Hear the Dead Cry

by Charlie Price

The cemetery I know best is Forest Grove. I spend most of my time there. That's where most of my friends are . . . The ones my age and the children, they almost all need someone to talk to. They weren't ready. They'll tell you that. Murray doesn't have many friends at school. A quiet loner with a troubled family life, he spends all his time down at Forest Grove cemetery, speaking to the dead and listening to their stories. When he hears a terrified new voice pleading for help, Murray is convinced it is Nikki, a popular young cheerleader who went missing over a month ago - but who will believe him? And where is the body? Together with Pearl, the daughter of the cemetery groundskeeper, Murray must struggle to uncover the truth in a town full of secrets.

Genres: Ghosts, Mystery, Young Adult

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 2010

Reviews

[Elizabeth Emily Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually really like this book. I don't normally like books like this but the cover caught my eye and I decided to give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised. I liked how it was dark but not really dark if you get what I mean. I also like how it's been written and would certainly read from this author again. There was nothing that I didn't like. I found it gripping and was unable to put it down!

[Meenakshi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book I read just to get it off of my physical tbr.
I went into it with really low expectations. It starts off stupid with our high school protagonist hanging out at his local cemetery because he can talk to the dead and he comforts them and is a friend to them. I already found the premise cringy more than creepy. But the book really picks up after a bit. The main character parts are still cringy with him becoming friends with the cemetery caretakers daughter and that entire subplot feels half boiled. But the book is essentially a murder mystery and there are multiple POVs. I liked the cops POV as we follow him trying to solve the disappearance of a high school cheerleader.
Overall, I thought the characters were fleshed out and the story was alright.

[Vicky Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book but was really annoyed by the ending.

[Danica Prinsloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murray can hear dead people, he can also talk to them.

Nikki Parker when missing over a month ago. Everyone is searching for her, nobody can find her.
Murray hears a voice crying, but he can't find the body.

the story is told with 6 main characters who is all connected in someway:

Murray: can hear the dead, his mother is a prostitute.
Janochek: cemetery groundskeeper
Pearl: Janochek's daughter, Murray's only friend
Billup: hates Murray and loves to drink.
Deputy Gates: needs to solve the Nikki case, lost his sun a few years back.
Robert Barry Compton: saw the kidnapping happen but keeps forget it because of brain damage.

& together they get to solve the case.
Nikki was murdered by her cousin one removed (Gary Craddock) then got thrown into his father's grave( who was buried that day)

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite enjoyed this. The characters are really well developed and unique which is great considering how many characters there are and how many POV shifts occur. I found that a but disjointing, that midway through a paragraph from one POV the reader is suddenly in the head of another character. But it's consistent, this happens throughout the novel.

I was a little annoyed at the blurb on the back as it says Murray is "convinced" the new ghost he hears is the missing girl, Nikki. In reality he doesn't come across this assumption until 3/4 of the way through the book. So the reader knew before he did, seemed a bit of a copout.

Short chapters, easy read, worth a look if you see it on a bookshelf :)

[♥ Ashleigh ♥ Contrary to popular belief I'm not actually mad! · Rating 2 out of 5]

Everyone in this book was either nutty, high on drugs and/or stupid, it was a little mind boggling actually. It also dealt with some pretty dark topics for being YA, unfortunately it was rather unsatisfactory as none of the dark topics (mainly sexual abuse of some kind) never got resolved, it was still there at the end. Realistic I suppose but disappointing.

I was also disappointed with who the killer turned out to be, I'm glad there was a twist but it was completely left field. No way we could have guessed 'who done it'. The story behind the killer was also very disheartening.

The premise behind the book was interesting and did keep me intrigued but I'm not 100% about the overall execution.

2.5 Stars.

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was stuck on whether to rate the book a 2 or a 3 so I've decided to go in-between and rate it a 2.5. I enjoyed the writing style, and that it was an easy read. However I found some of the characters unnecessary and you only find out the basics about them all, the plot was laid out with no real depth, the friendships were set in stone straight away and whatever the kid said, goes without any real hesitance, with unnecessary events. And also you don't get a conclusion. I found it a good plot, although no real depth. The story could have been amazing, and could of possibly had potential. 2.5/5 stars.

[Sakhile · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I picked it up, I expected a dark gothic story. I was disappointed it wasn't dark but impressed by the book overall.

[Jenyy · Rating 3 out of 5]

i'm disappionted in this novel...I really thought there was more to it..

[Anid Harker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing really too exciting here.