Black and Blue

More about the book

This stunning novel explores a woman's journey through a passionate marriage that turns violent. The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author transitions into a powerful fiction writer, eliciting strong emotions akin to her previous works. The story follows Fran Benedetto, who at 19 falls in love with Bobby Benedetto, only to find their passionate marriage devolving into a nightmare. The narrative delves into her reasons for staying and the pivotal night she decides to escape with her 10-year-old son, seeking a new life under a new name. As Fran navigates life in Florida, she grapples with fear while gradually finding confidence, freedom, and hope. The complex threads of family, identity, and desire shape her existence as she attempts to heal from her past. She begins to believe she has truly escaped Bobby, who once ignited a tumultuous mix of attraction and destruction. The novel is a beautifully crafted, heart-stopping tale that showcases the real lives of men and women, the complexities of love, the bonds between mother and child, and the solace found in family and friendship. With power, wisdom, and humor, the author captures the inexplicable connections between people passionately intertwined in ways they struggle to comprehend.