The Unseen

Lucas...Humpty... and ?? This intricate tale of identity shrouded in mystery, fear, and alienation is a wonderful story that lags a bit in the middle...but keep reading, it is worth it and the answers unfold in an unexpected creative way. A Bizarre and engrossing thriller. ( )

As part of a book reviewer program that Thomas Nelson Publishing Company offers, I agreed to read and review The Unseen by T. L. Hines. This is not the kind of book that I would normally read, but I decided to plow ahead with it and see what it had to offer. The following is my review.

The book begins very slowly and yet grabs your attention from the very beginning. Who could resist reading about someone that finds it perfectly normal to hide in the spaces between floors of a building and other tight spaces to "watch" people. Well that is what we find out from the very beginning Lucas does for fun. He spends his time observing people from a hidden location, usually their place of employment. If he feels there is a "connection" between himself and his subject then he takes something that belongs to them as a totem to add to his collection. He is a loner that moves around to different locations in the city to live; anywhere from a sewer room to an abandoned office, etc. I found myself loosing interest in the book about a third of the way through because this is all that has been discussed at this point. Then Hines kicked it up a notch.

The rest of the book was like being on a literary roller coaster. There were times when I would read a few chapters and put the book down and then there were times when I just had to know what came next. The last third of the book had me hooked to the end. Lucas finds himself in a big mess because he has gotten involved with this whole group of "watchers" called the Creep Club. His attempt at intervening in one of their projects, a man and her husband, just makes things worse for him. When he finds himself with only 36 hours to live, Lucas must really make miracles happen with no clues as to how. If you want to know what happens to Lucas then I suggest you go buy the book. As for me, I give it a 7 out of 10. ( )

Unseen by T. L. Hines is an excellent read, and kept me in its pages for a short (for me) 10 days. The story is about Lucas, an orphan who has a compelling need to be alone. The exception is when he works as a dish washer or when he creeps about office buildings and a store, creating hiding places where he can view selected people without their knowledge. Creepy by all means, but as you read on, you do develop a real liking for Lucas. Lucas sleeps in building tunnels or abandoned buildings, dragging with him a selection of totems, or personal items stolen from those who he monitors.

The pace in this book is swift, with few slow parts. Lucas is dragged into an investigation, blackmailed by a government employee to spy on others who like Lucas practice creeping, but with the intent on spying on individuals in their own homes, using various methods while recording their victims at their worst. These tapes are shown at club meetings, becoming entertainment for other members as well as an exercise in peer review by the members in the club.

The story-line makes the actions of these individuals seem so easy, but I am glad it is not so. I know false ceilings are highly unlikely to hold the weight of an individual, regardless how light they are. Cameras abound, in offices, street corners and it is highly unlikely a person can come and go without attracting attention. Still Hines is correct, that we can move about unseen by those around us be acting like we belong, and despite the shortcomings with some of the plot devices, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have never read a T. L. Hines book before Unseen, but I will visit my local bookstore soon to find another! ( )

We've all had those moments when we felt like we were being watched--unseen eyes hovering nearby, taking in our every move.

That creepy feeling becomes reality in T. L. Hines latest novel, The Unseen.

The main character, Lucas, has an interesting hobby. He likes to watch people without them knowing it. He is a loner who spends his free time sneaking into places that most people don't even know exist. From his unseen vantage points, he quietly watches people go about their every day lives.

Within a few pages, things get turned around, and Lucas gets drawn into a world of espionage and danger, losing the anonymity that he feeds on.

T.L. Hines is a skilled expert at enticing the reader into the story and compelling us to empathize with Lucas in spite of his questionable activity. All the characters are portrayed as unique individuals, clearly drawn and brought to life on the pages. In a word, they are unforgettable.

Before the book is over it has turned into a fast-paced, high-action suspense thriller that you can't put down. As I read the book I could see the scenes playing out in my mind, much like pictures on a giant movie screen.

The story won't just tug at you a little; it will grab you by the throat and refuse to let go until the last page is read. T. L. Hines not only puts the reader in the mind of the character, but in his skin.

After reading only a portion of the story, I found myself checking to see if someone was watching me. I even examined walls in public places to see if there were suspicious-looking holes, and I locked doors behind me in my own home (after checking all possible hiding places, of course)!

The Unseen by T. L. Hines is my third review for Thomas Nelson Publishers. Though it is not a typical read for me, it will become so after reading this book. I look forward to reading more novels by T. L. Hines.

The fact that the author was able to write such a compelling story without the use of profanity or sexual content makes this book a big winner. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a good read. ( )

Do you like a book that keeps you guessing until the end? Then The Unseen by T.L. Hines is for you. This is one of those books where every time you think that you have figured it out, an abrupt turn happens. The story follows the exploits of a man named Lucas, who was raised in an orphanage. Lucas likes to hide behind walls and in the ceilings of buildings to secretly watch the workers. He is a wander who has no permanent place to live. He has never watched anyone in their home, until he meets a member of the Creep Club. This move forces him down a path that includes secret agents, bombs and murder. Lucas in an attempt to be the Good Samaritan, finds out much about himself and where he comes from. It is the classic tale where everyone is something other than they appear. This can be a down side to this book for anyone who enjoys much character development. One never really gets to fully understand the characters until the last few chapters of the book. Being the first book I have read by Hines, I found the book to be a good read. I would definitely say it is good, but not great. ( )