Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
As the book opens Sally Diamond, a forty year old woman, takes her father seriously when he says “Just put me out with the bin.” And that is exactly what she does when he dies. The fact that this was said in jest completely passes Sally by because she does not react to other people in the usual way. She has led a life sheltered from others just with her father for company since the death of her mother.
She hates people touching her and pretends to everyone in her small village that she is deaf so she does not have to engage in conversation. When it becomes obvious to others what Sally has done to her father steps have to be taken and her mother’s GP friend steps in to provide support. Gradually what happened to Sally is revealed through her father’s letters and his case studies of her.
It is apparent that Sally has been terribly damaged both by her kindly stepfather and by what happened to her mother. Sally is an interesting character and we fully understand her inability to manage her feelings and control her anger.
This is an absorbing novel and Sally is a haunting character. As a reader you become completely involved in her story. The other characters are also extremely well drawn.
This novel takes you through a range of emotions and the ending leaves you haunted by the horrors to which Sally has been exposed.
I will be recommending this novel to my various book groups and would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read it in return for an honest review.

Liz Nugent is one of those authors whose books are always a must read. She is always distinctive, never short of compelling and her characters have a unique voice that you simply won’t see replicated anywhere else. Add to that some deep darkness and the reader is drawn into a world they have not experienced before.

Strange Sally Diamond is an excellent example of all these things. Sally is a woman with a literal mind and an incredible back story and this is the story of what happens when Sally’s father dies and she is left alone.

Sally is neuro-divergent and as a consequence she doesn’t know how to carry out the social niceties that make up much of our interactions, nor does she think that they make much sense. But Sally is also intelligent and more than capable of learning. After the death of her father and following the dropping of any charges arising from her unorthodox disposal of his body, Sally learns that her parents have not always been truthful with her. She discovers she was adopted and slowly learns that her father is the one who has chosen, for his own reasons, to keep Sally in the dark about her origins. Living in an isolated part of rural Ireland, Sally has a small circle of neighbours and no real friends but has also been kept away from the truth about who she is and how she came to be there.

Finding out the truth is a lot to come to terms with, and as she reads through the correspondence that details how she joined the Diamonds she is shocked at what she learns.

It is to her credit that she finds a way through everything she learns and begins to live her life properly, even making some friends. But then Sally starts to receive messages and even a gift from a stranger which stirs something in her. Sally’s curiosity has been aroused and she desperately wants to know more about herself and her family.

As the story unfolds, Nugent masterfully weaves together Sally’s traumatic childhood experiences with her present-day investigation into where she came from. The narrative is told through multiple perspectives, including Sally’s own.

Liz Nugent weaves a dark and shocking plot line which reveals more about Sally, her mother and what led to her adoption. Her writing is flawless, pitch perfect and evokes shock, horror and yet great empathy for Sally alongside the hope that she can survive the trauma of all she uncovers.

One of the strengths of Strange Sally Diamond is its complex and well-drawn characters. Sally is a flawed but deeply compelling protagonist, and the supporting cast is equally well-crafted. Nugent does an excellent job of exploring the motivations and psychologies of each character, and as a result, the novel feels rich and multi-layered.

There is more than one dark and vile character in this book and Nugent expands the footprint of this story to cover incidents in New Zealand as she sends us to consider the nature versus nurture argument to allow us to examine whether we are all the product of our upbringing.

Strange Sally Diamond is dark and really disturbing. It pulls you in and never lets go. And yet for all the evil in this book, the goodness that is Sally Diamond shines through. Here Nugent has created a character for whom we have nothing but respect and who we overwhelmingly want to triumph over her adversity.

As the story progresses, Nugent gradually reveals the events that led to Sally’s current state of mind, including traumatic incidents from her childhood and a toxic relationship. Nugent handles these sensitive topics with sensitivity and nuance, never shying away from the uncomfortable truths that lie at the heart of Sally’s story.

Another standout aspect of the book is its vivid and atmospheric setting. Nugent paints a vivid picture of the small Irish town where the story takes place, and her prose is both evocative and haunting.

Liz Nugent’s Strange Sally Diamond is a masterful exploration of the human psyche, told with empathy, insight, and a deep understanding of the complexities of trauma and mental illness.

It is a deeply moving and thought-provoking novel that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it. A thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers and character-driven fiction alike. With its intricate plotting, memorable characters, and tense atmosphere, it is an unmissable ‘must read’. No wonder it has been selected as a BBC Two ‘Between the Covers’ Book Club pick this season.

Wow, this book was one of those that had me gripped from the very first page - I couldn’t put it down and I certainly didn’t know how it would all end!
It was very dark and contained many shocking themes including misogyny and paedophilia but there was also some humour and lightness amongst all the bleakness.
Sally Diamond is a forty something woman who lives alone with her aged father in a remote village in Ireland. She appears to be neurodiverse and takes everything very literally. She does not mix with other people and even feigns deafness to avoid talking to her neighbours.
When her father dies and she tries to incinerate him in their rubbish disposal, following his instructions - “ When I die, put me out with the bins” she draws unwanted attention and publicity to herself. This starts a chain of events which leads her to discover her very dark past. She has always known she was adopted but she was not aware of the circumstances and the fact that she could only remember her life from the age of 7 now strikes her as strange.
As well as Sally’s story the book contains a diary from someone called Peter and it is not clear until further into the story what the relevance of this is.
This was not a light read, it was quite difficult in places. The characters were well drawn and I was really rooting for Sally, hoping she would have a happy ending. Peter was even more complicated and I really didn’t know how I felt about him.
I won’t reveal any more of the plot as it is one of those books that has to be read without much prior knowledge.
I have a feeling that “Strange Sally Diamond” might just be the book everyone is reading in 2023. Highly recommended and definitely five stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for my advance copy.

Wow this book was fantastic and definitely my favourite read this year so far. It was a gripping and shocking psychological thriller which kept me hooked from start to finish that I read in two days. Sally is such a wonderful, likeable and memorable character that made me laugh. This was also heartbreaking and difficult to read at times but it was wonderfully written and I loved every minute of it.

From The Cover📖
Sally Diamond cannot understand why what she did was so strange. She was only doing what her father told her to do, to put him out with the rubbish when he died.

Now Sally is the centre of attention, not only from the hungry media and worried police, but also a sinister voice from a past she has no memory of. As she begins to discover the horrors of her childhood, recluse Sally steps into the world for the first time, making new friends, finding independence, and learning that people don't always mean what they say.

But when messages start arriving from a stranger who knows far more about her past than she knows herself, Sally's life will be thrown into chaos once again . . .


REVIEW⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Upon reading the synopsis this was wasn’t what I was expecting at all it was a very pleasant surprise it is brilliant I couldn’t put it down.

Don’t expect a fluffy coming of age story with a nice ending that you might expect reading the synopsis

I loved Sally and her development this very heartwarming and heartbreaking but what this brilliant was the sinister surprises as the novel progressed.

This book is unique, breathtaking, well written, well plotted, twisty, chilling and deeply disturbing…perfect late night reading

This is first book I’ve read from the author it want be the last

Will be in my top ten books of 2023 without a doubt.

Thank you so much for the ARC

When Sally put her father out with the rubbish after he had passed away, she couldn't understand why everyone made such a big deal out of it. She'd only done as she was told. Shielded for most of her life by her adoptive parents after a difficult start, Sally has lived a reclusive and sheltered life and doesn't like that the media attention is now on her. Burning her father introduces her to society, where Sally makes friends, reacquaints herself with relatives and starts to uncover secrets of her past and is faced with some hard truths.

Sally is a peculiar character and I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about her. Her story is not only chilling and dark at times, but there is a quirky uniqueness that comes from her "socially different" persona. I sympathised with her majority of the time, but there were occasions that I felt something akin to frustration and irritation.

This is the first time I had read anything by this author. The book description intrigued me and I honestly didn't know what to expect going in. It definitely got me thinking more about the old nature versus nuture debate that often rears its head.

A recommendation for those that love an obscure and oddly likeable character such as Eleanor Oliphant.

Strange Sally Diamond

Well, what can I say? She’s done it again.

Honestly, there is no other writer out there quite like Liz Nugent ….and there is certainly no other character quite like Strange Sally.

(Where does Ms Nugent get the ideas, that’s what I’d like to know!)
Dark, chilling and sometimes laugh out loud funny, Strange Sally Diamond is a book that will grab you from the first page and will keep you enthralled & entertained to the very end.

Thanks to the publisher & to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Sally Diamond has always been strange. But after she does what her father has always told her to do, and puts his body out with the rubbish, Sally and everyone around hear learns just why she might be so strange.

Reading the synopsis of Strange Sally Diamond, I thought I was in for quite a dark read, maybe something Gothic. But whizzing through the first few pages, I couldn’t quite pin down the genre.

I’ve seen mention of the ‘horrors’ of Sally’s childhood, but in my opinion that is insufficient in preparing the reader for some of the content, and trigger warnings should probably be employed.

After the death of her father, Sally begins to navigate adult life on her own for the first time. She meets new friends and just about everyone she encounters is understanding and accepting of her sometimes humorous honesty. But I struggled with these whimsical encounters when then faced with a chapter detailing the really brutal backstory, which is told in a dual narrative.

There are some genuinely funny moments in the book, and Nugent’s style is really readable, but for me, that tone was jarring when interspersed with the crime elements. It sometimes felt like the horrific abuse was downplayed.

Certainly not a heart-warming tale, the tone of the ending was quite out of tune with the rest of the story, and one that may be bothering me for a while.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review e-copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Strange Sally Diamond
by Liz Nugent

This book goes into very dark territory so quickly that it may not be a spoiler to discuss exactly what territory, but I'll desist. It is getting so many 5 star ratings that it is obviously a hit for most people, but for me, it was a bit disappointing. Given the themes it covers I thought it should evoke harrowing feelings, but I found it dispassionate and unmoving. Perhaps it was the narrative voice that didn't reach me, or the predictability of the story.

I expect more nuance and depth from Liz Nugent's characters, but I can't make any connection with these, even Sally didn't ring true. As an adult survivor of childhood PTSD she reads more like someone presenting with ASD. I found her thoughts and actions quite cliched.

This is a much quicker read than page number would suggest, partly due to short chapters which made me want to push on to just one more...just one more and the dual timelines seem to suggest a big reveal, which sadly never arrives. Is this a thriller or a rollercoaster of suspense as the marketing suggests? There are some elements of good psychological fiction, but to me it lacked tension and suspense.

Publication date: 2nd March 2023
With thanks to #netgalley and #penguingeneral for the ARC

I was slightly put off by the beginning of this book, thinking what on earth have I signed up for. But then I just couldn't put it down, it is a very dark tale, very disturbing with some moments that will make you laugh, some that will make you cry. All in all I enjoyed the book, apart from the ending, I wanted better for Sally after all she'd been through.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Sally - what a character: Such a different voice and brilliant story telling, Liz is a fabulous insightful writer and this is no different to the quality of her other books & yet also - even better! thank you for letting me read it early :)

Many thanks to Net Galley and Penguin General UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Wow! I loved every single minute of this book. A gripping read from page one, a twisty psychological dramatic read.
Sally Diamond is indeed a little strange, she definitely has no filters, she says exactly what she is thinking. She has no social skills, having been home schooled by her father and totally sheltered from the outside world.
Her father has died at home, Sally had been looking after him, he had told her not to be fussing and just to put him out with the rubbish, Sally takes any instructions literally, so this is exactly what she does. This leads to the police at her door and a huge change to Sally’s world, the media have the story and everyone is suddenly interested in her.
Her father had left her some letters to be read at intervals after his death, through these Sally learns about her traumatic childhood, there is also someone out there trying to get in touch with her. The story is told in the past and present, I could not stop reading, this is a dark read, and in places a little disturbing., brilliant story telling though, her biological father was a sick monster, unfortunately Sally is not the only one who was damaged by his cruelty..
I was rooting for Sally from page one, there are also some other interesting characters. This is definitely a 5 star read once again from Liz Nugent.

I have a feeling EVERYONE is going to be talking about Strange Sally Diamond! Twisted and brilliantly observed, this is the story of Sally confronting her unknown past. Sally is one of those characters that you instantly take to. She may be socially awkward, blunt and unfiltered in what she says, but there’s a naivety about her that makes you want to take her under your wing and protect her.

Sally’s father once told her when he died, she should put him out with the rubbish. So that is exactly what she does! Now Sally can’t help wondering why everyone is making such a big deal out of it!

And so begins a chain of dramatic events that leads Sally on a journey of discovery that’s heartbreaking and disturbing in equal measures. There are light-hearted occasions that are a welcome respite from the dark subjects covered in this book.

I loved how Liz Nugent allows the reader to get a glimpse of Sally’s interpretation of the world. This is a woman who has been sheltered from the outside world, with no friends, no job, and no social life. Her world feels claustrophobic. You can’t help but admire her strength of character as she grows and copes with life’s horrifying challenges. As I learnt more about Sally’s past, my concerns for her grew and a feeling of dread settled deep in me.

Strange Sally Diamond has chilling and harrowing themes that will evoke a myriad of emotions. You will root for Sally, as the trauma in her background is horrifically revealed. This is a book that is incredibly well written. It’s a book that’s vivid, taut, highly original and wickedly dark. In case you haven’t already guessed, I loved this book! It’s a MUST read for those that love dark thrillers!

Review will be posted on https://www.instagram.com/thebookreviewcafe and relevant sites

Liz Nugent became one of the authors I would order any new book immediately without knowing anything about it. I just love her strong writing and her unusual characters. She is a safe bet for me. I think “Strange Sally Diamond” is one of her strongest books.

Sally is different. Her adoptive father always described her as socially deficient. She is a grown woman over forty and she stays at home all the time with her father. She takes everything literally so when her father dies she just put him out in the bin like he always told her to do. That he was joking was beyond her understanding. And the letter he left her did not say specifically that she should open it immediately after his death. But words get out about what she did and soon she is a media sensation. Then Sally has a dark past she totally forgot about.

Sally is a character who will be hard to forget. The whole book is very intense, very disturbing and shocking. But there is also a bit of humor as Sally has a way of speaking her mind which is quite refreshing. After the incident with her father things seem to get better for Sally. She does therapy and she meets people who care for her and become her friends. But Sally is not an easy person to like. And her past is catching up quickly. There is someone out there who wants to get in touch with her.

This book absolutely captivated me although it is not an easy read. The story is too disturbing and sad to be a fun read. But I would recommend it if you like dark psychological thrillers but be aware that when you are sensitive to topics like child abduction, sexual and psychical abuse you may consider to pass this one.

I don’t know what I expected when I started this book but it wasn’t this heartbreaking and heartwarming tale of Sally Diamond. There were times when I had to put the book down & take a few minutes, but otherwise I was hooked. Sally is certainly strange - she doesn’t act the way that society expects her to act. However, as we get into the story & Sally’s past is revealed, we can see why her father called her socially deficient. Sally’s past is brutal, and as more is revealed, a second perspective is introduced, showing us more information about Sally’s past. I found this perspective to be horrifying and as it progressed, I really struggled to have much sympathy for them. At the same time, I was so proud of Sally - she was learning social norms & working on herself to make her life better. There’s so much trauma in this story, and we see how this impacts everyone associated with the people involved. This was a dark and disturbing read but it was also very engrossing - Sally is going to be a character that I will remember for a long time.

I have not read any of Liz Nugents other books but will certainly look them up to buy them now. Not often does a book grip me within the first few lines but this certainly did and then carried me along on a wonderfully emotional journey to the end. A must read book of 2023.

trange doesn't even begin to describe Sally Diamond; this is a woman who pretends to be deaf so that she doesn't have to engage socially after all. Having lived a sheltered existence for all her life, the death of her adoptive father and her subsequent disposal of his body in the dustbin opens up her life in ways that she could not have foreseen.

This is a tense, nuanced, emotional and thrilling book. The media reportage of the situation brings Sally to the attention of someone who knows more about her past than seems possible, and they are reaching out to her. There are also the letters that her father have left for Sally which indicate the trauma that she experienced in the first seven years of her life. It is a dark and harrowing read, and incredibly upsetting. Yet there are chinks of light and even humour as Sally grapples with the revelations and sets about creating a new independent life for herself.

Reading the book I experienced a smorgasbord of emotions. At times I smiled wryly to myself, at other points my heart beat sped up as I raced to turn the pages. I cried, I got frustrated and I felt full of admiration for Sally.

This is an utterly amazing book and I expect to see this win lots of 'best books of 2023' lists.

My thanks got to the publishers and Net Galley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me access to this ahead of publication.
4.25/5 rounded to 4 stars.
A fascinating read that certainly kept me at the edge of my seat and turning the pages as fast I as could.
I found myself deeply feeling for Sally, her character was realistic and well fleshed, her charactarisation made sense after everything she went through. I loved seeing her growing and thriving in many aspects of her life.
I like that there was a second pov throughout although it made for an even more of a challenging read. This book should definitely come with lots of trigger warnings, the violence got to be too much at times for me and I had to stop for a bit while reading some times.
The book kept a stable pace except for the ending which I felt was more rushed than it should've been, and even though I didn't expect and I certainly wouldn't have like it to have been a neat with a bow on top ending, I also didn't expect to see such a regression in Sally's progress.
As a whole it was entertaining the way crime shows are but it was also at times an extremely heavy and difficult story.
tw: rape, paedophilia, abuse, abduction, suicide, violence

When I first started this book I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy it. But after the first few chapters it hooked me! My mind was coming up with so many weird plot lines as I couldn’t see where it was going at all, in a good way! I grew to like Sally and her many quirks and as the book went in your get to understand her more and how debating her background is. Parts were not easy to read but this books made me feel so many emotions! Sadly the ending felt a little like the book ran out of steam but overall I enjoyed it!

I tend not to read blurbs so from the title, I think I expected a life-affirming story about a neurodivergent woman, navigating her way through life and teaching us valuable lessons along the way. In some ways, this is true. But it was way way darker than I was expecting. I don't want to talk about the plot really, as with any thriller, this would spoil the experience for anyone thinking of reading it. But be prepared, it is not an easy read. There is violence of all kinds and a lot of cruelty.

But let's just talk about Strange Sally Diamond. What an amazing character, and such clever writing. I had to keep reminding myself that she's in her forties, as she (purposely) had such a young voice. To see her go from pure survival to thriving was a joy to read and the first words just might be up there with my favourite openers. 'He told me to put him out with the bins when he died'. So she did. And that is just the beginning!

Engaging and original, it's hard to stand out from the saturated thriller market, but Strange Sally Diamond certainly shone brightly.