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)

Awesome

What did you love best about Speaks the Nightbird?

I just found my new favorite series. Thanks!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mathew is my favorite character because he is true and honest.

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

I haven't but will look for his other performances

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wish I could but I didn't have 30 hours to spend listening.

An amazing & detailed tale!

Robert R. McCammon has grown leaps and bounds as a writer and author since the 80's!
There was great heart and horror as well as American historical mood done with some ominous accuracy.
I'm starting book two from this series right away...

My new favorite author

What an amazing ride of a book! Filled with mystery, intrigue, colorful characters, dark humor and a great historical setting there was nothing that I didn't enjoy. This was my first Robert McCammon book and I'm now wanting to read the rest of this series and his classics.

Set in 1699, Speaks the Nightbird gives a fresh take on the detective genre, with Matthew being a Magistrate's clerk who is investigating the "case" which his master is presiding over. There appears to be something dark about each of the characters in the town and you will suspect them all at some point. I love the aspect of witchcraft added to the story and for most of the book I was unsure if the conclusion would be paranormal or historically based. Despite the length the plot never dragged and I was absolutely hooked from start to finish.

Edoardo Ballerini is a great narrator and absolutely perfect for this book. I've never heard him before and, like McCammon, after finishing the book I was scrambling to find more titles which he has narrated.

A complicated, enjoyable tale

When I purchased the book I was unsure as to whether it would be something I would enjoy, especially as I am writing the first review of the novel. The bare bones of the story is that of a magistrate and his clerk in the year 1699, who have come to an embryonic city to judge whether a young woman is a witch. The clerk becomes interested in the way that the facts don't add up as regards her case; he also falls in love with her and tries to rescue her.

Don't let simple descriptions of the plot deter you from listening to this audiobook. It grasps you from the very beginning of the novel and keeps your attention the entire way through. The characters are well thought out and include an iinvestor, colonists from England, servants, slaves and Native Americans.

The main character, the clerk Matthew Corbett, is likeable even when his actions might appear to be foolish. As he works out the truth behind why a widow is named as a witch he encounters the undercurrent of the city's society. His relationships with the other characters, whether filial as regards to the magistrate, antagonistic with the town's investor, tender with Rachel (the accused with) or fearful. The twists and turns he experiences as he seeks the truth are compelling and sometimes quite surprising.

A word about the performance: Ballerini masterfully peforms a wide variety of characters. I did find his portrayal of Rachel, the accused witch, less credible but it is a very minor complaint compared to his portrayal of every other character in the book. He characterizes a charlatan who is introduced a bit into the book brilliantly, enhancing the character's outrageous claims and offers.

Astounding!!

I came across this title and author by chance. I am so glad I did. Absolutely compelling in every way. Mr. McCammon creates such lush and vivid prose, while carrying us back in time to know these characters; astounding. And Edoardo Ballerini brings everything to life with perfection. Mr. Ballerini is right up there with Michael Kramer as the best I have heard.

loved it but it moved slowly

I loved it but the narrator spoke so slowly that I could only bear to listen to it by making the speed 1.5.

Listened non stop

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

Fantasically descriptive and beautifully narrated. I loved it. Listened to it every chance I got. Looking forward to the others in the series.

Fantastic Listen

Would you listen to Speaks the Nightbird again? Why?

Yes, this was an entertaining audiobook. It kept me interested the whole way through. Good character development, charming dialogue and great narrator.

Beautifully descriptive writing!

The author is so adept at painting a mental picture with words, I felt like I was there in person. Great job by narrator too.

Perfection!

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

I started the print version at home and started listening to it at work. I was happy with both versions. I enjoyed the audio version very much.

What did you like best about this story?

As with the other McCammon books I have read, I loved his in-depth detail of location and situation. McCammon has a rare ability to paint pictures with his words. Truly a 3-dimensional writer, I could even smell the nasty characters that he wrote.

What about Edoardo Ballerini’s performance did you like?

Ballerini's portrayal of the characters is consistent and well-read.

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

I was moved by the main characters' experience at Shawcombe's.