Not my usual type of read, but it was interesting and gripping, it will also surely be a big hit with fans of The Da Vinci code. It read well and was a good mix of genres. I would definitely recommend.

I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

As a fan of Jess Lourey’s more recent novels, The Quarry Girls & Unspeakable Things, I jumped at the chance to read this novel in exchange for my honest review, prior to realizing it is a revised version of one of her earlier works. While it was still quite an enjoyable read, I found myself dozing, losing interest here and there, and having a hard time really believing some elements of the storyline. All in all, however, it was a great story about a BA woman and her BA friend, being BA all over the country.
It’s fantastic to see how far Jess Lourey has come, she’s really grown into a brilliant author who has mastered the art of suspense and unraveling secrets.
I want to thank NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Jess Lourey for the opportunity to read this revised edition of this novel before it was published.

I've started reading Salem's Cipher after I thoroughly enjoyed Litani by the same author. I didn't know it was an earlier book that is now re-published and unfortunately, it shows that it is an earlier work.

I found that the writing is really good, engaging and with lifelike dialogue. But you have to suspend all disbelief in order to get engaged in the story, and you have to do it again and again in every chapter. If you are willing to do that, then you have a spinning tale that takes you across the States three times, without much sleep for neither the character or the reader.

I'm glad that it is very noticeable that Jess Lourey has become a much better writer in her later books, but I wouldn't recommend this one unfortunately.

I wish to express a sincere thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by this author and u really enjoyed it. Will definitely be reading the second book in the series.
I'm actually reading 3 of her books simultaneously because I like her so much.
Great characters, good world building..
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

This was not a well written story. I found words simply didn’t fit in certain descriptions.

I understand Lourey wrote this a while back and it’s being published again, however, you can tell she has matured in her ability to unfold a story. I loved The Taken Ones.

The storyline wasn’t my cup of a tea. I had to actually skim through this. I hate to do that. Meh

When I saw "new" Jess Lourey on Netgalley I got super excited and immediately downloaded. I didn't realize these are re-pubs of her prior work until later on. I was worried they'd fall flat being earlier works as I LOVE Reed and Steinbeck SO much! This didn't fall flat for me -- in fact I think Salem is up there with my favorite BA FMCs.

This was fast-paced from the start. We literally open with an abduction/ murder crime scene so it opens with a bang. There were mayyybe parts that were a teensy tiny bit slower paced but once Salem and Bel get on their way they do not stop. I loved the ciphers and codes and super old mysteries aspects of this novel. It felt like the characters brains were challenged just as much as they were physically.

Be sure to check out the follow-up: Mercy's Chase after Salem's Cipher.

Would recommend this if you love:
-badass women
-codes/ ciphers prevalent to story line
-fast paced
-cross country travel
-sub plots relating to politics/ secret organizations

I loved how fast paced this book was. It started off with a bang and raced right along until the end. The main characters are very likeable. Even though there are parts of this story that are far-fetched, it was still very enjoyable to read.

I am a huge fan of Jess Lourey! She is one of my go to and favorite authors! I absolutely loved The Quarry Girls and The Taken Ones. I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read this book that is one of her earlier titles. Initially it hooked me, but soon after I had a hard time getting into the book and the story. There is a lot of technical language, about midway, I couldn’t put it down! I ended up really enjoying it. And I loved the historical references throughout the book, especially the Emily Dickinson ones.

Salem and her childhood friend Bel are daughters of best friends. When both of their mother’s are kidnapped, they begin a chase to find them and find themselves. They find out that their parents were part of a secret society called the Underground. They have been trained their whole lives, even though they didn’t know it. Salem is an incredibly smart, agoraphobic that has been solving puzzles and code breaking her whole life. This takes them on a cross country trip trying to find their mothers! Overall, I enjoyed this book.

Thank you to @thomas @netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book! My opinions are honest and my own!

This is a secret history type thriller similar to DaVinci Code or the movie National Treasure. Salem is a genius in her field of quantum computing, but has become an agorophobe since she witnessed her father's death. But after her mother disappears leaving behind clues that the fate of the nation lies in Salem's hands, she and her friend Bel are in a race against time to solve the clues and take down an ancient organization.
Just like with Dan Brown's series, I enjoyed all the real locations and historical figures mentioned in this story. The thrill of keeping ahead of the bad guys, especially Jason with his creepy face changing ability, was exciting and kept me flipping pages well past my bedtime. I'm looking forward to reading the next book!
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer through Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. The opinions in this review are my own and given voluntarily.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In the shadowed corridors of history, where whispers echo through cryptic codes, Jess Lourey's "Salem's Cipher" invites us to unravel a web of enigma and danger. This gripping thriller, the first in the "Salem's Cipher Mystery" series, plunges readers into a world where ancient secrets collide with modern urgency.

Salem Wiley, our brilliant yet reclusive protagonist, is a cryptanalyst—a sorceress of symbols and hidden meanings. She thrives on the safety of her routines, until her mother vanishes, leaving behind a cryptic warning. The brutal murder that follows sets Salem on an uncharted path—one that leads to the heart of America's concealed past.

Lourey deftly weaves together history, mystery, and suspense. The legendary Beale Cipher, encrypted by none other than Emily Dickinson herself, becomes Salem's breadcrumb trail. As she deciphers messages hidden within the verses, she discovers her mother's double life and a clandestine society that spans centuries. A society hell-bent on wielding power, with hunted women as its last line of defense.

"Salem's Cipher" is a symphony of tension. The pacing is relentless, propelling us across the country, from dusty libraries to treacherous landscapes.

Lourey's prose is both lyrical and razor-sharp, evoking the scent of old books and the thrill of cracking codes. Salem's vulnerability tugs at our hearts, her determination fuels our adrenaline.

Yet, there's a whisper of skepticism. The secret society's existence feels improbable—haven't societal norms already suppressed women enough? But perhaps that's the point. Lourey nudges us to question our assumptions, to peer beyond the obvious. In Salem's journey, we confront not only external adversaries but also the shadows within ourselves.

"Salem's Cipher" is a cryptex of intrigue, a literary labyrinth where every twist reveals a hidden chamber. Jess Lourey invites us to unlock the past, one cipher at a time. So, dear reader, take Salem's hand. The journey awaits, and the secrets are waiting to be unsealed.

I'm a huge fan of Jess Lourey and couldn't wait to get into this new series, the first book being Salem's Cipher.

A good mystery with some big conspiracies set in the world of today. I really enjoyed this book, it had a realism to it that could actually happen. Take aside the mystery that Salem and Bel have to solve and get through, I enjoyed the political aspects of this book, something I normally do not show and interest in. But the Underground really felt like it had depth to it. I loved the clues and puzzles that Salem had to solve. Plus I really liked Mercy and can't wait to see where her story takes us (I'm sure we will see her again). Salem was a truly likeable characters, I felt a lot of her daily 'issues' and understood her. Bel took some warming up for me, but once you have her 'truth' she then becomes someone I have more respect for. Also can we take a moment to appreciate the FBI agent too? This book doesn't have a heavy (If at all really) romance to it, but I liked the attraction.

My only issue with this book, if I'm to be really picky was at times I felt it was a little drawn out. The history lessons although vital to a point were a little much (I won't give spoilers as it affects the story). The ending and climax were on point for Jess (Author) and generally the whole book just speaks volumes for me, at how much of a great author she is. I still prefer her books set in the 1980's (Which was how I discovered her) but think for those who love a good mystery thriller, they really should check out Salem's Cipher.

A solid 3.5/4 stars, I enjoyed this and can't wait to read the next book, Mercy's Chase.

With thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

This book felt like one of those action adventure movies, like Indiana Jones or the Da Vinci Code, and I love it! It had underground secret societies, the FBI, code cracking, and even a presidential election.

Salem and Bel were good main characters with flaws that made them seem real.

I’ve read a few of Jess Lourey’s books at this point. But I love the way she is able to weave an engaging story!

Even though it sounded promising it didn't live up to my hopes. The plot reminded me a bit of Da Vinci Code and the action was fast paced but the writing was lacking. Too many characters to keep up with and the story wasn't believable. Sadly I can't recommend it. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing a galley via NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

I am a huge suspense fan and an even bigger Jess Lourey fan, so seeing her backlog come up, after knowing her thriller works, I knew I had to get my hands on Salem's Cipher and I am so glad I did. While it's a departure from her thriller novels, it is no less thrilling to read, with a breakneck pace and a story that gripped me from the start. Featuring two childhood friends, a police office and a cryptologist, and a murder mystery that transcends time, Salem's Cipher was a can't put down read for me. With a historical mystery at the forefront, Salem's Cipher follows Salem and Bel as they seek to solve the mystery left behind when their mothers are attacked. There's secret societies, a patriarchy against feminism, and code breaking galore. A bit like Da Vinci Code, Salem's Cipher has just the right amount of historical significance and murder mystery to gather fans of any genre.

Lots of adventure and puzzle solving! It took me a minute to learn the characters but once I had it down the second half of the book flew. Looking forward to reading Mercy’s Chase next.

What an engaging story! I loved every minute I spent reading it! Salem's life is disrupted when her mother is kidnapped and she and her best friend Isabel are thrown into the mysteries of The Underground and The Hermitage and all the misconceptions regarding women's place in the world. She learns that she is stronger, much stronger than she believed she was and her ability to read codes and uncover secrets hidden by millenia will open new paths for her in life. Great plot, with amazing historic facts, beautifully written and fast-paced.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for the copy of this book.

Salem's Cipher is book 1 in A Salem's Cipher Mystery series by Jess Lourey.
I absolutely loved this book. It was very engaging and kept my attention.
I found this story to be engrossing and riveting, it is well written, with an amazing plot and intrigue from the first page on I couldn’t put it down.

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Interesting read!

Highly recommend if you love books with puzzling scenarios and a thrilling storyline. Enjoyed as a one time read.

This book was a bit like the Da Vinci code but with a secret society of men working to keep women out of power stemming from the founding fathers and another group of women called the underground fighting for their rights and freedom. This book was originally published in 2016 but is being released and I think it’s good. While there were a few bits that require more than a little suspension of disbelief the overall story is compelling. It’s totally believable that patriarchy could be backed by something like a secret society. The two main characters were interesting but not developed the way I liked which stopped me from really liking them as much as I wanted to. I’m excited to read the second part and learn more about Mercy (I’m hoping based on the title). I will say the killer in this one is creepy beyond what I was expecting. He had suffered a lot, but it doesn’t change that he became next level creepy. In contrast I wasn’t impressed with the other bad guy, who terrified even the killer, but never seemed quite as creepy. Bel and Salem are awesome and their super scavenger hunt across the country was interesting.