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Speaks the Nightbird  By  cover art

Speaks the Nightbird

By: Robert R. McCammon
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
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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)

What listeners say about Speaks the Nightbird

Average customer ratings
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I couldn't stop listening!

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

I usually listen to audiobooks just once in a while, but I couldn't stop with Speaks the Nightbird. Edoardo Ballerini does a wonderful job creating individual voices for McCammon's characters---and keeping them consistent! (Hate listening to a book where a character's voice suddenly becomes someone else's.) The ending is a totally surprise and McCammon builds suspense wonderfully. There are several underlying stories, but they all contribute to the main theme. I have downloaded McCammon's other 3 books and cannot wait to listen to them as well. If you like historical fiction, mystery, good characters---I totally recommend this work!

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

The changing relationship of the Magistrate and Matthew

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

He has a melodic voice with excellent rhythm and inflection. I appreciated his range of characters' voices and the CONSISTENTCY with which he maintained them. He made this book more alive for me.

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Speaks the Nightbird

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

Magical Mystery Tour!

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

The truth behind the arrest of Rachel.

What about Edoardo Ballerini’s performance did you like?

Edoardo made each character come alive, with their own voice, personality and believability.

Any additional comments?

The Hero Matthew Corbett brings the reality of life in 18th century Colonial America alive in vivid historical type fiction. Witch trials, pirates, traveling circuses...along with Heroic chivalry makes this one of McCammon's best novels of all!

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Great story

Enjoyed this story and the performance. It lived up to the expectations I had. The reading enhanced the storyline. Great job.

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interesting

I wasn't sure about this book when I bought it. I'not sure why I did buy it but I'm glad I did! Good story and great narrator.

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I loved it

this story had so many twists and turns in it it kept me on the edge of my seat. a great buy!

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Swept away by the colourful language

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

The narrator did an excellent job of voicing the different characters. Each character had his and her own lives, so artfully pictured by McCammon, and the narrator capitalised on it.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The moment of intense affection, when a youthful boy experiences the depth of emotions, I realised just how brilliant the author is. It is something that is present throughout the book, but at that moment - I knew I have not experienced anything as visual and abstract at the same time.

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Story ok... not sure I'll continue the series

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

Trying to visualize the modern landscape of the setting

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the book and I'm glad I got it, but I don't think I'll continue the series. It was very tedious.

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To Burn a Witch was Easy, but…

If you’ve ever wondered how things could have gotten so out of hand during the Salem Witchcraft Trials (or any of the “true” witch accusations from back in the day) then Speaks the Nightbird is a must read. Robert McCammon paints a tension filled story of a woman on trial for witchcraft in a community struggling to survive, a town set on burning her and one man willing to risk everything to prove her innocence. When I first approached this story, I admit I was leery. How interesting can this story really be? But I’ve loved McCammon’s work since Swan Song and trusted in his ability to craft believable characters, intriguing conflicts and seamless plots. In Speaks the Nightbird he has taken what could have been a stuffy, old tale of misguided laws based on religion and spun it into a highly enjoyable adventure with twists around every turn. As a reader, you’ll feel Matthew Corbett’s frustrations as he uses logic and deductive reasoning to clear Rachel’s name in a setting where superstition rules. This was a fascinating read and I can’t wait to get started on the next novel in the Matthew Corbett series.

Edoardo Ballerini’s narration was the ideal choice to voice McCammon’s work. He understood the characters and gave each one a unique voice that held consistently throughout the story. I was also excited to see that he is the narrator for all of the Matthew Corbett series on Audible.

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draws you in to a different time

The story starts out somewhat slowly, but rapidly grabs you and you must keep going. The characters are become real and you will enjoy the twists and turns of the take.

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Increased my walking distance

Would you listen to Speaks the Nightbird again? Why?

I would listen to Speaks the Nightbird again because of the interesting character sketches and the way McCammon weaves in the clues leading toward the conclusion of the story.

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

A memorable moment is when Matthew sees the outcome of the innkeeper at the Indian camp, a very just punishment. I kept hoping for the innkeeper to "show" up again, and was not disappointed.

Which character – as performed by Edoardo Ballerini – was your favorite?

I look forward to more tales about Matthew and enjoyed the narration of Edoardo Ballerini. He is superb in tone and has a great ability to change voice with regard to each character...keeps the interest alive.

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