Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
Ebook786 pages14 hours
The Queen of Bedlam
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
()
About this ebook
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 bustling city carving out its identity—and over Matthew's own uncertain destiny.
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 penchant for detection and inflame his hunger for justice.
In the strangest twist of all, the key to unmasking the Masker may await in an asylum where the Queen of Bedlam reigns—and only a man of Matthew's reason and empathy can unlock her secrets. From the seaport to Wall Street, from society mansions to gutters glimmering with blood spilled by a deviant, Matthew's quest will tauntingly reveal the answers he seeks—and the chilling truths he cannot escape.
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 penchant for detection and inflame his hunger for justice.
In the strangest twist of all, the key to unmasking the Masker may await in an asylum where the Queen of Bedlam reigns—and only a man of Matthew's reason and empathy can unlock her secrets. From the seaport to Wall Street, from society mansions to gutters glimmering with blood spilled by a deviant, Matthew's quest will tauntingly reveal the answers he seeks—and the chilling truths he cannot escape.
Author
Robert McCammon
ROBERT McCAMMON is a New York Times bestseller best known for Swan Song and Boy’s Life, both still in print after two decades. He is a frequent nominee and winner of the Bram Stoker Award and has won several World Fantasy Awards. McCammon resides in Birmingham, Alabama.
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Reviews for The Queen of Bedlam
Rating: 4.176829229268293 out of 5 stars
4/5
164 ratings8 reviews
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Too convoluted. Couldn't finish it.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I enjoyed the book, particularly the characterizations and the description of early New York
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/52nd in series dealing with Matthew Corbett. Here he as a "problem solver" investigator must learn the identity of a woman in a mental hospital as well as solve the problem of a corrupt orphanage official that leads to a far greater problem. Face paced and marvelous about what pre-America must have smelt, looked, and been like. The scenes of violence held me spellbound though sometimes they were overlong.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5McCammon!! 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 depths, what a secret story she would tell! Thus, Mr. Matthew Corbett is at it again. He embarks on a trek to uncover the murders of three profound members of New York City. (Errr, well population 5,000 at the time) Now, I’m not talking about the Butcher, the Baker, and the Candlestick maker, but you get the drift. The night assassin makes quick work of cutting masks into their faces as well as slicing their throats. Which causes the denizens of New York to give the murderer his fitting moniker, The Masker. Here lies the mystery of who is The Masker, and why has he selected these specific targets selected for his nocturnal pleasures? Once again there is mystery, there is adventure and there are comedic moments. Matthew seems to always find trouble at his doorstep, and not only is it there, but it’s thundering loudly against his door with Thor’s hammer!In this novel, Matthew moves another rung up the ladder and now begins working for the Herrald Agency. Further reeling me in and given me pause to wonder in the next novel will he indeed take on the characteristics of Sherlock Holmes himself? McCammon blends action and dialogue, history and fiction, and intrigue with mystery; throws them all in a bowl mixes them up and serves up the perfect tale of cordon bleu mystery stew! The only puzzling question I have now is at what tender age did Mr. McCammon sell his soul to the Devil for such talent, and if not his soul the purchasing price what was the cost? Cause’ I might be willing to get in on that! Anyway, as before Robert doesn’t fail to entertain and as always this novel ends on another moment of piqued interest in what sort of shenanigans will Mr. Corbett get himself into during his next adventure.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wow this book was even more intersting than "speaks the nightbird" and it really kept me on the edge of my seat! I am not usually into murder mystery detective books, but this was truly fantastic. I definitely would reccomend it and I am excited to read the next in the series!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is the second book after Speaks the Nightbird and I was excited to see what would happen to Matthew Corbett next. Matthew stays true to form, always looking to solve mysteries and this book is no different, bringing in several different plot twists along the way. Overall, I liked this book even better than Speaks the Nightbird. It was more exciting and I liked that it was set in NY City. There were more new and interesting characters and Matthew didn't disappoint. The end was really exciting and I couldn't put the book down until it was over.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5An amazing read! Can't wait to start the next one.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Incredible novel! This the second of the Matthew Corbett books and long may it continue.Set in New York this historical mystery/thriller is extremely well written, filled with well developed characters,exciting,well paced and will keep you guessing on multiple thread plots until the end.I cannot wait to read Mister Slaughter, the third in the series(it will be interesting if nothing else to see if Matthew is given the opportunity to have sex whilst not drugged!).Highly recommended but read Speaks the Nightbird first.