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Critic's Corner
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There are times when one good thing calls for another. In 2004 Koontz gave readers "Odd Thomas," a novel, according to a review in Publishers Weekly, that presented Koontz at his pinnacle, and by this reviewer in the Tulsa World as a novel that gave readers "Life lessons light as air, yet deep as an ocean." Other reviewers also raved about Koontz's character Odd so much, Mr. K decided to favor his fans with a sequel -- "Forever Odd." Odd is a most charismatic and unforgettable young man. He still lives in a small desert town called Pico Mundo, but now he is on leave from his job as short-order cook at the Pico Mundo grill. He's still grieving over the death of his fiancé, Stormy Llewellyn. Once again, Odd explains how he came by his strange name, and assures readers that he, while living an unusual life, is really blessed and just an ordinary guy. Ordinary if you find a fellow who communicates with the dead as ordinary. While these spirits do not actually speak to Odd, they are helpful in other ways. Many of them just want justice and offer otherworldly tips to Odd which he passes on to the town sheriff, Wyatt Porter, to solve difficult cases. Such is the situation when Doctor Wilbur Jessup is found murdered and his stepson Danny is kidnapped. At first Odd and Sheriff Porter believe Jessup's murderer is Danny's biological father. The clues certainly point toward Simon Makepeace. A year ago, Carol, Danny's mother died of cancer. Now, Dr. Jessup is gone. But why Simon, a man with a criminal past, would take Danny is a mystery. Danny is two inches short of the five feet that he claims, his body is twisted by the abnormal bone growth that sometimes occurred during the healing of his frequent fractures caused by a terrible bone disease. Doctor Jessup once told Odd the disease was osteogenesis imperfecta or brittle bone disease. Nevertheless, Odd and Danny, who is near Odd's age, have been close friends since childhood. Odd says, "Our lives have been defined -- and deformed by our afflictions. My deformations are primarily social; his are largely physical." Odd is understandably distraught by the murder of Danny's stepfather and the kidnapping. He is on the case with all his gifts in play. In addition to the ability to see ghosts, a gift he'd happily trade for piano artistry or a talent for flower arranging, Odd was given what he calls psychic magnetism. You just have to read the story to understand this particular gift. Anyway, it leads Odd to Pico Mundo's underground flood channels. He's positive that Danny has been taken down into the now dry tunnels. But should he call Chief Porter, or follow his heart which told him not to involve others in this rescue? Last August he'd erred on the side of logic and many people died. People called him a hero because he'd saved hundreds, but had he gone for his inner leading none would have died. This time, if his heart said he alone must go after Danny, he would obey his heart. And that is exactly what he does. The adventure through the channels proves Odd is on the right track. Once he exits the channels, he loses the foot prints he's been following, then -- his cell phone rings. A mystery caller, a woman, tells him, "How about you find us by sundown or we break both Danny's legs . . . By nine o'clock, we break both his arms." Odd suddenly realizes Simon's murder of Dr. Jessup could be a ruse. The feeling grows that maybe Jessup was murdered because of Odd himself. Maybe Simon isn't the killer. Could the killer or killers really want Odd and took Danny to draw him to them? So, if not Simon, who? Had Danny somehow gotten himself embroiled with a female predator or is Odd's inkling right? Is Odd the one the kidnappers really want? If so, why? The answer lies in the perilous adventure awaiting Odd in an abandoned Indian casino and resort hotel destroyed by an earthquake and fire years ago. The horror that awaits Odd as he races to rescue his friend would be unbelievable in less capable hands than Koontz's. The story, as written with Koontz's extraordinary imagery, leads readers into a fierce battle of good versus evil. An evil so dastardly even Odd's powers could fail him. The author's dialogue and storyline are, as always, true to his characters leaving disbelief at the door. Events, such as a flash flood in the Nevada desert, and a group of psychopathic killers with a diabolical scheme, are all too real. The settings, characters, and supernatural intrigues are as unusual as they are unexpected. Once more, Koontz does not disappoint as he races readers to the edge of reason. Copyright Patricia Ann Jones Save Up to 30% on this book at Amazon.com Jones is a published writer and book reviewer for Tulsa World newspaper. To comment on this review you may email pattij777@aol.com |
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Forever
Odd
