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)

Winning Combination!

Edoardo Ballerini knocks another one out of the park. A literary masterpiece written by Robert R. McCammon. And what better than the mastery of Edoardo Ballerini to transcend us, via the author's words, into the lives and evils characteristic in this distinct period of history.

Narration was amazing!

I was amazed by how well the narrator was able to portray the characters in this very lengthy story. Despite it’s length, I remained engaged throughout the entire story. Great book!!!

Salem didn’t hold a candle to this story.

1699 and the new world was just opening its eyes, but still blinded by old world superstition. This book was so well written and introduces the reader to unimaginable hardships, medical practices of the times, scoundrels, murderers and yes, witches. One of my most enjoyable reads of the year.

Compelling story and wonderful narration

Highly recommend. The narrator is one of the best I’ve ever heard and the production of the highest quality. The story keeps you hooked from beginning to end. I am excited to continue this series.

Outstanding

Everything about this book, story and the narration of this book is excellent!!
Well worth its time!!

Is It Gone With the Wind

Isn’t it funny how Robert McCammon nails it every time, I mean really nails it. I have read several, not all , but a few of McCammon’s books. So I am far from an authority on his writings.
But between this book and Boys Life they are just perfect novels. You are just right there in the thick of it, I mean there in the action.
When reading this you get the feel for what it may have been like in 1699. You get a little bit of historical feel, as Mathew Corbett seems to always be on receiving end of a beating. But he holds back so not to reveal his thinking to much.
But is I guess that is tactical for the writers to keep it interesting.
But I truly enjoy McCammon books and the Mathew Corbett are great.
I don’t want to give it a five star because I think are just handed out way too much. I save the five for books like the Bible and Gone With the Wind. Maybe this is a five. I will come back later and review my review.

Come back later

3 and a half stars

Another reviewer said this book was like Outlander. I seriously disagree with that. It was an interesting tale but nothing like Outlander. I found little difference between the depictions of the characters of the towns people, the story dragged on far too long and not always believable. Not bad, i was just expecting better.

A captivating storyline from beginning to end

Where does Speaks the Nightbird rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top of the list

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

When Matthew realizes his developing attachment to Rachel.

Which scene was your favorite?

The confrontation with Mr. Johnstone in the study.

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

The characters became so alive to me that I could almost envision them. The storyline made me laugh, angry, frustrated, and completely drew me into it.

Too Long, Too Nasty . . . Could've Been GREAT

The overall premise of Speaks the Nightbird and the underlying story is a good one, but it was ruined for me by 1) the obsessive need for adding unnecessary deviant sexual content AND 2) it was way too long. It could have been told in less time and been a better story. I am a big fan of historical fiction. This one ran off the tracks with distracting side stories. The mystery of what was happening in the town and tale of the witch being held in the jail for execution could have been and should have been told much more tastefully. The narration was first rate.

Where to begin...

Any additional comments?

O.K. Imagine an author has a good idea for a book. He sketches it out, builds up some interesting characters and situations, and sets it in the latter part of the 17th century.
Now imagine he gives it to Mike Tyson to flesh it out.

This was a Hardy boys novel, set in colonial north America, and meant for grownup adolescents. It was not a bad book, i enjoyed most of it. But the language was clumsy, to say the least. " i shoveleth the walketh of snoweth this morningeth" Anachronisms abound. Modern slang spoken by colonists of yore. The use of words twelve letters long apparently just for the fun of using them. I sometimes got the idea the writer had a list of words on his desk that he just had to use somewhere, and fit them in where he could.

If you are not a fusspot where language is concerned, (I am, and this book made me laugh out loud more than once) and historical inaccuracies don't bother you you'll probably enjoy this. Not bad, but definitely not high culture.