Allison’s Book Report “Hidden Pictures” by Jason Rekulak

It’s the time of year when I start looking for some spooky reads for fall. I love hunkering down in my library on a chilly fall evening and scaring myself to death.  I don’t know what that says about me, but with so many different kinds of spooky books to choose from, there is no shortage of things to make your skin crawl.  Whether you like a psychological thriller, prefer some creepy sci-fi, dabble in the paranormal, or are drawn to a full-on horror story, there is something out there that will get your heart racing. This week’s book, “Hidden Pictures” by Jason Rekulak, is spooky and suspenseful. A perfect for lovers of all things scary.

Fresh out of rehab, Mallory Quinn is ready for a fresh start. Ted and Christine Maxwell hire her as a babysitter for their five-year-old son, Teddy. Mallory and Teddy immediately hit it off, and Mallory loves her new job. She has her own living space on the family’s property, goes for nightly runs, and has the stability that her life has been missing up until this point. Teddy is a sweet and shy little boy who loves drawing and is never without his sketchbook and pencils. His drawings are the standard five-year-old fare of trees, rabbits, and balloons; until one day when he draws a man in a forest, dragging a woman’s lifeless body. Teddy’s artwork becomes increasingly dark, and his usual stick figures evolve into lifelike sketches well beyond the abilities of a five-year-old. Mallory begins to wonder if these are glimpses of a long-unsolved murder or if something supernatural is at play. With some help from a handsome landscaper, Mallory sets out to figure out what all of the creepy drawings mean and save Teddy before it’s too late.

“Hidden Pictures” fits the scary bill, and the fast-moving story keeps readers turning pages to find out what is making Teddy draw these pictures, which are included throughout the book, making the entire story that much scarier. “Hidden Pictures” is something different in the horror/suspense genre, and it feels like a new and fresh take on the usual. Jason Rekulak is a relatively new name in fiction, and “Hidden Pictures” came out about two years ago. Rekulak’s latest novel, “The Last One at the Wedding,” was released last week. I look forward to reading and reviewing it in next week’s edition of The Book Report, so stay tuned for that. Until next week, stay spooky and pop over to my Instagram @allison.the.reader. Let’s talk about what scary books are keeping you up at night these days.