Who doesn’t love a great thriller, especially if it includes an otherworldly component? When you’re searching for an engrossing, entertaining book to pack for your next exhaustingly long flight, reach for Undisclosed (A and M Publishing LLC, 2017) by New York Times best-selling author Steve Alten. The riveting tale of intrigue is an amalgamation of science fiction and science fact, giving special meaning to Alten’s personal experience sighting a formation of unidentified flying objects in the skies above Palm Beach County while driving home from dinner with his wife.

“There were eight to twelve of them flying in staggered pairs, approaching from the south less than a thousand feet (estimated) above Route 441/State Road 7 in Palm Beach County,” said Alten of his experience. “They were far too silent and smooth to be helicopters and they were definitely not planes … Let me be clear here, they didn’t move out of range or shut off their lights or disappear into a cloudbank, they slipped out of existence. Neither one of us had ever seen a UFO before. Far from being scared, we felt exhilarated, like we had just been treated to something very special.”

The book follows the story of an Iraqi war veteran tasked by the Under Secretary of Defense to uncover the truth about zero-point energy reverse engineered from advanced extraterrestrial sources; secret military bases hidden deep underground; and a possible False Flag initiative that could wipe out billions across the globe. Sure to keep you on the edge of your plane or train seat, Alten’s story is at times harrowing — and always incredibly thought provoking. Undisclosed will also be available as an audiobook after Oct. 24.