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)

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.

Plods along

What did you like best about Speaks the Nightbird? What did you like least?

I was excited when I read all the 5 star reviews. I liked least that it did not meet my expectations. It is unrelentingly grim.

What do you think your next listen will be?

History. I'm listening to Into the Silence by Wade Davis, also The History of Rome by Titus Livy. Both are beyond excellent.

What three words best describe Edoardo Ballerini’s voice?

A bit annoying, and overdone, though he does do an excellent job with dialects and different characters.

Any additional comments?

I have tried repeatedly to resume listening to this book, hoping it will improve. So far, not.

Loved it!

What did you love best about Speaks the Nightbird?

As a fan of Robert McCammon, I was glad to see he has written some new material. I did not really keep up with his career after high school. This novel is just as good, if not better, than any of his previous work. My favorite has always been Wolf's Hour. The characters are well-defined, with distinct personalities. The plot keeps moving and does not allow the listener to become bored.

What about Edoardo Ballerini’s performance did you like?

This is an amazing narrator. He gives different voices to the different characters (which always makes a listen so much more enjoyable). His accents are wonderful. I could listen to him forever......

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

I felt stricken when the Maskers left, as the one character in particular was Matthew's best hope for getting Rachel released from prison.

overboard

The author went out of his way to be vulgar distracting from an otherwise a good story and an excellent narrator

Delightful to the last sentence

I have so often been thoroughly engrossed in the beginning of a novel, investing high hopes in its potential, only to be let down by the author who seemed to lose any idea of where he or she is going (Night Film comes to mind). I hoped that this book would not break my heart this way, as I really loved it from the start. I was so happy that this book was true to the story right up to the very end. In fact, the final sentence wrapped up the final loose thread of the novel, and everything made sense. I loved this book, and was transported to a time and place in a rare way. The narrator is a marvel...I often think when I listen to a new Audible book "...now this is the best narrator I have ever heard", and then someone like Edoardo Ballerini comes along to make me forget the rest. He is spectacular. I really did not want to read a series, but I finished this book last night and will buy the next book today. It was that good. Just a great book, folks.

Great Book!

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

I have not listened to other performances but it was great.

Any additional comments?

Long book, but I really loved every minute of it.

Awesome!

I don't think I have enjoyed a book as much in a very long time. I could not put it down. Narrator is impeccable. The story masterfully written. Characters all uniquely crafted. This is my first McCammon book, but not my last. A must read.

This book grips you!

I have just only discovered this author, and i find him wonderful. He writes in a clear and beautiful language, the story is dynamic, the characters come alive and you feel as if you know them. I could not put this book down :) Now i am planning to read all of his books!