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Pictures of You by Josh Malerman Book Review

 

Title: Pictures of You

Author: Josh Malerman

Genre: Thriller

Published: September 8, 2026 by Del Rey

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the copy for review.

 

Emily and Jack are out on the town in an idyllic coastal town when their beautiful vacation turns into a nightmare. They wake up separated and find they are within the web of an unhinged artist looking to create their masterpiece.

Pictures of You is a Hitchcockian thriller from one of the biggest names in horror. The greatest strength of this story is the character development. Emily and Jack seem realistic, likeable, and like a very fun couple hang out with. I would love to go out on the town with these characters in an idyllic coastal town. I was instantly sucked in and cared very much what happened to them. On the other hand, the antagonist, is incredibly unforgettable and colorful unhinged woman that steals the show in this one. The setup was also great and incredibly tense. Becoming the unwilling muse for a very unpredictable artist is a great premise. If only the initial tension could have been kept up throughout the entire book it would have been fantastic. However, it became a bit inconsistent. 

Though this is not the average horror novel I am used to from this author I would recommend this novel for fans of Hitchcock's stories and movies. If you love a great quirky unhinged villain. This may be a story for you.                                                                                           

 My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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