Great mystery with an unexpected emding. ( )

This is Michael Crichton's very first novel, and although it's not bad, it's certainly not good. The very best part of Odds On is the heist. I've always enjoyed a good heist story. Perhaps I was a cat burglar in a former life. But then the incidentals start clouding the issue. The author included an overlong scene in which the explanation is given for how the computer planned out the robbery. I have to be honest: my eyes crossed midway through and I skimmed the rest. Of course, this was written in 1966, so all that computer stuff was new and fascinating and not really trusted.

The other "incidental" that spoiled Odds On was the inclusion of all the gorgeous women with long long legs and huge firm breasts who strutted from scene to scene-- not to mention bed to bed. Ah well, I think we can say that Michael Crichton as a young writer loved James Bond films and all those Bond Girls.

Fortunately, this was a quick read, and although I didn't really enjoy it, I do value it as a window into the world of an author who wrote some of my favorite thrillers. These early books are his learning curve. ( )

Unique plot twist

Three men are ready to line their pockets with money and jewels from a well-planned heist at a luxurious hotel in Spain. What are the odds of success? Very high, according to the computer.

I enjoyed reading this early work by Michael Crichton. ( )

I agree with another reader that this book had the Ocean's 11 movie series vibe. The original movie with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon and not the new one with the women.

This is a quick read. There isn't anything too complex about the storyline; other than the fact that there are a lot of characters introduced all at the same time. There was not too much breathing room to get familiar with all of the different characters. So you kind of have to muddle your way through until you can get them all straight.

The women seemed to be calling all of the shots. The men were along for the ride. Although by the end there was a bit of a twist. ( )

Odds On was Chrichton's first published novel in 1966 and it does a good job of reflecting the spirit of the times. One of the amusing parts of this novel that, in retrospect seems silly, is the author's use of Critical Path Analysis and computers to plot the hotel robbery. Back then, however, not everyone had a computer on their desktop and computers had a more James Bondian aspect to them.

The Costa Brava is the northeastern coast of Spain stretching north from Barcelona to the French border. A large number of tourist hotels were built on this coast in resorts such as Blanes, Tossa de Mar, and Lloret de Mar. Zero Cool also took place in this region.

The beginning of the book is a little confusing to the reader as the author switches back and forth between a number of different characters, including three conspirators, Jencks, Miguel, and Bryan, a mismatched sort of engaged sort of not couple, and an elderly woman with a shofar en route from Tangiers. Eventually, the three conspirators and the other interesting folks all meet at a large hotel, the Hotel Reina, on a small island connected to the mainland by a single bridge. Based on his computer program, Jencks figures out the odds of success of robbing the hotel, their escape, and the fencing of the loot.

Most of the books is focused on the conspirators meeting at the hotel and planning their escapade. Their plan is not just to rob the hotel safe, but to also rob the guests and to have a decent chance of success at that, they must mingle and get to know the other guests and who is worth robbing. There are, of course, some who they get to know better than others and some of their mingling is very risqué. The sexual liaisons between the various conspirators and the bikini clad
( or often unclad) women they meet around the pool, in the bar, or at the reception desk are set forth in detail.

There are colorful characters in the hotel, including the elderly woman who travels to Spain in a shofared Lincoln Continental with a brick of marijuana in her brassiere, her nymphotic niece whose dalliances with so many are causing the hotel manager to worry about the hotel's reputation, and the mismatched girlfriend who keeps stringing along the boy she brought with her while displaying her charms for all who care to notice. The book flows quite well and, even though there is quite a long build up until the actual action, nothing about the hotel or its inhabitants or the goings on there are dull.

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