Books like Secret Matter by Toby Johnson

Kevin Anderson is a recent college graduate from New York, preparing to take a federal internship in San Francisco following the city’s devastating earthquake. Soon after his arrival, a race of human‑like alien visitors—bigger than humans and seemingly benevolent—land in several major cities, including San Francisco. Kevin’s company is assigned to construct a facility for these visitors, and he becomes close friends with a visitor named "Bel." Despite their outwardly human appearance, the visitors possess strange traits and are apparently withholding information about their origins. As political turmoil erupts and miscommunications lead to the expulsion of the visitors, Kevin realizes that the United States’ actions could have catastrophic consequences for the visitors’ world. Compelled by his new relationship with Bel, Kevin embarks on a mission to decipher the visitors’ secrets and prevent a tragedy that could claim millions of lives. This tale blends political intrigue with science‑fiction themes of otherworldly contact, highlighting LGBTQ+ romance and the ethical dilemmas of cross‑species interaction.

First publish date: 1990