I have to say this book was a pleasant surprise. The beginning of the book lingered into 3 star territory but towards the middle it picked up pace and made it a 4 star.

Delta Dawn is a high end photographer who takes pictures of children as her main images. She comes into the lives of Amelia, Fritz and their 11 year old daughter Natalie. You go into this book with getting a glimpse of Natalie of how she is slightly crazy but you’re not really sure where it’s going. She idolizes this new family and wants to be with them but how far is she willing to go? That’s when it picked up for me in the second half with truths and deceptions coming forward.

It was a climbing anticipation to see Delta’s character grow towards crazy town but written effortlessly as if it was all very normal for her. It was an intriguing read I would recommend.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book didn’t live up to the hype for me. Sounded great but ended up pretty predictable for me. As predictable as a crazy protagonist can be, I suppose.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

The Photographer is a delightful, heart-pounding thriller that I couldn't put down. I loved the summary from the moment that I first read it, and I couldn't wait to get started on reading. What I didn't expect was that I would finish the book in a day. I seriously could not put the book down.

The book is from the perspective of the titular photographer, Delta. She gets hired to help around the expensive house of a couple, Fritz and Amelia, and their tween daughter Natalie. Delta likes what she sees, and she can't stop until she gets what she wants. It was fascinating to see the lengths that's also went through to make sure that her plan was on track. Without spoiling anything, her plan to get to her happy ending is engrossing and twisty.

I had to keep reading to find out what would happen to Delta, Amelia, and Fritz, and it was non-stop twists and turns until the end. Thanks to this book, I had a wonderful Sunday afternoon spent reading. However, I will probably have nightmares though about photographers and will keep him eye out for them at any future events I attend. In conclusion, I highly recommend this book for readers of the thriller genre, including Mary Kubica and Ruth Ware. You will definitely enjoy this book!

Unfortunately I struggled to get through this book- not because it was long (quite the opposite as it’s a short novel). The storyline of this book was just a little too slowly executed for me and I really wasn’t motivated to finish it. All of a sudden in the last twenty or so pages the book picks up speed, and is then done. I didn’t love the Epilogue either.
I would definitely read another book by this author, because the writing was good and I think the story had a lot of potential.. just wasn’t successful in my opinion.
I did love the book cover, I think there’s a bit of an “Easter Egg” in there (or at least as a graphic designer I get the nod to photo manipulation/warping).

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to honestly review this ARC!

THE PHOTOGRAPHER is one of the creepiest books I've ever read. Not in the normal way; Carter does a great job of giving us an amazing protagonist. The photographer sees her life in the way she creates it, not the way it really is. By creating photographs that imitate the life the photographer wishes she has, the photographer creates an internal life, one that doesn't exist, but that she thinks she achieve if she only created the right circumstances. Fascinating read. One that I won't forget.

WOW! What a great read that I absolutely flew through. We've all read that story: person becomes obsessed with family, ingratiates themselves into said family, terrible things happen. I have read other reviews that were disappointed that more sinister events didn't materialize, but I disagree: I think the subtlety of Delta's obsession made her that much more dangerous and creepy. Maybe that's just me but I was glad there wasn't a bunny cooking in the stew moment.

There were a couple things I wish had been more fleshed out. We know of Delta's history what she tells us, but is any of it true? I would love a chapter letting us in on the truth.

The other thing, and mild spoiler: why would Ian leave it to Delta to tell the Straub family what he found out about her? He's known them for years and is like family, but he just disappears without saying anything? Maybe love makes you do silly things, but I found that a tad far-fetched.

Overall though, I really enjoyed this and can't wait to read the author's next story, whenever that may be.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This one kept me up and I had to read it in one sitting. Clever, an easy way to pass the day. I’d recommend to anyone who wants an authentic, entertaining book to read for any occasion.

Thank you Netgally and St Martin's press for the Advanced Readers Copy of The Photographer.

I read this book very quickly as it was hard to put down. Delta Dawn is s, professional photographer. She mostly photographs family events and children. The book starts off as she is the photographer for the Straub family's daughter Natalie's birthday party. She feels an immediate connection with the family and does anything she can to get herself closer to them.

This book had a very similar creepy vibe like You or Verity so if you liked those two books, I think you would also enjoy this one.

I wish there had been some flashback scenes to give us a better sense of Delta's childhood since that was just lightly alluded to and I think more details would have been helpful. The ending was wrapped up but that could definitely be a sequel which i would grab in a minute to read.

Overall i really enjoyed this book. I recommend anyone who liked You to read this one.

First, I want to thank Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This one kept me guessing the entire time. I knew as soon as I started that it was going to be one of those books that I would fly through because of how twisted and creepy it was. I know Delta wasn’t really a likable character, but I found myself extremely interested in her throughout the whole book. There were a few points in the story where I was left feeling a little confused and wanting more clear cut answers from the author. But all in all, I really enjoyed this one.

This one kept me guessing throughout the whole book. After a few chapters, I was invested and finished quickly. Early on, I knew something was off about the main character Delta, but I could not figure out what. I kept going because I was genuinely interested in finding out her deal. I was left with some unanswered questions and there was one twist in particular that I wish the author would have expounded on. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I would read another one of hers..

I found the main characters just a bit too weird for my liking and I didn't feel like reading on. The book is about a photographer who is asked to take pictures of wealthy children at their birthday parties. The main character is intrigued by the architect parents of a girl she takes pictures of and tries to use her photos to connect with this family. Definitely disturbing and I'm sure some readers will love it.

Really enjoyed this book. Wow. So much creep factor from the beginning to the very end. I loved the unique topic and multilayered storytelling. Great look into our hopes, wishes and obsessions. Highly recommend!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

4 stars, but if the start wasn’t so slow it would definitely be a 5 star mind blowing read! Very fast paced, after the initial slowness, with a unique premise and well developed characters! As I mentioned, it was definitely one that was a slow start and I actually almost did not finish, but I’m glad I kept with it, because it’s a very riveting and chilling read! Full of twisty turns, thrilling thrills, chilling chills, and gasp worthy shocks! I highly, highly recommend, but must warn it’ll likely take a bit to get into it because of the slower start!

Will buzz around platforms and use lower Amazon reviewer number on release date!

When Amelia and Fritz hire photographer, Delta Dawn, to photograph their 13 year old daughters birthday party they had no idea who they were letting into their house. Amelia and Fritz, both architects', have a home Delta could only dream of. Handsome Fritz with beautiful green eyes. Gorgeous Amelia who looks effortlessly beautiful all of the time. Their sweet daughter Natalie whom Delta befriends. This is the lifestyle she has always wanted and she will do anything to be a part of this families life no matter what boundaries need to be crossed.

Delta Dawn is one creepy and pathetic character. Some of her antics were downright cringe worthy but it made for some compelling reading. This is definitely a book in which you will need to suspend disbelief. Especially the ending. The way it all played out was really tough to believe. However, I had a heck of a time reading it. The unbelievability didn't ruin this for me and that says something about Mary Dixie Carters writing skills. 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a DRC.

I found this book a little hard to get into at first, but once I did I could not put it down. A very gripping, evenly paced read. I loved Delta's twisted mind and seeing what she would do next. A very creepy read about obsession with a smart, satisfying ending.

This story is all about a woman named Delta Dawn who is a professional photographer. She does a great job and she is also prone to editing photos when the child in them doesn't want to pose the way she would like them to. After taking a bunch of photos at a young child's birthday party Delta becomes a little to involved and adds herself in the photos instead of the actual mother. While these are just for her it shows the slow obsession that our main character is developing with this family. A few days later the young couple are stuck and ask Delta if she wouldn't mind babysitting their daughter one weekend. Delta quickly agrees and her obsession takes on a whole new life. It isn't long before Delta has come up with a whole new life in her mind. She has completely taken over the Straub's family and believes that she is part of it which is crazy. What I loved so much about this book was not just the fact that the story was incredible and well written, but it was also the fact that it was written through Delta's eyes so you got to see the slow progression of her obsession come
to life and how crazy it became. It was very nice to see it written though the eyes of a woman who thinks
that she did nothing wrong versus a family who is unknowingly become the object of attention. This allows
you to see what starts out as love and affection morph into something darker and you get to see the small
slips. This thriller had me on the edge of my seat the whole time and I couldn't get enough of the characters.
Great read I'm very glad I got the chance to check it out.

Wow! This is an adventure into the mind of an intelligent, but very deceptive individual! Delta is a photographer and is able to cleverly insert herself into the Straub family’s lives. When the Straubs ultimately decide she can help them, will all turn out as planned??? Well, of course not! Loved it!

I was so excited to get this book because the blurb made it sound so good and I like a good psychological thriller. This was not a good psychological thriller.

There was no backstory, just hints. I felt that it escalated very quickly, too quickly for the storyline. The whole storyline was completely unrealistic. I know that it's fiction, but usually there is some believability. This had none of it. Delta was the most annoying character, and extremely unlikeable.

I finished it because I was hoping it would get better, but it didn't.

I received a complimentary copy of The Photographer from NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Great psychological suspense novel! From the perspective of a possibly unreliable narrator, this book was truly one of a kind. I could not wait to see what Delta would set into motion next—with or without the use of her photography! I look forward to future work from Mary Dixie Carter.

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the eARC of The Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter.

Here's a snapshot of The Photographer. Delta Dawn is a photographer in New York City and is well known for photographing children's birthdays. Delta finds herself at Natalie's birthday party; the daughter of Fritz and Amelia. Is this a coincidence? Soon, Delta becomes obsessed with both Fritz and Amelia and builds a trusting friendship with both of them. Soon, Delta's boyfriend Ian becomes suspicious and may be on to something. Is Delta a true fried or a master manipulator? And is anything out of the question for Delta in order to prove her loyalty to Fritz and Amelia?

The Photographer is a quick and solid read. If thrillers and suspense are what you crave, you may enjoy this one. I look forward to reading more from Mary Dixie Carter!