When last I knew of Odd Thomas, he was leaving the California Coastal town of Magic Beach, having thwarted the nefarious plans of folk who wanted power more than they appreciated life. He did so by following his “gift” of intuition and a willingness to meet any challenge put before him. Once again, his ability to see, and communicate with, “those who need help to let go (of this world)” is instructive and helpful as he figures out his task, this time in the Palatial grounds of Roseland, the West Coast property of the 1920’s movie mogul, Constantine Cloyce. The enigmatic, pregnant teenager, Annamaria, woos the present owner of this historic place, Noah Wolflaw, and Odd finds himself in a guest suite larger than most normal houses. The accommodations are grand yet it daily “felt more like a trap.” (p.14). Once again, Odd’s commitment to duty has placed him solidly in the path of mayhem, alternate realities, “time management” and a roaring good time. By the time the visit to Roseland draws to a close, Odd and Annamarie have another travel companion, one that fits the family being created during these “odd” travels as if he were birthed into it. The struggle Odd has to make to bring this new family member into the fold could be compared to labor. Koontz has created a hero in Odd Thomas who uses violence (of which he has much opportunity while at Roseland) as an absolute last resort, describes vulgar language without using it (even though he was staying in the estate of those fluent in that dialect), does not denigrate sex with vulgarity - all without sacrificing a rousing, tension-filled story. Roseland is a place of mystery and its inhabitants eerily tied to sustaining its secrets. The monsters spawned within its walls come from every direction; the most dangerous do not always appear the most threatening. Were it not for Odd’s perpetual optimism, all hope would be lost in its vast corridors. Had it not been for his willingness to do whatever it takes to frustrate evil, his strength of character and his intelligence, the world would look far different, if it survived at all. There is a depth to this series (this is the fifth volume in the list) that has the feel of Spirituality. The reader is firmly established in a plausible story while being confronted with the (near constant) reminder that one cannot see what is by only using their eyes. One must consider the plausible, the probable with the mysterious as he/she travels with Odd Thomas around California. The book is presented as a posthumous memoir of Odd’s adventures. The reader is well aware that our hero is already dead as they read these stories but how that occurs is not noted by the reading of this book’s epilogue. We can, therefore, look forward to yet another adventure as Odd follows his intuition to the next location of threat. I can hardly weight. Ever since leaving his hometown Odd has been on the move and this book is no different, showing you another of his adventures since heading out into the world. Unable to stay away from trouble, a seemingly safe retreat for Odd soon begins to unwind as he realises there is more to the ‘safe haven’ than meets the eye. Still with the mysterious female from ‘Odd Hours’ the male takes it upon himself to dig deep into what is so off about his new surroundings.Yet again, Odd is thrown into the unnatural world with his gifts coming in highly useful as he tries to help those in need. As loveable as always, Odd does what he does best in another brilliant addition to the series.
What do You think about Odd Apocolypse (2000)?
It was a good book. I liked it a lot. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
—gamergirl
Not the best Odd, by far, but not a bed read (espcailly if you are a Poe fan(.
—Bry
Love the Odd Thomas series. Really wonderful story telling. Worth it, for sure
—Nisha
