What Can’t Be Hidden

by Brandon Andress

When a stranger is captured in the nearby forest of the isolated and restrictive community of Patrida, a dark, hidden secret is revealed: the Patridian people discover that there are others living on the island.

While panic and fear consume the town, Thura clandestinely befriends the stranger, who gives her hope for escaping the only life she has ever known and finding something she has never experienced: freedom.

What Can't Be Hidden is right on time for this moment. It is a stunning and universal portrayal of a people awakening and coming to terms with the systems that have promised to give them peace and freedom, while discovering that these virtues can only come from within.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller Suspense

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 7, 2021

About the author

Brandon Andress is the author of What Can't Be Hidden, And So By Fire, Beauty in the Wreckage, and Deep Calls to Deep. His writing explores themes of identity, peace, belonging, transformation, and the tension between inherited belief and authentic awakening. He lives in Columbus, Indiana.

Reviews

[Karl Forehand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brandon Andress transported me to a distant place and kept me breathless until the very last paragraph. This captivating story first struck me as unbelievable, and then, as undeniably true and applicable to my current world. The truth is within us -- it's hard to describe and it's sometimes hard to uncover -- but it "can't be hidden."

Thanks to Rafael Polendo and Quoir for another winner!

~Karl Forehand, author of Being, The Tea Shop and Apparent Faith

[Eric Riddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all 4 of the books by Andress. His first foray into fiction is refreshing and in a style that is uncommon in today’s literary world. I appreciated the unique naming of his characters and places- it is a crafty way of creating an exotic place that seems eerily familiar at times.

As is natural in an allegorical style, the character development comes into clearer focus as the story unfolds. The tension builds as the journey of one of the main characters breaks out of the narrative arch that I was expecting.

This book deals with spirituality and the struggle for expressions of faith in a reality hardened by political influence and constraining group identity.

I have a feeling this may not be his only work of fiction - I welcome a follow up to explore the many questions that erupt over the exciting final pages on the island.

[Paul Dazet · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF 2021! In "What Can't Be Hidden", author Brandon Andress builds a world that is so different from our own, but yet, eerily similar. Brandon creates a captivating setting, develops fascinating characters, and weaves together themes of politics, spirituality, division, truth and freedom - topics that dominate our newsfeed. I look forward to reading this amazing book again, discovering more layers to the story, and digging deeper on what can't be hidden inside of me. I highly recommend "What Can't Be Hidden" = A MUST READ!

[Rae B B Reads Thrillers · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are books that pull you in with a mystery and then quietly leave you thinking about something much bigger. What Can’t Be Hidden did exactly that for me.

The story takes place in Patrida, an isolated and restrictive community. When a stranger is discovered in the nearby forest, everything the community believes about its world begins to be questioned.

I loved the setting and the mystery surrounding what was being hidden. That was what initially pulled me into the story, but the deeper message was what ultimately stayed with me. This book explores fear, control, belonging, freedom, and the “us versus them” mentality in a way that feels incredibly relevant.

I also felt emotionally connected to Thura and her journey. Her growing questions and desire to understand the world around her gave the story so much heart. I became invested in her as a character while also finding myself thinking about the larger ideas woven throughout the story.

I read the fifth-anniversary edition and really appreciated the additional material. It offered more insight into the story’s inspiration and symbolism without taking away from my own interpretation of everything I had read.

This was a thought-provoking and meaningful story that gave me plenty to sit with afterward. I really enjoyed it, and I am looking forward to reading And So By Fire.

I received a gifted copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind Blown! That is how I would describe how you will feel when you finish this book. Brandon does an exceptional job weaving this tale.

What happens when a group of people decide to start a community where they can leave behind the ills of this world and create a place where they can draw closer to God? Well, it all depends on what their focus is and their plan to achieve this goal. And then what happens when an outsider is captured and they learn there is a hidden community elsewhere on the island. Will this destroy what they have built or will it lead to a type of freedom they have not experienced?

This story is hard to put down and you will learn much along the way of what is truly freedom and "What Can't Be Hidden".

[Cord Sheard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book blew me away. The writing is so beautiful and profound, full of things worth highlighting, which is unusual for a fiction book. This will definitely be worth a reread in the not so distant future.
Also, just to avoid spoilers, all I'll say is: that ending. GAH!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely amazing book! It is one of the best and most thought provoking books I have ever read! Once I started reading, it was almost impossible to put down. The characters are well developed and the storyline is captivating. This book is relevant to our times and written for such a time as this! You don’t want to miss this one! We can only hope Brandon Andress will bring us many more!

I have now read this book multiple times and have discovered more depth and with each reading. Even what appears to be a small detail has significance throughout the book. I’m anxious to read the sequel “And So By Fire.”

[Renae Stahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Everything they believed about their world was apparent in how they cared for the land, the animals, and each other. Everything was holy and sacred, created in divine love, and worthy of honour and respect."

I have a tendency to speed-read. To rush through books grasping to know how the story keeps going, which is why I prefer the second reading when I already know everything that’s going to happen. I already know I love the story and the characters and I get to sit with them—no surprises—and just delight in the storytelling, foreshadowing, poetic devices and characters that were previously eclipsed by the plot.

I got approximately ⅓ of the way into this book when I realized that speed-reading wasn’t going to work and I had to start all over, from scratch.

So, I left my preconceived expectations about how the story *should* go, at the door and to quote Andress' own words back at him, "where I'm standing is not where I thought I was going."

"What Can't be Hidden" by Brandon Andress is such an important story. He paints two communities, formed by people who started out with very similar dreams and ended up in starkly different places. Andress raises provocative and vulnerable questions about us, our journey, and how we see and treat others taking the same journey by a different road (or perhaps a different journey altogether). And ultimately, he questions what it means to call ourselves followers of Jesus and how that expresses itself in the way we live.

"What Can't be Hidden," is overflowing with allegory and parables; when the characters weren't running for their lives they were having deep and insightful conversations about circles and light and where we go to buy water. And half way through, I realized I’m going to need the physical copy to underline and highlight and scribble up because this book needs some time to simmer in my heart. Thankyou Brandon Andress. I can tell this was ‘a labour of love’.

[Bookscoffeeandchaos | Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eloquent and poetic prose with thought provoking, resounding messages, this work of fiction is no simple tale. Themes of oppression, religion, faith, political intrigue, identity and freedom are explored and delicately interwoven into an absolute masterpiece within these pages through deep symbolism and profound insight into the human condition. The plot twist at the end was completely and utterly unexpected which entirely changed the direction of the story. I highly recommend if you need a dystopian tale to provoke the mind, as I spent lots of time thinking about this book after I finished it. Also, pick up the second book because the cliffhanger at the end of this one will leave you wanting to continue the story.

[Chuck Clevenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book with LOTS of symbolism and hidden meaning. This is a book that will keep you turning the pages and will make you think. And I would wager you’ll also see a lot of contemporary life (and yourself) in this story. I marked several passages that I thought were not only memorable – they’d make great quotes to frame and hang on the wall.

It took me a bit of time to get into the story, but I am glad I didn’t give up. Once I got into it, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down.

How could this book be better? If a sequel was forthcoming. It was that good.

[Rick Scalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his prior works, Brandon Andress has presented the world with a series of important and thought-provoking messages. Now, as he takes his first forray into fiction authorship, he keeps up the heat, offering up a layered narrative that takes you on an adventure, both on the page and in your heart.

[Jenny Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book at a local book fair and was pleasantly rewarded with such a good book by an Indiana author. It felt like I was back in college (English Lit major) reading a classic that was going to be chock full of discussion points. I appreciated the bonus material where he discussed his allegory and imagery he used to share his message. I appreciated that the book was well written and the imagery transformative. Some lesser books have tripped me up when you stumble on a typo or an inconsistency. None of that in this novel. I don’t want to give any spoilers as I read it with no presumptions and you should too!

[Ryan Edgecomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is filled with twists and turns that keep you guessing, but the dots strategically connect the more you read. Brandon does a great job of introducing characters and uncovering just enough to make them initially relevant while pouring more and more in to their back story as you read to help you understand how each character intertwines with the others. Oftentimes this book leaves you with that I-didn’t-see-that-coming feeling which makes this a great read and a hard book to put down. But ultimately this book is more than just fiction and should be read with an expectation that you will become a better person after reading it - not because it’s great fiction but because of the lessons buried just beneath the surface.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really well-written debut novel.
I found the story line (and subplots) engaging. The main characters were developed well, and I could relate to their motivations and actions as they related to their backgrounds. Minor characters had their places.
This book will indeed make you think, though, as things are not always as they seem on the surface. That usually has to do how others see the main characters.
I won't spoil the end, but I will say that the end will also cause you to think ... about everything you read up until that point.
Good job, Brandon.

[Tim Hoeflinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Brandon's writing. I have read all of his previous books and have not been able to put them down. His first venture into fiction was no different. I was mezmerized the entire time. I appreciate Brandon's style and the way he weaves current cultural climate into his storytelling. I was captivated and immersed in the story from start to finish. I hope this is just the first of more fiction to come from Andress.

[Seth Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t get to read a lot of novels. I’ve read two this year and I’m so glad this was one of them.

Brandon built an amazing world here and the characters are so engaging, at times I see myself in many of them. It’s left me reflecting on different things here and there in the best way. I can’t wait to see if Brandon takes this further—and hoping he does.

Well done!

[Martha Elias Downey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An allegory contrasting binary ways of being and thinking with more complex, centre-focused societies. As an allegory, it lacks some of the nuanced storytelling I prefer (very direct in its message). I also found the ending under-developed, but maybe I just didn’t get it. A thought-provoking read, nevertheless.

[Michelle White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling story about struggle and realization of what is right and good. A wonderful fiction writing debut!

[Jared Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant allegorical fiction. I can’t wait to start the sequel.

[Michael Baysinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Great twists. Every word is intentional. Highly recommend.