Odd Thomas (Odd Thomas, #1)

Title: Odd Thomas (Odd Thomas, #1)

Author: Dean Koontz

Published in: 2003

Date read: 26th October 2010

Score: 5/5

Genre: Supernatural, Horror, Mystery, Psychological

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Odd Thomas" by Dean Koontz, published in 2003, introduces the titular character, Odd Thomas, a seemingly ordinary twenty-year-old fry cook working in the small desert town of Pico Mundo, California. However, Odd possesses an extraordinary and unsettling psychic ability: he can see the lingering spirits of the dead. These "shining ones" (ghosts) cannot speak, but their presence and gestures guide Odd to unsolved murders and impending tragedies. He uses his gift not to solve puzzles for fun, but out of a deep moral compulsion to seek justice for the dead and prevent future harm to the living.

Odd’s gift also extends to seeing bodachs, shadowy, malevolent entities that congregate around places where violence and death are imminent. Only Odd can see them, and their numbers indicate the scale of the impending horror.

The story begins with Odd working his shift when a stranger, Fungus Man (due to a disturbing fungal growth on his neck), enters the restaurant. Odd immediately senses a vast, unprecedented number of bodachs swirling around this man, indicating an unimaginable catastrophe about to unfold. This chills Odd to his core, as he's never seen so many bodachs before.

Despite the skepticism of most, Odd has a few trusted allies: his steadfast and loving girlfriend, Stormy Llewellyn, who fully accepts his unusual ability; and Chief Wyatt Porter, the town's pragmatic police chief, who, though a sceptic by nature, has learned to trust Odd's inexplicable hunches.

Odd embarks on a desperate race against time to uncover Fungus Man's plans and prevent the mass violence he senses. His investigation leads him through the hidden corners of Pico Mundo, revealing a sinister conspiracy involving a cult of nihilists and their plot for a horrific act of terror. He uses clues from the shining ones, his own intuition, and the limited resources available to him to piece together the pieces of a terrifying puzzle.

The novel is a blend of supernatural suspense, mystery, and a unique exploration of morality and the human spirit. It delves into themes of fate, free will, the nature of good and evil, and the profound love between Odd and Stormy that anchors him to the world. The climax is a harrowing confrontation in a packed shopping mall, where Odd must use all his courage and his extraordinary gift to prevent a devastating tragedy, leading to a deeply emotional and unforgettable conclusion.

Comments:
I loved this book and had never read anything quite like it. As well as being thoroughly enjoyable, I was absolutely shaken by the ending, all that I can say is that I didn't see it coming.

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)