Odd Hours

By: Dean Koontz

Narrated by: David Aaron Baker

Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

Only a handful of fictional characters are recognized by first name alone. Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas is one such literary hero who has come alive in listeners' imaginations as he explores the greatest mysteries of this world and the next with his inimitable wit, heart, and quiet gallantry. Now Koontz follows Odd as he is irresistibly drawn onward, to a destiny he cannot imagine.

The legend began in the obscure little town of Pico Mundo. A fry cook named Odd was rumored to have the extraordinary ability to communicate with the dead. Through tragedy and triumph, exhilaration and heartbreak, word of Odd Thomas' gifts filtered far beyond Pico Mundo, attracting unforgettable new friends - and enemies of implacable evil. With great gifts comes the responsibility to meet great challenges. But no mere human being was ever meant to face the darkness that now stalks the world - not even one as oddly special as Odd Thomas.

After grappling with the very essence of reality itself, after finding the veil separating him from his soul mate, Stormy Llewellyn, tantalizingly thin yet impenetrable, Odd longed only to return to a life of quiet anonymity with his two otherworldly sidekicks - his dog Boo and a new companion, one of the few who might rival his old pal Elvis. But a true hero, however humble, must persevere. Haunted by dreams of an all-encompassing red tide, Odd is pulled inexorably to the sea, to a small California coastal town where nothing is as it seems. Now the forces arrayed against him have both official sanction and an infinitely more sinister authority...and in this dark night of the soul, dawn will come only after the most shattering revelations of all.

©2008 Dean Koontz (P)2008 Brilliance Audio

Cashing a paycheck?

I've read Koontz for a very long time, and although the narration quality is excellent, the book itself is lacking. I'm wondering if the publisher got greedy and split the book with another one coming soon. Lots of unanswered questions and it leaves you hanging. With under an hour left, it just wraps up so quick it is tough to believe. The first Odd Thomas is the best, the second was okay and this one is lacking.

15 of 16 people found this review helpful

Odd Hours

I enjoy the Odd series but this book was a disappointment. It will leave you with an "unfinished feeling."

10 of 11 people found this review helpful

Not a Classic

I am a big fan of Dean Koontz and have enjoyed the earlier books featuring Odd Thomas. This one missed the mark. It lacked the constant suspense of earlier books.

Odd's narratives have become flippant boilerplate in this book. Hoping for better from Mr. Koontz next time.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Odd Thomas when it was still fun

Any additional comments?

Unlike other reviewers, I really liked this addition to the "Odd Thomas" series. I always enjoy Dean's/Odd's wry humor and this had plenty. Great characters, as usual, and very enjoyable mystery. This was the last "Odd Thomas" that was really enjoyable to listen to before the stories became so dark. Worth listening to again.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Worst of the series

I read both of the first two books in this series and felt that this one didn't hold a candle to the others. There are so many better Koontz novels; skip this one.

10 of 12 people found this review helpful

Odd Hours-Disappointing

Disappointing. Odd doesn't have his usual reliable sidekick to elicit his quirky personality. The heroine adds little to the story. She is absent during most of Odd's journey and she responds to questions with answers such as, "What will be, will be." I found her more irritating than mysterious. Also, rather than outwitting his nemeses, Odd, though exhibiting remorse, escapes peril by killing them off. This is a departure from the Odd of the Monastery. One can only suppose that the writer resorted to surmounting quests in such fashion to meet a publishing deadline or perhaps to offer a substandard tidbit to satisfy those of us who greedily demanded more Odd, now rather than later. With questions left unanswered, this undoubtedly is a pre-quel to the next Odd iteration.

10 of 12 people found this review helpful

Odd for Odd

Any book by Koontz sells well and any book with Odd as the main character sells well, but Koontz may have shot himself in the foot with this half a** attempt. I believe Koontz is getting tired of this character and it shows in his writing. Odd mentions more then once that he would like to die and I believe Koontz would like to kill him off, if only he did not sell so well.

The story starts off on a beach where Odd is attack by some bad guys. It takes him eight chapters to get off the beach. Most of the book is filler. Toward the end our gun hating hero, uses a gun and kills several people, some point blank. At one point he bravely stands still while a bad guy takes three shots at him, like he is superman. It seemed very out of character for Odd to use a gun and I believe it was just a easy way for Koontz to get his character out of trouble, so he compromised the character's character.

In chapter 46 there is an exchange between Odd and a bad guy that is roll on the ground funny, but this is about the only place in the book where there is any levity.

This is the fourth book in the series, but you can read them in any order. My favorite in the series is Forever Odd.

Koontz has written some really great stuff and my favorites are: The Bad Place, Lost Souls, Life Expectancy, Dragon Tears, and By The Light of The Moon.

23 of 30 people found this review helpful

Good book but not as good as the previous ones.

I started this series with Odd Thomas and have enjoyed each one that followed, but honestly this last one was not my favorite. Odd is a very endearing character and after the first book you have developed a true affection for him and what he has been through. The mix of seriousness and humor is wonderful, and David Aaron Baker is a great narrator, after 4 books clearly the voice of Odd Thomas.
In each book there is some evil to be faced, and maybe the evil in Odd Hours is just more difficult for me to accept. I'm hoping that Koontz has more adventures for Odd. I'd hate to see such a good character go out on what I feel is the weakest of the 4 novels so far.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Very enjoyable, especially as an Audiobook

I listened to Odd Thomas and absolutely loved it. I then bought the paperback versions of the next two in the series (Forever Odd and Brother Odd) and was a bit disappointed - they just weren't as charming. I then decided to go back to the audio version of this latest in the series and the enjoyment was back!

The narrator does such a good job bringing Odd Thomas and his quirky friends and enemies to life that you can't help but love it (or at least I can't). I found myself laughing out-loud many times while listening to this book.

It is true that the plot is a bit light (but not really any more than Forever or Brother) and doesn't entirely hold together but it is highly enjoyable and I rather liked the changes to Odd's character over the series.

I would highly recommend this series in Audio format; you will not be disappointed.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

there's worse - but I'm sad

Take any Odd Thomas book, make it shorter, act like you're tired of the character, the formula and the spirit of the thing - and you have what appears to be DK's feelings about this one. It felt rushed. Abridged. Like TV instead of a nice visit with OThomas. Then again, I haven't found anything much better lately either... so it could have been worse.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Brilliant

Another great story in the odd Thomas collection. can't wait for the next few stories.