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)

LOVED THIS BOOK!!

Would you listen to Speaks the Nightbird again? Why?

Yes, LOVED the language, the era, understanding how people lived in that period in America. He twists and turns the plot where you really don't know where it will go.

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

Loved the Indian experience.

What about Edoardo Ballerini’s performance did you like?

I truly believe I would not have enjoyed this near as much if I had physically read it myself. Mr. Ballerini made the experience come to life. Wonderful performance.

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

I love the subtle and eloquent funny scenes, particularly the scene and later reference to the guy "being less than affectionate" with his horse! Hysterical!

Any additional comments?

Already read "The Queen of Bedham" and plan to read all the Corbett series. I also can't wait to read his other books!

Best read in a long time!! Brilliant!

What did you love best about Speaks the Nightbird?

Wonderful characters, completely engrossing, intelligently written with wit and soul.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes!

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

Both.

Any additional comments?

Was hoping for a sequel, and thrilled to see that there is already a series of four. This reader is one of the best I've heard too, just wonderful. Immediately going on to the next book -

So you think this might be a boring listen!

What did you love best about Speaks the Nightbird?

How the story developed

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

Each time Matthew figured out a piece of the puzzle

Have you listened to any of Edoardo Ballerini’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no. But he is an excellent reader. I shall surely look for his voice again.

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

Not really. The story progresses along nicely and keeps one wondering.

Any additional comments?

As you begin to listen this book seems like an average read, but as the story progresses you are very nicely reeled in. . The characters are very believable with some endearing and some not so much.

Fantastic well-written story superlative narration

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

Very near the top for period mystery stories.

What other book might you compare Speaks the Nightbird to and why?

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffery Archer - read by Roger Alum and Amelia Fox, due to the mastery of the narrators to separate each character into a distinct person with a unique personality.

Have you listened to any of Edoardo Ballerini’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I believe this is my first Ballerini-narrated story. Edoardo's mastery of dialects and separation of character voices helped me experience the darkness of the opening sequence of the story as though I was with the Magestrate and Mathew Corbett in the Inn facing the danger that they experienced. Truly evocative and wholly enjoyable.

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

Without giving away any tenets of the story, there were many points throughout the story that moved me emotially - some due to religious ignorance and intolerance, others because of personal loss that each character had to endure.

Any additional comments?

A very well written story that. while quite lengthy, covers so much ground in a way that doesn't drag along slowly. Keep a notepad handy for tracking the numerous characters and the various threads of the plot, but don't worry, each thread is part of a tightly woven fabric that comes together by the story's end.

Liked everything about this one!

The story is interesting and thought-provoking; the protagonist was genuine and likeable; there were lots of plot twists; and it takes place during an intriguing time & place. If that's not enough, this may be the best narration I've ever heard, and I've listened to close to 100 audio books. Edoardo Ballerini does much more than just read the book--he performs it brilliantly!

Good story. Great narration.

My first McCammon book. I will get more. McCammon did a magical job of drawing me into the story to the point where I didn't realize I was listening to a story. It was real. His characters were varied in their personalities and quirks. McCammon's use of language was eloquent to say the least, painting detailed mental images that made me feel the scene. My only complaint (and it is minor) is that around 25 hours into it, the story takes a significant turn that struck me as too contrived to be necessary. But it returned again and finished up nicely.

As good as the story is, narrator Edoardo Ballerini was outstanding. He portrayed all the characters in convincing voices, mannerisms, and accents. Edoardo was not just good to listen to, but fun. I am going to search out other books he has narrated.

Intense

I resisted using a credit for Speaks the Nightbird for the longest time. I just didn’t think I would enjoy 30+ hours listening to a story set in 1699. Oh how foolishly wrong I was. The thirty hours flew by. Speaks the Nightbird tackles a sad part of early America and the mob mentality behind witchcraft. The story also delves into the day to day hardships of life during Colonial times. There are a multitude of characters in the novel and Edoardo Ballerini does an excellent job narrating all of them. The novel contains history, mystery and romance. It’s has nail biting suspense and intrigue. Speaks the Nightbird is one of those audio books you just can’t stop listening to. It is a credit well spent.

Brilliant !!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Speaks the Nightbird to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, but this one is wonderfully narrated !

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

I don't think I can single out just the one, there were so many !

What about Edoardo Ballerini’s performance did you like?

It was so smooth I didn't notice it , which is the highest compliment I can give !

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

Many!!!

Good Story but Too Long

This was a fresh take on a "who done it". I enjoyed the entire story line and characters. The reader is one of the very best out there and I was not disappointed by his perforamnce of this. As is so often the case with mysteries, everything seems to go along making sense, until it is time to pull it all together and people start doing things way out of character or that they just wouldn't do. This is the case with Nightbird. I kept my rating low because the book was so long. Who cares what color pants every guy in the room is wearing? Not me.

One of the best I have ever listened to.

I didn't want it to end. One of the best books that I have ever listened to