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Odd Thomas (Odd Thomas #1)

3.77 of 5 stars 3.77 · rating details · 128,929 ratings · 3,426 reviews

“The dead don't talk. I don't know why.” But they do try to communicate, with a short-order cook in a small desert town serving as their reluctant confidant. Odd Thomas thinks of himself as an ordinary guy, if possessed of a certain measure of talent at the Pico Mundo Grill and rapturously in love with the most beautiful girl in the world, Stormy Llewellyn. Maybe he has a...more

Paperback, 400 pages

Published August 29th 2006 by Bantam (first published 2003)

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Nov 23, 2012 UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-me, must-reread, 5-stars, pnr-ghosts, virginal-hero, sees-dead-people

Dean Koontz is an incredible author - one of my favorite in the PNR/Horror genre, and every Koontz book I've read has been fast paced, scary but not terrifying and, start to finish, grabs hold, doesn't let go.

“The dead don't talk. I don't know why.” But they do try to communicate, with a short-order cook in a small desert town serving as their reluctant confidant. Odd Thomas thinks of himself as an ordinary guy, if possessed of a certain measure of talent at the Pico Mundo Grill and rapturously

...more
Dean Koontz is an incredible author - one of my favorite in the PNR/Horror genre, and every Koontz book I've read has been fast paced, scary but not terrifying and, start to finish, grabs hold, doesn't let go.

“The dead don't talk. I don't know why.” But they do try to communicate, with a short-order cook in a small desert town serving as their reluctant confidant. Odd Thomas thinks of himself as an ordinary guy, if possessed of a certain measure of talent at the Pico Mundo Grill and rapturously in love with the most beautiful girl in the world, Stormy Llewellyn. Maybe he has a gift, maybe it’s a curse, Odd has never been sure, but he tries to do his best by the silent souls who seek him out. Sometimes they want justice, and Odd’s otherworldly tips to Pico Mundo's sympathetic police chief, Wyatt Porter, can solve a crime. Occasionally they can prevent one. But this time it's different.

A mysterious man comes to town with a voracious appetite, a filing cabinet stuffed with information on the world's worst killers, and a pack of hyena-like shades following him wherever he goes. Who the man is and what he wants, not even Odd’s deceased informants can tell him. His most ominous clue is a page ripped from a day-by-day calendar for August 15.

Today is August 14.

In less than twenty-four hours, Pico Mundo will awaken to a day of catastrophe. As evil coils under the searing desert sun, Odd travels through the shifting prisms of his world, struggling to avert a looming cataclysm with the aid of his soul mate and an unlikely community of allies that includes the King of Rock 'n' Roll. His account of two shattering days when past and present, fate and destiny converge is the stuff of our worst nightmares—and a testament by which to live: sanely if not safely, with courage, humor, and a full heart that even in the darkness must persevere.

Odd Thomas is a great start to the series. All the necessary world building is done so that it's interesting, funny and yes, even believable! Odd Thomas is the kind of guy I wish lived outside the pages of a book, because I'd love to know the 'real' him. He is kind, honest, funny and... he sees dead people. What more could you want in a friend?

If you enjoy humorous stories with a paranormal twist, be sure to check out this series. (less)

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Jun 23, 2008 Aaron Woodsworth rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: should-have-abandoned, skimmed-flowery-bits-to-finish

I haven't read Dean Koontz in years, and I wanted to see if I'd made a hasty judgment about him being not so good. He wrote a book called "Lightning" that I liked, but others I read were, as they say, "Meh." I picked up this book and the next in the series, "Forever Odd," and thought "sure, why not?"

Let me answer that question for you:

Dean Koontz' 20 year old I-see-dead-people fry cook character reads like a 20 year old written by a 50-something year old that assumes he can write a believable 20...more I haven't read Dean Koontz in years, and I wanted to see if I'd made a hasty judgment about him being not so good. He wrote a book called "Lightning" that I liked, but others I read were, as they say, "Meh." I picked up this book and the next in the series, "Forever Odd," and thought "sure, why not?"

Let me answer that question for you:

Dean Koontz' 20 year old I-see-dead-people fry cook character reads like a 20 year old written by a 50-something year old that assumes he can write a believable 20 year old character. Obviously it can be done well by many, but it doesn't work here. 20 yr. olds don't talk like this, they don't think like this, and the last time I met a 20 yr. old male that was vice free and often thought to himself that he'd have fit better in the 1950s---and is a virgin---AND wasn't Mormon was...well, I'm still waiting. Sure, one of those factors is easy enough to find, but the combination is rare enough to give one pause.

Do you like books that end at least 15 chapters with a "something bad was on it's way," or "I could feel the danger drawing near," or "Oh my God, things are about to get terrifying!" sort of sentence? Well, this book is up your alley, because about 70% of it feels like that ghost story you heard at camp that took hours and ended up being a kitten trapped in the closet and you wanted to poke the kid who told it but he was the Scout Master's son so you just walked off and cursed under your breath. That's not a spoiler. It's not a kitten that ultimately shows up to let loose the horrors---but that would have been better than what does come.

Do you like books that feature a morbidly obese best friend/mentor character, and every scene with that character reads like "You are my friend, but your weight worries me, and I care about you so stop being fat, please." And the friend says "I am glad a fat guy like me can have a friend like you, being as fat as I am---and hey, watch out for my cat, he's fat as well." If so, then this book is for you! Every scene---and it's not just fat characters---reads like judgment, which gets annoying fast.

Do you like books that inexplicably feature the ghost of Elvis, and the only music that people listen to are songs by, you guessed it, Elvis! And you get to learn lots of trivia about the King, because one of the main characters is obsessed with him. Yep. 20 yr. olds listen to Elvis all day, don't they?

And though this has nothing to do with Koontz' writing, it bugs me nonetheless: I don't like the fact that I have to pretend when looking at Koontz' author photo where he sports a thick brown mop of hair that when I read him in the 80s he looked like Dr. Phil. Maybe not that bald, but balder than now, that's for sure. I don't like that I'm supposed to just pretend that this new thick hair is real. The fiction has to stop somewhere, doesn't it? I think so. That just bugs me a little...

I'd write more, but why, really? I may be a bit more harsh than usual, but I just read 2 of these back to back, and am not going to follow Odd to go live in a monastery for the 3rd book, or wherever else he goes in the 4th that's out now. I'm a firm believer in the idea that you have to read the bad with the good in order to appreciate the talent of the writers you love. Koontz isn't a horrible writer, it's just not good, and it's really just not for me. Clearly he's doing ok, and sells books like crazy, so I don't think he'll be worried that I'm not riding in his bandwagon. And honestly, more power to him. This may be somebody's favorite book, and that's great, that's the beauty of books---we don't all have to like the same thing. That said, we're probably much more likely to get along well if this isn't in your top 100.

That's all. Two books. One star.

A: (less)

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Feb 12, 2009 Garrett rated it 5 of 5 stars

My wife and I listened to this (as an audiobook) during our Christmas-time travel home. We had both read a couple other Koontz novels and we trusted him to keep us awake and entertained. We were not disappointed.

Setting: A small world town - Pico Mundo. Pretty generic, by design. Lots of bad things seem to happen here for some reason that is not ever explained. Maybe they're on top of a Hellmouth (thanks, Buffy).

Plot: This is a fairly simple plot. Somebody is going to do something bad to lots of...more

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Jun 22, 2008 Terry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror, fiction

"Odd Thomas" by Dean Koontz is the first book in his “Odd” series. This novel probably inspired the television series Medium. There are several similarities between them, including the ability of the main character to speak with the dead and use information gleaned to solve crimes. Both also involve lots of action and some romance.

Odd Thomas is the protagonist and narrator of the novel. He is a 20 year old short-order cook at the local grill in a small desert town. He is surrounded by several qu...more "Odd Thomas" by Dean Koontz is the first book in his “Odd” series. This novel probably inspired the television series Medium. There are several similarities between them, including the ability of the main character to speak with the dead and use information gleaned to solve crimes. Both also involve lots of action and some romance.

Odd Thomas is the protagonist and narrator of the novel. He is a 20 year old short-order cook at the local grill in a small desert town. He is surrounded by several quirky people. Odd surreptitiously provides clues for solving crimes to police chief Wyatt Porter, who acts as his surrogate father. Odd is in love with the beautiful and sexually stunted Stormy. His best friend, the obese Little Ozzie, is a successful mystery writer who lives with a cat named Terrible Chester. Odd also has a sixth sense through which the dead communicate with him and has a built-in “GPS,” other-worldly creatures he calls bodachs, or evil ghosts, enabling him to track them. Bodachs hover around anything or anybody associated with violence and death. Sometimes dead victims of crimes use Odd as a conduit through which information passes to solve the crimes.

One day a suspicious stranger comes into the grill where Odd works. Odd nicknames him “Fungus Man.” He is alarmed because this stranger is followed by a large swarm of bodachs and undoubtedly will be connected with an impending epic disaster. Odd uses his internal GPS to locate the stranger’s apartment where he finds a mysterious dark room full of bodachs. He is sure this is a portal into hell. He also finds a filing cabinet full of information about the world’s most famous and gruesome killers, including a file on Fungus Man containing only a calendar page for August 15, the next day. To Odd, this means that a cataclysm will occur in the next 24 hours, involving him a race against time.

As in any good horror novel, the atmosphere is creepy, eerie and surreal. Descriptions of events are somewhat gruesome and gory. Sometimes I became confused about events, such as the scene involving the portal into hell. For a skeptic like me, this plot seemed pretty far-fetched and the protagonist appeared too heroic and Christ-like in his fight against evil. However, the horror is offset by lots of action, a fast pace, humorous and witty dialog, romance, and eccentric characters, including an occasional visit from Elvis.

READ-ALIKES –
Manhattan Hunt Club and Black Creek by John Saul
The Resort and The Walking by Bentley Little
Endless Night by Richard Laymon
Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson
(less)

9 likes · like · see review

Jun 07, 2008 The Black Pearl rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller-suspense, favorites

Best Read of 2004!!! Wow! What a way to start a new year. This is the first book I've read by Dean Koontz and I'm kicking myself in the behind for overlooking the man for some many years! After this review, I will make it a point to get my hands on a copy of everything the man has ever written.

I first mentioned this book to my ex-husband after coming across it in the bookstore early December. Back cover seemed interesting enough but, not being a fan of Koontz, I decided to put it on my "wish li...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Robby rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Dean Koontz Fans

Recommended to Robby by: Self

Shelves: horror

Have not read many Dean Koontz books, but this one looked like it might be a little different. And it no doubt was. I enjoyed it primarily because the story had character. Of course the main one being Odd Thomas. In reading; though in a supernatural landscape; one is drawn into the heartwarming, genuine voice given to Odd Thomas. From the beginning with...."I am not sure why you should care who I am or that I exist."; the hook is set. Read this last year but just now posting review; oh well. At...more

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Mar 11, 2009 Imogen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Isla was going to get this, but she was equivocating, so I knocked her over and took it. I have read a lot of Dean Koontz! Back when he was Dean R. Koontz. According to Wikipedia, in 1992, when I was thirteen, I had read every book he'd published under his own name- which was, what, like, a dozen or so? I used to get them from the library and read them at other kids' little league games... which sounds a little nerdy, in retrospect.

Anyway, I loved 'em! I was a little nerdy serious kid like "Mom...more

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Oct 23, 2012 Phil Stokoe rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was recommended the Odd Thomas books about a year ago by a friend and to be honest, forgot all about them. Then my wife bought me the book "Forever Odd" not realising that it was #2 in a series and I thought it made far more sense to read the first book to find out who was who and what was going on, and so I did.

As I have stated before, I find most of the books written by Dean Koontz to be a little formulaic and similar in plot/pacing. There's a "good guy", a "bad guy" a cat and mouse style ch...more I was recommended the Odd Thomas books about a year ago by a friend and to be honest, forgot all about them. Then my wife bought me the book "Forever Odd" not realising that it was #2 in a series and I thought it made far more sense to read the first book to find out who was who and what was going on, and so I did.

As I have stated before, I find most of the books written by Dean Koontz to be a little formulaic and similar in plot/pacing. There's a "good guy", a "bad guy" a cat and mouse style chase, some form of ultimate danger and a resolution, added to the fact I find his writing really easy to read I dove right in to the Odd Thomas world, not knowing if I was going to love it or hate it.

Turns out, I did neither. I liked it, how's that?

I don't like to give away spoilers when reviewing or recommending so I'll tread carefully and just say that, as I'm sure anyone who is thinking about reading the book would already know, that Odd communicates with the dead, even if they can't exactly communicate back. Odd is an aptly named character, as I personally don't know many 20 year old, virgin, fry cooks that are living in the 21st century but who would not be out of place in the 1950's, but he's a likeable enough character whereby you find yourself rooting for him to "win" as it were and not die as I sometimes find myself wishing that lead characters would do when they annoy me.

And maybe it's the fact that I am, at heart, a hopeless romantic that drew me into Odd's world and his deep affection for his girlfriend and "soul mate" Stormy. I wanted things to work out for them, as they rarely seem to do in real life.

So, yes, I found this to be a fun read, I didn't get bored and want Odd to die horribly, even if I was a little let down at the ending of the book, but I can't exactly say why without giving things away..which I hate, so I'm not going to do it, suffice to say I would have preferred a different ending, but I understand why it ended how it did. It kept me interested enough to want to further explore Pico Mundo and the strange goings on there and read the rest of the series, and that's what I intend to do, just maybe a couple at a time between other reads so that I don't find myself hating the character.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Apr 01, 2013 Sandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, nookbook

This Koontz book gets some wildly different reviews from fans. They appear to love it or hate it...not a lot of in between. I put off reading it for that reason and now after reading it, I understand why. It isn't a typical Koontz book. It is very verbose, sometime flowery, in it's narrative and it takes a bit of time to connect with Odd Thomas. However, I enjoyed it once I was in. It doesn't have the cliche "I see dead people" problems many of these books have. I will say that I saw the ending...more

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Mar 19, 2009 Mel Allred added it

This was the first of Koontz's Odd Thomas books that I read, maybe was his first, and I loved it. It's just odd that Odd's girlfriend is as odd as he is and you have to love them both. Though most of Koontz' villains are so vile as to be inhuman these villains are all too real and thus more frightening and make people more dead. Sometimes you can believe Koontz' characters that you fall in love with can not be killed by his supernatural villains, but when you're dealing with real live terrorist...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Bettie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: spring-2013, tbr-busting-2013, published-2003, ghosties-ghoulies, series

Rosado mp3

TBR Busting 2013

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Dec 13, 2011 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, 2011-favorites, 2011-reads

Caution: comments contain spoilers.

I like Dean Koontz but I am not a big fan. I don't know if the stories seem too generic or the characters are too standard in my view, but he gets me about 60% of the way there most times. I have actually put down a few of his books after about 50 pages because I simply lost interest. I know that he is wildly popular so obviously others don't share this view. Odd Thomas, both the novel and the character, were different for me though. The idea of someone being a...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Odd Thomas Is the second Dean Koontz book i have read and was an excellent read. The story centres on Odd Thomas who is just like everyone else working as a cook at the Pico Mundo Grill, has a great girlfriend Stormy and divorced parents. What makes Odd different is his ability to see the dead and liquid like things he calls bodachs who only appear when death is going to happen.

When a mystery man shows up in town Odd senses great danger for the ones he loves and the community as a whole. A sixth...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Duchess Nicole rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-pcs, genre-manly-authors, genre-mystery-suspense, pick-it-for-me, z-audiobooks, genre-horror, library, read-in-2012, z-no-bueno

Folks, I just can't do it. I made myself get to around 65% on audio, and I've had to backtrack to re-listen about five hundred times (slight exaggeration). I'm just wasting valuable reading time at this point.

This is the second DNF for me this year, out of over two hundred fifty books, so I don't do this lightly. The genre just isn't for me. I've read and enjoyed Koontz other works up to a point. I find his characters to be a little to nice, a little too real for the horror/mystery genres. I sa...more Folks, I just can't do it. I made myself get to around 65% on audio, and I've had to backtrack to re-listen about five hundred times (slight exaggeration). I'm just wasting valuable reading time at this point.

This is the second DNF for me this year, out of over two hundred fifty books, so I don't do this lightly. The genre just isn't for me. I've read and enjoyed Koontz other works up to a point. I find his characters to be a little to nice, a little too real for the horror/mystery genres. I say if you're going to create a character that communes with the dead, or slays monster bad guys, or whatever...he's got to have some big ole balls.

Odd Thomas is a flat, boring, borderline simpleton. Simple is the perfect word. And while I know many people thought that this was his most endearing trait, it was most definitely not for me. I like complexity, I like depth. And I just didn't feel it here. Which kind of sucks, because I loved the idea of Odd.

Not only did I not like Odd but the description! Aaaahhh! This is where I really started to tune out. Seriously, EVERY SINGLE PERSON that I met in this little town was described in detail, including their pasts, their homes, their jobs, how they met their significant other, and finally, FINALLY their significance (or not) to the story. Too. Much. For. Me. I just couldn't bring myself to care any more.

No matter how much my husband or any other male acquaintance thinks that because I am an avidly addicted reader that I MUST read this mystery/thriller/horror/political drama.....I say NO! I don't want to!! Not my kind of book. Thanks.

EDIT TO ADD: I feel that I should also say that I listened to the audio of this, and I think some of my aversion to the story may have been the narrator. He has a very 'nice' voice, like a Dad from an old black and white sitcom. It added to the boring factor. Koontz has a great imagination, and the story may have been better for me had I read the book instead of listening. (less)

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Nov 01, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

This book is alright and not great. The story is about Odd, a simple & righteous man who can see the dead. He had a girlfriend named Stormy and she was unlike any other woman. They believed they were soul mates and that they were going to be together forever....la da da da dah.

What I like about this book is the subtle humor and the simple lives of the characters. But it was too idealistic. Odd and Stormy were so good there were almost no conflicts. It made me feel sorry I don't have their re...more

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Feb 22, 2008 Ian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: suspense

This was my first Koontz book, and I read it on the recommendation of a friend. After reaching the last page I have to say that I'm surprised at how good the book ended up being!

For me, the book really took off at the end, and when I reached the more exciting parts I was more accepting of the bulk of the previous parts which set up the big climax. Aside from one single plot point, which I assume is explored more in the later books, everything tied together in an interesting and original way that...more

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Jun 21, 2007 NumberLord rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror

This is only the second book from Koontz that I've read (the first was "Servants of Twilight"), but wow! A very good book. The protagonist Odd Thomas (yep, that's his real name), much like the characters in "The Sixth Sense" and the Necroscope series, sees dead people. Although, as he says, "I see dead people. But then, by God, I do something about it." Unlike Lumley's Necroscope who could talk to the dead (but didn't really see them), Odd can see the dead but they can't/won't talk. One interest...more

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Jan 17, 2009 Audrey rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's been a really long time -- high school, I think -- since I've read anything by Dean Koontz, but the description of Odd Thomas caught my attention so I grabbed this from the library. I'm so glad I did. Odd Thomas is one of the best characters I've met in a long time. Koontz's writing is sharp and clear and very witty, and he can really amp up the suspense. And the ending -- never saw it coming, though I probably should have. I'm looking forward to reading more books about Odd.

4 likes · like · see review

Sep 06, 2008 Ruth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008-reads

I have never read Dean Koontz before, and have never found any real draw to him or his typical genre of writing. However, I've found myself suitably impressed with this first venture into his collection of novels.

The book was written in a fashion that I found very entertaining and engaging, staying light just long enough to knock me a bit off balance when it grew darker. The characters were nicely fleshed out in all their oddness (pun not intended but unavoidable) and were quite enchanting.

If po...more

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Jan 22, 2009 Jensownzoo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009-reads, fiction, urban-fantasy

Well, I found the style of writing a little irritating, but the characterizations and story more than made up for it. I loved quirky Odd Thomas and his fairly simple approach to life, despite the possession of a rather extraordinary gift regarding the dead. Also enjoyed the supporting characters. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

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Aug 24, 2008 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to me from a P.E. coach, I immediately fell in love with Odd Thomas within the first two pages. A small town fry cook, Odd, at 19, lives on his own and has the gift of sight. Although, his sight works with tragedy. His sight allows him to be connected with the world of the wrongfully dead...people who can't pass on without him. Elvis is a grand buddy in this.

It is thrilling, but what I love are the characters of this small town: the sheriff, the mystery writer with the mean cat, and...more

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Aug 26, 2008 Cheryl rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: koontz

Book 1 is my favorite Odd Thomas book, to-date. Awesome story with a memorable character. I thought about Odd long after I put the book down, and it definitely made me want to read more. I started on Forever Odd (book 2) the same evening.

Dean Koontz has created a very interesting character and some witty dialogue and humor. While it might not be as dark as most of his other works, Odd Thomas has an eerie foreshadowing that really works. You have to keep reading to find out what happens.

I can't w...more

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May 28, 2008 Deb rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is about a young man who has been given the gift of being able to see dead people and predict future deaths. It is very, very wordy, and as a person with a somewhat limited vocabulary I found it difficult to get through at times (other average to above average readers probably wouldn't think twice about the overabundance of adjectives). But by the middle of the book (430+ pages), things got so exciting that I was able to forget about the big words and focused only on the plot. It was a...more

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Nov 21, 2011 Kona rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-group-reads, supernatural, series

I have had this book on my shelves for years. I am so glad I finally made myself pick it up. The writing is spectacular and the story is original. I love Odd and can see why he has so many friends, even if he doesn't realize how popular he is in the story. While the story has a lot of supernatural concepts, it really doesn't come across as unbelievable or hokey. I am looking forward to reading the rest in the series and even trying a couple other books by Dean Koontz that have been sitting on my...more

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Aug 06, 2011 Quintin Merwe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Now this was unexpected. Dean Koontz uses a VERY fair share of humor to lighten the mood of the reader in this book. This is not what I typically consider a Dean Koontz book, but I found myself pleasantly surprised.
The main character is a 'simple' guy called Odd and covers the strange story that leads to the emotional 'twisty' end, and also fills a lot of the gaps about the character's life during the telling of this tale.
The superior writing style of this top author is still very prominent th...more

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Feb 28, 2010 Matt Barker rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was the first part of a (so-far) two part series dealing with Odd Thomas. Unfortunately, we didn't know about this book first, so we had already read the second book. This book did not disappoint at all. It was a fantastic read from beginning to end.

Publisher's Summary

The dead don't talk. I don't know why. But they do try to communicate, with a short-order cook in a small desert town serving as their reluctant confidant. Odd Thomas thinks of himself as an ordinary guy, if possessed of a cer...more

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Jan 09, 2009 Shannon rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: just about any one

Shelves: faves, library

Ok - I saw the cover of Brother Odd in the bookstore and really wanted to read it, but I knew it was a sequel and I didn't want to start in the middle of something. Am I glad I did start at the beginning!

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. First of all, I have never read anything else by the author, but this character was too much to pass up. Odd is just about perfect. He is a wonderful, somewhat tragic boy. And funny as hell to boot. I don't usually read books set in moder...more

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May 08, 2013 Pam Young rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is my second reading of the "Odd" books--this time for comfort, something familiar, something I can count on, while passing time in purgatory . . ..

I was not disappointed, but instead reminded why, despite my disgust with horror books, I not only enjoy reading Koontz, but have read almost everything he's published--even under other names.

Despite his sometimes curious metaphors, he is a master story teller. He is well read to the point of motivating this retired professor to read more "cla...more

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Mar 12, 2013 Holmes rated it 5 of 5 stars

WOW. Now this stands for "Work of Wonder", not "Warrior of Wrath" or some other dark persona. Well you should know what I mean if you've read this book. Odd Thomas is one of those rare novels that succeeds not only by keeping its readers up all night, supperless and sleepless, hands ever engaged in page-turning actions. It actually teleports them into the world of Odd Thomas, where every character feels so real and every event so personal. "Loop me in, odd one," Stormy used to say. But now it's...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Clark Hallman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: horror-supernatural

Odd Thomas, a twenty-year-old fry cook in a local diner, has a gift, although he is not necessarily grateful for his gift. Odd sees dead people, i.e., the lifeless, wondering, unsubstantial, manifestations (ghosts) of people who have died and haven’t moved on to wherever deceased spirits are supposed to go. Some of the dead people he sees have been hanging around for years and don’t seem to want to move on. Others have recently died and just seem to need to take a little more time before they mo...more Odd Thomas, a twenty-year-old fry cook in a local diner, has a gift, although he is not necessarily grateful for his gift. Odd sees dead people, i.e., the lifeless, wondering, unsubstantial, manifestations (ghosts) of people who have died and haven’t moved on to wherever deceased spirits are supposed to go. Some of the dead people he sees have been hanging around for years and don’t seem to want to move on. Others have recently died and just seem to need to take a little more time before they move on. Overall, Odd has good relationships with most of them and he tries to help them move on to their intended destinations. Odd’s gift also enables him to see bodachs, which are dark and formless evil creatures that seem to thrive on ruthless evil acts committed by human beings. Whenever, Odd notices large numbers of bodachs he knows people are likely to be hurt or killed and he tries to help prevent the violence and/or eliminate the perpetrators if necessary. He didn’t choose to have his gift or heavy responsibility of fighting evil to save lives, but he accepted it to cope with the evil he sees around him. He has developed many skills that enable him to find villainous people, and is adept at dealing with them. Although only a few people in his town know about his abilities, those who do know (including the Chief of Police) appreciate and help him when possible. In this book Odd tries to prevent what he believes will be a mass murder and he finds himself caught in a harrowing situation that he is unlikely to survive. I found this book to be an excellent beginning to the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz. The Odd Thomas character is gradually revealed to the reader throughout the book and I found him to be complex, yet appealing, humorous, heroic and replete with human frailties. Odd is also surrounded by many other interesting and quirky characters. Odd proves to be resourceful in his efforts to prevent horrible crimes. Of course a tale about dead people, bodachs, and murderous criminals also must include plenty of action and white-knuckled suspense, and this book has plenty. This outstanding book was first published in 2003 and I wish I had read it sooner. I thought it was a very well-written, gripping story, about a young man who pays a very high price fighting evil. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys transcending reality with ghosts, bodachs and suspenseful action. I also recommend you read this book instead of waiting for the Odd Thomas movie that is expected in April 2013.(less)

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About Dean Koontz

Acknowledged as "America's most popular suspense novelist" (Rolling Stone) and as one of today's most celebrated and successful writers, Dean Ray Koontz has earned the devotion of millions of readers around the world and the praise of critics everywhere for tales of character, mystery, and adventure that strike to the core of what it means to be human.

Dean R. Koontz has also published under the na...more

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“From time to time, I do consider that I might be mad. Like any self-respecting lunatic, however, I am always quick to dismiss any doubts about my sanity.” — 162 people liked it

“Given my heritage and the ordeal of my childhood, I sometimes wonder why I myself am not insane. Maybe I am.” — 109 people liked it

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