A quick little read, neither remarkable nor offensively silly. Good for a rainy day spent with a snuggly pup.

This book was a quick fun read, as long as you can suspend all belief as to how people actually behave. Ha! I was curious as to how this will all play out, so the pages continued to turn and I plowed through this in just a couple of days. I did feel reality creeping in quite a bit while reading this though. The characters didn't feel altogether real. The couple in the story Amelia and Fritz did not get the least bit suspicious of Delta Dawn when as a Mother, she barely spoke about her "son" or ever seemed to be on the phone with him, or on FaceTime. Only their daughter Natalie seemed to question her parenting and love for her child. Natalie actually seemed to be the realest character in the book and she was only 11! Ian, the long time friend of Amelia and Fritz who begins dating Delta also sees through her, but does little to expose her to his friends. Just odd behavior all around. Bottom line, it is a fun read but don't go into with a realistic outlook.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were to me, very believable. This book is about an excellent photographer who, after photographing one family, becomes abnormally attached to them. My only problem is that it ended too abruptly.

The premise of this book sounds so good, but unfortunately I just could not connect with the writing at all. The main character’s actions seemed unrealistic, even for a psychopath. There were also some pretty big plot holes that I just couldn’t look past. I ended up not finishing the book.
Thanks for the opportunity to read it early though!

This is a crazy wild story of obsession, jealousy, and and sheer envy. Delta Dawn is a photographer and while working an 11 year old's birthday party, she wants to belong with these people. Delta figures out a way to belong to the Straub family. This is a wild one readers! If you like thrillers with crazy twists and turns, this one is for you! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

"The Photographer" is great literary popcorn.

Although there is no logic to any of the characters' decisions, I still enjoyed the fast paced plot and found the main characters very intriguing. I only wish that Mary Dixie Carter had delved a bit deeper into the psychological side of everyone's development (or, in some cases, their devolution).

All in all, "The Photographer" was great escapism and I plan on checking out more of Carter's work.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to enjoy this!

I love a good unlikable protagonist, so when I read the summary for The Photographer, I was really looking forward to diving in.

Delta Dawn loves her job as a photographer, but not as much as she loves the Straub family. After being hired to shoot their daughter's birthday party, Delta becomes determined to ingratiate herself into the family--one way or another.

This was an unsettling read.

It took me a minute to get used to Delta's voice. The writing was clear and readable, but there's almost a shield around Delta, where even though it's told in the first person POV, it feels like we're limited in our knowledge--that Delta's hiding the truth from herself, as well as the Straubs. I never had a solid handle on who she was, what her end goal was, or what her motivations could be. Her backstory is limited, vague, or edited. Without flashbacks to rely on, all we can trust it what she tells us.

And that is nothing.

Carter did a wonderful job building her up as an unhinged photographer. She sees details. She's good at what she does. But she is also too observant, filling in the blanks and inserting herself into situations because her job is to create a story.

The line between truth and fiction quickly becomes blurred.

The Straubs were dysfunctional and presumptuous, and pretty much everyone in this story is unlikable in some way, shape, or form. However, the exploration of loneliness, of wanting to feel connected--these themes were layered in every character. How far would you go to make a friend? How would you prove your love? Where is the line between healthy pursuit of relationships and a dangerous obsession?

Overall, The Photographer is a quick, unnerving read that will definitely make you question boundaries. For fans of Kepnes' You, stalker narratives, or Servant, add The Photographer to your TBRs.

Big thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

I had the opportunity to read the first several chapters of this book in a Minotaur Spring/Summer release Sampler. I was so excited to get my hands on a copy that I started reading it the same day! The story starts strongly with Delta Dawn, a photographer that has some "issues" and tries to become a part of the Straub family. What exactly was her past? What in the book was truth? We will never know because it wasn't explained. There was so much that just felt unfinished.

The Photographer is categorized as a thriller. I respectfully disagree - IT IS NOT! Perhaps domestic suspense at best? There were SO many opportunities to make it a thriller. And the ending? I'm not sure what the ending was all about? The end didn't seem to fit the rest of the story at all, so all I can do is shake my head.

This was a quick read and was well written. The references to photography and architecture kept it engaging. It needs a bit more character development and something twisty, dark or exciting to call it a thriller!

The Photographer was a quick, entertaining read. It was easy to just keep turning the pages, and I finished it in just over a day. MDC’s writing is definitely engaging, and I was eager to figure out why the characters acted the way they did.

I love reading about rich people and how the upper half lives, so I totally understood Delta’s desire to fit in with her clients! However, in these types of books (I’m reminded of Heather’s storyline in Too Good To Be True), I always wonder why the rich mom with the perfect life would befriend an employee. Was Amelia lonely? Did Delta remind her of herself? Was she just desperate to get away from her daughter? It’s one thing to hire a photographer for an event in which other adults will be present, but to leave that person alone with your child after meeting them once? I’m not a parent, but I feel like I would at least ask a few questions first.

I really felt for Natalie throughout the book. I hated Amelia--she was a terrible mother to Natalie, and many of her conversations should have taken place outside of Natalie’s earshot.

I expected this book to be a little more twisted going into it. I wasn’t surprised by any of the twists, and although Delta was definitely crazy, I wanted MORE psychosis from her. I wanted to know more about why she so badly needed to feel included. There were hints of a traumatic childhood, but it was never fully explained. I ended up just feeling bad for her and wanting her to get some therapy.

Overall, I enjoyed this quick, entertaining read. I just wanted more background and more crazy!

This had SO MUCH POTENTIAL. The idea of a photographer paired with a couple of architects was very cool. I loved the attention to detail on photography and editing. I also loved the setting in the couple's home. However, the characters did not work for me. Now, I love an unlikable narrator -- however, there was no depth to the main character. We never really learn about her motives and there are several plot holes surrounding her character. I never felt scared, afraid, or like there was a real threat - I did not feel like this was a thriller. A domestic drama, maybe. The couple lacked development too. The only real depth was with the couple's daughter. The ending was abrupt and didn't help the story. I loved the writing, but this was a miss for me.

Delta Dawn is more than a photographer - she's a master manipulator of images and truth. Delta specializes in photographing the children of the elite. But when she meets eleven year old Natalie Straub, she doesn't want their relationship to stop at one photo session. Instead, she ingratiates herself deeper into the Straub family to try to make herself a part of their perfection.

Domestic suspense novels are among my favorite books, so I was very excited to read this one. The photography lens helped differentiate this book from the many suspense novels published each year, and I loved getting the chance to go behind the camera with Delta. Her relationship with the Straubs fell a little flat for me - the family was not all that interesting with the exception of the precocious Natalie. I would recommend this book to those interested in photography, as those sections of the novel were very strong. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This type of book is my absolute favorite read. I love all the stalker creepiness. I had seen lots of good reviews for this title on goodreads and was so excited to receive this early copy. I was throughly entertained and it met all my expectations. Don’t want to give too much away, but don’t hesitate in grabbing this one quick. Fun read.

2.5 stars
This was a perfectly fine, short, pretty entertaining read, but I think it’s being mismarketed as a thriller when it’s really more of a suspense at best. We follow the titular photographer, Dixie, as she attempts to infiltrate the lives of her rich clients and decides to get close enough to convince them to let her be a surrogate for their child. We soon learn that Dixie’s entire life is made up of fabrications and photoshopped images - I feel like this was such a great premise and I wish it was taken a bit further into thriller territory. I could see this being a great netflix series.

Photographer Delta Dawn spends her day snapping photos of children’s birthday parties in New York , most of her jobs are wealthy clients children, when the pictures aren’t perfect she spends hours editing them to make sure her clients will love them and there perfect .
When she accepts the job of being the photographer at the birthday party of eleven year old Nathalie Straub, she immediately falls in love with her family. The mother Amelie is sophisticated and they own an architecture company, she brings in most of the customers. Her Husband Fritz is handsome and a bit resentful of Amelie since she works long hours and makes it clear she’s the breadwinner, plus she makes sure they have a full social life. Nathalie doesn’t get a lot of attention and it shows in her behavior. When Delta gets asked to babysit Nathalie after the party she feels like it’s her ticket into the family. Delta is a chameleon she can change herself into whomever she needs to so the family will love her and need her. Watching the Straubs closely and learning every intimate detail she slowly inserts herself into their lives, including dating one of Fritzs coworkers and getting close to Amelia. She has a plan so they will be connected forever but will she be able to pull it off? This was a quick read and held my attention three stars

Like the main character in Mary Dixie Carter's debut novel, The Photographer, I love taking pictures, which is why I selected this propulsive novel as my pick for the 2021 PopSugar Reading Challenge's "Subject You are Passionate About" prompt. This novel ended up being a great selection for the prompt as it combines interesting elements of photography technique and style with a story that is downright creepy ... yet very, very good.

Delta Dawn is a New York photographer who spends her days taking pictures of the lives of the city's upper crust denizens. She finds herself capturing birthday parties more than anything else, and knows that it is her job to deliver happy memories to these elite families to cherish forever ... which is why her nights are spent manipulating pictures in Photoshop to create smiling faces, joyful moments, and close-knit families. But she also spends her evenings focused on her obsessions, which lately include the Straub family.

After photographing eleven year old Natalie Straub's birthday party, Delta has become obsessed with the family, Amelia, Fritz, & Natalie; their enviable home; and their seemingly perfect life. Delta wants something that the Straubs have, and she is shamelessly ruthless in her attempts to get it. From finagling her way in as Natalie's new babysitter, to making friends with Amelia, Delta ensures that she becomes someone that the Straubs need in their life. But how close is too close and just what does Delta hope to gain from this newfound relationship?

Going into The Photographer, I expected it to be much like the other women's domestic suspense novels on the market - a verifiably unhinged woman supplants the matriarch of a powerful and well-connected family only to get her just desserts in the end. However, from the very first page of this unsettling novel, I was hooked on Carter's writing style and tone, and soon realized that this wasn't the same worn out suspense plot that has been recycled over and over again throughout the years in this genre. Carter brings something dark, disturbing, and fresh to her character of Delta Dawn. While Delta seems "almost normal," readers know that something is off with this woman ... the question is just how deranged is she? That's the fun of this book - I raced through the pages, finding myself absorbed in Delta's relationship with the Straubs, and anticipating how it would all play out in the end. I enjoyed the intimation of closeness and confidentiality Carter creates between readers and Delta, letting them peek into the corners of Delta's life that she keeps hidden from the world, yet also not letting readers in on the full story. If you are paying attention, you will catch Delta's slips, recognize her tells, but only if you are very observant - she is one crafty manipulator.

This fast-paced, intimate, yet unnerving novel is not to be missed by fans of the genre. Recommended to readers who would love to read a "You-esque" novel of the female variety.

I enjoyed reading “The Photographer” and will remember it whenever I listen to the song “Delta Dawn.”

What I enjoyed about this story are the characters. Surprisingly, this is one of those books where I was not empathetic towards any of the members. All of them felt volatile and imbalanced. Yet, that is probably the same reason why they intrigued me. From the get-go, you sense that Delta is wrong with how she superimposes herself in the photos. Yet, you want to see how far she would go to get what she wants.

On the other hand, Amelia is another volatile character. She is obsessed with having a baby and neglects the feelings of the family. It was interesting to watch the dynamic between these two play out. The only person I could somewhat feel sorry for was Natalie, as we know the reason for her behavior.

Also, I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. The author writes the storyline in an eerie and suspenseful manner. The pacing is a bit slow but leads to a gradual buildup and takes a turn where you don’t know what to expect.

However, I felt there were some questions unanswered, like who was Gwen? Why did Itzhak attack Delta? It felt strange to have these scenes come up but not have any reason or resolution behind it. It would also have been nice to have a bit of background on Delta’s character for why she behaves in this manner. I’m also surprised that an affluent family like the Straubs did not do a background check on Delta nor had security cameras to monitor the house.

Overall, “The Photographer” is an entertaining suspense thriller worth checking out if you are a fan of the genre.

This story really gets to you, makes you think, and freaks you out all at the same time! I can't wait to read more by this author!!

Hooooooly cow. This is an addictive domestic suspense novel surrounding the theme of letting someone into your home who isn't what they seem... Our narrator is clever, observant, obsessive - even bordering on sociopathic at times. And even with all of that, I couldn't put this book down. I felt myself getting chills when she described photography, especially with regards to some of the more nefarious deeds she performs. If you're looking for a stalkeresque suspense novel, this may be the one for you.

I was so excited to read this book. The synopsis gave me 'One Hour Photo' vibes, which is my favorite Robin Williams movie.
Well, this book isn't 'One Hour Photo.' Not even close. And the problem is with the characterization more than with the story itself.

As far as psycho stalkers go, Ms. Delta Dawn was pretty tame. I was hoping for a character who was over-the-top. I'm talking 'Fatal Attraction' or ' Single White Female' level crazy. Delta never did anything all that terrible, which made her come off more desperate and pathetic than psychotic. As far as the other characters, they were pretty wooden and one-dimensional. Well, except for the pet dog, Itzhak. He was amazing!

Overall, this was an okay story. It flowed nicely, held my interest and was a quick read. Was it the best story of obsession and stalking? Not by a long shot. But if you enjoying reading that particular trope, by all means give this one a read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

A true page turner.A young photographer in New York envies the life of the wealthy people she photographs.When she becomes involved with one of the families the creepy chilling story takes off.Coukd not put down.#netgalley #st.martins books