Hidden Pictures

Mallory was a runner in high school, the sixth fastest runner in her age group in her state. Her future looked bright. She had a full ride scholarship to a highly rated university until she suffers a common but painful injury and is given pain pills. She is injured again, and this time the pills aren't enough. She is introduced to much harder drugs, and soon is an addict. After a cab driver revives her when she eventually overdoses, Mallory fights hard to regain her sobriety. Now 21, Mallory is due to leave the sober house where she has lived while transitioning from active addict to an addict who is 20 months sober. But she has nowhere to go: her mother has washed her hands of Mallory due to her addiction; as have all her friends. Seeing her dilemma, her sponsor and new running coach, recommends her for a position as a nanny for a young child before the child starts kindergarten in the fall. She gets the job and her future looks promising. Mallory is the kind of babysitter I would have wanted for my kids, even with her past as a drug addict. Her addiction history is buried deep in the book, and explains why her recovery coach was willing to recommend her for the job. My heart broke for her. It isn't the last time it was broken reading the book. As she starts her new job, where her new employer is fully aware of her addiction and hard won recovery, Mallory falls in love with her new charge. As she and the child bond, Mallory sees her employers have the lifestyle she could have had, and lost due to her past. The child starts giving Mallory pictures he draws during his Quiet Time (the Hidden Pictures in the title). They start as the typical scribbling of a young child, progressing to vivid and detailed works of art. Mallory soon realizes it isn’t her charge who is drawing them. The drawings definitely add to the creepy atmosphere of the book as it pulls you deeper into the mystery of who drew them and why: Mallory's charge or the woman who allegedly haunts the house. Mallory is a young woman I can identify with. The author brings her story to the reader as someone who deserves sympathy, especially as the book continues. She meets people in the neighborhood, including a man who is attractive and seems to admire Mallory. Mallory, ashamed of her past, tells a story to the new people in her life which is widely different than the truth. Her backstory, when shown to be false, slows others from whom she later needs help. The parents are, at first, people who want only the best for their child. However, as the drawings become more detailed, the mother begins to change her attitude and hides the child's drawing material. I come to despise this woman. As the drawings become more detailed, Mallory becomes determined to discover who is drawing them and why. She learns a woman was murdered in the small cottage at the back of her employers' property, and Mallory becomes convinced this is the key to the mysterious drawings. This book has twists and turns that left me gasping as I turned each page, revealing more of the mystery of the drawings, thinking "No, that can't be right." After the first twist (I can't reveal because it would be a spoiler), which changed the mystery into something completely different than what I expected, and I was hooked. The pacing of the story never lags. The author carefully hides the full plot until the last chapter which is one year later. The storyline is complete. The end was my last heartbreak. There is no happily ever after for Mallory. Although her future looks promising, she won't forget the summer she spent babysitting and the love she had developed with her charge. Hidden Pictures was beautifully written. It keeps the reader guessing without the reader knowing they are guessing until he makes a twist or turn. I can hear the book calling to me to reread it as I write. I will, as soon as the echoes die away. Readers of fast paced, non-stop guessing should add this book to their pile of To Be Read. I am sorry it took me so long to read it.

"Hidden Pictures" is a compelling and magnetic story about a recovering addict temping as a nanny for a sweet little boy in a picturesque town. As expected, not everything is as it seems with this picture-perfect family. Paired with an incredibly written novel are chilling drawings. A creepy picture books for grown-ups... I gobbled it up like candy! It was a quick and easy read, paired with well-developed characters, an intriguing twist, and even chilling drawings! A creepy, picture book for grown-ups... I gobbled it up like candy!

I’m not sure what I expected as an ending but it definitely was not what it ended up to be. This story was so different and I could not put it down. It almost felt like I was literally watching it on tv. So well written and full of great imagery. Highly recommend.

Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak was such an interesting and creepy read! The concept immediately caught my attention, and once the strange drawings started becoming a bigger part of the story, I needed to know what was actually happening. I really enjoyed the mystery surrounding the pictures. They added such an unsettling feeling to the story because you know something isn’t right, but you’re trying to figure everything out right along with the main character. 👀 There were plenty of moments where I was making theories, changing my mind, and becoming suspicious of different characters. I especially loved how the story blended psychological thriller elements with creepy supernatural vibes. It made the book feel different from a typical thriller. The illustrations were probably one of my favorite parts. 🎨 They aren’t just there for decoration. Seeing them while you’re reading adds another level to the experience and makes certain moments so much creepier. I did have a few parts that didn’t completely work for me, which is why I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5, but overall I had a really good time reading this one. The mystery kept me interested, the creepy atmosphere worked, and I definitely wanted answers. If you enjoy thrillers with creepy kids, mysterious drawings, secrets, twists, and a little bit of “WHAT is going on here?!” energy 😂, Hidden Pictures is definitely worth checking out. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 📚 Creepy, mysterious, and definitely memorable!

This book was amazing! I loved the added illustrations throughout this book that really brought the entire story to life. I could not put this book down once I started it. Beautifully written and very much a thriller on every single page! You have to read this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a great concept. It can be an addicting read. The illustrations and how they are presented are a big part of that. I gave it 3 stars rather than 4 or 5 because I was often reading it out of annoyance and wondering why the characters were so irrational, and generally creating their own problems. It is also very linear. Mild spoilers ahead, but you get quite a bit of the book spoiled just by reading the synopsis. The plot more is less revealed by the synopsis and is based on ghosts being tangibly real, which again is just kind of frustrating to read. I think it would be more interesting if the twists and turns were plausible, rather than having to do with ghosts tangibly possessing people and affecting the world. There are also few enough characters that you can correctly assume who the bad guys are and I was a little bit annoyed that there wasn't more to it. The prose felt overly simple but to the writer's credit that makes it easy to read and sometimes chilling when it just casually describes creepy things that occur. There were no real life kind of themes I could relate to or find interest in. It just felt kind of fake like a fairy tale. The lesson is that some people are crazy and ghosts can get you. A "twist" is that the main character has written this book to tell the story in their words and perspective, but this wasn't really explored too much as far as how perspectives can be different. I found this on somebody's scifi or fantasy list, which it is not. Young adult paranormal stuff.

This book brought back my excitement to discover more mystery/horror feeling books. I’ve been in a reading slump but I finished this book in 3 days and after I finished I couldn’t wait to talk to someone, anyone about it. Mallory’s story is so compelling and real! The author also made a point to tie up any loose ends in the story which was so nice. I couldn’t recommend this book more!!!

I purchased this book as it kept popping up as a Must Read, and I had no idea that this was a supernatural book. I just decided to dive in and read it, and even when I started, I assumed that there would be a rational explanation. But despite after starting to read, and realising that this is a genuine paranormal book, it did not put me off, as it was written in a way that could be believable – kind of. And the story is so engaging, that you just have to see what happens next. The story revolves around Mallory, a young woman recovering from addiction, trying to get her life back on track by taking a job as a nanny. She is a really likeable character, and develops a bond with Teddy, the little boy in her care. But Teddy starts to show her drawings that take on a more sinister meaning, and Mallory starts to question what these drawings are revealing. The story unfolds at just the right pace, with the mystery and suspense building steadily throughout. The characters felt authentic and well developed, and each one played their part in the story perfectly. I also appreciated that the ending was satisfying, with the lingering questions answered in a way that felt complete. Even though it was rather mind-blowing

This book had me hooked! Terrified & intrigued at the same time, an excellent read.

I couldn't put it down, the pacing and the story felt just right and intriguing and in two days I reached the end. It was brilliant and all the characters were interesting. Bought this on a whim and don't regret it, highly recommend if you love a good mystery thriller.

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The story centres around Mallory Quinn fresh out of rehab. She takes a job in the affluent suburbs of Spring Brook, New Jersey as a nanny for Ted and Caroline Maxwell, looking after their five year old son named , Teddy. Mallory instantly loves her new job. She lives in a small cottage on the Maxwell’s property goes out for nightly runs. And she thinks she has found the stability, she’s been craving. Malory and Teddy forge a close bond. He’s a sweet, sensitive, shy boy who is never without his sketchpad and pencils. His drawings are of trees, rabbits, bears goats birds then suddenly Teddy‘s artwork, becomes more sinister, and his stick figures evolve into more detailed complex and lifelike sketches, well beyond the ability of a boy his age. Mallory begins to suspect these drawings are clues to a unsolved murder from long ago. She has a feeling there’s some supernatural force guiding Teddy‘s hand. With help from the handsome landscaper Adrian who cuts the Maxwells lawn and Mitzi the eccentric neighbour Mallory sets out to decipher the collection of sketches and, save Teddy while coming to terms with a tragedy in her past before it it’s too late—— The way the drawings were added before the ending of a chapter made it more visceral. The characters were well developed some I liked more than others. The story went at steady pace then about 70% in there were plot twists that I wasn’t expecting and, suspense that was palpable that had my heart racing while I was quickly turning the pages into the early morning. It was hard to put down. I won’t be forgetting this story quickly. I highly recommend you read this novel if you love mystery, suspense with a touch of the supernatural thrown in. With beautiful drawings that leapt from the pages and pulled you deep into the story.

For our May’s book club pick, we dove into Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak and WOW, I loved it! From the very first page, Rekulak’s pacing had me completely immersed in Mallory’s world. The eerie mystery unfolds so seamlessly that you barely realise how deep you’re getting until you’re too hooked to put it down. One of the things I loved most was that every single thing you learn about the characters has a purpose by the end. Nothing is random, everything ties back in, making for such a satisfying read. And the twists! Every time I thought I had it figured out, I was completely wrong in the BEST way. Rekulak does such a fantastic job of leading you down one path only to surprise you with something even better. URGH and the epilogue. I cried. The way I cared about these characters really surprised me. If you love a thriller that keeps you guessing and delivers a truly rewarding ending, this one is a must!