Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin U.K. Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

‘Strange Sally Diamond’ is an amazing book by Liz Nugent. I read it within 24 hours, the story hooked me from the start. Especially as I’m not normally a fan of alternating narratives but Nugent has done it well - weaving in past and present to tell the story of 'strange' Sally Diamond .

Sally Diamond, lives a reclusive life in rural Roscommon - with her elderly psychiatrist father. He has always joked about throwing him out with the trash. Sally respects what she believes to be his wishes but it takes her, and everyone she knows (not many people) down an unexpected path. This is a definite read for fans of mysteries and thrillers - but be warned it does tackle heavy subjects, but who is Sally Diamond?

Liz Nugent is an extraordinary writer whose previous novels have explored to great effect what happens to seemingly ordinary characters once their layers of respectability are stripped away. Her new novel, centred on a character entitled Sally Diamond, is no different. Leading an isolated existence with her elderly adoptive father, forty year-old Sally avoids contact with the outside world since being bullied at school three decades ago. During the early parts of the novel, it is fair to assume for the reader that Sally is neurodivergent, a little similar perhaps to Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant. But after her father passes away and Sally Diamond is dragged into the public limelight, this readerly view is slowly corrected as Sally’s early childhood is finally conjured up through a series of letters her father has left her. Touching on some harrowing issues related to domestic abuse and kidnapping, this does not make for an easy read, but allows for some revelatory insights. Equally distressing is the fate of second character Peter that Nugent depicts on the page. We know it is not going to end well for neither Sally nor Peter, but even so, the ending of the novel is breathtaking. Highly recommended for thriller readers, those interested in greater insights into the effects of early childhood trauma, and readers who have yet to discover Liz Nugent. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for sending me a free ARC of this novel in exchange for this honest book review.

As a slightly awkward middle aged woman myself I completely get the main character. Not the crazy stuff but the other stuff. Well written and a book that will linger with me. Finished this ebook last week and still thinking about it.

I was flying long haul and literally read this in one sitting! No movies or sleep as I was totally hooked from the start in this unusual and quirky story.

I loved Sally Diamond, she's such a great character and doesn't think she did anything wrong after her dad died.

She finds letters from her father and all is not as it seems but the truth unfolds

Sally is a socially awkward woman who finds it hard to trust but life starts to open up for her

5 stars from me!

My first Liz Nugent book (how???) and have now gone to order her whole backlist because my oh my, is she BRILLIANT. What started off as an intriguing story about a lonely and slightly awkward middle aged woman took off in a wholly unpredictable direction with so many layers and emotions and struggles that I was barely drawing breath as I flew through this novel. What a talented writer!

A brilliant, fascinating book
The character Sally makes you laugh, cry be frustrated, and have her back all at once.
The book is unlike any other
Liz Nugent is a writer that really delves into her characters
I highly recommend this as a read that stays with you long after the last page

Sally Diamond is in her forties when her adoptive father dies. Making an honest mistake, she disposes of his body herself and this attracts the attention of locals and the media alike.

With the spotlight on Sally, details of her past life, before she was adopted, come to light, but there are gaps in what happened and Sally doesn’t want to remember that time.

As she starts to socialise more and make friends, Sally, who describes herself as socially deficient, has difficulty working out who she can trust and realises there are different types of being kept in captivity. As this has so far been the story of her life, she endeavours to fit in and make her own decisions in future.

Like Liz Nugent’s previous novels, this one is dark, really dark. Fittingly, for a book written during lockdown, it deals with themes of isolation and imprisonment. It also deals with paedophilia and child abuse, and there are passages that are difficult to read. I found myself rooting for the character of Sally Diamond all the way through the novel. At times I was reminded of Room; at others of Elinor Oliphant. I dropped absolutely everything until I’d finished this book. Sally will stay with me for a while yet.

Chilling, compelling, and daringly dark.

Liz Nugent just keeps getting better. This was a fantastic read. I loved how it switched from Sally to Steve’s story, I loved past and present, I loved how the story kept moving and changing. There were so many different facets, I never saw the next twist coming. It really is great, possibly her just yet!!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Liz Nugent has a refreshing and blunt style of writing that I really enjoy. And it shines in this book. I couldn't decide if I liked half of the characters, one page I did, next paged I didn't. They were realistically flawed and that just added to the story.

Another triumph for Liz Nugent.

Sally Diamond is a character that you can’t imagine reading about in many authors work but Nugent always brings the best.

Clever, complicated, compelling and thrilling.

A true master class in writing.

I adored this book and totally fell in love with Sally. I really wanted her to develop and grow as she started to come to terms with her past

Not only did history repeat itself but it’s unimaginable how, after all she’d been through, Sally still ended up in a goldfish bowl. Humanity and dignity can be so lacking at times

I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this book. It’s a wonderful read.

With thanks to Simon & Schuster, Liz Nugent & Netgalley for ARC in return for an honest review

I think it’s safe to say that Liz Nugent never disappoints. Having been a huge fan of Nugent’s writing for years now, I have been eagerly awaiting the chance to read her 5th and newest book, Strange Sally Diamond. Wow, just wow. The story of Sally Diamond is that of heartbreak, disaster, trauma and vengeance whilst still being light, airy and funny in places too. I can certainly say without a shadow of doubt that this was THE book of 2022 for me. Fantastic.

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent is a twisty turny, emotive thriller that is so perfectly and vividly executed I found myself casting the Netflix miniseries in my head. Sally Diamond is in her 40s when her adoptive dad dies. Isolated and socially deficient, Sally draws attention to herself - and her birth history - when she innocently disposes of her fathers remains herself. Sally's story unfolds for us in real time as she learns of the sordid circumstances that saw her brought into this world and the absolute horrors that transpired thereafter. Emotive, creepy and gripping from the off.

Absolutely fantastic novel - great, three dimensional characters and a story that slowly unfolds to become something you cannot put down. One of the best of 2022.

Strange sally diamond is a gripping read. When her father dies, sally follows his instructions and takes him out with the bins. As news of her fathers death travels through the town, Sally’s strange actions are put into the spotlight.

After reading a series of letters left by her father, sally discovers that her past is not what she thought it was. Sally is soon brought back into her past when a stranger makes contact who knows more about her life than she does.

I adored this book and was gripped from the get go. Sally is not necessarily a likeable character but she is a compelling one and the twists of this book kept me hooked until the end

Thank you publishers and net tally for an ARC of strange sally diamond

I couldn’t put it down, a dark, spine chilling, suspenseful and shocking psychological thriller are the words that come to mind on finishing this one.

I really enjoy Liz Nugent novels and was thrilled to be given early access to her latest book as I just knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. Imagine my surprise when I realized that the setting of this novel was only 30 km from my home.

Strange Sally Diamond has led a sheltered life and with her adoptive parents in the midlands of Ireland and when her father passes away she takes her request literally to put him out with the bins. She tries to incinerate him in the barn thinking that she has fulfilled his last request as he did say “ sur when I die just put me out with the bins” until she finds an envelope in his study that advises her to read after his passing. Sally’s life and what she believed she knew of her past and family brings horrors into her life that she could never have imagined.

This was a heart stopping , heart-breaking read and had me on the edge of my seat. A difficult subject but expertly executed in the hands of this experienced author. While it’s dark and disturbing it is never graphic. This is an author that doesn’t shy away from tough subjects and A story that certainly made my skin crawl, but I couldn’t put it down. Great characterization, a very well thought out plot with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge of their seats.
I think readers who enjoy authors like Will Dean or Michael Robotham or Lisa Jewell should add this one to their reading lists.

My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel.

I have waited and waited for another Liz book to come along… but it was definitely worth it. Meet Sally Diamond, a woman who’s spent much of her life sheltered from her community, who has no friends bar her father – her mother is deceased, and who has never had a job. In her early forties, she does what her father asks her to do – put him out with the rubbish when he died – but little does she know how her actions have consequences that will change her life forever. Now the centre of unwanted attention, not only do strangers come out of the woodwork, but family, all too willing to tell her the story of her existence, a past about which she has no memory (and possibly for good reason). Sally does her best to resist the media, police, and loved ones, but someone is keen to get in touch and share with her everything she thinks she’s forgotten. Chilling in parts, bittersweet in others, this is a big read that will have you thinking and urging Sally on long after the novel has ended.

I am such a Liz Nugent fan, Skin Deep is probably my favourite thriller, so I was very excited to read this. And it was just as wild as I expected!

We are introduced to Sally just as her father dies and she decides it best to incinerate him in the barn since he did just tell her to put him out with the bins. From there things unravel quite rapidly and intensely. It's not all bad, Sally makes some friends and forges some true connections with the people in her village. However the horrors of her childhood are coming to light.

Some of the content in this book is genuinely very upsetting and difficult to read, there was a few times I had to set it down and take a little break.

I truly loved it though, I've read enough Liz Nugent books to know what kind of time I'm getting myself in for!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Sandycove for the opportunity to review this book!

What a brilliant book. Another amazing story by Liz Nugent. I loved Sally and every minute of her story. Of course there are some shocking twists and moments, some laugh out loud ones too. It wouldn't be a liz nugent story without. Highly recommended xx

Liz Nugent has a unique voice, an extraordinary imagination and a pared-down writing style that only serves to enhance her stories. After finishing this book I immediately read two more of her stories back-to-back, staying up late to finish them. So refreshing to find an Irish writer who doesn't allow the 'Irishness' of her characters to take centre front of the work, but weaves it almost unobtrusively into every action and word. Strange Sally Diamond was a great introduction to (for me) a new author and I thank Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the ARC in return for an honest opinion.