THE MADNESS OF IDA MAE

In her first collection of fictional short stories, Christine Bagley demonstrates her exceptional talent for diverse storytelling. Using dry wit and an unleashed imagination, she skillfully blends humor with empathy in developing each of her memorable characters. In these twelve standalone narratives, the reader will recognize the fine line between love and hate, sanity and insanity, and ego versus reality. Fluctuating between crime and straight drama, all of these stories feature men and women facing a crucial decision. The question is—how many will cross the line, and how many will do the right thing?

Set in scenic New England, a woman struggles to accept her husband’s child by another woman. A man’s lengthy isolation on a deserted beach drives him to the unspeakable. A desperate woman resorts to extreme measures to win her husband back. A wealthy recluse hires a young artist to paint him as King Ludwig II. And a woman killed in a shameful event from the past, returns to right history.