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Madwoman

Published by Oneworld Publications
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

An unexpected letter from her mother threatens to pull Clove back to a life she's left behind, in this thrilling novel from an explosive new talent

Clove has spent the past few years meticulously crafting a family life that looks nothing like the one she grew up in. She has a reliable husband, two loving children, a stable home: so what if ignoring the stubborn tendrils of her traumatic past means racking up a little credit card debt or indulging in a light obsession with wellness? Clove is doing just fine.

Or she is until a letter arrives from a women’s prison in California – a letter that threatens to expose the violent past Clove has worked so hard to conceal. Soon, she becomes entangled in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game with the very people she thought she’d outrun.

Bold, compassionate and full of surprising twists, Madwoman is a story about violence, recovery, and Clove’s refusal to be defined by her worst experiences.

About The Author

Chelsea Bieker is the author of the debut novel Godshot, which was a finalist for both the Oregon and California Book Awards, longlisted for The Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize, and named a Barnes & Noble Pick of the Month. Her story collection, Heartbroke, was a New York Times 'Best California Book of 2022' and an NPR Best Book of the Year. Her writing has appeared in The Paris Review, Granta, The Cut, McSweeney's, and elsewhere. She is the recipient of a Rona Jaffe Writers' Award, as well as residencies at MacDowell and Tin House. Originally from California's Central valley, she lives in Portland, Oregon with her family.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Oneworld Publications (September 5, 2024)
  • Length: 336 pages
  • ISBN13: 9780861547890

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Raves and Reviews

'Chelsea Bieker is an absolutely crackling talent.' Lauren Groff, author of Matrix

'Darkly funny, heart-smashing, and absolutely unforgettable, Madwoman is a masterpiece.' Rachel Yoder, author of Nightbitch

'You won’t be able to turn away from this book, not even for a second.' T Kira Madden, author of Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls

'Madwoman lives at that harrowing edge where despair and violence collide. A story of deceit, delusion, love, and terror, this novel is a scream at dawn, an impossible-to-forget story told by an author whose work I will now forever adore.' Rachel Louise Snyder, author of Women We Buried

'An impossible-to-forget story told by an author whose work I will now forever adore.' Rachel Louise Snyder, author of Women We Buried

'Electrifying and vital, Madwoman is literary suspense of the highest order... A brilliant novel from a blazing, singular talent.' Kimberly King Parsons, author of Black Light

'This intense, propulsive novel takes an age-old story right up to the minute. In portraying the exhausting attempt to overcome violence and safeguard loved ones, Bieker writes with urgency, integrity and emotional acuity.' Caoilinn Hughes, author of The Wild Laughter

'Such a refreshing read. I've never met a protagonist like this before. Bieker wrote very sensitive, heavy subject matter in a way that was inviting. I felt safe reading even the darkest moments, as they were handled so masterfully.' Chloe Michelle Howarth, author of Sunburn

'I devoured every perfect sentence... A truly stunning read - this is my book of the year.' Ella Berman, author of Before We Were Innocent

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