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Odd Thomas #1-5

Odd Thomas Series Books 1-5

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Small-town guy meets big-time evil. Five Odd Thomas novels from master storyteller and international bestseller, Dean Koontz.

Odd by name, a hero by nature…

ODD THOMAS: Odd Thomas is a fry-cook who can communicate with the dead. And when something evil comes to Pico Mundo, the desert town Odd calls home, Odd is the only one who can prevent a devastating whirlwind of violence and murder.

FOREVER ODD: Odd Thomas has lost the love of his life, Stormy Llewellyn, but he has no time to grieve before he is called upon to use his unique talents in the search for a missing friend. And what he discovers is far worse than a dead body…

BROTHER ODD: Odd Thomas is looking for peace in a remote monastery in the High Sierra. But even in the silence of the mountains, danger follows him, and Odd will come face to face with an enemy that eclipses any he has met before…

ODD HOURS: When intuition leads Odd to the quaint town of Magic Beach on the California coast, he takes a job as cook for a once-famous Hollywood actor. Disturbing dreams haunt his sleep, however, and nothing can prepare him for the nightmare that lies ahead.

ODD APOCALYPSE: Just off California’s Pacific Coast Highway stands Roseland: a mansion, protected by high walls. Odd finds refuge there, with the mysterious Annamaria. But the house contains terrible and bloody secrets, and is haunted by lingering spirits. Roseland has welcomed them in, but will it ever let them leave?

1457 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 28, 2013

43 people are currently reading
370 people want to read

About the author

Dean Koontz

887 books38.4k followers
Acknowledged as "America's most popular suspense novelist" (Rolling Stone) and as one of today's most celebrated and successful writers, Dean Ray Koontz has earned the devotion of millions of readers around the world and the praise of critics everywhere for tales of character, mystery, and adventure that strike to the core of what it means to be human.

Dean, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.

Facebook: Facebook.com/DeanKoontzOfficial
Twitter: @DeanKoontz
Website: DeanKoontz.com

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5 stars
190 (62%)
4 stars
72 (23%)
3 stars
35 (11%)
2 stars
7 (2%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Jonathan Echevarria.
219 reviews20 followers
May 8, 2019
Looking back at the whole series as I approach book six I have to say I’m mostly unimpressed. It isn’t that I hate this series or feel like it isn’t worth the praise of the other readers gave it. It’s just I felt like the first novel was kind of misleading because it sets up all of these really interesting concepts and ideas. But then as we move on to book two and three it starts to become obvious that the author has no intention of delivering on those promises. I’m not going to say it’s completely false advertising, but when you set up a story about a protagonist who can see the undead and then he ends up fighting crime, well I felt like something was lost in translation. I don’t know how it’s all going to wrap up in the end, but can honestly say I do find myself struggling to finish the series and stay invested in it.

And then there’s a whole problem of the Catholic or Christian overtones, it’s not that I hate religion or find it offensive. It’s just mostly that I feel underwhelmed because you have this really interesting premise set up in the first novel and then it just feels like it’s completely unfinished. I keep hoping that we’re going to return to those themes, but instead it’s just mostly about a boy who can’t get over the death of his first true love. And some of it feels kind of sick like this isn’t going to translate well into real life situations.

If a lot of this seems like it’s purposely vague it’s because I’m trying not to include spoilers here. However my main message for this review is that if you are attracted to this series like me because of the promise of paranormal adventures and if you are looking for a intriguing story about how a boy deals with being in the extreme minority because he was born with a paranormal gift, well you’re going to be massively disappointed just like I am. I’m trying to help those kind of people like me not waste their time because after the first novel it doesn’t get any better.
Profile Image for Mehmet.
159 reviews12 followers
May 16, 2019
I am reading through Odd Thomas series in a great Buddy read with my GR friends. I am currently on the 6 novel, parts of the series are very inventive and imaginative. Unfortunately I have not found the novels very exciting. I like Odd Thomas and his various companions (who although join him, never seem to really become part of the story) Dean Koontz really has a knack for creating likeable characters. The problem comes from the fact that each book seems so similar, interesting incidents happen in each story but so far in the series they are not addressed. Each book is a self contained story and I must give credit that the author has tried to diversify the enemies Odd Thomas has to contend with.
Very much a soft horror mystery series, our hero Mr Thomas has the ability to see the dead, they come to him to find closure or help to move on from this world. Interesting part is they can not speak and Dean Koontz brings in a few famous celebrities as characters which hang about for a while. Also there seems to be a moving away as the series progesses from plain ghost to Aliens, government conspiracies and sci-fi elements. There was even in one book, Odd Hours a terrorist plot. Each book has some very momentous events, but they never have any fall back into the story. This annoyed me a bit, as each story repeats the abilities of Mr Odd but never seem to address some question that certain story's bring up. Maybe they will be answered at the end. I willing to read till the end.
Another point that annoys me, is although the religious preaching is kept to a minimum, it still comes across at certain points. I am not certain but there is a biased in favour of Catholics. Although the author does try to keep a open mind. Sometimes he does over play certain stereotypes and show negative perceptions on Muslims and especially Iran. Yet overall Mr Koontz avoids cliches. So I am enjoying the series, but overall not impressed by it.
Profile Image for SANDMAN.
140 reviews
June 13, 2022
Hmmmmmmm …

Mr Koontz …

You are in danger of being another S.King who goes on & on in his books about the same thing over & over or takes a chapter to explain one little thing.

I don’t know anyone who would pick up let’s say book 3 for a 7 book series as the first book to be read, so why oh why are you letting Odd still Whittier on about Stormy & the events of the first book most chapters!?

More get up & go required.

I liked the story, it’s well written but dam you drone on & on unnecessarily … There is also a thing of too much mystery as well.

I’m giving odd a three book rest now before I return for the next chapter … I need it!
Profile Image for Siobhan.
4,870 reviews594 followers
October 20, 2015
The books that guaranteed Koontz’s place as my favourite author.

The Odd Thomas series is truly wonderful. It is filled with all of Koontz’s trademarks. The wonderful characters. The gripping storyline. The heartbreak. The wit. The philosophy. Everything you love about Koontz is brought together in this wonderful series as we follow Odd Thomas on his rather peculiar journey through life.

Whether you’re a Koontz fan or simply a fan of the supernatural, I suggest you give these books a read.
Profile Image for Angie Hackett.
975 reviews5 followers
April 2, 2016
I bought this months ago and I finally finished the bundle tonight. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because I did struggle with the books individually and as a whole. That may just be because I read them with minimal breaks between each book. I have grown to really like Odd Thomas and surrounding characters. It was well written and I have seen the movie based on the first book. It was one occasion where the film stuck to the core of the book. I have purchased book 6 on the back of these so I am immersed in the world of the odd one.
Profile Image for Kinsey Keys.
11 reviews
May 16, 2023
Short-order cook Odd Thomas has a peculiar life. In his seven-book series, author Dean Koontz takes his readers along for quite a ride with Odd in the driver’s seat. All of the books in the series can be read as stand-alone novels, because they each describe a different adventure that hero Odd Thomas must face.

This series is perfect for a bit of easy reading and some light fun. When school is stressful or work is miserable, coming home to Odd Thomas is sweet relief. He doesn’t make you think too hard while offering up a mystery to solve, and along the way he provides you with an endearing sense of humor to keep you smiling. Koontz has made a relatable hero in Odd that will keep readers coming back for more.
1 review
June 26, 2018
I am a late 50s something woman that has gotten a bit bored with the same old formula while reading. I was looking for something totally different and i found it in this series. I had never read a Dean Koontz book before but I highly these books
Profile Image for Autumn Thompson.
Author 1 book2 followers
August 4, 2017
This is my favorite book series of all time! It is full of good humor and suspense.
3 reviews
June 29, 2019
A Little Odd

But thoroughly entertaining, can be at bit out of my range at points but funny, clever and thought provoking recommended
39 reviews1 follower
March 24, 2020
I love Odd as a character and I really did love this series. The only thing that I wish is that the stories and endings were a little tighter.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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