Odd Thomas

An Odd Thomas Novel (Odd Thomas, Book 1)

By: Dean Koontz

Narrated by: David Aaron Baker

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.

Enchanting Narration

The narration reeled me in and held me captive. I binged the entire book in one 24 hour period and can't wait to hear the next one in the series.

It was Odd

This was the most weird novel Dean Koontz has ever written - so strange that I needed to hear the end

The connection between Odd and Stormy

This was a great read! Odd and Stormy have such a great bond, that will survive beyond this life and the next. The story really pulled me in and has me hooked. I can't wait to start book 2!

Odd Thomas is my hero

I have all these books on CD, but wanted them on my phone too! I tell everyone I can about Odd. But why is a bunch of the recoding different than my CD’s? I’ve listened to them about 20-30 each.

Great story

Expertly narrated and the story always kept me guessing... definitely a must listen or read

Great writing, great characters.

The story was a great time from beginning to end. I love the bits of foreshadowing that you get and how they sort of mask the foreshadowing you don't get (or at least I missed). Only tiny gripe is that I wish the narrator sounded more like the protagonists age. Otherwise the narrator did a great job giving all the characters unique and believable voices.

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.