Freedom of the Mask

As I waited nearly a year for this publication, and after reading the previous Matthew Corbett books. I must say I was Terribly disappointed. The tragic events compounded one on top of the other, prisons,and filth, and the appalling human conditions that were described in detail, made the reading depressing and worrisome.
Matthew's character also seemed not readily able to conquer the dark forces of evil.
Not pleased at all with the overall content of the storytelling, and was shocked at the abrupt ending.
Disappointed in New Jersey.

Robert McCammon's Matthew Corbett series continues with the sixth installment, FREEDOM OF THE MASK.

When we last saw McCammon's plucky young protagonist, Matthew Corbett, he was in dire straits. Matthew, suffering from amnesia brought on by a severe head injury, was in the clutches of his old enemy, Count Anton Mannerheim Dahlgren, heading back to England as a peace offering from Dahlgren to his estranged master, Professor Fell. McCammon splits the opening section of the book into two distinct voyages: Matthew and Dahlgren's horrific passage about a decrepit ship, and the parallel tale of Matthew's friends Hudson Greathouse and Berry Grigsby making their own way to London, following the meager clues left in Matthew's wake.

Matthew arrives before his friends, much the worse for the voyage. Charged with the shipboard murder of Count Dahlgren, Matthew finds himself thrown into London's nightmarish prison system, living among the worst that London has to offer.

Even though his body is imprisoned, Matthew's inquisitive mind will not be shackled, and he soon sets his problem-solving skills to work on a new mystery that is vexing the city: A masked vigilante named Albion, who is slaughtering recently-released inmates. Who is this mysterious killer, and what is his interest in Matthew?

After the short diversion that was Matthew's last adventure, THE RIVER OF SOULS, McCammon plunges his audience back into another Corbett epic with the massive FREEDOM OF THE MASK. The book is filled with old faces, both friendly and fiendish, and McCammon advances the overarching Professor Fell plotline, upping the stakes exponentially. By the end of this adventure, those stakes have never been higher, and readers will be cursing the wait until the next Corbett adventure.

Subterranean Press scored a coup when they signed McCammon, and fans of literary fiction owe them a great debt, not only for presenting McCammon's catalog to a new generation of fans, but for bringing forth so many great new novels from someone who had been silent for too long. Eventually, McCammon will wrap up Matthew Corbett's tale, and that will be a sad day, but until then, this reader is firmly under the storyteller's spell, counting the days until the next adventure, and wondering: "How in the hell will Matthew get out of this one?"

Subterranean Press provided a review copy.

Robert McCammon's book "Freedom of the Mask" is the sequel to his book "River of Souls", which I read when it first came out (and reviewed for the store). I like "Freedom of the Mask" much more than "River of Souls" although "Freedom of the Mask" is a continuation of the plot in "River of Souls". Both books, along with some previous books that I have not read, describe the struggle between a prototype detective (a "problem solver") Matthew Corbett and the evil Professor Fell. "Freedom of the Mask" can be read without having read any of the previous Matthew Corbett novels.

"Freedom of the Mask" has a relatively linear plot, which works well to build suspense. The novel is set in 1703, a generation before the American Revolution, before the giants of that era were born. McCammon has done his homework on the era and his powers of description deliver a dirty and dangerous London. This London is in contrast to the quieter and more civilized New York and Massachusetts Colony.

This novel is richer in complexity than its predecessor. The fell Professor Fell is evil, but the readers learns some of his history. Few people who are evil view themselves as completely evil, although in Professor Fells case he understands that he has gone far down too many dark paths.

McCammon has written a number of horror novels and there are some horrible scenes in this book. At one point he borrows a page from William Goldman's Marathon Man and his dentist as a torturer. These scene and some of the other bloody scenes are truly horrifying. In London this was a brutal era and McCammon captures it well. Some would not consider this young adult fiction because of the descriptions of graphic violence (no sex however).

If you are a McCammon fan, particularly of his Matthew Corbett books I think that you will enjoy this book.

Robert McCammon is one of those multi-talented authors who can not only get your totally engrossed in his story line but also effectively transport you 300 years into the past. His narrative allows you to see the sights, here the verbiage and idioms of the time, smell the smells, understand the rigid class systems, and see how his characters fit into their environment and manage to eke out what in most cases is a bare subsistence. There are lords and ladies, street urchins and hookers, master criminals using less gifted lawbreakers to impose their will, and policemen and coroners who try to figure out how and why citizens are dying in nefarious ways. Fast forward 300 years to this day and you will find the same social classes (but with much greater ethnicity) seeking the same gains and using some of the same strategies to further their causes.

Mr. McCammon is a bestselling author who began his career writing supernatural horror, publishing 12 novels between 1978 and 1993. He was very good at his craft, receiving Bram Stoker Awards for "Boy's Life", "Mine", and "Swan Song". He also won the 1992 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel for "Boy's Life", was awarded the title of World Horror Convention Grand Master in 2008, and won the Phoenix Award in 2009 ("Gone South"). If you enjoy supernatural horror, Mr. McCammon delivers several gems in that genre, stimulating the mind and surprising you in ways similar to the writings of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Clive Barker.

In 1993 Mr. McCammon retired from writing, citing depression, exhaustion, a desire to spend more time with his family, and frustration with publishers who wanted to limit his writing to the horror fiction genre. In 2002 Robert McCammon broke his self-imposed retreat with "Speaks the Nightbird", the first installment in the Matthew Corbett series. He also won the 2012 Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award and he has received numerous nominations and awards for his novellas and short stories. This guy has serious talent and mad skills.

I would like to give astute readers the gift of recommending that you read "Boy's Life". It obviously received huge critical acclaim and I can state without reservation that it is one of the best books that I've ever read. A coming-of-age classic, "Boy's Life" is about a young boy growing up in the Deep South (1964) who gets exposed to --and tries to understand -- the forces of good and evil. The story line is superb, the writing excellent, and it was noteworthy (and timely) enough that a school board in Florida tried to get it banned from their library.

There are now six books in the Matthew Corbett series that began with "Speaks the Nightbird" My first exposure to a book in this series came when the store Vine offered me a copy of "River of Souls" (2014) to review. At the time I thought that it was a stand-alone novel rather than book five in a series. Having now completed "Freedom of the Mask", it became increasingly obvious how many references were made to prior books in the series, making me feel more and more envious of the backstory. This has intrigued me enough, and obviously I enjoy Mr. McCammon's prose so much, that I am committed to going back to the start of the series even though it will involve reading 3,107 pages to bring me current. That is quite an undertaking but should help you understand how much I admire Robert McCammon's skills and the enjoyment I received from reading his stories.

"Freedom of the Mask" has something for everyone - as long as you're a fan of pulp fiction paperbacks. There's action in major world cities and exotic locales. There's a masked avenger. There's an evil mastermind lording over a secret criminal organization. There are secluded lairs. There's bone-crushing violence and tense suspense. And, finally, "Freedom" achieves what every good entry in a book series should achieve; it makes you hungry for the next installment in what should be a long-running serial.

Robert McCammon's heroic character of Michael Corbett is sometimes compared to James Bond. If truth be told, McCammon's writing here has many similarities with Ian Fleming's style. The violence is over-the-top (McCammon was once a horror author, and his experience with writing about gore and gristle was undoubtedly very useful here), the villains are larger-than-life (witness McCammon's passages describing Mother Deare and Professor Fell), and the heroes have a flawed moral ambiguity similar to that of Fleming's Bond. Truth be told, this is a difficult genre to write well and not only does McCammon make it seem easy, but he also makes a 500+ page novel fly by as though it were only 125 pages.

There's also a satire of the "Penny Dreadful"-style yellow press throughout the chapters that take place in London. Much of what McCammon targets here is done better than other media satires I've read.

If you're looking for consistently entertaining pulp adventure, you have come to exactly the right place. The book's only flaw is - opening chapters aside - its assumption that you are already familiar with many of the characters from previous Michael Corbett adventures.

"Freedom of the Mask" (2016) by Robert McCammon [0717 - crime novel - July 25, 2016]
"Freedom of the Mask" (2016) by Robert McCammon is the sixth book is his Matthew Corbett series. The titles and date of publication for the first five books are listed below.

Matthew Corbett is a "problem solver" - a private investigator - working for the London-based Herrald Agency in New York City in the very early years of the 17th Century. To put it mildly he is resourceful, intelligent, tenacious and a magnet for troubles. As the next to last book in the series "River of Souls" ended Matthew had lost all his memory and was being cajoled onto a ship bound for England. His "companion" is a compatriot of the nefarious Dr. Fell - the evil genius and criminal mastermind and Matthew's archenemy. The first few chapters detailing the deadly hazards of sailing across the Atlantic in a leaky tub with a drunken captain - in a typhoon no less - this is seat of your pants exciting reading and a rousing start to a wonderful book.

The popularity of these books rest with Author McCammon narrative skill in creating larger than life characters, engrossing descriptions of life in 17th Century America and England and adroit stories of good yet fallible characters and very, very evil individuals. In addition the authors interjections of humorous descriptive phrases and comical sistuations leavens the ghoulish antics of Dr. Fell and his minions.

If the subject matter of these storied mildly interest you then I feel confident you will enjoy reading these books.

In my opinion interested readers should make an effort to read the six books released so far in the sequence they were published - see listing below. Characters and incidents show up from previous books and Corbett's story is told chronologically. The story in "Freedom of the Mask" is a direct continuation of the previously published book "River of Souls". Yes, you can read this book as a stand alone but your experience will be much more nuanced and enjoyable if you read the others - just my opinion.

"Speak the Nightbird" (2002)
"Queen of Bedlam" (2007)
"Master Slaughter" (2010)
"Providence Rider" (2012)
"River of Souls" (2014)
"Freedom of the Mask" (2016)

Robert McCammon breathes so much life into his characters that I look forward to every installment in his series about "problem solver" Matthew Corbett - a character often described as an early-American James Bond. The author breathes so much life and excitement into his historical thrillers that they're impossible to put down - and that's true of this entry, Freedom of the Mask, which weighs in with a hefty 528 pages.

The Matthew Corbett books are a series that can be read as stand-alones, each featuring a new story and familiar characters. McCammon weaves in plenty of reminders about what has gone on before so that you never feel lost if you don't begin with the first book. Still, with the intricate Freedom of the Mask, I'm happy I've read the previous five in the series.

Freedom of the Mask takes us to London in 1703. Matthew Corbett, presumed dead, is actually suffering from amnesia and accused of a shipboard murder as he is transported to London and thrown into Newgate Prison. Hudson Greathouse, Matthew's friend and compatriot, as well as Corbett's plucky lady love, Berry Grigsby, travel across the Atlantic in search of the missing Matthew.

McCammon's depiction of London's infamous prison is horrifyingly accurate and watching Matthew Corbett, shackled in prison, his mind active as he thinks of ways to identify and stop a masked killer as well as a way to find justice for himself, is exhilarating.

I won't describe more of the plot, as others have already done so, but this historical adventure makes you feel as if you're there, in the moment - and McCammon makes you care about - for good or ill - every character. Few writers do it so well. This book is an intense grand adventure that never takes a breath and I absolutely love it. In fact, I think it's my very favorite. Freedom of the Mask will make your heart and mind race! Who could ask for more?

Freedom of the Mask defies any pat descriptions. Yes, it's the 6th entry in Robert McCammon's historical fiction series, but it's also an action, adventure mystery as well.

London in 1703 is one filthy place. In addition to all of the nasty problems due to overcrowding, there are gangs competing against each other for territory, and a new type of addicting alcohol available that's turning many people into shadows of their former selves. Matthew Corbett finds himself there after an incident which occurred at sea, and then he finds himself locked up in the infamous Newgate Prison.

Berry Grigsby teams up with the indomitable Hudson Greathouse to find Matthew and bring him back home to the small city, (as compared to London), of New York. It is always great to "see" these two whenever they appear. Berry is the sweetest girl ever and Hudson is a formidable but great man, and a true friend.

That's all I can say about the plot other than that Freedom of the Mask took some very dark turns and there were a few scenes that were quite disturbing. When one has a mask on, they have the ability to do things in secret. Whether they be good or bad things the reader has to decide for themselves-but that's the freedom referred to in the title.

I'm always excited for a new McCammon book because they never let me down. This one was no exception: amnesia, battles at sea, swordfights, crazy carriage rides, and outrageously evil villains! Freedom of the Mask is a lot of things, as I mentioned at the start of this review, but for me it was 100% pure FUN.

Highly recommended to fans of historical mysteries and action adventure tales!

*I received a free e-ARC of this book via Net Galley in exchange for my honest review. This is it. *

Robert McCammon's Matthew Corbett series has had an interesting progression thus far. What started as a historical mystery series as developed in an adventurer/swashbuckling direction that I have really enjoyed. Freedom of the Mask continues on this path, introducing some outlandish and cliche elements that easily could have failed, but are handled in such a way that they are charming. The biggest example of this is Matthew's amnesia at the beginning of the novel (this isn't much of a spoiler, it is revealed in the first couple of chapters). Someone getting knocked on the head and forgetting their identity puts one in mind of bad 1970s television, but in this case I really enjoyed the "throwback" aspect of it, and none of these tricks get in the way of the characters that we have grown to love over the previous five volumes. Matthew's adventures go in unexpected directions in Freedom of the Mask and I don't want to spoil any of them; suffice it to say that those who have enjoyed Mister Slaughter and The Providence Rider will not be disappointed with the latest installment.

I would have rated this a full five stars, but I cannot forgive the ending. While I expect there to be some loose threads that will be picked up again in the future, I don't like being left on a cliffhanger and waiting years to see what happens next. Another few chapters could have ended the book on a more satisfying note while still leaving room for the rest of the story to continue. Instead, the reader is left hanging.

Despite the bad taste at the end, I highly recommend this book (and this series) to any fans of historical novels, mysteries, and/or high adventure. 4 stars (should have been 5).

Having read most of McCammon's books since his early days, I was excited that he was writing again. I plunged into the Matthew Corbett series with zeal and was elated when I got to read Freedom of the Mask a little early.

Our young problem solver has gone out of steamy Charlestown and into the gloom of London; one step closer to his nemesis. Just when you thought Matthew couldn't be any worse off, McCammon finds new troubles to torment him.

Overall, I was very happy with the book. I found myself staying up later than I wanted to on occasion to read the next chapter. It was over 500 pages but it didn't feel long winded. Each situation was confronted, dealt with, and the story line progressed. The "misery" of London was, perhaps, a bit overplayed but painted a vivid picture. I do enjoy the cliffhanger endings of the new books and they do their job well. I can't wait for the next book.

While I enjoyed Speaks the Nightbird, the first book in the series, I like the other books in the series better; Freedom of the Mask being my new favorite. While this book stands on it's own (as any good book should), you are doing yourself a great disservice by not reading the previous five books. McCammon on touches on events in Mathew's life from the previous books which is great as I do get tired of authors repeating nearly verbatim what happened in previous books - basically re-caps throughout the entire story. In this novel you will only find Mathew remembering something from the past that he can or cannot apply to his current situation.

Freedom of the Mask is filled with danger, twisting & turning in so many directions that it kept me on my toes throughout the entire novel. Just when I think this is the setting Mathew will find himself having to figure his way out of, McCammon changes the game, so don't get too comfortable. With mysterious elements hidden in the details, be it on board a ship, in a prison, or walking the streets of London, I felt like I was there with Mathew as he went through one situation after another. Mathew finds he not only needs to figure out a way to solve his own predicament, but finds many other mysteries (problems) that beg to be solved. It seems that no sooner does he discover one tidbit another morsel if found to add to the pot of corruption. In the end Mathew finds himself questioning the morality of his own soul.

Another wonderfully written Matthew Corbett novel. As before in the previous novels, the author writes characters, plots and settings in a tight compelling read in ways that compliment and enhance each other.

I found this even more fast paced and engaging than the previous novel. And this despite being a little wary over the seemingly trite set up involving Matthew, his memory and his imprisonment. McCammon provides plenty of surprised, shifts and yet manages to do so without it feeling too contrived.

Slight spoiler -- no actual details but an overall look at the structure of the story itself..

you've been warned

This is not so much a quibble as a simple observation. This is very much a transitional book. There is plenty of resolution but it also is meant to set the stage for the next book or set of books in the series. While many plot points are wrapped up, some are left very open and some are actually introduced towards the end.

I've just thoroughly enjoyed this series of books. McCammon is a talented and entertaining writer and every book in this series has been a fun read. I will say I had kind of forgotten that the last book ended on such a cliffhanger! But I quickly picked up on the story, and was pleased that it featured more of Hudson Greathouse.

As other reviewers may have noted, this is something like the sixth book in this series so you won't want to jump in on this one. Speaks the Nightbird is the first - and a good read. I would encourage readers to stick with the series though. It has really hit its stride and continues to get better with each installment. McCammon delivers these books fairly frequently too which I appreciate. Recommended!

I love historical fiction. Love the detail to period, atmosphere and all that comes with the time the novel is set. This book is historical fiction and manages to be excellent on its character and plot development rather than emphasizing the historical aspect. Instead the time period, here 1703, is part of the great plot and that honestly worked excellent for me. It is like a well written adventure novel that takes place in another time. This is the 6th in a series and luckily for me even though a series they can also be read as stand alone novels. If you want great character development, really surprising, exciting and believable plot lines and just overall quality writing this book and series comes highly recommended. I already have gone to the first book and plan on reading them all.

*Freedom of the Mask* is Robert McCammon’s sixth book in the Matthew Corbett series of “historical thrillers.” Corbett is a swashbuckling hero who finds himself in one harrowing situation after another in pre-Revolutionary War North America. In this new book, the setting shifts to London for a good part of the story. Also, some of the action happens with Corbett offstage, centering around Hudson Greathouse, Matthew’s friend and mentor. Just as in previous volumes in the series, McCammon does a swell job of keeping things moving, keeping the reader on the edge of his or her seat and desperate to know “what happens next?!!”

These Corbett books are designed to stand alone, something I can attest to since I read them out of order up to book five. It is useful to know the prior events in the hero’s past, but not all that necessary.

Good historical mystery-type books are gems when you can find them. This series is definitenly one of them. The historical setting is excellent and you really get a feel for how problems were solved and investigations handled before the world of computers, phones, and worldwide internet databases. The characters are engaging, but a little static through much of the story.

Author Robert McCammon is a modern master of horror who has branched out into literary suspense with the terrific Matthew Corbett series. Like the others in this series, FREEDOM OF THE MASK is set in turn of the century NY and features professional 'problem solver', young Matthew Corbett and his frequent comrade, the mysterious Hudson Greathouse.

This time, Corbett has gone missing and his friends are worried. Unfortunately, his line of business has made him many powerful enemies and it will be up to Greathouse to find his young colleague. Terrific and atmospheric from start to finish.

I read and liked the first few novels featuring Matthew Corbett, but for various reasons didn’t read the last two. Having enjoyed the early stories a lot, though, I decided to go ahead and read this one, especially since it promised an interesting new setting by transporting the action to London.

In this installment of Matthew’s adventures, Matthew is separated from his friends and jailed in England for the murder of Professor Fell’s henchman. His situation goes from bad to worse as he moves from jail to jail, and into the clutches of London criminals who don’t have his best interests at heart. Meanwhile, Matthew’s friends Hudson and Berry travel to England to try to find him and bring him back home to America. However, Professor Fell is also in Britain, and that spells bad news for Matthew and his friends.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I was glued to the pages by the plot, following along with Matthew’s attempts to extricate himself from danger. I also thought McCammon did a good job depicting the stink and squalor of London and the horror of its prisons. We sometimes tend to romanticize history, but life for the poor in London in 1703 was brutal, and we get to see it all through Matthew’s eyes.

So, I was really enjoying the novel, until Professor Fell and his thugs entered the action. This is just my personal taste, but I don’t particularly like stories where the hero has a seemingly unbeatable nemesis. To me, an author needs to be really careful in introducing that sort of character, because if the hero can never ultimately best the bad guy, what’s the point in reading? Even if the hero can temporarily give the villain a setback, he’ll just pop back up again, whack-a-mole style, which I find totally frustrating. At this point, I need Matthew to finally defeat Professor Fell for me to really invest in the series. Given the way this book ends, though, I’m not going to get my wish in the next novel.

For me, this book is four stars until Professor Fell showed up, then three stars for the rest of the story. Personal taste aside, though, if you’re a fan of the Matthew Corbett books and are invested in the Professor Fell storyline, you should definitely read this book.

An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In this installment of the Mathew Corbett series, poor Mathew goes to England. I say "poor Mathew" because by now, he's sorely in need of a rest. The guy gets no downtime. It's his loss, but a series of rip roaring adventures for his readers. Rescues, cutthroats, mysteries, the looming menace of Professor Fell--Mathew is kind of an 18th century Indiana Jones.

I don't love the cliff hangers with which Mr. McCammon ends his books, but they are vastly entertaining and a great ride.

I have loved the Matthew Corbett books ever since I read the first, Spoke the Nightbird. Robert McCammon is one of my favorite historical novelists, which is surprising since he is mostly known for his horror. This series is a lot different from his old fare, but he still has the wonderful skill with characters and plot. Don't start the series with this book, please, because there is so much that came before it that is necessary (McCammon does a good job of weaving in reminders, in case you havent read the previous novel recently) but you really need the entire history to appreciate this book.

Finally, Matthew Corbett is back! After the last two good but not great entries in the series, Matthew is back in business. Per the Corbett usual, he finds himself in all kinds of trouble and his friends in grave peril. Yep. Matthew’s back. Can’t wait for the next installment.

4.5 the store Stars!

Matthew Corbett returns with a bang! McCammon answers a lot of questions from this on-going series and poses quite a few more. The character development is expertly written. The plot is full of twist and turns and is fast-paced. The dialogue is smart and funny and drives the narrative forward. Just another stellar chapter into this epic world he has created. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

This is a great, old-fashioned serial adventure, written by one of the most underrated authors of our time. Start with Speaks the Nightbird. You've got some time to catch up with our young hero, Matthew Corbett before the next installment comes out. And judging by the quality of this chapter, the next book is going to be a real doozy. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

I really enjoyed the first books in the series, but the last couple have not been up to the same level. I am afraid the author is turning this character and series to "cartoon-ish" for lack of a better term. Too many over the top incidents and characters. Did not enjoy this book nearly as much as I had hoped.

McCammon is an excellent writer of historical fiction, and for the most part, the series of Matthew Corbett, problem solver of great talent and many skills, has been really well written and interesting. Sadly, this installment doesn't live up to the previous five. Book six just goes on way too long. I had a really tough time maintaining my interest, never a problem before with McCammon. I noted other reviews felt the same. The series is great, and I would recommend it. I just wish this book had been shortened, say by about one third.

Terrific series by the most talented writer. I've been a fan for many years. Freedom of The Mask was another great read and an awesome return journey into the time of Matthew Corbett and friends. I was thoroughly entertained and swept away into the story once again.

I don't know. Plodding action mysteries do not become great fiction by virtue of being set in the 18th century. Nor does the use of contrived names like Hudson Greathouse or Ivor Bigbotty improve things much. I recognize that this is the 6th in a fairly successful series featuring Hudson Greathouse and his friend Matthew but frankly I did not find this to be enjoyable to read and not at all interesting as a mystery. This sort of thing is done much much better by David Liss (as in The Coffee Trader) or Miranda Carter in her Blake and Avery series of novels.

I really enjoyed the first books in the series, but the last couple have not been up to the same level. I am afraid the author is turning this character and series to "cartoon-ish" for lack of a better term. Too many over the top incidents and characters. Did not enjoy this book nearly as much as I had hoped.