Member Reviews
Interesting and fun thriller, kept me turning the pages and on the edge of my seat. Interested to read more from this author!
This was a crazy story about envy and obsession. I found Delta really really creepy. The only thing I really thought it had going for itself was that it was a quick read.
I'm usually drawn to books where a character infiltrates the life of a wealthy family. That was definitely the case here. However, this fell a little flat for me. I enjoyed the story but was missing a lot of the craziness that normally comes in stories like this.
It's been a while since I read this book unfortunately, but I do remember enjoying it in the moment but it not having that long-lasting, hard-hitting impact. It definitely had some creepy vibes that made it a compelling read, I had hoped for some more in-depth characterization of our narrator, Delta Dawn,
Fast paced and engaging. A recommended purchase for collections where thrillers and domestic noir is popular.
This story could scare me into nevering having starngers in my house again. Luckily, I don't have the luxurious life someone would like to steal.
As a photographer that specializes in family photos of special occasions, this disturbed young woman decides she has found the life she wants, so she'll just take it. YIKES! Mary Dixie Carter skillfully developed a character that I hope I never meet. This young woman sees everyone's life is better than hers, so she decides to change for the better. And change she does. Creepy, eerie, scary, you can use any of these descriptions once she gets a hold in your life.
When Delta arrives at the Straubs to photograph a birthday party, she becomes instantly infatuated with the family. Delta is outwardly beautiful, but as the story slowly unfolds, she hides some disturbing elements of her personality. The Photographer explores the dark side of human desire. It is a cautionary tale about the dangers of envy and obsession. Delta has a running monologue that is hard to put down lest you miss something, but it is not exactly gripping or suspenseful. The extreme detail is interesting and informative when it focuses on the art of photography, but the rest sometimes delve into too much minutia.
The Photographer's plot is familiar, and there are no big surprises. The tone is bleak, and the ending is inconclusive. It's a bit uneven and somewhat unsatisfying.
I am really not entirely sure what craziness I just read! But overall I really enjoyed it.
Pros: This was a fast paced entertaining read. Short chapters are always a plus in thrillers so those were greatly appreciated. The characters were absolutely insane but that kept the story going. I like that I felt the emotions coming off of the different characters. The hurt in Natalie when she realize she would never be good enough. The desperation with Amelia to have another child. The anger with Ian when he realized it was all a crock.
Cons: I read on my kindle so I was looking at time till book ended. And wrapping up everything in the final 25 mins was really quick and rushed. I get why the author did it as it was an easy wrap up to do. But all of it just seemed super abrupt. I think if there had been more almost misses with her being caught it would have been more emotionally taxing which is what I usually prefer in a thriller read. I also wasn't too much of a fan that she is continuing the craziness with her son by photoshopping this happy family into his photos. Breaking a cycle would have been a possible growth chance since this woman is now a mother.
I loved this domestic thriller! The characters all made horrible decisions, but it was so much fun to read! I read this one quickly. It is perfect for summer
This was an interesting thriller. Weeks later and I am still thinking about it, but I'm still not sure if I liked it or not. I started to get really frustrated with the main character and how she just kept inserting herself into the family's life, but I'm guessing that was expected when reading the story. It was a decent thriller with a pretty good shocking twist at the end. I cannot wait to read more from Mary Dixie Carter!
Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martins Press and Mary Dixie Carter for this ARC. Delta Dawn, , is a photographer of children and families. She inserts herself into a family and the lies begin. Delta Dawn, if that’s even her name, has lifelike stories to tell of her son. Her imagination goes a bit crazy in the story,but to a means of her future. This book began a bit slow for me, but then picked up a bit later . It had crazy turns and crazy characters, but I wanted to see how the end would turn out. I did enjoy it…
This is a delicious read about a woman with a devious secret that will have you reading long into the night.
This book was a great read, unfortunately at the time I was reading life got heck so I had to re read the first few chapters ago. But I’m so glad I did come back to this book. Between the plot and the characters it was definitely well done.
Thank you to @Minotaurbooks for the #gifted copy of the book.
Delta Dawn is a successful photographer who is obsessed with the lives of others so much so that she starts to believe the lives of her clients is her own. Delta becomes immersed in the lives of one of her clients. She wants her house, her husband and her child. She pretends she owns it all and soon her lies will be exposed. Delta is manipulative, conniving and creepy! Get her the heck away from me!
I listened to this one on audio and it was enjoyable. It was a fast paced and gripping read.
I was hoping i would enjoy this book more than I did. It was okay, but it just didn't hit the spot with me.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a quick and creepy little read. It wasn't so much a thriller to me as it seemed like a domestic suspense. It wasn't at all believable in any sense which really threw me off of the interest wagon, but I pushed through it with difficulty and thought it was just alright. I wouldn't really recommend it.
will say it was a slow burn, but kept me interested the entire time. You can tell Delta suffers from a mental illness and her obsession takes it to a new level when she comes into The Straubs lives.
You could definitely tell Delta was more of a person of convenience to them and her "generosity" was being taken advantage of. I almost felt sorry for her, but she was overly inserting herself into their life as well.
Amelia was not likable at all! I hate how she used Delta, how blind she was to a situation that seemed so obvious, and how she treated her daughter. Fritz was kind of useless as well and I wanted to smack him upside of the head and say "grow a pair and do something"
The last few chapters had me pretty much on the edge of my seat and was overall very happy with how the story played
I have had the Photographer sitting on my bookshelf for the last year and decided that I was finally in the mood to read it and enjoy a good mystery.
However, early in the story, I was bored and unable to find footing with the book. The story was headed in the direction that so many mysteries have tended to go, and I was not enjoying the book. I gave it another 20 pages but decided against finishing the book.
I want to read future titles from the author, but The Photographer was not for me.
A great read by this author. I definitely recommend checking this one out!
Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book was WEIRD! Our main character, Delta Dawn, was seriously messed up! She did some weird and disturbing things after developing an unhealthy obsession with one of her clients.
The premise was so unique and this book was fast-paced and easy to read. Mysterious, dark, and entertaining! I was never bored with this one!