Rose Madder

Rose Madder tells the story of Rosie Daniels, a woman who finally escapes after fourteen years of brutal abuse at the hands of her husband Norman, a violent and obsessive police officer. Fleeing to a distant city, Rosie begins rebuilding her life with the help of a women’s shelter, new friends, and a growing sense of independence. Her fresh start takes a strange turn when she acquires a mysterious painting of a woman in a rose-madder-colored gown, a work of art that gradually reveals itself to be a gateway to a fantastical and dangerous world. As Norman relentlessly tracks her down, Rosie is drawn deeper into the painting’s mythic realm, where she must confront fear, trauma, and hidden reserves of strength. Blending psychological thriller, fantasy, and horror, the novel explores themes of survival, healing, empowerment, and the lasting effects of domestic violence.