Forever Odd (Odd Thomas, #2)

Title: Forever Odd (Odd Thomas, #2)

Author: Dean Koontz

Published in: 2005

Date read: 29th November 2011

Score: 4/5

Genre: Supernatural, Thriller, Mystery

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Forever Odd" by Dean Koontz is the second novel in his popular Odd Thomas series, continuing the adventures of the young man who can see dead people.

The story picks up some time after the devastating events of the first book, "Odd Thomas." Odd Thomas, still grieving the loss of his beloved Stormy Llewellyn, is trying to cope with his unique ability to see "shades" – the lingering spirits of the dead who cannot move on until justice is served. He also sees "bodachs," malevolent, shadow-like entities that feed on pain and suffering, and which are drawn to impending violence.

Odd is still living in Pico Mundo, California, working as a short-order cook. One day, he receives a frantic and cryptic call from a close childhood friend, Danny Jessup. Danny, a severely autistic and non-verbal savant, is being held captive by a group of ruthless criminals who plan to use his extraordinary abilities for a sinister purpose.

Driven by his loyalty to Danny and his inherent sense of justice, Odd embarks on a desperate and dangerous rescue mission. The kidnappers, led by a particularly sadistic and calculating individual, are aware of Odd's abilities, adding an extra layer of peril to his quest. They use the labyrinthine and forgotten tunnels beneath Pico Mundo, and eventually a vast, abandoned mansion, as their hideouts, forcing Odd to navigate treacherous and claustrophobic environments.

As Odd pursues Danny, he encounters a terrifying array of new "shades" and faces increasingly aggressive bodachs, indicating the immense evil at play. He relies on his street smarts, his occasional flashes of prescience, and the guidance of the spirits he sees, including the lingering presence of Stormy, to help him unravel the kidnappers' motives and locate Danny.

The novel is a tense cat-and-mouse game, with Odd often finding himself in horrifying situations, outmatched and outgunned. He must confront his own grief and fears while battling very real human threats and the pervasive, unseen forces of darkness. The climax involves Odd infiltrating the kidnappers' stronghold in a desperate bid to save Danny, leading to a brutal and high-stakes confrontation where Odd's unique gifts are pushed to their limits to protect his friend. "Forever Odd" is a story of enduring friendship, the courage to face overwhelming evil, and the ongoing struggle of a young man trying to make sense of a world where the living and the dead constantly intertwine.

Comments:
After the ending for the previous book, I left it a while before reading this one. I should not have waited as it is another brilliant instalment. Thoroughly enjoyed it too.

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)