Quite captivating and well-written I was pulled into this thriller from the very first word.

Mary Mixon Carter writes crazy really well and I look forward to more from her!

I loved reading this story of a young woman photographer that insinuates herself into the lives of a wealthy New York family. A mesmerizing read!

The Photographer is the story of a young woman who becomes obsessed with a family that hires her to photograph their child’s birthday party. While some parts I enjoyed very much, for me there was just too much that was hinted at but never specifically revealed that I just wanted to know. I suppose it’s the sign of a good book that I just wanted more. It’s a good domestic suspense novel with an unreliable narrator, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t normally enjoy that genre.

While “The Photographer” is an easy, enjoyable read, it is not the riveting psychological thriller that I was eagerly anticipating. Obsession carried to the extreme is certainly an enticing storyline—one that drew me in right from the very start—but with regards to this particular book, it just fell a bit flat for my personal tastes. Both the characters and the plot lacked the depth that I crave, and I had to suspend reality on more than one occasion. That said, “The Photographer” was still entertaining, but I would classify it as more “creepy,” as opposed to a thriller.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an early copy of The Photographer. Obsessively weird but interesting! I didn’t want to put it down but the main characters were both very weird. Very fast read, I would really like to know what happened to Ian and also Lana.

Delta is a talented photographer who takes pictures of wealthy family’s. When she starts working with the Straubs, she wants to become closer to them. As she gets closer, she finds more and more ways of settling into their lives.

After reading Alex Six, I wasn’t quite sure I was ready for another stalker type book, but apparently I was! This was more of a psychological buildup. The obsession gradually took form, with the characters and reader diving deeper with every chapter. While Delta is obsessed and manipulative, she still somehow comes across as sympathetic. She doesn’t mean any harm, she really just wants to belong. I’d say this was a pretty slow burn until everything starts to blow up in the latter half. The ending was quite satisfying as well.

“When I was in their house. In their company. I became the person I’d always wanted to be. Possibilities opened up for me. I knew I could help them.”

The Photographer comes out 5/25.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a DARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. I seem to have had a run of books where I didn't like any of the characters. I try to set that aside and look at the book on it's own merits. The problem is, if you don't like anyone, and you don't feel any of them have redeeming qualities, it's difficult to care about the outcome. I think I was left with that in this book. I did complete it, and I was glad for the read, but I likely wouldn't purchase it or recommend it to friends.

Delta is a children’s photographer. She is famous for her catching shots which end up in the silver frames carefully dispersed in the luxurious homes of her clients’ perfect families. Delta’s talent is undeniable. Her intentions are less admirable. She pretends to be a divorced mother of a seven year old son called Jasper currently in California with his father when in fact she is a lost soul who likes to infiltrate her clients’ lives, and dreams of what her’s would be if she was one of them. The day Delta enters the home of Amelia and Fritz Straub to photograph their daughter Natalie on her eleven birthday, her prayers are answered. Filling in as baby-sitter, she quickly makes herself indispensable to the busy working parents of Natalie. Delta’s sickly obsession with this family has no limit. Manipulation and deceit are all she thinks about. Not only does she invades Amelia and Frit’s privacy but she gets their trust, friendship and learns about their deepest sorrow. Amelia wants another child desperately. She has tried everything and is herself obsessed by her failure to conceive and bring a baby home. Delta jumps on the occasion of becoming the family’s savior by offering to be the surrogate. Fritz is good-looking and charming. Amelia is smart and passionate. What could be better for Delta than to give birth to such a golden child?. She moves in their beautiful house and is taken care of like a queen. Unfortunately for her, some of the compromising photoshopped pictures she took in their private quarters are revealed to the Straubs and instantly destroy the image of the wonderful supportive, altruist woman she had worked so hard to build. After a heated discussion, Delta falls in the stairs and has what looks like a miscarriage. The family is devastated, broken and falls apart. Without looking back, Delta leaves for California where she lives happily ever after with her son Jasper who will never know he is the son of Amelia and Fritz Straub. Delta has won and happily goes back to her deceitful productive photography.
What a good debut! The plot kept me on my toes. Who can we trust? This is a frightening story which could unfortunately easily happen. It is well written and a page turner. No doubt. Thank you NetGalley for allowing to read this excellent book

Delta Dawn is a sought after photographer for New York’s elite families: snapping photographs at their children’s birthday parties, and then using every available APP to transform tears and pouts into beautiful memories.

She knows it’s VITAL to capture the moment that “Happy Birthday” is sung, the cake is presented and the candles are blown out. She also realizes that the parents want to see themselves as much as they want to see their children. They want to see the proof that they are GOOD parents.

But, when she is hired to photograph Natalie Straub’s 11th birthday party, she meets a family that she isn’t ready to say goodbye to yet.

So like her namesake, from Tanya Tucker’s 1972 hit song, she may have to make her own narrative fit the outcome that she desires.

She may have to “edit” more than the photographs to fit in.
And, count on MANY questions not being asked.

For the most part, the book was COMPULSIVE reading and very ENTERTAINING!

Early on, I had my suspicions on what was true, what was “photoshopped” and where this was leading but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment to read on to see if I was right.

But, when all is said and done, I was no longer singing the lyrics to “Delta Dawn”.
(My mother would play the song, so I actually know them -and the words from the next song mentioned)

I was now singing the 1969 Grammy Award Winning record of the year, “Is That All There Is?” By Peggy Lee.
PLAY NOW on YouTube for dramatic effect!

Because it CAN’T end like this!?!

I would like to thank Minotaur and Mary Dixie Carter for my gifted copy, provided through NetGalley!
It was my pleasure to provide a candid review!

Available May 25th 2021.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Delta is a children's photographer and she was asked to document Natalie's birthday. Delta finds this family fascinating and she wants to know more about them. She finds a way to spend more and more time with them to get closer to them. What is she up to? What does she want? I feel like this author had the build up, the suspense and then nothing. The story was easy to read and kept me entertained but the ending did the book no justice. #thephotographer #marydixiecarter #May2021

This is a slow burn thriller thst defied logic. I dont enjoy slowburning thrillers but this was very well written.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Photographer.

I was drawn into the story of Delta Dawn, the children photographer extraordinaire who insinuates herself into the fabulous, sophisticated life of architect couple, Amelia and Fritz, and their only child, Natalie.

Delta's background is murky, but she's desperate to fit in, seeking a connection and a sense of belonging (mainly in Amelia and Fritz's lives) that she manipulates the photos she takes to capture a life she imagines for herself.

This wasn't a bad read, though the standard tropes of a domestic thriller are all here; an attractive, duplicitous unreliable narrator befriending the precocious daughter, insinuating herself into their lives and happy home of an equally beautiful couple.

You know you're reading a book when the main cast is incredibly above average looking.

I don't mind reading about unlikable character; sometimes I find myself admiring an unlikable character but Delta doesn't fit the bill.

She obviously has issues, and character development is poor. I wondered what in her childhood caused her to act this way. She spends a lot of time talking about how attractive she is so it's easy for her to attract men.

I wanted to dislike her, but for an interesting reason. She wasn't diabolical or devious; she was just kind of sad and pathetic.

Natalie and her dog were the only characters I liked.

Amelia and Fritz are one dimensional, superficially described and interactions with Delta are typical; moments when Delta are teetering on the edge of seducing him; moments when Delta feel she is bonding with Amelia before the woman treats her like an insubordinate and Delta's hopes are dashed.

There are one too many moments of disbelief suspension, especially the ending, which was abrupt and I saw coming a mile away.

Still, this was an enjoyable popcorn thriller and I look forward to the author's next book.

A quick read with entertaining moments, but may be lacking in logic.

Delta Dawn (yes, that’s her name) is a photographer (hence the title) who is happy behind the camera, snapping pictures at children’s birthday bashes. She also has a gift of appropriately editing them when the child doesn’t want to participate.

When Delta takes on the job of photographing 11-year old Natalie’s birthday party, she can’t help but wish she was a part of this family...as the reliable family friend they can confide in.

She agrees to babysit Natalie when the parents are in a pinch. Things progress as Delta realizes she would do anything for this family, and she proceeds to integrate herself into their lives by any means necessary.

CONS:

-The decisions the characters make are pretty illogical, in my opinion.
-Apparently, nobody has heard of a background check. Suspension of disbelief galore.
-At least one minor plot hole, which probably doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.
-As a fan of psychological thrillers, I would’ve enjoyed finding out the “psychological” backgrounds of the characters and how that correlated with their actions.
-The ending didn’t blow me away, even though I thought it might.

PROS (saving the best for the last):

-It’s never boring. A straight up, 3-star popcorn thriller.
-The writing is engaging and appropriately gripping. It’s a page-turner, for sure.
-It’s a quick read. I flew through the pages.
-The interest in finding out motives never dissipates.
-There is a dog and cat.

Overall, I enjoyed the debut of author Mary Dixon Carter, and look forward to her sophomore effort.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is set to be published: 5/24/2021.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

Mary Dixie Carter has given us a creepy diabolical character in a story that truly disturbed me. I felt unsettled by this book. A sign of a good writer.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minatour Books for a gifted copy of The Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter. All opinions are my own.

An amazing photographer can take an ordinary image and turn it into something extraordinary. When a photographer uses different angles, adjusts lighting, and has a vision the results can tell a beautiful story. Delta Dawn is one of those photographers. She specializes in family photography and loves creating a beautiful story for the families that invite her into their lives. Her photographs tell the story of the life the family wants to live or, in the very least, the life they want everyone else to think they live. Sometimes Delta is so absorbed into this beautiful story that she even sees herself as a part of it so when Amelia asks her to babysit for her daughter, after a birthday shoot, she jumps at a chance to be near this family. Eventually, she is picking up dry cleaning, watering plants, and on most Fridays she is babysitting Natalie. Is Delta becoming a part of their family? Is she just considered an employee to Amelia?

Delta is a unique main character. Honestly, she is a train wreck and not likable but I could not stop reading to see what she would do next. Delta and the Straub family do not really know each other but almost immediately the relationship is close. Although, I found the relationship odd, it made me think about how many times in our lives we let strangers become friends. You can never truly know a person when you first meet them and sometimes you may never truly know them ever.

I enjoyed this book and would definitely read more from this author.

General Fiction (Adult)
Release Date: May 25, 2021

The Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter is a suspenseful, diabolical thriller that kept me unsettled, in the best possible way, throughout. If an unreliable narrator with an unclear agenda is what you seek, this one is for you.

Delta Dawn is a photographer whose past is clearly something she has taken great pains from which to distance herself. While photographing the birthday party of eleven year old Natalie Straub, Delta becomes fixated on the girl's upwardly mobile parents, and unleashes a plan to infiltrate the very core of the family.

This is a tale that keeps the reader feeling unsettled and off balance from the very start, and I was completely under the spell of our manipulative and calculating narrator. Well played. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this title to read and review.

This book just got crazier and crazier, but with that said, I also sometimes grew bored with the main character's inner dialogue and explanations. The ending was a bit predictable, but still good.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was creepy and dark and I couldn't put it down, I read it in a few hours!
The narrator was unreliable and dark and was a wolf in sheep's clothing!
The Photographer is a story of obsession and manipulation by a photographer who imagines those in her pictures as her own life.

A must read! Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy.

Carter created one of the more twisted narrators I've ever read, and the story was compelling for it's increasing sense of dread and disbelief at the delusional thinking of the protagonist. The story was unpredictable in the best way, and had some satisfying twists & turns. That said, the ending felt rushed after the way the beginning of the story was drawn out, and it left me feeling a bit cheated. A good story for fans of psychological thrillers.

I love this diabolical thriller. If you’re interested in twisty psychological thrillers this is definitely a cup of tea. Fast paced client will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page.