Hiding in plain sight by Thomas LeBrun, is the action-filled true story detailing a famous executive protection specialist’s life. It takes readers through his childhood, to his approach to weightlifting and martial arts all the way to providing security for entertainers.

LeBrun writes in an engaging way and explains his job in detail, underlining the difference between himself and a bodyguard, as he is an executive protection specialist. His life is intriguing, and the narration provides provocative details, but while there are some specifics about his family that are shared with the reader, the focus remains on sharing experiences of events in his storied life rather than taking a deep emotional dive into them.

I appreciated all the references to pop culture of the time. This does an excellent job of setting the backdrop of the story, making it feel grounded and immersing readers in that time. And these cultural references also serve to focus the story, and the reader, on deeper themes such as the attack on the twin towers or Nelson Mandela’s release from prison.

I enjoyed the photos that are included in the book. It made the book feel familiar and personal, so they were deeply appreciated. I enjoyed the book and felt it was an illuminating memoir. It provides an intriguing examination of ‘toxic masculinity’ and shows how persistence and hard work pays off.

Hiding in Plain Sight is a thought-provoking memoir that takes readers through the various personal moments in Thomas Lebrun’s life. The author also includes personal items that help the reader connect with his life; like his reference letters, photos and quotes from real people. This helps the story feel authentic and I think will it appeal to most readers. I would like to end this review with the author’s quote: “Further, I explained that Executive Protection Specialists operate as low-profile chameleon. With me, I called it “hiding in plain sight”.”

Pages: 361 | ASIN: B08YNX6KC5