The Marriage Vendetta: 'Wonderfully edgy and exquisitely funny' - Joseph O'Connor

(Paperback)

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Description

Eliza's playwright husband Richard Sheridan has accepted the career opportunity of a lifetime: running a prestigious theatre in Dublin. Eliza plays the role of the supportive wife - uprooting their daughter Mara, relocating from England to Dublin, running the household and managing Richard's paperwork - but inside, she's burning with resentment.

Eliza was once a globe-trotting classical pianist; now, her time is consumed by the dramas of the judgmental 'momfluencers' at the caf across from Mara's school, where she spends hours anxiously watching her lonely daughter during playtimes.

When she's sent a suggestive photo of Richard with another woman, it's the last straw. She turns to mysterious marriage therapist Ellen Early for help. But Eliza has no idea just how far Ms. Early is willing to go to get results...

The Marriage Vendetta offers the wry wit of Sorrow and Bliss, crossed with the quirky, relatable tone and ultimately uplifting journey of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. There's a touch of BBC's Motherland in the portrayal of parental schoolyard politics - and the dark comedy of Bad Sisters. Eliza's sardonic voice was honed by Caroline in a popular column in The Irish Times.

Reviews

'A wonderfully edgy and exquisitely funny debut from a writer who is here to stay' -- Joseph O'Connor * author of My Father's House and The Ghosts of Rome *
'Addictive and acerbic, this laugh-out-loud novel is full of heart and totally, utterly unpredictable' -- Colin Walsh * author of Kala *
'Sharp, witty and brilliantly unpredictable, The Marriage Vendetta is a breathtaking thrill-ride from a bold new voice in fiction' -- Joseph Murray * author of Fling *
'A sharply funny skewering of the upper middle classes of Dublin with an elegant dose of magic realism, The Marriage Vendetta traverses the politics of the private school playground, the compromises of motherhood and the grasping shenanigans of high finance and the theatre world and questions whether there's any place for personal ambition in marriage. It's a compelling, superbly confident debut' -- Lauren MacKenzie * author of The Couples *
'Laced with social commentary, humour and even a dash of magic, The Marriage Vendetta is a smart yet tender look at all of the vagaries of the modern relationship. Featuring a heroine you will root for, and an all too believable supporting cast, this book kept me turning the pages and hoping for a fairy-tale ending for all concerned' -- Sinad Crowley * author of The Belladonna Maze *
'A great read - witty, wicked and packed with surprises. A tale of a gaslighted wife finding her mojo and exacting the ultimate revenge on a lying, cheating, selfish husband with the aid of some mysterious substances. Read it where you can laugh out loud in safety!' -- William Wall * author of Empty Bed Blues *
'I devoured this book in a day and a half, could not put it down!!! Such a refreshingly original new voice, and what an accomplished debut. Devilishly funny with so many snort laugh moments. Loved the protagonist Eliza, and her daughter Mara and was thoroughly entertained by the rest of the fabulous cast of characters. A rare combination of clever sparkling wit and delicious suspense that grips you from the first chapter and doesn't let go' -- Michelle McDonagh * author of There is Something I Have to Tell You *
'A sort of dark modern Irish fairy tale with the occasional feel of an acerbic Restoration comedy, Caroline Madden's The Marriage Vendetta is highly entertaining and compulsively readable' -- Alan Glynn * author of Limitless *
'Hilarious, clever, unpredictable, and so, so relatable. Unputdownable. Hooked from the first page. Full of twists, turns, and a healthy dose of mysticism as talented pianist Eliza follows an unconventional path towards saving her marriage through a series of vengeful acts. Madden writes beautifully - a fantastic debut. Loved every word' -- Emma Murray * bestselling author of the Time Out parenting trilogy *

Author Bio

Caroline Madden is an Irish journalist and writer.

Having grown up in the countryside of Longford, Caroline got notions and moved to Dublin where she swanned around Trinity College for a few years. She got a degree in something called management science and still isn't sure what exactly that is.

After trying to make it as a corporate stooge, Caroline found herself in the world of journalism where she was able to secretly work on her novels while she was supposed to be writing stock market reports.

She now lives by the sea with her two children and one very small, very loud dog called Benji.

You can find Caroline online at www.carolinemaddenbooks.com. Much as she wishes otherwise, she is not the LA-based infidelity recovery expert Caroline Madden, PhD.