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)

The Witching Hour Romance

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

I would say it ranks in the high five.

What did you like best about this story?

The transformation of the storyline from a witches brew to a romance.

Which scene was your favorite?

Gosh golly it's hard to say, there's so much action in this audiobook. I would say, the escape from the .....can't tell because it would ruin the story for someone.
The most interesting point that stands out in this book is you never know if Matthew really and truly loses his virginity or not.

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

No, actually the audio span was so long and the storyline so massive I enjoyed listening to this in intervals.

Any additional comments?

This was my first Robert McCammon novel however I see that his character Matthew has a series of novels where I believe he becomes a detective. I am certainly interested in reading up on young Matthew and seeing how things go for him from this point on in his life.

Not the typical Robert McCammon

I was excited to see this series by Robert McCammon. I was hooked on his previous books. Swan Song and Stinger were well worn paperbacks in my collection. I can't say I felt the same about this one. This story was very long. Longer than it needed to be I think. I would have probably enjoyed an edited version of this much more.

The narrator could sometimes be distracting as well. Sometimes he seemed to fit in perfectly and at other times the voice seemed to be completely off the mark.

I haven't completely discounted getting the 2nd book in the series to see if it improves but I can't say for sure I'll keep reading them.

Incredible story but...

What did you love best about Speaks the Nightbird?

I thoroughly enjoy historical novels and this one was not disappointing. The author gave the reader clear pictures of life in 1699. He also described the characters quite well. But as much as I enjoyed the many different plot lines, those became part of the reason why I had some difficulty toward the end of the book.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I will not give away the ending. However, the relationship between the primary figures was something that was built up throughout this very lengthy novel. The ending left me wishing the author had done more. Perhaps the relationship I hoped for will surprise me in the other Matthew Corbett books.

What does Edoardo Ballerini bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I haven't heard him before, even though my Audible library collection consists of well over a few hundred books. After listening to Mr. Ballerini, I will be looking for books he has narrated. He has an excellent command of various accents and it was truly a delight to experience such a talented narrator.

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

Occasionally I laughed, at times the violence was exceptionally sobering, but from my history classes, I am certain the author did enough research into the miserable lives people had during that period of time, to be accurate.

Any additional comments?

Other than being disappointed with the ending, the story was so rich and the narrator was so excellent I purchased the next several books in the series!

The best audiobook EVER!

What made the experience of listening to Speaks the Nightbird the most enjoyable?

The narrator was exceptional. It was such a pleasant listening experience. I couldn't wait to get out on my mail route to listen to more of the story. I love the fact that the book was over 30 hours long. It could have been twice as long and I would have still been bummed when it ended.

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

The plot was very well devised.

Which character – as performed by Edoardo Ballerini – was your favorite?

Matthew Corbett was my favorite character.

Any additional comments?

I absolutely loved this book more than any other book that I have read or listened to. You will not be disappointed with this book!

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.