The Night the Bridge Cried is a new historical novel from Celina native, Janice Jones, who found inspiration in the local legend of Bloody Bridge
December 1, 2025
From the Award-Winning author of Dr. Beare’s Daughter and just in time for Christmas, comes a darkly funny, unforgettable novel that explores what it means to stand alone, fight for what’s right, and face the cost of knowing too much.
Summary:
In 1960, the people of Grunion Glade, Ohio are descendants of twin canal boat captains who left their boat to chase a lost football, found their brides, and built a town in the shadow of a haunted bridge. Their legacy lives on through the high school football team, The Captains, undefeated state champions. Bob Skinner Junior, a fatherless farm boy who dreams of gridiron glory, is tasked with protecting his cousin, William, a misfit dwarf with a dangerous hatred of football who discovers a secret that could destroy the legacy. In the background the bridge stands as a sentinel, watching, waiting.
Author Bio:
Janice Jones grew up in Celina, Ohio in the 1960s. She spent her Saturdays in the library and fell in love with books. She grew up to have a career as a freelance editor and writer. Currently a resident of Michigan, her inspiration for her books comes from the colorful characters she knew growing up as the daughter of a doctor in Mercer County. Jones found inspiration for The Night the Bridge Cried in the legend of Bloody Bridge that crosses the canal on route 66, just outside St. Marys.
The Night the Bridge Cried is available from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and most places where books are sold.
Mercer County Outlook 