Books in Order
Dean Koontz Books in Order
About Dean Koontz
Dean Koontz (born 1945, Everett, Pennsylvania) is one of the bestselling fiction authors in history, with over 500 million books sold worldwide. He has had 14 consecutive novels debut at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Koontz began writing science fiction in the late 1960s under multiple pen names before transitioning to horror-thrillers under his own name in the 1980s. His work is known for fast-paced plotting, optimistic protagonists facing supernatural or technological horror, recurring themes of faith and redemption, and a devoted attachment to dogs. His Odd Thomas series — about a short-order cook who can see the dead — is his most beloved ongoing work.
New to Koontz? Start with Odd Thomas — it is his most beloved series opener, accessible to new readers, and captures everything that makes his best work so addictive.
Odd Thomas Series
His signature series. Odd Thomas, a humble short-order cook in a California desert town, sees the dead and the supernatural — and tries to prevent tragedy.
Book 1![Odd Thomas]()
Odd Thomas
2003
Start hereOdd sees the lingering dead. A carnival barker arrives in Pico Mundo, followed by bodachs — creatures that feed on suffering.
Get this book →Best Standalone Novels
Watchers
1987
ClassicA genetically enhanced golden retriever leads a man to love — and away from a monster. One of his best.
Get this book →Intensity
1995
Best psychological thrillerA woman witnesses a murder and is trapped in a killer's RV. Relentlessly tense.
Get this book →Velocity
2005
A bartender receives notes telling him a stranger will die unless he acts. Escalating dread.
Get this book →The Eyes of Darkness
1981
Famous pandemic predictionA woman searches for her dead son — and uncovers a government bioweapon.
Get this book →Breathless
2009
Multiple storylines converge on mysterious creatures appearing in the Colorado wilderness.
Get this book →Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dean Koontz's best book?
Most fans cite Odd Thomas (the series), Watchers, and Intensity as his best work. Watchers is often recommended as the ideal introduction to his style — it combines his love of dogs, optimistic humanity, and page-turning tension in a single self-contained novel.
How many Dean Koontz books are there?
Koontz has published over 100 novels since 1968, many under pen names including Aaron Wolfe, David Axton, Brian Coffey, and others. As Dean Koontz he has published approximately 80 novels. A comprehensive list can be found on his official website.
Is The Eyes of Darkness about COVID-19?
The Eyes of Darkness (1981, revised 1989) features a bioweapon called Gorki-400 (later revised to "Wuhan-400" in the 1989 edition). The mention of Wuhan in a novel about a fictional coronavirus became widely circulated online during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a coincidence — the novel's plot and the actual COVID-19 pandemic have no meaningful connection.