Odd Hours

First and foremost, if you are thinking of picking up one of Koontz's Odd Thomas books, DO NOT START HERE. Without reading any of the first three entries in this fun and fantastic series, you will be completely lost reading "Odd Hours" first.
On top of that, "Odd Hours" is probably the weakest entry in the Odd Thomas series so far. If you are a fan of this character, there is still plenty to enjoy here, but it just doesn't have the same "feel" as the previous novels. Maybe it's because Elvis split at the end of "Brother Odd", maybe it's because Koontz introduces serveral new characters who pass through so quickly, too quickly and the reader wants more about them, but this entry didn't have the quirky "magic" of the previous novels. Of all the new characters Koontz introduces us to, the character of Annamaria was the most bland, and unfortunately gets more focus than the fantasticly witty Hutch Hutchinson, or the mysteriously fun Birdie who appears at a crucial time in Odd's life, or the wonderful "Happy Monster" named Blossom. And for Frank Sinatra to try and fill the shoes of the departed Elvis.....that's just not quite right.
I am looking forward to the next installment (if there is one?), but hope this series gets back on track soon.

I, like many people, fell in love with Odd Thomas after reading the first novel in this series. The next two were good reads as well, and I couldn't wait to read the latest installment. Then I read it... Never have so many words said so little. The events of this book could have been included in a thirty page chapter within a more interesting novel. The character Odd Thomas is still extremely intriguing, but too much time and space is wasted describing the fog, the pier, etc. Okay, if you pay close attention there is a plot to be found, but once you find it you will be even more flummoxed than you were by the almost endless descriptive ramblings. This book left me feeling angry and cheated by one of my favorite literary characters. I am a Koontz fan, but this book left such a bad taste in my mouth it will take a while for me to pick up another of his books. I will, however, read the next title in this series because I love the character so much. If you have enjoyed the series so far, go ahead and read it... Odd Thomas has plenty left to offer, and unfortunately this is a piece of the larger puzzle. Just don't say I didn't warn you.

Yet another chapter in the saga of our favorite Odd Thomas. Dean Koontz work just keeps getting better and better!

this book is the least exiting of the series and at the end i felt that this book just did not deliver and i was disappointed, do yourself a favor and get this as cheap as possible if you do get it at all.

Before anyone throws stones in my direction, I am one of those rabid fans who has read everything Dean has written. He is the one author who's books I purchase new automatically, the hardback version, the one where I have to plunk down some real bucks because I can't wait to enter Dean's world. And I will do the same for his next novel, because Dean has earned that kind of loyalty from me by writing so many novels that will always be my favorites, books that I go back to read time and time again.

But just between us hard-core fans, let's be honest....lately, with four books published every two years, maybe one is a novel worthy of his track record. Recently, too many of his novels feel like deadline material, mortgage payments, efforts to keep the publishing house happy....you see where I'm going with this? Granted, how many authors will ever have a "Watchers" or "Dark Rivers of the Heart" on their resume? No, Dean is a Hall of Famer right now. But as a fan, I have to admit to myself....Dean ain't throwing the heat anymore. After reading this book, I did the only thing a Koontz fan can do after suffering through another lukewarm effort...I went and reread "Dark Rivers of the Heart".