About the Book
Hidden Pictures is a supernatural thriller about Mallory Quinn, a young woman newly out of rehab who takes a live-in nanny position with a suburban family in New Jersey. The job seems straightforward: look after five-year-old Teddy Maxwell, a quiet, gentle kid who rarely goes anywhere without his sketchbook. The stability is exactly what Mallory needs, and for a while things go smoothly.
The unease starts when Teddy's drawings become harder to explain. He's producing detailed, technically impossible illustrations, the kind a five-year-old simply cannot make, and they seem to be telling a story. As Mallory investigates what Teddy is drawing and why, the book moves between a domestic thriller and something more overtly supernatural. Author Jason Rekulak uses Teddy's actual artwork (reproduced in print editions) as part of the storytelling, which creates a complication for the audio format worth knowing about before you buy.
The novel is a standalone and was a New York Times bestseller in 2022. It has a clear beginning-to-end structure with escalating tension. The tone draws comparisons to Riley Sager's genre work and, more loosely, to the nostalgia-horror flavor of Stranger Things.
Narration & Audio Performance
Suzy Jackson's performance is controlled and well-suited to this kind of material. She reads Mallory's first-person narration with a grounded, slightly guarded quality that fits a character who is working hard to hold her life together. There's no over-dramatization, which is the right call, the story generates its own unease, and a narrator who pushed too hard emotionally would undercut it.
Character differentiation is adequate. The Maxwell family members are distinct enough to follow without confusion, and Teddy comes across as appropriately childlike without being grating. The pacing holds up well across what is a fairly long novel, Jackson doesn't let the slower expository passages drag, and she doesn't rush the climactic sections.
One honest note: this book was specifically designed with illustrated chapters in the print edition, Teddy's drawings are reproduced throughout and are meant to be seen, not described. The audiobook cannot replicate that element. Jackson reads around those moments, but listeners will be missing part of what makes the print version distinctive. It doesn't break the audio experience, but it is a real omission.
The Audible Verdict
Suzy Jackson's narration is solid and the story translates reasonably well to audio. The caveat is the illustrated artwork woven through the print edition, a genuine part of the book's design that simply doesn't exist in audio form. If you're a first-time Audible user, this is a reasonable place to spend your trial credit. If you're spending a paid credit, consider whether you'd rather read the print version and see what Rekulak and his illustrator actually built.
Listen on AudibleIs This Book a Good Fit for Audio?
Hidden Pictures has a linear structure and a single first-person narrator, which are both advantages for audio. There's no timeline shuffling to track, and the central mystery unfolds in a way that works well when listened to rather than read, the dread accumulates gradually and steady narration supports that.
The significant drawback is the illustrated content. Throughout the print edition, actual drawings attributed to Teddy appear as part of the narrative. These aren't decorative, they're evidence the reader is meant to examine. In audio, that layer is absent. You'll know from context that something is significant about a particular drawing, but you won't see what Mallory sees. For some listeners this won't matter much. For others, especially those who specifically want the full Rekulak-designed experience, the print edition is the more complete version.
If you've already read the book and are considering a re-listen, or if you're primarily interested in the plot and character work rather than the visual design, audio is a fair choice.
Popular Listener Questions
Is Hidden Pictures part of a series?
No, it's a standalone novel. No prior reading is required and there's no sequel.
Is the audiobook narrated by the author?
No. Jason Rekulak does not narrate. The audiobook is read by Suzy Jackson.
Does the audiobook include the illustrations from the print edition?
No. The print edition features drawings attributed to the character Teddy throughout the narrative. These are not replicated in the audio version, which is worth factoring into your format choice.
How scary is this book? Is it horror or more of a thriller?
It sits closer to supernatural thriller than outright horror. The tension builds slowly through domestic unease and mystery before the supernatural elements become explicit. It's unsettling rather than viscerally frightening.
Is this appropriate for younger listeners or teens?
The book deals with substance abuse recovery, disturbing imagery, and violence. It's written for adults and is not appropriate for younger audiences.
Similar Audiobooks
Lock Every Door
Riley Sager's novel shares the same suburban-dread, mystery-building structure and is frequently cited alongside Hidden Pictures for readers in this space.
If you want something that escalates from unease to genuinely disturbing, Nick Cutter's novel occupies the same unsettling register, though it's considerably darker.
Alex North's thriller also centers on a child with disturbing drawings and an adult trying to understand what the child knows. The structural parallel is direct.
Imaginary Friend
Stephen Chbosky's novel features a child connected to something supernatural and an adult caretaker navigating that threat, a comparable setup to Hidden Pictures.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia's gothic thriller has a similar slow-build atmosphere and benefits from the same kind of composed, controlled narration style Jackson brings to Hidden Pictures.
Audiobook Details
| Title | Hidden Pictures |
|---|---|
| Author | Jason Rekulak |
| Narrator | Suzy Jackson |
| Genre | Supernatural Thriller |
| Year | 2022 |
| Publisher | Flatiron Books |
| Abridged | Unabridged |
| Cast | Single narrator |
| Author-narrated | No |
Ready to listen?
Hidden Pictures is available on Audible with Suzy Jackson narrating, a serviceable audio experience, though the print edition includes illustrated content the audio cannot replicate. A free trial credit is a reasonable way to try it.
Open on Audible