'Chelsea Bieker breathes thrilling, risky energy into the familiar trope of the madwoman... A well-paced and absorbing page-turner.' New York Times



CLOVE HAS SPENT YEARS BUILDING THE PERFECT LIFE. IT'S ABOUT TO COME CRASHING DOWN.



To the outside world, Clove has it all. But then a letter arrives from a women's prison in California – a letter that threatens to expose the secrets of a past she has worked so hard to hide. Thanks to her lies, Clove has the life of her dreams, complete with a kind, reliable husband, two adorable children and a stable family home. 



So what, if silencing the memories of her own abusive childhood means racking up a little credit card debt or obsessing about her wellness routine? Nothing to see here. But secret past and insta-perfect present are about to collide thanks to her mother's unwelcome return, and soon Clove becomes caught up in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the very people she thought she had outrun.



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



'A truly stunning read – this is my book of the year.' Ella Berman



 A Time Magazine 'Most Anticipated Book of Fall 2024'