Pretty Pictures

by Nancy Savage

Every picture tells a story. But sometimes, the ending is deadly.

Ruby Blake is desperate for a fresh start. Uprooting her two children, Mory and Cameron, she's convinced this move will finally be the one that sticks. The house is ideal, the neighbors seem friendly, and when she meets Justin, it's everything she's been waiting for. 

But the cracks soon appear. Her new home needs more than just a lick of paint. The woman next door is a living nightmare. And Justin isn't telling her the whole truth. Then Ruby begins finding photographs hidden throughout the house – images of women that grow more disturbing the longer she looks at them.

When Mory starts keeping secrets of her own, Ruby realizes her perfect new life is already unraveling. Because someone is watching. Someone who knows the truth behind the pictures. Someone who is willing to do anything to keep the past buried.

Pretty Pictures  is a gripping and unsettling thriller perfect for fans of C.L. Taylor, Lisa Jewell and John Marrs.

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2026

About the author

Nancy Savage writes psychological thrillers published by Bloodhound Books and Inkubator Books. Her books are available in print, ebook, audio, and on Kindle Unlimited. She lives in a house overlooking the hills with her partner, their six kids, and two cats — and is always plotting her next twist.

Reviews

[c.kingreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️.

NANCY SAVAGE NEVER DISAPPOINTS. OH GOD. What a wonderful book! Twist after Twist. She left me speechless. LIKE I DIDN’T EXPECTED THAT at all.

I love when that happens in thriller books. It makes me to read more and more until I got to the story climax.

[Rebecca Charlesworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really well written storyline that grabbed my interest from the start and really didn’t let go till the end. I thought I might have figured it out only to be blind sided and be so completely wrong, really did not see the end coming.

[Mickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a divorce and several years of moving from one rental to another, Ruby has finally bought a permanent home for herself and her two children, Mory and Cameron. The house is in desperate need of renovation, and with very little money to spare, Ruby decides to tackle the work herself.
While ripping up the carpet, she discovers a Polaroid photograph of a young woman. At first, Ruby assumes it’s a photo of a former owner, but when more Polaroids of different women begin to appear, she notices something unsettling. Despite their wide smiles, every woman in the photos looks terrified. Something happened to them, and Ruby becomes determined to uncover the truth.

Well… dang. What a book. It started off a little slow, but for once that didn’t bother me, I couldn’t put it down. By the time Ruby found the first photo, I was completely hooked. The characters were all well written, each with obvious and not-so-obvious flaws that made them feel real.
I didn’t figure out who the killer was until it was revealed on the page, although I was certain it wasn’t either of the two men being accused, it felt too obvious. The actual reveal was genuinely shocking.
My only complaint? It wasn’t long enough. I definitely wanted more. That said, it was a fantastic read. This is my first book by this author, and I’ll be adding their entire backlist to my TBR immediately.

[Jacqueline Moxon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written, gripping story that is easy to read. I devoured it in a day. The chapters are relatively short, so it’s easy to read “just one more”. When divorced mum, Ruby, moves into her new home in Lonerock, she knows that she has some work to do to convert the neglected house into a cosy home. She is also aware that she cannot offer her two children the same degree of comfort and excitement that they enjoy with her ex husband and his new partner. Fortunately, both children seem to have formed attachments to other youngsters living nearby. As the DIY work progresses, Ruby is, at first, intrigued but, then, disturbed by some photos she uncovers of smiling girls. She becomes friends, and then more, with Justin, whose wife died when their son was a baby. However, she soon learns that people she had trusted have lied to her. Added to this, her elderly neighbour is downright unpleasant. The author certainly keeps the reader guessing, with various twists and surprises. A good read.

[Robin Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked before the end of the very first chapter and everything that followed was addictive. I absolutely loved this book and couldn't turn the pages fast enough but at the same time didn't want it to ever end.
The characters are all so well drawn and realistic. Not a stereotype in sight. I had empathy in abundance.
The small town community is a perfect backdrop for a plot that is original, intriguing, clever and complex, and keeps throwing up surprises. The twists and turns in the story come thick and fast and just when one thinks there can't be another twist...there is!
As a psychological thriller the premise is pitch perfect but there is also a very strong whodunit element.
A must read for anyone who likes the genre.

[Lori Corbett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Pretty Pictures by Nancy Savage keeps readers guessing until the very last page. Told through alternating viewpoints of a mother and her daughter, Savage skillfully pulls the reader into the intertwined worlds of Ruby and Mory.

Recently divorced, Ruby moves her two children, Mory and Cameron, into a fixer-upper in the small town of Lonerock, hoping for a fresh start. As renovations begin, Ruby discovers mysterious photographs of women hidden throughout the house and soon realizes they tell a disturbing story. As secrets unravel, it becomes clear that not everyone—and not everything—is as it seems.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a fast paced psychological thriller that will keep you guessing and have you turning page after page this is definitely for you! I was so invested in this book every time I thought I was in the right track to figuring out the plot Nancy throws a twist making you second guess and you go down a separate rabbit hole.

Being kidnapped (and no I’m not talking about our sexy masked dark romance kidnappers 🥰😉) like real crazy scary people is my worst fear and Pretty Pictures had me curling up in my blanket, making sure doors are locked 🤣 such a good book and oh the nice little twist we get in the Epilogue !! Definitely never even crossed my mind that would have happened!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby buys a house that needs renovation, which she is going to do herself. She finds photos of girls smiling, dressed in 80's style clothing. No one recognizes the girls, but it is beyond creepy. Their lips might be smiling, but their eyes show terror.

Very well written thriller. So many twists, many of which I didn't predict. Wow! I loved this book, and can recommend. This is the second book I have read by this author, and am planning on reading Cabin 14 in the near future.

Do yourself a favour and get hold of this book, you won't be disappointed. I wasn't!!

[Jillian Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely fantastic book.
This was raw & very twisty especially towards the end but I enjoyed it immensely.
I would definitely give this book top marks.
Ruby and her two children move into a new home after Ruby’s divorce from their father and all three of them have to find their feet in a new town but I don’t think any of them would known what would happen when Ruby uncovered some seemingly old photos hidden in the house when she started renovating it.
Absolutely brilliant.

[Denise Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tension builds from the off with this one, clues (and risks) in every chapter, from a gruesome, sickening start. The author uses everyday situations and higlights the wierd or exaggerated imaginings.
Written from 2 points of view, and with suspects changing frequently, I was gripped and had to binge read the last 25 chapters to find the conclusion…which was, of course NOT what I expected….and then there was a twist…….!!!!!

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can not tell if I have read a Nancy Savage book before, but boi, I did not regret reading this one! The atmosphere was really unsettling, and I only could read it with the lights on, literally. Like, who is leaving the hidden photographs in the house? And is Justin, the man Ruby has just met and really likes, really who he pretends to be? I really had to binge-read this one! Very much recommended!

[Angi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Savage has another winner with Pretty Pictures! She is excellent at character development and makes you care what happens to the characters. This one was intriguing and suspenseful with lots of twists and turns. You are literally guessing through the whole book trying to figure it out. I'm still picking up my jaw that dropped to the floor with the unpredictable ending!! Run don't walk to read this one.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really felt sorry for Ruby for everything she had been through and what she’s now facing. After all, it’s not easy to go through a divorce and try to keep two kids happy…which isn’t going so well. But when Ruby starts finding pictures around her house while remodeling, things really start to go sideways. What completely shocked me, though, was the ending—no way did I see that coming! I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Emma Ounsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid creepy thriller with a decent twist towards the end.
The characters were well written and I found myself sympathetic to what Ruby had to deal with.
A quaint setting though a little suffocating which only added to the atmosphere of the plot, which was steadily paced and thorough throughout.

[De Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one you won’t put down. So mad I had to adult and not read in one sitting! I received this book as an arc read.

First….suspense…second….shocking…third…MORY and RUBY!!!! What!!!

That end epilogue read it don’t skip it’s vital!!!!!

10/10!!!!!

[Yvette Salmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what a book that keeps turning the page. A good thriller that is told by mother and daughter. Good storyline and good characters , it’s a book that you want to keep reading but don’t want it to finish .

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally was going to give this a 3 star rating. It was a good read. There was a good twist which I saw coming--but it was still good. But this gets an additional star for the last surprise at the end which I did not see coming.

[Delisha Hunt-Colbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The end got me!

Very good read! I love all the twist and turns! As soon as I thought I had it figured out, something happens to make me think otherwise! The ending was very "jaw dropping"!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good! Good storyline that keeps you guessing, nice short chapters & moves along nicely.

[Tea and Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I found it a little predictable except for the plot twist at the end. I would recommend if you're in a reading slump.

[Laura Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it! Couldn’t put it down

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby had hoped to make life better for her children with a new start but not everything was as she’d hoped. A chilling story about a mystery man.

[Tracy ann Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby has 2 children a son and daughter she is divorced and now finally has the money to buy a house. that needs work she and her children move in her one neighbour not so friendly. the children settle in, but her daughter resents her mum a little bit. Ruby starts on the house but starts finding photos of women under the floorboards. Ruby forms a relationship with Justin but there is a mystery surrounding his wife who disappeared. it's a very gripping twisty read