Kelly O. (astucity) - reviewed on 6/4/2009 + 18 more book reviews

Odd Thomas was a book that lived up to it's hype which I rarely ever say about a book. Usually when I read a book that everyone tells me is so good I find that it's commercial in the aspect that it caters to a general audience and is below my standards.

First we meet Odd; the main character in which the book is named for. Koontz did a superb job of making him seem like the most normal boy you'd ever meet. He lives a quiet life, works as a fry cook, and lives in a 2 room garage apartment. Usually not the type of material that you write a book about, which in the same sense, you get a feel that's the reason he wrote a book about Odd.

Odd, for a lack of a better phrase, sees dead people. Odd sees everyone from a 12 year old girl that was raped and murdered to Elvis. Yes, Elvis Presley. In his little town of Pico Mundo, California the King lives on, yet when Koontz places Elvis on Odd's life, it's far from cheesy. In a strange sense you feel that not only does he add to the story, he belongs in the story.

We are introduced to Odd's gift in the beginning of the book when he sees 12 year old Penny Kallisto. Penny was raped and murdered by who we shortly find out is Odd's high school acquaintance Harlo Landerson. Odd in the past has solved several cases like this, which in return as earned him a close relationship with Chief Wyatt Porter, a sort of surrogate father to him.

His girlfriend/fiance Stormy Llewellyn is the next main and second most important character as Odd's life is defined and shaped by her. Stormy is well written and towards the middle of the book, you really feel the bond between her and Odd and why they consider themselves soulmates. The author did an excellent job of having them add to one another's role in the story instead of her seeming like space filler like so many authors tend to do when adding a "supporting cast" to their books.

The readers are introduced quickly to "Fungus Man" who we can identify as an antagonist. Odd gives him the nickname because of his fungus yellow hair and completion. Even though he brings no element of surprise, he does leave you in suspense as to what his role really is. It's made clear through hints throughout the book and in Odd's own words as he is narrating the story that something terrible is going to go down in Pico Mundo, we just don't know exactly what for a few chapters.

A little further in, meeting Odd's best friend Little Ozzy only completes the unusual cast. Little Ozzy is a writer, an art critic, a 400 lb man with 11 fingers, and the keeper of a 58 year old cat named Terrible Chester. Ozzy demanded that Odd sit down and write his tale to help him cope with what has happened to him in all the events of the book and to deal with reality.

The fateful event that takes place doesn't last long in the sense that it's drawn out for chapters and chapters and is rather short and sweet with plenty of curve balls thrown. Even in it's brevity it doesn't disappoint and since I never give anything anyway, I can't really critique it too much but know that it was well written and something you won't walk away from feeling let down.

Through the lingering dead, a satanic cult, normal (and not so normal) life of a 20 year old boy, grief, tears, and love this book is amazing and possibly the first in a series Dean Koontz will be most remembered by.

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