The Violence

How far would you go to be free? Three generations of women forge a new path through an America torn by a mysterious wave of violence in this “chilling [and] dizzyingly effective” (The New York Times Book Review) novel of revenge, liberation, and triumph.

“A compulsively readable fusion of domestic thriller and modern horror.”—Kameron Hurley, author of The Light Brigade

“A novel that defines this era.”—Stephen Graham Jones, New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times

They call it The Violence: a strange epidemic that causes the infected to experience sudden bursts of animalistic rage, with no provocation and no memory of their crimes. While it tears the nation apart, one woman sees something unlikely in the chaos—an opportunity. 

Chelsea Martin has been a prisoner in her own home for too long. Her controlling husband has manipulated her for years, cutting her off from all support. Her narcissistic mother is no help, and her teen daughter is realizing she might be falling into the same trap when her once adoring boyfriend shows a dark side. 
 
But when the Violence erupts, Chelsea creates a plan to liberate herself and her daughters once and for all. 
 
What follows is a shocking and thrilling journey as three generations of women navigate a world in which they are finally empowered to fight back. Somewhere along the journey from her magazine-ready Tampa home to the professional wrestling ring, Chelsea becomes her own liberator, an avatar of revenge and hope, and a new heroine for a new world.“A paean to the resilience of women . . . As the characters in this novel fight for their lives in a pandemic-cursed hellscape, The Violence could not be more of-the-moment.”—Alma Katsu, author of The Hunger and The Deep

“Delilah S. Dawson has crafted a pandemic thriller that’s so much more—a piercing examination of survival, courage, and self, terrifying and hopeful in equal measure.”—Peng Shepherd, award-winning author of The Book of M

“The Violence in The Violence might be contagious, but what you really catch here is the anger—so righteous and so right here, right now—in a novel that defines this era.”—Stephen Graham Jones, New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians

“An inspiring story of self-discovery, resilience, and hope, and a page-turning thrill ride that will leave you breathless.”—Sylvain Neuvel, author of The Themis Files and A History of What Comes Next

“Horrifying and inspiring in equal measure, The Violence shines a light on the epidemic of abuse women have always endured, folded into a stellar thriller full of danger, courage, and characters who feel alive.”—Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Road of Bones and Ararat

“The Violence is Dawson at her best: unflinching yet empathetic, the brutal and the gentle side by side, rage and despair tempered with joy and hope.”—Kevin Hearne, New York Times bestselling author of the Ink & Sigil series

“The Violence isn’t just a timely, ripping thriller—it’s an intimate, thoughtful, heart-wrenching portrait of abuse and power, and how those things ripple through generations.”—Rob Hart, author of The Warehouse

“With The Violence, Dawson takes no damn prisoners: a powerful, fascinating, and courageous gut punch of a book.”—Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Relentless and V-Wars
 
“A compulsively readable fusion of domestic thriller and modern horror that shocks and surprises at every turn. A must-read!”—Kameron Hurley, author of The Light Brigade

“A staggering, masterful tale of survival and redemption during a literal epidemic of violence. Dawson is a storyteller working at the top of her class.”—Chuck Wendig, New York Times bestselling author of Wanderers

“Visceral, thrilling . . . A novel paced like a fistfight, aching like a just-gone tooth—but there’s hope in the harrowing.”—Max Gladstone, Hugo and Nebula award–winning author

“The Violence is a stunning story with a cast of fully developed characters and an utterly convincing plot. It's a dark, exciting, and often charming tale of three amazing people who discover just how strong women can be.”—Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches

“Dawson pulls no punches in The Violence, an edge-of-your-seat thriller packed with horror and hope. You won’t put this one down until the wee hours of the morning.”—Christina Dalcher, bestselling author of Vox

“With three-dimensional female characters and a timely subject, Delilah Dawson’s The Violence reads like Stephen King at his best. A powerful, moving story with broad appeal.”—Sara Donati, bestselling author of the Wilderness series