As soon as I read the first brilliant line I knew I would love this book. Sally Diamond takes everything literally and at first you may think you are entering into an Eleanor Oliphant world, but this is much, much darker. Sally's backstory is deeply troubling, and how she deals with the revelations of her past and moves on with her life is brilliantly portrayed. And just as I was wondering where it' was all going to go a second voice comes in through a parallel narrative. It's troubling but it's got some humour, a great cast of supporting characters and a satisfying plot. I couldn't put it down - even though at times I did find some of the dialogue a tiny bit clunky and some of the story resolutions and reasonings slightly rushed and I had questions. But this is a book and character I won't forget.

Strange Sally Diamond
Liz Nugent

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks so much to Netgalley and author Liz Nugent for an ARC of Liz's latest book 'Strange Sally Diamond' due out next March 2023.

I love Liz Nugent and have read all her 5 previous books. She is one of my must read authors and this latest one, her 6th novel, did not disappoint.

Its been 3 long years since Liz's last book 'Our Little Cruelties' came out but after reading this latest one it was so worth the wait.

It is written in Liz's typical unique style but shock of all shocks - Sally is actually a likable protagonist. Usually Ms. Nugents main characters are despicable and terribly unlikable but I actually liked Sally in this latest one. She feels so real and authentic. Her unfiltered honesty is brilliant and she just says things how it is. She is a wonderful character who will make you feel every emotion possible - from bonechilling horror, to heartwrenching emotion to laughing out loud.

The writing just flows seamlessly.

I look forward to Liz's next one already and wish her every success with this one.

Definately recommend.

5 easy stars from me!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely loved this book! It was riveting and disturbing in equal measures. I was fascinated by Sally right from the very beginning and the story continued to get progressively darker and twistier. Liz Nugent creates characters you might not want to know but certainly feel like you do. I really enjoy the fact that so many of them are truly unlikeable, she doesn’t try to make them sympathetic or relateable, she’s content to just make them realistic. All of her books are so different but equally intriguing and I will be recommending this one far and wide.

Rarely is there a book in which there are no redundancies. This is one of those rarities.
Rarely is there a book that grabs hold of your guts and won’t let go until the very last page. This is one of those rarities.
I loved Emma Donaghue’s “Room”. This is “Room” with bells and whistles on.
43-year-old Sally Diamond, “socially deficient” as she calls herself, is finding out about her early life after the death of her adopted father with whom she’d lived in total isolation in a remote part of Ireland.
Her birth mother was kidnapped at age 11 and kept prisoner for 14 years, she had two children in captivity. Any more of the plot would spoil the read.
There’s overtones of the Fritzl case in Austria, but this is such a unique story that I wanted to start reading again once I’d come to the end.
More than five stars!

Ooh I loved this. Liz Nugent did SUCH a brilliant job of bringing these characters to life and making me care about Sally and the community she lives in. Brilliant story-telling as always with this author. I don't want to include any spoilers here but suffice to say the ending broke me - goddamn you, Liz Nugent!
I've loved all her books and this one is definitely up there with the best.

I'm so delighted to say I just loved this book. As I do with all of Liz' but you wonder sometimes if authors will run out of steam,ideas or just not be on par with their previous work. Nope,not the case here.
Sally Diamond has just lost her father,and as he suggested she put him out with the rubbish. Yes,she actually got rid of her fathers remains herself. (Dont worry it all got sorted).Sally is very literal and wonders why the rest of the world isn't. Tom was her adoptive father,after Sally had a traumatic childhood he and his wife Jean(also deceased)took Sally in. You learn all about how and why through flashback chapters to then and now..which is so well done and explained brilliantly.
Sally now learns that she has possible family when a letter arrives from a man,who is very matter of fact,just like her,and sending proof they're related. Rightly so Sally has some trust issues,but when she does open up to you it's golden.
Some parts of this book are harrowing, especially her past. I found myself flinching at some lines because you're so immersed in the book..you're an onlooker in the corner of that room..and wonder how people can be so cruel. I feel like there's so much good about this book I want to spill it all out but there'd be no point in you reading it so! It's touching,sad,tough,but also current because you still read about these kind of things still happening in the world today. You cant help but love Sally with all her quirks and I often forgot she was in her 40s..such is the effect the past has had on her. This beauty is out in March 2023....put it on your list!

This was dark.
Bloody hell this was disturbing. Excellently written, Liz Nugent is a genius with words and I am a huge fan of her books.
It is hard to review this. It is hard to say I enjoyed the book, I enjoyed it as a story but it was so hard to read. Some scenes in particular will always stay with me, the way the boy reacted to his mother when he was introduced to her. The way the poor boy was treated and the way he turned out. It was like a horror story. It was a wonderful book but expect a few nightmares!

Really enjoyed this book. The author was empathetic to her characters and it was an unusual tale. Would definitely recommend as a good read!

*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.

No-one quite writes flawed characters like Liz Nugent does and Strange Sally Diamond is full of them. This book grabbed me from the very first sentence and when a book does that, you just know it's going to be a good'un. A masterpiece in characterisation and another 5 ***** read as brilliant and gripping as all of her previous books. I urge you to read it.

Many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this ARC for which I have given my voluntary and unbiased review.

From the first page, Strange Sally Diamond commands your attention. The story reveals a woman who has had a traumatic childhood that has left her with behaviours that others find disturbing. From her approach to dealing with her father’s death to being confronted by her past, Nugent unravels the story bit by bit. Her attention to detail gives us a glimpse of Sally’s interpretation of the world and with it, our admiration and concern for Sally grows. The sense of dread as we learn more and more about Sally’s childhood means that you can’t stop turning the pages. Liz Nugent has an innate ability to pick an unusual circumstance and examine it from a unique perspective. The characters are well developed and the story is intriguing. Funny, poignant, bleak and dark. Brilliantly written and captures Sally’s character perfectly with the narrative.

Sally Diamond is 42 years old. For over 20 years it's just been her and her adoptive father living an isolated existence in Ireland. When her father dies at home Sally follows his instructions and puts his body out with the bins. When news of her actions begins to spread the press begin to show an interest in "Strange" Sally Diamond and we discover her traumatic background that has been hidden from the public for almost 40 years.

WOW! This book deserves to be huge. The central character, Sally Diamond, while intriguing is also one you will empathise with and love as you learn her backstory. Sally is strange, she takes everything literally, hence following her fathers throw away comment of putting his body "out with the bins". Sally is naive and childlike, she hates interacting with people and even pretends to be deaf so she doesn't have to talk to anyone. Sally avoids making eye contact with people and loses her temper easily leading to her tearing her own hair out. These are all traits that we recognise. Her father, a psychiatrist, has always told her she's socially deficient, we would probably describe her as being on the autistic spectrum.

As Sally comes to terms with being on her own she sticks to the routines she has always had. She's not worried about being alone as she doesn't like interacting with people. Thankfully some of the people in the village are truly compassionate and rally round to support her. This support is essential as news from the past looms and we discover that there is much more to Sally's background. We learn that Sally isn't autistic, her behaviour and mannerisms stem from a traumatic childhood. A childhood her adoptive parents have hidden from her, along with hiding her from the world.

The story of Sally's early life is truly horrific. Thankfully write Liz Nugent doesn't glorify the horror, it is told with sympathy and care. As the world and the past invade we see how brave Sally is in coming to terms with her past and forging a future.

Liz Nugent is my go-to psychological thriller writer and always delivers the most intriguing characters. 'Strange Sally Diamond' is no exception. This new book, to be published in 2023, possesses all the flair of Nugent's other novels. It has a twisted narrative (along the lines of Emma O'Donoghue's 'Room') but manages to keep the darkness at bay with the most delicately-drawn character Sally Diamond, whose reflections on her misfortunes vary from the heartbreaking to the downright whimsical. She gets my sympathy and I am sure this #goodbook will be another bestseller. Thank you Liz Nugent for bringing Sally Diamond to life and following her story so that we get closure 🙏🏼 and @netgalley and Penguin for this advance copy.

I would like to thank Netgalley for allowing me to review Liz Nugent's upcoming book - Strange Sally Diamond. What I love about Liz Nugent's writing is that she creates a protagonist that I love to despise. However, this isn't the case with Sally Diamond. I couldn't help but be charmed by her. I was fully invested in her from the start, making this book a quick read. I loved how the book ended, all questions answered, no lose ends. As usual, an intelligently written story that doesn't disappoint. I dare anyone not to love this book.

The fantastic Liz Nugent does it again! Her astonishing ability to get inside the minds of people considered outside of the norm is undimmed. Her writing is engrossing and her plots and characters deeply compelling. Absolutely loved this book!

Strange Sally Diamond. One of the creepiest books I have ever read. I loved the character Sally and the opening line of the book will grip you. This book is not to be missed when it hits the shelfs in March. A book I will be thinking about for along time after.

Loved this book by Liz Nugent could not put it down. Amazing story couldn’t wait to turn each page.Couldn’t recommend this book enough

Liz Nugent, the queen of the psychological thriller has a new book coming out early next year (2/3/23) and I was delighted to get my hands on a @netgalley ARC as I really love her books.

Sally is a recluse, she lives with her elderly father in the countryside and has very little social interactions with others, going so far as pretending to be deaf to avoid conversations. When her father passes, she complies with his wish to be thrown out with the rubbish and is then completely thrown by the media storm and police presence that arises. Not only are people interested in her present notoriety but when the press dig into her past a dark history starts to come out and a message arrives giving a hint that someone sinister is still looking for her.

The book gets darker as we find out more and more about who Sally is and where she came from. It’s just so cleverly done in the typical Liz Nugent style. It was enthralled from the opening chapter and I raced through it staying awake well past my bedtime to get it read and then having a rather unsettled sleep. I couldn't put it down. Its brilliantly paced and I felt the key difference with her previous works, is that the main character is really likeable. I got some real chuckles from Sally and her complete lack of a social filter as she starts forming relationships which helped lift the darker topics that are at the heart of the plot. I believe Liz wrote the book during the lockdowns and there is such a theme of isolation permeating throughout.

Liz Nugent has done it again, brilliantly paced, sharp and clever writing, this is the best psychological thriller I have read in a long time and if you like her previous books then this is a much read. Just make sure you’ve visited the dentist beforehand as it might put you off going for a while

I knew immediately that I wanted to read this book from its title and cover. These things do have an impact. This book is a compelling page-turner, and I read it over a couple of days, intrigued by how things would turn out for Sally, given the nature of her past and early childhood. I was totally rooting for her, especially as she was someone who found it challenging to make change and navigate the everyday world.

The story is a dual narrative; we also learn about Steve and how he links to Sally, as well as being introduced to a whole other cast of characters that surround Sally where she lives, and who are well-formed and mostly enjoyable to read.

I found this a moving and well-constructed book and one that explores whether it's possible to overcome the psychological shackles of your past.

Wow Liz Nugent can certainly pack a punch! I feel like I’ve just read 10 stories at the same time.

A little bit of blurb -
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.

This book was gripping psychological drama that I could not put down . I wanted to cuddle Sally which she would have hated and just tell her it’s going to be ok.
I couldn’t put it down from the first page to the last the only big problem is it left me with so many unanswered questions.

There are so many characters in this book that I want to know more about , I felt like the author was constantly teasing me with tidbits of information but each of the characters were so interesting I could have read a whole saga about sally’s family both present and past.

This is a disturbing raw , highly emotive read but it also has so much fragility and heart.

There is so much more I want to say about this book but I really don’t want to give away any spoilers so I will just say that I highly recommend and when you read it let me know as I need to talk to everyone about this !!!

Thank you to netgalley, the publishers penguin and of course the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review