The Providence Rider (The Matthew Corbett Series Book 4)

While initially exciting, the quality of writing is sometimes exceedingly poor. Characters and development are paper thin as well. There is too much unnecessary and predictable dialog. This would make good reading for a 12 year old.

Treffic book, McCammon at his best. Corbett even has a new gang of cohorts, not like he needed them. This has all the makings of,"The Gunslinger Series" on steroids. All I can say is go Robert go!!!!!

SPOILERS
I love the Corbett novels, but this book was pretty implausible. Matthew finally meets the Dr Fell who turns out to be rather impotent. He needs Corbetts help to find out which one of his bumbling agents is betraying him. Corbett is able to fool the rather naive Fell by framing the wrong agents in a ludicrous farce. This also doesn't fit the Corbett we know, to frame 2 innocent men, even bag guys, and allow them to be gruesomely tortured and murdered? Fell never thinks to have Corbett followed and watched during his entire stay at his castle and apparently there's on 1 guard in the place as well. Corbett's treatment of Berry as dirt hit its last straw for me in this novel as well. Makes no logical sense to try to protect her from Fell by pushing her away in any case. She helps foil Fell's plans and as we are told, Fell never forgets. Corbett not courting her will have no bearing on Fell getting his revenge if what we are told is to be believed. Or maybe Corbett is just a right bastard and incapable of loving anyone unless he's being raped, because that is literally the ONLY time he's ever become intimate with women in any these novels. If Berry had raped him, I think he'd of been cool with with that.

After a long search I finally found an affordable copy of Robert McCammon's "The Providence Rider. Released in 2012, this first and only edition is a much wanted collector's item. Very odd, but as fourth volume in the series about "problem solver" Matthew Corbett, the very first private investigator whose cases take place around the year 1700, it was never reprinted. Even despite the release of a fifth volume in 2014 - and even with volume six scheduled for release this June! You can find secondhand copies online, but nothing below $50, and some copies are even priced $200! So when I found a book on the store costing only €40, I didn't hesitate and ordered it immediately! Once arrived, it turned out to be a library copy: a stamp of the Gwinnett County Public Library defaces the top of the book, but okay, it's the content that matters.

It has been a while since I read the other Matthew Corbett stories, and I couldn't place the character very well and I didn't get all the references, but the story is pretty much self contained and it's one I enjoyed reading. McCammon weaves a good combination of mystery and humor. Despite his experience, the main character acts a bit naïeve here and there. Okay, he's still young, but you'd think he'd be a little smarter. Luckily he quickly turns the tables on the new and dangerous situation. And at the end he realizes himself that he's no longer the man he used to be.

"Freedom of the Mask" is coming out in a couple of weeks, and I'm already looking forward to it, as well as to an opportunity to read all six books back to back one day.

The Providence Rider is the fourth book in McCammon's series featuring Matthew Corbett, a self-described "problem solver" living in New York at the start of the 18th century. In the last two, The Queen of Bedlam and Mister Slaughter, McCammon gave us brief glimpses of the mysterious crime lord Professor Fell and his far-reaching empire of criminals. In this book McCammon reveals the man behind the curtain completely.

At the end of Mister Slaughter someone slipped one of Fell's trademark death cards under Matthew's door, signifying that his time left on earth was near its end and that Fell would soon be coming for him. As The Providence Rider begins buildings are being blown up throughout the city and Matthew's name is being painted on the building right next to it. It's Fell's unique way of coercing Matthew to his island in the Bermudas where he has a proposition for the young detective. Fell believes that there is a traitor in his organization and he's willing to cancel Matthew's death card if he will put his deductive mind to use for the Professor.

McCammon excels at creating fascinating characters, and in The Providence Rider he doesn't disappoint, introducing us to a whole host of colorful characters who work for Professor Fell, each of whom would fit in well in a Dickens novel. He also excels at his storytelling, and once again, he doesn't disappoint here either. The Providence Rider and each of the books in the series are fantastic. I attended a book signing with the author a year or so ago and he revealed that he anticipates writing a total of ten books featuring Matthew Corbett. I was very happy to hear that and am looking forward to the next one, The River of Souls sometime next year.

Matthew Corbett, professional problem solver, is a fine fellow to follow. His first two appearances in this (so far) four book series were great history/mystery fiction. The third entry, as with this one, lose me when Matthew strays too far from old New York. McCammon deftly uses the town to great advantage as a backdrop and semi-character so it is shame to leave it. Also in The Providence Rider we get to know Corbett's Moriarty, the criminal grand master, Professor Fell. But he is all too omnipotent and his looming presence has puffed up the series so much that it has lost is provincial charm. Without a doubt, colourful characters are in abundant supply with fun Dickens' like names. The action suffers from repetition. The dialogue has some stand-out bon mots but overall tends to drag. Everything picks up when Matthew's partner Hudson Greathouse appears (note to Mr. McCammon). I remain faithful but also hopeful that the author will shrink the canvas but remain liberal with the brushstrokes.

Providence Rider is a definite for anyone going through the series. Few are likely to rate the book the best or the worst of the series. As with the other books, the story set-up changes. And so do most of the bad and good guys. As a result, the author does not repeat too many of the sub-plots or get ups that worked previously. In other words, the story moves in a refreshingly original ways because Matthew is not confined to the same old city with same old neighbours. And he will surely move to some other place in the next episode, as is made abundantly clear in this book.

On the negative side, the book makes little use of the times of the setup - completely unlike the first books. The entire story could easily have been designed for the nineteenth or twentieth century islands with small changes. The gore and macabre is less than the previous book but still less than palatable at a few places.

The story moves smoothly. The action scenes are good even though predictable. The suspense element is back, although not as good as in the first two books. The book moves the series along and could be more important for the future books than any of the previous ones.

I've been reviewing Robert McCammon's novels since Usher's Passing was first published back in 1984. I wrote that particular review for Fantasy Mongers magazine and stated that Mr. McCammon was one of the best writers in the field at that time. After almost thirty years (has it been that long?), nothing has changed. Mr. McCammon is still writing, and he's still one of the finest authors in today's marketplace.

That's not an easy accomplishment for any writer.

What has mystified me for the last decade is why none of the major publishing houses have really given Mr. McCammon a shot. His "Matthew Corbett" series (Speaks the Nightbird, The Queen of Bedlam, Mister Slaughter, and The Providence Rider) is truly one of the most creative, entertaining, thought-provoking, historical adventures around. I know Putnam published The Queen of Bedlam, but they did such a terrible job on the book that I tend to think they felt it wouldn't sell more than ten copies. Listen, I'm a sixty-one-year-old man; yet, I still get excited whenever a new "Corbett" novel is announced. These books should be on every country's bestseller lists. This means the publisher needs the ability to produce several hundred thousand copies of the book and do at least a hundred thousand dollars worth of publicity. It should also be noted that these novels would make excellent theatrical movies with either Toby McQuire or Elijah Wood playing the role of Matthew Corbett. Done correctly, the movies could easily become as popular as the first three Spiderman films or The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Wake up, Hollywood, and take a look at the money-making aspects of this fabulous series! If Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter can be turned into a major summer movie, then so can the "Matthew Corbett" series.

Subterranean Press has published the last two novels in the series (Mister Slaughter and The Providence Rider), and I have to say this publishing house has a done a magnificent job on the creation of each book. Everything from the type of paper, to the font, the binding, the interior illustrations, and the cover art has been done with a sense of true love and utter craftsmanship. These are beautiful books to behold and to own, even the trade hardcovers. My hat goes off to the owner of Subterranean Press, William Schafer, for publishing such beautiful books. This is the way Mr. McCammon's novels should be published, not the way Putnam did it.

Now, let me discuss The Providence Rider. There will be some spoilers here so prepare yourself, or skip this part of the review.

The story takes place the winter after Mister Slaughter (one of the most terrifying novels I have ever read because of its total believability), and Matthew Corbett still hasn't recovered fully from his encounter with a villain who's heart was filled with nothing but pure, murderous evil. Even Matthew's partner in the Herald Agency, Hudson Greathouse, is still dealing with the physical injures he endured from Tyranthus Slaughter. Everyone is therefore taking it day by day, until a series of explosions happen and businesses are suddenly destroyed.

You see, Professor Fell, who had a contract out for Matthew's head, has unexpectedly decided he needs the aid of the problem-solver in rooting out a traitor or two within his own organization. The professor wants Matthew to come to his island and attend a conference under an assumed name and use his skills in problem solving to point the finger at the man, or men, who have betrayed the criminal mastermind. The only catch is that Matthew refuses the invitation. So, the professor has his men, under the command of Jason and Rebecca Mallory (aka Aria Chillany and Jonathan Gentry) blow up certain businesses, putting Matthew's name on the wall of the establishment across the street from the massive destruction. It isn't long before Matthew becomes a prime suspect in what's taking place. Due to a number of extenuating circumstances, the young man eventually has no choice but to accept the professor's invitation. Even worse, Berry Grigsby (the problem solvers true love) and Zed are forced to accompany Matthew on the trip to an island in the Caribbean.

When Matthew arrives to the island with the name of Nathan Spade, an employee who works for the professor, he soon encounters several criminals of the vilest type. The professor informs him that one of the people is a traitor and must be found and killed. Professor Fell promises to pay Matthew handsomely for the task and to make sure no harm comes to either Berry or Zed before they are returned to New York.
Before Matthew even begins his search for the traitor, however, he incurs the wrath of the Thacker brothers, who have their eyes on him. It's only with the help of Minx Cutter, an expert at forgery and knives, and Fancy, an Indian who knew Walker in Two Worlds, that Matthew has even a slight chance of escaping the island and doing some necessary damage to Professor Fell's organization of death and mayhem.
Before the end of the novel, Matthew Corbett will see the gruesome beheading of a man at the dining room table, he'll intentionally set up two men to be tortured in the most horrible manner, watch a huge, frightening octopus eat a decapitated head, have the best sexual encounter of his life, and that's not even the tip of the iceberg. All in all, this is just another day in the life of a professional problem solver.

The Providence Rider by Robert McCammon is an excellent, historical thriller that paints a picture of New York City during the early 1700s and what life was like. The times were definitely hard and death was usually quick. That Robert McCammon is a master of his craft can be seen on every page and in every sentence and with every word written. He knows how to use words to describe locations and characters that come to light in the reader's mind like a spectacle of colors. In fact, many of the scenes stay with you long after the novel has been read. Some even reappear in your dreams during the darkness of night.

His lead character, Matthew Corbett, gives us a young man who has certainly lost his innocence during this exciting four-book journey and seen the reality of evil that exist within our world in all of its hideous glory. Even so, he continues to use his skills to insure justice prevails and that those who would maliciously hurt others are destroyed. Matthew, however, is not a person without his own flaws and weaknesses. He knows what they are and has to constantly fight them in order to succeed at the tasks put before him. In other words, he's a human being who's always striving to do the right thing in the most chaotic situation.

Don't just read The Providence Rider, but grab all four novels and devour them like a man who hasn't eaten in a week. They will leave you wanting more, and that's what the author intends on giving the reader during the next few years. He plans a ten-book series and is already at work on the fifth novel. I just hope to be around long enough so I can review the last "Matthew Corbett" novel.

Robert McCammon is one of my all-time favorite writers. After firmly establishing himself as a master of horror (read the classic SWAN'S SONG to find out why) he has leisurely moved into the realm of terrific historical fiction.

THE PROVIDENCE RIDER is the fourth novel in the Matthew Corbett series that takes place in NYC during the early 1700's. It is a dangerous and unpredictable world and Corbett along with his partner at the Herald Agency, Hudson Greatstreet.

This installment is firmly a solo effort for Corbett as he goes undercover to infiltrate the dangerous and devious inner circle of the nefarious Professor Fell. This includes going to Fell's personal Island where the trick will be how to leave it alive.

The title of the novel refers to a label given Corbett as being a problem solver. THE PROVIDENCE RIDER provides many problems for Corbett and much to savor if you are fortunate to read this novel.

I've been reviewing Robert McCammon's novels since Usher's Passing was first published back in 1984. I wrote that particular review for Fantasy Mongers magazine and stated that Mr. McCammon was one of the best writers in the field at that time. After almost thirty years (has it been that long?), nothing has changed. Mr. McCammon is still writing, and he's still one of the finest authors in today's marketplace.

That's not an easy accomplishment for any writer.

What has mystified me for the last decade is why none of the major publishing houses have really given Mr. McCammon a shot. His "Matthew Corbett" series (Speaks the Nightbird, The Queen of Bedlam, Mister Slaughter, and The Providence Rider) is truly one of the most creative, entertaining, thought-provoking, historical adventures around. I know Putnam published The Queen of Bedlam, but they did such a terrible job on the book that I tend to think they felt it wouldn't sell more than ten copies. Listen, I'm a sixty-one-year-old man; yet, I still get excited whenever a new "Corbett" novel is announced. These books should be on every country's bestseller lists. This means the publisher needs the ability to produce several hundred thousand copies of the book and do at least a hundred thousand dollars worth of publicity. It should also be noted that these novels would make excellent theatrical movies with either Toby McQuire or Elijah Wood playing the role of Matthew Corbett. Done correctly, the movies could easily become as popular as the first three Spiderman films or The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Wake up, Hollywood, and take a look at the money-making aspects of this fabulous series! If Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter can be turned into a major summer movie, then so can the "Matthew Corbett" series.

Subterranean Press has published the last two novels in the series (Mister Slaughter and The Providence Rider), and I have to say this publishing house has a done a magnificent job on the creation of each book. Everything from the type of paper, to the font, the binding, the interior illustrations, and the cover art has been done with a sense of true love and utter craftsmanship. These are beautiful books to behold and to own, even the trade hardcovers. My hat goes off to the owner of Subterranean Press, William Schafer, for publishing such beautiful books. This is the way Mr. McCammon's novels should be published, not the way Putnam did it.

Now, let me discuss The Providence Rider. There will be some spoilers here so prepare yourself, or skip this part of the review.

The story takes place the winter after Mister Slaughter (one of the most terrifying novels I have ever read because of its total believability), and Matthew Corbett still hasn't recovered fully from his encounter with a villain who's heart was filled with nothing but pure, murderous evil. Even Matthew's partner in the Herald Agency, Hudson Greathouse, is still dealing with the physical injures he endured from Tyranthus Slaughter. Everyone is therefore taking it day by day, until a series of explosions happen and businesses are suddenly destroyed.

You see, Professor Fell, who had a contract out for Matthew's head, has unexpectedly decided he needs the aid of the problem-solver in rooting out a traitor or two within his own organization. The professor wants Matthew to come to his island and attend a conference under an assumed name and use his skills in problem solving to point the finger at the man, or men, who have betrayed the criminal mastermind. The only catch is that Matthew refuses the invitation. So, the professor has his men, under the command of Jason and Rebecca Mallory (aka Aria Chillany and Jonathan Gentry) blow up certain businesses, putting Matthew's name on the wall of the establishment across the street from the massive destruction. It isn't long before Matthew becomes a prime suspect in what's taking place. Due to a number of extenuating circumstances, the young man eventually has no choice but to accept the professor's invitation. Even worse, Berry Grigsby (the problem solvers true love) and Zed are forced to accompany Matthew on the trip to an island in the Caribbean.

When Matthew arrives to the island with the name of Nathan Spade, an employee who works for the professor, he soon encounters several criminals of the vilest type. The professor informs him that one of the people is a traitor and must be found and killed. Professor Fell promises to pay Matthew handsomely for the task and to make sure no harm comes to either Berry or Zed before they are returned to New York.
Before Matthew even begins his search for the traitor, however, he incurs the wrath of the Thacker brothers, who have their eyes on him. It's only with the help of Minx Cutter, an expert at forgery and knives, and Fancy, an Indian who knew Walker in Two Worlds, that Matthew has even a slight chance of escaping the island and doing some necessary damage to Professor Fell's organization of death and mayhem.
Before the end of the novel, Matthew Corbett will see the gruesome beheading of a man at the dining room table, he'll intentionally set up two men to be tortured in the most horrible manner, watch a huge, frightening octopus eat a decapitated head, have the best sexual encounter of his life, and that's not even the tip of the iceberg. All in all, this is just another day in the life of a professional problem solver.

The Providence Rider by Robert McCammon is an excellent, historical thriller that paints a picture of New York City during the early 1700s and what life was like. The times were definitely hard and death was usually quick. That Robert McCammon is a master of his craft can be seen on every page and in every sentence and with every word written. He knows how to use words to describe locations and characters that come to light in the reader's mind like a spectacle of colors. In fact, many of the scenes stay with you long after the novel has been read. Some even reappear in your dreams during the darkness of night.

His lead character, Matthew Corbett, gives us a young man who has certainly lost his innocence during this exciting four-book journey and seen the reality of evil that exist within our world in all of its hideous glory. Even so, he continues to use his skills to insure justice prevails and that those who would maliciously hurt others are destroyed. Matthew, however, is not a person without his own flaws and weaknesses. He knows what they are and has to constantly fight them in order to succeed at the tasks put before him. In other words, he's a human being who's always striving to do the right thing in the most chaotic situation.

Don't just read The Providence Rider, but grab all four novels and devour them like a man who hasn't eaten in a week. They will leave you wanting more, and that's what the author intends on giving the reader during the next few years. He plans a ten-book series and is already at work on the fifth novel. I just hope to be around long enough so I can review the last "Matthew Corbett" novel.

Robert McCammon is one of my all-time favorite writers. After firmly establishing himself as a master of horror (read the classic SWAN'S SONG to find out why) he has leisurely moved into the realm of terrific historical fiction.

THE PROVIDENCE RIDER is the fourth novel in the Matthew Corbett series that takes place in NYC during the early 1700's. It is a dangerous and unpredictable world and Corbett along with his partner at the Herald Agency, Hudson Greatstreet.

This installment is firmly a solo effort for Corbett as he goes undercover to infiltrate the dangerous and devious inner circle of the nefarious Professor Fell. This includes going to Fell's personal Island where the trick will be how to leave it alive.

The title of the novel refers to a label given Corbett as being a problem solver. THE PROVIDENCE RIDER provides many problems for Corbett and much to savor if you are fortunate to read this novel.

Not my favorite in the series, but still rather enjoyable. I was very intrigued by Dr. Fells' character in this one and am looking forward to more of his story and interactions with Matthew. Should be quite the event when they meet again.

Even though this was the weakest Corbett story so far, I still consider it one of the best series out there. 3.5 the store Stars and looking forward to more.

The Providence Rider was one of my three most anticipated novels of the year, and I was thrown off guard when it arrived nearly a month early while I was in the middle of reading the unabridged version of The Count of Monte Cristo. Only through extreme willpower, did I slog through Monte Cristo before eagerly devouring the latest installment of Matthew Corbett.

It's by far the shortest of the four novels, but it packs a walloping punch, hooks you from the opening, and doesn't let up until you read the final page.

I would highly recommend reading the first three novels of McCammon's epic series before tackling The Providence Rider, but you could follow this tale without the first three novels. You'll just miss out on some salient details and a pretty large number of subtle nods to previous events and characters. Still McCammon does pretty well in providing previous key plot points in high-level detail.

The novel starts out in New York with Matthew Corbett still reeling from his brutal adventure against Tyranthus Slaughter and Lyra Sutch. Against this backdrop, Matthew is quite reluctant to attend a dinner invitation extended by an emissary of the infamous Professor Fell. Fell, however, is not one to take No for an answer. Soon, explosions begin rocking buildings around the city and promise to continue to do so until Matthew takes Professor Fell up on that meeting.

Fell is looking for Matthew to be a Providence Rider, someone who can ride in and deliver a much-needed boon to the Professor. The setting for this adventure, however, is far from New York. Instead Matthew must travel to the mysterious Pendulum Island where the criminal Master Bosses of Professor Fell's empire are gathered for a meeting. As one would expect from McCammon, this motley group of characters are a macabre bunch. Some are grotesque, others creepy, some downright violent, or a combination of those traits. Matthew has gone up against a few grisly characters in past books, but never quite on the scale of this one where he faces off against nearly a dozen adversaries.

I was thinking a lot about first meetings of characters: Watson and Holmes, Gollum and Bilbo, etc. Sometimes when you read those passages you know that those characters will have a powerful relationship, in friendship or adversarial, throughout the remainder of the tale. Matthew gets his long awaited meeting with Professor Fell, although it unfolded in a manner I was not expecting. Still, the relationship between these two is irrevocably changed after this book. Matthew has mucked with the peripheral of Fell's organization before, but when he finds himself in the very heart of it, Matthew Corbett will do as Matthew Corbett does and be a fly in the ointment where he can cause so much more damage.

McCammon's writing is in typical fine form: direct, florid, and visceral. At times, McCammon provides light-hearted whimsical details then immediately follows with gruesome notes, but they never feel cheap or throw away lines. His prose is some of the best out there, and McCammon is at the top of his game in The Providence Rider.

Probably my only caveat is the book's brevity. I would have liked to see more of Matthew's adventures on Pendulum Island. There were times when I felt it all unfolded maybe too quickly. I consider that nitpicking though, because the tale itself is a rollicking page-turner, and it fits well within the scope of this 10 book series. In many ways, this feels like the opening of the second act. We now know Matthew Corbett and we have a better idea of Professor Fell. Now we get to see how these two will battle one another over the remaining 6 books. Get cracking, Mr. McCammon.

I was disappointed with this adventure of Matthew Corbett. I loved every installment in McCammon's series about a young problem solver, but this one took a long time to get on with it. The tale took more than a hundred pages to really take flight, Matthew Corbett resisting to move the story along with reminiscence about the previous adventures, and brooding about not telling his friends anything. Once it got going, we saw a Matthew depending on every character for his salvation and being a very passive hero. I will continue buying and reading McCammon's novels and follow Matthew Corbett in his next adventure, hoping that this was a misstep and that he will be back in great form.

In this fourth bone-chilling episode, Robert McCammon brings his young protagonist, Matthew Corbett, professional problem-solver, back to Manhattan after a horrific encounter with the mass murderer Tyranthus Slaughter (as seen in Mister Slaughter, 2010). The result is a rush of head-on suspense, danger, mystery, and a bit of humor that attacks the senses and assults any reader's imagination.

Haunted by his past events, Corbett finds himself engulfed in a series of events of which he can neither understand nor decipher. Always keeping "one eye forward and one eye behind," Corbett begins to sense that he is being targeted and needed for something much larger than he has undergone in his past. As bombs explode in his Manhattan neighborhood and his name appears at the crime scene, Corbett begins to realize that he is being summoned by none other that the "Emperor of Crime," Professor Fell.

Revealed with meticulous detail and perverse beauty, McCammon intertwines a cruel phenomenon within his narrative and brings his two enemies together. Professor Fell is in need of a Providence Rider and with Corbett's skills and knowledge he suddenly becomes a wanted man. Manipulated into leaving everything he knows, Corbett is commandeered unto Pendulum Island in the Bermudas where he is veiled as an assasin and asked to embrace his new appearance; with the understanding that to say no would be a death sentence.

With a death warrant endorsed by Professor Fell against him, confusion yet fascination overtake Corbett, but as he meets his new companions, he becomes conscious that his services are needed to solve a serious and very deadly problem that could affect more than he's ever dreamed. Corbett attends the conference of murderers along with Sirki, the East-Indian killer, Dr. Gentry, an expert in potions, and the enticing Aria Chillany, a murderous woman, and where his death is could be imminent.

For those already fans of McCammon's novels, The Providence Rider will not disappoint. The novel devours the reader with its grotesque imagery and unique style, feeding off the horror and suspense that only McCammon can provide.

Did anyone else note the following: on page 23 of The Providence Rider, Matthew wore "a plain dark blue suit" to a dance. On page 73 ( a few days later in the course of the story), "he only had two suits and both were dark, one black and one brown." I wish the author or his editor would pay a little more attention, or alternatively, tell us what happened to the blue suit. Two stars for sloppiness. I haven't finished this one yet, but River of Souls was disappointingly poor compared to the earlier books in this series. Apply the two stars to R of S also.

This is the latest installment in the Mathew Corbett series.
In this novel we meet Matthew's nemesis, Professor Fell.
I love how Matthew is growing throughout the series. At first in "Speaks the Nightbird" Matthew is uncertain and a bit naive. As the series continues, he is learning and becoming more and more sure of himself. As he takes part in the scarier and darker side of life,as in "Mister Slaughter" he becomes more hardened, more worldly. Now in his latest, Matthew is reminding me of that old Nietzsche quote: "Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."
Will Matthew survive this look into the abyss? You will have to read it to find out!

If you love history and mysteries, please stop reading these reviews and buy yourself Speaks the Nightbird, first in the Matthew Corbett series (4 thus far). Set in the Colonial Americas,in these fantastic books you'll travel with Matthew Corbett, indelibly curious magristrate's clerk.

This fourth installment picks up right where the 3rd, Mister Slaughter, left off. The characters have been lovingly crafted and speak with true voices. A thrilling page-turner, the fast pace and complex plots make it impossible to put down once the first chapter has been read. I love most of Mr. McCammon's works, but this series is sublime.

Although I enjoyed the plot and the characters for the most part, I didn't know whether to take this book seriously or not. It seemed like a farce, so maybe I wasn't supposed to take it so seriously. So I was confused. I supposed what bothered me the most was that the characters acted and spoke in very modern ways--too modern for 1703--in my opinion.

This novel picks up (literally) right after Mister Slaughter leaves off. Matthew Corbett has emerged from his encounter with Slaughter, and receives an "offer he can't refuse" from Professor Fell, the criminal mastermind. Once again, Matthew's off/on/off love interest, Berry, and the aloof slave Zed are thrown into the mix of action, and Professor Fell's cast of cutthroats plumb new depths of depravity. By the end, the reader is exhausted, but hungry for more -- and there are enough loose ends left flapping about to pull us into the next episode. (This is YOUR cue, McCammon: get busy writing the next one! You're keeping us waiting!)

I really enjoyed Robert McCammon's latest Matthew Corbett adventure. This book had everything, mystery, suspense, humor, and a healthy portion of adventure. Looks like more Matthew Corbett novels are coming down the pike. Personally, I can't wait.