Speaks the Nightbird Paperback – July 17, 2007

Speaks the Nightbird by Robert R. McCammon is one of my favorite stories by one of my favorites authors. This is my second reading of this epic tail that combines Historical Fiction with Murder Mystery, and adding a dash of Horror. We get a tale about witchcraft only 7 years after the Salem Witch Trials in 1699. Where witchcraft was in murky waters of being real or not. This book introduces Matthew Corbett and is the first book in a proposed 9 book series that has two more book to be released. Speaks The Nightbird is in development at FX with Blumhouse producing and each book will be a season. I have read up to the third book before but have wanted to read the series again when it was ending, or close. This book is so good and exceeded my expectations, I remembered snippets here and there, this book is a murder mystery with a lot of plot twist, even though I was pretty sure I remembered who the mastermind was this reread gave me doubts about my memory. I original memory was right, but I had great doubts if it was right or not. When I read this 10 years ago I gave it five stars and it remains in that fie star category today.The Plot: Magistrate Woodward and his young cleric Matthew Corbett are sent to Fount Royal a fairly new settlement in the Carolina Colony, to investigate witchcraft and murders. The road there is filled with danger as the colony is 40 miles away from any other settlement, and they have to worry about Indians and cut throats. Matthew and Woodward hear of the tale of witchcraft and murder with each man forming his own initial assessment, Matthew the skeptic believes there must be some more rational explanation and Woodward who is older has seen evil like this before read up on the Salem Witch trials. They meet the Witch, Rachel, both men are taken away by her bewitching beauty especially Matthew, but her mouth is bold and blasphemous. The trial starts with witnesses saying she was seen cavorting with the devil. Each testimony more condemning, but Matthew sees something in the testimony that he can't explain, and has to pursue. This dark road leads to death and a conspiracy that the town is keeping hidden. There truly is a devil in Fount Royal.What I Liked: The Characters are great and each one different. There's about 60 characters and almost every one is a suspect in the conspiracy of witchcraft and murder. Matthew Corbett is that great character who won't quit even if all the odds are against him. This story pays off on the little details, there's a lot of little side stories that are tied up in conspiracy it wraps them all up as the story still drives towards the mastermind. The villains all have great have great motives, they have reasons for the terrible things they do, also some manage to keep their humanity, which I found really touching. The written dialects all work and sound natural, since this is the birth of a America 1699 there's people coming from all over and McCammon has found a way to give each voice its unique flavor. The mystery is really great with so many layers that have to get pulled back until you see the whole thing. This novel has one of the greatest red herrings where you know a character is hiding something, but when you experience what it is prepare to laugh yourself silly.What I Disliked: The mastermind's lament goes on a little too long, he kind of tells everything and rambles for a few pages. After the main climax there is a slight lag as we go into the big reveal. For a 900 page novel there is very little lag.Recommendations: Robert R. McCammon is one of my favorite writers he is criminally under the radar in writing. He mainly writes horror but with this series he can do Historical Fiction as well. Stephen King lead me to Robert R. McCammon books when he said he is in awe of his horror writing. This book nails the history of 1699 America. It shows off the frightening use of blood letting and blister cups for medical practice of the time. It highlights what a melting pot of people early America was. For mystery lovers this books ending will keep you guessing, while giving you all the facts. I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars and will keep reading the series. This book is constantly cheap on Kindle I purchased it for 1.99 which is a steal, buy and read this book

This was a very good story, but ran a bit long. The characters each had complicated histories and agenda’s.It’s definitely for an adult reader.There were a lot of grisly details that, frankly, I had a hard time reading.

The Matthew Corbett series is either the very best or among the very best series I’ve read in my life. I’m old enough where in recent years I’ve begun re-reading certain books and series. Typically the re-reading occurs 20-30 years after the initial reading. It’s been just 2-3 years since I read the Corbett series, but I’ve felt compelled to re-read this series again. Robert McCammon is a great writer.

The first book I read in this series was The River of Souls. I was blown away by the story and the excellent writing by Robert McCammon. I decided to start at the beginning of the series, Speaks the Nightbird. I wish I had read this sooner. The main character, Matthew Corbett, is someone who conducts himself in a fashion that is lost to most gentlemen in this new millennium. I long for a day when being a 'proper' gentleman is once again a trait to be desired, not ridiculed. I believe many assume that there is a weakness in morality, integrity, and honor. In Speaks the Nightbird, all of these qualities, long gone from society, make for a stark contrast between the characters and their character. The events unfold at a quick pace and had this reader hooked. It would be a disservice to the author to summarize any portion of this tale. Suffice it to say, read a chapter, if you don't like it, don't finish it. As for me, I plan to read the remaining books in the series, and I may reread The River of Souls. I do urge you to include the audible book performed by Edoardo Ballerini. I can not imagine another performer better able to capture and espouse the writings of Robert McCammon any better. - Mr.Bill

Like many others who've reviewed this book, I can't say enough about how entertaining it was. It is thick with the atmosphere of a place and time in history. The characterization is fantastic, and the twists plenty. Matthew is a character I definitely wanted to read more about, so I've already started reading Queen of Bedlam. I highly recommend Speaks The Nightbird.

"Speaks the Nightbird" is a thoroughly entertaining novel - part historical fiction, part mystery with a dash of the occult thrown in. The author has a wonderful way of creating characters through their actions and conversation, wasting little effort on long-winded description. This is one element that allows the reader to constantly be surprised as the rather complex story unfolds. The reader's idea of exactly who the people are continues to evolve as more information is revealed through each detail of the story.I am not a huge fan of mystery writing, but this tale is spun effortlessly (for the most part) and drags the reader deeper into the events and minds of the characters. There are many twists and turns, and the final outcome is never a given. It is a rather long book, and I was always eager to get back to it. There were enough details of the historical period to paint a rather vivid picture of the environment which added a great deal to the overall story. Granted, there were a few pieces of dialog that really seemed out of place, but for the most part the author did a terrific job of creating the period and place.I found the book engaging, entertaining, surprising and always interesting. I will definitely read more of the Matthew Corbett adventures by Mr McCammon.

Very engrossing read. The language of the time period was intriguing.

Historical mystery fiction written in sumptuous language with wonderfully drawn characters.Highly recommend.

独立戦争前のアメリカの小さな新興の街（村？）を舞台に、殺人をした魔女として裁かれる女性と、偏見の中、その真相を明らかにしたいと奮闘する青年を描いた物語ですが、作者のキャラクターづくりのうまさが光ります。一見すると、良い者、悪者がはっきりと分かれている単純な人物設定のようですが、長い物語を読み終えた人は、そのような単純な善悪に二分されたキャラクターばかりとは思わないでしょう。例えば、主人公の青年も、合理的な考え方と鋭い観察力をもったキャラクターですが、その一方で、無遠慮で礼儀をわきまえない、それどころか好奇心を満たすため人の家に勝手に入ったのが見つかって袋叩きにあうような人物です。また町長も、欲深い俗物のように描かれ、病気の判事に無理やり裁判を終わらせるように迫るさまに不快に思う人も多いでしょう。しかし最後まで読めば、彼が単純に欲深いだけだと思う人は少ないのではないでしょうか。悪い人を描くのではなく、人間の悪い面、暗い側面を描き、さまざまな思惑が街を覆う暗い影となっているさまと、それぞれの立場で最善を信じて立ち向かう人々を描いたこの作品は、エンターテイメントとしての面白さを加えて、広く長く読み継がれるべき価値があると思います。本国では、2018年8月現在、5作目くらいまで続編が書かれているようです。できれば、続編も翻訳してもらいたいものです。

I am a fan of his previous works I was unsure about this series but I should have realized that his talent transcends and I enjoyed this book immensely. Mr McCammon, you are fantastic as always!!

this doorstop of a book was originally published in two volumes, although I cannot imagine how the books could have been split to reach a satisfying conclusion to book 1.This was an excellent plot driven narrative set in late 17th century Carolina (the year is 1699). Matthew Corbett is the clerk to a magistrate called to the settlement of Fount Royal to pass judgement of a young woman accused of witchcraft. But (as the Wizards fo Waverly Place would say) Everything is not as it seems. Indeed there is wonderfully tangled web of deceit, greed, revenge and murder which makes this a thoroughly intrguing and enjoyable book. McCammon writes good characters and tense seens with adaptability and skill. If Matthew Corbett is a little to able to see patterns that eluude other intelligent people, then that is no more so than in an Agatha Christie novel or somesuch.