Hidden Pictures

A Novel

By: Jason Rekulak

Narrated by: Suzy Jackson

Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

2022 Goodreads Choice Awards, Winner
2022 Amazon.com Best Books of the Year, Long-listed
2022 Barnes and Noble Best New Books of the Year, Long-listed
2022 Chapters Indigo Best of the Year, Long-listed

“I loved it."—Stephen King

From Jason Rekulak, Edgar-nominated author of The Impossible Fortress, comes a wildly inventive spin on the classic horror story in Hidden Pictures, a supernatural thriller about a woman working as a nanny for a young boy with strange and disturbing secrets.

Fresh out of rehab, Mallory Quinn 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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

©2022 Jason Rekulak (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

WOW!!!

If you enjoy books with a twisted mystery, coupled with supernatural undertones, this is the book for you. Not to mention the narration was absolutely fantastic. You know how sometimes you can download and audiobook and struggle to picture settings, characters, and scenarios in your head? Well this narration totally engrosses you into the book.

The protagonist, Mallory, was likable and relatable. I found myself rooting for her within the first chapter. There were even a few times where I got goosebumps from the creepiness of the story. The story takes classic ghost story themes and twists them into something new. It was lovely.

Give it a listen, you won’t regret it.

One of the best plot twists ever!

This book was written beautifully and had me at the edge of my seat, I did not see the plot twist coming at all!

Wow! What a story!

I got hooked right from the beginning. However, at one point the story got to have a little too much of a spooky Stephen King novel about it. I was one step from chucking the whole thing when it turned from that into somewhat more of a mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it. Enjoy!

Well-written and so engaging.

I’m not a fan of supernatural thrillers, so I paid little attention initially to all the buzz surrounding this book. I finally gave in and joined the waitlist at the library for the audiobook version. I started listening and became captivated immediately. You don’t have to be a fan of supernatural fiction to get into this. I was hooked so much, that when I ACCIDENTALLY RETURNED THE AUDIOBOOK BEFORE I WAS DONE (gasp! ahorro!!), I couldn’t wait for it to be available again. This was well-worth an audible credit. Love the characters and the story.

Loved it and love the ending

The only reason I’m giving the story a four instead of a five is because the author used real towns and cities and places for Pennsylvania and New York but for South Jersey where the majority of the book takes place, he uses made up towns. Having grown up in this area and having lived in South Jersey for the past 40 years, it would’ve made so much more sense for him to use the real town that he was trying to describe which was probably Haddonfield. He used Philadelphia, he used Kensington, he used Norristown, and he even used Seneca Lake in upstate New York. Why use all real cities if you’re going to make up the city for the main place in your book. Other than that, I loved it. The narrator was fantastic and the book really had a surprise ending.

Got me!

The twist shocked me, so awesome to be surprised. Loved the main character. Very good and had me engaged the whole time.

Very Good!

The story kept you intrigued and was well written. Very easy to read and great storyline.

Yes yes yes

Saw this book recommended by Steven king. I listened to all 9 hours in 2 days. I couldn’t get enough

Wild Ride!

I thought this concept was so great! Just when you think you have figured it out...you get the rug pulled out from under your feet! Amazing narration and unique story!

Fantastic book!

This booked sucked me in from the start! Lots of twists and turns that keep me on the edge of my seat. It also reminded me so much of my sweet hometown in South Jersey, so I had lots of visuals to go with the words. If you like a good mystery with a a supernatural flair, I highly recommend!