Book Review | Queen of Bedlam by Robert McCammon

Robert R McCammon had a long string of amazing novels from 1978 until 1992. Then NOTHING for ten years. When he returned to publishing, it was in 2002 with Speaks the Nightbird. I gobbled that book up immediately and was thrilled that one of my favorite authors had returned. Then, I guess I went into a coma. Because in 2007, the follow-up. The Queen of Bedlam, was published and I did nothing about it. Same with the next FIVE sequels!
Well, in 2023, I'm beginning to remedy that. Here is my review of The Queen of Bedlam:
Take a trip back to 1702 with me. Apparently, it's back when murder was invented.
Robert McCammon makes having your face pushed into a pile of horse manure fun! I loved every minute of this book and was pretty bummed when it was over. Thank goodness there are 8 more books in the series!
The story follows Matthew Corbett three years after the events in Speaks the Nightbird. Now he's in an infant New York working as a clerk to a magistrate wondering what he's going to do with his life as he pals around with Ross and Rachel at Central Perk. Maybe not that last bit.
Then murders most foul begin to happen and Corbett doesn't want his sweet little town of New York to become another sh!thole London! So he's off to solve the case and invent a profession and the entire book is so addictive and just the kind of escape from AI and the WEF I love. This is what books are supposed to do to your brain and your heart.
I don't know how I'm going to resist jumping into Mr. Slaughter, the third book in the series, but I need to get through a few other books on my TBR first. I'm so happy I picked this series back up after a 20-year gap between the first book and this one. What took me so long?!
4 stars!!!
Buy your copy and be as happy as I am: amzn.to/3FD8O9n

[@ScullyPop]

Dang if I don't have the rona. See you in a few days!

[@THEJEFFWORD]

Get well! The world needs you!

[@stevent5050]

Great review, Jeff. And I agree that this book is actually a touch better than "Nightbird." Actually, I think it's the best in the entire series. Not that it's "all downhill from here." Not by a long shot. "Freedom Of The Mask" is another 5-star entry in my opinion.
And hear me out on this theory of mine: I'm convinced Fracassi based his protagonist from "Gothic" on Robert McCammon. (Well, at least up until things go off the rails). World famous horror author....experiencing a dry spell.....wants to go in a different direction....submits a work based in 1700's colonial America. Whattaya think?

[@THEJEFFWORD]

I think your theory is spot on. I know it's come up before and I believe it may have been confirmed by the man himself. Though I'm not 100% certain so you'll have to file that tidbit under hearsay.
I can't wait to survive the sandworms and finally get back to the Corbett series!!!