Speaks the Nightbird

By: Robert R. McCammon

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

Length: 30 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Nominee, Fiction, 2013

Judgment of the Witch

The Carolinas, 1699: The citizens of Fount Royal believe a witch has cursed their town with inexplicable tragedies - and they demand that beautiful widow Rachel Howarth be tried and executed for witchcraft. Presiding over the trial is traveling magistrate Issac Woodward, aided by his astute young clerk, Matthew Corbett. Believing in Rachel's innocence, Matthew will soon confront the true evil at work in Fount Royal....

Evil Unveiled

After hearing damning testimony, magistrate Woodward sentences the accused witch to death by burning. Desperate to exonerate the woman he has come to love, Matthew begins his own investigation among the townspeople. Piecing together the truth, he has no choice but to vanquish a force more malevolent than witchcraft in order to save his beloved Rachel - and free Fount Royal from the menace claiming innocent lives.

©2002 Robert McCammon (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Edoardo Ballerini performs this story of accusation and fear flawlessly. He effortlessly switches his pitch, accents, and timbre to suit the unfortunate Rachel Howarth, the endless curious Corbett, and the various determined characters, good and evil.” (AudioFile)

"a compelling story that should find a wide readership. Highly recommended for popular fiction collections." (Library Journal)

"An excellent story, full of tension and suspense.” (Stephen King)

Wow!!!!

I was blown away by this audiobook. It is probably the best audiobook I've ever listened to, and I've listened to a lot. The story is absolutely amazing. In his beautiful writing, McCammon perfectly captures the simultaneously wild and civilized essence of this era in early American history. The descriptions were so rich that I really felt I was there, and the diction was so good that I was constantly looking up definitions in my Ninja Words app (I love learning new words).

Our hero Matthew is precocious young man who is committed to finding truth and justice even in the most convoluted of situations, as in the scapegoating of the "witch" Rachel. Drawing upon his own tenacity and cleverness, he starts to unravel a very complex mystery that has worked its way through the psyches of the townspeople in the town of Fount Royal.

The Eduardo Ballerini does a phenomenal job of narrating the book and conveying the personalities of the characters using different voices. He really could not have done a better job, except that I did find the pace to be a little fast so I listened to most of it at .75x speed.

I'd recommend this to lovers of historical fiction and literary thrillers, or anyone for that matter who just wants to listen to a good book.

Sucks you in....

If you could sum up Speaks the Nightbird in three words, what would they be?

history, witch trails and greed

What was one of the most memorable moments of Speaks the Nightbird?

The moment when Matthew discovered the secret - won't say more so I don't spoil it for someone else.

What about Edoardo Ballerini’s performance did you like?

I loved the accent as it was perfect for the story. It was told as a gentleman of the times, polite, even at the not so polite parts.

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

I couldn't stop listing. The story builds up very slowly and have surprising twist and turns.

Great story, excellent narration!

What made the experience of listening to Speaks the Nightbird the most enjoyable?

I loved the story, very unpredictable, my favorite of all Robert Mccammon works.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Speaks the Nightbird?

I was truly spooked by the Episode in Indian village.

What about Edoardo Ballerini’s performance did you like?

He is a true artist. Loved his performance.

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

After I listened to it for the first time, the few consecutive time I had to skip through certain parts, they were just too spooky. But I loved it nonetheless.

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

Would you try another book from Robert McCammon and/or Edoardo Ballerini?

I would try more books narrated by Edoardo Ballerini, but no to Robert McCammon. I seriously hope to avoid any more of his work.

Would you be willing to try another book from Robert McCammon? Why or why not?

There were rave reviews on this book, and I can see why. In the first half of the book we are introduced to well developed and exciting characters on a mission. There are mysteries to solve, a damsel in distress, bad guys galore, and common individuals that are like most real people, both good and bad.

On the other hand, McCammon seems to have a predilection for abnormal sexual practices. For example, the descriptions of Rachel's supposed sex scenes with Satan, or the guy who prefers to have sex with his mare (yes I do mean his horse). I don't know if this was his attempt to titillate his readers, but I've seen a lot of negative responses to the sexual preoccupation of this book. I can't say I was forced into indignation, but at the same time I was repulsed. We all know there are examples of such doings, but really, is that what we signed up for when we purchased this book?

This author does seem to have an obsession with the penis. There are many descriptions, inferences, and innuendoes that I doubt very seriously would have been in use in 1699. As a time piece the preoccupation with sex in the puritanical early America's seemed out of place and completely unnecessary.

Did Edoardo Ballerini do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Ballerini does a stellar job at differentiating characters with tone, accent, and pauses.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Maybe, but unlikely. Not just because I wasn't crazy about the book either. I almost never watch t.v. and I manage to make it to the movies less than once a year.

Any additional comments?

The mystery was interesting if convoluted. The main characters were well developed and interesting. The story line, well, I've already covered enough of that to justify my rating.

Would I recommend this book? No, not really.

Good story, excellent performace

I enjoyed this book and the story, but I must admit I would have liked it better if it had been just a tad shorter. There was a fair amount of repetition in the middle, although it was summed up nicely in the end.

I'm not typically critical of long books - I've been a big fan of several 30+ hour ones, but both of the books by Mr. McCammon had the same drawback for me. He's very clever and his stories thorough and well thought out. I just think a lot of the world/character building part of the narrative gets a little long. I will probably read more of his work, but that will be my hesitancy when it comes to jumping right back in.

Interesting look at another time

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend it. It was nice to see such devotion to the truth in the face of social self-righteousness.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The young clerk Matthew. He had a fairly modern take on things in a very dark time. People really believed in witchcraft. So many were killed as witches to assuage the fears of fools.

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

Even though it was set in a long gone world, the persecution of women by a whole town of ignorant and fearful people who overwhelming believe in their fear-based religion rather than take a look at something reality-based. I guess I felt a resonance in today's world.

Any additional comments?

Interesting story. Set in a long ago era, it was full of fairly contemporary people. the money-grabbing baron, the truth seeker, the victim of abuse, the law, the chorus of "true believers"

INTERESTING HIGH-LEVEL ADULT ENTERTAINMENT

Marie in Alexandria used all her little grey cells to analyze and find faults in this book. She's good! She's right! But I was so grateful to be entertained and enthralled so very well that I've given it all the stars. There is so much smarmy nonsense out there . . . and this story is wonderful! I majored in English -- so been there, done that! I don't feel like picking this book apart. It got me through a difficult time. The bus stopped and I kept going. Nothing broken but everything hurting. Of course being on Vicodin, I dozed off and had to click iRene iPod back a chapter or two. The story served me very, very well. The author is extremely bright and certainly not lazy. He took no easy way out. I can tell he did his homework in researching costuming, Native Americans, and other matters. It all rang true for me. I love long books, so this one was just right for me. I loved the passages of almost pure poetry. And a nearly transparent narrator.

Oh, yes, this book is certainly not for prudes. After reading any number of books about the olden days in which one wonders how on earth they manufactured new people, the men in this book all have tallywhackers and seem to think about this part of themselves as often as do modern men. While some of the characters were indeed crude or low-brow, the author never is. He creatively juxtaposes the sensibilities of a modern entrepreneur against an historical background -- great fun! I felt Matthew's struggle with caring for the Magistrate and saving the life of Rachel. I wondered if the doctor was really trying to save Isaac. And I do believe that people back then didn't have the time or energy or resources to get up to so much mischief. I believe most of them did the best they knew, the best they could, after which they were too weary to do more. The corrupt, the weak or lazy just did not succeed. Those who were healthy, worked extremely hard and were intelligent -- they got ahead. They "made it," but at the end of the day it took all they had!

So is this Great Literature? Probably not. Is it well written? Oh, you bet! This author deserves to prosper and prosper. He kept me thinking and wondering and hoping. Thank you, Mr. McCammon!

Entertaining and imaginative

I have come to understand the previous reviewers. This book is a mixed bag. On the one hand, it attempts to be an exploration of that era's severely repressed sexual and societal expressions, when shaped by an oppressively narrow religious doctrine on top of the deep superstitions of the time, added to prejudices springing naturally from our baser human nature--all of which we still struggle with as a species. And of course, all from the point of view of a well educated, but not privileged-by-birth, and definitely hormonal 19 year old young man. It can be a bit overwrought, especially the time spent in Matthew's head--but, since there's no one else there for him to talk to, his internal dialog (though not first person) is how we see the world he's living in. On the other hand, this is a story about an unusually self-possessed young man's journey into manhood and, it's also a mystery. There is humor and light-heartedness here and there but not a lot, until one realizes that there is some tongue-in-cheek from the author. It's not Umberto Ecco, but it's a quick, entertaining read and I've already started on the next one. As for narration, Ballerini is excellent, save for the truly sub-par Scottish accent.

another great epic

the author packs a lot of adventure, activity, scenarios, etc into his books. this is no exception. the good guys are easy to root for, but not infallible. The bad guys are easy to hate even before you know who they are.

not mccammon's best work.

slow starting and somewhat depressing, and fairly unsurprising. I was guessing the next part of 5he story multiple times. after swan song and the wolfs hour I was somewhat disappointed. best part was talking about it with my fiance.