Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed on 4/24/2019 + 1176 more book reviews

This is the first part of McCammon's long historical novel Speaks the Nightbird. At one time I had a hardcover copy of the complete novel but it must have been let loose during one of my moves. Not sure why they split the novel in two for paperback, maybe it was just too unwieldy. Anyway, this was really compelling reading. I have read some of McCammon's other novels that were more in the horror genre. This one is a historical novel about a town in the Carolinas called Fount Royal in the year 1699. This was not long after the Salem Witch trials and the citizenship of the town feel that a witch has cursed them. The town has suffered many hardships including the murders of two citizens, the burning of many houses in the town, and wet weather that has affected the crops. The supposed witch, Rachel Howarth, is blamed and thrown into the gaol to await trial and execution. A traveling magistrate, Isaac Woodward, and his clerk, Matthew Corbett, are summoned to preside over the trial by interviewing witnesses and passing judgement. Matthew, however, believes in Rachel's innocence but can he prove it? Well, that will be answered (I hope) in the second part of the novel that I will be reading next.

I really am enjoying this story. It is long and detailed and really has some interesting characters including the town mayor and founder who wants the witch dead so his town can survive. Then there are the witnesses who swear they saw Rachel in communion with the devil. I am looking forward to reading the conclusion of the story in Volume II: Evil Unveiled.

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