Hidden Pictures: ‘The boldest double twist of the year’ The Times

This was an absolutely twisted and shocking read!! All those plot twists were insane and the plot was so good and well developed. The drawings were absolutely insane and really realistic. I love this so much this is definitely one of my favourite thrillers!

I have had this book on my Kindle for quite a while, and it caught my eye. A story that involves a family, an ex-drug addict and some bizarre things going on. Teddy is a young boy who likes to draw. It is when Mallory starts a new job for the family that she starts to see things in the pictures. Teddy has an invisible friend whom he calls Anya. He tells Mallory that she is the one who draws the pictures and not him. Mallory is enjoying her new job, the responsibility of looking after Teddy, having her own space and also being trusted. Going back to live a "normal" life. It is when things start to happen that she realises there is something more to Teddy and Anya than she had realised. This book is a thriller, but there is a sense of it being a horror, not a scary, bloody-thirsty sort. Some events occur that make you question what you think is going on. The suspense builds as does the sense of danger, and that things could very easily get a whole lot worse. The characters in this book are good, and the author gives them some good backstories to set their traits, and the whole plot culminates satisfyingly. This is a good one for those who like their thrillers to have a touch of the supernatural to them, interesting ideas, and one I would be happy to recommend.

★★★★★ (5 Stars) Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak is an unputdownable blend of mystery, emotion, and just the right amount of creep factor. As someone who often struggles to stay engaged with thrillers, this book was a refreshing surprise—it grabbed me from the first chapter and never let go. The story follows Mallory, a young woman in recovery who takes a nannying job for a wealthy family. Her bond with the child, Teddy, is immediate and touching—but things start to turn eerie when Teddy begins drawing increasingly disturbing images. What starts as a quiet domestic story quickly unfolds into a layered mystery filled with suspense, emotion, and unexpected turns. Mallory is a fantastic protagonist—likable, grounded, and easy to root for. Her past makes her vulnerable, but her strength and instincts make her a compelling narrator throughout. The book’s pacing is excellent; every chapter felt meaningful, building tension in a way that kept me constantly guessing. The twist was a standout moment—completely blindsiding in the best way, yet made perfect sense once revealed. Everything tied together so well, without feeling over-explained or far-fetched. The story leans into supernatural elements just enough to be chilling, but still keeps one foot in the real world, which made it all the more effective for me. This was a solid 5-star read. Maybe after more reflection I’ll find small critiques, but in the moment, it was everything I wanted from a thriller: gripping, creepy, and emotionally resonant.

I want to preface this by saying that I really wanted to love this book. After seeing such amazing reviews and hearing brilliant things from friends, I was really expecting a lot to be honest. Unfortunately, a lot of this story just fell flat for me. I am happy to admit that it may be because my expectations were too high, but I just did not enjoy it all that much. In the story, you follow Mallory Quinn, who is freshly out of Rehab. She takes a nanny job for the Maxwell's to look after their son, Teddy. It doesn't take very long before she notices that something is up. The twists in this book were good, but I feel as though the build up was not. When twists were revealed, I was not on the edge of my seat hoping for something to happen, I was just reading as I normally would. Which personally, I do not feel is that great in a thriller. The book itself was good, the story was well written and some parts were scary. However, in comparison to previous thrillers I have read, and also the expectations that I had, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I would still recommend to give this a read, it will not take you long, as it does leave you wanting more at the end of each chapter. However, I'd advise to go in with an open mind and you will likely enjoy it more than I did. I wish I had gone into this blind, as I truly believe it would've been higher rated.

The story follows an 18-month sober Mallory, who gets a job looking after 4 year old Teddy as a live-in nanny. Mallory loves her new job until Teddy begins drawing disturbing pictures of his imaginary friend Anya. The frightening pictures begin telling a story of a murder, and even when Teddy's crayons and pencils have been confiscated, the drawings still make an appearance and become darker and more realistic. I absolutely loved this book and how it involved the pictures as a visual aid for the reader. The drawings were, at times, disturbing and unsettling coming from a young child and just added to the story. There are certain plot failings in this book that the reader at times has to suspend belief. However, it is primarily about a ghost, so some beliefs should be suspended, right? The author sets the scenery and setting of this book very well, making it easy for the reader to put themselves into a chilling atmosphere. The author was likely influenced by stereotype horror films from this genre, such as insidious and conjuring, etc. The characters in this book are equally enjoyable, although the lead character at times does feel a little flat, and although she narrated the story well and it was easy to read, I personally felt frustrated with her at times through the story (Open the goddam door!) Mallory had an interesting backstory, that I feel could have been explored further. Overall, this is a fun book, with a seamless cross of genres from mystery, psychological thriller, and horror. Its quirky and original pictures add immensely to the story, and I really enjoyed this book. The end of this book genuinely made me a little emotional and smile. Highly recommend if you fancy a story that had been done before, but a new fun take.

So my friend recommended this and I picked it up not really knowing what I was getting into; but it was amazing and I read it in a day. The story follows a girl fresh out of rehab, starting a new life as a nanny, but finds more than she bargains for in the role. The words are accompanied by a child’s drawings throughout; dark in places but done so well. In fact, the whole book is. It could have been unbelievable, but it isn’t; and by the end all the loose ends are tied up in such a satisfying way. Brilliantly written and so well done. I’ll definitely be looking into more by this author.

Recovering drug addict Mallory is 18 months sober when she's given the chance of a fresh start. Her sponsor has secured an interview for a nannying position with the Maxwell family, who have a 4-year-old son called Teddy. Teddy's father has reservations but his wife Caroline is convinced Mallory will be perfect. The decision is made and Mallory throws herself into her new job with enthusiasm. She's also given a place to live — a tiny cottage in the Maxwells' garden to which she can escape at the end of each day. To begin with everything is fine. The Maxwells are a nice, welcoming family. Teddy bonds well with Mallory and she enjoys looking after him. But it soon becomes apparent there's something very strange happening to Teddy. He starts drawing pictures of Anya, his imaginary friend. As time passes, the pictures grow more disturbing. Mallory is seriously concerned something sinister is inside the house channelling itself through Teddy. There's no way a 4-year-old child could draw with such incredible detail — but if it isn't Teddy who's doing the drawings, who is? And what are they trying to tell Mallory about the Maxwells' home? Oooh this was a great read; very creepy and unputdownable. Teddy's drawings are included in the book, which added an interesting and unusual aspect to the story. The growing sense of unease is executed so well by the author that it really is palpable. There are many twists and turns along the way and one shocker that I really didn't see coming! Characters are well-developed and the storyline is a spooky page-turner. I was hooked from the beginning and devoured the entire book in just a few sittings. A fantastic read.

When I read the book description for this, it grabbed my attention and I knew I had to read it. Mallory is a recovering addict who lands a job looking after a little boy, Teddy. Teddy is adorable and such a cute character and you can see Mallory bonding quickly with him. The pictures that he draws are disturbing which has Mallory rightly concerned. I love how throughout the story we get to see the drawings also which even looking at them on a Kindle, was very clear as I sometimes struggle as they can be too small but you really get the effect that they are supposed to give you. As the story goes along, things become more sinister which causes things between Mallory and Teddy’s parents to become strained. It has a ghostly feel to the story with an old wife’s tale of a woman being killed who used the small out building at the bottom of the garden which is now Mallory’s dwelling where she stays and sleeps to give her and the family she works for a break. It gives the story a very spooky atmosphere with things starting to look bad for Mallory as no one takes her or concerns seriously. Hidden Pictures felt a bit like a young adult novel, told in the first person by the main character. There isn’t anything overly gruesome but it its packed full of suspense and weird going ons. Whilst it would be a great read at anytime, it’s especially good for Halloween if you are looking for something a bit spooky. I flew through it in no time and found it to be a compelling story with an unexpected ending. Well worth a read!