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A review by iblamewizards
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
While unbelievably fun to read (I read the whole book over two nights), there was something about Hidden Pictures that just didn't sit quite right with me. At any given moment I can rate this book anywhere from two to four stars, so I've sort of settled somewhere in the middle.
To start with the positive, the story is fast-paced, conceptually interesting, and includes some lovely artwork, giving the book something unique. I also found the plot twists to be surprising, although I'm not entirely convinced, logical.
One of the significant issues with Hidden Pictures, however, is that it's marketed as a horror novel because it includes some very minor supernatural stuff. It isn't, though. This book falls firmly in the Thriller genre, so definitely don't go into this book expecting any scares, or psychological terror. It's a pretty bog-standard crime thriller plot from start to finish, with a little bit of supernatural seasoning sprinkled on top.
So why, despite absolutely devouring it, can I not decide if Hidden Pictures was good or not? I've been going over and over it in my head, and I think it's because there's this hidden undercurrent of religious conservatism that underpins the whole book. Mallory's Christianity is mentioned constantly, and there is a seedy undercurrent of transphobia that affects a huge chunk of the narrative. None of it is ever overt, but all of it was dealt with in a way that just made me feel really uncomfortable. Add to that some spectacularly blatant fatphobia, and this book reads like a YA evangelical thriller instead of a mature, adult horror novel.
Apart from that, while the end was loads of fun, and had heaps of potential, so many decisions just defied any kind of logic. Character choices required so much suspension of disbelief that I found them funny, rather than thrilling. And Mallory made some...questionable...choices in her role as babysitter that made me want to reach through the pages and fire her myself.
Still, I enjoyed Hidden Pictures enough to read the whole novel in two sittings, so despite it's problems, I did enjoy it. I suspect it's a book that will age poorly though, and is definitely not one I'll ever revisit.
Edit: The more I've thought of this book since reading it, the more problematic its transphobia has become. What at first seemed like something that was easily glossed over, I've since realised, is an anti-trans dog-whistle with a very clear agenda. It's definitely affected my reading of this work.
To start with the positive, the story is fast-paced, conceptually interesting, and includes some lovely artwork, giving the book something unique. I also found the plot twists to be surprising, although I'm not entirely convinced, logical.
One of the significant issues with Hidden Pictures, however, is that it's marketed as a horror novel because it includes some very minor supernatural stuff. It isn't, though. This book falls firmly in the Thriller genre, so definitely don't go into this book expecting any scares, or psychological terror. It's a pretty bog-standard crime thriller plot from start to finish, with a little bit of supernatural seasoning sprinkled on top.
So why, despite absolutely devouring it, can I not decide if Hidden Pictures was good or not? I've been going over and over it in my head, and I think it's because there's this hidden undercurrent of religious conservatism that underpins the whole book. Mallory's Christianity is mentioned constantly, and there is a seedy undercurrent of transphobia that affects a huge chunk of the narrative. None of it is ever overt, but all of it was dealt with in a way that just made me feel really uncomfortable. Add to that some spectacularly blatant fatphobia, and this book reads like a YA evangelical thriller instead of a mature, adult horror novel.
Apart from that, while the end was loads of fun, and had heaps of potential, so many decisions just defied any kind of logic. Character choices required so much suspension of disbelief that I found them funny, rather than thrilling. And Mallory made some...questionable...choices in her role as babysitter that made me want to reach through the pages and fire her myself.
Still, I enjoyed Hidden Pictures enough to read the whole novel in two sittings, so despite it's problems, I did enjoy it. I suspect it's a book that will age poorly though, and is definitely not one I'll ever revisit.
Edit: The more I've thought of this book since reading it, the more problematic its transphobia has become. What at first seemed like something that was easily glossed over, I've since realised, is an anti-trans dog-whistle with a very clear agenda. It's definitely affected my reading of this work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Transphobia