Liz Nugent is by far the most talented author I have ever come across. She has the most fantastic and demented imagination and it makes for unbelievably good stories. I am so honoured to be able to read this prior to being sold and have told everyone I know to get it. To read it. To then get all of her other books.

Wow, wow, wow, wow! I have read a few really good books lately but this one just blew them all out of the park.
I predict it will be a talked about book in 2023 and I highly recommend it.
5 shiny gold stars *****

Liz Nugent books are always a cause for celebration. Her writing is so wonderful, and her characters so realistic. Strange Sally Diamond was a dark and at times disturbing read, but at the same time, a delight to read. Sally was a treasure, a 40ish woman who has lived a lonely and isolated life. She has no social experience and takes everything as it is. I love reading her story, tearing up many a time at what she went though.

Her father told her once that when he died, she should put him out with the rubbish. So that is exactly what she did. This is the start of a world of change an upheaval for poor Sally. The police, the media, the small town that she lives in, now all know about her. More than she ever knew. She suddenly learns about her traumatic past, and how she became Sally Diamond. And there is somebody else out there trying to get in touch from that past.

As always with Liz' books, I couldn't stop reading. I wanted to see how Sally would deal with each new occurrence in her life and wanted the best for her. She was a remarkable woman, and you can't help but love her.

Thank you to Penguin UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes March 2nd.

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent is a book about Sally Diamond, who is quite different from everyone else around her. When her father dies Sally does what he told her to do and puts his body in the incinerator and tried to burn it, as they had done with the rubbish. Unfortunately that isn’t what you are supposed to do, you need to register the death and then arrange a funeral service when the death certificate has been issued.
Sally was adopted by the Diamonds when she was seven and has no recollection of her childhood before then.
The storyline is about Sally making friends and beginning to live and socialise with her neighbours. It all begins to go wrong when someone else comes into Sally’s life and makes all her progress come tumbling down.
An interesting story about years of abuse by a man who was later known to be a kidnapper of young girls and who abused them. The storyline moves from Ireland to New Zealand and then back to Ireland.
Highly recommended

Rating: 4.5/5

It is difficult to say too much about "Strange Sally Diamond" without risking spoilers that could undermine the potential enjoyment of future readers and I am always loath to do that. It certainly deals with some dark themes that have the potential to be very distressing - but, alongside that, it also displays poignancy, genuine warmth, laugh-out-loud humour and the very best of human nature. I have seen this described as a mystery thriller, but I would view it more as a psychological character study into coping with and surviving a major trauma.

The characterisation generally is impressive. The lead character, Sally, is wonderfully engaging. Despite her social shortcomings she displays a number of innate characteristics that are truly admirable and set an example to those who are supposedly more cultured and "normal". Other protagonists are also drawn in an accomplished fashion, but for the sake of remaining spoiler-free, I shall say no more than that.

I have read a number of other novels that deal with similar subject matter, but in my humble opinion, Liz Nugent has handled it better than the previous examples I have come across and produced a novel that is thoroughly engaging and darkly emotive.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

WOW!!!!! Hooked from the first page and read this book in one sitting… Full of tension and twists. A real page turner, a perfect book but OMG so much more!!!!!

This psychological thriller follows a socially inept woman, Sally Diamond, as she discovers her past and the trauma in her life that resulted in her being unable to interact naturally with other people. A complex plot which stretches over decades and continents, Liz Nugent has written a book which is one of the best examinations of victimhood I’ve come across and writes some extremely complex and disturbing characters.

There are some tough subjects in this book including physical and emotional abuse so discretion is definitely advised if you are sensitive to these issues.

While extremely dark, there are some moments of light humour, If you enjoyed Liz Nugent’s previous books you’ll definitely enjoy this one.

Sally Diamond has lived a quiet, peaceful life in a remote house with her psychiatrist father. It all changes when he dies, and she lights a bonfire. Sally is thrust into public attention. Gradually her extraordinary background is revealed. Sally grows in confidence as she discovers her origins, but unwelcome attention from someone unknown on the other side of the world, and an obsessive neighbour threaten her security.

Sally is a heroine to fall in love with, and this novel is a real tour de force. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for the advance reader copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating addictive story and give thanks to those who recommended it to me.
Sally Diamond is a complex 40 plus year old women with childlike simplistic ways. When she discovers what a brutal life her mother endured after being kidnapped as an 11 year old and then giving birth to Sally aged 12 years old, it is not surprising that she endures years of therapy. As further details emerge, Sally is desperate to seek the truth even though it is harrowing.
Fortunately, Sally has a good network of friends who accept her strange ways and her confidence grows helping her to become an acceptable member of society. Although a lot of this story is alarming it also has its funny and quirky parts. I am sure it will become a favourite for many readers.

Unravelling Oliver is one of my favourite books and I have also enjoyed many other cracking reads by this author so I was beyond delighted to get my grubby mitts on this book.
Was I too excited? Would it live up to my hype? Did I want it too much?
Ok so no shock as I have 5 starred it already - I blooming loved it!
Sally Diamond lived with her father. She is a little unique and he pretty much sheltered her her whole life so, when he told her that "when he died she should just take him out with the rubbish", she did just that. Obviously, as you can imagine, this caused a bit of a kerfuffle, the fallout a bit spectacular and it all threw Sally into the limelight for a bit. It also opened up a world of pain as it brought her past into her present. For both her and someone who wants to reconnect...
Sally has to be my character of the year 2022. I loved her. She is simple and wounded but also just wonderfully funny, although she doesn't mean to be. She has a horrible past that only comes out on her father's death via letters and other paperwork. Her whole world is blown apart. But she does have support...
It's dark and uplifting, sad and happy, and occasionally side splitting funny. She's socially inept but at the same time rather endearing. And by the end of the book, as I approached the final pages, I realised that I would have to say goodbye to her, and that made me sad. Very sad. We'd connected. I'd grown to care about her. And I wasn't ready.
The other side of the coin, which I am not going into here, set in New Zealand, is just as tragic a tale and features another wounded character. Spoilers prevent me from saying as much as I'd like but boy does this author get a reader in all the feels.
All in all, definitely in my top 5 reads of 2022, and looks like being one of 2023's hottest books. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I’ll admit on first starting this one I did question if this one was my kind of read. But OMG what a read!!! Devoured it in 2 sittings. I couldn’t put it down and when I wasn’t reading I was thinking about reading it. Liz Nugent knows how to weave an incredible story that is so engaging and gripping it’s like a rollercoaster. It’s a dark, sad and occasionally funny read and told in the past and present from 2 different characters point of view. I was so invested in both and found each character’s perspective as intriguing as the other. Initially I wasn’t sure if I liked Sally but once I got to know her - I loved her. This book is a must read and I can see it being on of the most popular books of 2023…

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin General UK for the opportunity to read #StrangeSallyDiamond

Sally is very “different”. A bit of a loner, reclusive and not at all a people person, she is viewed as decidedly odd by her fellow villagers. Never is this more apparent than when dealing with what she believes are her adoptive father’s last wishes when he dies!

What a brilliantly told story. I was captivated right from the start and loved it. Although Sally is the main event, all the other characters are wonderfully written.

At times a dark and disturbing tale, with some very sinister themes, but also full of light and love, sadness and joy shared throughout. All well written and handled superbly.

Every now and then a book comes along that is so worthy of much more than 5* and this is one of those true gems. A beautiful, heartbreaking story, a guaranteed best seller.

Thank you NetGalley.

I loved this book, I could not put this down and read it in two days! Liz Nugent has a unique writing style and could see this book being made into a film. The main character Sally Diamond is so well portrayed and the story was just gripping. I would highly receommend this book and definately one the best books I have read in a while. Thanks to netgalley for sending me this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Liz Nugent does it again!

Strange Sally Diamond..... I couldn’t put it down! A dark, spine chilling, suspenseful and shocking psychological thriller of a book.

Liz Nugent is one of my favourite Irish authors and I was eagerly awaiting her new book and absolutely delighted to be given early access to it... I couldn't wait to get stuck in!

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 . . .

A thrilling, exciting, riveting page turner of a book and with a great protagonist in Sally this novel kept me intrigued and fascinated right to the end. A book that will stay with me for a long time - and perhaps Liz' best book to date!

Wow! I loved this book! I am new to this author but will definitely be looking out for more of her work now.

Sally is a wonderful character. There are links to Eleanor oliphant in terms of personality etc. Sally Diamond was adopted and has no memories before the age of 7.

The book follows Sally’s adulthood, as she deals with her father’s death (not very well!) which brings with it an unraveling of her past. Sally learns more about her adoptive parents, her birth parents and finds some other relations along the way.

The book covers some horrific themes but somehow manages to also be uplifting. Sally learns about herself, makes friends and starts to find her way in life. There are many twists and turns, but Sally is somehow very relatable despite her horrific and traumatic past.

A gripping must read book.

I really enjoyed this book. 40 something year old Sally Diamond is socially inept. She keeps to herself and doesn't like interacting with other people. Then her Dad dies and leaves her a series of letters explaining her early childhood. Sally knew she was adopted but had no memories before the age of 7. The story is then told in 2 time frames. In the now, Sally starts to learn how to relate to other people. The other part of the story is told from the perspective of Peter, a boy growing up in the most bizarre and horrendous circumstances. Gradually their stories intertwine. This is a sad but uplifting book, though I have to say I didn't like the ending - it seemed that all Sally's progress had been in vain! Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

I could not put this book down!

Young Peter is home schooled by his father. He hears noises through his bedroom wall, his father tells him not to worry, it’s just the ghost.
Sally Diamond thinks she is strange, she has been told she has social inexperience, she’s awkward around people.

Sally Diamond is the main character in the book. The story is told with her on a journey of finding out about her past. This is thrust upon her after she makes a serious faux pas, and she finds herself the talk of the Town.
I literally couldn’t put this book down, considering it covers some very dark, sensitive issues.
There are many hidden secrets.
It explores what some people could do to satisfy what others would see as most terrible choices in life. Even how they could brainwash another person.
This is the first book I have read by the author Liz Nugent, and I would like to read more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions of the book are entirely my own.

I have just finished this amazing book and am desperately trying to put into words how absolutely awesome it is it has completely taken my breath away I lived and breathed every page I ignored things I should be doing and just read until I finished it I couldn’t put it down.
The book has everything you would want in a perfect read it’s heartbreakingly sad, very disturbing and at times funny, it brought out so many emotions in me whilst I was reading and I am in total awe at the quality of the words and storyline from Liz Nugent.
I’m not going to try and describe the story its just to difficult for me to do it justice what I can say is this is a book that I will always treasure, I loved Sally the main character I wanted to be her friend, I wanted to help and protect her she felt so real to me and I so so didn’t want this read to end.
So please, please don’t miss this book it deserves more than 5 stars it’s going to be a huge hit and also it’s SUPERB !! Massive thanks to Liz Nugent for a read I will never forget.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Penguin General UK for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Perfectly dark and funny book.

The characters are deep and thoughtfully written, Liz Nugent has managed to write another gripping psychological thriller that I imagine will be well loved.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books for the opportunity to read and review this book. This author is a genius when it comes to creating complicated and intriguing characters, some of whom are not always likeable! With great characters, writing and sympathy Sally Diamond’s dark and tragic story unfolds in the book and it’s literally unputdownable!! Loved it and highly recommend pre-ordering it for March!