Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak

32 reviews

lolohedrick's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this book! I haven't had much luck with horror in the past, but this one was a good one! Not cheesy and kept me guessing til the end. I even cried at the end?? Must read!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, and Car accident

Moderate: Mental illness, Stalking, and Murder

its_me_again_emma's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Hidden Pictures is perfectly paced starting with an opening memory that sets the tone for the rest of the novel and asks the question, can we detect other presences that defy rational explanation? This and other questions of the psyche are explored through the narrative's various characters, specifically Mallory Quinn and Ted and Caroline Maxwell.
For the question of "strong character development," I chose a middle-ground answer because I didn't feel anyone's characterizations drastically change, but Mallory, the main character, begins to feel like she's carving a place out for herself in the world when she's living with and working for the Maxwells. I also chose a middle-ground answer for diversity not on the basis that most of the prominent characters are the same race but because they are all of the same elite class with Mallory being an exception. However, there is significant time spent learning about the affluent community's racist past and present, so I did not give it a middle-ground rating to detract from the novel in any way.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book from start to finish nor did I encounter any of the stale plot points I expected to see.   

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse

Moderate: Stalking and Sexual harassment

Minor: Racism and Car accident

rnbhargava's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The end portions feel a bit rushed and contrived but I was gripped and steadily reading for much of this novel. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Medical content, Grief, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

A large aspect of the conclusion of this book’s plot could be described as potentially transphobic, making a kid conform to a gender identity that isn’t their own

abbysingh's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Infertility, Violence, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual content, Dementia, Stalking, and Alcohol

lulibooks's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Infertility, Racism, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder

ravensalwaysreading's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

2.5

Too many plotholes and strange character interactions. What idiot tells a pair of murderers that she knew they had murdered? The main character was incredibly shallow from a writing aspect and as a person. Manic pixie dream girl except a vapid Christian version.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Fatphobia, Racism, Transphobia, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

bones008's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Infertility, Transphobia, Dementia, Kidnapping, and Stalking

staceyinthesticks's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Drug use, Infertility, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, and Gaslighting

aleen_elizabeth's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

sierrabowers's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful informative mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was a great read. It reminded me of ‘the turn of the key’ by Ruth Ware (which is a good thing). I also really liked the ending, because

it didn’t end with the main character breaking her sobriety.

it is a great story showcasing that even through hard times, you can stay sober. I really liked how the author incorporated that into the story, and showed how previous addicts can get better and have a full life.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism