SPEAKS THE NIGHTBIRD

In 1699, the citizens of Fount Royal, North Carolina, just off the Dismal Swamp, accuse the widow Rachel Howarth of witchcraft. Matthew Corbett and Magistrate Woodward must determine whether Howarth is a witch. Edoardo Ballerini performs this story of accusation and fear flawlessly. He effortlessly switches his pitch, accents, and timbre to suit the unfortunate Rachel Howarth, the endlessly curious Corbett, and the various determined characters, good and evil. Ballerini delivers the details of disease, torture, murder, and cures in a steady tone, making the words bearable. As the zealous preacher and frightened townsfolk vie with common sense, reason, and the law, Ballerini’s soft voice draws listeners back to this long ago time when those who were different were often feared and persecuted. This is the first in McCammon’s four-volume series about life in the Colonies. M.B.K. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2013 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2013]