by Doug Dorst

 Get ready for some local action as we follow the story of Michael Mercer, a rookie cop for the Colma Police Department.  The twenty-nine year old man was floundering around in go nowhere jobs until he finally finds his calling as a Police Officer.  He feels very comfortable because he can go by "The Book" as an officer.  He has a long time relationship with Fiona, a nurse 13 years his senior, that is going nowhere.  Michael just can't commit! Things change for Michael when he discovers a near dead teenager in Greenlawn Cemetary who had been bound and gagged.  The teen, Jude DiMaio,  the son of a famous San Francisco movie director, claims he doesn't remember a thing about the incident or the people who did this to him.  Michael takes an interest in the boy and the DiMaio parents take an interest in Michael since he saved their son's life.  Meanwhile, back in the cemetary, a band of ruthless ghosts are tormenting other more peaceful spirits who inhabit the cemetary.  The ghosts are based on real-life people who are buried in Greenlawn such as aviator Lincoln Beachey and notorious criminal Doc Barker.  Michael is one of the two police officers capable of seeing the ghosts.  However, Officer Featherstone was killed by the ghosts and Michael is on his own in ridding the cemetary of these shady (pun intended) guys.  Jude's situation worsens as he becomes more involved with drug users and Michael once again saves the boy's life.  I really enjoyed this book.  A bit of a mystery and a bit of a fantasy, this book is also a funny and insightful story of the coming of age of both Michael and Jude.  Dorst has created some memorable interesting characters and, of course, the local angle is a lot of fun