It’s been a long time since I read such a spooky premise book….this one checked the box. ~ Sheila

Mallory Quin has struggled with addiction for a long time. Now fresh out of rehab, she is ready for a fresh start. When her sponsor, Russell, lines up an interview for her as a nanny for the Maxwells’ five-year-old son, Teddy. Mallory believes her chances to land the job are small – after all, Ted and Caroline Maxwell are people with high standards, a beautiful home, and a list of qualified choices.

When Mallory gets the call back for the job, she is over the moon and promises herself she will not do anything to mess up this opportunity. Teddy is a fun and easy child, and he and Mallory hit it off right away. The only thing that seems off is that Teddy loves to draw, and among his pictures are some darker ones of a strange figure.

Caroline calls the photos of “Anya” Teddy’s imaginary friend… but as the pictures become more sinister, Mallory feels strongly that it is something more. She hears Teddy talking with someone frequently in his room during his quiet time, and often finds the pictures after these afternoon breaks.

Mallory is caught between the family thinking she is crazy and losing her job, and possibly saving this little boy from something from the past.

When I picked this book up recently, I went back and forth on the purchase. I liked the synopsis, but I’m not much of a horror reader – more of a campfire-style spooky read gal. Even after I made the purchase, when it was time to pick the next book I would read, I hesitated…it’s a little bigger than my average reads, and I wondered if I really wanted to get caught up in a bigger read during vacation.

I dove in anyway – knowing if it wasn’t a fit – I would move on ( already had a couple of those in the last few weeks)… but the opposite happened.

I enjoyed the book right from the start – and when I realized quite a few of the pages were pictures as the story unfolded… I didn’t sweat the size so much.

What I really loved is that this book never gets horrifying – if you know what I mean. While there is a murder, it’s not graphic or over detailed – there is also no sexual content (which honestly, often feels like book-filler)

It is… as I had hoped… a good, engaging spooky read. This was a real page-turner for me, and I finished it in 3 days. My only gripe is that when what is happening is revealed, it is all a little too quick, and I didn’t catch any of the clues leading up to that (maybe that’s me). Otherwise, a unique read, which is almost always a plus, and I enjoyed it.

Rated: 4 out of 5
Read Author Before: No
Read Author Again: Yes
Where Read: Fort Myers, Florida

Any triggers – while addiction (drugs) is mentioned, it is mostly in the past and not a big topic of the book

Bookclub Worthy: OOH yes- so much spooky goodness to talk about. While the ghostly side of the book is one thing, Mallory’s character is a total other topic for her turnaround from rehab to the job and of course, the family itself and what happens.
Food – so many things – lots of lunches with Teddy – sandwiches, cookies, grilled cheese… and dinners that Mallory is invited to with the family, as well as when she goes out to eat or to Adrian’s familys party.