Lexie

The Hidden #2

by F. Paul Wilson

The survivors of what has come to be known as The Catskill Cataclysm are not out the woods yet. As the last known members of The Hidden, they are marked for extermination. Their allies—Chan and Danni, and the Troika—are hunting them as well, but the Hidden do what they do hide.

Something new surfaces in the South a Manhattan-size iceberg. And embedded within it is a long lost Nazi U-boat. Back in the day, the Third Reich claimed part of Antarctica for its own. Was the sub on an exploratory mission? It carried a strange artifact that it was ferrying home when it was trapped in the ice. The bodies of the crew are perfectly preserved from the subzero temperatures… but they all were murdered.

Could the appearance of the sub have any relationship to the Catskill Cataclysm? Unlikely. But then, there are no coincidences.

Genres: Horror

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 26, 2024

About the author

Francis Paul Wilson is an author, born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He writes novels and short stories primarily in the science fiction and horror genres. His debut novel was Healer (1976). Wilson is also a part-time practicing family physician. He made his first sales in 1970 to Analog and continued to write science fiction throughout the seventies. In 1981 he ventured into the horror genre with the international bestseller, The Keep, and helped define the field throughout the rest of the decade. In the 1990s he became a true genre hopper, moving from science fiction to horror to medical thrillers and branching into interactive scripting for Disney Interactive and other multimedia companies. He, along with Matthew J. Costello, created and scripted FTL Newsfeed which ran daily on the Sci-Fi Channel from 1992-1996.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/fpaulw...

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now THAT is a sci-fi action novel!

F. Paul concludes his “The Hidden” duology with an edge-of-your-seat story that builds up to a Stargate (the movie)/Indiana Jones type of thrilling scene near the end. This book fits into his Secret History—in fact, it reveals more of what’s really going on than much of the Repairman Jack series did. It’s also very much a science fiction book, with “enhanced” super powers, parallel universes, and other mind-bending plot elements.

[Chad Cloman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for secret history fans

I’m not sure how well this novel stands on its own for people who are new to the author’s Secret History of the World, but for those of us who are fans, this novel is pure gold.

The author goes into much greater depth about the nature of the cosmic beings in the secret history, usually known as the Ally and the Otherness. He also touches on a number of other facets, including the signals, the Septimus Order, the Oculus, and the nature of the multiverse.

Highly recommended for fans. I give it 5/5 stars.

[Gilda Felt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could say that I enjoyed this book as much as its prequel, but I can’t. While there were problems with the first book, they pale in comparison to those in this one. Especially when it came to the characters. While I still liked Chan and Danni, I found Lexie to be totally unlikeable.

How can that be? Probably because precocious children are rarely likable, and Wilson doesn’t seem to do children well. Some of the other characters felt the same way. That never bodes well.

The ending seemed rather rushed, sort of tacked on. So much going on and then that’s it. Because the book is considered part of the “Secret History,” I still held out hope that there were be some sort of connection to the characters from the rest of the books, which a loved. No dice.

[Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting conclusion to the series of The Hidden started in The Upwelling. The plot broadens and ends up in the Antarctic and other places less imagineable. We have children with unusual powers that are a bit like The Children of the Damned. The story reaches its conclusion, but it is a shame this is only a duology. There are many stories left untold in this sequence. Perhaps we might see another but Wilson must be getting close to retirement.

[Laura Poppenwimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

/a great and suspenseful ending to this 2 part series. This was more of a page turner than the first. You learn more about the enhanced kids and some of the powers they have. The conclusion wraps up most of the loose threads but leaves open more adventures for Chan and Danni.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth reading but honestly, reads like a rough draft. Makes me wonder if they rushed this into publication. Way too much telling and re-telling from other characters perspectives. Climax misses the mark a bit as it just kind of happens. Book #1 was way better.

[Howard Tuckey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of interesting characters ...

... and they're all the same! It gets confusing now and then, or is it here and there? But this is a perfectly snug fit in that odd-shaped space where Jack used to park Ralph.

[Martin Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love everything F. Paul Wilson

Love everything F. Paul Wilson
A great addition to the Secret History saga, hopefully some more to come?
Highly recommended 👍

[Jerry · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Wilson. But, this book bored me to absolute tears. The first one was solid. But this was a snooze fest.