Helpful Score: 5
I absolutely LOVED "Odd Thomas" and ran to the bookstore when "Forever Odd" came out. However, after #2 (Forever Odd) I skipped, rather than ran for #3 (Brother Odd). When "Odd Hours" came out, I sighed and strolled to get it, without a sense of urgency and feeling somehow obligated to read it. I love the character of Odd, but the stories just run downhill as the series progresses. I suggest the rest of the books if, like me, you REALLY like the character, but don't expect anything close to as good a read as the first one.
I'm sure I'll drag butt to the bookstore if there's a #5.......
; )
I'm sure I'll drag butt to the bookstore if there's a #5.......
; )
Helpful Score: 4
Odd Hours is an interesting book. There is an enigmatic character, Annamaria, who serves to add mystery to this novel without actually adding substance. That, disappointed me.
But I was heartened to see that Odd has metamorphosed from a bumbling, lucky, individual to one who has much more purpose and can act decisively.
All in all, I wonder if Koontz left the book in a place where he could move forward with the series, or if this book serves to mark the end of the road for Odd Thomas.
But I was heartened to see that Odd has metamorphosed from a bumbling, lucky, individual to one who has much more purpose and can act decisively.
All in all, I wonder if Koontz left the book in a place where he could move forward with the series, or if this book serves to mark the end of the road for Odd Thomas.
Helpful Score: 3
I love Odd Thomas, but this wasn't my favorite of his books. There were just a few too many questions left unanswered. I thought I wasn't bright enough to figure them out, but realized there just weren't any answers. I hope the next book is a little clearer.
Helpful Score: 3
Great series, Its a wonder that this kid can find humor still in life after all that befalls him. cant wait for the next one!
Helpful Score: 2
This was by far my least favorite of the Odd series. I usually love all of Dean Koontz's books but I just couldn't stay interested in this book.
Helpful Score: 2
Best book of the series I read it in one sitting Highly recommended!
Helpful Score: 2
i love the odd thomas books. but then again dean koontz hasnt written anything i havent liked!
I liked the Odd series,not terribly complicated but entertaining. I liked the "goodness" of the main character it is refreshing!
All I can say is 'ehh...'
I really enjoyed the previous books in the series, but I think maybe the tale ran out of gas a few chapters into this one.
There really was not a climactic moment in the plot, and some of the intuitive leaps that Odd makes in the story leave you thinking 'hmmm' with one eyebrow raised...really?
Just not a very captivating adventure for our dead people-seeing fry cook.
I really enjoyed the previous books in the series, but I think maybe the tale ran out of gas a few chapters into this one.
There really was not a climactic moment in the plot, and some of the intuitive leaps that Odd makes in the story leave you thinking 'hmmm' with one eyebrow raised...really?
Just not a very captivating adventure for our dead people-seeing fry cook.
Helpful Score: 1
I have really enjoyed this series, but I believe that this has to be the best (after the first of course).
Helpful Score: 1
Odd Thomas is a very interesting Character -- Koontz was right in making a series out of him. All 3 books are terriffic!
Helpful Score: 1
I thought this was an overall excellent installment to the Odd series. There are new developments to Odd's abilities, as well as intriguing story twists. Unfortunately, this left me with more questions than answers and left me feeling somewhat confused and bereft by the lack of information. It would have been nice to have gotten at least ONE answer to the many, many questions Koontz raises within his beloved character.
Helpful Score: 1
If you like any other of The Odd Thomas books you will love this one. Dean Koontz does it again. Fantastic read!
Helpful Score: 1
Another great story by Koontz, good to find our way to Odd again. Love that this leaves us "hanging" and hope the sequel isn't far behind.
Odd is the most lovable and memorable character of fiction to date. You just want him to come to life from the pages and be your new found best friend.
Odd is the most lovable and memorable character of fiction to date. You just want him to come to life from the pages and be your new found best friend.
Helpful Score: 1
This was my second favorite of the Brother Odd series. It was well written and fast paced. Dean Koontz is an excellent writer with a quick wit. I have come to love the character Odd Thomas and he does not disappoint in this this book!
Helpful Score: 1
Dean Koontz is a master of bookwriting
Helpful Score: 1
I'm not very good at writing reviews, but I'll try a short review. If you've read the other books in this series, and enjoyed them, I believe you'll also enjoy this book. I continue to enjoy the way Odd thinks and makes decisions in this story. It will have you wondering if the story of Odd will continue, as some things are left unsaid.
Helpful Score: 1
This one is the weirdest Odd Thomas book ever. It starts off Odd goes to the beach, where he is living with a older gentleman caring for him. He sees a young girl that is pregnant and has a premonition about her.. ... inter thugs and other bad guys and it all goes downhill for a bad day for Odd.
He is given a dream for the future, and he must change to course of the dream or armeggedon will happen
He is given a dream for the future, and he must change to course of the dream or armeggedon will happen
Helpful Score: 1
This is the fourth book in the Odd Thomas series. In this one, Odd has visions of a sea of blood--a red tidal wave--coming in from the ocean. He meets an interesting young pregnant girl, and upon touching her gets the visions again. Soon it's a race against time as Odd tries to unravel why he's getting the visions, what he's supposed to do about them, and locate the bad guys.
The book moved along quickly. But, I thought the best part of it was the characters that Odd meets along the way. From Hutch, the retired screen star, to pregnant girl that draws him into the vision, to Frank Sinatra's ghost, and even the proprietor of the "Cottage of the Happy Monster." Even the bad guys were interesting! It's always fun to see the personalities of this author's characters unfold, and sometimes very difficult to predict what they're going to do next.
I enjoyed the book. Of course, Dean Koontz is my favorite author!
The book moved along quickly. But, I thought the best part of it was the characters that Odd meets along the way. From Hutch, the retired screen star, to pregnant girl that draws him into the vision, to Frank Sinatra's ghost, and even the proprietor of the "Cottage of the Happy Monster." Even the bad guys were interesting! It's always fun to see the personalities of this author's characters unfold, and sometimes very difficult to predict what they're going to do next.
I enjoyed the book. Of course, Dean Koontz is my favorite author!
Dean Koontzs fourth offering in the Odd Thomas series left me underwhelmed at times. A few interesting characters here and there, which Mr. Koontzs has shown a talent in weaving, is not what redeemed the book totally but it was enough to make me forgive him a little.
After leaving St. Barts, the monastery Odd spent 7 months at in the previous book Brother Odd, he finds himself in Magic Beach, a quiet beach side community in California that is home to roughly 15,000 residents. He has not gone back to being a simple fry cook, but an all around the house type of employee for a retired actor turned childrens book writer named Lawrence Hutch Hutchinson. No bodachs are present in this book but he has been having a premonition dream of a giant crimson tsunami coming in on the shore of the pier.
Soon in the book he meets up with a peculiar young pregnant woman named Annamaria sitting along the pier. She has an easy going, almost perplexing nature, seemingly speaking in vague hints and riddles when confronted with any question, no matter how simple. A little annoying, because even through the end of the book, either by insufficient story telling by the author, or a hook into the next book, you still have no clue about what kind of significance she plays.
A few minutes into the meeting Odd is attacked by three armed gunman and has to make an escape by jumping off the pier after leading Annamaria to her safety. This scene is a little fast paced, ill-described, and confusing. Its like one minute you are reading about Odd and Annamaria at the pier and the next minute youre off the pier, being chased by 3 men after they for no described reason appeared and started to become menacing.
After the big scene Odd is eventually apprehended by the Magic Beach Police Department after he pocketed one of the gunmans ID from the above perilous flight scene and went into his home to find clues, which I was hoped to be given myself, because the whole thing was still confusing to me. There were none. Just more mysteries and a few dead bodies stacked in the bathtub reminiscent of the first book, Odd Thomas.
After the apprehension, and Annamaria tucked safely away at Blossom Rosedales house, (another interesting character that breaks up the monotony of confusion), he learns that almost the entire Harbor Department and police force is in on a conspiracy operation to get nuclear bombs transported there via harbor and taken elsewhere to perform the act of detonating American cities for the age old world domination move. Odd bluffs his way out, mostly, being the Chief of Police which, you guessed it, is in on the conspiracy, thinks he is a FBI/Homeland Security agent on to their plan.
Since Odd sees spirits of the dead, and in lieu of Elvis following him since he has moved on to the afterlife, now he has Frank Sinatra there, who is really neither as entertaining or as pleasant as the King. As a Sinatra fan, I was disappointed in the representation of Old Blue Eyes. Mr. Sinatra however was known for a bit of a temper in life helped him get out of the police station before being hooked up to a polygraph machine by throwing a huge poltergeist temper tantrum.
Confused yet? Me too, and I read the book.
Odd eventually gets all the pieces together with some twists and turns escaping town after the FBI was properly called in with Annamaria, Blossom soon to be joining, Boo, and his new friend, Raphael the Golden Retriever. He was a cute addition I must say.
All in all, through the rushed storyline, Odds usual humor made the book shine a little so if you arent into the storyline described, which myself I found had the blah factor, it more than makes up for well, a small portion of it. Some of the unusual characters will also be memorable to me, except for Annamaria whom I hope to learn something more about in the next book or two.
After leaving St. Barts, the monastery Odd spent 7 months at in the previous book Brother Odd, he finds himself in Magic Beach, a quiet beach side community in California that is home to roughly 15,000 residents. He has not gone back to being a simple fry cook, but an all around the house type of employee for a retired actor turned childrens book writer named Lawrence Hutch Hutchinson. No bodachs are present in this book but he has been having a premonition dream of a giant crimson tsunami coming in on the shore of the pier.
Soon in the book he meets up with a peculiar young pregnant woman named Annamaria sitting along the pier. She has an easy going, almost perplexing nature, seemingly speaking in vague hints and riddles when confronted with any question, no matter how simple. A little annoying, because even through the end of the book, either by insufficient story telling by the author, or a hook into the next book, you still have no clue about what kind of significance she plays.
A few minutes into the meeting Odd is attacked by three armed gunman and has to make an escape by jumping off the pier after leading Annamaria to her safety. This scene is a little fast paced, ill-described, and confusing. Its like one minute you are reading about Odd and Annamaria at the pier and the next minute youre off the pier, being chased by 3 men after they for no described reason appeared and started to become menacing.
After the big scene Odd is eventually apprehended by the Magic Beach Police Department after he pocketed one of the gunmans ID from the above perilous flight scene and went into his home to find clues, which I was hoped to be given myself, because the whole thing was still confusing to me. There were none. Just more mysteries and a few dead bodies stacked in the bathtub reminiscent of the first book, Odd Thomas.
After the apprehension, and Annamaria tucked safely away at Blossom Rosedales house, (another interesting character that breaks up the monotony of confusion), he learns that almost the entire Harbor Department and police force is in on a conspiracy operation to get nuclear bombs transported there via harbor and taken elsewhere to perform the act of detonating American cities for the age old world domination move. Odd bluffs his way out, mostly, being the Chief of Police which, you guessed it, is in on the conspiracy, thinks he is a FBI/Homeland Security agent on to their plan.
Since Odd sees spirits of the dead, and in lieu of Elvis following him since he has moved on to the afterlife, now he has Frank Sinatra there, who is really neither as entertaining or as pleasant as the King. As a Sinatra fan, I was disappointed in the representation of Old Blue Eyes. Mr. Sinatra however was known for a bit of a temper in life helped him get out of the police station before being hooked up to a polygraph machine by throwing a huge poltergeist temper tantrum.
Confused yet? Me too, and I read the book.
Odd eventually gets all the pieces together with some twists and turns escaping town after the FBI was properly called in with Annamaria, Blossom soon to be joining, Boo, and his new friend, Raphael the Golden Retriever. He was a cute addition I must say.
All in all, through the rushed storyline, Odds usual humor made the book shine a little so if you arent into the storyline described, which myself I found had the blah factor, it more than makes up for well, a small portion of it. Some of the unusual characters will also be memorable to me, except for Annamaria whom I hope to learn something more about in the next book or two.
Ordered for my son at his request. He liked it
Dean Koontz has done it again! I love the Odd Thomas series, and really enjoyed this book alot. I found it to be alternately suspenseful, humerous, touching, and highly entertaining. Like another reader, I believe that it does leave some questions to be answered, but hopefully these will be addressed in the next "installment". Odd Thomas is such a likeable, fun character. I can hardly wait for his next adventure.
SUSAN S. (susieqmillsacoustics) -
I was disappointed in this one when it was first released because it left me hanging in the end without wrapping up. I have now gone back and reread just to refresh my memory now that I have "Odd Apocalypse". This one ventures out to stranger places than the first 3, and Sinatra is not quite as entertaining as Elvis was, but I love Odd's character, as always. I just would not recommend reading this one until you have the next in the series.
I enjoyed this book. I finished it today. In spots I found it a very fast read.
I like the Odd novels and this one really came through and delivered.
Loved it! Can't wait for the next one.
Was an excellent book as all of Dean Koontz's are. The odd series was consuming from first book to the last for now. lol
This is his second best series.
Odd Thomas is a very likable character, and he has to be the luckiest person in the world. Didn't want to put the book down.
When can we expect the next Odd installment???
I enjoyed this but...Odd Thomas is a placid, peaceful guy and when narrating his story he doesn't like the suspense (or horror) to get too intense so he throws in humorous stories or anecdotes. They definitely break the tension but sometimes he doesn't know when to stop and they just become irritating. Case in point...Anna Marie (no last name). She is a total enigma and like any good fortune teller says a whole lot without saying anything. She talks around and around in circles which Odd kept at a little too long. I honestly couldn't figure out what her purpose in the story was as it wasn't defined and she came into the story, she irritated me (and Odd) and then she left with Odd. The only thing I can figure is that it was a setup for future storylines.
This particular adventure involves a small harbor town on the California coast, home-grown terrorists and nuclear bombs. As usual, Odd pulled a rabbit (I mean a victory) out of his butt. There is no logical reason for Odd to have won this round but if there are going to be sequels, I guess he has to. He was clever at times and just plain lucky at others. Entertaining to a point but annoying as hell as well.
This particular adventure involves a small harbor town on the California coast, home-grown terrorists and nuclear bombs. As usual, Odd pulled a rabbit (I mean a victory) out of his butt. There is no logical reason for Odd to have won this round but if there are going to be sequels, I guess he has to. He was clever at times and just plain lucky at others. Entertaining to a point but annoying as hell as well.
Not my favorit Odd book. OK but not as good as the others.
I do like the Odd Thomas series. But, the first 40 pages or so had me believing that I had already read this book. Why? It's the same book as the rest. Move a few words, change a character or two, add a different weapon for the plot and climax and regurgitate. Yawn.
Don't waste your time unless you REALLY have to read everything from Koontz.
Don't waste your time unless you REALLY have to read everything from Koontz.
I did not like this book at all... I closed it and said, "Huh?" The plot was strange and hard to follow, and the ending didn't wrap up the book at all. I used to like books by this author, but after this one, I think I'll refrain.
Loved it. Can't wait until he writes another.
Good read. What's next for Odd?
