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Summary: Like mana from heaven, it's another opus from Mr. McCammon!
Review: Gosh, has it been ten years? Finding this book was like returning home. "Speaks the Nightbird" is everything you love about Robert McCammon - thouroughly researched, a fascinating story, memorable characters and gorgeous writing. I'm just happy that I won't have to wait another ten years for the sequel! I sincerely hope that this wasn't just a one-off, and that McCammon will continue writing in the future. Don't rush through this book. Savor every last letter and punctuation mark.
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Summary: A LITTLE TOO GARRULOUS BUT INTRIGUING
Review: In the thirteen novels McCammon has spawned, one cannot deny his command of the language. He has once again developed some rich, sympathetic, vile, and interesting characters, and set them in a time of superstition and ignorance. The lead character, Matthew, is a fine hero, a twenty year old whose quest for truth and justice leads him on a harrowing attempt to save Rachel Howarth, a woman accused of witchcraft. Matthew's relationship with the magistrate is many-leveled, and touching in its candor and strength. The assorted villagers, including the wealthy Biddell, the arthritic Johnstone; the cunning Winston, and the wonderful Mrs. Neeling and Goode, are all well penned. Even the uprorariously named Exodus Jerusalem goes beyond the cliched fanatical preachers. The ratcatcher is a nasty little creation, and the intricate webbing of plot and circumstance are up to McCammon's standards. However, this book is a little too long, and rambles on, at times diminishing the story's inherent mysticism and suspense. Its' rare to get "bored" with a McCammono book, but I found myself at times wanting him to get on with the plot and stop all the inner-discord ramblings and it felt as though McCammon was stretching to find a way to end it. The identity of the true villain is surprising, but almost seems forced. Ouch, I hate to say negative things about Robert's books. I've now read them all and find him to be one of our finest fantasy/horror/thriller writers. This one just overstays its welcome a little bit, but other than that, I can heartily recommend it. It's a well written, if wordy, novel.
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Summary: ShellieJ
Review: Loved this book! I have waited a long time for Robert McCammon to come out with a new book, & I wasn't disapointed! I had read that he wrote in a very differant way then his past books, and they said you may not like this book as well as his others but I still loved this book. It was more true to life than anything, making you sometimes wonder if you could actually be reading a true story. I can hardly wait for a next one from him.
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Summary: back to 1699
Review: An excellent book on many levels. A well written, enticing mystery that takes the reader back in time to the late 17th century. Though long at 700+ pages, I highly recommend this novel, as it provides the reader with a rarely seen view of life in early colonial days, that I found to be very interesting and most informative.
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Summary: One for the Ages!
Review: Most authors have only one great book in them. This is now McCammon's third (Swan Song and Boy's Life being the others).
This historical/mystery/thriller will penetrate your soul and stay there until the day you die. Some of the scenes from this book, such as when the Rat Man has a rat doing a mesmerized death dance, will be burned into your brain. You will care about Matther, Issac, and Rachel, and you will thoroughly enjoy this magical ride into the Carolinas of 1699.
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Summary: Welcome back Robert!! Excellent read!
Review: Ever since I picked up "Stinger" I have been hooked on Mr. McCammon's books. His newest is a very well thought out historical thriller about a witch trial. The characterization is excellent as usual. There are a lot of memorable scenes in this one. I highly recommend it. The other reviewers described the novel well so I won't elaborate.
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Summary: A birdseye view at our history
Review: Witchhunts and pioneer colonial history is appreciated in the 21st century. In addition to superior writing, Robert McCammon once again allows us to experience history firsthand. We lived thru the 60's in the south in "Boy's Life" and now we are on the edge of our seats as we live thru the struggles of establishing a new town in the future United States. A great mystery is our added bonus. You will be surprised at how quickly you finish this book. It's hard to put down.
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Summary: Mccammon does it again
Review: Finally - he writes again! For the past 10 years I have been wondering what happened to this excellent author. I've read all of McCammon's books and loved them, this one included. Excellent. I can hardly wait for the sequel!
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Summary: AWESOME
Review: I can not emphasize enough how great this novel was. For a 700 page book I was expecting it to slow down at a point but it never did. This truly was a great mystery. I was also wondering if I would find it interesting since it takes place in 1699, but after reading this, the time setting made the story even better. The history and descriptions of the background was really amazing. This is the first book I read by him and I look foward to reading many more of his works. Robert McCammon really has a talent for writing. It was dissapointing having to finish the book and few book do that for me.
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Summary: Speaks to my heart and soul....
Review: McCammon's latest effort after a ten year hiatus was well worth the wait. Set back in the age of the Salem Witch Trials, this story might just be McCammon's best story ever, which is a strong statement considering his epic novel Swan Song. For the most part, I would have to qualify this as a mystery because there are two stories going on at once. The first is the main story about a magistrate and his relationship with his clerk and the witch in question, but underlying is a complex mystery in regards to the townspeople. In Speaks the Nightbird, McCammon gets totally into character with the setting, the year 1699. Even during the narrative paragraphs he uses an old english flavor while most of the characters are speaking in heavily accented and Shakespearean patterns. I'm not really a fan of the old classics, but reading this book was fun. I almost felt like I was propelled back in time into one of my junior high Dungeons and Dragons games...that's how I talked for my characters back then!
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