Murder sparks witchcraft hysteria in this “thoughtful” and “entertaining” seventeenth-century historical mystery from a New York Times–bestselling author (Stephen King). It’s 1699 in the coastal settlement of Fount Royal in the Carolinas when Rachel Howarth is sentenced to be hanged as a witch. She’s been accused of murder, deviltry, and blasphemous sexual congress, and the beleaguered, … the beleaguered, God-fearing colonial village wants her dead. But Matthew Corbett, young clerk to the traveling magistrate summoned to Fount Royal to weigh the accusations, soon finds himself persuaded in favor of the beguiling young widow.
Struck first by her beauty, Matthew believes Rachel to be too dignified, courageous, and intelligent for such obscene charges. The testimony against her is fanatical and unreliable. Clues to the crimes seem too convenient and contrived. A number of her accusers appear to gain by her execution. And, if Rachel is a witch, why hasn’t she used her powers to fly away from the gaol on the wings of a nightbird?
God and Satan are indeed at war. Something really is happening in the newly established settlement—of that Corbett is certain. As his investigation draws him into the darkness of a town gone mad, and deeper into its many secrets, Corbett realizes that time is running out for him, for Rachel, and for the hope that good could possibly win out over evil in Fount Royal.
From the award-winning author of Boy’s Life and Gone South, Speaks the Nightbird is an “absorbing historical mystery” (Publishers Weekly).
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This is the first in Robert McCammon’s Mathew Corbett historical mystery / thriller series. There are four more, and I’ve read all but the last — which is already waiting for me on my eBook Reader. This is a great kickoff to a unique and really great series. Check out my full review on my website. …
Speaks the Nightbird (and its sequels, The Queen of Bedlam and Mister Slaughter) by Robert McCammon – The time: the turn of the 18th century; the topic: alleged witchcraft in the English Colonies of the Carolinas; the tension: the assistant to the magistrate investigating the allegations is convinced of the innocence of the alleged witch (much to …
Set in colonial era North America, a society rich in superstition and inequality, magistrate’s clerk Matthew Corbett attempts to prove the innocence of a woman accused of witchcraft. In the process, he uncovers a deadly conspiracy amid the fear-ridden and benighted Carolina colony of Fount Royal. Veteran author Robert McCammon delivers a …
This book starts telling a story set in the seventeen hundreds of a young man named Matthew Corbett. There are other books in this series which continues Matthew tale. Witchcraft, settlements turning into mobs from fear of the “witch”, a judge who mentors Matthew, and how they solve mysteries in the new settlements. Plenty of action and twists. …
A beautifully written historical mystery about the dangers and poisonous effects of superstition, mass hysteria, and sheep-minded ignorance in relation to criminal prosecutions, particularly, in this case, a pending witch trial.
The defendant: Rachel Howarth, a young, recently widowed woman of Portuguese descent. Is she as innocent of witchcraft …
What a wonderful book, loved it. This is a historical novel set in 1699 South Carolina. Eight hundred pages of dense prose in the language and syntax of the time period. Just enough for spice, though. This is a murder mystery, and romance wrapped up in a wonderfully long novel. Did I say I loved it?
The author does a brilliant job establishing, …
I really love Robert McCammon’s writing. The character development is flawless–never boring. Swan Song and Mine are two of my favorites.
Speaks the Nightbird explores the late 17th century in the New World, and how greed, naivete, fear, and compassion all worked together to allow the witch trials to occur. Highly recommended!
Loved the history
Exceptional character and story development. You become committed to these characters quickly. I was sad when it ended but jumped right into the next book in the Matthew Corbet series.
I love historical fiction and the Matthew Corbett series is one of my favorites. This is the first book in the series and I always impatiently wait for each installment to come out.