Rating: 
Summary: My Nightbird
Review: Matthew Corbett is a young clerk who goes with a Magistrate to the community of Fount Royale to hear the testimony of an accused witch. Contrary to the facts at hand, Matthew starts to believe she is innocent. He is warned that she is becoming his nightbird- a parable about a man who could not sleep because of his obsession with the nightbird's song.
In a way, this book became my nightbird. I could not put this book down until I absorbed every word from the last page. The second volume is merely the continuing saga of the first.
Robert McCammon is a brilliant author. He not only breathes life into his characters, he inscribes them into the reader's heart. The historical aspects of this book (from medical treatments to archaic beliefs) are just as mesmerizing.
A very satisfying read. Highly recommended for those who love mystery novels with a dash of history and a whole lot of suspense.
Rating:
Summary: One volume? or Two?
Review: I read "Speaks the Nightbird" hardcover version. An excellant book and a relief to read the author's work again. I am confused to now see a Volume I and II. When I purchased the hardcover, it had one title - "Speaks the Nightbird" and it was very long. Does my confusion come from the harcover being split into two paperback books?
Rating: 
Summary: A welcome return for a great horror writer
Review: I have always maintained that there are three great modern American horror writers: Stephen King, Peter Straub, and Robert McCammon. King and Straub, of course, have been churning out books of varying quality for the last twenty-five years - but McCammon inexplicably vanished from the scene ten years ago and hasn't been heard from.Until now. And he marks his return with a different kind of horror story. At the turn of the 18th century a magistrate and his clerk ride toward a recently established village in the Carolinas to deal with a charge of witchcraft. But all is not as it seems. I won't spoil the plot except to say that if you're a McCammon fan this novel is not what you're expecting; but it's great nonetheless. If you haven't realized it already this novel has been split into two separate books. Part I is titled "Judgement of the Witch" and part II is "Evil Unveiled". The two books need to be read in order to avoid any confusion.
Rating:
Summary: A Creepy Slice of Americana
Review: Vol 2. Evil Unveiled is the 2nd half of Speaks the Nightbird. Vol 1. Judgement of the Witch, was the first half. Both books are the wonderful recent additions from the fabulous mind of Robert McCammon. A sordid look at America's past. Particularly the during the time of the Witch hunts in the 1600's. An excellent mystery is underfoot when an innocent woman is charged for the crime of Witchcraft. A young law clerk (filling-in for the ailing Judge Woodward) is faced with discovering the truth. During which time (no pun intended), the bodies start to drop. The writing style and the characters are well drawn and memorable. Makes you truly appreaciate the concept of "innocent until proven guilty." Enjoy! P.S. this book reminds me of John Barth's "The Sot Weed Factor." Also a great read, very satirical.
Rating:
Summary: 3 and a half stars, to be more accurate
Review: Poor Robert McCammon--he's so good at his best (Boy's Life) that when he falls somewhat short of his own, very high bar, he gets faulted for it. Others have recounted the plot. What's good about this book is he doesn't patronize his audience with lengthy exposition regarding its historical setting, he expects his readers to be literate and well-educated; he has a whiz-bang opening to get you into his story (and it's needed, as the story drags in the middle of volume one, which essentially parades its whodunnit-style suspects before us); he's a graceful and articulate writer. The characters could be a little more compelling, the emotional stakes a little higher, but it's a good read once you commit to it. If you enjoy McCammon, you know you'll like this well enough--and if you've never read him, this isn't a bad place to begin; see if you like it, and know that greater delights await. Note: a 3 star ranking from me is actually fairly good; I reserve 4 stars for tremendously good works, and 5 only for the rare few that are or ought to be classic; unfortunately most books published are 2 or less.
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