Summer may be on death’s door, but it’s never too late to get wrapped up in the drama and chills of a new vacation horror story. From the mind behind Incidents Around the House, Josh Malerman’s latest thriller novel Pictures of You is an unnerving plunge into psychological mystery. Shrouded in secrets, with danger lurking around every sandy dune and dark alleyway, Malerman’s newest work is sure to keep readers guessing and wanting more.
Something sinister lies in wait in a sleepy town on the shores of Lake Michigan. Wainscott, the lakeside tourist destination at the heart of the novel, is eerie from the jump. Its citizens are cagey. Even when crowded, its establishments feel oddly isolating. Wainscott definitely has something to hide, and it’s not clear what that might be. This windy village perched on the dunes of a Great Lake is the perfect setting for fans of Jaws, The Fog, Dead & Buried, and the new hit series Widow’s Bay. We do love a coastal town with dangerous secrets hiding in its shadows.
But ghost stories are the least of the protagonists’ problems, as the true villain is both entirely human and terrifyingly monstrous. Undaunted by the town’s shady nature, protagonists Emily and Jack are on vacation. They’re local to the region, and, most importantly, they’re in love. Just as important questions bubble to the surface and test the limits of their new relationship, the jaws of the villain snap shut.
Emily is taken. She awakes somewhere unfamiliar, bleary-eyed and bewildered, suddenly captive to the whims of an artist who seems obsessed with her. The artist repeatedly refers to Emily as a “still life” and will not let her go until the piece is finished, whatever that might mean. Emily does not want to stick around long enough to find out, as she formulates a plan for escape while staring down the barrel of an empty frame.
Separated from Emily, Jack struggles to uncover what has happened over the course of just one night. Distressed and hopeless, the young couple’s once-bright future together is suddenly and violently ripped from them. The walls are closing in. Time is running out. Will the couple be able to reunite? And what horrific vision lies behind the artist’s eyes, insisting on Emily’s role as a “still life” model? This stranger standing ominously behind the easel knows more than we do, and it’s up to Emily to find out what that might be.
One of the most anticipated releases of 2026, Pictures of You proves to be a great entry point for readers new to Malerman’s work. Known for apocalyptic horror like Bird Box and supernatural scares like Incidents Around the House (the latter of which Rob Savage adapted for the screen as Other Mommy), Malerman’s newest thriller is more grounded, with monstrous humans closing in on its unwitting protagonists. New readers will appreciate Malerman’s straightforward, fast-paced style, and seasoned readers will already be on edge, knowing creeping threats are just around the corner.
Self-contained to the point of claustrophobia, Pictures of You is a serious page-turner, taking place entirely within the town of Wainscott and over the course of less than 24 hours. As the chapters jump from character to character, readers will find themselves ravenous for more as the mystery unfurls. It quickly becomes clear that this story has more to it than meets the eye.
This novel is also perfect for fans of Hitchcockian horror, from its stark landmarks of Small Town USA to the way the story suddenly and turbulently rattles around its otherwise ordinary characters. Fans of Rear Window or Psycho will appreciate the way the mystery unravels layer by shocking layer. The story's psychological edge will also appeal to fans of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and Misery, as the artist behind the easel reaches through the pages to startle and dismay the reader.
As the Halloween season creeps around the corner, horror fans should bolster their shelves with Malerman’s newest thriller. Pictures of You is a perfect companion to any fan of the macabre looking to add something fresh, unique, and compelling to their TBR list.
