Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

Odd Thomas, who narrates, is 20, works contentedly as a fry cook in a small California town, despite a talent for writing. The reason for his lack of ambition? A much rarer talent: Odd sees and converses with ghosts, the lingering dead who have yet to pass on, a secret he has kept from nearly everyone but his girlfriend, an eccentric author friend and the local police chief, whom he occasionally helps solve terrible crimes.

Odd also has the ability to see bodachs, malevolent spirits that feast on pain and whose presence signifies a likelihood of imminent violence. The proximity of bodachs to a weird-looking stranger in town, whom Odd dubs "Fungus Man," alerts Odd that trouble is brewing; breaking into Fungus Man's house, Odd discovers not only hundreds of bodachs but a shrine to serial killers that helps him deduce that somehow Fungus Man will wreak widespread havoc very soon-so Odd is caught in a classic race against time to deter catastrophe.

So while Odd tries to figure out where the event will happen he has to come to terms with his own past as he meets with his distant and conman father and his beautiful but psychotic crazy mother. Odd knows that his life is different but he wants to make a difference so he puts himself at risk to stop the killing but will it be in time to save who he loves most.

I'd heard about this series over the years but honestly I do not read horror books like Koontz or King. So I decided to get this on CD and found myself drawn into the really well done story. I found myself caring about Odd and his friends but living and dead, plus who knew that Koontz had such a sense of humor? Now I want to read more.