What do you think?
Hidden Things
A phone call from a soon-to-be-deceased ex-boyfriend launches a young woman on a bizarre road trip to a dark supernatural world hidden beneath America’s heartland in this remarkably imaginative debut novel from an electrifying new voice in contemporary fantasy. With Hidden Things, author Doyce Testerman immediately takes his place alongside Neil Gaiman, Kim Harrison, and Melissa Marr by viewing modern-day America through a glass darkly and transforming our mundane world into a place where unseen monsters and paranormal beings have long inhabited the shadows. Among the Hidden Things in Testerman’s exceptional first novel are goblins, dragons, a road-weary clown, and creatures that have never been categorized, joining a smart, tough, courageous female protagonist on a wild cross-country thrill ride that readers will never forget.
323 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2012
Doyce Testerman was born and raised in the wilds of South Dakota, where he developed an early and lifelong love affair with the written word, especially stories that included a bit more magic, mayhem, or mystery than one typically finds around a large Midwestern farm. He moved to Denver in 1995, where he has steadily ceded control of his weekends to two dogs, his brilliant wife, and two astounding children. He has been a professional writer for over a decade, and his work has appeared in a number of online magazines related to pen-and-paper roleplaying games (his other great love), computer games and MMOs (his other-other great love and shadowy shameful mistress, respectively), and fiction.
Yes, that’s his real name.
Yes, that’s his real name.
Ratings & Reviews
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 124 reviews
January 16, 2013
Hidden Things shows us that highway rest stops and roadside diners are every bit as rich in magic and mystery as the lands described by Tolkien or the alleys of Sam Spade's San Francisco.
This is a noir fantasy, a story about letting go, and a complex adventure that veers wildly between the deeply personal and the grandly universal. I'll recommend this book to my friends because they'll love it, and I'll recommend it to my enemies because it'll make them into better people.
I could go on and on about skid marks and motel keys, but what really stands out in Hidden Things is how well Testerman has mastered the craft of writing. There are very few books -- in any genre -- that accomplish the feat of using language in such a lyrical and conversational way. Reading Hidden Things, you're just as likely to be drawn in by the ordinary as the extraordinary, because Testerman gives each element the attention it deserves. The coffee Tom makes for Calliope is brought to life as vividly as the memory of the (maybe) late Joshua White, and even when you know that something isn't a vital clue to the central mystery, you want to know more about it. To me, that's the real magic of this book.
Fans of Neil Gaiman will find a lot to love here, but don't be tempted to think of this as another Neverwhere. Testerman makes his own world with his own voice, and both are fantastic.
This is a noir fantasy, a story about letting go, and a complex adventure that veers wildly between the deeply personal and the grandly universal. I'll recommend this book to my friends because they'll love it, and I'll recommend it to my enemies because it'll make them into better people.
I could go on and on about skid marks and motel keys, but what really stands out in Hidden Things is how well Testerman has mastered the craft of writing. There are very few books -- in any genre -- that accomplish the feat of using language in such a lyrical and conversational way. Reading Hidden Things, you're just as likely to be drawn in by the ordinary as the extraordinary, because Testerman gives each element the attention it deserves. The coffee Tom makes for Calliope is brought to life as vividly as the memory of the (maybe) late Joshua White, and even when you know that something isn't a vital clue to the central mystery, you want to know more about it. To me, that's the real magic of this book.
Fans of Neil Gaiman will find a lot to love here, but don't be tempted to think of this as another Neverwhere. Testerman makes his own world with his own voice, and both are fantastic.
September 22, 2012
This debut contemporary fantasy by Testerman is a slice of mythmaking and myth-breaking with a dash of urban fantasy and horror. Calliope Jenkins runs a tiny private investigations firm with her best friend and ex-lover Josh White. When Josh is killed in the middle of a bizarre case, he leaves her a message from beyond the grave, "beware the hidden places." Those hidden places include pockets of weird creatures in the midst of the city, strange borderlands back in the midwest they both left behind, and in their own past.
Calliope embarks on an adventure into myth. Her guide appears to be a homeless man who knows more than he should. But Vikous is hiding his nature as a mythical being. And as he guides her on her journey, Calliope finds there is more magic hidden than this technological age could have ever believed.
VERDICT: This debut is reminiscent of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere and/or Simon R. Green's Nightside, only with a female protagonist and a much less satisfactory conclusion. Too many important plot points are left unexplained. Not recommended.
Calliope embarks on an adventure into myth. Her guide appears to be a homeless man who knows more than he should. But Vikous is hiding his nature as a mythical being. And as he guides her on her journey, Calliope finds there is more magic hidden than this technological age could have ever believed.
VERDICT: This debut is reminiscent of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere and/or Simon R. Green's Nightside, only with a female protagonist and a much less satisfactory conclusion. Too many important plot points are left unexplained. Not recommended.
Edited August 18, 2012
I find this book difficult to assess, in truth, as it's not exactly a consistently three-star book. About half the book is a four-star book, while the other half is a two-star book; thus the three stars. It drew me in because from the beginning it reminded me of my favorite book, American Gods. Not in the mythology sense, but in the "strange people coming to find you when something has happened to an important person in your life" sense. While the book is fairly well-written, and the plot is quite intriguing, some critical aspects of the book remain, well, for lack of a better term, hidden things. Perhaps that is the point, however, I like my questions to be answered. There are flashbacks which in themselves are enlightening, yet they create more questions; sometimes those questions are answered, other times they are not. Overall, I liked the book, but there are many things I expected to find out, but did not. Is a sequel in the future?
Edited January 24, 2013
I really wanted to like this book, especially given the enthusiastic cover blurbs by some of my favorite authors. The premise is interesting and I like urban fantasy in many of its iterations. Unfortunately, for me this book didn't gel until literally the last 20 pages or so. For most of the book, I felt as if I couldn't sink into the story. The main character was a bit too strident and angry, to the point where conversational exchanges were simply blurts of partially finished sentences, with the other characters getting the gist of the exchange while I was left wanting. Relationships went from hostile to friendly with too little explanation; character motivations felt unclear (and yes, I understand this was to maintain the mystery of the plot, but it was just TOO mysterious for me). In general, while reading this book I felt as if I were standing on a grating looking down into the story, able to see everything but not able to interact with anything. Finally, with the last 20 pages or so, the characters and plot allowed me to get down into the story and really enjoy the ending.
This is not a bad book, it's well-written and there were no jarring moments when I felt expelled from the story, it just wasn't a good read for me. It's possible I missed something vital that would have allowed me to more fully participate in the reading experience. I will definitely consider reading Mr. Testerman's next novel, but I'll approach it with both hope and caution. The potential is there, it just wasn't met, for me, this time around.
This is not a bad book, it's well-written and there were no jarring moments when I felt expelled from the story, it just wasn't a good read for me. It's possible I missed something vital that would have allowed me to more fully participate in the reading experience. I will definitely consider reading Mr. Testerman's next novel, but I'll approach it with both hope and caution. The potential is there, it just wasn't met, for me, this time around.
Edited January 8, 2013
Sometimes one reads a book, and the author seems to be talking only to that reader, describing the reader's thoughts and life in the metaphor of driving down the road and taking a wrong turn around a twisty corner where everything is so familiar, yet so awesomely, horribly not right. Hidden Things is one of those books. It sat so innocently on the library shelf with its deceptive cover and simple title, hiding a tale of loss, and love, and guilt, and acceptance.... and magic, such believable, wonderful, horrifying magic. I hope Calliope will find other tales and more magic; even if she does not, Hidden Things has earned a place in my favorites...
And I bought myself a copy for Christmas.
And I bought myself a copy for Christmas.
April 22, 2013
Hidden Things by Doyce Testerman
Calliope Jenkins has a serious chip on her shoulder. She takes no crap, no how, no way from nobody. When her best friend and former lover “disappears” she is forced to ally herself with unlikely allies some of whom may not exist.
This is either a psycho thriller or a fantasy horror or maybe both. Testerman does an excellent job in crafting the unlikeable character of Calliope Jenkins. Calliope makes a porcupine seem warm a cuddly. She does her best to keep anyone from getting close. Is she a wounded bird or a pterodactyl? She keeps company with a clown or is Viktor really a clown.
What things are hidden? Do we all have hidden things? Testerman develops both his characters and his story as psychodramas. There is a wealth of pondering as well as a good adventure in this book. I really liked Mahkah for reasons that will be self evident if you have followed any of my recommendations.
I highly recommend it.
I enjoyed the book.
Calliope Jenkins has a serious chip on her shoulder. She takes no crap, no how, no way from nobody. When her best friend and former lover “disappears” she is forced to ally herself with unlikely allies some of whom may not exist.
This is either a psycho thriller or a fantasy horror or maybe both. Testerman does an excellent job in crafting the unlikeable character of Calliope Jenkins. Calliope makes a porcupine seem warm a cuddly. She does her best to keep anyone from getting close. Is she a wounded bird or a pterodactyl? She keeps company with a clown or is Viktor really a clown.
What things are hidden? Do we all have hidden things? Testerman develops both his characters and his story as psychodramas. There is a wealth of pondering as well as a good adventure in this book. I really liked Mahkah for reasons that will be self evident if you have followed any of my recommendations.
I highly recommend it.
I enjoyed the book.
September 14, 2012
I read this in a single sitting, staying up until 4am to do so. I was utterly absorbed in the book. The characters are rare, if not unique, and fit perfectly with the story. HIDDEN THINGS is a refreshing kick to urban fantasy. It is in a new setting, and doesn't have vampires, or even vampyres, which was a pleasant surprise considering they seem to be everywhere.
The story is engaging, seriously engaging. I read it for 8 straight hours, and then some more. Its dark, creepy and absolutely wonderful, a fairytale for the modern day. It made me happy and sad and angry at different points, often within the same chapter. Its about life, love, family and choices, the last most of all.
In short, HIDDEN THINGS is an amazing, engaging read absolutely worth buying. If you like urban fantasy or mystery novels, or even any fantasy at all, you'll like this.
The story is engaging, seriously engaging. I read it for 8 straight hours, and then some more. Its dark, creepy and absolutely wonderful, a fairytale for the modern day. It made me happy and sad and angry at different points, often within the same chapter. Its about life, love, family and choices, the last most of all.
In short, HIDDEN THINGS is an amazing, engaging read absolutely worth buying. If you like urban fantasy or mystery novels, or even any fantasy at all, you'll like this.
Edited September 23, 2012
I'm still not sure what to say about this book. It felt like American Gods swirled together with early Anita Blake. Spunky female detective gets tangled up in supernatural weirdness. I liked our protagonist though. While she fit the urban fantasy heroine roll, she felt human. A strong woman, who makes mistakes but isn't stupid. I particularly enjoyed it when she would do those things we wish characters would do more often (ie. mace the creepy guy following you around rather than talk to him). While I liked the ideas and the protagonist this book was still missing something for me though. Perhaps it was that it felt like it wandered for too long in the middle, then rushed at the end to come together very neatly. That said I would recommend it. Also: Doyce Testerman is a super cool guy.
October 12, 2020
Brilliant book. What a great find!
November 24, 2012
"What's in there?"
"Answers." Vikous watched the front door. "Monsters."
—p.314
Charles de Lint led me to Hidden Things through his strongly positive review in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (a print magazine, in this electronic era? Yep—worth paying for, too). And de Lint was right; it really is that good.
From its title forward, this book has that whiff of the occult that I like, the notion that things are going on beneath the surface that most people don't know and wouldn't want to know if they could. The hidden things. And the improbably-named Doyce Testerman manages to come up with a fresh twist on the way these things stay hidden, to boot.
Calliope Jenkins is a private detective in Los Angeles. Joshua White—her ex-boyfriend, ex-bandmate and current business partner—is murdered out in Iowa. And then... a couple of hours later, she gets a message on her answering machine. From Josh. Events get slowly but inexorably weirder from there. One of the many things Testerman gets right here is pacing, the way he sneaks in elements of the fantastic a few at a time. The book's divided into Stages—in this case, they're the stages of a rocket, constantly escalating the otherness.
Everybody here comes from somewhereCharacterization turns out to be another of Testerman's strengths—Calliope is a likeable protagonist, though she has plenty of rough edges to keep her interesting. The way she lives in Los Angeles but isn't from there; the way the place she's from affects her, deeply but not very happily.
That they would just as soon forget and disguise
—R.E.M., "Supernatural Superserious," from Accelerate
Testerman's good at writing dialogue, too. There's plenty of snappy patter (and Joshua's case notes on p.17 are mini comic masterpieces) but it never gets too manic to be believable—these are people who speak the way we wish we could.
Testerman also creates rich settings through the observation of telling details, like the dusty-looking orange fiberglass seats at an out-of-the-way bowling alley, or the customs of a karaoke bar. Wisely, however, Testerman always talks around Calliope's music, rather than trying to describe it directly. His prose is usually straightforward, not given to complex metaphors or convoluted sentence structures. Even so, Hidden Things does not feel like a minimalist work. Sometimes less is more.
It's a short novel, but that's okay. A more drawn-out work would have worn out its welcome. As it is, Hidden Things is a near-perfect little gem.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 124 reviews