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shannonjumpreads's review against another edition
This was a really slow start for me. I started and stopped this book on two separate occasions and had a really hard time getting into it...unfortunately for me, this was a DNF at 52%.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
megancrusante's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 rounded up because it was so fun and entertaining from the first sentence and never slowed down. Some major suspension of disbelief required (do these rich people not…get think of getting background checks, for starters. Another big one but don’t want to spoil a big plot point). A debut, I can imagine this author is building towards something great and I’ll be looking forward to anything she puts out next.
swymore2692's review against another edition
3.0
Delta Dawn is a highly sought-after, very talented photographer. Her work frequently takes her into the homes of New York City’s elite families, as her specialty is photographing children. When Delta books a job with the Straubs, popular and successful architects, she finds herself drawn to both Amelia and Fritz Straub, as well as their daughter, Natalie. Really drawn to them. Like, creepily drawn to them. As Delta goes on to weave her way into the Straubs’ life, the reader sees just how incredibly off the rails this character really is.
Initially, this book gave me The Last Mrs. Parrish vibes. But as it continued, I found it difficult to understand exactly what Delta’s ultimate goal was. Ultimately, it was a sense of belonging, but what that meant to her seemed a little scattered. I can’t really go into this too much without spoilers, but there was a really confusing line between whether she wanted to be a daughter, a lover, a mom, all of it to the same people? I really wasn’t sure. I also couldn’t really connect to the characters. Amelia Straub was the most dynamic character, but her motivations also became confusing for me toward the end. It’s not a spoiler to say she wants another child, but why? I never really understood. She has an incredibly successful career, for which she has sacrificed her relationship with her husband and her daughter. She seems totally okay with that, but is desperate for a new baby she has no time for? I’m not saying this can’t all be true in actual person - it just didn’t fit with this fictional personality as portrayed by the author, if that makes sense. As far as Delta, Natalie, Fritz, Ian - meh. Just nothing there. At a minimum, I need a villain I love to hate.
Ultimately, though, this book was a good quick read. Although it didn’t quite unfold in a way that works for me, I like the storyline itself. Great way to pass time in a waiting room, picking up kids from school, unwinding before bed. For a first novel, this isn’t bad and I’m looking forward to some fun thrillers from Mary Dixie Carter in the future.
Thanks to Mary Dixie Carter, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.
Initially, this book gave me The Last Mrs. Parrish vibes. But as it continued, I found it difficult to understand exactly what Delta’s ultimate goal was. Ultimately, it was a sense of belonging, but what that meant to her seemed a little scattered. I can’t really go into this too much without spoilers, but there was a really confusing line between whether she wanted to be a daughter, a lover, a mom, all of it to the same people? I really wasn’t sure. I also couldn’t really connect to the characters. Amelia Straub was the most dynamic character, but her motivations also became confusing for me toward the end. It’s not a spoiler to say she wants another child, but why? I never really understood. She has an incredibly successful career, for which she has sacrificed her relationship with her husband and her daughter. She seems totally okay with that, but is desperate for a new baby she has no time for? I’m not saying this can’t all be true in actual person - it just didn’t fit with this fictional personality as portrayed by the author, if that makes sense. As far as Delta, Natalie, Fritz, Ian - meh. Just nothing there. At a minimum, I need a villain I love to hate.
Ultimately, though, this book was a good quick read. Although it didn’t quite unfold in a way that works for me, I like the storyline itself. Great way to pass time in a waiting room, picking up kids from school, unwinding before bed. For a first novel, this isn’t bad and I’m looking forward to some fun thrillers from Mary Dixie Carter in the future.
Thanks to Mary Dixie Carter, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.
laurareadsthrillers's review against another edition
2.0
The Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter
If you likes the books: The Last Mrs Parish by Liv Constantine
If you likes the books: The Last Mrs Parish by Liv Constantine
linsliterarylove's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, seeing a deranged mind is what reading this book is like. Delta Dawn is a stalker in the most realistic sense. The way she infiltrates the Straub family through her profession, as a photographer, is so slick! Honestly, I have a superficial interest in photography and Delta's editing skills are one to envy. I was thinking the whole time "You are too into this character and her crazy!" The ending was pretty abrupt and I wish I knew more about everyone's lives after the jump in time but hopefully that just means there's a sequel coming out.
marbooks88's review against another edition
3.0
DeltaDawn is a photographer in New York City that constructs the stories she sees through her lens. When she photographs Natalie Straub’s birthday Delat Dawn constructs a story that she is a part of. But what is the truth and what is a fantasy?
Thanks to Minotaur Books for providing an arc for my honest review
Thanks to Minotaur Books for providing an arc for my honest review
kaleenazagrzebski's review against another edition
3.0
The Photographer is a book about envy and obsession. Delta Dawn is a New York City photographer that makes a living taking photos of the elite’s children’s birthday parties and transforming those photos to create the picturesque life the parents want to believe they have.
In addition to her day job, Delta takes the photos and manipulates them to create scenarios and people that don’t exist.
When Delta is hired for Natalie Straub’s birthday, she becomes infatuated with the family and wishes she could become part of it. Delta starts by offering to babysit Natalie while her mother Amelia and husband Fritz are out. She ends up willing to offer them anything to make them happy.
You have to suspend belief a bit while reading this one. I found myself cringing at almost every choice Delta made. Every choice felt like it was leading to a train wreck. The Photographer wasn’t as much of a thriller as I was expecting either, it was more about Delta and the Straubs’ life. Did I enjoy reading this book and want to know what happened next? Absolutely. Am I going to remember it or read it again? Probably not. Would I look out for more books by Mary Dixie Carter? Definitely.
In addition to her day job, Delta takes the photos and manipulates them to create scenarios and people that don’t exist.
When Delta is hired for Natalie Straub’s birthday, she becomes infatuated with the family and wishes she could become part of it. Delta starts by offering to babysit Natalie while her mother Amelia and husband Fritz are out. She ends up willing to offer them anything to make them happy.
You have to suspend belief a bit while reading this one. I found myself cringing at almost every choice Delta made. Every choice felt like it was leading to a train wreck. The Photographer wasn’t as much of a thriller as I was expecting either, it was more about Delta and the Straubs’ life. Did I enjoy reading this book and want to know what happened next? Absolutely. Am I going to remember it or read it again? Probably not. Would I look out for more books by Mary Dixie Carter? Definitely.
k_co_124's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
slewis0819's review against another edition
5.0
This book had me on a lot of different levels. At first, I thought the writing was a little simplistic and seemed more young adult than what I had expected. But as I got deeper into this one, I was hooked...the fact that this story could realistically happen makes it even more twisty. I also liked the details surrounding the photography and social manipulation that takes place every day to present the modern ideal image.
_basicbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Delta Dawn is a professional photographer capturing pictures of New York's elite and their families. When Delta is taking pictures at Natalie Straub's birthday party, he finds herself wanting to be part of this family's lives. She slowly gets in their inner circle, by babysitting Natalie, becoming the mother's friend, and spending more time with the father. But no matter how close she gets, it never seems to be close enough.
Wow what a creepy book. Fans of the You series will enjoy this one. Delta's obsession with the Straub family is disturbing, but you can't stop reading about it. This is a fast-paced and gripping read, and although it is fairly predictable, the drama keeps you intrigued the whole time. I would have loved to get even deeper in Delta's head and learn more about WHY she is the way she is. She was a fascinating character and I ended the book feeling bad for her. If you are looking for a quick psychological thriller, this is a good one for you!
Wow what a creepy book. Fans of the You series will enjoy this one. Delta's obsession with the Straub family is disturbing, but you can't stop reading about it. This is a fast-paced and gripping read, and although it is fairly predictable, the drama keeps you intrigued the whole time. I would have loved to get even deeper in Delta's head and learn more about WHY she is the way she is. She was a fascinating character and I ended the book feeling bad for her. If you are looking for a quick psychological thriller, this is a good one for you!