Hidden Pictures

Today's post is on Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak. It is 368 pages long and is published by Flatiron Books. The cover is a picture taken at night with a man digging a hole by car headlights. The intended reader is someone who likes their mysteries with a touch of supernatural. There is some mild foul language, discussion of drug use, no sex, and some violence in this novel. The story is told from first person perspective of the main character, Mallory. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Fresh out of rehab, Mallory Quinn, takes a job in the affluent suburb of Spring Brook, New Jersey, as a babysitter for Ted and Caroline Maxwell. She is to look after their five-year-old son, Teddy.
Mallory immediately loves this new job. She lives in the Maxwell's pool house, goes on 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: tree, rabbits, balloons. But one day, he draws something different: a man in a forest, dragging a woman's lifeless body.
As the days pass, Teddy's artwork becomes more sinister and his stick figures evolve into more complex, lifelike sketches well beyond the ability of any five-year-old. Mallory begins to suspect these are glimpses of an unsolved murder from long ago, perhaps relayed by a supernatural force lingering in the forest behind the Maxwell's house.
With help from a handsome landscaper and an eccentric neighbor, Mallory sets out to decipher the images and save Teddy- while coming to terms with a tragedy in her own past- before it's too late. 

Review- This is a very fun mystery with a touch of paranormal for extra flavoring. Mallory is getting back on her feet and is looking for a stable job to start over with. She starts working for the Maxwell's son Teddy, who has an imaginary friend and is interested in art. When weird things begin to happen, Mallory believes Teddy when he tries her that his friend, Anya, is one to do them. Fearing for Teddy's safety, Mallory begins to search for answers and they are doozies. The writing is strong and adding in the pictures that Teddy and Anya draw into the book, gives it a unique flavor from other books in this genre. Mallory is pretty likable, with only issue from me in her actions, but I do understand why she made the choice she did. If you like spooky mystery novels, then you should check this one out. 

I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this novel from my local library.