Thursday, May 29, 2025

Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak

 

The plot:  A recovering addict who's been clean for eighteen months, Mallory Quinn, just got a job as a nanny for Caroline and Ted Maxwell's five-year-old son, Teddy, for the summer. She's desperate to prove herself, and they're willing to give her a chance despite her past drug use. And it's all because of Teddy. He's a sweet, shy boy who likes to wear purple and draw pictures of rabbits. He also draws pictures of his imaginary friend, Anya; those aren't as cute. Then his pictures get even darker, showing a man dragging a woman into the forest and then burying her. And Mallory begins to suspect that Teddy is being haunted by something sinister. Was Anya murdered? Mallory gets drawn into solving the mystery in order to protect Teddy, but his parents start to question her honesty...and her sanity. 

My thoughts:  I loved Teddy and how cute he is with Mallory; I also really loved getting to see his artwork throughout the book...and the eerie story his pictures start to tell. And a mystery with a touch of the supernatural like this one has is one of my favorite kinds of books to read. I appreciated the atmosphere and suspense Rekulak creates and how he keeps you guessing about the truth behind the haunting until the very end. This is such a compelling read. I loved it.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Happy Reading!


28 comments:

  1. Probably too thrillerish for my taste, but it does sound like an awesome premise.

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    1. It actually reads more like a mystery than a thriller; it only gets a little more eerie towards the end. But it's not too scary. Only suspenseful.

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  2. Five stars - wow! You really did like this one, didn't you?

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    1. I really did. I appreciated the writing and the pacing and the mystery. Plus, there's a ghost which I always like.

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  3. I gave this one 5 stars too! It was one I listened to with my husband on a long drive home and we had to keep listening to finish! What a twist!

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    1. It was quite the twist! I was so not expecting it. But I liked it.

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  4. I have this one on my Kindle - just haven't picked it up yet. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it!

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    1. I hope you get a chance to check it out. It's a fun one.

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  5. Sounds good.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

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  6. This one sounds really good and nobody believes Teddy but Mallory. And I'm guessing Anya is actually real and something bad happened to her and her spirit is reaching out to Teddy. And a 5 star read is very much worth checking out.

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    1. It's a mystery you get caught up in and don't want to stop reading! :D

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  7. Okay, I’m officially intrigued. The premise sounds awesome, and your review makes me want to pick it up—even though my TBR is already out of control! Might have to bump this one up. 😅

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    1. An out of control TBR? I wouldn't know what that's like. ;D

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  8. This sounds exactly like the kind of book I love. I'm adding it to my list. Great review, Lark! :D

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    1. It's a good one. I hope you get a chance to check it out.

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  9. A kid drawing those kinds of pictures sounds creepy.

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    1. The pictures do get creepy, but I loved that they were included.

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  10. This sounds like a fascinating read!

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  11. Oh this sounds good! What a creepy premise.

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    1. It's a great mystery. And the pictures throughout the book really add to the creepy factor. Though it isn't too scary.

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  12. It sounds a bit scary. I just hope Mallory stays innocent & good. lol

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    1. Mallory is okay at the end...otherwise I probably wouldn't have liked this one. ;D

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  13. I loved this too! The pictures were a nice bonus.

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