Product Description

The new novel from the internationally bestselling author of The Face Another distinctive, original and thought-provoking work of fiction from Dean Koontz, one of the best-loved and biggest-selling authors in the world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14106 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08-16
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Odd Thomas is one of Dean Koontz's more heavily moralised horror thrillers, but is nonetheless charming and terrifying. Odd is an adolescent on the brink of adulthood who sees dead people and has a worryingly precise moral sense; the police chief of the small town of Pico Mundo--little world--relies on him heavily. Hardly has the book opened before a dead teenager leads Odd to her killer--and we are given to understand that this is the sort of thing that happens all the time. He does not just see the dead, however; he sees the thrill-seeking dark spirits that hang around unpleasant events, and he notices, on this particular day, that there are a lot more of them about than usual. Odd is haunted by dreams of dead bowling-alley staff and he wonders whether this might just be the day when the bowling-alley massacre takes place.

The tone of voice here is almost saccharine, almost sinister--Odd and his friends and his sweetheart are vivid, cute and self-righteous. This is a bizarrely paced thriller because it follows the vagaries of an eccentric with his own ways of investigating things--it is as odd as its hero's name. --Roz Kaveney

Review
'Dean Koontz is probably, right now, the most underestimated writer at work in the field of fantastic literature ... a fine novel by anybody's standards' Infinity Plus

The dead don't talk, but Odd Thomas has the ability to see their troubled, unquiet spirits. And their appearance invariably precedes some terrifying and cataclysmic event. Usually gruesome, multiple deaths. More terrifying are the shadows - or bodachs - which sometimes surround the people who are about to become victims of brutal killings. These inky forms move in packs, hovering above their prey as if drawn by the promise of bloodshed. Violence and terror attracts them. They are surrounding 'Fungus Man', a stranger who has come to Pico Mundo. A man who, Odd discovers, has a penchant for sickening crimes, a lust for violence. But is he a lone assassin or does he have associates bent on slaughter? Time is running out for the people of this little southern Californian town. Can Odd, with his special psychic powers, avert disaster? A tale of the horror and suspense by an acclaimed master of the genre. (Kirkus UK)

The New York Times
'Psychologically complex, masterly and satisfying.'

Customer Reviews

Very enjoyable and more than a little, yes, odd
My first Dean Koontz book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not dissimilar to Stephen King; something a bit out of the ordinary and supernatural but never particularly explained or justified. Which I rather liked. The story moves along at a good lick, the characters are big and bold (if not always entirely convincing) and it's all hugely enjoyable. I was left wanting more and will definitely read more. Don't really want to go into the story as you don't want to know too much before you start. Good stuff

Odd Thomas
Odd Thomas (the first in a series about the same character who can see , but not talk to , dead people) is the best. The book is enjoyable , and the story is gripping and certainly had me turning the pages just to see what happens next. However , like some DK books Ive read there are some un answered questions and parts to the book. In one such case , Odd vists a house , which has a room in it which was pitch black , expect for a small red dot coming from it. When Odd enters the room , he see himself entering the room , before being throwen back out on to the cooridoor. When Odd leaves the house , the character doesnt go back or find out what this is , which left me disappointed ! A good read however

Brilliant book
This is my favourite book without a doubt, not much makes me cry(dropping a hammer on my toe etc.) but the end of this book did and thats because the author has created instantly loveable characters and you go through the high & lows of the book & become attached, The premise lives up to its name, and has got humour. What more could you want.