The Weeping by O'Dell Hutchison Review

The Weeping by O'Dell Hutchison
★★★★☆
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Publisher: H, C, & B Publishing
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal, Ghosts, Drama, Suspense, Thriller, Horror
Format: ebook
Source: publisher for review
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Twenty years ago, Catherine Whitley was the victim of a horrible crime. Betrayed by her friends, including the boy she loved, she was left to die when the Rock Harbor Opera House caught fire, taking a disturbing secret with her to her grave. Seventeen-year-old Heath Ingram was driving the night his Jeep careened off the road, killing three of his closest friends. Once a popular, outgoing athlete, Heath now suffers from severe depression and crippling anxiety. His parents decide to send him to stay with his uncle in Rock Harbor, Oregon for the summer, praying that by getting away he will be able to put this awful tragedy behind him. When Heath starts working at the newly renovated Rock Harbor Opera House, he meets Molly, a young dancer who awakens in him a desire to start over and move on. But, when he begins having visions of a half-burned girl in a white dress, he starts to think he may be slipping even further over the edge. As the apparent hauntings become more intense, Heath begins to fear for his safety. With the help of his friend Josie, Heath discovers an unsettling secret that ties the mysterious girl to both their families. When two of their friends die unexpectedly, Josie and Heath realize that something, or someone, is after the children of those who wronged Catherine, and they are next.

The Weeping is a mysterious drama set in the Northwestern United States, filled with rainy days that make this suspenseful thriller even more nail biting. It's a haunting tale of murder and paranormal elements that bring an amazing book set in an old theatre to life.

Following a devastating car accident that has left 17 year old Heath feeling depressed and suicidal; his parents move him to Rock Harbor, Oregon to live with his uncle for the summer and work at the Opera House doing odds and ends jobs. But, once there Heath starts hearing and seeing things he can't believe. Enlisting the help of his new friends and coworkers Heath is determined to solve the mystery of Catherine Whitley. He delves deeper than he probably should have and finds out things he may not have wanted to know, especially things about someone close to him.

This book had me on edge trying to solve the mysteries found throughout before the characters (and I was often way off base). O'Dell Hutchison's writing is great, the dialogue between the characters was very real but not forced or cheesy. It is an excellently built thriller, not lacking in the thrill department ;)

I haven't read many horror/ghost-type stories and those that I have read were nothing compared to this one. I really enjoyed the theatre background and intense scenes between characters, it's full of suspense.

I did find it at times a little hard to take the graphic scenes O'Dell creates, the story does feature strong issues like rape and murder (especially the shock inducing ending).

If ghosts, hauntings, murders, and revenge are your thing (and even if they're not) check out this great young adult paranormal book!