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Hidden in Plain Sight: The Untold Mysteries, Myths, and Marvels of the World's Most Popular Landmarks – The Perfect Father’s Day Gift for Dads
256 pages, Hardcover
Published April 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 2, 2026
Thank you to Libro.fm for this advanced listening copy!
Like the title indicates, this book tells the backstories behind landmarks. I learned so much!
Some landmarks I had never heard of before, some I had heard of but didn't know the history. And some, like the Berlin Wall, I did not know specific stories like MLK visiting.
Because I was listening to this book, I wasn't able to see any pictures if they were provided. Angkor Wat is fascinating!!!
Like the title indicates, this book tells the backstories behind landmarks. I learned so much!
Some landmarks I had never heard of before, some I had heard of but didn't know the history. And some, like the Berlin Wall, I did not know specific stories like MLK visiting.
Because I was listening to this book, I wasn't able to see any pictures if they were provided. Angkor Wat is fascinating!!!
May 15, 2026
If you like history with a side of mystery, you have to check out Hidden in Plain Sight. I just finished it and it’s fascinating. I actually paired it with some VR tours of the landmarks mentioned, and it made the experience so immersive. I felt like I really got to 'know' these places in a way I never did before.
Thank you Harper Celebrate and NetGalley #HiddeninPlainSight #NetGalley
Thank you Harper Celebrate and NetGalley #HiddeninPlainSight #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Book Review: Hidden in Plain Sight by Ronan O'Connell
Rating: 5 Stars
I just finished Hidden in Plain Sight by Ronan O’Connell, and honestly, it’s exactly the kind of book I didn’t know I needed. If you’re anything like me—someone who loves travel, history, and uncovering the secrets lurking behind famous landmarks—this book will totally captivate you.
O’Connell, a travel journalist who frequently contributes to National Geographic, takes you on a fascinating photographic journey through more than 20 of the world’s most visited destinations. But this isn’t your typical travel guide. Instead of the usual facts and trivia, he dives into the strange, eerie, and downright surprising stories most tour guides never mention. From Bali’s Uluwatu Temple, which overlooks a sea of demons, to Edinburgh Castle housing a supernatural stone that even featured in King Charles’s coronation, each landmark reveals layers of mystery and history that will make you see these places in a completely new light.
Some moments that really stuck with me include learning about MLK Jr.’s secret crossing of the Berlin Wall and the grim past of Amsterdam’s Dam Square, where witches were once burned at the stake. These aren’t just fun facts—they give a real sense of how much hidden depth and often dark history lie beneath the surface of familiar spots.
What I loved most about this book was how immersive it feels. The writing is engaging without being overwhelming, and the over 150 stunning photographs make every page a visual treat. Plus, the cover itself is eye-catching and perfectly sets the tone for the intriguing content inside. I could easily see this book becoming a centerpiece on any coffee table—perfect to flip through when you want to daydream about travel or impress friends with quirky historical tidbits.
In short, Hidden in Plain Sight is an addictive read for history buffs, travel lovers, or anyone curious about the stories that shape our world. If you want to discover what’s truly hidden behind the landmarks you think you know, don’t miss this one!
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
Rating: 5 Stars
I just finished Hidden in Plain Sight by Ronan O’Connell, and honestly, it’s exactly the kind of book I didn’t know I needed. If you’re anything like me—someone who loves travel, history, and uncovering the secrets lurking behind famous landmarks—this book will totally captivate you.
O’Connell, a travel journalist who frequently contributes to National Geographic, takes you on a fascinating photographic journey through more than 20 of the world’s most visited destinations. But this isn’t your typical travel guide. Instead of the usual facts and trivia, he dives into the strange, eerie, and downright surprising stories most tour guides never mention. From Bali’s Uluwatu Temple, which overlooks a sea of demons, to Edinburgh Castle housing a supernatural stone that even featured in King Charles’s coronation, each landmark reveals layers of mystery and history that will make you see these places in a completely new light.
Some moments that really stuck with me include learning about MLK Jr.’s secret crossing of the Berlin Wall and the grim past of Amsterdam’s Dam Square, where witches were once burned at the stake. These aren’t just fun facts—they give a real sense of how much hidden depth and often dark history lie beneath the surface of familiar spots.
What I loved most about this book was how immersive it feels. The writing is engaging without being overwhelming, and the over 150 stunning photographs make every page a visual treat. Plus, the cover itself is eye-catching and perfectly sets the tone for the intriguing content inside. I could easily see this book becoming a centerpiece on any coffee table—perfect to flip through when you want to daydream about travel or impress friends with quirky historical tidbits.
In short, Hidden in Plain Sight is an addictive read for history buffs, travel lovers, or anyone curious about the stories that shape our world. If you want to discover what’s truly hidden behind the landmarks you think you know, don’t miss this one!
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
May 22, 2026
Quirks of history, that a fleeting visit to the world's most famous tourist attractions might not reveal. Or that's what is promised – the end result is somewhat looser and woollier. The first story is about the Stone of Scone – a drab chunk of rock, famous without us actually knowing why, that is part of the British royal coronations. Zipping off to Asia we get some of the real reasons for a Balinese temple dance, and how Singapore kind of gazumps London's Sky Garden any day of the week.
The next chapter shows some of the flaws in the thinking here. For one, we have a travel journalist writing this who says he baulks at the listicle and the standard newspaper article, giving us standard newspaper-ese on what bits of the Berlin Wall are left to see. For another, it's not really true that the story it chiefly offers, of Martin Luther King Jr making a daring evening's trip into East Berlin, was a secret for fifty years. The Stasi files were scoured for all the details on its 40th anniversary, and it was known about by anyone who cared to remember – just not the American government as King went rogue to their mind, nor the Ossies, who didn't like the 'no more walls' ethos of his speeches.
This seems to be bursting with a will to deliver esoteric stories from the weirder, more clued-in tour guides, but fails. It's too sunny, it's not as unknown as it thinks it is, it leaves the entire Fortean potentiality behind, and it's at best those optional box-outs in a Lonely Planet or Rough Guides book. I did find merits in several of the Asian visits – perhaps Angkor Wat more than the eye-damaging caves elsewhere – and in more sturdy farces from Budapest, but this leaves us with a world still unexplored, and some sweeping statements – who is actually to say how much history we do or don't gain from Prague Town Hall? Add on the fact that some of the photos are really nondescript, and – even for teaching me more about Mata Hari, and dancheong design, than I ever knew – this could easily have bested my three-and-a-half-star rating.
The next chapter shows some of the flaws in the thinking here. For one, we have a travel journalist writing this who says he baulks at the listicle and the standard newspaper article, giving us standard newspaper-ese on what bits of the Berlin Wall are left to see. For another, it's not really true that the story it chiefly offers, of Martin Luther King Jr making a daring evening's trip into East Berlin, was a secret for fifty years. The Stasi files were scoured for all the details on its 40th anniversary, and it was known about by anyone who cared to remember – just not the American government as King went rogue to their mind, nor the Ossies, who didn't like the 'no more walls' ethos of his speeches.
This seems to be bursting with a will to deliver esoteric stories from the weirder, more clued-in tour guides, but fails. It's too sunny, it's not as unknown as it thinks it is, it leaves the entire Fortean potentiality behind, and it's at best those optional box-outs in a Lonely Planet or Rough Guides book. I did find merits in several of the Asian visits – perhaps Angkor Wat more than the eye-damaging caves elsewhere – and in more sturdy farces from Budapest, but this leaves us with a world still unexplored, and some sweeping statements – who is actually to say how much history we do or don't gain from Prague Town Hall? Add on the fact that some of the photos are really nondescript, and – even for teaching me more about Mata Hari, and dancheong design, than I ever knew – this could easily have bested my three-and-a-half-star rating.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hidden in Plain Sight is a fascinating look at more than twenty landmarks all over the world, just not in the typical guidebook sort of way. This book is for those who wish to see things in a different light with more oomph and personality. I have had the fortune to visit over half the landmarks and destinations included and now wish to return for new perspectives. Mysteries, controversies and folklore abound, thankfully, and add rich flavour to what the traveler already knows. Stunning photographs complete the picture.
My favourite stories in this book are those of the Stone of Destiny at Edinburgh Castle, the mysterious curse of darkness which enveloped Istanbul for months, the comedic bungled forgery plot in Budapest, the natural Iguazu Falls, secrets in Prague (especially the underwhelming astronomical clock), Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, and the lore of the Mithras cult in Rome. Reading these details cause these destinations to really pop.
The author's writing style is friendly and engaging and the information contained is fascinating. I would love to see a long series like this! It would be fun to supplement a planned trip with (or organize one around) these special places.
My sincere thank you to Harper Celebrate and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this fabulous book. A hard copy will look great on my coffee table!
My favourite stories in this book are those of the Stone of Destiny at Edinburgh Castle, the mysterious curse of darkness which enveloped Istanbul for months, the comedic bungled forgery plot in Budapest, the natural Iguazu Falls, secrets in Prague (especially the underwhelming astronomical clock), Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, and the lore of the Mithras cult in Rome. Reading these details cause these destinations to really pop.
The author's writing style is friendly and engaging and the information contained is fascinating. I would love to see a long series like this! It would be fun to supplement a planned trip with (or organize one around) these special places.
My sincere thank you to Harper Celebrate and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this fabulous book. A hard copy will look great on my coffee table!
Read
April 26, 2026The physical book has beautiful pictures of these world wonders. But there are more interesting stories for the places than the ones the author chooses. For example, Budapest. Why not use the case of the hand (yes, hand) of St. Stephen, Hungary’s first king, enshrined in his namesake basilica in Budapest? The Hungarian Parliament building is beautiful, make no mistake, but that story is way cooler.
The audiobook is narrated by an Australian and I simply cannot understand through the accent. I’m a native English speaker and speak more than one language but I had such a hard time trying to hear through the accent what the narrator was saying, I had to give up on this one. It’s the same content that would be covered in podcasts anyway so I don’t feel too strongly about it.
Usually I’m a “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all,” on books, but unfortunately I see this one not making it to a shelf life of a year. Perhaps coming soon to remainders tables near you.
The audiobook is narrated by an Australian and I simply cannot understand through the accent. I’m a native English speaker and speak more than one language but I had such a hard time trying to hear through the accent what the narrator was saying, I had to give up on this one. It’s the same content that would be covered in podcasts anyway so I don’t feel too strongly about it.
Usually I’m a “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all,” on books, but unfortunately I see this one not making it to a shelf life of a year. Perhaps coming soon to remainders tables near you.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I knew from the premise alone that this one was going to be dangerous for me. Mysteries, legends, and deep dives into the stories beneath the world's most iconic places? That is precisely my kind of reading. O'Connell did not disappoint — this felt like pure gold from start to finish.
There is something genuinely thrilling about looking at a landmark you thought you knew and discovering how much has always been hidden beneath the surface. Immersive and completely addictive. I read my arc gratefully, but I already know I need the physical copy in my hands — this is a book built to be owned.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the early read!
There is something genuinely thrilling about looking at a landmark you thought you knew and discovering how much has always been hidden beneath the surface. Immersive and completely addictive. I read my arc gratefully, but I already know I need the physical copy in my hands — this is a book built to be owned.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the early read!
April 19, 2026
O'Connell takes us on adventures to commonly visited locations, but with a twist! Rather than focusing on the visual aspect of the structures, but rather tells us about a lesser known aspect or story related to the location. Some of the stories are humorous and some are mysterious, but all are intriguing and I don't believe I have heard any of them before, so I learned quite a bit! Each story was just a couple pages long and the accompanying pictures were stunning. This would make an excellent coffee table book for starting conversations.
April 22, 2026
While this would be a great book for the armchair traveler, it is also a fun read for those who have explored more of the world. Brief stories about various famous landmarks help bring their importance and history to life. For me, it was sometimes a case of "ohhh, I want to go there now" and at other times it reminded me of the travel experience I had when visiting a site.
April 7, 2026
An interesting collection of bite-sized stories! I definitely learned a thing or two, and enjoyed that this book took me to many different destinations around the world. The Eiffel Tower story was my favourite!
April 20, 2026
Just added more locations to my travel list.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews