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Odd Hours (Odd Thomas 4) | 
| Author: Dean Koontz
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Category: Book
List Price: £17.99
Buy New: £8.99
You Save: £9.00 (50%)
New (28) Used (5) from £6.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 2460
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 400
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.5
ISBN: 0007267533
EAN: 9780007267538
ASIN: 0007267533
Publication Date: July 1, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
There are many reasons why Dean Koontz has managed to remain at the top of the authorial tree for so long (and his sales are the envy of many of his contemporaries). Firstly, of his course, there's his totally assured storytelling skill (something that seemed to arrive fully formed even in his earliest books); his command of a variety of popular genres, from horror to the blockbuster crime novel; and his skill at creating distinctive characters. But -- most of all - it's Koontz's direct contact with his readership - a talent he has few rivals at -- that has assured his popularity. The Odd Thomas sequence has been one of Dean Koontz's most successful series, with its supernaturally gifted protagonist a strong creation. In Odd Hours, Odd finds himself in Magic Beach, California, an oceanside town. His ability to communicate with the dead is both a blessing and a curse -- and his life is currently in a state of crisis, as he tries to find spiritual peace. He is working as domestic assistant to an elderly film actor -- and part of his job is to listen to lengthy stories of the star's golden past. But Odd is experiencing worrying dreams of a red tide -- and his instincts tell him that something evil is on his horizon. He is not prepared, however, for the magnitude of what he will have to confront. Koontz admirers will know what to expect here: unsettling, atmospheric prose that exerts a steadily growing grip. Some may be uncomfortable with Koontz taking on the threat of terrorism (is this really his territory?), but aficionados know that he won't let them down. And Odd Hours -- discursive though it is -- is still one for Koontz admirers. --Barry Forshaw
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 Lacklustre October 28, 2008
The fourth entry in the Odd Thomas series is frustrating from two angles. First, and most surprising, is that although the narrative is clearly Koontz, the plot is not. It lacks punch and for the most part, is actually rather uninspiring. The second point, is that the story is nonsensical, wrapped in teasing mysteries for no reason whatsoever. Koontz, in my opinion, has been faultless up until this novel, in which Odd rambles incessantly, is put through rather an unbelievable plot, and surrounded by paper thin characters. There is one scene of note, halfway through, which raised my hopes, but they were soon dashed. There is character building for further entries, but Odd Hours, is disappointing on all levels. Not supernatural enough, not enough action and just not interesting enough.
 Not the Best of the Series - But not the worst Either! October 9, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is the fourth in the Odd Thomas series - following on from Odd Thomas, Forever Odd and Brother Odd and follows the titular character through another adventure.
The basic plot of this book is that Odd has moved from the monastery to Magic Beach and is employed by a faded b-movie hollywood star as a cook. But as is always the case with Odd, he has been drawn there for a more mysterious reason. His talent of being able to see the dead has always guided him to another mystery.......
The book starts well enough. Much of the humour and pathos from the previous books is here in abundance. I really liked the characters he meets - his new boss is a really funny guy, Annamaria the girl he promises to protect, Blossom who is another new friend, and of course a mysterious dog.
The problem i have with this book is the plot. It just doesn't sit right with the way the book starts and ends. It's as though Dean Koontz knew what he wanted to happen, but didn't quite know HOW to get there. And that is a real shame, because it makes the book feel really disjointed. A lot of people here have really slated this book, but it isn't really that bad. It is more that the Brother Odd book was so much better,and this is a real step backwards in this series.
What i find utterly frustrating though, is that Dean Koontz has a character in another series that he hasn't followed up in a long while. That character is Christopher Snow and stars in Fear Nothing and then Sieze the Night. I read those books immediately after reading this book and the difference in quality hits you straight away - they have more humour, better plotlines and a better basic premise, more characters you care about and the net result is that those two books grip you from the outset and take you on a great journey through the mind of Dean Koontz. Sadly, Odd Thomas is not as great a character as Christopher Snow. Odd Thomas has the potential to be a great character, but just doesn't seem to grip me in the way he should.
It isn't all doom and gloom though in this book. Yes it isn't a perfect book, but it certainly isn't as bad as Forever Odd which i really didn't like, but it isn't as good as Odd Thomas or Brother Odd. So who would i recommend this to? Anyone who liked the other Odd titles will definitely want to read this and see where their character is heading. But if you didn't get on with the rest of the series, then this book will not persuade to persist with him.
The solution to the problem with the Odd Thomas series is quite simple. The plot needs to be thought out better, and the characters need to have more time given over to them. I feel that Odd Thomas needs to be either finished as a series, or to be driven on to it's conclusion.
I hope this helps you decide whether you should read this book or not!
If you are unsure, then read Fear Nothing and then Sieze the Night!
 Very poor September 22, 2008
I've read and enjoyed many Dean Koontz books; in particular I've enjoyed the Odd Thomas series and was looking forward to reading this book.
I was very disappointed with what I read.
The main issue is that the storyline is just very one-dimensional. None of the characters are well developed: you find out nothing new about Odd, while you're introduced to several new characters but find out very little about any of them. During the book several questions are raised that feel key to the story but none of them are ever answered.
Overall the book just plods along with the main storyline, creating secondary storylines that are instantly forgotten about, until the main story reaches it's predictable conclusion and the book ends leaving the reader wondering whatever happened to all the loose ends.
My advice: don't waste your money.
Terrible!!! September 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have enjoyed many of Dean Koontz books, none more so than the first in the Odd Thomas series, what a gem. The second book wasn't bad but nowhere near as good, the third was slightly boring and to be honest would have been the end of my Odd adventures had it not been for my wife buying me this book for my birthday. So having not really enjoyed Brother Odd, I started on Odd Hours.
To be honest I don't really know where to begin. Things seemed to start off well for the first chapter but then just went totally off the rails!! I've just managed to force myself to finish it (being as it was a present) and I haven't really got a clue as to what half of the book was rambling on about. What's with the coyotes, the bell, the grid incident and the ramblings of Annmarie? Most of the key incidents aren't explained, just forgot about.
The key plot seems rushed and silly and if I have to read another one of Odds now annoying conversations with his interigators, I'll scream!! All in all I have to say that this is a very difficult book to read and the end result is not worth it....don't waste your time and money....I'm done with the Odd Thomas books.
Boring August 7, 2008
I really liked Odd Thomas, and eventhough book three may have been slightly entertaining, I'm more or less disappointed with the series, including this fourth installment. Put Odd out of his misery now, please.
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