Speaks the Nightbird

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

I enjoyed this book by Robert McCommon. He shows his range of Mystery, thriller writing in this 16999 Witch trial story. There were times when the story seemed to drag, and I was glad to have the audible version to get me through those slow spots. But overall it was a good book by an author I have loved for many years.I understand that Speak The Nightbird is the first book in a series about Matthew Corbett, a Magistrate's clerk who has a furious determination to know the truth..I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

SPEAKS THE NIGHTBIRD marked Robert R. McCammon's return to publishing after an only partially self-imposed (he was dropped by his publisher (??) after 1992's GONE SOUTH) 10 year hiatus. STN is a long (800+ pages) novel, rich in details about the Carolina colony in 1699. The main character is Matthew Corbett, a bright and curious 20 year old clerk to a magistrate who liberated him from an abusive orphanage 5 years earlier. Matthew and Magistrate Woodward are dispatched from Charles Town to the wilds of Fount Royal to preside over the trial of a woman accused of witchcraft.About the only trick McCammon misses in this one is letting on at the outset that we are not to believe that the accused, Rachel Howarth is actually a witch, and that this is not one of McCammon's earlier horror novels (many of which were outstanding and made his reputation). Of course, everyone else besides Matthew and the reader believe that the case is open and shut - definitely the work of the Devil. The characters are clearly drawn and speak with their own voices - especially Matthew, Isaac Woodward, the rich and arrogant founder of of Fount Royal, Bidwell, the Doctor, the schoolteacher and Rachel. The dialog is perhaps not exactly correct for the period, but close (and a lot easier to read than if it were totally accurate), but the descriptions of life in the frontier town and the morés and beliefs of the citizens of Fount Royal feel true.Although in some sense STN is a murder mystery, the whodunnit is extremely complicated even if the motive is at least partially exposed about halfway through. Suspects abound, and for the most part are only eliminated when they become the next to die. The relationships between the principals are interesting and well developed. Although Matthew is only Woodward's clerk, both of them clearly feel more of a father-son relationship that is explored through arguments and agreements and good times and bad, and at one level this is a coming of age story for Matthew. There are several good guy/bad guy/good guy reversals, and about the only ones that you know are really on the side of truth, justice and the American way are Matthew and the Magistrate.The denouement is long, as Matthew explains everything, and there is a well written heartrending coda at the end. There are more Matthew Corbett novels (several in fact), and I intend to read them all. I enjoyed this as much as anything that I've read from McCammon, regardless of genre.Highly Recommended.J.M. Tepper

This is my first McCammon read and will not be my last!I, frankly, had no intention to like this as it is far different from my usual preference. But the story and vivid description of the characters hooked and held me. I read every spare moment and lost so much sleep!Excuse me whilst I purchase the other 7 Matthew Corbett novels…

Set seven years on from the Salem witch trials, a magistrate and his clerk travel to a beleaguered and failing Carolina colony to try the case of a suspected witch. Its a 17th century whodunit; fast paced and thoroughly engaging.There are gruesome murders, hidden treasure and a cast of shady well drawn suspects. It's a tale of greed, lost innocence and the search for truth and justice conducted almost single handedly by the main protagonist, Matthew the clerk. As a reader I changed my mind about who the real culprit or culprits at the heart of the many strange and disturbing events in the settlement might be but I was, pleasingly, kept guessing throughout.I really enjoyed reading this. A really well written page turner and happy to recommend to anyone who likes a good tale.

Reading the book now. I love it

This is one of those puzzling books and authors that you stumble on sometimes and wonder why is this author and book not world-renowned. Swan Song, Boys Life and now this one are magnificent. Boys Life is my favourite so far but this is most excellent too. Brilliant storytelling. Why is it so hard to get hold of his books? Something really went awry when you have such a good back catalogue.

Loved mccammon's earlier horror novels especially "wolf's hour" and was curious about this,having read no reviews. Thinking it was a historical horror(if there is such a genre) I purchased this. I proceeded to read this in a matter a days. I was totally engrossed in this historical novel. the detail of early american life brought to life with skill. the novel was compelling in its detail, humour and mystery. I would recommend this book and its follow up novels. ( I am on the fourth novel in the series)

I recall reading somewhere Mr McCammon quit writing for over decade because he thought he had made enough to retire, and his publishers foolishly felt he wasn't selling enough.Luckily for us he's back and this massive doorstop which launches a new series is pure McCammon magic in the best Southern Gothic tradition.Whatever the reason for his return, be grateful for it.