Brother Odd (Odd Thomas, #3)

Title: Brother Odd (Odd Thomas, #3)

Author: Dean Koontz

Published in: 2006

Date read: 5th June 2012

Score: 4/5

Genre: Mystery, Supernatural, Horror

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Brother Odd" by Dean Koontz is the third novel in the popular Odd Thomas series, following the titular character as he seeks solace and a new path after profound personal loss.

After the traumatic events of the previous book, Odd Thomas, a young fry cook with the ability to see and communicate with the spirits of the dead, retreats from the world. He finds refuge at St. Bartholomew's Abbey, a remote monastery nestled high in the Sierra Nevada mountains, hoping to find peace and a respite from the relentless parade of spirits that only he can see. He tries to live a simpler life, befriending the eccentric monks and the mentally and physically disabled children whom the nuns and monks care for at the attached school. He's even accompanied by the persistent spirit of Elvis Presley.

However, Odd's attempts at peace are short-lived. He soon begins to see bodachs, shadowy, malevolent creatures that feed on pain and death and always appear as harbingers of imminent disaster. These bodachs are gathering in unusually large numbers around the abbey, specifically around the vulnerable children, indicating a catastrophe of horrifying proportions is about to strike.

Odd, true to his nature, cannot ignore these warnings. Despite the skepticism of some and the isolation of the monastery due to a raging snowstorm, he begins to investigate the sinister presence. He uncovers a dark and shocking history connected to the abbey, which was once a mental institution where unspeakable horrors occurred, trapping tormented spirits within its walls.

As Odd delves deeper, he realises the bodachs are attracted not only to the spirits but also to a living, malevolent force. He encounters a mysterious, learned Russian man and, with the help of a few open-minded monks, must race against time to uncover the source of the impending disaster and protect the innocent lives within the monastery. The novel escalates into a terrifying confrontation with the evil forces at work, both human and supernatural, as Odd uses his unique abilities and unwavering courage to battle for the survival of everyone he has come to care for. "Brother Odd" is a tale of suspense, spiritual conflict, and the enduring battle between good and evil.

Comments:
Another fantastic instalment of a most unlikely hero.

Books that we've read by Dean Koontz (27):
Demon Seed (1973), Icebound (1976), The Voice of the Night (1980), Phantoms (1983), Darkness Comes (1984), Watchers (1987), Dragon Tears (1993), Mr. Murder (1993), Tick Tock (1996), False Memory (1999), The Face (2003), Odd Thomas (Odd Thomas, #1) (2003), The Taking (2004), Forever Odd (Odd Thomas, #2) (2005), Velocity (2005), Life Expectancy (2005), Brother Odd (Odd Thomas, #3) (2006), The Husband (2006), Odd Hours (Odd Thomas, #4) (2008), Breathless (2009), Relentless (2009), The Silent Corner (Jane Hawk, #1) (2017), The Whispering Room (Jane Hawk, #2) (2017), The Crooked Staircase (Jane Hawk, #3) (2018), The Forbidden Door (Jane Hawk, #4) (2018), The Night Window (Jane Hawk #5) (2019), The Other Emily (2021)