2 Stars for Odd, 4 for Edie

I’m not sure if I have suffered some sort of brain injury, or if the combination of Koontz’s preaching and Odd Thomas’s self-deprecating way of saving the world has finally broken me, but so help me God, I love the quirky old lady in the six Odd Thomas book, Deeply Odd. Usually I injure myself rolling my eyes at some of the ever helpful but mysterious people in these books — I cannot stand Annamarie — but Edie Fischer has warmed my black heart.

The rest of the book was still sort sucky, though.

“In eighty-six years, child, I’ve learned the world is a far more mysterious place than most people realize and that every moment of life is woven through with meaning.”

So Odd has an encounter with a bad guy that he refers to as the Rhinestone Cowboy. As in other books, he has a premonition about the bad stuff that said cowboy plans to do — specifically, setting some kids on fire. Koontz puts a lot children in harm’s way in his books. He should look into that with some professional help. While chasing down the cowboy, Odd hitches a ride with sweet old lady — and my new BFF — Edie Fischer. She’s recently lost her best friend/chauffeur and is looking for a new one. She taps Odd, and they go on an adventure together.

Of course there’s an evil cult at the root of Rhinestone Cowboy’s plans, and Odd foils it with the help of Edie (who, unsurprisingly, has well-armed friends willing to help a total stranger, no questions asked). There’s a bunch of stuff about alternate universes that Odd manages to harness without really understanding. Meh. One thing I liked about the ending of this one (spoiler!) was that Odd met a little girl with the same powers as he does. I hope she comes back into play in the next book — maybe she and Edie can dump Odd and go solve mysteries together.