“Watch
out for the hidden things,” are the last words private
investigator, Josh White, speaks to his business partner, best friend
and ex-girlfriend, Calliope Jenkins, while still alive. But cryptic
messages from Josh on their business’s answering machine and
couriered by a stranger known as the Fat Man send Calliope on a
bizarre road trip halfway across the country. With her is an appointed guide, Vikous, who for all appearances is a trench coat-wearing
clown. But as Calliope is about to learn, not all things are as they
seem and not all shadows that have been forgotten and relegated to
myths and nightmares prefer to remain hidden.
Hidden
Things is a character-driven
story, but the fantasy and suspense elements fit well into the
plot and how the Hidden beings are portrayed is wonderfully unique. Interspersed with Calliope’s bittersweet memories of Josh and snarky camaraderie with
Vikous, this is a great debut novel by Testerman.
323
pages
