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Hidden Pictures
Goodreads Choice Award
Winner for Readers' Favorite Horror (2022)A wildly inventive spin on the supernatural thriller, about a woman working as a nanny for a young boy with strange and disturbing secrets.
Mallory Quinn is fresh out of rehab when she takes a job as a babysitter for Ted and Caroline Maxwell. She is to look after their five-year-old son, Teddy.
Mallory immediately loves it. She has her own living space, goes out for nightly runs, and has the stability she craves. And she sincerely bonds with Teddy, a sweet, shy boy who is never without his sketchbook and pencil. His drawings are the usual fare: trees, rabbits, balloons. But one day, he draws something different: a man in a forest, dragging a woman’s lifeless body.
Then, Teddy’s artwork becomes increasingly sinister, and his stick figures quickly evolve into lifelike sketches well beyond the ability of any five-year-old. Mallory begins to wonder if these are glimpses of a long-unsolved murder, perhaps relayed by a supernatural force.
Knowing just how crazy it all sounds, Mallory nevertheless sets out to decipher the images and save Teddy before it’s too late.
Mallory Quinn is fresh out of rehab when she takes a job as a babysitter for Ted and Caroline Maxwell. She is to look after their five-year-old son, Teddy.
Mallory immediately loves it. She has her own living space, goes out for nightly runs, and has the stability she craves. And she sincerely bonds with Teddy, a sweet, shy boy who is never without his sketchbook and pencil. His drawings are the usual fare: trees, rabbits, balloons. But one day, he draws something different: a man in a forest, dragging a woman’s lifeless body.
Then, Teddy’s artwork becomes increasingly sinister, and his stick figures quickly evolve into lifelike sketches well beyond the ability of any five-year-old. Mallory begins to wonder if these are glimpses of a long-unsolved murder, perhaps relayed by a supernatural force.
Knowing just how crazy it all sounds, Mallory nevertheless sets out to decipher the images and save Teddy before it’s too late.
372 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 2022
About the author
Jason Rekulak
11 books5,023 followersI'm the author of three novels: HIDDEN PICTURES, THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTRESS, and (coming in October 2024!) THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING. For many years I was Publisher of Quirk Books, an indie press headquartered in Philadelphia, where I ghost-wrote many odd books that may or may not surface on this page, depending on the metadata. I live in West Philly with my wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39,628 reviews
August 18, 2024
Oh my goodness! This is absolutely fantastic! There are so many aspects that I absolutely adored while reading this book: the chilling atmosphere of the guest house, the clever incorporation of famous horror movie themes like "Ring" and "Insidious," the masterful storytelling that keeps you on the edge of your seat, the spine-tingling sensation of constantly feeling like someone is watching over you, and those final twists that hit you like a slap in the face because they're so unexpected!
I have to say, this is one of the best things I've read in a long time! The seamless blend of horror, psychological thriller, mystery, and suspense genres is simply perfect.
Let me give you a quick recap of the events that unfold in this gripping tale:
We meet Mallory Quinn, a 21-year-old survivor with a tragic past and a history of addiction. After 18 months of sobriety, she's ready to start a new chapter in her life. With the help of her sponsor, she lands a summer job as a nanny for five-year-old Teddy, the son of Caroline and Ted Maxwell. The Maxwells are staunch believers in science, atheists who have a strict set of rules for Mallory to follow, including no drug use or fooling around.
Mallory is relieved to have a place to stay and a job that pays well enough for her to save money for her future plans. However, strange scratching sounds coming from the guest house in the middle of the night and the eerie sensation of being watched leave her restless. When she discovers that a woman may have been killed in that very guest house, her anxiety reaches new heights.
As if that wasn't enough, little Teddy keeps conversing with his eerie imaginary friend, Anya, behind closed doors. He even draws disturbing pictures of Anya being dragged into the woods and buried in a hole. Each day, Teddy's drawings become more detailed and sophisticated, as if they were created by an adult. Mallory's neighbor, who might have some mystical abilities, warns her that a spirit may be using Teddy's body as a vessel. When Mallory shares her theories with the parents, they dismiss her as losing her mind. What will Mallory do as the threat of something sinister looms over the house? Can she protect Teddy, and perhaps even herself?
The story unfolds in an unconventional and highly enjoyable manner. I wholeheartedly, absolutely, and without a doubt recommend it to everyone. It's a must-read that will leave you hooked from start to finish!
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I have to say, this is one of the best things I've read in a long time! The seamless blend of horror, psychological thriller, mystery, and suspense genres is simply perfect.
Let me give you a quick recap of the events that unfold in this gripping tale:
We meet Mallory Quinn, a 21-year-old survivor with a tragic past and a history of addiction. After 18 months of sobriety, she's ready to start a new chapter in her life. With the help of her sponsor, she lands a summer job as a nanny for five-year-old Teddy, the son of Caroline and Ted Maxwell. The Maxwells are staunch believers in science, atheists who have a strict set of rules for Mallory to follow, including no drug use or fooling around.
Mallory is relieved to have a place to stay and a job that pays well enough for her to save money for her future plans. However, strange scratching sounds coming from the guest house in the middle of the night and the eerie sensation of being watched leave her restless. When she discovers that a woman may have been killed in that very guest house, her anxiety reaches new heights.
As if that wasn't enough, little Teddy keeps conversing with his eerie imaginary friend, Anya, behind closed doors. He even draws disturbing pictures of Anya being dragged into the woods and buried in a hole. Each day, Teddy's drawings become more detailed and sophisticated, as if they were created by an adult. Mallory's neighbor, who might have some mystical abilities, warns her that a spirit may be using Teddy's body as a vessel. When Mallory shares her theories with the parents, they dismiss her as losing her mind. What will Mallory do as the threat of something sinister looms over the house? Can she protect Teddy, and perhaps even herself?
The story unfolds in an unconventional and highly enjoyable manner. I wholeheartedly, absolutely, and without a doubt recommend it to everyone. It's a must-read that will leave you hooked from start to finish!
medium blog
May 4, 2022
Having recently completed a stint in rehab, Mallory takes a job as nanny to 5-year-old Teddy. His parents, Caroline and Ted are Type A overprotective and uptight, but she and Teddy bond and they spend their days happily in each other’s company.
But, before long, Teddy begins to draw strange pictures of a gruesome murder, and Mallory learns of the house’s dark past. Are dark forces at work to bring secrets to light? With the help of a couple of new friends in the neighborhood she sets out to uncover the mystery.
The middle of the book had a YA feel (perhaps because this was the author's first book for adults?) and Mallory was a bit too perfect for someone with her history, but my reading buddy, Marialyce, and I continued on.
And then the story jumped the shark.
At around 75-80% it turned into a dumpster fire. The parents apparently have a personality transplant - or maybe they are inhabited by aliens? Because at this point literally NOTHING they do makes any sense whatsoever. The first big reveal is head scratching. I’m telling you there is zero chance of Mallory not knowing the truth within hours of starting her job. To think this could have been kept a secret is eye-rolling ridiculous.
Each new revelation made me laugh, but not in a good way. The author did not intend it to be funny.
I laughed and my eyes rolled because it was so absurd. Along the way the author threw in a kitchen sink full of social issues, and not-as-subtle-as-he-thought political and religious jabs. I wish I could give details (i.e. rant) but no spoilers here.
I expect some implausibility in my reading but there’s a tipping point and this book exceeded it.
Topping off this delight was a very long confession monologue, which automatically knocks a star off my rating.
Obviously not recommended by this reader.
* I received an audio copy for review via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
But, before long, Teddy begins to draw strange pictures of a gruesome murder, and Mallory learns of the house’s dark past. Are dark forces at work to bring secrets to light? With the help of a couple of new friends in the neighborhood she sets out to uncover the mystery.
The middle of the book had a YA feel (perhaps because this was the author's first book for adults?) and Mallory was a bit too perfect for someone with her history, but my reading buddy, Marialyce, and I continued on.
And then the story jumped the shark.
At around 75-80% it turned into a dumpster fire. The parents apparently have a personality transplant - or maybe they are inhabited by aliens? Because at this point literally NOTHING they do makes any sense whatsoever. The first big reveal is head scratching. I’m telling you there is zero chance of Mallory not knowing the truth within hours of starting her job. To think this could have been kept a secret is eye-rolling ridiculous.
Each new revelation made me laugh, but not in a good way. The author did not intend it to be funny.
I laughed and my eyes rolled because it was so absurd. Along the way the author threw in a kitchen sink full of social issues, and not-as-subtle-as-he-thought political and religious jabs. I wish I could give details (i.e. rant) but no spoilers here.
I expect some implausibility in my reading but there’s a tipping point and this book exceeded it.
Topping off this delight was a very long confession monologue, which automatically knocks a star off my rating.
Obviously not recommended by this reader.
* I received an audio copy for review via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2023
Discussion & Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EnG8...
Wow...this book is even more of a mess than I anticipated. It's filled with conservative dog whistles, thinly veiled references to anti-trans rhetoric about trans kids, more than one positive reference to Harry Potter and JK Rowling (those two things together in a book released in 2022 alone tells me a lot about the intentions of the author). Plus fatphobia, racist stereotypes, and a whole lot of pointed jabs at leftists and atheists.
The fact that this won the Goodreads Choice Awards for horror is wild to me. Because content aside, the plot has a lot of things that don't make sense and near the end gets wildly over the top. And our MC wins the award for WORST nanny of the year. I have a lot to say about this so stay tuned for a video discussion.
And for all the people in my comments saying this isn't transphobic
Wow...this book is even more of a mess than I anticipated. It's filled with conservative dog whistles, thinly veiled references to anti-trans rhetoric about trans kids, more than one positive reference to Harry Potter and JK Rowling (those two things together in a book released in 2022 alone tells me a lot about the intentions of the author). Plus fatphobia, racist stereotypes, and a whole lot of pointed jabs at leftists and atheists.
The fact that this won the Goodreads Choice Awards for horror is wild to me. Because content aside, the plot has a lot of things that don't make sense and near the end gets wildly over the top. And our MC wins the award for WORST nanny of the year. I have a lot to say about this so stay tuned for a video discussion.
And for all the people in my comments saying this isn't transphobic
December 26, 2022
will she ever learn to stop taking book recs from random tiktoks??? all signs point to no!
February 29, 2024
What in the right-wing propaganda thriller bullshit is this? Racism, transphobia, fatphobia, and atheist hating all in one. And it won the goodreads choice awards?? Yikes, folks.
I’ll either be back to write a five paragraph essay on why I hated this or I’ll try to scrub it from my brain and pretend I never read it.
...Ok, I have more to say.
Here we go.
You can watch me review this book & all of the other 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards Winners here: https://youtu.be/fFKXJ1gsZA8
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | TikTok
You can join our book club over on Patreon...
PBB Book Club
I’ll either be back to write a five paragraph essay on why I hated this or I’ll try to scrub it from my brain and pretend I never read it.
...Ok, I have more to say.
Here we go.
You can watch me review this book & all of the other 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards Winners here: https://youtu.be/fFKXJ1gsZA8
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | TikTok
You can join our book club over on Patreon...
PBB Book Club
November 17, 2023
Thank you so so so much to my fellow bookstahoe for gifting me this book. While I didn't love it as much as you... I think we're even because you disliked my rec Find Her LOL.
Writing: lmao/5 | Plot: L M AO/5 | Ending: scooby doo/5
SYNOPSIS
Mallory is 18 months sober when she starts babysitting Teddy. One thing about Teddy is homeboy LOVES to draw, but when his pics go from awww how cute to SOS call the police, Mallory starts to wonder what exactly is up?
MY OPINION
LMFAOOO LIVE LAFF LUV VIBES ARE DONE... GIRLWITHTHESALTYASSREVIEWS IS BACK IN FULL FORCE.
I guess this is technically "horror"? It has supernatural elements that's for sure, and if ya'll know me, I am a big scaredy cat and averse to the woo-woo. In fact I am SUCH a scaredy cat that Pirates of the Caribbean shook me to my core as a young girl. But THIS?? THIS RIGHT HERE????? Nahhhh. I've read darker/scarier/creepier shit in my previous neighbourhood's Facebook group. Now those are some psychos.
I also understand that my disbelief needed to be suspended, which I'm happy to do, but I don't even know what I was suspending it for??? Because this book gave me NOTHING but rising blood pressure. Mallory was a big dumb dumb and I actually found myself hoping she was the one getting strangled in the pic but alas, she was just a plain ole protagonist or whateva.
I simply cannot get into it without spoilers so... SPOILERS ALERT. SCROLL AGGRESSIVELY TO THE BOTTOM
- Mallory if you don't buss your ass like the Koolaid man into Teddy's bedroom... LMAO like ain't no way you're just standing there letting him have mysterieux convos with ghost Picasso and you're like HMMMMM I WONDER WAGWAN... OH WELL GOTTA FOLD THIS LAUNDRY!!!
- "Mallory" explaining why the writing is so YMCA creative writing class is absolutely hilarious. I can see Jason typing this bad boy up thinking he had the mother of all defenses. Someone probably told him the MC sounds mad immature and he was like well instead of rewriting everything what if I say this basic prose was intentional LOL. I see you .. it's like when I submit a blog to stakeholders and say FYI this is a DRAFT to cover my ass knowing damn well this is not a draft
- SoooOOOOO you're telling me you saw Teddy morph into Jimmy Neutron (big ass head, tiny body), then get his Picasso on with his eyes rolled back into his head, and the next day when lawn prince asks you: do you think Teddy is okay? your response is I HAVE NO IDEA??? LMFAOOOO GURLLLL IF YOU DON'T GET AT LEAST ONE BRAIN CELL ACTIVATED............
- Another scene that had me cackling was the seance with trump 2026 Mitzi. Homegirl was like, ideally Teddy would be right next to this scam- oops, spirit board, but 20 ft should do. I didn't know spirit boards had a 100 ft connection range like a bluetooth speaker LMAOO. electronic voice: Spirit board now connected.
- Margit's spirit having "limited powers" sent me. Who decides what level of powers you get??? Is it like a pay band system where you move up based on haunting experience? Terrorize a family. Unlock a new power. Etc etc.
- Unnecessary fat shaming. So your mom tried to help with your addiction but she was "fat" so she didn't "stand a chance"? Pardon? Apparently you need a BMI under 25 to be able to stop your child from selling ass for some oxy. Cool cool cool. And then mama dearest got her redemption story at the end, not because she repaired her relationship with Mallory, but because she wears lycra and has a fitbit and isn't a big fatty mcfat fat anymore. *major eye roll*
- When the mom says she doesn't have any attention spam for poetry so Mallory recommends HARRY FUCKING POTTER LMFAOOO ok so she can't handle 30 words per page but yeah, toss her a thicc ass NOVEL. good choice.
- After Catherine injects Mallory with heroin to stage an OD but wait! it was baking soda (don't get me started even more lmao) and Ted Sr comes in and Mallory has the gall to ask him "why are you so afraid of catherine" miss Mallory lmfao PLZ MAAM I WANT YOU TO TRY HARDER
*sigh* ok I'm gonna stop here but this book was HILARIOUS like Verity level hilarious to me.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: I've met lovely ppl on Bookstagram
Cons: I mean need I say more????
___
Check out my YouTube
Writing: lmao/5 | Plot: L M AO/5 | Ending: scooby doo/5
SYNOPSIS
Mallory is 18 months sober when she starts babysitting Teddy. One thing about Teddy is homeboy LOVES to draw, but when his pics go from awww how cute to SOS call the police, Mallory starts to wonder what exactly is up?
MY OPINION
LMFAOOO LIVE LAFF LUV VIBES ARE DONE... GIRLWITHTHESALTYASSREVIEWS IS BACK IN FULL FORCE.
I guess this is technically "horror"? It has supernatural elements that's for sure, and if ya'll know me, I am a big scaredy cat and averse to the woo-woo. In fact I am SUCH a scaredy cat that Pirates of the Caribbean shook me to my core as a young girl. But THIS?? THIS RIGHT HERE????? Nahhhh. I've read darker/scarier/creepier shit in my previous neighbourhood's Facebook group. Now those are some psychos.
I also understand that my disbelief needed to be suspended, which I'm happy to do, but I don't even know what I was suspending it for??? Because this book gave me NOTHING but rising blood pressure. Mallory was a big dumb dumb and I actually found myself hoping she was the one getting strangled in the pic but alas, she was just a plain ole protagonist or whateva.
I simply cannot get into it without spoilers so... SPOILERS ALERT. SCROLL AGGRESSIVELY TO THE BOTTOM
- Mallory if you don't buss your ass like the Koolaid man into Teddy's bedroom... LMAO like ain't no way you're just standing there letting him have mysterieux convos with ghost Picasso and you're like HMMMMM I WONDER WAGWAN... OH WELL GOTTA FOLD THIS LAUNDRY!!!
- "Mallory" explaining why the writing is so YMCA creative writing class is absolutely hilarious. I can see Jason typing this bad boy up thinking he had the mother of all defenses. Someone probably told him the MC sounds mad immature and he was like well instead of rewriting everything what if I say this basic prose was intentional LOL. I see you .. it's like when I submit a blog to stakeholders and say FYI this is a DRAFT to cover my ass knowing damn well this is not a draft
- SoooOOOOO you're telling me you saw Teddy morph into Jimmy Neutron (big ass head, tiny body), then get his Picasso on with his eyes rolled back into his head, and the next day when lawn prince asks you: do you think Teddy is okay? your response is I HAVE NO IDEA??? LMFAOOOO GURLLLL IF YOU DON'T GET AT LEAST ONE BRAIN CELL ACTIVATED............
- Another scene that had me cackling was the seance with trump 2026 Mitzi. Homegirl was like, ideally Teddy would be right next to this scam- oops, spirit board, but 20 ft should do. I didn't know spirit boards had a 100 ft connection range like a bluetooth speaker LMAOO. electronic voice: Spirit board now connected.
- Margit's spirit having "limited powers" sent me. Who decides what level of powers you get??? Is it like a pay band system where you move up based on haunting experience? Terrorize a family. Unlock a new power. Etc etc.
- Unnecessary fat shaming. So your mom tried to help with your addiction but she was "fat" so she didn't "stand a chance"? Pardon? Apparently you need a BMI under 25 to be able to stop your child from selling ass for some oxy. Cool cool cool. And then mama dearest got her redemption story at the end, not because she repaired her relationship with Mallory, but because she wears lycra and has a fitbit and isn't a big fatty mcfat fat anymore. *major eye roll*
- When the mom says she doesn't have any attention spam for poetry so Mallory recommends HARRY FUCKING POTTER LMFAOOO ok so she can't handle 30 words per page but yeah, toss her a thicc ass NOVEL. good choice.
- After Catherine injects Mallory with heroin to stage an OD but wait! it was baking soda (don't get me started even more lmao) and Ted Sr comes in and Mallory has the gall to ask him "why are you so afraid of catherine" miss Mallory lmfao PLZ MAAM I WANT YOU TO TRY HARDER
*sigh* ok I'm gonna stop here but this book was HILARIOUS like Verity level hilarious to me.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: I've met lovely ppl on Bookstagram
Cons: I mean need I say more????
___
Check out my YouTube
July 3, 2024
This was fantastic
May 10, 2022
4-5 stars ⭐️ Happy Publication Day!
I GUARANTEE you won’t guess where this one is going!
If you are looking for something FRESH and ORIGINAL and you don’t mind mysteries with a SUPERNATURAL vibe, then this is the book for you!
Mallory Quinn was a victim of OxyContin.
Now clean for 18 months, her sponsor Russell has lined up a job interview for her with Caroline and Ted Maxwell, an affluent family looking for a babysitter for their preschooler, Teddy. Getting the job, and the chance to live in the tiny poolside guest cottage seems like it would be a dream come true-a fresh start-so she is thrilled when she is offered the job.
The story begins as a bit of a slow burn, as Mallory and Teddy bond over imaginative games, and the drawings he sketches with the pencils he is never without. The Maxwells are thrilled, as Teddy’s only “playmate” before Mallory was his imaginary friend, Anya. But, as his pictures take on a more sinister tone, and start to become too detailed and complex for a 5 year old to draw, Mallory begins to worry.
“Scritch Scritch Scritch”
Teddy’s latest drawing is of a man in a forest dragging a woman’s body and Mallory’s cottage has a disturbing past-an artist named Annie Barrett, who had been living in it years ago, disappeared-leaving behind a trail of blood and an unsolved mystery.
Could she be trying to share what happened to her through Teddy’s sketches?
As, I write this review, I pondered on whether to rate this 4 or 5 stars, and I have decided to round up for originality and the fact that I loved Mallory, and her devotion to Teddy. The last chapter really moved me emotionally and earned the final star!
A fun buddy read with DeAnn, Marilyn and Susan! Be sure to check out their always amazing reviews!
I received a free ARC of Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review!
I GUARANTEE you won’t guess where this one is going!
If you are looking for something FRESH and ORIGINAL and you don’t mind mysteries with a SUPERNATURAL vibe, then this is the book for you!
Mallory Quinn was a victim of OxyContin.
Now clean for 18 months, her sponsor Russell has lined up a job interview for her with Caroline and Ted Maxwell, an affluent family looking for a babysitter for their preschooler, Teddy. Getting the job, and the chance to live in the tiny poolside guest cottage seems like it would be a dream come true-a fresh start-so she is thrilled when she is offered the job.
The story begins as a bit of a slow burn, as Mallory and Teddy bond over imaginative games, and the drawings he sketches with the pencils he is never without. The Maxwells are thrilled, as Teddy’s only “playmate” before Mallory was his imaginary friend, Anya. But, as his pictures take on a more sinister tone, and start to become too detailed and complex for a 5 year old to draw, Mallory begins to worry.
“Scritch Scritch Scritch”
Teddy’s latest drawing is of a man in a forest dragging a woman’s body and Mallory’s cottage has a disturbing past-an artist named Annie Barrett, who had been living in it years ago, disappeared-leaving behind a trail of blood and an unsolved mystery.
Could she be trying to share what happened to her through Teddy’s sketches?
As, I write this review, I pondered on whether to rate this 4 or 5 stars, and I have decided to round up for originality and the fact that I loved Mallory, and her devotion to Teddy. The last chapter really moved me emotionally and earned the final star!
A fun buddy read with DeAnn, Marilyn and Susan! Be sure to check out their always amazing reviews!
I received a free ARC of Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review!
December 15, 2022
The first two thirds or so of this were such ridonkulous fun even though I called it pretty early Good old pageturning thrills. Then it crosses the line between fantastical fun and totally nuts.
The first part of this book is largely figuring out what genre you're reading-- is it a horror with ghosts? or is this a regular mystery trying to spook you? --best to go into it with an open mind and make peace with both possibilities.
Little kids making creepy artwork is a common trope because that shit is irresistible. Kids can be creepy anyway, but pair it with weird, dark drawings that may or may not depict a murder and hearing voices that may or may not be the ghost of the murdered... let's just say I needed to know how this would all resolve.
This is what the Maxwells' new babysitter Mallory is confronted with when she is employed to look after 5 year old Teddy. He has an imaginary friend called Anya who he talks to and loves to draw-- complete with long straggly hair and mouth open in a terrifying expression --but is Anya really imaginary? Or could she have something to do with Annie Bennett, the ghost said to haunt the guest cottage where Mallory is staying?
The artwork in this book really adds something to it, there's no doubt. The pictures are unsettling and some are eerily beautiful. To be honest, I think this is what separates the book from being like many others.
Now for the bad. Not all the character inconsistencies were adequately explained, in my opinion, and there were a couple times when I felt frustrated with Mallory. I quite liked aspects of her character-- I was interested in her past and sympathised with her struggles to combat her drug addiction, and her narrative voice was easy to read and compelling --but she does and says some things that were just kinda stupid. And during those scenes I was screaming at her to just open the bloody bedroom door!
Also, the whole plot relies on a pretty big coincidence.
But mostly it comes down to the final few chapters going completely off the rails. Somewhere between "Here's Johnny" and a slasher movie. This was when I started rolling my eyes and couldn't stop (I probably looked like I was possessed by my own demon).
Not sure why we needed the outdated commentary on boys and girls either.
And yet, I didn't not enjoy it 🙃
The first part of this book is largely figuring out what genre you're reading-- is it a horror with ghosts? or is this a regular mystery trying to spook you? --best to go into it with an open mind and make peace with both possibilities.
Little kids making creepy artwork is a common trope because that shit is irresistible. Kids can be creepy anyway, but pair it with weird, dark drawings that may or may not depict a murder and hearing voices that may or may not be the ghost of the murdered... let's just say I needed to know how this would all resolve.
This is what the Maxwells' new babysitter Mallory is confronted with when she is employed to look after 5 year old Teddy. He has an imaginary friend called Anya who he talks to and loves to draw-- complete with long straggly hair and mouth open in a terrifying expression --but is Anya really imaginary? Or could she have something to do with Annie Bennett, the ghost said to haunt the guest cottage where Mallory is staying?
The artwork in this book really adds something to it, there's no doubt. The pictures are unsettling and some are eerily beautiful. To be honest, I think this is what separates the book from being like many others.
Now for the bad. Not all the character inconsistencies were adequately explained, in my opinion, and there were a couple times when I felt frustrated with Mallory. I quite liked aspects of her character-- I was interested in her past and sympathised with her struggles to combat her drug addiction, and her narrative voice was easy to read and compelling --but she does and says some things that were just kinda stupid. And during those scenes I was screaming at her to just open the bloody bedroom door!
Also, the whole plot relies on a pretty big coincidence.
But mostly it comes down to the final few chapters going completely off the rails. Somewhere between "Here's Johnny" and a slasher movie. This was when I started rolling my eyes and couldn't stop (I probably looked like I was possessed by my own demon).
Not sure why we needed the outdated commentary on boys and girls either.
And yet, I didn't not enjoy it 🙃
May 10, 2022
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
On track for a university athletic scholarship her senior year in high school, Mallory had a golden life ahead of her. But a tragedy stopped her in her tracks and the injuries led to an addiction to OxyContin and more. Now eighteen months clean, Mallory is ready for her next rehab step, a live in babysitting job, taking care of five year old Teddy for an affluent working couple.
Mallory is such a likeable character, filled with guilt for something in her past, but so determined to do the right things in the future. She's got a great sponsor who checks in on her and her clients know about her past. Still, she doesn't like to talk about it and during her off time likes to run and watch Hallmark movies (not likely to trigger drug thoughts). She even sees the potential of a boyfriend in her clients' lawn guy.
Teddy is a gentle, sweet, boy. He doesn't want to play with other boys and instead loves to play alone and draw pictures. But as the days progress, Teddy's pictures become dark and the work of someone much older than five years old. Where has he seen the violent things he is drawing? Is this little boy okay? Mallory tries to discuss Teddy's emotional state with his parents but they just brush her off and tell her to mind her own business. Mallory is caught between needing this job and wanting to do what is right for Teddy and she can't help Teddy if she doesn't have the job.
Something very strange is going on with Teddy and, as time goes on, even with Mallory. There is a supernatural feel to some events but who is going to believe Mallory, recovering drug addict? This story was full of twists and turns and was a very interesting buddy read with Jayme, DeAnn, and Susan.
Publication: May 10, 2022
Thank you to Macmillan Publishers/Flatiron Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
On track for a university athletic scholarship her senior year in high school, Mallory had a golden life ahead of her. But a tragedy stopped her in her tracks and the injuries led to an addiction to OxyContin and more. Now eighteen months clean, Mallory is ready for her next rehab step, a live in babysitting job, taking care of five year old Teddy for an affluent working couple.
Mallory is such a likeable character, filled with guilt for something in her past, but so determined to do the right things in the future. She's got a great sponsor who checks in on her and her clients know about her past. Still, she doesn't like to talk about it and during her off time likes to run and watch Hallmark movies (not likely to trigger drug thoughts). She even sees the potential of a boyfriend in her clients' lawn guy.
Teddy is a gentle, sweet, boy. He doesn't want to play with other boys and instead loves to play alone and draw pictures. But as the days progress, Teddy's pictures become dark and the work of someone much older than five years old. Where has he seen the violent things he is drawing? Is this little boy okay? Mallory tries to discuss Teddy's emotional state with his parents but they just brush her off and tell her to mind her own business. Mallory is caught between needing this job and wanting to do what is right for Teddy and she can't help Teddy if she doesn't have the job.
Something very strange is going on with Teddy and, as time goes on, even with Mallory. There is a supernatural feel to some events but who is going to believe Mallory, recovering drug addict? This story was full of twists and turns and was a very interesting buddy read with Jayme, DeAnn, and Susan.
Publication: May 10, 2022
Thank you to Macmillan Publishers/Flatiron Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
November 5, 2024
I try to approach books with minimal expectations. After all, there's nothing more disappointing than going into a much-hyped book with glee and coming out with vague puzzlement about whether we all read the same book. But try as I may, I often can't help myself. The heart wants what it wants, for why else would I be reading in the first place if not to be blown away?
And so I cracked open Hidden Pictures with my usual mix of tempered yet hopeful anticipation, waiting to see which way this book would fall. And I tell you, I knew from almost the very beginning. I was only four pages in when I dropped my library ebook, ran out to my local bookstore, and bought a physical copy so that I could own what I hoped would be a new favorite. And I was right.
Talk about a riveting experience. From the first page to the last, this book had me hooked. I didn't just read it, I inhaled it. The pages slipped through my hands and before I knew it, hours had passed. It's exactly the sort of immersiveness I love and crave in a story.
There is so much tension in here, my spine tingled from it. It was the perfect mix of spooky (not too much), thrilling (very), and mystery (puzzling), and I just ate it up. The mystery, in particularly, was compelling and fun, and I totally enjoyed armchair detecting along with Mallory as she tried to figure out what was going on.
The use of drawings in here has to be a stroke of genius. They are such an integral part of the story and added so much to the spooky ambience. It made it feel like I was reading something special and inimitable. And—let's be honest—even though we're all grownups, I bet we still get pretty excited when we see illustrations in our books, amirite?
That isn't to say this book is without flaws. In terms of sheer funness, the first half of the book definitely has the second half beat. That's probably because setting up a story isn't quite the same as finishing it. So as we start to approach the denouement with all of its twists and turns, there was a noticeable change in the vibe of the story. It went from the perfect amount of spine-tingling thrill to more of eyebrow-raising crazy chaos.
Which brings me to the question: can a story have too many twists? I think so, and I think that's what happened here. The main mystery is already interesting enough, but I think this book went a bit overboard as it wrapped everything up. The twists piled upon twists at the end started to max out my dopamine receptors, and all I felt was numbness in the face of so much mayhem.
But those are minor quibbles in the overall scheme of how much I enjoyed this story. In fact, I had so much fun that if I'm ranking books based solely on that criteria, this would have to be near the top. Just for that alone, and for how memorable it is, it gets all 5 stars from me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
And so I cracked open Hidden Pictures with my usual mix of tempered yet hopeful anticipation, waiting to see which way this book would fall. And I tell you, I knew from almost the very beginning. I was only four pages in when I dropped my library ebook, ran out to my local bookstore, and bought a physical copy so that I could own what I hoped would be a new favorite. And I was right.
Talk about a riveting experience. From the first page to the last, this book had me hooked. I didn't just read it, I inhaled it. The pages slipped through my hands and before I knew it, hours had passed. It's exactly the sort of immersiveness I love and crave in a story.
There is so much tension in here, my spine tingled from it. It was the perfect mix of spooky (not too much), thrilling (very), and mystery (puzzling), and I just ate it up. The mystery, in particularly, was compelling and fun, and I totally enjoyed armchair detecting along with Mallory as she tried to figure out what was going on.
The use of drawings in here has to be a stroke of genius. They are such an integral part of the story and added so much to the spooky ambience. It made it feel like I was reading something special and inimitable. And—let's be honest—even though we're all grownups, I bet we still get pretty excited when we see illustrations in our books, amirite?
That isn't to say this book is without flaws. In terms of sheer funness, the first half of the book definitely has the second half beat. That's probably because setting up a story isn't quite the same as finishing it. So as we start to approach the denouement with all of its twists and turns, there was a noticeable change in the vibe of the story. It went from the perfect amount of spine-tingling thrill to more of eyebrow-raising crazy chaos.
Which brings me to the question: can a story have too many twists? I think so, and I think that's what happened here. The main mystery is already interesting enough, but I think this book went a bit overboard as it wrapped everything up. The twists piled upon twists at the end started to max out my dopamine receptors, and all I felt was numbness in the face of so much mayhem.
But those are minor quibbles in the overall scheme of how much I enjoyed this story. In fact, I had so much fun that if I'm ranking books based solely on that criteria, this would have to be near the top. Just for that alone, and for how memorable it is, it gets all 5 stars from me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
September 14, 2023
0.005⭐️ do you ever finish a book and want fight booktok? 😭
October 23, 2024
Mallory Quinn is in her early-20s and at a time when many of her peers are charging through the college experience, Mallory is just over a year into her new found sobriety.
After a personal injury, Mallory unfortunately plummeted down a hole many Americans before her have suffered through; opioid addiction.
She's not proud of the choices she made in the depths of her addiction, some having life-long repercussions. Mallory harbors a lot of guilt from that time.
With the help of her sponsor, and his encouragement to return to the sport she loves, Mallory has made huge strides. Now it is time to secure some independence.
Mallory applies for a position as a summer nanny in the high-end suburb of Spring Brook, New Jersey. The Maxwells, Ted and Caroline, have a 5-year old son, Teddy, who will be her only charge. The job seems perfect.
Teddy is such a smart, sweet little boy, who seems to take a shine to Mallory right away, and the property is gorgeous. She can get used to playing poolside all day.
Even though Mr. Maxwell seems to be quite concerned about Mallory's past drug use, she still ends up securing the position. She's elated. Now it is time to prove herself. This is her chance to rebuild her life.
Mallory moves into a pool house on the property and begins to develop a healthy schedule with Teddy. Teddy seems to be a budding little artist and spends at least an hour a day quietly drawing.
At first, Mallory is impressed with his skill and imagination, but when Teddy's drawings begin to take a very dark turn, she becomes concerned.
When Mallory suspects that the scenes in the drawings may tie to a alleged murder that happened on the property in the 1940s, which she initially learns about from a nosy, eccentric neighbor, things escalate quickly.
Along with her new friend, Adrian, Mallory begins to deep dive into the history of the property and the suspected murder of the woman who once lived there.
Additionally, Mallory feels like Teddy's imaginary friend, Anya, may be the missing woman in question and she clearly is trying to communicate with them.
Seriously though, can Mallory's opinion even be trusted? Is she using again? She definitely seems to be spiraling. Right? I mean, ghosts aren't real...
Or are they?
I had so much fun with this story. I could not put it down once I started, finishing the audiobook in a day. I was so captivated with this story.
It's not complicated. It's fairly linear and I was happy to just sit with Mallory and hear her tell it. It was just classic, eerie fun. This would make a great movie!!
I really enjoyed Mallory as a character. I feel like she was super likable and relatable. I loved the sinister vibe, even though I wasn't 100% on what I should be afraid of at first.
The way Rekulak built up the tension and then slowly revealed the truth behind what has happening at the Maxwells was really fun. It flipped what I thought was happening on its head. I wasn't shocked, but I was pleased that it ended in a unexpected direction.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review.
This is the first novel I have read from Rekulak and I am definitely excited to pick up more!
After a personal injury, Mallory unfortunately plummeted down a hole many Americans before her have suffered through; opioid addiction.
She's not proud of the choices she made in the depths of her addiction, some having life-long repercussions. Mallory harbors a lot of guilt from that time.
With the help of her sponsor, and his encouragement to return to the sport she loves, Mallory has made huge strides. Now it is time to secure some independence.
Mallory applies for a position as a summer nanny in the high-end suburb of Spring Brook, New Jersey. The Maxwells, Ted and Caroline, have a 5-year old son, Teddy, who will be her only charge. The job seems perfect.
Teddy is such a smart, sweet little boy, who seems to take a shine to Mallory right away, and the property is gorgeous. She can get used to playing poolside all day.
Even though Mr. Maxwell seems to be quite concerned about Mallory's past drug use, she still ends up securing the position. She's elated. Now it is time to prove herself. This is her chance to rebuild her life.
Mallory moves into a pool house on the property and begins to develop a healthy schedule with Teddy. Teddy seems to be a budding little artist and spends at least an hour a day quietly drawing.
At first, Mallory is impressed with his skill and imagination, but when Teddy's drawings begin to take a very dark turn, she becomes concerned.
When Mallory suspects that the scenes in the drawings may tie to a alleged murder that happened on the property in the 1940s, which she initially learns about from a nosy, eccentric neighbor, things escalate quickly.
Along with her new friend, Adrian, Mallory begins to deep dive into the history of the property and the suspected murder of the woman who once lived there.
Additionally, Mallory feels like Teddy's imaginary friend, Anya, may be the missing woman in question and she clearly is trying to communicate with them.
Seriously though, can Mallory's opinion even be trusted? Is she using again? She definitely seems to be spiraling. Right? I mean, ghosts aren't real...
Or are they?
I had so much fun with this story. I could not put it down once I started, finishing the audiobook in a day. I was so captivated with this story.
It's not complicated. It's fairly linear and I was happy to just sit with Mallory and hear her tell it. It was just classic, eerie fun. This would make a great movie!!
I really enjoyed Mallory as a character. I feel like she was super likable and relatable. I loved the sinister vibe, even though I wasn't 100% on what I should be afraid of at first.
The way Rekulak built up the tension and then slowly revealed the truth behind what has happening at the Maxwells was really fun. It flipped what I thought was happening on its head. I wasn't shocked, but I was pleased that it ended in a unexpected direction.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review.
This is the first novel I have read from Rekulak and I am definitely excited to pick up more!
December 15, 2022
I can't be the only one who hated the ending :/
December 9, 2022
this book would be nowhere as thrilling without the illustrations. they elevate the story to a new level and really create an immersive quality that gives the plot its spookiness. i loved them!
so much so that im never going near a child who is drawing. actually, im just not going near children period. why are they sooo freaky?? lol.
but quality atmosphere aside, i think it takes a committed reader to really buy what this story is selling. and i went back and forth with my feelings. some moments i was super invested in everything and other times i was questioning just how much i was actually believing.
regardless, this is an entertaining ghostly tale and a solid winner of the horror category in the goodreads popularity contest this year.
↠ 3.5 stars
so much so that im never going near a child who is drawing. actually, im just not going near children period. why are they sooo freaky?? lol.
but quality atmosphere aside, i think it takes a committed reader to really buy what this story is selling. and i went back and forth with my feelings. some moments i was super invested in everything and other times i was questioning just how much i was actually believing.
regardless, this is an entertaining ghostly tale and a solid winner of the horror category in the goodreads popularity contest this year.
↠ 3.5 stars
December 19, 2022
i'm actually mad. the gr choice awards are a joke. zero stars would be too generous. i hope at least j**nne enjoyed the blatant transphobic rhetoric and less than subtle nods to her
i'm actually not surprised that this won the gr choice awards. half of you lack any resemblance of anything that could be called reading comprehension and the other half simply doesn't care, do you.
this book is just dripping with transphobia. from its numerous mentions of beloved terf j**nne to its "plot twist" that's just transphobe rhetoric 101.
if i have to explain to you what's transphobic about a twist that is basically just "trans kids aren't real and it's just parents forcing them to say they are trans" you are part of the problem.
what's it like to be able to live in ignorance? why is it always the worst people winning the gr choice awards? why y'all never voting for the people of colour or the own voices books? do you want me to tell you why? because i have some ideas.
i'm actually not surprised that this won the gr choice awards. half of you lack any resemblance of anything that could be called reading comprehension and the other half simply doesn't care, do you.
this book is just dripping with transphobia. from its numerous mentions of beloved terf j**nne to its "plot twist" that's just transphobe rhetoric 101.
if i have to explain to you what's transphobic about a twist that is basically just "trans kids aren't real and it's just parents forcing them to say they are trans" you are part of the problem.
what's it like to be able to live in ignorance? why is it always the worst people winning the gr choice awards? why y'all never voting for the people of colour or the own voices books? do you want me to tell you why? because i have some ideas.
June 7, 2022
Whew, I know you are supposed to suspend some belief when it comes to horror, but come on man. The further along I got, the more wild it became. I was snickering in some places because there is no way this would happen even in today's crazy world.
The best part of the book was the pictures. So I gave it an extra star for that.
The best part of the book was the pictures. So I gave it an extra star for that.
September 8, 2023
Since my initial read, I've learned what makes this book problematic.
I can not, in good conscience, recommend a book that has such harmful insinuations for queer individuals and their families.
At first, I hope that the plot choices were unintentional missteps of the author, but I sadly don't think that's the case.
Here's a video (by another creator) to inform yourself on the reasons this book is problematic:
https://youtu.be/8EnG8_oZcu4
I can not, in good conscience, recommend a book that has such harmful insinuations for queer individuals and their families.
At first, I hope that the plot choices were unintentional missteps of the author, but I sadly don't think that's the case.
Here's a video (by another creator) to inform yourself on the reasons this book is problematic:
https://youtu.be/8EnG8_oZcu4
April 10, 2024
What a shit show.
Fooled by the rating and GoodreadsBest of 2022 I jumped into this novel, expecting something good, something sensical. Boy, was I wrong.
This novel is an absolute hot mess. It felt a bit preachy the way an after school special is. In all situations, the absolute worst scenario happens every time. It's overly dramatic and unrealistic.
Here are some of the things I hated about this book/ lingering questions I have (spoilers included because people should understand how truly awful this was):
- Texting and driving is bad, sure. Texting while driving will not result in the immediate execution of your loved one in the backseat when you rear end someone. Like could it happen? Sure, but the setup felt like a PSA.
- No one is hiring barely clean addicts for childcare.
- For a splash of color, there is a Mexican family, and naturally, they're landscapers. The odd occasional textbook Spanish they use, let's you know the author may not know any Mexicans in real life. It was very "Hey Loca, where you been" vibes.
- The drug math and behaviors were totally off. Mallory traded her iPhone for 8 pills? Who would give up their phone? Especially for so little. Also, it's so weird that she dabbled in prostitution for pills. It's more likely she'd self-harm and seek pills from hospitals like a normal addict. (*some people have stated that "real" addicts absolutely would sell their bodies and phones for so little drugs. It's unlikely someone Mallory's age and with her resources would hit rock bottom so quickly. She is absolutely capable of getting drugs more easily in a major city without all this drama. This feels like when people talk about how you could instantly die from MDMA. It's just so unlikely.)
- I get how it might be challenging to leave the US with a stolen kid, but maybe move further away from the crime scene than just 1 state over?
- What was the long-term plan for pretending the stolen kid was a boy, especially when they planned to send him to school. Did they never think they would ask questions about urinals or external genitalia?
- I feel like only a male author would include something like a young women's boss breaking into her home and masturbating with her bras and then her forgiving him and acting like it was no big deal.
-100%, you cannot inject yourself with baby powder and water without consequence.
Fooled by the rating and GoodreadsBest of 2022 I jumped into this novel, expecting something good, something sensical. Boy, was I wrong.
This novel is an absolute hot mess. It felt a bit preachy the way an after school special is. In all situations, the absolute worst scenario happens every time. It's overly dramatic and unrealistic.
Here are some of the things I hated about this book/ lingering questions I have (spoilers included because people should understand how truly awful this was):
- Texting and driving is bad, sure. Texting while driving will not result in the immediate execution of your loved one in the backseat when you rear end someone. Like could it happen? Sure, but the setup felt like a PSA.
- No one is hiring barely clean addicts for childcare.
- For a splash of color, there is a Mexican family, and naturally, they're landscapers. The odd occasional textbook Spanish they use, let's you know the author may not know any Mexicans in real life. It was very "Hey Loca, where you been" vibes.
- The drug math and behaviors were totally off. Mallory traded her iPhone for 8 pills? Who would give up their phone? Especially for so little. Also, it's so weird that she dabbled in prostitution for pills. It's more likely she'd self-harm and seek pills from hospitals like a normal addict. (*some people have stated that "real" addicts absolutely would sell their bodies and phones for so little drugs. It's unlikely someone Mallory's age and with her resources would hit rock bottom so quickly. She is absolutely capable of getting drugs more easily in a major city without all this drama. This feels like when people talk about how you could instantly die from MDMA. It's just so unlikely.)
- I get how it might be challenging to leave the US with a stolen kid, but maybe move further away from the crime scene than just 1 state over?
- What was the long-term plan for pretending the stolen kid was a boy, especially when they planned to send him to school. Did they never think they would ask questions about urinals or external genitalia?
- I feel like only a male author would include something like a young women's boss breaking into her home and masturbating with her bras and then her forgiving him and acting like it was no big deal.
-100%, you cannot inject yourself with baby powder and water without consequence.
November 11, 2022
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What would you do if the child you're watching starts drawing pictures like this?
Well, that's what the new nanny, Mallory, is dealing with when Teddy starts to draw pictures of his invisible friend, Anya. The beginning of this book was SO good. I was really enjoying the creep factor of a child possessed and communicating through sketching. I liked that the nanny, Mallory, had a dark past so it made it easy to brush her off. It was engrossing and the pages practically tuned themselves. The character development was phenomenal and the cover is amazing.
When I got to the 75-80 percent mark the book took a turn that I didn't like. I will state that I did not see that twist coming BUT any babysitter worth their salt would have had that figured out on the first day, I mean Teddy is five for crying out loud! And the last scenes were just too unbelievable to make this enjoyable. I was too busy shaking my head and rolling my eyes to find that ending even a bit entertaining. I do not mind suspending belief but the author was asking for a little too much in my opinion.
Many people have given this book four and five stars so judge for yourself, it just might be a case of me not being the right person for the book. I would definitely give the author another go and have heard wonderful things about his debut novel The Impossible Fortress.
What would you do if the child you're watching starts drawing pictures like this?
Well, that's what the new nanny, Mallory, is dealing with when Teddy starts to draw pictures of his invisible friend, Anya. The beginning of this book was SO good. I was really enjoying the creep factor of a child possessed and communicating through sketching. I liked that the nanny, Mallory, had a dark past so it made it easy to brush her off. It was engrossing and the pages practically tuned themselves. The character development was phenomenal and the cover is amazing.
When I got to the 75-80 percent mark the book took a turn that I didn't like. I will state that I did not see that twist coming BUT any babysitter worth their salt would have had that figured out on the first day, I mean Teddy is five for crying out loud! And the last scenes were just too unbelievable to make this enjoyable. I was too busy shaking my head and rolling my eyes to find that ending even a bit entertaining. I do not mind suspending belief but the author was asking for a little too much in my opinion.
Many people have given this book four and five stars so judge for yourself, it just might be a case of me not being the right person for the book. I would definitely give the author another go and have heard wonderful things about his debut novel The Impossible Fortress.
January 24, 2023
This book was terrifying, and I loved it.
August 22, 2024
Hey so…what just happened? I genuinely don’t know if I liked it or not. Like I can’t give it less than 4 stars but I also didn’t love it enough to be 5 stars?? Idk this might change. I’m so confused
October 29, 2024
Hm. Not sure how to feel about this one. On the one hand it did suck me in but on the other hand I’m not sure that it was good. Gonna rate it a 3 and call it a day
May 10, 2022
This was a fun listen. The twists threw me off completely!
Mallory Quinn is a recovering addict, she's been clean and lucky to land a live-in nanny job at the Maxwells in an affluent neighborhood in Spring Brook, NJ. Mallory connected with Teddy, a sweet five-year-old right away. Teddy loves to draw and has an imaginary friend called Anya. Initially, Teddy's drawing is normal for his age, but soon it became too sophisticated and of a dead woman. Mallory and her newfound friend Andrien dig into the history of the area and try to solve the message from the disturbing drawings. I want to say more, but I won't want to ruin it since I went into this half-blind and was hooked right from the start.
I really enjoyed this one and as with mysteries that I can't figure out, I try to have multiple wild guesses. The clues had me confused and I wasn't sure what was going to happen. It all made sense in the reveal! If you enjoy mysteries with some creepy vibes you gotta try this book! The audio read by Suzy Jackson was fantastic.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this DRC.
Available May 10, 2022!
Mallory Quinn is a recovering addict, she's been clean and lucky to land a live-in nanny job at the Maxwells in an affluent neighborhood in Spring Brook, NJ. Mallory connected with Teddy, a sweet five-year-old right away. Teddy loves to draw and has an imaginary friend called Anya. Initially, Teddy's drawing is normal for his age, but soon it became too sophisticated and of a dead woman. Mallory and her newfound friend Andrien dig into the history of the area and try to solve the message from the disturbing drawings. I want to say more, but I won't want to ruin it since I went into this half-blind and was hooked right from the start.
I really enjoyed this one and as with mysteries that I can't figure out, I try to have multiple wild guesses. The clues had me confused and I wasn't sure what was going to happen. It all made sense in the reveal! If you enjoy mysteries with some creepy vibes you gotta try this book! The audio read by Suzy Jackson was fantastic.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this DRC.
Available May 10, 2022!
August 9, 2022
I absolutely devoured this book with a chilling, sinister feel throughout! A story told through the images of a small child will catch your attention quickly. I was drawn into it and cannot get iout of my mind that emotional, unforgettable ending. This rates high for its originality and the fantastic narrator Suzy Jackson made it even more compelling!!
Mallory at 21 years old is an avid runner who suffered an injury while in high school and became highly addicted to Oxycontin. After her recovery, Russell, her sponsor, gives her the address of a family in the fluent neighborhood Spring Brook, New Jersey to apply for their nanny position. She meets Ted and Caroline and their charming five year old boy, Teddy and his imaginary friend, Anya. With the promise to stay clean and weekly drug tests, she is hired and moves into their pool cottage behind the house. She becomes attached to the family even after weird confrontational vibes are given.
When Teddy begins sketching very detailed, complex and sinister drawings, everything changes. She shares the drawings with the cute lawn boy Adrian and they sleuth together to find out from several people the house's history in the 1940's. Apparently in an unsolved crime, a woman Annie Barrett was murdered in the 1940's and it appears to be drawings of her death. How is she communicating with him?
Mallory at 21 years old is an avid runner who suffered an injury while in high school and became highly addicted to Oxycontin. After her recovery, Russell, her sponsor, gives her the address of a family in the fluent neighborhood Spring Brook, New Jersey to apply for their nanny position. She meets Ted and Caroline and their charming five year old boy, Teddy and his imaginary friend, Anya. With the promise to stay clean and weekly drug tests, she is hired and moves into their pool cottage behind the house. She becomes attached to the family even after weird confrontational vibes are given.
When Teddy begins sketching very detailed, complex and sinister drawings, everything changes. She shares the drawings with the cute lawn boy Adrian and they sleuth together to find out from several people the house's history in the 1940's. Apparently in an unsolved crime, a woman Annie Barrett was murdered in the 1940's and it appears to be drawings of her death. How is she communicating with him?
December 24, 2023
“Hidden Pictures” by Jason Rekulak is a novel I’ve been meaning to read since 2022 but never gotten around to it. I finally decided to give it a whirl since it would also be the first time reading his work and well, this was an interesting but ultimately disappointing novel. It gets confusing when it matters most and just doesn’t make much sense in the grand scheme of things.
Now, before I begin my review, I did find a few trigger warnings while reading. They were…
- Drugs
- Drug addiction
- Drug rehabilitation
- Stereotyping
- #MeToo movement
- Transphobia
If any of these trigger you, please do not read this novel. I will say that Rekulak’s style of writing is good as this was a pretty interesting way to start a horror novel. I was hoping since this was called “Hidden Pictures” that there would be pictures while reading and sure enough, there were.
I loved this aspect since it was interactive and added a creepy layer of horror. The immersion was great, especially once the scarier images started happening and my goodness, I was hooked! This was solid up until about the 50% mark but unfortunately, it started to fizzle out.
This started great but then got too heavy with dialogue and repeating events through dialogue that already happened. I find that to be fluff and annoying since I want to progress in the story, not have it retold again since the main protagonist, Mallory Quinn, had to explain it again to another character.
Another thing that bothered me is once you start to think about what this story is about and any possible explanations as to why things are happening, it’s too easy to put the pieces together to solve it. Whenever I read horror, I don’t try to figure things out or piece things together but it was so obvious that even I figured out what probably happened and unfortunately, I was right the entire time.
This took me out of the reading experience and I also feel while the creepy images throughout reading were great at first, the novelty eventually started to wear off. It got heavier in dialogue when it would have been better if it was tighter, edited more to remove the extra fluff that wasn’t needed, and just kept that momentum going.
I felt that from the 50% mark on, things started dragging going right into the ending. Since I predicted what would probably happen, it led to a very lame plot twist that I saw a mile away. Even the explanation was bad as there was a decent build-up to the ending but then fell flat.
Nothing made sense towards the end as things got weird. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil anything for you but the initial foundation was great and if Rekulak kept that going, especially in the ghost/demon aspect of this novel, this could have been a winner. Unfortunately, he took this novel in an entirely different direction and turned it into a rather boring one. This had promise but then just went down a silly, illogical path.
I give “Hidden Pictures” by Jason Rekulak a 2/5 as considering how highly rated and popular this novel is, I feel this was overrated since it didn’t deliver for me. This is more of a thriller and mystery with a small splash of horror but not enough of it to make it shine. Yes, the images throughout were a nice touch and added a unique immersion to the story but overall, that wears off and you’re left with a weird, unrealistic story that ends frustratingly. The characters besides Mallory are boring and from the 50% point on, the story unravels and ends up a hot mess that doesn’t make any sense at all. This was a decent read, not terrible, but not even good. It was okay and I’ll only remember the creepy images when it comes to this novel. This was a mostly forgettable reading experience.
Now, before I begin my review, I did find a few trigger warnings while reading. They were…
- Drugs
- Drug addiction
- Drug rehabilitation
- Stereotyping
- #MeToo movement
- Transphobia
If any of these trigger you, please do not read this novel. I will say that Rekulak’s style of writing is good as this was a pretty interesting way to start a horror novel. I was hoping since this was called “Hidden Pictures” that there would be pictures while reading and sure enough, there were.
I loved this aspect since it was interactive and added a creepy layer of horror. The immersion was great, especially once the scarier images started happening and my goodness, I was hooked! This was solid up until about the 50% mark but unfortunately, it started to fizzle out.
This started great but then got too heavy with dialogue and repeating events through dialogue that already happened. I find that to be fluff and annoying since I want to progress in the story, not have it retold again since the main protagonist, Mallory Quinn, had to explain it again to another character.
Another thing that bothered me is once you start to think about what this story is about and any possible explanations as to why things are happening, it’s too easy to put the pieces together to solve it. Whenever I read horror, I don’t try to figure things out or piece things together but it was so obvious that even I figured out what probably happened and unfortunately, I was right the entire time.
This took me out of the reading experience and I also feel while the creepy images throughout reading were great at first, the novelty eventually started to wear off. It got heavier in dialogue when it would have been better if it was tighter, edited more to remove the extra fluff that wasn’t needed, and just kept that momentum going.
I felt that from the 50% mark on, things started dragging going right into the ending. Since I predicted what would probably happen, it led to a very lame plot twist that I saw a mile away. Even the explanation was bad as there was a decent build-up to the ending but then fell flat.
Nothing made sense towards the end as things got weird. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil anything for you but the initial foundation was great and if Rekulak kept that going, especially in the ghost/demon aspect of this novel, this could have been a winner. Unfortunately, he took this novel in an entirely different direction and turned it into a rather boring one. This had promise but then just went down a silly, illogical path.
I give “Hidden Pictures” by Jason Rekulak a 2/5 as considering how highly rated and popular this novel is, I feel this was overrated since it didn’t deliver for me. This is more of a thriller and mystery with a small splash of horror but not enough of it to make it shine. Yes, the images throughout were a nice touch and added a unique immersion to the story but overall, that wears off and you’re left with a weird, unrealistic story that ends frustratingly. The characters besides Mallory are boring and from the 50% point on, the story unravels and ends up a hot mess that doesn’t make any sense at all. This was a decent read, not terrible, but not even good. It was okay and I’ll only remember the creepy images when it comes to this novel. This was a mostly forgettable reading experience.
October 22, 2023
Pues me ha gustado bastante esta novela. En realidad, aunque se anuncia como “de miedo”, de eso tiene poco. Lo que sí le concedo es que va creando una atmósfera intimidatoria que, por momentos, hará que se te ericen los pelos de la nuca. Pero son pocos momentos en los que eso ocurre. Y uno de los grandes alicientes de esta novela son los dibujos. Los inocentes dibujos de Teddy van pasando de simples palotes infantiles a grabados de total realismo casi tridimensional en cuestión de pocos días. Y lo que muestran es de veras muy inquietante. Para mí el mayor acierto de toda la obra. Que incluya dichos dibujos, y además desordenados al principio, le da el morbo necesario para hacer que el lector se inquiete con lo que pueden representar. Y además ¡son preciosos!
La novela tiene alguna cosilla que sí te provoca levantar las cejas, pero no de espanto, precisamente. Lo del padre de Teddy con Mallory creo que sobra, pero es mi opinión.
Y, por cierto, ¡qué problema tiene esta gente con la oxycodina, que una vez que te la recetan te condenan a vagar como un zombi por el sistema de salud americano! Pero parece que el problema es real. Lo atestiguan las numerosas novelas y series en las que este medicamento se convierte en un protagonista indeseado.
En cualquier caso, el principal punto a favor (aparte de los dibujos) es que me ha mantenido muy interesado a lo largo de sus alrededor de 400 páginas. Siempre a la expectativa. No siempre he visto venir lo que iba a pasar, cosa que agradezco enormemente en este tipo de novelas. Por lo tanto, cuatro estrellas muy merecidas, porque ha tenido capítulos de cinco, pero también algunos de tres. De hecho, esperaba menos de lo que ofrece. Por lo que os la puedo recomendar.
4 🌞🌞🌞🌞
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August 6, 2024big fucking yikes
February 5, 2022
Not so Still Life.
Mallory is hired as a live-in nanny for lovely five year old Teddy.
He’s mostly mindful, but he has so many questions! What happens after you die? Where does a person go after their body is no longer alive? To answer him according to his family’s values is a challenge for Mallory - especially since she doesn’t know herself.
To his parents chagrin, Teddy is also receiving advice from an imaginary friend. When this ‘friend’ begins exerting too much influence, Mallory decides to look deeper which changes the trajectory of the plot.
I wasn’t sure where this was headed and the category wasn’t clear. Was this a Domestic thriller, ghost story, or something entirely different? I was wonderfully misdirected because I’d glossed over clues without thinking they meant anything. Aren’t those the best Gotcha moments when you reflect back? That was my thinking.
I had fun reading and discussing this with several friends even though I was lagging a bit behind. Please check out DeAnn, Marilyn, and Jayme’s reviews for their perspectives.
Thank you to NetGalley, Jason Rekulak, and Macmillan & Flatiron Books for my advance reader’s copy. Due to be published on May 10, 2022.
Mallory is hired as a live-in nanny for lovely five year old Teddy.
He’s mostly mindful, but he has so many questions! What happens after you die? Where does a person go after their body is no longer alive? To answer him according to his family’s values is a challenge for Mallory - especially since she doesn’t know herself.
To his parents chagrin, Teddy is also receiving advice from an imaginary friend. When this ‘friend’ begins exerting too much influence, Mallory decides to look deeper which changes the trajectory of the plot.
I wasn’t sure where this was headed and the category wasn’t clear. Was this a Domestic thriller, ghost story, or something entirely different? I was wonderfully misdirected because I’d glossed over clues without thinking they meant anything. Aren’t those the best Gotcha moments when you reflect back? That was my thinking.
I had fun reading and discussing this with several friends even though I was lagging a bit behind. Please check out DeAnn, Marilyn, and Jayme’s reviews for their perspectives.
Thank you to NetGalley, Jason Rekulak, and Macmillan & Flatiron Books for my advance reader’s copy. Due to be published on May 10, 2022.
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