Connie Willis is usually quite good, and often very funny.

I have to say though that a couple years ago we read _Passage_ and it was... well, it's hard to describe without utterly spoiling it, other than "some people are looking into near-death experiences". What I'll say is that she pulls off a massive twist and a very unusual narrative technique. (I really had to trust the author for this one.) Only complaint is that about 25% of it should have been tightened up.