DEAD LINES by Greg Bear

FIC

BEA

Peter Russell's career as a soft-porn director fell victim to the more popular hardcore pornography. His marriage disintegrated after the murder of his daughter. When his best friend dies, little is left Peter besides his job as a general dogsbody to a multi-millionaire.

Asked to help sell the "Trans," a sort of cell phone with unlimited bandwidth and perfect reception, Peter accepts a boxful of them. Soon Peter starts seeing dead people. Peter's story is not so much science fiction as horror. Readers who like Dean Koontz's milder horror stories are a likely audience.

ODD THOMAS by Dean Koontz

FIC

KOONTZ

Twenty-something Odd Thomas is a short-order cook in Pico Mundo, a small city in the western desert. Odd Thomas sees dead people. Though Odd does not fear the dead, he finds his ability to be a curse as often as it is a gift. Sometimes the dead seek his help in bringing their murderers to justice, and sometimes, with the help of the chief of police, Odd can prevent a crime. This time, however, the carnage Odd hopes to prevent, protecting his city and his beloved Stormy, is of unprecedented proportions. Odd must do his best in a race against time....

Readers looking for a well-written horror story, including a bit of bittersweet romance will be more than satisfied with Odd Thomas.