Today’s book market is so glutted with self-published novels that readers often find it hard to separate the good from the mediocre and the terrible. Sunil Bhatia’s The Weeper belongs to the good category.

Reminiscent of the Book of Job, the novel concerns Gabriel Crossman, a father who has lost everything in a home invasion. With his wife and daughters dead and his house burned to the ground, he holes up in a cheap motel, nursing guilt and rage, until a stranger who seems to know all about his loss offers him a way out of darkness. At first, Gabriel refuses. His emotions blind him and cause him to stumble. But cherished memories of his family, combined with his innate goodness, leave him no alternative.

The outcome is somewhat predictable, but this novel is so well-written that you can’t help turning the pages. The more the stranger asks of Gabriel, the harder his task becomes. I found myself wondering what I would do in his position. The ending rewarded me with a poignant surprise and bolstered my faith that with God at my side, nothing is impossible.

Brief at only 145 pages, The Weeper contains a few annoying typos. Bhatia’s insight into Gabriel’s character made them insignificant. I hope everyone with a desire for a closer relationship with God, and hope for his fellow human beings, will give this novel a chance.

Chevron Ross's novels include Weapons of Remorse, The Seven-Day Resurrection, and The Samaritan's Patient. Click here for more information.