Bestselling author Dean Koontz is internationally known for his horror and suspense novels. Most of his books are stand-alone titles, but there are some exceptions. Among them are his Odd Thomas thrillers, of which DEEPLY ODD is the sixth and latest installment.

Odd Thomas is, well, odd. He works as a grill cook at the Pico Mundo Grille when he can, but spends a great deal of time doing more important things, like solving crimes and chasing down bad guys. He has an unusual ability to see spirits of dead people who have not passed on to the Other Side. They are harmless creatures, unless they turn “poltergeist” and start throwing things at him. Usually they come to him because they want justice or are afraid and need help crossing over to the Other Side.

"Koontz does a fine job of providing back story so I could figure out exactly who his protagonist is. In fact, I was so impressed with DEEPLY ODD that I may have to go back and read all the previous volumes in the series."

In previous books, each of the spirits Odd encountered were anxious and wanted him to assist them in some way. But in DEEPLY ODD, he encounters the spirit of someone who wants to help him. Odd also has what he calls “Psychic Magnetism,” which allows him to find a person even if he doesn’t know where he or she is at the moment. Occasionally, this power works the opposite way by bringing people to him, which is what happens here.

This time, he has drawn the attention of a truck driver who owns a big rig and wears fancy cowboy-like clothes. Odd knows there is something wrong about this man, something evil. Upon discovering that the trucker and others intend to kill some innocent children, Odd must take action. But he knows he can’t do it alone. So he gets help from a friendly spirit who doesn’t want or need anything from him, and a sweet-looking old lady who isn’t quite as sweet as she appears. Can Odd and his “odd” companions save the kids?

Although I have read several of Koontz’s previous novels, oddly enough I had not delved into the Odd Thomas series until now. And I’m very happy I did! Koontz does a fine job of providing back story so I could figure out exactly who his protagonist is. In fact, I was so impressed with DEEPLY ODD that I may have to go back and read all the previous volumes in the series.