• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• List Price: $7.99 (US & CDN)
• Publisher: Ace (February 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441015786
• ISBN-13: 978-0441015788

A new urban fantasy featuring a man working on the right side of law-with talents that come from left field. Psychometry-the power to touch an object and divine information about its history-has meant a life of petty crime for Simon Canderous, but now he’s gone over to the good side. At New York’s underfunded and (mostly) secret Department of Extraordinary Affairs, he’s learning about red tape, office politics, and the basics of paranormal investigation.

But it’s not the paperwork that has him breathless. After Simon spills his coffee on (okay, through) the ghost of a beautiful woman- who doesn’t know she’s dead-he and his mentor plan to find her killers. But Simon’s not prepared for the nefarious plot that unfolds before him, involving politically correct cultists, a large wooden fish, a homicidal bookcase, and the forces of Darkness, which kind of have a crush on him.

When Simon is called to help Connor stop a rampaging ghost in downtown Manhattan, they soon unravel something pretty big. Ghosts are turning up all over and they can’t remember how they died or who they were, with the help of one such ghost, Irene they try and figure out who is draining these ghosts and what the purpose is.

I have to tell you, when I read that Simon has the ability to touch things and gain knowledge from them, I wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea. I’ve read books where the main character had the ability and  I wasn’t happy with the way they did the power. Mr. Strout did justice to this power, when used Simon basically goes into lack of sugar shock (hypo). It made the power one that was “believable”, something that could happen. Simonpreviously used his power to help criminals gain priceless pieces, but now he’s on the good end trying to read things for the DEA and learning to use his powers with the help of his mentor Connor (who I didn’t really like at all, he irked me).

Simon is a very likeable character, you can feel his guilt at using his powers for bad and feel how hard he is trying to help everyone, even if it gets him into some pretty bad situations. Nevermind his sex life, poor guy can’t touch anything without gloves on or he is transported back into their lives. Imagine having to live through someone elses sex life!? It’s enough to make you go insane, or remain single for the rest of your life. No wonder he has the hots for a ghost! Simon uses sarcasm but you can tell he is good people, he is constantly trying to save someone be it a ghost or a cultist.

There are a lot of snort worthy moments, Simon and Connor are attacked by a magic bookcase (every readers worst nightmare). And there are characters you want to hear more about, like Ms. T the resident coffee-ground reader. All in all, a great start to a UF series that’s so different from the rest you can’t wait to read more!

My Rating: 4/5

Visit Anton Strout on his Website (He’ll be here next month to talk about his third Simon book!)

Buy Dead To Me at:

Chapters/Indigo

Amazon

Barnes & Noble