Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada. This book was way out there..like what did I read? This book went where it did not need to go and it can provide nightmares...my gosh!

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent is a psychological thriller about a woman who considers struggles with emotional issues, and finds out why.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Simon & Schuster Canada and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Sally is 43 years old, and she just lost her father, who she attempted to burn in the compost barrel out back.  He said to put him out with the trash when he died, so that's what she did.  She doesn't understand why people are upset.

Of course, Sally doesn't understand a lot of the emotions that other people take for granted.  She prefers to be left alone, quietly playing the piano, and ignoring most people.  She was adopted when she was seven, and can't remember anything from before that. 

Unfortunately, the death of her father is about to put Sally front and center.  She has become headline news.  Partly because of her rather strange attempt at disposing of her father's body, but also because Sally's early life was devastating, and she is just learning about it now.  Apparently a lot of other people knew about her adoption, and who her real parents were.  She did not.  When she receives a familiar teddy bear in the mail from a stranger in New Zealand, she starts to worry that her early life is returning to haunt her.


My Opinions:
This was really an amazing story.  Although it is quite bleak, and often sad, it is also funny.  It is about family and friendship.  On the darker side, it is about secrets and lies, racism, child-abuse and rape.  The book looked at how those events can carry over to adulthood.  It is also about bravery and is overall, quite inspiring.

The story is told from both Sally's perspective and that of Peter (past and present).  I loved Sally's "voice".  She grew from child-like innocence to a wonderful woman who has not quite lost that child-like charm.

The story was rather long, but it was an easy read, and I just loved Sally so much.  She is someone you can root for.  The ending was a little disappointing, but that's because I like to see everything wrapped up neatly, and crimes punished.  However, that disappointment is not stopping me from giving it 5 stars.

This may have been the first book I have read by this author, but it definitely won't be the last.

Here's hoping your next read is 5 stars !!!

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) in exchange for sharing my honest opinion Thank you Simon& Schuster.

Prepare yourself to be utterly captivated and shocked by Liz Nugent's book. It's an enthralling rollercoaster that kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. The book delves fearlessly into the darkest corners of human experience, exploring triggers and disturbing themes such as abuse, captivity, manipulation, and more.

Meet Sally, a fascinatingly quirky and neurodivergent character, caring for her frail and aging father. But there's more to Sally's story—her past unfolds chapter by chapter, revealing secrets that will leave you breathless.
Nugent's brilliant storytelling employs not one but two riveting perspectives, giving you an exclusive backstage pass to the characters' innermost thoughts and emotions.

For lovers of suspenseful and dark tales, this book is an absolute must-read. Amidst the intense themes, the narrative cleverly sprinkles bits of humor, providing a truly immersive and thrilling experience.

Warning: You won't be able to resist the urge to devour this book in one sitting, regardless of the heart-pounding triggers. It's easily among my top favorite reads of the year—a literary gem that will linger in your mind long after you turn the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book .I really liked it at first but as I got into it I found it too hard to read because of the horrific childhood Sally had. It was giving me nightmares so I stopped reading it. No fault of the author itself, it is just a trigger I have with children.

Wow. This is an exceptional read - one that is truly unique and deeply, profoundly, unsettling.

Strange Sally Diamond is indeed strange, but she is also heartbreakingly vulnerable, a character written with such authenticity that once you get to know her, her voice will begin to haunt you. One of two first-person POV narrators of this story, Sally’s world is dark, and it will take some time, (paced perfectly by this master storyteller) for the reader to get inside her head. But once enough of her backstory is revealed, there is no going back. Yes, Sally is strange, but she is also incredibly compelling, both smart and ‘deficient’, and her story is absolutely impossible to put down.

Without giving the plot away (no spoilers here), you will need to read it to learn more. Including, tantalizingly, the identity of the second first-person narrator.

Suffice it to say that this is a book about unspeakable evil. And trauma. And the resilience of the human spirit. But most of all, it is a story about lost innocence, and the longing for love, and acceptance, that will persist - in even the most hideous of circumstances.

Highly recommended, (for all but sensitive readers), this book is guaranteed to chill you to the core. Leaving you strangely (and ironically) wanting more - these characters, beginning with Sally, so beautifully captured and deeply entrenched, it will take some time to free them.


A great big thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

Oh my gosh what did I just read?!?! and why am I so obsessed with it? Strange Sally Diamond is SUCH a different book but in the best way. I am always looking for unique stories and this one delivered. While the story line is quite dark, it's for anyone who likes a twisty thriller that's more on the psychological side than the gore side.

This book will stay with you long after you finish it wondering just exactly you got to the end without figuring out what is going on. If you are looking for a good thriller read for the summer, this is it! Also tho if you want a good Halloween/October read... I highly suggest this too!

This novel brought to mind Room, The Maid, and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.

For years, Sally Diamond was told by her adoptive father, a psychiatrist, that she is emotionally disconnected and socially deficient. Certainly she finds people confusing and conversation awkward because she can’t read social cues. In fact, she often pretends to be deaf so she doesn’t have to interact with others. When she is 42, her father dies and she is forced to connect with the outside world. After having lived in virtual isolation outside a small Irish village, she faces quite an adjustment.

Sally has always found it strange that she doesn’t remember anything from her childhood before the age of 7 when she was adopted. However, in letters left to her by her father, she learns that she and her biological mother experienced unimaginable trauma. Just as Sally sets out to learn more about her past, she receives a parcel from someone in New Zealand who calls her Mary.

The book is narrated from two perspectives: Sally in the present and a boy named Peter in the past. Peter, who has been told he suffers from “necrotic hominoid contagion,” is raised by his father who keeps a woman in captivity in a room adjacent to Peter’s. It is obvious that there must be a link between Sally and Peter so much of the interest is in how their stories will merge. Of course, though some parts of the plot are predictable, there are some unexpected twists.

There is a lot of serious and sensitive subject matter: pedophilia, abduction, imprisonment, sexual and physical abuse, emotional manipulation, and misogyny. On the other hand there is hope. Sally finds a supportive group of people who help her navigate through her new world.

And there is even humour. Sally is naïve and very literal so her reactions and blunt, unfiltered comments are funny. The book opens with Sally trying to incinerate her father’s body because he joked that she should put him out with the trash when he died. When someone learns of the death and wonders whether to call the police or a doctor, Sally says, “’It’s too late for a doctor, he’s dead’” and doesn’t think authorities need to be notified because “’it’s none of their business.’” When the vicar invites her to attend church, she responds with “’No, . . . it’s very boring.’” And she asks very personal questions of people.

Sally is an endearing character. Though quirky and awkward, she is likeable. It is impossible not to cheer her on as she works on a number of issues such as trust and anger management; at one point she mentions having to work on “touch, empathy, patience, diplomacy, self-control, and so on.” She has a lot of hurdles to overcome but she conquers her fears.

The novel looks at the dark side of human nature. Some characters seem truly evil but the author does show that there are reasons for their behaviour. For example, we know little about Peter’s father but there are definite hints at the source of his hatred of women. This portrayal of complex characters is what I appreciated. Sally, for instance, has her rages which can lead to violence, but it is clear that she is vulnerable.

In its examination of intergenerational trauma, the book questions whether severely damaged people can be made healthy. Is some harm irreparable? There are several characters who have been traumatized by events and they all react differently. Does evil just perpetuate evil? Can goodness conquer the darkness that exists in all of us to some extent?

For me, this was an engrossing read with never a dull moment. Though not a thriller, there is an intense sense of unease throughout. If you like dark and disturbing psychological suspense, this is the book for you. The ending, though open-ended, is perfect, and certainly gives the reader food for thought.

“𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅? 𝑷𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.”

Having heard fantastic things from my friend Dennis (@ScaredStraightReads) and having enjoyed Liz Nugent’s Lying in Wait, I was very much looking forward to diving into her latest.

This book is fascinating, for many reasons: one part mystery, one part character study, one part family saga, Nugent dives into these many aspects with well written prose that is addictive to read. Sally Diamond suffers from mental illness and is considered “strange” or “quirky” by the townfolk; this could have been gimmicky or used for comedic value, but Nugent writes about Sally with finesse, research, and care, especially once you learn more of her past. The story moves between Sally’s perspective and one other, both presenting two sides to trauma: the dark horrific picture of abuse and the effects it can have long afterwards. Nugent develops a strong support system around Sally, each character contributing to Sally’s understanding of the world and her past. One thing I love about Nugent’s writing is that she is not scared to dive into some dark places; it is easy to label the other narrator as “bad,” but Nugent also shows the shades of grey that make you consider the idea that people aren’t 100% one thing. This second character is complex, disturbing and unlikeable - and yet I found myself completely absorbed when his narration appeared.

Strange Sally Diamond is a story of trauma, manipulation, isolation, nature versus nurture, and trust. It contains some big triggers, as it focuses on the dark side of humanity, but is brilliantly executed with a central character that you will root for. Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC!

Sally is such an interesting character. She’s inside her own head, emotionally stunted and has a hard time with saying the right thing and social situations.
This is a book that will definitely not be for everyone. It is very dark and there are so many layers to this story.
I found the first part to be more fast paced than the second part, however it was definitely intriguing and made me want to keep reading. I had absolutely no idea where this story was going.
It’s definitely one of those books that will stick with me for a long time.

I REALLY ENJOYED MY READ. First time reading from this author and I can't wait to discover more. I highly recommend it. The main character was amazing, loved her with all my heart. The storyline was interesting, even if it's dark, I think this is a story everybody should read. (check TW) The pace was perfect, theres a lot of diverse characters in it, I felt a lot of different emotions while reading it, it was a rollercoaster haha. I won't say too much but I wish that the ending was a bit different this is why I don't give it 5 ⭐️

Strange Sally Diamond is an odd little book that really pulled me in with its characters and secrets.

It opens with Sally’s father dying. She’s a woman in her 40s with little life experience and no friends, and she thinks she’s doing the right thing by burning her father’s body in the shed. A neighbour calls the police and suddenly she has to question everything she knows about herself and her life.

I’m often torn on books with protagonists who seem to be on the autism spectrum — sometimes they’re treated as childlike, or cute, or stupid. Sally is a much more complex character, and her behaviour makes sense with her backstory. She actively drives the plot.

There’s another main character who appears partway through the book, and the contrast between that person’s history and Sally’s is fascinating and so sad.

This book has a lot of darkness but also a lot of hope. It’s a character-driven story, more of a quiet drama than thriller most of the time. I’d recommend it to readers who like to slow down a bit and really consider the people behind true crime stories.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for my review copy of this book.

Okay, the combination of the title and cover made Liz Nugent's new novel, Strange Sally Diamond, a must read for me.

The unsettling prologue sealed the deal. I was hooked, binge reading 'til late at night.

Sally Diamond is decidedly different. Her background harbors many secrets and events that account for her actions, thoughts, demeanor and more.

The 'why' and 'how' of this is slowly and deliciously eked out by Nugent over the course of the book. One answer brings yet another question. I thought Nugent manipulated the reader wonderfully. There are surprises and twists throughout the book.

I loved Sally's straightforward manner and was firmly behind her as she navigates the path to owning her life. And sad for what has come before. Nugent populates her supporting cast with a wide variety of temperaments. They play a large part of the plot. Some good, some bad.

Nugent's plotting is dark and unsettling. It's also very hard to put it down!

Thank you Simon & Schuster CA and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for the honest review. The first page is hilarious. If you liked The Maid and The Good Sister, you will most likely enjoy this.

I have never read anything like Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent. The story kept me guessing from the start and I blew through it in two days.

Sally Diamond finds people confusing and exhausting. She prefers to stay at home where her routine is predictable and quiet.

Adopted as a child by two psychiatrists, she has no memories from before that time. But now, at the age of forty-three, her past is revealed when she becomes headline news. And the people around her seem to know more about Sally than she does herself.

The story is told from two perspectives, Sally’s in the present and a boy named Peter in the past. I do love a book that has dual timelines!

This book was much darker that I was expecting it to be. From the back cover copy, I got the impression that this was going to be a lighter thriller. Wow, was I wrong. Some scenes were disturbing. However, I do think Liz Nugent dealt with the subject matter as tastefully as possible. I would not describe this book as gratuitous in any way.

And while the book is serious, there is one character in particular who is like a shining bright light in the darkness.

Simon and Schuster Canada provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much to both of them for making this possible!

Thank you net galley for giving me this opportunity to read this book.
I have to say that I had several different emotions going while reading this book.
Sally Diamond is in her forties and is awkward around people.
She had an unconventional start in life.
When Sally's dad died she decided to cremate him herself. Her father had left instructions on what to do upon his death.
As the next couple of years go on she has found friends, a job and also possibly family members that she wasn't aware of.
As I continued to read I found that there was actually two stories going on.
In some parts I didn't know whether to cry or laugh or get mad.
I had a lot of empathy for Sally, due to her start in life.

Thrilling, haunting, and highly unnerving!

Strange Sally Diamond is a dark, perceptive, mysterious tale that takes you into the life of Sally Diamond, a socially inept, middle-aged woman with PTSD from childhood trauma and a tendency to take things literally who, after recently losing the only father she’s ever known, begins to struggle with living alone when long-buried secrets come to light, memories begin flooding back, someone is intent on tormenting her about the past, and danger now seems to lurk around every corner.

The prose is meticulous and tight. The characters are scarred, selfish, eccentric, and dangerous. And the plot, told from alternating perspectives, unfolds methodically into a seedy tale full of twists, turns, surprises, familial drama, lies, secrets, deception, self preservation, wickedness, tragedy, and murder.

Overall, Strange Sally Diamond is a nuanced, sinister, unpredictable tale by Nugent that once again highlights her innate ability to showcase the scheming, despicable, demoralizing, evil side of human nature while also reminding us of the devastating, enduring consequences of living in environments fraught with excessive control, manipulation, violence, and forced captivity.

4.5 stars

Such a riveting read! Well-done story with dark and disturbing themes that are handled sensitively by the author. A young woman, Sally, on the spectrum finds out about her hidden chilling childhood past and its impacts on who she is today. Short chapters told from Sally’s perspective and that of a key male character, move the story forward at a good pace.

Sally is a very quirky, likeable, complex character and I was drawn in from the outset. She endears herself to the reader as she grows throughout the story and starts to learn about the traumatic events in her childhood and how they have shaped what she believes, her behaviour and how she lives her life. This novel, to me, reminded me of Elinor Oliphant and Room with its own unique style. A winner of a read! My only quibble was that the end was a bit abrupt. I would have liked to learn more about Sally as she moved on with her life.

Thanks to @simonandschuster and @netgalley for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Oh my GOD. I have never been so disturbed by a book but then laughing at the next line? I don’t know how Liz Nugent does it.

Sally Diamond has always known she was adopted and a little different, but when her adoptive father dies - her past comes hurdling towards her and it’s something she could have never imagined.

I was a little worried going into this book that Sally’s neurodivergency would be played as a joke or that she would just be a “quirky” lady (I’ve noticed this in a few books lately and really don’t like it). Instead we delve into the reasons and psychology of why Sally is the way she is. It was such an interesting dive and I really loved the community and support she had.

I read this basically in two sittings because I couldn’t put it down. There was so much going on but it was all tied together so wonderfully. It’s shocking, spine-chilling, and engrossing and I can see this being MANY people’s best book of 2023.

Well damn, this title was literally the perfect title to describe this book. Strange Sally Diamond is going to be one of those books that you're either going to love or hate. For me, it was simple. The stranger the book, the better. So this is one I obviously fell inlove with.

Sally Diamond did what she was told and her whole world unraveled since doing so. All she did was follow her fathers directions and she put him out with the rubbish when he died. To make matters worse, Sally usually burns her Rubbish, so umm I'm sure you can guess what happened to her father. Sally now finds herself the centre of everyone's attention but she somehow gets off unscathed from doing that to her father. Why? Why didn't she get in trouble? And why is everyone whispering about her past? Slowly Sally's world starts to unravel and she learns about her childhood and why she is the way she is. It explains alot, but does it explain everything?

Seriously such an amazingly disturbing read, that I could not put down. There's is definitely a lot of triggers in this one as the book covers some Dark topics but it was amazing.

Title: Strange Sally Diamond

Author: Liz Nugent

Publication Date: July 18, 2023

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery, Thriller

Pages: 384

Content Warnings: pedophilia, child abuse, rape, kidnapping, sexual violence, confinement, misogyny, violence, death, mental illness, domestic abuse, death of a parent, pregnancy, car accident, murder, gaslighting, racism, sexism, suicide, torture, panic attacks, COVID.

R Contains profanity, violence, drug use, or nudity.


My Review
› "Put me out with the trash," he said regularly. "When I die, put me out with the trash."

And that's exactly what Sally did. When her father died on November 29, 2017, 42-year-old Sally put him out with the trash and tried to burn his corpse in the garbage bin.

Sally is strange. She was bullied in school and had a really hard time fitting in. She's socially awkward, lacks emotion, and takes everything literally. Some said Sally had autism. However, her psychiatrist-father told her she didn't.

A family friend, Dr. Angela, came over to check on Sally and discovered that Sally had tried to burn her father's corpse. Angela called the police department and Sally was questioned for seven hours. The story ended up in the paper. Everyone was talking about her. Some people started calling her Mary.

Sally doesn't know her real name. She knows she was adopted when she was seven years old. Her father was sick for a long time and had letters written for when he died. He left instructions for Sally to read one letter per week. She would finally get to learn all about her childhood, but in small amounts so it wouldn't be overwhelming.

› An old, raggedy, one-eyed teddy bear arrives in the mail with a note:

"I thought you'd like to have him back." S.

› When Dr. Angela sees the bear she immediately calls the police and tells Sally not to touch it. This was a bear from her past. How did they get the bear? Who sent it? What happened before she was adopted? How did the country know all about it?

› Told from dual perspectives (I don't want to tell you who the other perspective is) and spanning fifty years, you will join Sally as she struggles to gain life experience, build relationships, and learn all about everything that happened from the 1970s to 2022.

› I rate reviews similar to the CAWPILE method
0-3 bad
4-6 Mediocre
7-9 Really good
10 Outstanding

› Characters: 10
These characters are so interesting. Some you'll love, some you'll hate, and some who make decisions that you'll never understand. P.S. Caroline is NOT "Sweet Caroline" I'll tell you that!

› Atmosphere: 10
There are so many times when this story broke my heart. This is a very heavy read with incredible descriptions and world-building.

› Writing Style: 10
As always, I love the dual perspective of course. I enjoy Nugent's writing style.

› Plot: 6
This is where the story felt very "meh" for me. The beginning was great, but then the pacing slowed down and I didn't like the ending.

› Intrigue: 6
I wanted to keep reading, however, I found myself struggling to pick it up.

› Logic: 7
There are plot holes.

› Enjoyment: 7
Overall, Strange Sally Diamond is a good book with some humour and a LOT of darkness.

Average 8

1.1-2.2 = ★
2.3-4.5 = ★★
4.6-6.9 = ★★★
7-8.9 = ★★★★
9-10 = ★★★★★

My Rating ★★★★

› Final Thoughts
• Strange Sally Diamond is a dark, emotional, medium-paced, tense, sad, character-driven story. I don't want to give too much away because there is A LOT that is not mentioned in the blurb, so I'd recommend you go in blind as I did. This book is about nature versus nurture, the relationship between trauma and mental illness and the importance of found family.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.