I loved the first three Odd Thomas books. This one, the fourth, was also good, but seemed to fall prey to Koontz's tendency lately towards the woo-woo and mystical, rather than the supernatural. Not so much my cup of tea. ( )

The Villian Next Door
Occasionally great writers, like Dean Koontz, find a niche, which fits them so well that they rise above their already lofty status to produce works, which define them. Dean Koontz has done this with his Odd Thomas series. Like Stephen King with his Dark Tower Books, Koontz accomplishes this feat - in my opinion - with his incredible understanding of the lead character and his world.

In, Odd Hours, Koontz explores two of America's biggest internal threats - greed and extreme idealism - and pits his hero, Odd Thomas, against a cast of all-too-close-to-home villains that will have you wondering about the guy who picks up your trash, and even that nice lady from church who gives so much of herself to help those in need.

I found the ending of Odd Hours - which left me wondering about the fate of the various would-be assassins, and curious as to what "else" were those coyotes - a bit anticlimactic, but the wonderful characterization and suspenseful, adventurous setting more than make up for this.

- Bob Avey, author of the Detective Elliot Series ( )

Enjoyable addition to the Odd Thomas series, however it seemed to almost be a filler book awaiting the next in the series. Odd is a fun character.

The fourth book in the Odd Thomas series and it left me vaguely unsatisfied. Yes Sinatra the ghost wrecking the place to rescue Odd was interesting but overall it just didn't work for me.

Odd is interesting, he can see ghosts, can't hear them, just sees them. He's working as an assistant and cook to an old actor and one night he finds himself hunted, all because he talked to a mysterious pregnant lady.

Overall not the best story and I'm not sure if the story is now done. ( )

Those of you who have read my earlier reviews will be aware of two things. Firstly, it's been a bloody long time since i had a chance to read anything, and secondly, i am one of the world's greatest Odd Thomas fans. Having read all four books to date, i would be only too pleased with the opportunity to beg Dean Koontz to quit writing any other genre intensive novels until he completes Odd's journey.

This time things are very different for Odd. His character goes through some pretty immense changes in this story. Not only that but this novel is entirely differently paced to the preceding three. Spanning a matter of hours in plot time, looking back, it seems hard to believe that a whole book encompasses less than a day. However, things are not entirely slow going. During the telling of this latest tale, our hero has obviously matured quite a lot since his time with the Brotherhood, and he must face demons this time who are at least in part of his own making.

We are reminded from time to time about the ancient history of Pico Mundo and Stormy Llewellyn, of Ozzie, his author friend and all of his clients at the local grill bar but essentially this book is a leap pad for Odd to change direction in his life, leaving the reader waiting with baited breath for the next instalment, which hopefully isn't too far around the corner. ( )

I have to confess that although I've read other books by Dean Koontz, I had not read any of the Odd series, which revolves around a thoughtful man (named Odd) with paranormal abilities. I believe if I had read the first three books in the series, that I would have loved this book. The man character is a delight, the setting is readily visualized and the action is nonstop. The book is worth reading just for the dialog, both Odd's internal thoughts and his dialog with the cast of characters. The downside of the book is that I feel like I was dropped into the middle of a much longer story. A great deal apparently went on before this book began and the book ends with two of the characters going on the lam. Obviously there will be more books in the series. This title is a must have for library collections with other books in the Odd series. ( )

Let me get this straight from the start: Odd Hours is not a great book. It's not even a great Dean Koontz book (for that, try Strangers, Lightning, Velocity, or The Good Guy). It's formulaic, cosy, and at times - partly through Koontz's attempts to lighten the thriller elements with Odd's quirky outlook and an increasingly hippyish supporting cast - somewhat annoying. And yet, like all Koontz novels (even the aforementioned stinker), it's a supreme page-turner with likable heroes, dastardly villains (terrorists plotting to smuggle nuclear weapons into the US via a small seaside port), and some imaginative set pieces (the highlight this time being a poltergeist Frank Sinatra kicking up a tantrum to save Odd from a psychotic police chief).

Read the full review at my blog. ( )

Odd Thomas sees ghosts, and although they can hear him, they cannot communicate with him other than through gestures. After leaving the seminary, Odd has taken a job in Magic Beach, California as cook for a film star of the 1940s and ‘50s who now writes children’s books. Elvis has gone over to the other side but now Frank Sinatra is hanging out with Odd, as is Odd’s ghost dog Boo. Odd has a recurring apocalyptic dream which disturbs him. On the beach, he sees a young pregnant woman and recognizes her as part of his dream. Odd stops to talk to her, and from that point, everything seems to go wrong. Three brutes try to kill him but Odd manages to get away. He takes refuge in a church only to be betrayed by the pastor, who calls the police. Through wily measures, Odd learns officials of Magic Beach are corrupt and have cleared the way for terrorists to bring nuclear weapons into America.

Koontz excels at moving his plots forward at a fast pace, packed with action and suspense. Odd Thomas is an endearing character, a simple man who wants nothing more than to live a simple life which, through his “gift”, is denied him. Although questions are left unanswered, Koontz is certain to clear things up with following books in this series. ( )

Dean Koontz fourth installment in his Odd Thomas series brings us Odd Hours. Odd Thomas is a simple, ordinary fry cook from a dinky little California town, Pico Mundo. Odd would have preferred to spend his life in a quest to create the perfect omelet and home fries, but he has an extraordinary gift. He communicates with the dead. Odd finds himself in the, well, oddest situations. He is drawn to places and people that need his help, and it almost seems like he has been tasked with keeping the evil that men plot and plan at bay. Having been accompanied by Elvis and a ghostly dog, Boo in the past, now Odd finds himself and Boo with a different companion. With their assistance Odd must come to understand the frightening dream he has been having; a dream of red ebbing tides and horrible light hanging over the sea.

It’s hard for me to say what I love the most about the Odd Thomas books. It could be Odds humble and humorous way of dealing with life, his wry delivery when speaking about the strangeness he lives with. It could also be the fascinating characters that fill the pages. Odd always finds the most unique and interesting people. These people are folks we see every day and Odd Thomas discovers their stories. I finish one of these books and find myself looking at the people I see daily and wondering if they have an interesting story too.

I find the thoughts of the protagonist particularly refreshing…

“….Those who choose to live criminal lives are not the brightest among us.
This truth inspires a question: If evil geniuses are so rare, why do so many bad people get away with so many crimes against their fellow citizens and, when they become leaders of nations, against humanity?
Edmund Burke provided the answer in 1795: The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
I would only add this: It is also essential that good men and women not be educated and propagandized into believing that real evil is a myth and that all malevolent behavior is merely the result of a broken family’s or a failed society’s shortcomings, amenable to cure by counseling and by the application of new economic theory.”

I was given a copy of Odd Hours and also had the audio book, so this was a combination of listening and reading. David Aaron Baker read the audio book in an absolutely spectacular performance. Odd Hours could most likely stand alone, but really why would you want to ignore the other three books in the series? The whole series is very good, and Odd Hours is just great! ( )

After leaving the monastery, Odd Thomas takes on a job as a cook in an old gentleman's home on the oceanfront. Odd had a dream of the red tide and later that day when he goes on a walk he recognizes the woman that was in his dream. A conversation begins, and then, so does a chase.

Oh my. Plain and simple - Odd was not the Odd I know and love. He just was not the same character. Maybe that's the point? Who knows? Not only that, other supporting characters were missing. It was just disappointing - disappointing to not visit with Odd. Hopefully, the 5th installment of this series will revive the real Odd Thomas. (2.5/5)

Originally posted on: "Thoughts of Joy..." ( )

I have been waiting a very, very long time for this book to come out in paperback just so it will match the rest of my series collection. I don't know if it's stubbornness or OCD lol

Odd Thomas is Dean Koontz' best character. His "Odd" series have all been great reads. This latest one has Odd in a small Pacific coast town of Magic Beach working for an elderly gentleman. He feels drawn to the pier to meet the Lady Of The Bell, Annamaria. She is a petite 18 year old pregnant girl wearing a silver bell around her neck. As they meet for the first time, they catch the attention of 3 men who don't have their best interests at heart. Odd steps between them and Annamaria leaves as he tries to talk his way out of a mess. From there he has a vision of something terrible happening and he must find out what it is and stop it.

Odd spends a frightening night trying to follow the psychic clues he is given. I wouldn't normally like a book like this because I don't believe in ghosts (except as demons appearing as ghosts to confuse people) and I don't believe people can have psychic abilities without it being from the devil. But this is a fiction novel. So I enjoy the fictional story that Koontz gives us. I like Odd Thomas as a character and his friends. They are "odd" but lovable.

Annamaria joins up with him and she was the confusing character. We never find out what the deal is with her. She just answers all his questions with riddles right on to the end. I suppose this means that Koontz hasn't finished with Odd Thomas yet. ( )

The fourth entry in the Odd Thomas series is frustrating from two angles. First, and most surprising, is that although the narrative is clearly Koontz, the plot is not. It lacks punch and for the most part, is actually rather uninspiring. The second point, is that the story is nonsensical, wrapped in teasing mysteries for no reason whatsoever. Koontz, in my opinion, has been faultless up until this novel, in which Odd rambles incessantly, is put through rather an unbelievable plot, and surrounded by paper thin characters. There is one scene of note, halfway through, which raised my hopes, but they were soon dashed. There is character building for further entries, but Odd Hours, is disappointing on all levels. Not supernatural enough, not enough action and just not interesting enough. ( )

Not as satisfying as the others in the series, but Odd is just as loveable as always. More sequels to come! ( )

The fourth book in one of my favorite series. However not my favorite in the series. I felt Odd Hours lacked a certain wow factor that Odd thomas and Forever Odd gave me. I still love to read about the adventures of Odd and I can't wait for more! I just hope the next book leads us back to Pico Mundo. ( )

Odd Thomas is one of my favorite fictional characters of all time and I tremendously enjoyed this installment of the series. However the ending concerned me a bit. We are obviously being setting up for the remaining books in the series. Odd now has a female sidekick and a couple of dogs with him, which kind of makes me a little concerned that Koontz is trying to shoe-horn these books into his standard formula. I can only hope these books continue to remain unique and interesting. ( )

Can you tell that Dean Koontz has been watching the Bourne Trilogy movies? I never thought about this before but the Odd Thomas books each do have an encapsulated "story style" about them. The first book is like the horror movie in the small town, the second definitely looms in my mind as a haunted house (or haunted castle would be more accurate), and the third is the "isolated in the mountains and snow storm and there's something big out there trying to eat us" horror story. This one is the "action movie" thriller story.

As such it is humorous and also startling at times. For one thing I never knew that Odd had it in him to be so ruthless. It seemed not quite in character to me. The omnipresent fog was a character in its own right and the people popping in and out of the limited visibility added to the isolated feeling that Odd had as he prowled the town looking for answers.

This is the smallest story and the least effective, in my opinion. I still enjoyed it but would not recommend it to those who don't already love Odd as a character. For those who do, it is a perfect "beach book" read.

The fact that it is a shallower, smaller story doesn't mean that Koontz still has much to say. He slips in plenty of choice observations such as this. ( )

Meh. Introduces what are obviously key players for the next installment. Main character is becoming hardened, losing some of what was an attractive innocence. Plot seems secondary to the characters. Recommended only as a stepping stone for his next installment in the series. You may even want to wait to read it until the next book comes out. ( )

Odd Thomas is a 21 year old former fry cook with a few talents that set him apart from the rest of us. He sees ghosts as solidly as he sees living people, he has a habit of having bad dreams that come true, and he seems to be drawn to people and places that need him. He's living in a small California coastal village named Magic Beach, working as cook and companion for an 88 year old former Hollywood matinée idol, when his disturbing dream of a red tide and a sky on fire draws him to the beach. There, he stumbles upon a handful of men intent on perpetrating an evil unlike anything the world has ever known. Accompanied by his ghost dog Boo and the spirit of none other than Frank Sinatra, Odd will be tested in ways he's never imagined and is about to learn that the world has far more questions than answers.

I'm a real fan of Odd Thomas. His simplistic way of looking at the world and approaching problems is refreshing. These books are funny and scary, all at the same time. This one simply continues the saga of Odd Thomas, and I'll be first in line again when the next one comes out. LOL This gets a high 5 from me. ( )

Though I still find Odd Thomas to be one of my favorite characters of all time - because of his charm, kindness, humility and wit - this one didn't feel like *enough*. It was very mysterious and suspenseful, but I wasn't satisfied with the ending. I wanted to know more about Anna Maria (the woman who begins this book's adventure/danger), but we're left hanging, presumably for the next book... ( )

If you enjoy the Odd Thomas series, this is a must read. Unlike the other OT books, this one jumps directly into the action within the first couple pages, and keeps it up until the end.

This is the first OT book to end in somewhat of a cliff hanger. ( )

Fourth in Koontz's Odd Thomas series. Odd sees the dead and has other supernatural powers. In this book he stumbles across a plot to set off nuclear weapons in American cities. Along the way Frank Sinatra gets him out of jail. That should tell you a lot about the interesting world that Odd Thomas inhabits. Good book, good series. ( )

Quite frankly, I am tired of this form of Koontz's writing. It is so trite, and seems to be aimed at teens or pre-teens. These "Odd" series books are just too infantile, which is such a shame, as I enjoyed all his books prior to the Odd series. Or, maybe I'm the idiot and they really ARE meant for pre-teen to teen ages? ( )

While there are many things to like about the character, Odd Thomas, the one that seems to drag down all of the good things is the never ending introspection and philosophy this character engages in for several paragraphs at a time. It continually interrupts the flow of the story and I found myself skimming several paragraphs just trying to find the story once again. Still, it is a good read but I hope that the next installment from Mr. Koontz has more action and a little less of Odd Thomas' personal philosophy. ( )

Although the beginning of this novel was intriguing, it just fizzled in the end. Maybe Dean Koontz is cooking up a better Odd novel as we speak, but this one is in dire need of something more. I was so disappointed in the end that I almost regret reading it!! ( )