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50th out of 91 books
—
47 voters
The Queen of Bedlam (Matthew Corbett #2)
His epic masterwork "Speaks the Nightbird," a tour de force of witch hunt terror in a colonial town, was hailed by Sandra Brown as "deeply satisfying...told with matchless insight into the human soul." Now, Robert McCammon brings the hero of that spellbinding novel, Matthew Corbett, to eighteenth-century New York, where a killer wields a bloody and terrifying power over a...more
Hardcover, 645 pages
Published
October 23rd 2007
by Pocket Books
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Great book!
Some authors are able to pump out 1, or even 2 or 3 books a year and still stay entertaining enough to stay on the band wagon (Say King and Salvatore). Others take time but are worth the wait. While McCammon's earlier career mirrored the first scenario, he really slowed down after publishing a fairly fast string of horror/suspense novels in the mid 80s and early 90s (Swan Song and The Wolf's Hour are probably my two favorites. I'd love to pick up a copy of The Wolf's Hour one of these...more
Some authors are able to pump out 1, or even 2 or 3 books a year and still stay entertaining enough to stay on the band wagon (Say King and Salvatore). Others take time but are worth the wait. While McCammon's earlier career mirrored the first scenario, he really slowed down after publishing a fairly fast string of horror/suspense novels in the mid 80s and early 90s (Swan Song and The Wolf's Hour are probably my two favorites. I'd love to pick up a copy of The Wolf's Hour one of these...more
McCammon was akin to Stephen King back in the 80's (his book, SWAN SONG, is probably a better post-apocalyptic novel than THE STAND) , but he fell off the face of the world in the 90's. This is a sequel of-sorts to his comeback novel, SPEAKS THE NIGHTBIRD. McCammon's prose is richly textured - too much so, in my opinion, sometimes - but he always tells an interesting story. This one is no different. It's a good read.
Just finished Queen Of Bedlam. Fortunately for Robert McCammon fans, this will not be his last book. McCammon has created a hero that we meet in Speaks The Nightbird. There is no need to read the 1st book in the Matthew Corbett series. Both books stand alone. Each are over 500 pages long and well worth it. What makes Queen Of Bedlam even more entertaining is the era it's created in. Filled with images of a long ago new colony gaining it's start at independence from England. It's hard to think of...more
I enjoyed this historical mystery. It's set in New York in 1700 and really captures the flavor of that time and place.
The story is about a young man who goes on a mission to find a serial killer terrorizing the city. There are some twists and turns along with humor, action and even a little romance - something for everyone.
This was a sequel, but I didn't feel like I missed anything by not reading the first book. And this one ends with a pretty clear set-up for another installment. I'm looking fo...more
The story is about a young man who goes on a mission to find a serial killer terrorizing the city. There are some twists and turns along with humor, action and even a little romance - something for everyone.
This was a sequel, but I didn't feel like I missed anything by not reading the first book. And this one ends with a pretty clear set-up for another installment. I'm looking fo...more
This book has many of the same attributes that I really enjoyed in Speaks the Nightbird, and I suppose not surprisingly, many of the same flaws.
When he wants to, Robert McCammon can really write a great sentence.
Consider the opening line:
"'Twas said better to light a candle than to curse the dark, but in the town of New York in the summer of 1702 one might do both, for the candles were small and the dark was large."
And the closing image:
"How like a maze a fingerprint was, he thought. How lik...more
When he wants to, Robert McCammon can really write a great sentence.
Consider the opening line:
"'Twas said better to light a candle than to curse the dark, but in the town of New York in the summer of 1702 one might do both, for the candles were small and the dark was large."
And the closing image:
"How like a maze a fingerprint was, he thought. How lik...more
Trouble seems to follow Matthew Corbett... or rather, it seems he is always able to find trouble. In the second book of the series, Matthew is clerk to a magistrate in the growing town of New York. Rather than witchcraft, the town is plagued with murders at the hand of a vicious serial killer who marks each of his victims by carving a mask around the eyes. Matthew throws himself headfirst into the search for a link between the victims that will bring him to the identity of the murderer... if onl...more
The sequel to 'Speaks the Nightbird' is a phenomenally satisfying achievement! The most striking thing about this book is its graphic quality. McCammon's language is so vivid; his descriptions are so real, raw, and immediate that we can almost feel the earth, smell the air, and taste the fear. We get an unadorned picture of New York, especially its grim and dark underbelly, during the early eighteenth century.
The hero, Matthew Corbett, is quite extraordinary. He is young but more experienced now...more
The hero, Matthew Corbett, is quite extraordinary. He is young but more experienced now...more
A perfect potboiler. Written well. Unique backdrop which is exploited most adroitly. Great insights in to the times it talks about. Lively characters, almost all with their shades of grey. Side stories interwoven well with the main tale and most importantly a mystery that makes sense and is logically solved.
The best thing about the book is surely the 17th century NY. The vivid description of the town just left by the Dutch, its sandy streets, quirky folks with all their strong biases and superst...more
The best thing about the book is surely the 17th century NY. The vivid description of the town just left by the Dutch, its sandy streets, quirky folks with all their strong biases and superst...more
This one is really special for me - as its the 100th book i've read in 2012!
While novel is excellent with the cant-put-it-down quality which is the hallmark of good mystery fiction, their is a lot of "influence" from other popular series which leaves u feeling slightly unsatisfied.
Here we slowly hv the character of Mathew Corbett evolving - he is no longer a self conscious low on confidence clerk young man, but some1 much more mature and confident.
We also see the series evolving into a good vs b...more
While novel is excellent with the cant-put-it-down quality which is the hallmark of good mystery fiction, their is a lot of "influence" from other popular series which leaves u feeling slightly unsatisfied.
Here we slowly hv the character of Mathew Corbett evolving - he is no longer a self conscious low on confidence clerk young man, but some1 much more mature and confident.
We also see the series evolving into a good vs b...more
It's been a couple of years since I read Speaks the Nightbird, one of my all-time favorites of any genre, and I confess to stalling quite a bit before tackling this one. After all, how could the second in a series ever live up to that previous masterpiece? So as you can probably tell from my rating, my fears were groundless, and I can safely shelve Robert McCammon on my exclusive best-of-all-time authors shelf.
This is technically the second in the Matthew Corbett series, although could easily be...more
This is technically the second in the Matthew Corbett series, although could easily be...more
This sequel to "Speak the Nightbird" does the things that great series do. Our protagonist, Matthew Corbett, is now in New York in 1702 (three years after the events of the previous book). The book shows him transitioning to a new career, acquiring new skills, and maturing through his own adventure. It also gives the reader enough of a cliffhanger ending to ensure that another book will follow. The mystery of the "Masker" serial killings is fascinating, as are the clues that lead to a strange ho...more
I read Speaks the Nightbird a month ago and gave it 5 stars. Unfortunately Goodreads doesn't have the 6th star this book deserves.
In Nightbird, we follow Matthew - the orphan who grew up to be a logical, capable, and intelligent young clerk - through a witch trial at a superstitious settlement. Somewhere between being thrown in the goal and his fight with Jack One Eye, Matthew has surely won my heart as I'm sure he's won many others. In the Queen of Bedlam, Matthew has grown into an independent...more
In Nightbird, we follow Matthew - the orphan who grew up to be a logical, capable, and intelligent young clerk - through a witch trial at a superstitious settlement. Somewhere between being thrown in the goal and his fight with Jack One Eye, Matthew has surely won my heart as I'm sure he's won many others. In the Queen of Bedlam, Matthew has grown into an independent...more
A great follow on to 'Speaks the Nightbird', in a sprawling adventure, as we follow Matthew Corbett in an engrossing story where he develops into a man of guile, determination and intelligence. Set in the early days of New York, this almost begs to be made into a TV series, easily using the previous books to begin his story. With the new 'Sherlock' series being shown in the UK and proving hugely popular, I can see many similarities between the famous London investigator and our Mr Corbett. As th...more
i loved it! you just can't a great "who dunnit" book. i really can't wait for the next. i love these kind of stories. well done mr mccammon.
Man, these Matthew Corbett books are wonderful. Beautifully written, incredible characters and settings and propelled by mysteries that keep you guessing until the end. I'd even call them works of art---they are as good as anything going by literary fiction and a hell of a lot more entertaining. If nothing else, read it and learn what a tricorn hat is! Seriously, check this series out---I doubt you'll be disappointed. And if I can make one more recommendation, listen to the audio version read by...more
The queen of Bedlam is the second book in a series. I so enjoyed the first book... sings the night bird -- that I went on. A good part of motivation was the quality of the language. The descriptions are so inventive and original. I love the expressions and keep thinking I will remember one and use it some time. But they flow through and I keep enjoying the story telling. This book was not as good the first one... but I was so sad to have it end that I kept going with Matthew Corbett for this vol...more
This one doesn't match how good the first book was. But it is still entertaining. It takes a while to get into it, really case about the characters. I didn't really see where the book was heading for a while. Whereas Nightbird had lots of suprising, entertaining characters, this one just had "a lot" of characters. I liked the main character better in the self-contained small town of Nightbird, rather than NYC. It was interesting to see NYC so early in its development, before anyone realized it w...more
Sloppy, pedestrian writing, silly anachronisms meant (I think) as sly asides, sentence fragments, misused phrases, bad word choices, caricatures instead of characters: what has happened to the Robert McCammon of the brilliant and poignant "Boy's Life"?
Still, McCammon has regained his knack for swift readability, and I found my curiosity to see how things turned out continually overriding my dismay at how poor the writing was.
It's an interesting enough tale, if too convoluted and silly by half. I...more
Still, McCammon has regained his knack for swift readability, and I found my curiosity to see how things turned out continually overriding my dismay at how poor the writing was.
It's an interesting enough tale, if too convoluted and silly by half. I...more
This had very good writing, an exciting and interesting plot, and intriguing characters. Why only 3 stars? Because it had quite a few "f" words and two instances of crudity. Once, the main character goes into a whorehouse and it starts out kind of funny but then sinks. The author wanted to put anything lewd he had ever heard in one section. The second time, our dashing hero is pretty much drugged and raped. He didn't seem to mind one bit. Though drugged, he sure was able to describe details. Eve...more
The Queen of Bedlam is a 'Jack the Ripper' type story, but set in the year 1700 in New York, rather than London - but it evokes that sort of atmosphere of dark cobblestoned streets and darker secrets.
After devouring the first book in this series ('Speaks the Nightbird') I was really looking forward to spending more time with the protagonist Matthew Corbett. Unfortunately this sequel isn't anywhere near as gripping as the first book ... it takes a long time to get going and is never particularly...more
After devouring the first book in this series ('Speaks the Nightbird') I was really looking forward to spending more time with the protagonist Matthew Corbett. Unfortunately this sequel isn't anywhere near as gripping as the first book ... it takes a long time to get going and is never particularly...more
McCammon!! You make me want to smack my Grandma into a coma! In all forms of the word, you are badass! Once again, masterfully, you delivered another story of epic proportions. This one was a breath of fresh air, as I usually read multiple books at once, this one was paired with Stephen King’s, Cell. The horrendousness of that book only made this one all the better!
So as it is, The Queen of Bedlam lies in her personal asylum, drifting alone in her mental prison. But were she to speak from the d...more
So as it is, The Queen of Bedlam lies in her personal asylum, drifting alone in her mental prison. But were she to speak from the d...more
Well, it looks like my quest for a new historical series will have to continue. I'm sad to say that this second book in the Matthew Corbett series is not of the same quality as the first.
The pacing, style and rhythm are not the same as in the first novel in this series, nor are the quality of research or writing. Speaks the Nightbird was an impressive novel, with enjoyable characters and an exciting story line.
'The Queen of Bedlam' failed to pull me in even though I had just finished the first...more
The pacing, style and rhythm are not the same as in the first novel in this series, nor are the quality of research or writing. Speaks the Nightbird was an impressive novel, with enjoyable characters and an exciting story line.
'The Queen of Bedlam' failed to pull me in even though I had just finished the first...more
This is the second book in a series that started with Speak the Nightbird. Both books take place in colonial America and feature Matthew Corbett as an investigator for a number of mysteries. The two books also have a similar structure with several smaller mysteries tangentially related to the larger overall mystery being solved throughout the books and leading to the final exciting conclusion.
The element I like most in both books is the atmosphere. This book takes place in New York in a time be...more
The element I like most in both books is the atmosphere. This book takes place in New York in a time be...more
When I was younger I really enjoyed a few of Mr. McCammon's books. Swan Song and Boys Life being the two I remember enjoying the most. Then I moved on to other things but kept my eyes peeled for more of his work, but nothing caught my eye enough for me to purchase it. I must have picked up Speaks the Night Bird 5 or 6 times, always putting it down for something I thought would be better. And they were all enjoyable as far as books go, fast forward to a few weeks ago as I was meandering through P...more
I read this book too scattershot, over too long a period, so when the big mystery was revealed, I couldn't keep track of the characters, and I was just kind of like, huh?
There were a number of Dickens-like characters in this book, even though it was set in Colonial New York. Some of them were enjoyable, but after a while I found it cloying. To me the pace felt off. It started strong, but my interest lagged as the plot strayed from the story of a serial killer in colonial times into a classic det...more
There were a number of Dickens-like characters in this book, even though it was set in Colonial New York. Some of them were enjoyable, but after a while I found it cloying. To me the pace felt off. It started strong, but my interest lagged as the plot strayed from the story of a serial killer in colonial times into a classic det...more
The unsolved murder of a respected doctor has sent ripples of fear throughout a city teeming with life and noise and commerce. Who snuffed out the good man's life with the slash of a blade on a midnight street? The local printmaster has labeled the fiend "the Masker," adding fuel to a volatile mystery...and when the Masker claims a new victim, hardworking young law clerk Matthew Corbett is lured into a maze of forensic clues and heart-pounding investigation that will both test his natural pencha...more
Speaks the Nightbird has enough villains to fill a jail; The Queen of Bedlam has enough lunatics to fill an asylum.
This is an entertaining book with a complex plot and many complex characters. It does not move as quickly or as compellingly as Nightbird. It does further develop the protagonist and sets him up for as many adventures as McCammon can devise.
If there really was as much lunacy and evil in colonial America as portrayed in this book then the current levels are no surprise.
This is an entertaining book with a complex plot and many complex characters. It does not move as quickly or as compellingly as Nightbird. It does further develop the protagonist and sets him up for as many adventures as McCammon can devise.
If there really was as much lunacy and evil in colonial America as portrayed in this book then the current levels are no surprise.
Having just finished this 6oo+ page epic, I am craving more. Maybe, just maybe, we'll get another adventure of Matthew Corbett as this book leads into a what will be a new chapter for him. After first meeting him in the epic "Speaks the Nightbird", we are now seeing where his story takes him currently....1700's NYC. And with swift prose, MacCammon paints a vivid picture of life in the early beginnings of the New city. But even more vivdly, he creates characters that come alive off the page. The...more
The second book in the Mathew Corbet series stands up to the first and then some!! I truely enjoyed reading about the in's and out's of the New York colony of the 1700's. So many nooks and crannies to explore within each character! I really enjoyed seeing Mathew grow and matture from the first book. He's such a loveable character! The suspense and action within these pages is amazing!
Feel free to read this series out of order. In fact, I'd highly recommend starting with this book and simply moving forward as it is exponentially more enjoyable/engrossing than Speaks the Nightbird. Furthermore, The Queen of Bedlam is a fantastic stand alone novel which needs no lead-in. Speaks the Nightbird was still good, but if you found it slow moving, don't let that dissuade you from giving this book a shot.
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Robert R. McCammon was a full-time horror writer for many years. After taking a hiatus for his family, he returned to writing with an interest in historical fiction.
A new contemporary novel, The Five, was published in May 2011 by Subterranean Press.
The Hunter from the Woods, a collection of novellas and stories featuring Michael Gallatin, the main character from The Wolf's Hour, was published as a...more
More about Robert R. McCammon...
A new contemporary novel, The Five, was published in May 2011 by Subterranean Press.
The Hunter from the Woods, a collection of novellas and stories featuring Michael Gallatin, the main character from The Wolf's Hour, was published as a...more
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“Grigsby had looked at him askance. “Why is it,” he said, “that I have the distinct impression you’re not surprised by this news?”
‘Surprised by the fact that the reverend is first and foremost a human being? Surprised by the fact that every human being, reverend or ribald, can be undone by capricious circumstances? Or should
I be surprised by the fact that a man who teaches love and forgiveness can love and forgive? Tell me, Marmy, exactly what it is I should be surprised at?”
—
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More quotes…
‘Surprised by the fact that the reverend is first and foremost a human being? Surprised by the fact that every human being, reverend or ribald, can be undone by capricious circumstances? Or should
I be surprised by the fact that a man who teaches love and forgiveness can love and forgive? Tell me, Marmy, exactly what it is I should be surprised at?”
Feb 25, 2009 11:45am
Feb 25, 2009 03:28pm
Feb 25, 2009 03:48pm