He Ain't Odd...He's My Brother

One would think that with the name Odd, life had handed you enough problems. Throw in the ability to see dead people, bodachs and psychic magnetism with the moniker of Odd... then life is a combination of terror, obligation and humor.

In Odd Thomas, the first book, I laughed, cried and reveled in all that was Odd. Then came Forever Odd, a disappointing book that lacked the humor that I had come to associate with him. In the third installment of Odd Thomas's life, Dean Koontz has, once again, found his rhythm.

Brother Odd
After a tragic event in his life, Odd finds his way to St. Bartholomew's Abbey, set in California's High Sierra. The Abbey is home to monks, nuns, guests seeking "insight" and children with disabilities.

Odd finds a small sense of relief from seeing dead people. Elvis Presley still visits him and bell-ringing Brother Constantine, who committed suicide in the bell tower, needs Odd's attention now and then.

While Odd is waiting for his first snowfall ever, he instead notices what he had hoped to never see again...bodachs. Shadowy figures not of this world, but residing here, that foretell of violent multiple deaths. The bodachs are fascinated with the children of the Abbey...children Odd has grown fond of and will do everything in his power to protect.

Odd enlists the aid of:
Brother Knuckles, an ex-mafia hitman.
Brother Leopold, new to the Abbey, but ready to fight.
Brother John, an ex-scientist in seclusion.
Brother Maxwell, an ex-Los Angeles crime reporter
Rodion Romanovich, a Russian man who is now an Indiana librarian seeking insight.
and Boo, a white dog that runs the grounds of St. Bartholomew's.

Everyone at the Abbey is ready to protect the children, except one. Can Odd and his crew stop the multi-jointed creatures made of bone that have come to kill the children of St. Bartholomew's...or will people he cares about die as they have before?

How Does It Rate?
Brother Odd is a book that kept me interested with its humor and variety of characters (an ex-mafia hitman monk?). I don't think Koontz will ever match the wit of his first Odd Thomas book, but this one is much better than the disappointing Forever Odd.

I did have problems with some science in this book. I consider myself, at the least, of average intelligence. When quantum theories and physics were thrown into the mix, I was at a loss and skipped ahead to the "good parts". It didn't stop my enjoyment of the book, it just detoured it for a bit.

I enjoyed reacquainting myself with Odd, his abilities and unique personality. I am, eagerly, awaiting the next installment of Odd's life, that was set up at the end of Brother Odd.

A master fry cook from Pico Mundo has won my heart.