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andrewsweet's review
4.0
I was prepared not to like this book. Dean Koontz was trending, and I expected it to be formulaic and common. I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, a little formulaic, but just enough to stay in the genre. There were some interesting pivots I'll leave you to discover. Overall, very entertaining!
kathydavie's review
4.0
First in the Odd Thomas horror series about a young man trapped in his small California town, Pico Mundo, by his gift.
My Take
No, I'm not making fun of Odd's name when I say this was an odd story. It's slow to start, slow to move along, but compelling for all that. Just keep going and it will pick up. I couldn't put it down once I got over halfway through it. I do confess that I only kept going because I had read something somewhere that made me think it would be worth it. And it is a Dean Koontz, so…I cried.
I don't see why Odd didn't just take the shoelaces and sheet right away. Why take a chance on the forensics or on being seen??
Nicely done if a bit slowish. Koontz fills us in on everyone's background, fitting it in well.
The Story
It's that dream he's been having off-and-on for the past three years. The signs all point to it and Odd has got to stop it. He figures he's been given this gift and he had better use it.
Then Fungus Man steps into the diner and the bodachs begin to gather. If it stays to just a few, it won't be bad, but there are twenty some bodachs crowding Fungus Man and Odd Thomas is worried. Enough so that he decides to follow the guy and see what's what.
And it's bad. That dream he's been having? The signs are there.
The Characters
Odd Thomas is a twenty-year-old fry cook at the local diner with a gift for seeing dead people and helping them find justice. He has horrible parents. His mother is beautiful and a nutso, whacko. I kept hoping she would shoot! As for his father...oh, brother, what a con artist. He can't die soon enough for me. Britney is his current, soon-to-be-ex girlfriend. Pearl "Granny" Sugars is his maternal grandmother and was quite a character who made a living playing poker and traveling around. Somewhere out there, his mother has a sister named Cymry whom no one likes to talk about.
Bronwen "Stormy" Llewellyn is the girl with whom Odd has been in love for years. They've decided that all the signs point to them being together forever. She's an ambitious lass determined to own her own store by the time she turns twenty-four. She's worked her way to manager at the ice cream store at the mall. And she's finally said yes to Odd!
P. Oswald Boone, a.k.a., Little Ozzie, is an author of art, cooking, and mysteries. He's also one of Odd's friends who knows something of what he can do. Terrible Chester is his scary cat with a habit of peeing on people's shoes.
Wyatt Porter is the chief of police for Pico Mundo. He's one of the few who knows about Odd's talents and he makes good use of them. Karla is his wife and they both love Odd like a son. Eileen Newfield is Wyatt's sister.
Bern Eckles is new to the Pico Mundo PD and Karla and Wyatt are hoping to fix him up with Lysette Rains, a nail artist in town. Other policemen include Jake Hulquist who is the chief's best friend, Simon Varner, Sonny Wexler, Izzy Maldanado, Jesus Bustamente, Alice Norrie, Rafus Carter, and Billy Munday.
Rosalia Sanchez is Odd's landlady and it's Odd's task every morning to let her know she's still visible. She had a traumatic year in 2001, losing her entire family. Joseph Mangione owns the Tire World which Odd obsesses over and where Tom Jedd's ghost haunts.
Terri Stambaugh owns the Pico Mundo Grille where Odd is a fry cook. She lost her husband after a long bout with cancer and his death was the catalyst that set her on her Elvis Presley obsession. The waitresses include Helen Arches and Viola Peabody who's worried about a dream in which she died (she has two little girls: Nicolina and Levanna). Poke Barnet takes over for Odd at 2 p.m.
Shamus Cocobolo is a blind man who hosts the 1 to 6 a.m. time slot for KPMC; he calls Odd "Wizard" and plays mostly big band music. Stan "Spanky" Lufmunder is KPMC Radio's engineer on duty at night; Harry Beamis is the producer of Shamus' show.
Penny Kallisto is twelve years old. And dead. She helps introduce us to what Odd does best when he finds justice for her with Harlo Landerson. Fungas Man, a.k.a., Bob Robertson, is a wealthy young man living very simply, but it's the crowd of bodachs that catches Odd's eye. Gosset was a schoolteacher.
Bodach is the word a young English boy used to describe the shades who tend to gather wherever death and destruction are about to occur.
The Cover
The cover is a cloudy gradient of black to pale lilac with just Odd's legs showing, reflecting the black room he finds.
The title is our introduction to Odd Thomas. As simple and direct as the young man himself.
My Take
No, I'm not making fun of Odd's name when I say this was an odd story. It's slow to start, slow to move along, but compelling for all that. Just keep going and it will pick up. I couldn't put it down once I got over halfway through it. I do confess that I only kept going because I had read something somewhere that made me think it would be worth it. And it is a Dean Koontz, so…I cried.
I don't see why Odd didn't just take the shoelaces and sheet right away. Why take a chance on the forensics or on being seen??
Nicely done if a bit slowish. Koontz fills us in on everyone's background, fitting it in well.
The Story
It's that dream he's been having off-and-on for the past three years. The signs all point to it and Odd has got to stop it. He figures he's been given this gift and he had better use it.
Then Fungus Man steps into the diner and the bodachs begin to gather. If it stays to just a few, it won't be bad, but there are twenty some bodachs crowding Fungus Man and Odd Thomas is worried. Enough so that he decides to follow the guy and see what's what.
And it's bad. That dream he's been having? The signs are there.
The Characters
Odd Thomas is a twenty-year-old fry cook at the local diner with a gift for seeing dead people and helping them find justice. He has horrible parents. His mother is beautiful and a nutso, whacko. I kept hoping she would shoot! As for his father...oh, brother, what a con artist. He can't die soon enough for me. Britney is his current, soon-to-be-ex girlfriend. Pearl "Granny" Sugars is his maternal grandmother and was quite a character who made a living playing poker and traveling around. Somewhere out there, his mother has a sister named Cymry whom no one likes to talk about.
Bronwen "Stormy" Llewellyn is the girl with whom Odd has been in love for years. They've decided that all the signs point to them being together forever. She's an ambitious lass determined to own her own store by the time she turns twenty-four. She's worked her way to manager at the ice cream store at the mall. And she's finally said yes to Odd!
P. Oswald Boone, a.k.a., Little Ozzie, is an author of art, cooking, and mysteries. He's also one of Odd's friends who knows something of what he can do. Terrible Chester is his scary cat with a habit of peeing on people's shoes.
Wyatt Porter is the chief of police for Pico Mundo. He's one of the few who knows about Odd's talents and he makes good use of them. Karla is his wife and they both love Odd like a son. Eileen Newfield is Wyatt's sister.
Bern Eckles is new to the Pico Mundo PD and Karla and Wyatt are hoping to fix him up with Lysette Rains, a nail artist in town. Other policemen include Jake Hulquist who is the chief's best friend, Simon Varner, Sonny Wexler, Izzy Maldanado, Jesus Bustamente, Alice Norrie, Rafus Carter, and Billy Munday.
Rosalia Sanchez is Odd's landlady and it's Odd's task every morning to let her know she's still visible. She had a traumatic year in 2001, losing her entire family. Joseph Mangione owns the Tire World which Odd obsesses over and where Tom Jedd's ghost haunts.
Terri Stambaugh owns the Pico Mundo Grille where Odd is a fry cook. She lost her husband after a long bout with cancer and his death was the catalyst that set her on her Elvis Presley obsession. The waitresses include Helen Arches and Viola Peabody who's worried about a dream in which she died (she has two little girls: Nicolina and Levanna). Poke Barnet takes over for Odd at 2 p.m.
Shamus Cocobolo is a blind man who hosts the 1 to 6 a.m. time slot for KPMC; he calls Odd "Wizard" and plays mostly big band music. Stan "Spanky" Lufmunder is KPMC Radio's engineer on duty at night; Harry Beamis is the producer of Shamus' show.
Penny Kallisto is twelve years old. And dead. She helps introduce us to what Odd does best when he finds justice for her with Harlo Landerson. Fungas Man, a.k.a., Bob Robertson, is a wealthy young man living very simply, but it's the crowd of bodachs that catches Odd's eye. Gosset was a schoolteacher.
Bodach is the word a young English boy used to describe the shades who tend to gather wherever death and destruction are about to occur.
The Cover
The cover is a cloudy gradient of black to pale lilac with just Odd's legs showing, reflecting the black room he finds.
The title is our introduction to Odd Thomas. As simple and direct as the young man himself.
rosemwood's review
5.0
I love the writing style, the fast pace, the build up suspense, the plot and the good people! Odd and Stormy... This is the first book in the series and I recommend this. I couldn't put it down!
dj68's review
5.0
A great story, it is a thrilling, fastpaced tale, with some chilling moments and some plot-twists, and...a happy ending?? I don't know for sure, I was crying through the last five pages - so, sue me for being emotional ;o) All in all, a very worthy read, indeed.
sherbear182's review against another edition
5.0
I'm usually really picky with the books i read. And thought-process writing styles usually aren't my thing. So, when i started reading this book and found that i not only could get past the first few pages without getting bored but instead became engrossed in the pages needing to know what happened, it was a pleasant surprise.
Every time i had to put the book down was hard. Koontz some how manages to entrap you in Odd's thoughts and in his life. you soon begin seeing the character's he's close to almost as friends yourself. He keeps you on the edge of your seat and completely unsure of what's happening until the end. And even then the ending is as unexpected as the rest of the books. One of the best thriller novels i've read in a while.
Every time i had to put the book down was hard. Koontz some how manages to entrap you in Odd's thoughts and in his life. you soon begin seeing the character's he's close to almost as friends yourself. He keeps you on the edge of your seat and completely unsure of what's happening until the end. And even then the ending is as unexpected as the rest of the books. One of the best thriller novels i've read in a while.
worldofbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Lived the movies and loved the book
Can’t wait to read the second one now ❤️
Can’t wait to read the second one now ❤️
annashiv's review against another edition
3.0
I expected to like this more than I did. I dunno, maybe I would have enjoyed it more when I was a little younger. I found Odd just a little too quirky at times and while the writing is good, it seems formulaic at times and a little too flavorful. Maybe I just don't care for Koontz writing. THe ending felt a bit rushed as well, though I understand why. It was all about building tension and not sustaining it. It's supposed to pack a punch, which it does to a fair degree, though perhaps in predictable ways. Overall, I can respect Koontz and the story he told, and I may even pick up the next book, but I can't say I'm terribly invested.
bmleaman's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
rgetch06's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
gatosenojados's review
3.0
The story was pretty good, but bogged down by extraneous detail. and unnecessarily sad! :c