammon is amazing. The Matthew Corbet series narrator, Mr. Ballerni, is simply outstanding.

Loved it

I could not stop listening. I can’t wait for next in the series. Thank you

Better and better

What made the experience of listening to The Queen of Bedlam the most enjoyable?

I didn't think anything could top "Speaks the Nightbird." I was pleased to be so wrong.

Who was your favorite character and why?

HUDSON GREATHOUSE. If you finished McCammon's first book in the series and lamented all the companions that Matthew lost along the way, HAVE NO FEAR. He picks up some great new friends (and enemies) here.

What does Edoardo Ballerini bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Edoardo Ballerini is a magnificent audiobook narrator. He could breathe life into a shopping list. He brings even more living, breathing believability to these well-written characters.

Slow to get going definately not the pace book1

Book 1 Speaks the NightBird was so amazing and fully engaging, my expectations were the same for Queen of Bedlam. I was disappointed, it's half way through until you are introduced to the Queen of Bedlam, I never had a feel to where the story was going until half way through. I thought many times to put in to rest. however the narrator, simply sucks you into the period and makes up for what story didnt deliver. In the end I was pleased, but not to the extent of Nightbird.

Another fantastic Matthew Corbett novel!

Where does The Queen of Bedlam rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very near the top. Speaks the Nightbird (book 1) was a great lauchpad for this follow-on novel. Excellent character development, highly creative plot, dovetailed ending (all threads come together). Very highly recommended.

What does Edoardo Ballerini bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The performance by Eduardo Ballerini made the story truly come alive. He creates unique, believable voice characterizations that create the mood, ambiance, and fabric on which the story is superbly overlayed by Robert McCammon.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely. I'm a bit disappointed that each novel in the series is shorter than its predecessor, but that's ok, as long as the series continues.

Any additional comments?

Please keep writing these stories with the same attention to detail that evokes a feeling in the reader of being present with the characters in the story.

I really enjoyed The Queen of Bedlam.

The Queen of Bedlam is the sequel to Robert McCammon's Speaks the Nightbird, which took place in 1799 in the colony of South Carolina. This book takes place in 1702 in New York, which is still a town of 5,000, not yet the city it will one day be. Matthew Corbett is a clerk for a magistrate in New York. As with the first book, this one is part horror (man against man), part detective, part history, and part "I don't know what to call it but I loved it". The New York that comes to life in this book is the skeleton of the current city. Some of the names like Wall Street are familiar. Yet so much is new to all but the historians of colonial New York. I really enjoyed The Queen of Bedlam as much as I enjoyed Speaks the Nightbird.

Edoardo Ballerini is a terrific narrator. He helps bring the story to life through his wonderful accents and distinct voices.