The novel “The Happy Fiction” by the modern American writer Hilary Waugh was created according to the laws of the classic detective story, where there is a sympathetic victim, and “VD” - a great detective or sleuth rushing to her rescue, and cruel attackers who fail in the end. The underlying story about kidnapping - the kidnapping of a charming girl - is presented in an interesting and dynamic way. One who engages in single combat with criminals, defending not only the law, but also high moral principles, also evokes sympathy. Without getting carried away with specific details of everyday life, naturalistic details, the author convincingly portrays American reality with all its positive and negative sides, complexities and contradictions.