Odd Thomas

An Odd Thomas Novel (Odd Thomas, Book 1)

By: Dean Koontz

Narrated by: David Aaron Baker

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Meet Odd Thomas, the unassuming young hero of Dean Koontz’s dazzling New York Times bestseller, a gallant sentinel at the crossroads of life and death who offers up his heart in these pages and will forever capture yours.

“The dead don’t talk. I don’t know why.” But they do try to communicate, with a short-order cook in a small desert town serving as their reluctant confidant. Sometimes the silent souls who seek out Odd want justice. Occasionally their otherworldly tips help him prevent a crime. But this time it’s different.

A stranger comes to Pico Mundo, accompanied by a horde of hyena-like shades who herald an imminent catastrophe. Aided by his soul mate, Stormy Llewellyn, and an unlikely community of allies that includes the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, Odd will race against time to thwart the gathering evil. His account of these shattering hours, in which past and present, fate and destiny, converge, is a testament by which to live—an unforgettable fable for our time destined to rank among Dean Koontz’s most enduring works.

©2003 Dean Koontz. (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Once in a very great while, an author does everything right—as Koontz has in this marvelous novel.... the story, like most great stories, runs on character—and here Koontz has created a hero whose honest, humble voice will resonate with many.... This is Koontz working at his pinnacle, providing terrific entertainment that deals seriously with some of the deepest themes of human existence: the nature of evil, the grip of fate and the power of love."—Publishers Weekly

"Dean Koontz almost occupies a genre of his own. He is a master at building suspense and holding the reader spellbound."—Richmond Times-Dispatch

"Dean Koontz is not just a master of our darkest dreams, but also a literary juggler."—The Times (London)

Outstanding book

This is why people read books. Dean Koontz puts you in the the scene as well as anyone.
My favorite of his so far.

Odd all the way

Odd Thomas is such a fun read. The story is a great combination: supernatural, murder mystery, love story, and good ol’ fashioned page turner. This was the original, “I see dead people…” (actually I’m sure that award goes to some Greek author, but eh). This is an entertaining book that I’ve read, but since it was our book club’s choice for October I grabbed the audio. I’m glad I did. David Aaron Baker did a great job.

So well written

The lead character is a very unusual young man. He has certain powers, his “gift.” His story is compelling.

As I listened to his adventures, I was aware of the author’s beautiful writing. It was perfect in every way.

One of my favorite books of all time.

The Odd Thomas series is one of Dean Koontz very best. Odd is so well written and likable. I was concerned when I saw the book had been re-recorded because David Aaron Baker is the perfect Odd. I’m happy to see he’s still the narrator and this is a non-abridged version.

I love the odd one

I first fell in love with Odd Thomas because of the movie and after years. After years of procrastinating, I finally bought the audiobook! I absolutely love the book. The movie absolutely doesn’t do it justice. The narrator does such a good job voicing Odd. The character has so much depth.

The characters

Some scenes included overly descriptive background that did not add to the story or color.

Good story, great writing!

The writing of these books is like poetry. The descriptions are such fun that I often back up and listen again. The story is enjoyable, but it’s the interactions of Odd with other characters, more so than the story, that brings me back for more! I typically listen to sci fi, lots of action, one liners, etc. These books are a refreshing change, more intellectual and polite.

Narrator is perfect for Odd

Overall, I found the story enjoyable, although there are some tedious moments where you listen to each and every thought going through Odd's mind, who is a thorough over-thinker. Odd is very likeable character, and I'll look forward to listening to more about him. I know this is not a recent book, but I find it odd (no pun intended) that writers seem to take so much pleasure in describing the overweight body, relishing in every adjective they can summon from the thesaurus.

Koontz rocks!

The Odd Thomas series is one of the most well written series, and the boy is quite aptly named. Dean Koontz never fails to entertain.

Written beautifully.

This was my first dean koontz novel and I loved this book! It was nearly perfect. The narrator was excellent!