Hidden things : [a novel

Watch out for the hidden things . . . That's the last thing Calliope Jenkins's best friend says to her before ending a two a.m. phone call from Iowa, where he's working a case she knows little about. Seven hours later, she gets a visit from the police. Josh has been found dead, and foul play is suspected. Calliope is stunned. Especially since Josh left a message on her phone an hour after his body was found. Spurred by grief and suspicion, Calli heads to Iowa herself, accompanied by a stranger who claims to know something about what happened to Josh and who can— maybe—help her get him back. But the road home is not quite the straight shot she imagined . . . Review “Reminiscent of Neil GaimanвЂTMs dark fantasies and the early books of Stephen King.” (Library Journal ) “I loved this book from start to finish. ItвЂTMs strange, weird and down to earth, all at the same time; chock full of fascinating characters, dark dreams and fantasy elements that deliver a real sense of wonder. WhatвЂTMs not to love?” (Charles de Lint ) “Along with the clever, determined, dauntless protagonist, Testerman brings an impressive dark energy to the scenario and plotting . . . Agreeably creepy, with original flourishes and flashes of dark humor.” (Kirkus Reviews ) “A satisfying blend of noir and magic.” (Publishers Weekly ) “Hidden Things reveals the America I want to believe in--dragons on highways, trolls in the hills, motels that lead to new dimensions. IвЂTMll never look at a rest stop the same way again.” (Maureen Johnson, author of the Shades of London series ) “This world of wizened wizard-men and demon clowns will lure you into the shadows, and once you meet the characters who live in those dark strange places youвЂTMll never want to leave. The magic matters here, but itвЂTMs the human touch that really brings the book to life.” (Chuck Wendig, author of Blackbirds and Irregular Creatures ) About the Author Doyce Testerman was born and raised in the wilds of South Dakota, where he began a lifelong love affair with the written word. He moved to Denver in 1995, and has since steadily ceded control of his weekends to two dogs, a brilliant wife, and two astounding children. The word gifted has never been applied to a kid like Donovan Curtis. It's usually more like Don't try this at home. So when the troublemaker pulls a major prank at his middle school, he thinks he's finally gone too far. But thanks to a mix-up by one of the administrators, instead of getting in trouble, Donovan is sent to the Academy of Scholastic Distinction (ASD), a special program for gifted and talented students. It wasn't exactly what Donovan had intended, but there couldn't be a more perfect hideout for someone like him. That is, if he can manage to fool people whose IQs are above genius level. And that becomes harder and harder as the students and teachers of ASD grow to realize that Donovan may not be good at math or science (or just about anything). But after an ongoing experiment with a live human (sister), an unforgettably dramatic middle-school dance, and the most astonishing come-from-behind robot victory ever, Donovan shows that his gifts might be exactly what the ASD students never knew they needed. (Book Cover) 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. Watch out for the hidden things... That's the last thing Calliope Jenkins' best friend and former lover says to her before ending a 2 am phone call from Iowa, where he's investigating a case she knows little about. Five hours later, she gets another call, this time from the police. Josh has been found dead, and foul play is suspected. When Her Best Friend And Former Lover Dies Mysteriously While Investigating A Case In Iowa, Calliope Jenkins Decides To Find Out What Happened To Josh And Embarks On A Surreal Road Trip Into--and Behind--america's Heartland. Doyce Testerman.