Portrait of a Nuclear Family

By: JP Behrens

Narrated by: Erin deWard

Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Wanda has uncovered a dark secret that could shatter the image of her perfect family.

Attempting to force the situation back into the societal framework shed strived for years to present, events spiral out of control. Secrets threaten to emerge from a carefully suppressed past and become public. To save her family's reputation, Wanda succumbs to a madness no one could have expected.

©2022 JP Behrens (P)2024 Fright Night Audio

Critic reviews

"Dark and violent, yet with a surprising amount of heart, it's hard to believe J.P. Behrens's Portrait of a Nuclear Family is a debut novel. Crafted with a sure hand, the suspense rises to an almost unbearable tension. And that ending -- people are going to be talking about it for a long time!" (Nicholas Kaufmann, bestselling author of 100 Fathoms Below (with Steven L. Kent) and The Hungry Earth)

"Visceral and grotesque, Behrens paints a portrait that will stay with you long after you've finished reading." (Jacob Haddon, editor of LampLight Magazine)

"JP Behrens delivers a twisted tale of horror and madness, a bold story with surprises aplenty and a powerful narrative. Highly recommended." (James A. Moore, author of the Blood Red trilogy)

Wonderful narration amplifies psychological horror

J.P. Behrens’ PORTRAIT OF A NUCLEAR FAMILY is a masterclass in psychological horror, offering a chilling glimpse into the darkness that can reside within the most seemingly ordinary families.
A superb performance by Erin deWard elevates PORTRAIT OF A NUCLEAR FAMILY to new heights of psychological tension and emotional depth. deWard masterfully captures the subtle nuances of each character, bringing their inner turmoil and hidden fears to life with an authenticity that makes the story even more haunting. The pacing is perfectly controlled, allowing the underlying dread to build steadily, while the shifts in tone and emotion are handled with finesse, making each moment resonate powerfully. The narration not only enhances the unsettling atmosphere of the novel but also adds a layer of intimacy, drawing the listener into the heart of the family's unraveling with an intensity that is both captivating and chilling. An outstanding audio experience that truly complements Behrens' dark and compelling story.

This book was wild!

I’ve been wanting to read this book since its release, but due to the time available to me for reading I find it easiest to consume books through audio. I was lucky enough to be given a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I usually prefer male narrators, but Erin deWard did an absolutely fantastic job telling the story as Wanda descends further into madness. This story is about a woman who will do anything to keep her family’s reputation spotless, even after tragedy strikes. The secrets and the lies that go deeper and deeper as the story progresses really drew me in. This is my favorite type of story and it was done so well. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next! The last scene was amazing and I would love to see this played out on screen. This book would make a great season of American Horror Story as it is just so odd and eerie and creepy.

This book is dark. It’s not overly gory, but there were some scenes that made me cringe.

Content/trigger warning: there is violence toward children and animals in this book. I don’t feel it was done for shock value but that it added to the storyline, but if that is something that you take issue with, this might not be the best story for you.

The only negative for me is that after the first half of the book the chapters got out of sync and what was showing on the app as it was playing wasn’t correct (end credits with an hour left, then switched back to opening credits). This did not affect the playback and there’s a possibility that it was an issue with my audible app, as I’ve had some trouble with it over the past couple of months.

What would you do to protect your family's image?

It's November. Wanda, a mother and housewife of a perfect family, is cleaning the room of her 16 year old son Nathan, when she makes a horrific discovery. She finds his notebook, and it's filled with page after page of very detailed and very disturbing drawings. She mentions it to her husband Charles, but he brushes it off. As the days go on, she starts noticing an eerie trend with her oldest. She's getting calls from the school about his behavior. She notices him eyeing his younger brother Simon in a frightening way. And what does he keep doing alone in the woods?

She grows more and more scared of Nathan every day, fearing for not only her youngest, but also for her family's perfect image. As Nathan shows more and more signs of becoming unhinged, Wanda is desperate to keep his actions and behaviors a secret from the world. She'll do anything for her perfect family.

This book shook me to my very core. At no point did I actually know where things were heading. We see characters unravel. We see secrets come out. We see a story unfold. We see that, like in life, things are not always what they seem behind closed doors.

The narrator did an incredible job. You could feel the tension growing in Wanda's voice throughout the entire thing.

Wild family secrets!!

This is a wild story with family secrets, lots of darkness and total madness! The book has some interesting twists that I didn’t see coming and the story is pretty horrific! Especially the fantastic ending! It takes family drama to a whole new level!

The author did a great job with the writing and it’s a story I couldn’t stop reading!

One of my favorite lines ever- “maybe we’ll say a small prayer over the bodies- in the name of the pork, the chicken and the roast beef.”

I listened to the audio version and the narrator did an amazing job also.

This is a very enjoyable read!

Uncomfortable

This boon has probably made me the most uncomfortable I have ever been while reading a book, but it was soooooo good.
I was lucky to receive this audiobook from Joe Hempel and I was blown away. The story was gripping and Erin did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life.

I give this book four and a half stars because it drew me in and I had no clue where I was going, I was just along for the ride.
JP Behrens is a staple with me, and after completing this book I believe that I have read all of his published works.

if you are looking for a creepy uncomfortable read, look no further. Pick up Portrait of a Nuclear Family today!