Although a few ghosts hang around for no apparent reason (Elvis, for example, rearranges the furniture sometimes), often the restless dead are murder victims seeking help to find their killers. Such is the case of Joey, a young boy mysteriously killed while in the care of his nanny. When other children in the neighborhood receive threatening mail, the police focus their efforts on protecting them...but Joey wants Odd Thomas to take care of the nanny. Only the murderer--and the dead--know the reasons why...."