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Odd Hours (Odd Thomas 4)
 
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Odd Hours (Odd Thomas 4) (Hardcover)

by Dean Koontz (Author)
2.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
RRP: £17.99
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Product details

  • Hardcover: 400 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (1 Jul 2008)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0007267533
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007267538
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 16.2 x 3.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 99,125 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #29 in  Books > Crime, Thrillers & Mystery > Authors, A-Z > K > Koontz, Dean

Product Description

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

Review
Praise for Dean Koontz: 'Odd Thomas is certainly a page-turner -- this is a read-at-a-sitting novel -- with a terrific final twist' Observer 'A terrific pursuit story ! clever, up-to-the-minute, and riveting' Guardian 'There's surprise after surprise, including a killer finale ! a read-in-one-go novel' Independent on Sunday 'Velocity hits its pace from the first page and races through to a suitably climactic ending' Sydney Sunday Telegraph 'Dean Koontz is not just a master of our darkest dreams, but also a literary juggler' The Times 'Psychologically complex, masterly and satisfying ' The New York Times 'One of the great masters of suspense, Koontz has an undeniable gift for playing on the reader's innermost fears ... What we have come to expect from Koontz are exciting, fast-paced thrillers that make your flesh creep. Once again, he doesn't disappoint' Northern Echo 'A modern Swift ! a master satirist.' Entertainment Weekly 'If Stephen King is the Rolling Stones of novels, Koontz is the Beatles.' Playboy 'Dean Koontz writes page-turners, middle-of-the-night sneak-up-behind-you suspense thrillers. He touches our hearts and tingles our spines.' Washington Post Book World 'Tumbling, hallucinogenic prose. Serious writers might do well to study his technique.' New York Times Book Review 'Fast-paced and dark ! Koontz knows we live in a world where evil delights in justifying itself ! Classic literature that deserves a place on the bookshelf beside Orwell's 1984 and Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451.' California Literary Review 'Koontz is writing right where popular culture swells into something larger, just as it did for Homer, Shakespeare, and Dickens. He's got the gift.' Australian 'Koontz is a superb plotter and wordsmith. He chronicles the hopes and fears of our time in broad strokes and fine detail, using popular fiction to explore the human condition.' USA Today 'Inspires both chills and serious thought ! has the power to scare the daylights out of us.' People 'The poet laureate of paranoid pop fiction.' Denver Post 'Koontz achieves a literary miracle ! stunning physical description, unique turns of phrase.' Boston Globe 'Near Dickensian powers of description.' Los Angeles Times

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Odd Hours (Odd Thomas 4)
37% buy
Odd Hours (Odd Thomas 4) 3.3 out of 5 stars (13)
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Odd Hours (Odd Thomas 4)
27% buy the item featured on this page:
Odd Hours (Odd Thomas 4) 2.2 out of 5 stars (13)
£12.59
Your Heart Belongs to Me
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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (6)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
2.2 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Be Odd for a day!, 29 Jul 2008
By L. Roche (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I loved this book, which has reached the heights of "Odd Thomas" in a way that that the second and third books in the series, although enjoyable, did not quite manage. Again we have a conflict between the humble and wryly self-deprecating goodness of Odd's character and enemies which personify arrogant evil. Odd's character has become more mature and willing to accept the need for desperate measures; his new enemies have reached a new level of depravity that, while it beggars belief in its detail, may be taken to represent the greatest evils that exist on this planet in their abuse of trust and power and their utter lack of conscience.

I felt entirely immersed in the storyline, despite reading this over more than a week. The atmosphere and the descriptions of the many scenes with varied and rich atmosphere are in some way more important than the almost cartoon-like, but satisfyingly crisp action. The more minor characters including Hutch and Birdie, not to mention Sinatra's ghost, provide some wry smiles. The villains never cause any confused feelings by exposing a vestige of humanity. If you require sympathetic villains, don't buy this book!

The role of the intriguing character of Annamaria was one of the strong points of this book, and a factor which gave it form and a satisfying framework. As in previous Odd Thomas books, some things are not entirely explained, but enough is made clear to reveal the bigger picture.

This is a book I was sorry to have to come to the end of, and felt my life had been a little enriched by having read.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, 15 Jul 2008
By Mark Pearce "mark one" (Shropshire, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I am a long time fan of Dean Koontz and particularly enjoyed a lot of his earlier books. In more recent years, although I have tended to get his books as soon as they are issued, I have been very disappointed. This is no exception. I believe great things could be done with the character of Odd (or should that be with the Odd Character?) but in this book he just rambles and ambles through a story which did not make a lot of sense throughout. It may be that Mr Koontz was using the book as his "rant" at terrorism or as the latest in his love for dogs slant, but I feel he has lost his way.
I suppose I will continue to read him in the hope that he finds his way back to writing books like Lightning, Sole Survivor, Intensity and others.
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14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars A bump in the road....., 29 Jun 2008
By D. Phillips (Down, Northern Ireland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This is the forth Odd Thomas novel. I really enjoyed 'Odd Thomas', less enjoyed 'Forever Odd' and really enjoyed 'Brother Odd'. I thought that perhaps Dean Koontz could build upon the success of the previous Odd book but alas I am somewhat disappointed. In 'Brother Odd, the protagonist really grew in character and the story was very well put together. Unfortunately for 'Odd Hours' we have the same Odd Thomas and none of the original characters from the previous books.

The story is exciting in parts and you really want to keep reading on to see what Odd gets himself into next. However the story plays out like one used in several action movie plots. An action hero has to stop nuclear weapons going off and save humanity. That's it. There is nothing new here that hasn't been done before and a lot of the enchantment of the previous books has all but gone. We no longer have the ghastly presence of Bodachs, we have the one-dimensional bad guys and a new character called Annamaria who is as interesting as a pair of underpants.

I am disappointed Mr. Koontz. I will of course continue to read your books because I enjoy the writing. But please put Odd Thomas to rest. Give us one more adventure in Pico Mundo where Odd and the rest of us can rest in peace!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Enough Odd

This is the fourth Odd Thomas book I have read. The first was great but sadly the novels have gone downhill from there and the bottom of the barrel is almost scraped... Read more
Published 7 days ago by B. Scuffham

1.0 out of 5 stars Latest Odd Thomas novel takes a nosedive in quality
I have to say that I am very disappointed with this, the latest in the Odd Thomas series. The first book is still one of my all time favourites and the follow up was pretty good... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Worldweary

2.0 out of 5 stars Lacklustre
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. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr. G. Battle

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the Best of the Series - But not the worst Either!
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. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mr. S. W. Steel

1.0 out of 5 stars Very poor
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. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Russell Brown

1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible!!!
I have enjoyed many of Dean Koontz books, none more so than the first in the Odd Thomas series, what a gem. Read more
Published 10 months ago by C. Taylor

1.0 out of 5 stars Boring
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. Read more
Published 11 months ago by B. Lindgren

4.0 out of 5 stars Odd The Fourth
Unusually for Dean Koontz he has created a series of books with the same character. "Odd Hours" is the fourth in the "Odd Thomas" series. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Scottish Dave

3.0 out of 5 stars An odd disapointment
I think I'm with the other reviewers on this one. This certainly wasn't Dean Koontz's finest Odd Thomas book, certainly not as good as the previous book. Read more
Published 12 months ago by E. Chittenden

3.0 out of 5 stars A little flat...
A bit disappointed with this one. I've enjoyed all the other `Odd Thomas' books, don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this one - it was just a bit flat. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Ms. Victoria Davies

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