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    Odd Hours
    Odd Hours
    Odd Hours
    Audiobook8 hours

    Odd Hours

    Written by Dean Koontz

    Narrated by David Aaron Baker

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

    Only a handful of fictional characters are recognized by first name alone. Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas is one such literary hero, who has come alive in readers’ imaginations as he explores the greatest mysteries of this world and the next with his inimitable wit, heart, and quiet gallantry. Now Koontz follows Odd as he is drawn onward, to a destiny he cannot imagine. Haunted by dreams of an all-encompassing red tide, Odd is pulled inexorably to the sea, to a small California coastal town where nothing is as it seems.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateMay 20, 2008
    ISBN9781423356837
    Odd Hours
    Author

    Dean Koontz

    Dean Koontz is the author of more than a dozen New York Times No. 1 bestsellers. His books have sold over 450 million copies worldwide, and his work is published in 38 languages. He was born and raised in Pennsylvania and lives with his wife Gerda and their dog Anna in southern California.

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    Reviews for Odd Hours

    4/5

    1,126 ratings73 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      As with any of the Odd Thomas stories I rate them five stars. As with others, this one too hold your interests from beginning to end
    • 5/5
      Worth the trouble , read it if available .
    • 2/5
      The most boring crap of his I’ve ever read. Not a fan of all the stupid dialogue. I don’t remember Odd Thomas or the one after being like that. If someone wasn’t reading it to me I wouldn’t have finished.
    • 5/5
      4 Legged ghosts, a famous ghost and a wonderfully mysterious woman on top of a slightly off but thoroughly enjoyable roomie make for an intense ride by the sea. Another triumph in the Odd Thomas series!
    • 3/5
      This is the fourth in the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz and it was a very pleasant read. I'd have to say that this book was more of a thriller than a 'paranormal thriller' which sets it apart a little from the others in the series.I found myself wanting more of the 'supernatual themes' that Koontz writes so well, but having said that, this novel certainly had suspense and was a quick and enjoyable read.'Odd Hours' could be read as a stand alone, however will be enjoyed more by those who are familiar with the Odd Thomas series in my opinion. The ending opens the possibility of a fifth book in the series which I'd be very much looking forward to.
    • 5/5
      Love Koontz really like the Odd series. You can't help but rut for Odd.
    • 1/5
      I made it thru about 3 chapters, truly awful. I like Koontz, but found this unbearable.
    • 5/5
      I love the Odd stories!!!i can never get enough of them!!! Wow!
    • 4/5
      Reader has a good voice and is able to do multiple characters well. Not the best of the "Odd Thomas" books that I have read / listened to so far...plot is a bit silly and not as interesting as some of the others. But it's still mindless fun.
    • 4/5
      Odd Thomas takes on the world.... and wins...

      A very good read for those who enjoy the action of the previous books...

      Odd is involved in international terrorism prevention and survives to tell the tale... Odd overcomes his fear of guns and goes on the rampage... only getting bad guys of course...
    • 5/5
      Only a handful of fictional characters are recognized by first name alone. Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas is one such literary hero, who has come alive in listeners’ imaginations as he explores the greatest mysteries of this world and the next with his inimitable wit, heart, and quiet gallantry. Now Koontz follows Odd as he is drawn onward, to a destiny he cannot imagine. Haunted by dreams of an all-encompassing red tide, Odd is pulled inexorably to the sea, to a small California coastal town where nothing is as it seems.
    • 4/5
      A good friend has been telling me for years that I should read Koontz's "Odd Thomas" books. It's not that I've been reluctant to do so; more than I just didn't ever seem to think of them at the right time. So when one popped up in the list of audiobooks from my local library, I gave it a click. Sure, I jumped into the series a few books in, but that's not unusual for me.

      In short, I shouldn't have waited so long. I really enjoyed the character(s), the story, AND the level of writing. I'll definitely be looking for more "Odd" books, and if the library had had another one available, I'd be listening to it now. If you think you'd like a mix of unusual and memorable characters, ghosts, suspense, and top-notch writing, you should enjoy this book immensely.
    • 4/5
      A light read with an nice collection of characters as expected from Koontz.
    • 2/5
      Apparently Odd Thomas (and it seems that is his real name) is a young fry cook who finds himself in the most improbable situations being a hero. He seems like a very like able character, and a decent guy. I just get the feeling that Koontz is messing with my head with books like this. In this one, Odd foils terrorists attempts to bring nuclear weapons onto U.S. soil using a corrupt police and harbor patrol in a small coastal California town. Odd foils them with the help of some flighty good Samaritans, a golden retriever, and the ghost of Frank Sinatra. I think you see my point.
    • 4/5
      Easily the second best of the (so far) 4-novel Odd Thomas series. Second only to the original Odd Thomas book.

      It had lingering dead, famous spirits (although not enough Frank, IMHO), drama, tension, loss, and unanswered questions. Everything that made the first one great, minus the predictability of the 3rd novel, [book:Brother Odd].

      HIGHLY recommended to Dean Koontz and Odd Thomas fans.
    • 4/5
      I have never been an enthusiastic Dean Koontz fan. I think a lot of his stand-alone horror feels very formulaic. The Odd Thomas books are an exception, however. Like Neil Gaiman or like Stephen King's best later work, the Odd Thomas books have a surprising amount of warmth and heart and optimism in a genre that is often pure black. Whatever else he may be, Odd Thomas is a genuinely good man. The books have a quirky sense of whimsy and humour (much of it down to Odd's unique and charming narrative voice). This is not the best Odd Thomas book I've read. The plot feels a bit contrived, even for a story that is primarily about destiny, but it's a pleasant and quick read.
    • 3/5
      This is the fourth book in the Odd Thomas series, and was just as cleverly written as the other three. I have never read another Koontz series (or standalone), but I am going to add his books to my TBR simply because of the writing style he exhibits in this series.

      Here are some of my favorite lines:

      • Words are plastic these days. Small loans made to desperate people at exorbitant rates are called payday advance. A cheesy hotel paired with a seedy casino is called a resort. Any assemblage of frenetic images, bad music, and incoherent plot is called a major motion picture.
      • Malevolence and paranoia cohabit in a twisted mind. Bad men trust no one because they know the treachery of which they themselves are capable.
      • Sometimes I am a mystery to myself.
      • Although weaponless, I left the house by the back door, with two chocolate-pumpkin cookies. It's a tough world out there, and a man has to armor himself against it however he can.

      See? Both humorous and poignant statements. That is the hallmark, I am finding, of these Odd Thomas books, and one thing that makes them such a pleasure to read.

      This one ended a little abruptly for me. Who was Annamaria? What became of the baby she carried? Why were the men after her? Will we see Birdie Hopkins again? Did anyone else miss Ozzie?

      Instead of being frustrated with the lack of answers, I am propelled to the next in the series. Koontz has never let me down before and there is no reason to suspect he will begin now.

      Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      I love the humor, I care about the character, it's a quick read, with a satisfying ending.
    • 4/5
      Koontz has done it again with another Odd book. This character grows on you as the books on his grow. He is a well thought out character and he has some mighty unusual experiences. I really enjoyed it.J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" "To Whom It May Concern" and "Tell Me About the United Methodist Church"
    • 3/5
      Odd Hours by Dean Koontz – This is the fourth book in the Odd Thomas series by Koontz. As usual Odd puts his own life in jeopardy to protect his friends (and society) from evil attacks by ruthless characters in this novel. Of course his ability to communicate with dead people and his supernatural abilities help him during his struggles. Among other concerns in this novel, Odd takes on some wicked police who plan a catastrophic disaster that would kill thousands and change the world. Odd (a fry cook) with the ability to communicate with the dead provides a very interesting, endearing and reluctant character who struggles to help those in need. His interactions with eccentric dead people also provide some levity. I enjoyed this book, but not quite as much as the previous three Odd books. I thought the life-threatening action in this book happened too soon, and the ending was not very satisfying.
    • 5/5
      4 Legged ghosts, a famous ghost and a wonderfully mysterious woman on top of a slightly off but thoroughly enjoyable roomie make for an intense ride by the sea. Another triumph in the Odd Thomas series!
    • 3/5
      I have enjoyed the "Odd" books since the first one came out. This one was a little disappointing. It seemed as if the book was trying too hard to write itself and get to the end. Make sense? In my opinion there was not enough "odd" in Odd Thomas and a little too much "shoot-em-up and get out of here" for my taste. However, after I finished it and digested a little bit - hmmmm - it could be a "transition" book setting up an absolutely awesome 5th installment in this series.
    • 4/5
      Some loose ends, I thought. Particularly with the weird girl. She was a little too cryptic for my tastes, and a bit annoying. But as always I loved Odd, and want to be his friend.
    • 5/5
      What can I say........another great book! Once you read the first Odd Thomas book you have to read them all! They're that good!
    • 3/5
      It was okay. Just sort of ended. It feels like it builds and builds and then just stops.
    • 4/5
      This was the first book in the series that I think fits the description of sequel... or more aptly put, continuation of the original book.

      In Forever Odd, Dean bored me to death because the book, to me, was pointless. He mentioned Forever Odd in Brother Odd, but only briefly and in no way did it pertain to the story. Now, In Odd Hours, you hear no mention of the casino happenings from the second novel. More and more I feel like Koontz is trying to say, "Sorry about that, folks, let's get back on track.

      Odd is moving toward something in Odd Hours, something big, and I believe that the series has officially begun. It took Dear Old Dean two books to get here, but he finally knows where he's going.

      The book begins like meth addict scrambling for a crystal he's lost down a drain. I wasn't expecting that. The fourth book in the Odd Thomas franchise is one long chase scene. If someone's not chasing Odd, Odd is chasing someone. There are a few very obtuse sections involving rhythmic underground noises and coyotes that are more than they appear to be which are never explained. Not to mention Annamaria. This girl is brought in, introduced, then shoved off screen in a damn hurry. I can't help but think that she will play a major role in the fifth book, Odd Apocalypse, which I will be reading next. Some have complained about the unanswered questions, but I like them. I finally have a reason to read the rest of the series.

      ***Spoiler Alert***

      The chapters involving the boat journey, the nukes, and Odd's descent into darkness to save, as Annamaria puts it, "Cities," was some of the best suspense writing I have ever come across. Dean threw me a curve-ball, and I whiffed the swing like a roid-raging bean head. I didn't see that section coming. Odd has been such a tranquil character up until now, only acting out of shear desperation. Here, he is calculating and ruthless.

      Then, he meets up with the big reveal. I laughed my ever-loving ass off during the back and forth in the final chapters. It was like watching a mystery film parody unfold. Dean must be part magician because he just pulled people out of thin air and piled them up like kindling for the winter. Someone shoots someone only to get shot by someone who then gets shot by someone else. No, really, that's how it goes. I knew I shouldn't be laughing, but by the time I reached the cliffhanger ending, my guts were hurting. I will say, I didn't see how the last baddie dies coming. Smooth bit of distraction done on Koontz's part there. But, the end, not the cliffhanger, but the final scene in the rectory, caused me to lower my initial five stars to four. Now, if Koontz meant for me to laugh at his outrageous pop-up bad guy act, then bravo, but somehow, I think he meant for me to take it seriously.

      Much better than Forever Odd, not quite as good as Odd Thomas or Brother Odd, Odd Hours is just stupid fun for smart people. I recommend this one, but I will further state that you should avoid Forever Odd like the air-bourne version of Ebola. If anyone can tell me why we needed book two in the series, please, for the love of Tom Cruise, shoot me an email.

      E.
    • 3/5
      This book seemed a little slower to get into than the other Dean Kootz novels I have read. But once the action started it was interesting and the plot twists were unexpected.
    • 3/5
      Not as good as the previous entries. A gripping story, but the end dropped it down one star because too much was unexplained - such as the whole point of Annamaria.
    • 4/5
      The Odd Thomas series is among my top five favorite series. The word "grace" is often used in reviews and in within the book to describe Odd and I don't think there's a better word for him.

      Koontz said in the back of his first Odd Thomas graphic novel that he sees the series being complete with six books. I'm looking forward to seeing what he has in store for Odd and Stormy.
    • 3/5
      I read this over the weekend at the park. It's a quick, easy read with an interesting story. However, I got really turned off by the over use of similes to describe everything. But after talking with friends, this is typical of Dean Koontz's style. It read like a gimmick after a while. I also didn't like the pace of the story. Many chapters would tell the happenings of a few hours, some chapters describing silly things for pages and pages (climbing a bridge pole, etc). It would've been justified if I needed that much description of the happenings, but I felt like the story would've been stronger if more attention was given to the important things and the little details were skimmed over for faster reading.