On Odd Thomas

In Dean Koontz's book Odd Thomas, twenty-year-old Odd has a gift. No, it's not his strange name. Nor is it his beautiful girlfriend, Stormy Llewellyn. He has a sixth sense. He not only senses evil, but also has the ability to see dead people - ghosts that are unwilling to let go - and evil spirits he calls bodachs. These spirits are drawn to evil, even evil that hasn't yet been commited. So when Odd spots a strange-looking man in a restaurant with several bodachs on his tail, he is immediately suspicious. Little does he know how twisted and evil his adversary really is - and what horrors he intends to inflict on Odd's hometown.

Pros: This book is extremely well-written. It's the first one I've ever read (and I've read hundreds) that has made me want to read every word. (Except the first crime - ugh.) I love the supernatural/Divine angle in the book. It shows that God cares for us and looks out for us, even though terrible people do terrible things. It seems pretty deep and asks a lot of questions, though few of them are actually answered. (Of course, that's only my opinion; sometimes I'm a little slow on the uptake.) I love Odd!

Cons: Ugh. Koontz's books are rightfully labeled "horror" in my local library system.

My Rating: MT, but definitely not for the weak of heart (moderate to heavy sexual references and content, gruesome murders and a particularly horrible crime, language)

Picture from deankoontz.com