Book Recommendation: Dean Koontz Odd Thomas Series

I have been reading Dean Koontz novels since high school and currently in the mist of replacing my paperbacks with hardcovers. His novels are found in the Fiction area of the bookstore close to the other famous writer. I enjoy the science fiction, mystery, suspense aspect of it all. More often than not the main characters are normal people that find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. There is always a clear cut of who is the protagonist and who is the villain- be it an actual person or upcoming event. All his novels have been a book I just couldn't put down. Taking the journey, trying to solve the mystery, and the satisfying endings have always left me pining for the next novel to come out.

The first Odd Thomas novel was released in 2003. The title of the novel is the name of the main character that has a gift or curse of seeing the dead. The spirits search him out to find justice or give him clues to impending doom. Right from the start it begins with the understanding of how someone deals with this affliction/gift. With a community of supportive and colorful characters Odd isn't alone on his quest to stop a catastrophe from happening. He is such an endearing character you just hope everything works out for him. I really don't want to give anything away but the story has a lot of heart, mystery, and suspense- everything you expect from a Koontz novel.

The series starts out with Odd Thomas and continues with Forever Odd, Brother Odd, and Odd Hours. There are also graphic novel prequels available if you just can't get enough of Odd's world. I've read that Koontz would like to make this a series of 6 books and there has been talk of a film to come out depicting the first story of the series.

If you are looking for a new fiction writer to follow or looking for a good story that portrays the best qualities in all of us I would pick up this novel.