A Story That Refuses a Single Label
Some books are easy to categorize. Others, like Irv Selman’s Hidden in Plain Sight, deliberately resist being placed in one box. Is it science fiction? Yes, in some ways. Is it a mystery? Absolutely. Is it drama? Without question. In truth, it is speculative fiction, a genre that embraces the freedom to ask “what if” and weave multiple traditions together.
The Pulse of Suspense
From the first scene, when young Chris Copper sees a pulsing black object in the woods, readers are hooked by the tension. The novel unfolds like a mystery, with clues hidden in plain sight, waiting to be pieced together.
Government projects, secret facilities, and coded signals provide the scaffolding of a thriller. But the suspense isn’t just external, it’s internal. Who is Chris, really? What truths are hidden about his past? The mystery of identity becomes just as gripping as the cosmic puzzle.
Speculation Beyond the Stars
Selman uses speculative fiction not for flashy science but for imaginative depth. Alien refugees, intelligent viruses, and homing beacons are not there to dazzle with detail but to stretch our understanding of what it means to belong.
These speculative elements never overshadow the human drama. Instead, they heighten it. The bigger the mysteries grow, the more they reflect the intimate struggles of love, grief, and connection.
Why Readers Love the Blend
The beauty of genre-blending is that it widens the audience. Mystery readers find a puzzle. Fans of speculative fiction find imaginative “what ifs.” Lovers of drama find a powerful story about resilience. This layered approach makes the book memorable long after the final page.
The True Revelation
By the end, Chris discovers not only the truth about his cosmic origins but also the truth about himself. The greatest revelation is not about stars or signals, it is about the enduring power of love and the resilience of the human heart.
That’s why Hidden in Plain Sight is more than science fiction. It is a speculative mystery woven with human drama, a story that dares to thrill the mind and touch the soul simultaneously.