3.5 stars

This is a gripping novel, had me pretty hooked from page one. However I guess I wasn’t expecting a supernatural element. It wasn’t horrible, but maybe just not up my alley.
The writing is good though and the story flowed well.

Thanks to Flatiron and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. I've never read anything by this author, but the description made it seem like a darker version of Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, so I was really interested. This is a suburban nanny book where the nanny, Mallory, used to be addicted to painkillers after an athletic injury, and this is her first chance to strike out on her own after trying to put her life back together. While I did think this was a propulsive read, there were so many descriptions and plot points that did not make sense (Mallory's born-again Christian identity, her lack of trauma from the background she has, and the decisions she makes when she discovers the strange drawings done by Teddy). The pages turned fast, but the suspension of reality was insane, and then when the twist and reveal happened at about 80%, it did not feel true to the characters to me. I was very disappointed. I still give it 3 stars because of the pacing, but so much did not fit.

The book grabbed my attention from the very first pages, and kept it for about 3/4 of the book. However, my brain had a really hard time switching gears when the genre twisted from paranormal to thriller/suspense. I really felt like the two different elements did not blend well, and I really can't put my finger on why.

Also, I can't go into a lot of details without giving too much away, but one of the "shocking" twists does not sit well with me. I will be interested to see what other reviewers will say when the book gains more traction, but there is possibly a content warning for transphobia.

Overall, interesting story, but I would have liked the genre to choose either paranormal or contemporary thriller. I didn't enjoy the effort to blend the two.

Part mystery, part suspense, part supernatural and a wonderful combination of all three. Mallory, newly sober with 20 months behind her, is employed as a nanny for five year old Teddy, in a wealthy household. Teddy is a delight and his parents are giving Mallory every chance to succeed. All is well until Teddy starts producing mysterious and disturbing drawings that he can’t possibly have drawn. But he is.
Mallory the main character is very likable and I found myself drawn in and rooting for her success. The plot is very clever and when it turns on a dime I didn’t see it coming at all. This book is very well done, excellent plot, wonderfully drawn characters, and a writing style I loved. I loved every bit of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, Flatiron Books, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book.

I love reading a new author and discovering a solid read! This novel is about 75% mystery with maybe 25% supernatural story telling. For those who are picky about their "ghosty" books, rest-assured that this is not overdone, it does not go off the rails, and it does provide some genuinely creepy moments. This was a fast-paced book that I was always anxious to get back to, ready to see how the story would resolve. And finally, the cover is compelling--I was immediately drawn to this book.

If I had to critique the overall tale, I would say that there were some narrative developments and character motivations that needed to be better fleshed out; several times I felt like the action was implausibly delivered (though in some cases the ending does justify the sketchy interactions). Also, I questioned the one big reveal: I think the author could have made it more convincing with a bit more detailed explanation, a stronger context that would have made the reveal more convincing.

But all-in-all, this was an enjoyable novel. I will definitely read this author again.

I enjoyed Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak. I tend to read moodier novels, but this was a refreshing change of pace. The main character was quite likable so that I was rooting for her to do better even though she had a tendency to make some bad decisions. I enjoyed how the different mysterious elements came together. It seemed like the ending was going to be different than it turned out to be, and I enjoyed how things did wrap up. Thank yo to NetGalley for the ARC.