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)

Excellent!

Sherlock Holmes x Monty Python x Stephen King. This is the best book I’ve read in ages!!!! And it is loooong…. I love that!!! Looking forward to Book 2.

Such a great story!

Just discovered the author and to my delight, read by one of my favorite narrators. Rich in characters that are brought to life incredibly well, plot twists that keep you listening and and a true feel for the time the story takes place. Thrilled that it's part of a series, I'm in!

Edoardo Ballerini makes it real!!

The first book I read in this series was The River of Souls. I was blown away by the story and the excellent writing by Robert McCammon. I decided to start at the beginning of the series, Speaks the Nightbird. I wish I had read this sooner. The main character, Matthew Corbett, is someone who conducts himself in a fashion that is lost to most gentlemen in this new millennium. I long for a day when being a 'proper' gentleman is once again a trait to be desired, not ridiculed. I believe many assume that there is a weakness in morality, integrity, and honor. In Speaks the Nightbird, all of these qualities, long gone from society, make for a stark contrast between the characters and their character. The events unfold at a quick pace and had this reader hooked. It would be a disservice to the author to summarize any portion of this tale. Suffice it to say, read a chapter, if you don't like it, don't finish it. As for me, I plan to read the remaining books in the series, and I may reread The River of Souls. I do urge you to include the audible book performed by Edoardo Ballerini. I can not imagine another performer better able to capture and espouse the writings of Robert McCammon any better. - Mr.Bill

Dark, Twisted Period Piece with GREAT Characters!

McCammon never disappoints. This story stays localized in the Carolinas, at a time when people still believed in witches. ---Yes, there was a time in this country when we believed in witches. The attention to detail is extraordinary. McCammon takes you to this dirty little backwoods town and leaves you there with no map...and you will LOVE it! The story itself is a mystery...of sorts.... but it feels like more of a journey novel. This is due to the fact that the characters are so incredibly unique and well fleshed-out, that you forget you're reading a mystery.

Warning--This book is VERY adult. Without getting too "spoiler-ry" about it, I'll just say that there are a few depraved acts that take place that I wouldn't want my child reading (listening) about.

The narrator is GREAT.

If you're itching for a good period piece, with a sprinkle of "who dunnit", then this is the book for you.

Extraordinary!

I never write reviews... Too lazy! But this book is so extraordinary that it deserves to be pushed into the hands (ears) of every serious reader. The plot is complex; the mystery is engrossing; the characters are perfectly drawn; the period detail is flawless; and the philosophical conclusions the reader enjoys are rich. Go for this one....

Beyond my expectations

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

Reading was one of the best I have heard. I was wrapped up in the story in no time at all

I'M NOT JUST RIGHT, I AM CORRECT

IT IS THE PARTICULARS THAT MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
After reading Swan Song, I wanted more of McCammon. This is a lot different then Swan Song and a lot the same. Both books are timepieces and both books are dark. Both books have well developed characters, such as Exodus Jerusalem, a PSEUDO HOLLY IMBECILE, with A TALENT FOR PAINTING HORNY PICTURES. In both books I felt like I was there. Both books are long, yet you want to continue to listen, as you want to know how it ends. Both books have very gory scenes and graphic sex scenes. Swan Song is a huge fantasy novel and this is a Agatha Christie type mystery.

YOU WANT TO BLAME ANYONE, GO SPEAK TO A MIRROR.
I am more of a Sci-Fi/Fantasy person, so I enjoyed Swan Song much better. This still earned four stars and I listened to all 30+ hours. I have a short attention span, so any book I stay with for this long has to be good. I did find my mind wondering at times, even in anticipated parts. I remember one scene in which I was very interested in what was making the noise, yet from the time he hears the noise to the time he investigates, is so full of second guessing, wondering, thinking, that my mind wonder elsewhere. Yet I did come to, in time to find out what he found out, as it was such a long process. Beware of chapter 23. You are thinking how well this written and then all of a sudden Pulp Fiction breaks out. I think I am very open minded, especially when it comes to sex, but this was pretty disturbing. Some have said it should not have been in the book. I am no history buff or doctor, but I believe this is how a lot of sexual diseases got started, so is it factual for the time and place? When we don't educate the public that these things happen, does that lead to more of it?

DUNG DRIPPING TONGUE
I have nothing against this narrator, in no way did he ruin the experience. I will listen to more of his work and I gave him three stars which means average. At the beginning of the book he read mostly in a breathy voice, kind of like he was reading a romance. He read very slow, which added the length of the book. He was great at voices and accents.

Excellent

Solid, enjoyable whodunit, much in the style of an Edwardian mystery with keen-witted Matthew Corbett, judicial clerk, as its Sherlock. Set in the late 17th-century Carolina colony, Matthew and his master, Magistrate Woodward, have been summoned to the small village of Fount Royal in order to try Rachel Howarth for the crime of witchcraft. Matthew does his own sleuthing on the side, finding out that Fount Royal is dealing with an insidious villain much more dangerous than its citizens realize. The prose is masterfully paced and full of excellent detail. Author McCammon frames his young protagonist in heroic style, and the reader can't help but root for the boy throughout the story. Everything sets up for a series surrounding his further crime-foiling exploits, and indeed, there are now four other books in the Matthew Corbett set. I'll definitely be checking them out.
Narrator Edoardo Ballerini is superb.

Well thought out, beautifully written

. . . And fabulously narrated, this book has it all! It is a gripping tail of fear, greed, adventure and love. Not the mushy kind. This is definitely not your romantic "chick flick" material although there is a very unusual love story. It is just a good book, a great story the kind that keeps you turning pages, or in this case, keeping the player going well into the night. Can't wait to start the next book in the series.

Very Enjoyable

I was very surprised how much I liked this book. This is a great listen and the narrative was spot on.   The descriptive writing helps to really draw you right into the heart of the story and brilliantly brings the characters to life.  I was taken aback several times when the story went from elegant to graphic in the flick of an eye. Just one of the things that made this a winner for me, definitely recommend.