Overview

Playing with Fire: A BitterSweet story of suspense and survival, romance and revenge. In the winter of 1952, the Madsen family home went up in flames. Matilda and Jesse Sr. perished in the fire, and authorities believed fifteen-year-old Bonnie died in the basement, trapped beneath a blaze fueled by moonshine and Sterno. Her gravestone was etched in smoke and ash. But the truth was far more complicated. Bonnie Madsen survived that night. Armed with a train ticket and a borrowed name, she buried her past and disappeared into a life built on layers of reinvention. As Eliza, she built a career, forged friendships and romances, and gave generously to her community. Yet buried with Bonnie were family secrets too dangerous--too horrific--to bring to light. For thirty-five years, she kept them hidden, some even from herself. When Jess Madsen Jr. and his niece Dawn uncover evidence that Bonnie might still be alive, they turn to retired homicide detective Joe Minelli for help. Joe remembers the Madsens from one of his last cases on the Baltimore County police force, and the chance to unravel what really happened draws him in. His search leads him to Florida, where every lead peels back another layer of truth-about Bonnie, her family, and even himself. Unflinching yet tender, Playing with Fire pulls readers deep into a tangle of human emotion-trauma that scars and love that heals. Spanning fifty years-from the 1930s through the 1980s-the novel moves between past and present, alive with the culture, music, and atmosphere of each era. Mystery, romance, and psychological suspense collide in a BitterSweet story of survival, revenge, and the unbreakable bonds of family. Perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing, Safe Haven, and Sleeping with the Enemy, this prequel to Beyond the Broken Window stands alone as a powerful saga. Its smoke will linger in your thoughts long after the flames subside.

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Joy Strouse is writer, artist, teacher, actor, mom and Granjoy. As an author, she paints with words, vivid and authentic, driven by a creative spirit and a deep understanding of the human condition. Strouse has a rare gift for immersing readers deep into the lives of her characters and their world. With tenderness and insight, she reveals their joys, heartbreaks, and quiet truths in a way that feels both intimate and universal. Their voices echo long after the final page, as if they were people you have truly known. Join her at https://joystrouseauthor.com for side stories, updates, and events.

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