Forever Odd / Dean Koontz / 334 pages

This 2nd novel in the Odd Thomas series pitches Odd against a crazy occultist who has becomes obsessed with seeing the supernatural and becoming invincible by capturing the life-essence of the recently departed.  We see another of Odd's eccentric friends in the form of Danny, a young man the same age as Odd (about 20 years old) who suffers from "glass bone" disease.  Odd once again must rely on his supernatural senses of psychic magnetism and seeing the dead to track the occultist who has kidnapped Danny.  Odd seems more vulnerable in this novel than in the first.  He's still contemplating the death of his beloved Stormy (in Odd Thomas) and the meaning of life.  His friends do their best to convince him that he is an important part of their lives and that they want the best for him.  The events of this novel make Odd long for a more peaceful existence that he hopes to find in the next installment Brother Odd.

Brother Odd / Dean Koontz / 364 pages

Odd Thomas is enjoying a peaceful respite from his spirit-filled life at a monastery in the Sierra Nevadas.  Here he has only seen one spirit - that of a brother who committed suicide and likes to ring bells and scare the other monks at all times of day and night.  This particular monastery has quite an interesting cast, including a billionaire physicist who donated all his money to support the monastery's school for severely disabled children and an ex-mobster who turned on his boss in order to (hopefully) save the boss's 6-year-old daughter from a life of crime.  Having been at the monastery several months, Odd begins seeing bodachs gathering near the school.  He must discover what the danger is and who it's coming from before the children can be hurt.  Luckily the monks and nuns at the monastery and willing and able to help take up arms in defense of their charges and Odd leads the way against strange and frightening monsters.  This 3rd book of the Odd Thomas series shows a wonderful depth of character and many surprising twists.

Odd Thomas / Dean Koontz / 399 pages

This first book of the Odd Thomas series features a very likable, though odd, character.  As a 20-year-old fry cook, Odd Thomas (yes, that's his real name) makes the lightest and fluffiest pancakes in Pico Mundo, if not in all of California.  Unfortunately, Odd Thomas often sees spirits who seem to need him to do something so they can rest.  Readers who enjoyed Ghost Whisperer starring Jennifer Love Hewitt will appreciate the complications this can cause in Odd Thomas's life.  On this particular day, Odd Thomas begins seeing borachs - shadowy spirits that sometimes look and act like dogs - and fears that something really terrible will happen in his beloved Pico Mundo.  With the help of the spirit of Elvis and the support of his soul mate, Stormy Lewellyn, he embarks on a quest to stop the plot and save the day.  After finishing this book, check out the second in the series, Forever Odd.