Description: Atmospheric. . .part mystery, part compelling account of an angst-ridden young man finding his way in the world. Booklist Poignant and funny, especially about the self-destructive fools that love makes us. Dorst is a talent to watch. Kirkus This charming first novel maps the landscape and lives of a small town where ghosts and the living are sometimes indistinguishable from one another. That's what police officer Michael Mercer discovers the night he saves the life of a teenage boy left unconscious and at the mercy of the elements in a Colma, Calif., cemetery. Later, Michael witnesses nocturnal incidents that turn out to be the afterlife activities of local residents who've been dead for decades. The repetitive and unresolved activities of the dead slyly parallel Michael's aimless life and the lives of friends and colleagues similarly mired in day-to-day routine. Though the supernatural elements aren't as well integrated into the main action as they might be, Dorst strikes a perfect balance between humor and pathos. His ability to show the magic potential of everyday lives marks him as an author to watch. Publishers Weekly Praise for Doug Dorst:It would be a shame if Doug Dorst is written of as one of the best debut novelists weve seen in years. Hes better than that. Hes one of the best novelists weve seen in years, writing well beyond the level weve learned to expect of first novelists or new voices. He has the control and daring possessed by only the greats of each generation. He writes with humor and wisdom that is rare, and an empathy for his characters that is warm and complex and unique. Stephen Elliott, author of Happy Baby

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