How to read the Odd Thomas books in order

The Odd Thomas books are thriller novels by American author Dean Kootz. The first book was a New York Times bestseller published in 2003. Following its remarkable success, the author published six sequels.

Here is the Odd Thomas books in order of publication and their chronological story order.

The publication order of Odd Thomas books

For those who have never read the Odd Thomas books, the starting point is the novel with the same name as the series. The publishing date indicates the order for the six sequels.

1. Odd Thomas

Odd Thomas is a 20-year-old man living in California. At first sight, Thomas looks like an ordinary guy. He works as a short-order cook and has a girlfriend named Stormy Llewellyn. However, there’s something that makes him unique. Odd has psychic abilities and sees dead people.

Sometimes, the dead look for him seeking justice, while others help him prevent all kinds of crimes. He has the unconditional support of his girlfriend and some of the strangest characters, including the ghost of Elvis Presley.

One day a stranger comes to Pico Mundo, followed by a horde of hyena-like shades. He can sense the imminent catastrophe and, along with his girlfriend, is up against time to prevent it.

2. Forever Odd

In Forever Odd, a childhood friend disappears, and what Odd finds is much worse than a dead body. An intense battle ensues against a dangerous and devious enemy.

3. Brother Odd

In Brother Odd, the story’s hero has retreated to the Californian mountain monastery of St. Bartholomew’s in search of comfort and forgiveness. One day, Odd looks outside the guest house window and sees his dead dog Boo, alert to something hiding in the shadows. Odd sees it as well, a half-man/half-wolf shadow lurking through the lawn.

Those in the monastery who knew about Odd’s abilities had given him a universal key. The year before, Brother Constantine was found hanging from the bell tower. The Mother Superior thought if Odd could see him, the master key would come in handy to follow him.

However, before finding out what happened to Brother Constantine, he needs to know why the Bodach is there. They are drawn to pain and chaos. Nothing good is about to happen.

4. Odd Hour

In the fourth installment of the Odd Thomas book series, Odd feels a strange draw that leads him to the town of Magic Beach, California. He gets a job as a cook and assistant to an eccentric once-famous Hollywood actor. Through vague but fearful dreams, Odd tries to figure out what brought him to the town. What he discovers is a form of evil he’d never encountered before.

5. Odd Apocalypse

For Odd Apocalypse, Dean Koontz has dropped the psychic fry cook in a castle near Montecito, California. Odd Thomas and his traveling companion Annamaria have been invited by a reclusive billionaire’s West Coast estate known as Roseland.

However, Odd immediately realizes something is wrong with the impressive property. It seems to flip between static beauty and hell on Earth. Odd wants to escape. However, Anamaria tells Odd that there is something far more sinister in the estate. He needs to find someone that’s hidden, who will need all his help.

6. Deeply Odd

The Odd Thomas series in order continues with Deeply Odd. In this installment of the series, it’s the living that will need Odd on their side. Odd knows that three innocent victims will be brutally murdered. He needs to intervene in time, but he doesn’t know who the victims are or where to find them.

What he does know is that the killer possesses abilities that may even surpass his. He knows it’s the homicidal stranger who tried to shoot him dead in a parking lot.

7. Saint Odd

Saint Odd is the final novel of the Odd Thomas series. Odd returns to the town of Pico Mundo. The satanist cult he’s fought on previous occasions is waiting for him. He needs to escape while at the same time looking for a way to stop their evil plans.

Chasing and killing the cult members prevent the dam’s destruction, threatening to flood the entire town. Their next plan is to spread a lethal virus using the prank air blasts of a visiting carnival. Odd saves the town, but not without receiving a mortal gunshot wound. Stormy Llewellyn, his soul mate, is waiting for him. Ready to tell him what he will encounter in the afterlife.

Odd Thomas books in chronological order

The original Odd Thomas series consists of seven novels released in chronological order. However, Dean Koontz added three graphic novels and three short stories to the saga. Some of them were prequels to the original plot.

Those who have read Odd Thomas books before will find the suggested chronological order fascinating:

1. Odd Thomas: You Are Destined To Be Together Forever (2014) — A short story published in 2014. It goes back to how Odd Thomas and Stormy Llewellyn met.
2. In Odd We Trust (2008) — The first Odd Thomas graphic novel tells of the events that lead Odd Thomas to become the fighter against evil in Pico Mundo.
3. Odd Is On Our Side (2010) — A graphic novel that follows the events of a sinister masked man with an evil plan. Odd has to stop him before the Halloween festivities in Pico Mundo.
4. House of Odd (2012) — Odd Thomas agrees to help Hollywood producer Nedra Nolan in this graphic novel. The property she bought in Pico Mundo seems full of ghosts that only Odd can help.
5. Odd Thomas (2003) — The first book of the original series. The author reveals more details of Odd Thomas’s upbringing and his abilities.
6. Forever Odd (2005) — In this sequel, Odd Thomas looks for a missing friend while grieving his lost girlfriend.
7. Brother Odd (2006) — Odd Thomas is at the Californian mountain monastery of St. Bartholomew’s.
8. Odd Hours (2008) — Odd Thomas goes to the town of Magic Beach.
9. Odd Interlude (2013) — A short story about Thomas staying in Harmony Corner’s inn. Odd soon encounters something much more frightening than life or death.
10. Odd Apocalypse (2008) — A reclusive billionaire has invited Odd Thomas and Annamaria to stay at a West Coast estate known as Roseland.
11. Deeply Odd (2013) — Odd Thomas tries to save three innocents from being brutally murdered.
12. Saint Odd (2015) — The final installment of the series.

About the author Dean Koontz

Dean Koontz is an American author. His work consists mostly of suspense thrillers, although he frequently incorporates horror, science-fiction, mystery, and satire.

Odd Thomas was not his only series to hit the New York Times bestsellers list. He also published a novel series featuring Jane Hawk, an FBI agent who fights to learn the truth about her husband’s suicide.

He has published over 105 novels and novellas, including many under different pen names at the beginning of his career.

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FAQ

Is the Odd Thomas series done?

Judging by the Odd Thomas series’ grand finale, it’s possible there won’t be any more stories about Odd Thomas. Fans can only hope.

Will there be a sequel to the Odd Thomas movie?

The Odd Thomas movie was released in 2013. It’s based on the first book by the author. However, there’s no confirmation of a sequel.

What are the themes of the Odd Thomas books?

The central theme of the Odd Thomas books is perseverance against evil, no matter the odds.