The Dark Secret of Weatherend

The Dark Secret of Weatherend is a fantasy novel by John Bellairs

Plot summary

One day Anthony and Ms. Eells decide to go for a drive to get some ice cream. On the way to the ice cream stand, they pass The Weatherend, a dilapidated mansion and estate where the eccentric J.K. Borkman died. Borkman was obsessed with the weather, and spent his last years observing the weather. Ms. Eells talks Anthony into stopping to explore the mansion, despite the "No Trespassing" signs.

Inside, they find statues with different symbols representing Wind, Snow, Hail, and Lightning. Anthony, thoroughly unnerved by now, convinces Mrs. Eels to leave. On their way out, the eternally clumsy Mrs. Eels puts her foot through the floorboards, revealing a diary hidden between the floorboards and the joists. Anthony picks up the book as they flee the building and the threatening man and dog. Mrs. Eels finds out that the man who ran them off the estate is Anders Borkman, J.K. Borkman's son. One day Borkman arrives at the library and hypnotizes Anthony and Ms. Eells into giving him the book they had found at Weatherend. Anthony has made a copy of the book just in case, as practice for learning how to use the copy machine.

Terrifying weather begins sweeping through Hoosac and Wisconsin, and Anthony and Ms. Eells know from the book they found at Weatherend that it is connected to J.K. Borkman and the statues at Weatherend.