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20k reviews for:

Hidden Pictures

Jason Rekulak

4.01 AVERAGE

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
hec6te's profile picture

hec6te's review

4.0

3.5
I didn’t love everything about this book but it kept me engaged the entire time and twists at the end were definitely unexpected. The ending moved very quickly and certainly took the book to a whole new level. I listened to the audiobook (always fun for s mystery/thriller) but just found out after finishing that there were illustrations included in the book! I definitely missed out on that, and would recommend reading rather than listening to gain that extra context considering how heavily the story depends on said drawings.

A fast paced paranormal thriller that had me on edge quite a few times. I really loved the main character and was rooting for her throughout. I read through this so quickly as I was fully invested in the story. Would highly recommend if you love a good thriller.
dark emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Fast paced book. Enjoyed unraveling story with use of pictures. Spoiler- Only fell short when Mallory revealed she knew the truth. She was alone with no backup. Too typical 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
mysterious medium-paced
Loveable characters: Yes

"Hidden Pictures" by Jason Rekulak is a captivating story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The book offers an unconventional and enjoyable narrative filled with mysteries that carry a creepy, supernatural vibe. However, one of the standout features of the book is its reliance on illustrations, which add an indispensable layer to the story. If you choose to read this one, I would highly recommend reading the print version over the audio one, as the illustrations enhance the overall experience.

The book cleverly weaves a web of clues that keep readers engaged, and while you might attempt to solve the mysteries within, the unexpected twist will likely catch you off guard. Nonetheless, it's important to note that "Hidden Pictures" occasionally stretches believability to a great extent, challenging readers to suspend their disbelief. This may be, in part, why it is so difficult to predict the twist.

One aspect that warrants a fair warning is that some readers have perceived the book as having a right-wing agenda, with elements that could be interpreted as racist or transphobic. While I, as a reader, am typically sensitive to such issues and prefer to escape political rhetoric when reading fiction, I did not feel that the book had a particular agenda. Instead, I interpreted it as portraying flawed characters who exhibit these traits, reflecting the imperfect individuals we encounter in society. In hindsight and after reading some other reviews, I can certainly understand how the inclusion of such characters and themes, and the manner in which aspects of the story were portrayed, may be perceived as problematic or objectionable to some.

In the end, I did enjoy the book. The narrative, the pictures, and the unexpected twists make it a worthwhile read for those who enjoy a blend of the supernatural with their mysteries.
dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark mysterious tense medium-paced
dark inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I liked how fast paced this was, I finished it pretty quickly. I’m a bit upset the research from the beginning of the book isn’t elaborated much at the end, also didn’t like how some topics were mentioned. The general plot was fun to uncover.