Madwoman

'A suspenseful character study of a woman on the verge from a titan of literary fiction.' Vanity Fair

'Suspenseful and satisfying' Observer

'Madwoman is a feminist page-turner — sharp writing meets daring plotting and defiant truth-telling. The result is a firecracker of a novel, an exploration between two covers.' Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage, winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction  

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

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

'A powerful thriller. The vivid writing gripped me all the way through in this satisfying story of reinvention.' Good Housekeeping

'A smart, whiplash suspense.' People Magazine

'A striking and visceral exploration of female identity and societal expectations. Following her acclaimed debut, Godshot, Bieker continues to delve into complex emotional landscapes with a raw and evocative style... Madwoman reinforces Bieker's reputation for crafting thought-provoking, emotionally charged narratives that resonate deeply with readers.'Glamour

'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, Women We Burned

'This book made me laugh and cry. It reads like a thriller and a love song. It’s about being crushed and rising strong.' Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild

'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

'Unputdownable. Harrowing while somehow also being deeply funny and furiously wise. Chelsea Bieker is a daredevil and a wonder.' Claudia Dey, author of Daughter

'Madwoman is brilliant. The rare kind of book that lives in your bones, as riveting as it is intimate. This is emotional suspense at its best... Fresh, urgent, and darkly comic. A novel hasn't consumed me like this in a very long time.' Ashley Audrain, author of The Push

'An indelible portrait of what living with intergenerational trauma and a legacy of abuse can look like. In the guise of a suspense story, Bieker delves into the heart of what it really means to survive violence.' Kirkus

'Courageous, funny, and with a number of twists, Madwoman is a story about carnage, recovery and hope.' Platinum Magazine

'A tale about reinvention and forging a life in which your past doesn't define you. A powerful read.' Prima

'Though this novel has plenty of love, generosity, and absurdist humour...what makes it so moving and so brilliant is how it unpacks the legacy of childhood abuse, when even innocent acts by another person can feel like an immediate threat to survival.' Oprah Daily

'[A] brave, grim and gripping story... I was hooked.' Daily Mail

'Written in a searing first person, the novel gallops through shock twists and turns... This novel’s examination of the long-term impact of domestic abuse is insightful, and the depiction of the alliances and connections made by women in extremes is intriguing.' The Conversation

'[Full of] ingenious twists... not an easy read but a heartfelt one.' Crime Time

'A book that explores the complexity of life after trauma, and for every event that you anticipate, there are more surprises and twists and turns that you won’t see coming.' Service95

'Madwoman creates an unflinching and confessional narrative voice. It's subtle in revealing the refracted torments of intergenerational trauma, and in the difficulty of untangling justice for victims of domestic abuse.' Sydney Morning Herald