Books: Cardinal Black by Robert McCammon

Cardinal Black is McCammon’s latest entry in his early American colonies thriller series featuring Matthew Corbett. Corbett is sometimes referred to as a young James Bond, but I’m not sure why. He’s not a spy (although he certainly does some spying), is much more of a thinker than a fighter, and while attractive to women (especially the femme fatal type), he’s not really a ladies’ man. I suppose that’s just an easy way for reviewers to put him in a box for easy consumption. 

In the series, Matthew is a good man in a world of brigands. Ostensibly working as a detective for the Herald Agency, he is based in early 1700s New York, a colorful and immersive world brought to life by master raconteur Robert McCammon. The book is the best entry in the series since the first, Speaks the Nightbird (one of my favorite books of all time). The story is a thrill a minute, with high stakes, major battles with villains, narrow escapes and twisty alliances that change every few pages. 

Cardinal Black is continued from the last volume, Freedom of the Mask. Matthew has promised to regain a book of evil potions for the crime boss Professor Fell. He is assigned a chaperone to keep him in line, a charming psychopath named Julian Devane. Starting out as bitter enemies, the two come to, if not an understanding, at least a mutual respect. Why would Matthew agree to such a thing? Berry Grigsby, the love of Matthew’s life, is a drugged prisoner of Professor Fell, and will stay in a permanent brainwashed and drugged state unless Matthew can recover the book—which contains the antidote to Berry’s ills. 

The mission takes Matthew and Julian to the heart of the English countryside and some very bad men. And women. The villains, a rogue British Admiral and Satan’s helper, the aptly named Cardinal Black, are auctioning off the potion book to the highest bidder, buyers that include killers from the worst criminal groups in the world. Any of whom would kill Matthew in a second. And believe me, they try. 

I couldn’t put this book down; McCammon is a master of suspense and cliffhanging chapter endings. Will Matthew get the book and save Berry? Will Professor Fell kill him when his task is accomplished? How will they escape? And who will change the other the most, Matthew or Julian? Cardinal Black is a brilliant thriller and a true treat. So go treat yourself.

Grade: A

Worth your valuable time: Yes!