Review of Family Portrait by Graham Masterton

Family Portrait by Graham Masterton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow. The Picture of Dorian Gray is one of my all-time favorite books. I read it nearly twenty years ago when I was fifteen, and it affected me in a way I hadn't expected. The flippant, hedonistic attitudes of the characters would have ordinarily repulsed me, but Wilde's prose had been so enchanting, I found myself caring for these characters and getting wrapped up in their vain pursuits. When I discovered one of my favorite horror authors had written a novel based on one of my favorite books, I said, "How have I not read this yet!?" and I eagerly dived in.

I can honestly say this is one of the best horror books I've read in a while. Masterton is amazing at painting a scene, drawing out suspense, and crafting his cast. He's one of my favorites for understanding that the horror genre is about more than just scares. When you open up the reader's mind by triggering their fear, there's an opportunity to play on so many other emotions, and Masterton uses this opportunity to its fullest.

Family Portrait was written around the same time I was born, and yet, there was nothing to indicate it was penned over thirty years ago. Just like the Grays, nothing here has aged. The plot is still fresh, all this time later. I especially liked how this story is an origin story, the idea being that a real family inspired Oscar Wilde's most famous work - a family with a dark secret and an aging portrait. An easy five stars, no question.

Read this one if you haven't.



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