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| Odd Hours | 
 enlarge | Author: Dean Koontz
Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Large Print Edition
Category: Book
This item is no longer available
Avg. Customer Rating:  171 reviews
Sales Rank: 911283
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st
ISBN: 0739327933
EAN: 9780739327937
ASIN: B001E3W9T2
Publication Date: 2008
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| Customer Reviews: Read 166 more reviews...
 Probably the Best of the Odd Thomas Sequels May 21, 2008
87 out of 90 found this review helpful
Dean Koontz is one of my favorite genre writers, and the original ODD THOMAS novel is my second favorite of his books, right after his 1987 novel WATCHERS. Given the enormously favorable response to ODD THOMAS, Koontz decided to turn the book into a series, and now plans to write six or seven novels featuring the character. ODD HOURS is the fourth book in the sequence, and is probably the best of the sequels so far.
If you've read ODD THOMAS (and you MUST read the four novels in order to properly enjoy them) you know that these books are a unique combination of suspense, dark comedy, and spiritual uplift. Odd is a character with a very unique voice, one that I very much enjoy listening to. The pleasure of the Odd Thomas novels is not really the plots, which are often thin and unrealistic. Instead, the pleasure is in watching how Odd wryly reacts to all the insanity taking place around him. The results are often hilariously funny, yet at the same time emotionally moving. There are no other books quite like them.
In ODD HOURS, the story involves a terrorist plot to smuggle nuclear weapons into a small California coastal town. This plot is in no way believable. But again, Koontz simply uses this rather silly storyline as an excuse to allow Odd to have another wild adventure, encounter another cast of eccentric characters, and pontificate about the absurd yet wonderful nature of life. After a slightly slow start, this novel works wonderfully well at this level. The end result is the best Koontz book I've read for quite some time.
Admittedly, ODD HOURS isn't for everyone. Some readers I know have lamented Koontz's new style of writing, often proclaiming that his books aren't as well written as his horror novels of the 1980s and early 1990s. I respectfully disagree. Koontz, like any other good writer, has evolved with age, and has become more philosophical and spiritual in his storytelling. Still, if you dislike Koontz's newer books, there is an excellent chance you won't like this one either.
But if you're new to Koontz, I hope you give his ODD THOMAS novels a try. Koontz is the exact opposite of a nihilistic writer: he believes there is a moral purpose to life, and that people must understand that purpose and act consistently with it. In our cynical age, I find that perspective refreshing, and I enjoy the Odd Thomas novels for that reason. I look forward to the fifth installment in this great series.
Another hit for Koontz....not at all odd. May 21, 2008
74 out of 86 found this review helpful
It should go without saying that at this point in his career Dean Koontz is an absolute master at devising and then executing a story. Throughout his career, Koontz has continued to develop as an author with each new story better than the previous one. In his Odd Thomas series this is certainly true.
It began with Odd Thomas, a strange young fellow living in a small California town of Pico Mundo and working as a fry cook. Then came Forever Odd, Brother Odd and now Odd Hours. Odd Thomas, the fry cook, has remained a steadfast character from the first book to the fourth even though life has not been kind to him. But while Odd has remained the same humble, innocent, and generally good guy he has always been, he has continued to develop as a character with new facets added in each story. Odd has had two companions, a ghost dog name Boo and his long time friend Elvis Presley. In Odd Hours, Elvis is seemingly replaced with Frank Sinatra.
In Odd Hours, Odd is faced with perhaps his most profound challenge yet. A dream and all encompassing red tide haunts Odd. At the close of Brother Odd, Odd wants nothing more than to return to Pico Mundo and resume his quiet life as a fry cook. However, fate steps in and he lands in a small coastal town of Magic Beach working for a former movie actor and author of childrens books. With terrific characters such as Annamarie and Brush Cut, Koontz has written another terrific page turner. Packed with suspense, a dark eerieness, fast action, and tight plot, Odd Hours will not disappoint. You'll have to suspend plausibility, but you'll enjoy this fourth Odd Thomas installment.
I highly recommend.
Peace always
 2 1/2 STARS June 20, 2008
19 out of 19 found this review helpful
I really enjoyed the previous Odd Thomas books, especially the first one. I do not think this book stands alone. If you have not read the others I think you will be completely lost. Having read the others I have such mixed feelings!
I love the dialog and humor of Odd Thomas with Hutch, Utgard, and Chief Hoss Sackett. The downright profound observations made with Birdie on pages 218 and 219 were amazing! Yet the dialog with Annamaria drove me nuts.
The first scene at the pier seemed endless... had I not read his other books I would not have read beyond this point. What was with the coyotes??? The bell??? The sea glass??? The grate with the lightning bolt ring???
I love the character of Odd and thought Birdie could make a very interesting main character someday. Blossom was another very interesting character. I wanted so much to like this book. I think generally speaking Dean Koontz is a wonderful, thoughtful, and witty writer and yet this book disappointed me.
I hope he can make Annamaria a more interesting person in the next book... yes I will read the next one.
I really like Dean Koontz. Not every book can be the best one. When you've written as many books as he has there are bound to be some that are better than others. I hope he doesn't get discouraged by negative comments because we will all lose if he doesn't continue to share his observations, humor, and creative ideas - they are a gift.
 Even Odd could not see the dead spirit of this novel June 21, 2008
17 out of 18 found this review helpful
First up let me say I've read many of Dean's books and find him to be a wonderful author most of the time. Indeed Odd Thomas and Forever Odd are two of my favorite books and Odd himself one of my favorite characters.
I was excited when I discovered another Odd installment was on the way and now greatly disappointed with the end result. This story was either put together in a hurry to satisfy the publisher or Dean has lost the magic touch and maybe Odd should of gone on to join Stormy at the end of Brother Odd (another novel that was far less impressive than the first two installments)
The pointer to Sole Survivor's little girl from the plane crash, the mystery train and Wyvern from Seize the night are nice little touches for Dean's constant readers out there.
This story moves so slowly it is painful, indeed at times I had to go back and read parts again to remember what was actually going on in between the somewhat bizarre events (I'm talking bizarre even for Odd) and the overwhelming amount of description of locations because I thought I'd missed something that would help make sense of the ramblings from chapter to chapter.
And sadly after 25 chapters I just could not take it anymore and gave up, maybe eventually I'll go back and see how it ends, but even a huge explosion of cardiac pumping proportions could not give this story the life and sense of direction it so badly needs.
I can only live in hope he turns it around for the next one or quietly leaves it alone rather than drag this much beloved character through the death pains of a story that is even more ridiculous than Brother Odd and more exciting a pace than this snail.
Odd meets the good guy May 31, 2008
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
First off, I am biased... I really like Odd, the character that Koontz has developed in these books. This installment is a continuation of the series and was a very engaging read. I finished it in one sitting (and here I am at the computer at two in the morning!). Koontz' style was very strong on scene description. I could actually imagine the sensations of a heavy salt water fog he described in one of his scenes.
Of course, I am a sucker for self effacing hero types, dogs, and good friends. There are as much of these in this book as any of the previous. And of course there are ghosts (alas, no Elvis - he left the building in the last book!).
I would say that some of the witty repartee between Odd and others was reminiscent of Koontz' character in 'The Good Guy'.
If you liked the other books, I think that you will definitely like this one - I highly recommend.
All the best,
Jay
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