Odd Interlude
Published: 2012
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: American, Fantasy, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literature, Murder, Psychic, Romance, Suspense, Thriller
Book 4.1 of 7: Odd Thomas
Check the summary of this book here:
The Review
Dean Koontz's novel Odd Interlude is a suspense thriller. A Special Odd Thomas Adventure is the title of this book. Its primary character defines it as a deviation from his journey's main arc. There are three intertwined storylines, comparable to John Saul's "Blackstone Chronicles." As others have pointed out, there are no earth-shattering revelations, yet the plot reads like an Odd Thomas story. The only significant drawback is that this should not be your first Odd Thomas story. It is necessary to be familiar with the character. In fact, I would recommend reading the previous four standard novels in order before diving into this one. If you're a fan of Odd Thomas, you'll want to add this to your collection.
Dean Koontz's writings, the prolific horror expert that he is, are included independently from the official series about so far seven Odd Thomas books. It was initially released as a three-part series of novellas before being printed in a single paperback volume.
It was released among both Odd Apocalypse and Deeply Odd. However, it falls between Odd Hours and Odd Apocalypse in canon chronology and on the author's website. Simply said, it may be inserted as a chapter in the fifth Odd Thomas novel, taking place about 24 hours after the events of Odd Hours.
Odd Interlude takes off where Odd Hours left off. Odd and his new companion Annamaria, the golden retriever Raphael, and the white German shepherd ghost dog Boo are traveling on the Pacific Coast Highway from Magic Beach, California to Santa Barbara.
A powerful pull, however, drives them to Harmony Corner, a little village with a café and homes for rent dating back to the late 1940s and early 1950s. Both Annamaria and Odd have a sneaking suspicion that something dark and wicked is lurking in the shadows of Harmony Corner. Unfortunately, Odd Thomas is likely to be the only one who can cope with it.
This book deviates from the norm in terms of Odd Thomas adventures, owing to its start as an e-book serial. Until recently, Odd's paranormal abilities—seeing dead people, psychic magnetism, the occasional prophetic dream, and so on—were mostly utilized to ward off just mortal creatures.
His abilities have enabled him to stay alive while eliminating wicked individuals before they can carry out their intentions to bring even more widespread death.
He foiled a plot to shoot up and bomb a retail mall. He rescued a prisoner from a witch and her kooky followers. He saved a school of monks, nuns, and crippled children from a murderous experiment by a crazy doctor. And he foiled a plot to bomb many American cities and utilize the resulting turmoil to take over the country.
Though the mysterious power that keeps pulling him from crisis to crisis has been picking up speed and magnitude like an avalanche—though Odd very reasonably suspects that he won't be able to survive much longer—he can take solace in the fact that, aside from his psychic powers, he has only had to deal with normal human wickedness.
As with any Dean Koontz work, the writing is razor-sharp, the conversation is natural, the character development is deep and in-depth, and the plot keeps you wondering until the shocking conclusion.
However, with Odd Thomas, the author has created a really distinctive character that talks to millions of his admirers and is even the inspiration for an Odd Thomas film.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Odd Thomas is the sort of character you wish you could meet in real life. Forget about his fluffy pancakes; this young man is someone you could sit down with and talk about life and how the very nature of it is amazing and awe-inspiring. That would be a great way to spend the day.
I adore this series, and this was a nice read while readers wait for the final book in the series Saint Odd to be released (it is already released.)
However, because of the brief length of this novel, there isn't much lead in to develop the other characters; instead, the adventure begins immediately and unravels swiftly.
Though it was intended to fill in the gaps and offer readers a taste of the popular novels if you're a fan, it's a good read, but it won't make sense if you haven't read the prior books to understand Odd Thomas's backstory.
Final Thoughts
This is a fantastic little interlude between two Odd Thomas books. It's a fun diversion, in my opinion. Odd encounters some strange people.
One "character" is an artificial intelligence dubbed "Ed," who has a sense of humor. Jolie Harmony, a little girl of 12 with knowledge beyond her years, is by far the most endearing character.
Odd is once more the "doer of good acts," as the Wizard of Oz would put it. He's been lured to Harmony Corners to assist in ridding the Harmonies of something that has been tormenting them for years.
Odd Interlude, in the Odd Thomas series, did not disappoint. Odd's or Koontz's comedy, in my opinion, is becoming more political and incisive all the time.
Though he does not explicitly state his political beliefs, there is a distinct DC flavor to his always-entertaining, usually laugh-out-loud amusing narration.
In this story, though, I felt it was hurried and shortened in an attempt to keep it short while still offering his customary ambiguous finish that leaves his audience thinking about what occurs next.
Because this story is sandwiched between two previously published Odd Thomas pieces, it was first unsettling, but the adjustment was swift and never proved to be a major distraction.
Though I think he went a bit too far in explaining why the people from this book aren't mentioned in the novel that follows. That had a rough edge that needed to be sanded down.
Overall, Koontz is still the type of novelist that other writers despise. No one should be that good, but he is.
A one-off installment in the Odd Thomas series. You never know where a Koontz novel will lead you, as he does with many of his works.
It begins as a spooky mystery and quickly transitions into Sci-Fi. Koontz is a master of both genres and more.
This installment into Odd's tale was once only available in digital form, making it easy to overlook. Even if you've finished the rest of the series, this is worth revisiting.
Synopsis
"Odd Interlude, Dean Koontz’s New York Times bestselling three-part digital series—now in one volume for the first time.
THERE’S ROOM AT THE INN. BUT YOU MIGHT NOT GET OUT.
Nestled on a lonely stretch along the Pacific coast, quaint roadside outpost Harmony Corner offers everything a weary traveler needs—a cozy diner, a handy service station, a cluster of cottages . . . and the Harmony family homestead presiding over it all. But when Odd Thomas and company stop to spend the night, they discover that there’s more to this secluded haven than meets the eye—and that between life and death, there is something more frightening than either."
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords
Another Great, Forward To The Next, Fry Cook, Good Read, Harmony Corner, Looking Forward, Page Turner, Thomas Series
Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.
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