Blackwater: The Complete Saga Audiobook By Michael McDowell cover art

Blackwater: The Complete Saga

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Blackwater: The Complete Saga

By: Michael McDowell
Narrated by: Matt Godfrey
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About this listen

Blackwater is the saga of a small town, Perdido, Alabama, and Elinor Dammert, the stranger who arrives there under mysterious circumstances on Easter Sunday, 1919. On the surface, Elinor is gracious, charming, anxious to belong in Perdido, and eager to marry Oscar Caskey, the eldest son of Perdido’s first family. But her beautiful exterior hides a shocking secret. Beneath the waters of the Perdido River, she turns into something terrifying, a creature whispered about in stories that have chilled the residents of Perdido for generations. Some of those who observe her rituals in the river will never be seen again ...

Originally published as a series of six volumes in 1983, Blackwater is the crowning achievement of Michael McDowell, author of the Southern Gothic classics Cold Moon Over Babylon and The Elementals and screenwriter of Beetlejuice and The Nightmare Before Christmas. This first-ever one-volume edition will allow a new generation of listeners to discover this modern horror classic.

©1983, 2017 Estate of Michael McDowell (P)2017 Valancourt Books LLC
Horror Scary
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I have re-listened several times, and realized I should post a positive review if I like it so much. The characters are multi-dimensional and unique to each other (except while being possessed). It is a saga that follows a single family, and I just kind of wish it would keep following for a fifth or sixth generation!

Some characters remind me of strong-willed women I’ve known - they have very unique ways of interacting with the world and it is very well described here. The characters “come to life”, but…really. They really feel like real people.

I will absolutely listen to this again and again.

Southern Horror & History

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The story. The narration. The characterization. This is top notch audio entertainment. The family drama pulls you in. And there’s just enough horror elements to keep it interesting.

The best audiobook I’ve listened to

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A phenomenal story equal parts eerie, funny, atmospheric, and tragic — a story spanning multiple generations of a family- I never wanted it to end. Expertly written and narrated

I’ll never get that Perdito water out of my head

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This story swept across decades with incredible characters and an extraordinary story that kept me hooked the entire way. Loved it and I will probably listen to it again.

Excellent Story!

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The story stayed with you and was hard to put down. The author made it possible for the reader to care about the characters.

Historical family story and great read.

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The narrator was very good. I also enjoyed the historical context, and the family saga juxtaposed to the Paranormal. The author's invention of a unique paranormal context was also well done.

Zattie Sapp

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So totally unexpected! I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of this extended story. It is definitely one I will re-read again.

Quite a Story

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I'm normally a sci-fi/fantasy person and I do love horror but I'm very picky about it. now I wouldn't say this qualifies as true horror but the story is wonderful very gossipy and panders to my need for gossipy stories lots of family drama etc The characters are wonderful The atmosphere is wonderful I've really enjoying this story.

Great story

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Really grew to love these characters, and feel sadness having finished it, knowing that is all there is to know about the story of the Caskey family.

Wonderful Character Drama with a Twinge of Supernatural Mystery

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He is a master storyteller. My only criticism is that he could have put in more spookiness and he leaves loose ends with some events like he just walked away.

It powerfully draws you in and you can’t stop thinking about the next chapter

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