Book Review: Haunted

Haunted: A Bridgeton Park Cemetery Book (Vol. 1) by Ophelia Julien

Review by Dina Rae

Ophelia Julien’s Haunted is about a young woman, Cassie, who falls apart after the loss of her boyfriend, Daniel.  Cassie bypasses college and works part-time in a bookstore.  She realizes her job is not a career, but the warm, cheerful, friendly workers become the secondary family she desperately needs.

Steve, the owner, hires a new employee, Michael, who Cassie is instantly attracted to.  She knew him when they were children. Cassie was part of the true story and remembered it from years ago.  The ghost stories lead into Cassie’s own experience with the dead.

She and her mother live in a haunted house where a mass murder once took place.  Without spoiling the ending, other issues and tie-ins involve Cassie’s late father.

Ophelia Julien paints a vivid picture of grief through Cassie’s eyes as she writes a list about Daniel, the love of her life.  Through her list the reader learns the back story on their romance.  This is a particularly interesting twist because Cassie met Daniel while he was dying.  Most people would never start a relationship with someone who is terminally ill, but Cassie is not most people.  Julien makes it brilliantly clear that Cassie’s heart is as big as the sun.  Cassie is able to communicate with dead people, even Daniel. 

A dead boy visits Cassie and shines the light onto an old murder mystery that happened in Cassie’s home.  The way that Julien sets up the clues and old witnesses reminds me of my beloved Nancy Drew books from childhood.  Cassie shares her problems with Michael who is also ‘sensitive’ to the unknown.  Both characters fall in love.  Cassie holds back because of her grief. 

Michael is a likeable character.  He, too, has experienced tragedy.  As a teen, he wanted to date Cassie, but a fatal car accident killed his family.  Like Cassie, he isolates and wears his heart on his sleeve.

I would rate this book E for everyone.  It’s part mystery, part paranormal, and part romance.  I enjoyed the story tremendously, and was left in awe of how Julien built her characters in only 132 pages.  Her writing is haunting, staying with you long after the end of the book.  There were moments when I cried as I became more connected to the characters, especially Cassie.  Although there were sad parts, the story ends on a hopeful note.  Look forward to reading more of Julien’s work.  Paranormal lovers are in for a treat.  5 Stars