And I loved the addition of the drawings, which are scattered throughout the book and add an extra layer of mystery to the tale. Once I starting reading, I found it hard to put down the book, probably because the mystery of Anya was so intriguing. Rekulak’s writing is punchy and his pacing is excellent. Original artwork © 2022 by Will Staehle and Doogie Horner But the truth is far stranger and more dangerous that she realizes. With the help of Mitzi, the Maxwell’s kooky next door neighbor, Mallory attempts to communicate with Anya. Something weird is going on, and Teddy appears to be an innocent caught in the middle of it. Mallory tells Adrien about the drawings and her concerns about Anya, and he agrees to help her investigate. Teddy claims that he didn’t draw them, and when drawings mysteriously appear in Mallory’s shed, Mallory concludes that Teddy’s imaginary friend, a woman he calls Anya, may have something to do with them.

The drawings are clearly done by someone with artistic talent and training, most certainly beyond Teddy’s capability. One day Teddy presents a series of disturbing drawings: a woman being dragged along the ground by a man, the man digging a hole, the woman screaming as someone is strangling her. But as the days progress, Mallory notices an unsettling shift in technique and subject matter. At first the drawings seem normal, the sort with stick figures that a five-year-old might draw. It all seems idyllic, until Mallory sees the strange drawings that Teddy is working on.

Mallory and Teddy spend their summer days swimming and hiking in the nearby nature preserve, and Mallory even meets a local college boy named Adrien who takes an interest in her. Caroline offers Mallory a place to live on the property, a remodeled garden shed where she’ll be close to Teddy but will also have some privacy. Her interview with Caroline and Ted Maxwell goes well and she gets the job, and even better, Mallory immediately bonds with the Maxwell’s son Teddy. When the opportunity comes along to work as a nanny for a five-year-old, Mallory thinks it will be the perfect summer job to keep her focused on her recovery and next steps. She’s been clean for eighteen months when the story begins, and her sponsor Russell thinks it’s time to stretch her wings a bit and get a job. The story revolves around Mallory Quinn, a twenty-one year old who is in recovery for drug abuse. There’s also a supernatural element, so if you enjoy thrillers with a ghostly presence, you’ll have fun with this too. Hidden Pictures was a very good thriller with lots of surprises, and the book is full of illustrations which enhance the story and make it even better. The nitty-gritty: A unique format makes this supernatural thriller a fun escape from everyday life. Published by Flatiron Books on May 10 2022 This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Hidden pictures by jason rekulak