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)

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.

a picture of words

interesting historical fictionbased on?? the authors style fueled imagination, filling heart and mind. Beautiful.

Narration is ruining it for me

What three words best describe Edoardo Ballerini’s voice?

Something about Ballerini's narration drives me batty. There's an irritating softness and slowness about some of his oral interpretation that makes me want to reach through my iPhone and tell him to quit dicking around and hurry up already. The reading is ponderous and full of ominous mystery when all that's required is simple reading of exposition.
I'm trying to get through part I and struggling because even though the story is interesting, it's narration is boring me to tears.

If you love history and fiction, BUY THIS ONE!

What did you love best about Speaks the Nightbird?

Great story and narration. The story is always turning and twisting and the narrator is superb with all the characters coming in and out of the story line.

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

It's more recent history and more of a family history but you could make a comparison with Jeffery Archer's "As the Crow Flies."

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

Matthew Corbett is a great character and performed perfectly but I'd say Mr. Ballerini did an exceptional job with Jerusalem Exodus, the "preacher."

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

America's 17th century "Super Sleuth."

Any additional comments?

This is a long one but well worth the listen.

Fabulous story

This is a fabulous story with a beautifully written plot, and a superb narration. I was not at all familiar with Robert McCammon’s books. I am going to read all of his books. I have already bought the next two in the series. Robert McCammon is a wonderful writer! If you have been thinking thinking about this book, don’t give it a second thought. You will not regret listening to this story.

unusual and interesting

a bit slow at times but a good period piece, some really great moments. It was well performed.

Excellent book

History, mystery, suspense, & barbaric medical practices in 1699. This book has it all. A very interesting book with an excellent narrator. It kept my interest from beginning to end. If you like historical fiction, you can not go wrong with this book. Matthew is like a 1699 Sherlock Holmes.