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From Dean's Holiday issue of USELESS NEWS:

ODD APOCALYPSE and DEEPLY ODD
Dean is currently writing ODD APOCALYPSE, the fifth Odd Thomas novel, which will be published in July 2012. As soon as he has finished it, he will write the sixth in the series, DEEPLY ODD. Then he will most likely write a non-Odd book before returning to the seventh and final book in the series.

Seventh? Good lord. I remember when Dean used to say he'd never do a sequel. Haha.

He's planned on Seven Odd Books for quite some time. He has felt that was a good number & has stuck with it, unlike the Frankenstein books which went from 3 then 7 and eventually 5.

7 books, that's great news, i had no idea there is going to be 7. I've only read one series that had 7 books in it and that was brilliant - Stephen Kings The Dark Tower series. Because the fifth Odd book is called Odd Apocalypse my brain just automatically assumed that it would be the final book in the series, very happy to hear that it's not :)

I got my Useless News today and Dean says the Odd film is "so wonderful that I am whacked flat by happiness." I can hardly wait.

Oh goody another issue of Useless News should be headed my way too then :-) The movie is sure to be amazing!

DEEPLY ODD TO BE RELEASED MAY 28TH!

Deeply Odd, the new Odd Thomas novel, will be available in hardcover, eBook, and audio on May 28, 2013!

How do you make sure a crime that hasn’t happened yet, never does?

That’s the critical question facing Odd Thomas as he plays an interstate game of cat and mouse with a homicidal truck driver bent on killing three innocents. With the ghost of Alfred Hitchcock riding shotgun, Odd will soon learn that his adversary possesses abilities that may surpass his own and operates in service to infinitely more formidable foes, with murder a mere prelude to much darker designs.

Click below to read an excerpt from Deeply Odd:

I just downloaded "Deeply Odd" from Amazon. I can't wait to start reading.

DEEPLY ODD WILL BE RELEASED ON TUESDAY MAY 28TH!

:-) Happy Days are here again!!!!!

Deeply Odd (along with Whispers) has been selected as our June 2013 Group Read!

Alrighty then, I have placed a hold on Odd Thomas #1 at the library. I don't think I have much hope of getting to Deeply Odd by June, and even if I did, I don't think my turn for it will have come up at the library. But someday I'll be a participant in the discussion for it! :-)

I don't know what's up with the Swedish bookstores then, unless we had a earlier release date. I recieved my copy the 1st of May.

Finished it the 5th.

Might just join in the discussion then.

I just got Odd Apocalypse in mass market paperback. I don't expect to get Deeply Odd until that's in mass market paperback as well.

Sorry guys!

Starting it today.

Just finished Deeply Odd. As is usually the case this series, I loved it! I'm kind of bummed to hear that there's only one more book planned in this series. I could read these forever.

I have the audio and can't wait to start. Have to finish Graceling first then Oddy!

Finished it today. I liked it alot. Could be my favorite Odd book. I would have to reread Brother Odd to see which one I liked more.

One minor problem I had with the book. It was the reveal about what the Alfred Hitchcock spirit could do. I think DK needed a way to get Odd some info and this was too convenient.

Can someone help me out with Edie's Elko, Nevada reference? I just came across it and it's driving me nuts. I have a feeling we're supposed to know about it from another book.

Something very "Odd": Elko Nevada is an important location in Strangers, which some of us are reading or have just read.

Masha wrote: "Can someone help me out with Edie's Elko, Nevada reference? I just came across it and it's driving me nuts. I have a feeling we're supposed to know about it from another book."

I felt the same way. I thought it was about the character though. I kept on wondering if she was from the Christopher Snow novels. Never considered the town.

Karen B wrote: "Something very "Odd": Elko Nevada is an important location in Strangers, which some of us are reading or have just read."

Thanks for answering that question. I am going to break out my copy of Strangers and see if I can find it.

I am reading a couple of chapters a night. I am taking time to "savor" the book. Is it just me, or does anyone else get a fleeting image of Spongebob Squarepants every time Odd introduces himself as a humble fry cook? Lol! I love that we get right into the action without a lot of buildup, unlike my last DK read - 77 Shadow Street. I really got bogged down in that one.

Darlene, I don't see him that way but maybe I am not as familiar with Sponge Bob. Now that I have seen the movie clip that's how I picture him. I agree that 77 Shadow Street was very dark and hard to get into.

Jim wrote: "Karen B wrote: "Something very "Odd": Elko Nevada is an important location in Strangers, which some of us are reading or have just read."

Thanks for answering that question. I am going to break ou..."

Jim another thing I remembered after I posted the above, the owner of the Tranquility Motel in Elko was Ernie, so Edie from Elko would sound very familiar.

Darlene wrote: "I am reading a couple of chapters a night. I am taking time to "savor" the book. Is it just me, or does anyone else get a fleeting image of Spongebob Squarepants every time Odd introduces himself a..."

No way, Darlene! If he was half as annoying as SB, he would have gotten shot 500 times already.

OK either Dean is really getting "deeply odd" here (no pun intended) or running out of images. I keep finding things that have been mentioned in other novels. I started Deeply Odd today and what do I read first? Bells... three tiny silver bells. Tiny silver bells are prominent throughout What the Night knows. There is something about death and silver bells... I know part of the symbolism but I also know there is more to it as far as literary images. I just can't remember. (Thinking of Poe's "The Bells") Maybe I am the one getting really odd here.

P.S. Can someone please remind me how to underline the titles of books here in these discussions? Thanks

Karen B wrote: "P.S. Can someone please remind me how to underline the titles of books here in these discussions? Thanks "

Karen, the easiest way to learn this is to click the "(some html is ok)" link just above and in the right corner of the "comment" box. You'll see the html codes for underlining, italics and more in there.

Okay I was up really late last night but didn't quite get to finish this book. It is sooooo good. What I think I like is that with such dark matter here, the way Dean interspersed the humor into the pages. I don't think I have laughed so out loud with Koontz before.

May be spoilers so beware I will try not to give away important plot points.
SPOILERS AHEAD
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First the way Odd rambles to clarify things, you can imagine Edie or whomever waiting for him to get to the point but it works the other way too. And his frustrations for others to get to the point and not getting answers to his questions.

Alfred Hitchcock is hilarious and by Dean's descriptions I can just see him making his appearances like he did in his movies ... hamming it up.

The first and funniest thing which becomes funnier as we go on. Here is a really bad guy. He is more connected with Power of Evil than any of Odd's previous opponents. Yet in Odd's opening confrontation, he is throwing apples at the guy! Every time it is mentioned later in the book I remember and laugh.

The whole relation with Edie: How she has to sit on a pillow to drive. The fact that the car seems to be impervious to damage and problems. Edie keeps meeting people she knows everywhere she goes.
She keeps telling Odd to call her Edie. and he always replies "Yes M'am" and then still calls her Mrs. Fischer.

Because of this added humor I found this a lot less dark than Odd Appocalypse

One question for those who have read the book and remember the previous ones ... Didn't we see Odd get a ride from a rich old lady in a fancy car once before? Maybe when he was at Magic Beach.

One other thing, for anyone who read The Moonlit Mind recently...(view spoiler)[ Did you notice that there were devil worshippers in that book too and they referred to their innocent children victims as "piglet" and now we have Devil worshippers again who use the term piglet (hide spoiler)]

Now I want books on all the side characters: the biker couple, Kipp and Mazie, and of course Edie and Oscar when they were younger. DK is such a tease!

I don't know quite why, but I thought the addition of the biker couple unnecessary. I really wanted to hear more about the "evil" characters and would have preferred more info on them. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that he'll bring back the biker couple in future books.
And also, I liked this book a whole lot more than the others in the series, it seemed like the first Odd Thomas would be the only one I really enjoyed, but this one brought back the Odd we all know and adore: armed and reluctant to kill.

Masha, I just finished the book and that was the one disappointing thing: that he didn't tell us more about those characters and I have a feeling we aren't going to see them really in the next book. I hope I am wrong. I want to find out what the couple did in Pennsylvania. Edie kept telling Odd he would learn but the end seemed rushed and she didn't explain what she said she would. Loved Alfred Hitchcock ... 'Call me Hitch'. 'Yes sir, Mr. Hitchcock' I was disappointed that we didn't learn anything else about Annamaria. Oh and the Silver Bells... mentioned but nothing towards the end of where Koontz was going with that.

Talitha, like you I enjoyed Odd in this one more than the last few. To see his humility, and his humor was nice.

Loved the humor! As with other series, though, I am getting tired of the story line. I'm just not that into series; at the end of the Potter books I was rooting for He Who Must Not Be Named.

But it was still a 4-star book for me. I love the Odd character. And Koontz does the best dialogue.

Jim wrote: "Finished it today. I liked it alot. Could be my favorite Odd book. I would have to reread Brother Odd to see which one I liked more.

One minor problem I had with the book. It was the reveal about ..."

We never found out why Hitchcock was lingering. Maybe it was just for this purpose. So he would have powers other spirits don't have.

Masha wrote: "Jim wrote: "Finished it today. I liked it alot. Could be my favorite Odd book. I would have to reread Brother Odd to see which one I liked more.

One minor problem I had with the book. It was the r..."

If it was hinted at in previous books, then I would be fine with it. I think Koontz gave Hitchcock this ability in this book because there would be no way Odd could succeed without Hitchcock's knowledge.

With 1st person narration, we are limited to what Odd knows. He has only ever experienced the spirits who linger for certain reasons and act a certain way. Hitchcock clearly is an outlier on both counts.

Koontz very well could have had Edie provide all the information if that was the only reason. Or he could have had a random victim spirit show up when needed. I think there's a bigger story behind Hitchcock, to be explained in the last book. If not, THEN you may be right.

I think Hitchcock has something to do with the progression of the whole Odd saga.

Spoiler if you haven't read the early books

(view spoiler)[ First he had Elvis, I can't remember if he helped Odd in any way except to show that Odd really does have spiritual visitations. Then came Sinatra. His spirit's ability to show rage actually became something that helped Odd. Now we have Hitchcock and he didn't go away. His help in the future novel remains to be seen but I think he definitely will be a part of it. (hide spoiler)]

Masha wrote: "With 1st person narration, we are limited to what Odd knows. He has only ever experienced the spirits who linger for certain reasons and act a certain way. Hitchcock clearly is an outlier on both c..."

If there is an explanation in the final book, I can accept that. I guess I have to wait and see.

Jim- There BETTER be an explanation for a whole lot of things, from Annamaria to Edie's pin to people who never knew Stormy uttering her trademark phrases, etc. This will either turn out to be spectacular or one of the most disappointing things ever. I'm hoping for the best.

I agree Masha. Maybe we should make a list of questions we want answered and send them to Koontz? *LOL* And I for one would like to know about the tie-ins to the other books. Then there's trivial stuff, like AnnaMaria and the flowers that weren't in this book but were in the last two and Odd Interlude. The Mystery Train shirt and whatever happened to the car and all he money they got from the aged celebrity at Magic Beach. Gee maybe we can start a separate topic on questions we hope get answered. And we can all add our questions. I think I may be getting my friend to finally give Koontz a try. She lives in Barstow and every time it's been mentioned in something I've read in the last 6 months I tell her about it. She tells me what places are real and what she imagines Koontz based some of the fictitious places on that are located in Barstow.

I do know Koontz like leaving at least some questions to our imagination. We'll see...

One thing we do now know. The bodachs are NOT related to the goblins in Twilight Eyes (even though both feed on human misery) since in Odd's universe TE is a fiction book:)

Finally made it to page 208. Took a while to get into this one. Lately Koontzs` books haven't been grabbing me like they used to.

Finally finished this morning. Last 100 or so pages made up for the beginning. Gave 4 stars.

I finally read the first book. :-) Finished it last night and enjoyed it, though the mentions of hairy arachnids gave me a troubled night. :-(

I'm going to get the next books from the library to slowly make my way toward Deeply Odd, which looks like it's going to be ready for pick-up at the library much quicker than I expected. I might even be able to get it this month, which would be fairly shocking given that I was pretty far down in line for it. I guess people are reading it fast and returning it for others to read. :-)

Jen I didn't remember them being there. I would have warned you. Sorry. Although every time I see one of those things around here, outside, I think "Good thing Jen's not around."

Karen B wrote: "Jen I didn't remember them being there. I would have warned you. Sorry. Although every time I see one of those things around here, outside, I think "Good thing Jen's not around.""

Thanks, Karen, for thinking of me. :-) Between finishing the book and then reading a few children's books, I managed to sleep without nightmares. I just had to stay awake longer than planned to read the kids' books and get the images out of the forefront of my mind.

Are you a Children's librarian Jen? I thought I remembered you mention once before that you worked as a librarian.

Karen B wrote: "Are you a Children's librarian Jen? I thought I remembered you mention once before that you worked as a librarian."

No, I'm not a librarian, Karen, except for the volunteer librarian status I have here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. :-) I read a lot of children's books primarily for own enjoyment, and nowadays I also mark the ones I really like and/or think would be good for my nieces to read. :-)

The reason I asked, it just sounds so familiar. My husband used to love his job as a school librarian where he would read to the kindergarden and first graders. He practiced his books over and over again. And then he actually was reprimanded and told that the principal had "caught" him reading aloud to first graders when they were supposed to be on the computer. At the other school where he taught, he used to take a professional day every year to go look at books at the warehouse from where he purchased them. He was very dedicated to his job but to the children more than the job. He was told he was not allowed to pick out books but the principal himself had already ordered the books he wanted. And then that principal took all the books out of the library and replaced them totally with computers. That's when he needed to retire! So now he found a school in the area who love having him come once a week and read to the younger grades and the funniest most rewarding is that he goes to an assisted living facility and reads children's books and his "little old ladies" love him. They call out "He's here, he's here." He also reads at a nursing home and the older people enjoy the these books because they are fun. I'm sorry if I have told you this before. Now with my daughter's job she works for scholastic and reads books for children, young adults. And I on my own just started rereading some of the ones I loved as a child and some newer ones too. If you haven't read it, please try The One and Only Ivan My daughter gave it to me after she previewed it and it was one of the ones I didn't want to pass on to anyone else I loved it so much. Feel free to pass on recommendations of children's books you run across and like. The kid in me will never stop liking reading those books.