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Book Summary and Reviews of Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

Strange Sally Diamond

by Liz Nugent

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  • Published:
  • Jul 2023, 320 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

The internationally bestselling author of Lying in Wait returns with a wickedly dark, twisted, and brilliantly observed new novel about an enigmatic woman confronting her unknown past.

Reclusive Sally Diamond causes outrage by trying to incinerate her dead father. Now she's the center of attention, not only from the hungry media and police detectives, but also a sinister voice from a past she does not remember. As she begins to discover the horrors of her early childhood, Sally steps into the world for the first time, making new friends, big decisions, and learning that people don't always mean what they say.

But who is the man observing Sally from the other side of the world, and why does he call her Mary? And why does her new neighbor seem to be obsessed with her? Sally's trust issues are about to be severely challenged in this "inventive, addictive, and bold" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) thriller.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Nugent fashions an unforgettable protagonist in Sally, and never loses sight of her characters' fundamental humanity, even as she piles on twists and steers the narrative into exceptional darkness. Inventive, addictive, and bold, this deserves a wide audience." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Sally is an appealing character—strange, yes, but also engagingly literal. Nugent hits exactly the right tone of empathy and optimism." —Kirkus Reviews

"Nugent writes relatable, imperfect characters… This well-written, engaging novel isn't for the light of heart, but it will find a home with readers who thrive on intricate plotlines and character development." —Booklist

"The best book I've read this year. A truly incredible reading experience." —Lisa Jewell, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Then She Was Gone and Watching You

"Shocking, disturbing and utterly original, Strange Sally Diamond will grip you from first page to last." —Paula Hawkins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Train

This information about Strange Sally Diamond was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

Reader Reviews

Write your own reviewwrite your own review

Jill

Dark Thriller
Narration by: Jessica Regan, Stephen Hogan and Sara Lyman was exceptionally well done and highly recommend.

“When I die, put me out with the bins. I'll be dead, so I won't know any different..."
When the time came...I followed his instructions."

—— and you are immediately drawn inside the life of Sally Diamond.

Another chilling and haunting psychological thriller that Liz Nugent has written; with complex characters that I throughly enjoyed. I could not stop listening to this. Following the story of Sally Diamond haunted by a traumatic yet forgotten past. The repressed memories and events of her childhood influence her personality, actions, and psychological well-being.

The novel shifts between various timelines and multiple narrators to unveil the mysteries of her past. Sally receives a gift in the mail that will bring in another theme running through this dark and twisted story.

Examining the dilemma of nature versus nurture and good vs. evil, making for one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long-time. Will a series or movie come from this…. I can only hope for. This is Liz Nugent at her best yet.

Gloria M

Disturbing Twists
Liz Nugent has written a family drama containing a totally original plot line and several disturbing twists with "Strange Sally Diamond." Sally is an extremely antisocial introvert at the age of forty-three and still lives with her adoptive elderly father. Why is she like this? The tale unfolds slowly as we get captured by the character, rooting for her to find a new safe and productive path.

Though it is easy to care about Sally, it is difficult to actually like her. Introverts might find a few connections with her behavior, but it is so hard to agree with her choice to both completely ignore the evidence about her family members and adhere to her own false narratives about them.

There are two perspectives for the reader to ponder, that of Sally and one of a boy from the past. How do these puzzle pieces interlock? This will definitely appeal to mystery fans in addition to those who like family stories. It is a strong piece of fiction and one readers will not regret choosing.

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Author Information

Liz Nugent

Liz Nugent has worked in Irish film, theater, and television for most of her adult life. She is an award-winning writer of radio and television drama and has written critically acclaimed short stories both for children and adults, as well as the bestselling novels Unraveling Oliver, Lying in Wait, and Little Cruelties. She lives in Dublin and has won four Irish Book Awards, as well as the James Joyce Medal for Literature.

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