Neobična Sally Diamond (2024)

I'd be very surprised if this doesn't end up being one of the most popular books of 2023. Dark, sad, moving and occasionally funny... it has all the hallmarks of a bestseller.

I had my reservations about Strange Sally Diamond at first. Over the last few years, I've become increasingly aware of and exasperated by books where neurodivergence is not acknowledged-- instead there is a "quirky" character, used for comedic value, allowed to have social struggles without really confronting the spectre of mental health. The description had me worrying this could be another one.

But this is not that kind of book at all. Nugent engages fiercely with Sally's mental illness. In fact, understanding it, and the trauma it grew out of, is at the centre of this story.

Strange Sally Diamond is a much bigger scale story than it first appears. The story moves back and forth in time, between two perspectives, from Ireland to New Zealand and back again, painting a dark, horrific picture of abuse and trauma, testing our limits on how forgiving we can be of a victim when they themselves cross the line.

I really enjoyed Sally's perspective, cared for her, wanted to discover her past and found humour in her inner commentary:

I hung up shortly after we had done the goodbye thing that annoys me: 'Goodbye,' 'Bye,' 'Goodbye,' 'See you later,' 'Yes, goodbye,' 'Bye, then.' So tedious.

Despite this, however, I actually think Sally is only the second most interesting character in this book. The other is less likable, sometimes intensely unlikable, but far more complex. Nugent has explored two different forms of trauma and abuse here; Sally's was the more straightforward of the two.

I would like to reiterate that this is a very dark book that contains physical and sexual abuse, on-page violence, paedophilia and all manner of gross emotional manipulation. I don't recommend it for readers especially sensitive to these subjects.

“I am forty four and I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up”.

The words of Sally Diamond that just about sums up this strange but vulnerable women who we learn from the start lacks the emotional and mental maturity of someone her age and why? Because her story is as dark as it gets and its impact – well just heart-breaking and pitiful.

Sally is the survivor of a disturbing, cruel, and painful past. What has shaped and tormented this woman is slowly unravelled to the reader as the twists and turns keep coming which keeps you hooked and invested in her story with hopeful optimism. The big question is, can anyone ever overcome scars so deeply embedded and events so traumatic and shocking?

The Plot

Sally has learned to live with and accept herself for what she is - a recluse and ‘strange’. Someone socially awkward that is mistrusting of others, and whilst something ‘rare’ and different, she doesn’t know how she got to this place and why her father has encouraged her to disengage from the world around her.

Sally doesn’t talk, so people think she can’t speak. She doesn’t do ‘normal’ things so people see her as strange, but when she takes a comment made by her father quite literally to “..throw him out with the rubbish when he dies”, she creates a media storm that thrusts her into the spotlight that she is ill equipped to deal with. Even worse Sally is ill prepared for the revelations her actions will unveil about herself and her past.

In parallel, we have Steve’s story whose life will becomes entwined with Sally’s. He too has a past!!! And once again with his story we ask ourselves – are some truths too damaging and traumatic to be revealed and healed? This books explores that notion.

Review and Comments

It is fair to say I didn’t engage with this book at the beginning and the notion that anyone would be so clueless that they would take the comment “when I die put me out with the rubbish” as being a genuine request felt too farfetched. However, as I continued reading and the plot deepened, I became fully immersed in the story and loved Sally as a character whose was learning to deal with all her life experiences.

A girl so manipulated and controlled over the years that ever order and request she took literally and with themes of mental illness, abduction, misogyny, rape, and human cruelty and abuse you can appreciate why.!!!

Although this was not a light read, and had plenty of trigger warnings you cannot but root for Sally. A central character who was socially awkward and intriguing, but it was her past present and hopeful future along with some lighter moments and even humour that blew me away. In the end O wanted joy and I always had hope for Sally.

So yes, it was a tormenting and engrossing tale and although a little implausible in parts none of this made it any less chilling and disturbing. The dark themes made for uncomfortable reading at times, yet I was still invested. The story of a young girl’s growth and personal development stunted by the casual cruelty of the townsfolk and those who claimed to protect her was painful, yet I was still eager to read more. The reader is drawn to Sally, with an empathy that is strengthened and not diminished by her past and her ‘oddness’. Why, because this part felt real.

Books about the darker experiences in life and the human condition are always evocative but handled sensitively and in the right way, they do make the most interesting and unforgettable stories and for this reason I would predict this will be one of the most successful books of 2023.

In all, uniquely plotted, psychologically disturbing, 'strangely' addictive, but brilliantly executed, with an adorable but vulnerable central character. Although strange you will not regret meeting Sally Diamond.

4.5 rounding up.

Five Happy Dance Stars!!! 💃💃💃💃💃

Sally's Dad told her to put him out with the trash when he dies. He said that he would be dead so he would not know any difference. So when he dies Sally follows his instructions. He was 80 years old and small. She put him in a large garden trash bag and put it in the barn and carefully put it in the incinerator barrel and put some Petro over the top and set it going. She is now the center of attention from the media.

Sally is socially defective. She acts like a deaf person because she doesn't want to talk to anyone. She also learns that people don't always say what they mean. She never cries. She does not remember any childhood memories before the age of seven. She loves to play the piano. She has PTSD from her traumatic past that she has no memory of. Someone from her past is trying to get a hold of her.

I screamed with excitement when I received this book from the publisher. This is a very dark thriller.
Liz Nugent's books are always dark but this one is her darkest one. I can't express how much I loved this book. Several times my hand covered my face because it was tough to read at times.

The characters in this book were outstanding.
They were done so well. There are good characters and evil characters. I loved Sally the best and loved watching her grow up and meeting friends and following her conversations with them.

I was glued to the pages and I was captivated in the story. I did not want it to end. The book is full of action and does not stop. This is an emotional read. It is very disturbing. After I finished reading it I screamed with excitement again because I loved it so much. I was doing the Happy Dance! 💃💃
So far this is my favorite book of the year and I think
it will stay there all year long.

I want to thank Netgalley, Gallery/Scout Press for the copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

*4.5 stars*

Forty something Sally Diamond put her deceased father out with the rubbish. Nothing wrong with that is there? Well that’s what Sally believes anyway, because her father had always said it - “Just put me out with the bin” The fact that he said it with a laugh didn’t make any difference to Sally, because Sally isn’t like other people, she’s a bit strange. Socially deficient is how her father has always described her.

Sally hasn’t had anything to do with the outside world, she finds it impossible to have a conversation with strangers, and hates people touching her. After her mother died, it was just her and her psychiatrist father in an isolated house in Ireland, and he was quite happy for her to stay home. However, after it’s discovered what she did with him after his death, the world’s media turn up at her door together with the local guards (police) and for a time her name is on everyone’s lips. Then messages start to turn up from a stranger, who seems to know a lot more about her than she does herself, because Sally has no memories of her life before 7 years of age, when her mother and father adopted her, but she’s about to find out, and her life will be completely turned upside down.

There are very some strong characters here, with real depth to them, some of whom are quite horrific, so obviously the storyline is quite dark, shocking even, although it has to be said the writing is sharp and clever. Even though it’s dark, there is plenty of humour thanks to Sally’s inability to hold back her thoughts and feelings. It’s completely gripping for sure, and Sally Diamond will be hard to leave behind, such is the strength of her character.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin General UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *

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GUTTED. This was so dark and heartbreaking yet I couldn’t read it fast enough. I don’t even know what to say but Sally is gonna stay with me for a long time.

3.5🌟
Oh…and it started off so good!😫🤦🏻‍♀️

After her father passed away, Sally found herself alone to navigate a large scary world. And it’s not like Sally is a child. In fact she’s a full grown adult. Just a very sheltered one.

Her father left behind some letters for Sally to open (one letter/week.) They’re intended to help Sally move forward, as well answering a few questions regarding her past. Because she has quite the hidden past!

This was an absolute five-star read for me! Until the bottom dropped out at about 80%. I’m not sure what happened. It was almost as if a different author took over at that point. Everything became rushed, the storyline becoming so convoluted that by the time I reached the end I was hopelessly lost.

I'm rounding down due to the ending.☹️
Hopefully when you pick it up it will remain a five-star read for you…from beginning to end!🤗

Nugent has a talent for creeping into dark minds and portraying it as if the way they think are perfectly reasonable. You might feel a bit dirty and disgusted, but you will feel something. Her books challenge you even if you don’t want to.

I HIGHLY recommend the Audible version, narrated by Jessica Regan, Stephen Hogan and Jessica Lyman. (10 hours, 2 minutes)

Each narrator captured the mood perfectly and sounded exactly as I imagined their character would sound . Plus-when a certain tape is played, complete with whispers, it was downright creepy!

“My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it” THOSE were the opening words to “Lying in Wait”, the first book by Liz Nugent to capture my attention, and she has continued to shock me with her dark, twisted stories of dysfunctional families since then.

Review for Lying in Wait: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And, the opening sentence for Strange Sally Diamond:

“Put me out with the trash” he said regularly. I’ll be dead so I won’t know any different. You’ll be crying your eyes out-(and he would laugh, and his daughter Sally would laugh too, because both knew that Sally NEVER cried)

But then the day arrives and when Sally finds her father has stopped breathing- the reclusive and “Socially Deficient” Strange Sally Diamond does just that-attracting the attention of an entire town!

Her father has left her THREE letters to explain why she has no memories from before the age of 7-(our minds are very good at blocking out disturbing events)

But as Sally discovers WHY she “IS AS SHE IS” and steps out into the World for the first time, at age 44, she will actually come into her own despite the traumatic events of her earliest years, AND the man on the other side of the World who knows her as “Mary”.

Chapters narrated by Peter, fill us in on what Sally and her mother endured (heartbreaking) but I was most captivated by Sally in the present day, as you cannot help but root for her to succeed. (heartwarming).

Strange Sally Diamond will NOT soon be forgotten!

As always with Liz Nugent, there are many possible triggers including but not limited to Captivity, Pedophelia, Rape, Mental and Physical Abuse. No animals are harmed.

AVAILABLE NOW

Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this Audible.

Once again Liz Nugent writes a gripping, shocking, and tense Irish psychological drama with a unforgettable and quirky central character in her 40s, Sally Diamond, complex, blunt and unfiltered in what she says, so much so she might initially give the impression of being on the spectrum, but this is far from the case, the term 'socially deficient' is used. This has chilling, harrowing and heartbreaking themes that will take you through a rollercoaster of emotions, and have you rooting for Sally as the trauma in her background begins to emerge. Sally has been isolated, she has no circle of friends, her mother is dead, and in her naivety she literally does what her father had asked when he dies, she puts him out with the bins.

An act that attracts headlines with the attention of the media and the police, and all the tumult, trauma and chaos it brings. It opens up a can of worms when out of the blue emerges family and a past she cannot remember, but will have inevitable repercussions on her life, and there are letters that detail how she came to be a part of the Diamond family. In this darkest of stories, there are surprising twists and turns, there are the odd chinks of light, hope, and humour, we learn just how much a human being can endure. This is a hard, disturbing, and challenging read, skilfully plotted, with a wide cast of disparate characters, and despite all the horrors, it has heart and soul. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Strange Sally Diamond was an intriguing, dark, gripping read that kept me hooked and happily flying through its pages. However, I’m unsure of how to rate a book I enjoyed right up until the last ten pages or so seemed to undo the every bit of character growth and left me feeling… flat?
The ending disappointed me and left me dissatisfied in so many ways and it’s so frustrating that, despite the general reading experience being a good one, I came away from it feeling let down.
That being said, I don’t regret reading it, I mean… I enjoyed 90% of it? and it’s one I’d still recommend as I seem to be in the minority of readers who felt this way!

TW: sexual assault, rape, child abuse, racism

Sally is strange. And quirky. She has a tendency to interpret things quite literally which draws unwanted attention to her now, at the age of 43. People remember Strange Sally Diamond. Her autism; her odd behaviours. Some even remember the horrors she endured before she turned 7. She doesn't. But now those memories are creeping to the surface.
And maybe Sally isn’t all that strange after all. Maybe her awkwardness and weirdness stems from her horrific childhood. Maybe that can explain her complex behaviours.

Nugent, you thrilled me! But this was not a delightful story. It was dark. It was disturbing. It was compelling. And Sally. What an authentic character.
4.25⭐️

“Wow. Phew. Wow.”

That was my exact reaction when I finished this novel. Two days later, I still feel the same.

When I read the promotional blurb for Strange Sally Diamond, the most recent release from Irish crime novelist Liz Nugent, I was expecting something similar toEleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine or The Maid — both of which feature neurodivergent main characters.

Let me be clear, this is nothing likeeither of those books.

Interestingly, it has more in common with another book by a female author of Irish heritage: Emma Donoghue and her novelRoom.

That said, the less you know about the particulars of this story going in, the better.

Sadly, there are a number of reviews I’ve since seen that divulge quite a bit of character and plot background. Trust me when I say, if you have any inclination to read this novel, avert your eyes and promptly walk away from them.

Allow the mystery to unfold as you turn the pages of the book. Though I will say, the mystery here is less of a whodunnit and more of a whydunnit.

You see, we’re first introduced to Sally Diamond, having thrown her recently deceased dad’s remains into an incinerator behind their house, because she has mistaken his instructions on how he would like to be buried: “When I die, just put me out with the trash.”

An Irish woman, in her forties, Sally is astonishingly literal-minded, utterly oblivious to irony and sarcasm.

Home schooled, she’s been raised in a small rural Irish village. Isolated and without friends, Sally is blunt and forthright in her communication and lacks comprehension of what is deemed acceptable in social situations.

Strange? Okay, but make no mistake, there is no malice intended. Sally just lacks a filter, so to speak — she says what she means and means what she says.

Sally is the first of two narrators. The way in which Nugent writes her lack of emotional affect is both hilarious and chilling at times.

Our second narrator is a young man on the other side of the world, who has also grown up in isolation due to a disease he was told could be fatal if he came into contact with other people. He, too, has never been to school or been able to have friends.

The story is told from these two points of view, in two timelines that eventually converge for a surprising conclusion.

Liz Nugent has written a haunting and poignant tale with a full palette of emotions, one that won’t be easy to forget any time soon. A skilled author, she has certainly done her homework and her storytelling is powerful and captivating.

Fans of psychological thrillers or true crime do not want to miss this one.

3.75⭐

Sally Diamond, an Irish woman in her forties, makes the news when she puts her deceased father, a retired psychiatrist out in the bins – based on statements he made in jest when he was alive. Sally is “socially deficient”, unable to understand social cues and would rather pretend to deaf to avoid interacting with others. She's had a sheltered upbringing and her mother has passed on. After the death of her father she is completely alone and doing the best she can to take care of herself.

The unwanted attention she garners from the episode with her father results in the unraveling of deep and dark secrets from Sally’s early childhood - a past of which Sally has no memories and has been kept from her by the parents who raised her and is only now being revealed to her through a series of letters left to her by her deceased father - triggering a series of events that has Sally grappling with her truth, questioning everything she has been brought up to believe about herself and trying to emerge from the shadows of her painful past. It won’t be easy because, with the secrets, there are people from her past complicating things further and possibly threatening her physical and mental well-being.

I won’t say anything more because it's best you experience this book without too much prior information!

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent is complex, dark, and compelling with deft characterization and skillful storytelling. Sally's story is heartbreaking and not easy to read. The narrative is shared between Sally and another character whose past is connected to Sally’s, their stories converging toward the end. I was completely engrossed in the narrative but was somewhat underwhelmed with the ending, which I felt was rushed and less than impactful after such a suspenseful build-up.

I paired my reading with the incredible audio narration by Jessica Regan, Stephen Hogan and Jessica Lyman which truly enhanced my experience. This is my first time reading Liz Nugent and I’ll definitely be exploring her backlist!

I should mention that the story revolves around themes of abuse, violence, pedophilia and rape with some graphic scenes that might be triggering for some.

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Why I chose to read this book:
1. I added it to my WTR list when my daughter gifted me a copy for my birthday, after I had pointed it out to her in a bookstore, saying that it was getting very good reviews; and,
2. October 2023 is my "Month of Mystery".

Praises:
1. the beginning grabbed me and held on tight throughout the book! And that ending was devastatingly realistic! Don't expect this story to be wrapped nicely in pretty paper and tied up with a big red bow. It hit me hard!
2. what a cast of well-developed, complex characters!
- Sally: I had such a huge amount of empathy for her! When her psychiatrist adoptive dad, Tom, said she wasn't autistic, I then wondered what tragic event(s) happened to her as a youngster for her to do and say the things she does that blow the reader's mind? Labeled as "socially deficient", Sally herself lacks empathy, but she does visit a therapist regularly, showing growth in her characterization. Dark humor abounds when Sally says things aloud most people would only think to themselves. Her interactions with others made me smile, and at times, made me gasp. I also was interested in reading about other people's feelings and reactions towards Sally;
- Peter, Mark, Conor Geary, and Tom: these men really made my head spin! Author Liz Nugent expertly reveals their relationships with Sally; and,
3. this was a quick read for me! I was so invested in the story that I had to occasionally take some time to dwell on what I had just read.

Niggles: NONE!

Overall Thoughts:
I lucked out with this compelling, memorable read! This uniquely-told story was so heart-wrenching and disturbing, yet thought-provoking as well! I will be adding it to my "Favorites" bookshelf!

The graphic descriptions of child abuse are VERY graphic & violent. When a pregnant woman who has spent the majority of her life in one room suffers horrible physical and emotional abuse from an adult man, and is then abused by her son, who is a CHILD....I'm out and only wish I could scrub the scenes from my brain.

I wasn't going to rate this since I didn't finish it, but changed my mind

From the author of Unravelling Oliver and Lying in Wait.

I couldn’t put it down, a dark, spine chilling, suspenseful and shocking psychological thriller are the words that come to mind on finishing this one.

I really enjoy Liz Nugent novels and was thrilled to be given early access to her latest book as I just knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. Imagine my surprise when I realized that the setting of this novel was very close to my home.

Strange Sally Diamond has led a sheltered life and with her adoptive parents in the midlands of Ireland and when her father passes away she takes her request literally to put him out with the bins. She tries to incinerate him in the barn thinking that she has fulfilled his last request as he did say “ sur when I die just put me out with the bins” until she finds an envelope in his study that advises her to read after his passing. Sally’s life and what she believed she knew of her past and family brings horrors into her life that she could never have imagined.

This was a heart stopping , heart-breaking read and had me on the edge of my seat. A difficult subject but expertly executed in the hands of this experienced author. While it’s dark and disturbing, it is never graphic. This is an author that doesn’t shy away from tough subjects and a story that kept me up way past my bedtime. Great characterization, a smart and well thought out unique plot with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge of their seats.
I think readers who enjoy authors like Will Dean , Michael Robotham or Lisa Jewell should add this one to their reading lists.

My thanks to Netgally for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel.

As far as I'm concerned this is the BEST Liz Nugent book I have read yet and I've enjoyed the previous two books I've read of hers immensely.

Strange Sally Diamond can't remember her life before her 7th birthday when she was adopted by a loving couple unable to have children of their own. Her adoptive mother died early of a stroke leaving her in the care of her father, a loving and caring man, that kept Sally close in his care in order to protect her from the world. She mostly stays at home, her social anxiety and severe PTSD from her unremembered life before, has left her socially awkward and she often misreads social cues made by others. Due to this she has a tendency to say whatever it is on her mind, no matter how rude it may be, but done with no malice. She simply doesn't understand. No official diagnosis has ever been made. Once her father passes away she does something that baffles most everyone in her small village, including the authorities. The spotlight now shines on Sally and we watch her navigate her life from here, gaining knowledge of why she is the way she is. With the help of a close family friend, her aunt, and her therapist we watch as Sally learns to trust people, make friends, and take charge of her life on her own terms.

What an absolutely fascinating story this was. Unputdownable is the only way I can describe it. I ached for Sally and often found her quite humorous even if it was unintended on her part. Nugent did a magnificent job in creating Sally and exploring her mental illness. I dare anyone not to care about this woman. It's impossible. She has the innocence of a child but the rage of a tormented soul. I wanted to reach into the pages to hug her fiercely even though that would make her very uncomfortable but she's working on it in therapy so hopefully she'll forgive my affection. 😉 From Ireland to New Zealand and back again I was completely captivated by every word.

I must warn future readers that this book is very dark and disturbing at times and that may be triggering for some people. Please be cautious.

Without a doubt this is one of the best books I've read this year! 🏆 ALL. THE. STARS!!!

Thanks to Overdrive for the loan!

Sally Diamond’s father tells her to put him out with the rubbish when he dies - so she does as she’s told. Sally is seen as strange and different and doesn’t think the way that others might do. Why? Well, that would be telling. Then the stuff hits the proverbial fan and Sally finds herself in the headlines - again. To say that chaos ensues is a distinct understatement.

Well, all I can say about this amazing book is that is has been well worth waiting for as Liz Nugent has knocked it out the park again. This is a brace yourself, buckle up read, at times it’s absolutely heartbreaking, at others there’s bone chilling horror and then there’s joy and laughter. I love the light and shade of the different tones in the storytelling though I’m not going to pretend it isn’t shockingly dark black at times though it is never overblown.

The total standout for me in the utterly compelling and immersive read is the memorable character of Sally. She feels so read and authentic that I just want to protect her and be her friend. All the characters are superbly portrayed and you can visualise them jumping from the pages. Sally’s unfiltered honesty is brilliant and she makes me laugh and at other times when things get too hard for her you want to take her pain away.

This is a book that will take you through a whole gamut of emotions, it’ll make you gasp at times yet warm your heart too. In my opinion this is an author at the top of her game and she’s a must read writer for me. The writing flows and rises and falls as it twists and turns to an excellent ending. An outstanding read and I’ll never forget Sally.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin General UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

5/5 ⭐️ Omg this was better than I expected! Sally has always been viewed as different than everyone else. She lacked social experience due to her isolation and how she was raised. Her father always joked with her “oh when I die just put me out with the trash” but she took that in the literal sense and she actually did it 😳. That immediately had me hooked!

What I didn’t expect was for this book to get so dark and twisted but I just couldn’t stop reading. I wanted to know more about Sally and her past. All of the secrets that were revealed left me feeling so sad for her and her childhood before she was adopted.

This is a book that I know will stick with me for a long while. The story was actually really sad 😞. We also get the POV of a boy named Peter which I appreciated!

Overall, this was just such a compelling and great thriller. I honestly I couldn’t put it down!

"There are many strange happenings, my boy. Many mysteries beyond the power of the human mind to comprehend." (Edward T. Lowe, Jr.)

Like why is it that heartbreak visits those it should never cast a shadow upon? When pathways cross like stars in the Universe only to create stone cold tragedy that can never be mended.

Liz Nugent presents a novel so seeped in the evils of humans' ways, and yet, so softened by the core of goodness that resides in the best of us. Nugent took her time with these characters and crafted them in beaming light and then carved many of them sifting through the darkest portals of souls with ill intent. Prepare yourself for some hardcore realities here.

We'll meet Sally Diamond, a forty-two year old Irish woman, who cares for her dying father. Thomas is a retired psychiatrist. Sally's mother was a physician who passed away some time ago. As we come to know Sally more and more, it appears that she is part of the autism spectrum. But it is far, far more complicated than that.

Sally, because of all her shortcomings, takes the world quite literally. Her father joked that when he passes she should take him out with the trash. Indeed, that's just what Sally does. It is this incident that draws a huge amount of attention to her: the police, the neighbors, the villagers, and the media. And now Sally will come upon the truths of her actual past. Just who is Sally Diamond and what's been lurking in her past all these years hidden by these over-protective parents?

Nugent does a fine job with her complicated main character and with her intense storyline that will take us from Ireland to New Zealand. It is rare to come across a central character as multi-layered and complex as Sally Diamond. And in its telling, Strange Sally Diamond evokes compassion and deep understanding as these episodes play out. But Nugent doesn't shy away from the causal factors as well. This novel shines a light upon unspeakable incidents that hit the headlines more and more often. How do we try to understand the perpetrator while protecting the rights of victims? Believe me, Liz Nugent will give us plenty here to discuss, to mull over, and to make inroads into identification and prevention. Hope is the greenest of seeds.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Simon & Schuster and to the talented Liz Nugent for the opportunity.

Writing: basic | Plot: lots of potential | Ending: HUH??

Eyeball/earhole read | TW: sexual/non-sexual violence, r@pe, pedophilia, abuse

SYNOPSIS

Sally has lived an extremely isolated and protected life, but after the death of her father, she's forced to navigate the scary world on her own and confront her sordid past.

MY OPINION

To keep it a stack: I dnfed this MONTHS ago around 40% and decided to wait until it published so I could tap into the audio. Please be aware that as usual, I am a party pooper. This book is already doing the rounds on Goodreads, and bookstagram, but I can only imagine how insanely popular this will be once Booktok gets its grubby mitts on it LOL. This book has everything that makes a mainstream thriller pop. If you loved The Good Sister or the FMC from The Maid but want something dark like Appetite for Innocence, go ahead and pick this one up. But if you're looking for something dark with more nuance and emotive writing, may I direct you to Live to Tell??

Honestly I don't even want to rant and rave about this one because I can understand why a lot of people will like it. The book started with a bang (literally the opening paragraphs made me chortle) but I failed to connect with Sally (lack of showing vs telling in this case) and I found the writing too basic and cheesy to carry this kind of plot. If I had done the entire thing on audio, I probably would've enjoyed it more. But I already had a sour taste in my mouth when I picked it back up, so I couldn't really buckle in and enjoy the ride. As other reviewers has said, the ending was extremely disappointing. This book gave me 'all plots, no thoughts' vibes, which can work, but I think when you're exploring such dark themes, I need a lil more thought.

All in all: just ignore me and pick up what is surely a shoe-in for the Goodreads Choice Awards.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: the audio performance was good, the bare bones of the plot were solid (mid execution for me)

Cons: basic and non-emotive writing, Peter's pov after his father's death was clearly just for 'shock' value because it had nothing to do with how things unfolded, the baddie reveal was a huge letdown and very anti-climactic, ending was really disappointing

____________________________

For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.

WTF… My head hurts

And the award for best opening book liners goes to….🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁 Liz Nugent!!!!

Strange Sally Diamond starts with Sallys dad telling her that when he dies she should “put him out with the trash”, and that’s exactly what Sally ends up doing when he passes away.
The whole town is in shock when they found out, but Sally doesn’t see what the big deal is… her dad literally told her do so.
The book then unfolds as we delve deeper into Sally backstory as a child and figure out why Sally behaves the way she does now as a grown woman and see if she able to turn her life around.

Let me just say now this read is Dark, Chilling and Disturbing and checking your TW is a must!This book grabbed me from page on and did not let off till about the last 20% when it became very mid.
The short chapters really kept me engaged
The writing was very easy and flowed through nicely.
The POV of the main male character in this book was so UNNERVING!

This is not your typical thriller and I would categorised it much of a character driven contemporary.
Just like her previous book that I read “Lying in Wait”, I feel like the author takes you on this nerve wracking rollercoaster only for it to end up very anticlimactic. That last 20% was just meh for me. I needed more. It was like all the hard work had come to an abrupt finish with no true explanation.
So because of that I have to knock one star off, but Ms Diamond and her story will chill me for a long time to come.

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PRE REVIEW

Doing my little Book Dance as I may have a back to back five star read on my hands!
Everyone has been hyping this one up! Please please deliver 🤞🏾❤️❤️❤️

4.5 stars
I'm just going to start by saying that this is a difficult read at times and won't be for everyone. It's very dark and if you have triggers they are probably here: abuse of every sort including r*pe, pedophilia, gaslighting, kidnapping, isolation, misogyny, among many more.

That said, this is an incredibly affecting and engaging book. I loved Sally and her journey, as rocky and tumultuous as it was. The characterization makes it feel like these are real people and real situations, and that makes it even more heartbreaking.

This is the story of two people: Sally and Peter. We first come to know Sally in her 40s when her father dies. Sally is socially stunted to the point where she pretends to be deaf when in town so she doesn't have to interact with anyone. Sally's father had made an off the cuff remark to her that she should just "put him out with the trash" when he passes away, and she took him literally and burns his body with the rest of the trash. This sets forth a cascade of events where Sally learns the secrets of her past and has to learn to move forward with this news. Peter is a mysterious character that we meet in the early 1970s when he is a young boy. He too learns some secrets his father has been keeping from him.

This is a dark story with moments of levity that keep it from being too heavy and disturbing. The reader will root for Sally and her progress, and ache for her during her setbacks. In the hands of a less skilled writer, this book could have been unreadable. Yet Nugent takes care to put emotion behind every element, weaving together the positive and the negative to create an engrossing, touching narrative.

The ending is both real and hopeful. The reader is left with questions, but this is the type of story that needs to be left a bit unfinished. To tie it up with a pretty bow would be a disservice to everyone who has experienced trauma and knows that the path forward is not straight and without setbacks.

Highly recommend this unique and gripping novel.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

Strange Sally Diamond is a fabulous psychological thriller where the tension keeps getting ratcheted up in an intriguing manner.

Sally has always been considered unusual as a child and adult. After her parents pass away, she learns many terrifying things about her childhood. The past keeps catching up with the future and she encounters people and information that force her to reckon with familial history.

Highly recommend!

Strange Sally Diamond has similar vibes to Eleanor Oliphant and The Maid but is much darker.

The book opens with Sally Diamond and her adoptive father laughing about putting him out with the trash when he dies. Sally thinks the joke is that her father says she’ll be crying her eyes out, but she never cries, so har har.

When he dies, Sally, dry-eyed, takes his body out to the barn and puts him in the incinerator, as they do with all the garbage. She doesn’t understand what she did wrong. She was only following her father’s directions.

Soon Sally is in the spotlight, and revelation after revelation comes out about her childhood before her adoption.

This thriller is a fast read and is hard to put down.

I’m slightly surprised that it kept me glued to the pages since I’ve tried to read one of the author’s past releases and could not get into it. This one was engaging from the beginning to the end. Some plot lines were predictable, while others were unexpected.

This is definitely one of the standout thrillers I’ve read so far this year. It is dark and disturbing, but it also incorporates lightness and humour.

It’s sad to think that the experiences in this book are not isolated and that this has happened and probably still does. While I liked the book and storyline, there’s just something that niggles at me about reading a thriller loosely based on real-life situations and trauma for entertainment, ya know? I think the author handles the subject matter well enough, but it could have easily turned gratuitous. I still felt icky reading it at times.

But I was completely wrapped up in the story, so there’s that.

3.5.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

https://booksandwheels.com

I guess I don’t read reviews very well, because I thought this book was going to be very quirky like Eleanor Oliphant (and on some ways it was). Instead, this book ended up being pretty dark and disturbing. Sally Diamond herself had some socially awkward ways and moments that were humorous, but the reasons behind those moments were pretty difficult to read.

This story starts off with Sally being brought into the public eye for taking her father out to the trash when he died. Now, he always told Sally that’s what she should do- how was she to know that he was only joking? After her father’s death, she does come across letters that he wrote for her to open. Sally is to read one letter each week, and with these letters we will find out what happened to Sally before her seventh birthday, since Sally has no recollection whatsoever.

After Sally finds out what happened to her as a young girl through the letters from her father, her Aunt Christine, and her doctor friend Angela, she begins to learn why she is so “odd”, socially awkward, and anxious. Sally begins therapy sessions with Tina which are very helpful, and she begins making many friends with the neighbors around town.

While Sally is making progress with her life and trying to better herself, we learn of another backstory that is as equally disturbing as Sally’s. Will this backstory come to disrupt Sally’s life? Or has Sally learned how to let everyone in and not be so reclusive?

All in all, this was terrific read. While hard to read at times, it’s also hard to put down. While I would have liked for a different ending, I realize things don’t always work out like they should either. Kind of how Sally realized at the end that her therapist Tina had been wrong about everything- “I was right to trust nobody. They all let me down in the end.” Me too, Sally. Me too…

Definitely recommend!

Content warning: Pedophilia, Rape, Abuse

Love well-developed characters. Some are very damaged. Strange Sally Diamond has a very dark theme. I was hooked and it had the potential to be a 5-star read but the ending is a letdown.

42-year-old Sally lives in a small bungalow on a tiny road in Carricksheedy, Roscommon, Ireland. Sally's socially awkward and she believes it's from her traumatic past before being adopted by a nice couple. She doesn't remember her life before the age of seven, but through another PoV, the readers know what went on and it's a disturbing and dark story.

Her widower psychiatrist father recently passed away and had jokingly told her when he died just "Put him out with the trash", and Sally did just that. She cremated him herself in the barn with the trash!

Once the word (and smell) got out, Dr. Angela Caffrey, Sally's mother's business partner came to help her with the funeral and other affairs.

This was quite a yarn with many characters. Told mostly through two PoVs with a Then-Now format over the course of almost 5 decades from 1974 to the present day. I loved this one so much in the beginning but it felt messy in the latter chapters with "Huh? That's it?!" ending. 3.5⭐

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!

Reclusive Sally Diamond follows her father’s instructions to “put him out with the rubbish” upon his death by incinerating his body on her property. This sparks an investigation into Sally’s strange and unlawful behavior from the police and media. It is soon determined that Sally will not be prosecuted, as her disability prevents her from understanding right from wrong. However, Sally’s unusual behavior sparks new questions about her past, leading to discoveries about her horrific childhood. She must learn to come out of isolation and rejoin society. When she receives cryptic messages from someone in her past, the truth about her identity will be revealed to the world, forcing new questions to surface that threaten her safety, mental health, and anonymity.

Strange Sally Diamond was one of my most anticipated reads of the summer, and it did not disappoint. Sally is a very endearing, fully-fleshed character who resembles two of my literary favorites, Fern from Sally Hepworth’s The Good Sister and Molly from Nita Prose’s The Maid. I was rooting for her success immediately and enjoyed her entire journey to the truth about her past. Nugent takes a deep dive into the psychological effects of abuse, exploring themes of racism, chauvinism, loneliness, outsiderness, hom*ophobia, and pedophilia along the way. As in most of Nugent’s books, the plot is more aligned with psychological suspense than that of a thriller. However, there are a few good twists along the way! My only issue is that the ending felt a bit rushed, causing me to lower my rating from 5 stars to 4.5 stars.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy reading about the psychological effects of trauma and abuse. Sally is an unforgettable character!

4.5/5 stars rounded down

Expected publication date: 7/18/23

Thank you to Edelweiss and Frontlist publishing in exchange for an honest review.

What a great read! I can't say much more because I'm finding it incredibly difficult to write a spoiler-free review. Liz Nugent is very talented at sharing the thought processes and feelings of each character in this psychological drama making you understand at least some of the rationale behind the decisions they made. Start this early in the day because you'll soon be engrossed and you won't want to put this down until you're done!