My daughter is a Jodi Picoult fan who felt sad because she believed she had read all of this Author's books. To cheer up my daughter, I embarked upon a search in the hope of finding a book by the Author that my daughter may have overlooked. Not knowing the names of the Picoult titles my daughter had read, I did an Amazon search of all Picoult's books, copied the list (with reviews) and emailed it to my daughter for her perusal. To my delight and my daughter's amazement, an unread title leapt from the email attachment - Salem Falls. This book will be slipped into my daughter's Christmas stocking and she, "can't wait" to read it! I remember being her age and feeling the same disappointment when exhausting a favourite author's offerings. So on behalf of my daughter and myself, "Thank you Amazon"! I know she will relish every word.

When I sat down to read Salem Falls, I wasn't really sure what to expect because I hadn't read many of Ms. Picoult's other works up to that point. But, what I discovered once I started reading was an excellent new twist on Arthur Miller's famous play, The Crucible.

Now, I know this was the intention and that it's no big surprise that I recognized the parallel right away. But, what I also noticed was how unforced the connections seemed to be. There are so many times in modern novels where a classic work is used as a basis and the prose feels strained as a result. That was not the case with Salem Falls - At least it wasn't for me.

I felt myself really entering the world of Salem Falls. The situations that Jack St. Bride was faced with were completely heart-wrenching and I destroyed several fingernails while "waiting" for the final verdict to be read.

I will say that the "shocking plot twist" at the end of the story was really not all that shocking for me. I felt like I could see Ms. Picoult leading up to it throughout most of the story. But, I read a LOT so maybe I'm desensitized to "whodunit" moments at this point? Either way, I can't think of a single thing that really disappointed me about this book.

While I appreciated the careful and thoughtful character portraits, I thought the plot was somewhat unbelievable. Overall I was disappointed in Salem Falls after truly enjoying most of Picoult's novels.

Jodi Picoult is one of my new favorite authors. She certainly knows how to write a page-turner and how to straddle the line between "serious" and popular fiction. So far I have read Plain Truth, Harvesting the Heart, My Sister's Keeper, and this novel, Salem Falls. My favorite is a toss up between this and My Sister's Keeper.

The reviews on this book are mixed, with some readers like me loving it and others accusing it of being predictable and unbelievable. I, personally, didn't find the book to be predictable or unbelievable at all, though I could understand how one might perceive these flaws in the book if he or she were reading from a very cynical point of view. Actually, if it is a fact that such cynicism does indeed pervade our society so often, the argument of the novel's predictability is weakened. If cynicism is the norm, then the logical prediction would have been that Jack would be convicted, he and Addie would have broken up, etc. (In my opinion, if any one of Jodi Picoult's books is predictable, it's Plain Truth, not Salem Falls. Then again, I was trying to figure out Plain Truth's ending from page one, whereas I simply allowed Salem Falls to unfold before me as I immersed myself in its characters and story instead of trying to dissect the plot from the beginning.) I found Jack to be both a believable and sympathetic character. Just because a man is highly educated doesn't mean he can't also be naive - intellectual and emotional intelligence are two unique entities. Though such a heart of gold, a childlike innocence, is rare in an adult in this often cruel world, it does exist, and Jack won me over with this precious quality.

Jodi Picoult has woven a tale about another cast of characters for her readers' enjoyment. She carefully tells a story in parts concentrating on each character then moving to another part. Her technique keeps the reader hanging in suspense until the conclusion.

This book was fair. The story moves along until the Wiccan theme takes over. That is when the story lost my interest. The whole idea of the group of girls casting spells, etc. was just to bizarre. I think it had a negative effect on the story.

I would not buy this book. Get it from the library.

I've had mixed experiences with Jodi Piccoult. While her books "19 Minutes", "My Sister's Keeper" and "Plain Truth" are some of my all-time favorite books, this is the second one of hers that I have not liked at all.

This book has characters that are difficult to like, a story that ranges from uncomfortable to downright ugly, and a plot that plods along too it's invevitable and predictable end.

If you would like to try Jodi Piccoult, try one of the three books above, and you won't be sorry. If you start with this one, I'll guess you'll never read another one of her books.

Maybe it's the audio CD narrator alternating between sickly sweet mooniness, to out-of-place scorn, to stilted cardboard cut-out attempts at male voices, but I can't believe this is the effort of an award-winning writer. She apparently doesn't even know that "The reason is because" is improper English. The events in this "story" are so ridiculously improbable, she destroys her own credibility. The writing is at best, specious. At worst are lines like "throw away his freedom like an extra stick of gum", and sappy offerings such as "his name rolled around her mouth like a butterscotch candy" - I won't torture you by quoting descriptions of gratuitous teen (and adult) sex, or the occasional, oddly-placed crudeness. Hyperbole and melodrama reign supreme here.

I was looking forward to reading my first Jodi Picoult book and I have to say that I was hugely disappointed reading this one. It was for our bookclub and everyone in the group (12 of us) felt the same way. I'm squeamish about reading another book by her again. It read like a soap opera to both myself and my bookclub. It was if it was written for a T.V. drama or mini series on the Lifetime channel.

This book was a treasure to read.. It was full of twists and turns. Jody Picoult writes with such compassion for people who are victims of a judgemental society. She forces you to re-evaluate your own misconceptions of human errors.

To borrow a cliche, I could not put this book down. I have not yet read The Pact, nor My Sister's Keeper, but I thought this one was outstanding. As I read other reviews calling it predictable, I'd have to agree and disagree. Parts of it? Maybe; however, the story and the writing are so good, it really keeps you hooked.

This is one of Piccoult's best books. My only complaint was it was a little long, in my opinion. One thing's for certain about the author: you think you have an opinion on certain things in life and she challenges them!!

Very interesting read and keeps you in suspense. Shows both sides of the picture in a rape case. Shows what can happen when someone is wrongfully accused and also shows the effects of a real rape on the victim.

This was yet another great Jodi Picoult book. Jack is released from prison after serving time for statutory rape. One of his students had accused him of having an affair with him, and the plea bargain he settles for seems to confirm his guilt. Once released, he wants nothing but to start a new life far from the community that put him behind bars. Settling in Salem Falls and accepting a meager job at a diner, Jack soon learns that his past will always follow him, no matter how discreet he tries to be. When rumors start to spread in Salem Falls, he immediately becomes a pariah, and a target of violence. He also becomes the target of Meg, a teenager with some serious issues, straight out of The Crucible. When Jack does not respond to her advances, Meg will do whatever it takes to make him pay, including turning his life into a scene from the Salem witch trials.

This book had everything a Picoult fan could expect: a budding relationship between Jack and the diner's proprietress, an alleged violent crime, a thorough criminal investigation, and a dramatic trial. I loved the trivia aspect, how Jeopardy shaped Jack's life and how knowledge was his savior. I really liked the incorporation of witchcraft in the plot, both the scheming and spell-casting of Meg and her friends (think "The Craft") and the use of quotes from The Crucible and references to the Salem witch trials. A great and entertaining read that will keep any reader captivated.

I'll keep this short and sweet. This is my first Jodi Picoult book. I loved it and I am going to read more! I was in suspense until the end. Fabulous ending too! Makes you go back and think about what you read. :) buy it!

One of the qualities I most value in the writing of Jodi Picoult is her ability to bring human relationships to realistic life. Her plotting is generally superb. Therefore, Salem Falls falls way short of Picoult's potential because of its predictability. Her prose is great, but the story is same old, same old. A guy falsely accused of rape, then it happens all over again. Some bored teenaged girls dabbling in witchcraft. So what do you suppose will happen? This book came highly recommended, but it's definitely not up to par. It's OK, not a bad read, but lacks the powerful punch of most of Picoult's exceptional work.

Another fantastic book by Jodi Picoult. I've read several of her books, and this is one of her better ones.

I had an idea of what was really going on, but she did a good job not cluing you in right away and giving away the entire story. It was a fantastic book as all her books are!

I was pulled into this book by the very first page. It kept me interested all the way through. Fab endding too. All around terrific book.
A+++

This is the first Picoult's that I picked and I will start collecting her books :)

I am a big fan of Jodi Piccoult's books - I have read every one except her newest - and I will read that one soon.

Salem Falls is not a terrible book, but it certainly isn't one of Picoult's best. I felt that a number of story lines were predictable and I just didn't get wrapped in and invested in these characters.

I wanted another "My Sister's Keeper" or "The Pact", where I couldn't put the book down. This is a good and iteresting read, but could have been better.

I really love reading Picoult books - I love the switching between viewpoints and the exploration of rather dark subjects. The idea behind this book - witches starting a "witch hunt" and the terrible nature of rape - was very good. But overall I was left unsatisfied. The twist is obvious from 1,000 miles away and it is disheartening that no one discovers it during the book or even takes the time to put some mild clues together. I am happy for Jack and Addie, but feel too that their ending is unrealistic. Perhaps if Jack had been convicted, and then exonerated when the twist was discovered I would have felt better about reading the book, and enjoyed the ending/resolution to a dark tale.

Another successful Picolut novel. Instantly drawn into the story, waiting for the first twist as Picoult always delivers (in my humble opinion). I figured out the 'draw' of the book not to far in to the story but still could not put it down.

Salem Falls, a small New England town, where Annie Peabody owns and runs a local diner. Her father Roy is an alcoholic and has secrets. Annie has secrets. A stranger comes to town, Jack, and he has secrets. A young group of teenage girls, lead by Gilly, have secrets, too. Secrets mean the "small town" has calm no more.

I've been enjoying reading Ms. Picoult's books - this is the latest one that I've read. An interesting read, it might make you look at your own opinions of the book's subject, and I'm sure you'll wonder why the characters are behaving in the way they are behaving - would I do that? I like all of this author's books that I've read so far and plan on reading more.

I think Jodi Picoult's books are very, very well written. I was surprised that, for having a phD, Jack did not come across as very smart. Aside from the jeopardy questions, but seriously, does anyone anywhere EVER always have the answers?

***Possible SPOILER ALERT!!!***

I knew that something weird was going to happen at the end as soon as I read about how they hold hands... I didn't feel a good sense of resolution at the end, and thought that the actual court scene dragged on.

Overall, my least favorite Picoult book, but still pretty f-ing good.

I finished Salem Falls in two days and am mad at myself for not reading more slowly so I could savor the quality of the writing and the intriguing plot which is absent in so many modern fiction novels. However, I just couldn't put the book down and just had to see it through its many twists and turns.

As an avid reader and huge fan of Jodi Picoult, I highly recommend this novel and believe its is one of her best (along with "The Pact," "My Sister's Keeper," "Plain Truth" and "Nineteen Minutes").

Jodi Picoult is a phenomenal talent. She is not afraid to take risks in her writing, to approach current events/topics and especially controversial topics that other authors would find too challenging to take on. Her books, and this one in particular, lead the reader through an emotional and intellectual journey whereby the reader is forced to confront both or many sides of a particular issue and examine things from multiple perspectives that he/she may not have wanted to acknowledge. For example, in "Salem Falls," the reader is exposed to the difficult topics of rape and sexual assault; being falsely accused of a crime; trust; taking the law into one's own hands; witchcraft; death of a child and incest, to name a few. However, these topics are not merely discussed, they are disected and experienced from various viewpoints until everything comes together in the end. But, as with Jodi Picoults other books, the effect of her story and writing does not end simply because there are no more pages left to read. Rather, the reader is left with so much to think about and dicuss afterwards, that her books will never truly leave you.

I can't recommend this book and her other works highly enough. They would all make remarkable book club selections and are wonderful to share with friends and family of all ages.

I'm not going to bother writing a detailed summary of the plot - just read the reviews before and a head of me. More of less, a previously convicted sexual offender moves to a new town, looking for a new start, only for the same thing to happen again. The story involves the offender's new girlfriend, the accuser and her family, his lawyer (a wonderfully developed Jordan McAfee) his old accuser, the police - just about the entire town.

To be certain, I hugely enjoyed reading this book - I read it in less than a day and a half. Picoult always impressed me with her ability to developed a variety of characters in a way that doesn't seem confusing nor redundant. We learn everyone's stories at just the right time in just the right way. On a side note, while you read this, look out for her metaphors (or are they analogies?) - they are hugely creative, beautiful and powerful, all in one. Additionally, some of her characters are just so wonderful and amusing - in powerful and quirky ways - that I'll be seeking out other books with them in the future.

As a female, I always give the victim the benefit of the doubt. It might not be the most honest thing to do, nor the most just, but it's how I think. Curiously, "Salem Falls" made me doubt this conviction of mine. I found myself feeling more for Jack than the victim (who, at the same age as I, annoyed me to no end). It was an interesting conflict (there's a psych term for it, I know) which I will certainly think about further.

On a completely different note, I was a little annoyed on the fact that "Salem Falls" made a fairly weak stand on the idea of rape and sexual assault. I wasn't sure whether the moral was that some times bad things happen to good people, or just the opposite: some times good things happen to bad people. It's clear that Picoult warns readers not to judge others and to understand, but other than that, it's a little foggy. The idea of justice is foggy as well - yes, in some ways, justice is served. But in other ways, there are a huge number of simply atrocious and life altering crimes that no one ever gets punished for. I understand why Picoult didn't develop those ideas further - the book was already pretty long - but it made me think about what the court decision exactly meant.

Another thing that I feel like I should note, however, is something that occasionally bothers me with Jodi Picoult's books. She tries very hard to create diverse and interesting teenage characters - ones that are different from the flat and uniform personalities in most TV shows. And, for the most part, she succeeds. However, in "Salem Falls," I felt that she strayed from her normal portrayals. The male teenagers were sex obsessed while the female teenagers (with one exception) came off to me to be very self absorbed and superficial, following their "leader" even thought they knew the difference between right and wrong. None seem to truly change, which contrasted hugely to the development of the older characters, whose ranges of emotions varied hugely.

There were also some loose ends left to tie up - the novel seemed to end very quickly. The court decision is made and then just a few pages later, it's over. I'd wonder what happened next to the characters - plenty is implied (in a very creepy and well done) manner, but it is still odd the way the end plays out. I suppose, Picoult did that deliberately, as a stylistic choice, but I felt a little abandoned at the end, like I had followed her story and her ideas for the past four hundred pages just to be ignored.

All in all, I'd recommend the book. It deals with touchy topics, be warned. But it's never graphic. Occasionally, however, the crimes (rape and the such) are described in detail, simply because it is a court room drama in the last third (half?) of the novel. I'll admit, it did make me a little uncomfortable, but that could just be a personal issue. Again, reader this book if you ever get the chance. It could just help you understand both sides of justice.

Salem Falls was a very interesting book to me because of the believable characters and some things I am not familiar with such as jail and witchcraft. Unlike some books that start out slow, this one got my attention right away and kept it throughout. The main plot involved a girls' soccer coach who just got out of jail for accepting a plea bargain and served 8 months for raping a girl on the team. His life was basically ruined. He tried starting over in a small town and had to deal with another rape charge that a girl involved with witchcraft made against him. I enjoyed trying to anticipate how the defense attorney would defend Jack, who was a nice guy charged with sexual felonious assault. Jodi makes the trial so interesting by adding humor into it as well as just the suspense of wondering how it will turn out and who the jury will believe. The bright spot though was Addie, a diner owner who gave Jack a break and the benefit of the doubt. She hired him as a dishwasher and they respected each other's privacy which gradually developed into true love and admiration.

The author used flashbacks to go into the background of some of the characters which I found to be interesting, except for Jack's mother. I didn't really see how that added to the story, but still found it interesting. I liked how the verdict turned out, but the ending was a shock to me. I wasn't expecting that at all. I would say a main theme of the book is not to prejudge people--that everything is not always as it seems to be as the defense attorney pointed out to the jury and how much damage lies can cause. I liked this book very much!

Karen Arlettaz Zemek, Author of My Funny Dad, Harry

Salem Falls was a very interesting book to me because of the believable characters and some things I am not familiar with such as jail and witchcraft. Unlike some books that start out slow, this one got my attention right away and kept it throughout. The main plot involved a girls' soccer coach who just got out of jail for accepting a plea bargain and served 8 months for raping a girl on the team. His life was basically ruined. He tried starting over in a small town and had to deal with another rape charge that a girl involved with witchcraft made against him. I enjoyed trying to anticipate how the defense attorney would defend Jack, who was a nice guy charged with sexual felonious assault. Jodi makes the trial so interesting by adding humor into it as well as just the suspense of wondering how it will turn out and who the jury will believe. The bright spot though was Addie, a diner owner who gave Jack a break and the benefit of the doubt. She hired him as a dishwasher and they respected each other's privacy which gradually developed into true love and admiration.

The author used flashbacks to go into the background of some of the characters which I found to be interesting, except for Jack's mother. I didn't really see how that added to the story, but still found it interesting. I liked how the verdict turned out, but the ending was a shock to me. I wasn't expecting that at all. I would say a main theme of the book is not to prejudge people--that everything is not always as it seems to be as the defense attorney pointed out to the jury and how much damage lies can cause. I liked this book very much!

This is my first Jodi Picoult novel. I wasn't sure if it was a junior novel when I began reading it, but after awhile, it didn't matter. Salem Falls is a small town that thrives on gossip and drama. A mysterious stranger comes to town and everything starts to go downhill. One woman pretends her dead daughter is still alive, and the town teens are into Wicca. (kind of a cliche, imo...). The story is a page turner however, and the mystery comes alive. I do think the ending was a bit rushed and a bit of a let down after all of the build-up. I wish that the girls' reactions would have been explored further in the second half of the book. I am glad I discovered this author, and will read her other books. I do recommend this for older teens and think they'd really like the story.

Imagine being falsely accused of rape. Then imagine serving your time and embarking on a new life in a new little town...only to be accused again.

That's what happened to Jack St. Bride, the beautifully written protagonist of this novel. A young teacher at a posh girls' school, Jack was accustomed to his popularity among his students...until one day when the accusations of one ruined his career and almost his entire life.

Then Jack stumbles upon Salem Falls, a tiny community where he takes a job as a dishwasher at the Do-or-Diner. Run by Addie Peabody, a haunted woman in pain of her own, the diner is a local gathering place for all ages...including the teenage daughter of a rich drug company owner, used to getting her own way. Just as Jack is beginning to get settled, finding some support from Addie and her father Roy, he finds that lightning can, indeed, strike twice...

The biggest draw to Picoult's novel was, in my mind, the concept of being caught in such a horrific situation. We all like to think we know evil when we see it; but what if we're wrong? Not only that, what if our accusations can mean the difference between a man's life and death? Similarly, we all want to think that we could never find *ourselves* in such a situation. Surely, our friends and family would stand behind us all the way. But would they? Picoult provides intriguing material as readers push through to a conclusion that will be undoubtedly painful, no matter what the jury decides.

Jack St. Bride is starting over in a new town after serving 8 months in jail for a sexual assault he didn't commit. He hopes he can leave the past behind him, but it's impossible in a small town like Salem Falls, where word of his conviction spreads quickly. While he finds a special friend in Addie Peabody, who owns the town diner, St. Bride soon will find that supporters in Salem Falls are few - and he will soon face another accusation.

This "Crucible"-inspired story gets a lot of things right - the different father-daughter relationships are interesting to compare; the flashbacks intertwined to show the characters' back stories without just spouting it all off in a boring fashion; the characters of Jordan and Selena are back, and since I was introduced to them in "The Pact," it was nice to have familiar characters integral to this plot.

Things working against the book - Jack's unwise and unreasonable actions getting him into trouble not once, but twice. Picoult has her characters do some unbelievable things to get them into trouble that makes the plot. Obviously there would be no plot if the characters didn't encounter an obstacle, but when they do ridiculous things to lead them there - that is weak, I think. And it is hard to sympathize with Jack for certain actions he takes, first as a teacher in Loyal and then when he wanders into the woods in Salem Falls. In too many instances, plot drives the characters, and it should work the other way around.

Once the inevitable trial and courtroom drama began, I found the pages going by quicker and quicker as I was enthralled and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen. That is something Picoult is a master at - she knows how to write a page-turner, for sure. The ending was awfully easy, with a surprise twist that wasn't all that surprising to me. Some of the reviews on here spoil it, so be careful what you read here if you're planning to take on this book.

I have not been disappointed, yet, with any of Jodi Picoult's books. This one is no exception. Told through various character's point of view, this story weaves in and out of present and past and shows the main characters plight at trying to beat the system. This book really makes you wonder how many innocent people are wrongly convicted. The only complaint I have is that I wish we had more of the back-story on other characters. Maybe a second book?

This is my second Jodi Picoult Novel and like the previous, I enjoyed this one very much. Ms. Picoult has a knack for making a place and characters come alive. One can easily visualize the town as well as each character.

The tie in to The Crucible was uncanny. I have always been fascinated by witches and Ms. Picoult did a marvelous job researching this topic.

This is a well written, well researched novel and a literary joy. I highly recommend it.

Linda Bilodeau
Author: Stepping Through Seagrass, The Olive Branch A Tale of Resistance.

I'm still on a mission to read every single Picoult book I can get ahold of, but I didn't finish "The Pact" because it started sounding too much like Romeo and Juliet. However, judging from a scene in this book, it looks like this was the introduction of Selena and Jordan so I may give it another try. I'm pleased to say that my detective skills don't suck as bad as they did with the second Picoult book. I'm starting to guess right at the endings to her books, and excuse me for sounding childish, but I knew it! I knew it! On that very last page, I knew that was the reason Giliene did what she did and where her anger really lied just from a poison scene that was never explained in the beginning of the book.
This book is basically about a man who went to jail for statutory rape initially and was watered down to a misdemeanor but still served eight months. After being released, he goes to another town to start his life fresh, but as with all alleged rapists, he has to be put on a sexual offender's list. In a small town that knows everyone's business, it wasn't long before the townspeople found out, and here comes the drama with yet another young girl who has a schoolgirl crush and accused him of rape. The details of their encounter are foggy for quite some time in the book, which will keep you guessing and interested.

Cons: Had this been my first book of Picoult's, then the details of rape and examination would've been interesting to me, such as they were in "The Tenth Circle" but it was repetitive because I'd read that previous book already. Girl cuts hair. Exam with the light. Same procedure. It was like I was reading the same chapter twice on those scenes, and I don't necessarily know if that was the best move to make, especially for a continuous reader. The charts within the story were unnecessary for me, and I was about as bored reading the scientific information as I was with that one book she had with the comic strip drawings. Neither was necessary for me. If one of the forensic scientists would've said "The DNA doesn't match perfectly," that would've been fine for me and I could've saved myself several pages. However, for someone who is interested in that type of thing, this will be right up their alley. I had to laugh when I read the word "phat" because that is pretty much played out slang to say now, but maybe during that time, it was normal to say. My friends and I never really said it unless we were talking about Phat Farm clothing though. The stories about witches was waaaaaaaaay too far-fetched for me. She lost me immediately with that, but because I am a Picoult fan, I gave it a shot. If I'd have been on the jury, I'd have said Jack was guilty for Jordan even going on a limb with that story. But I guess Picoult wants to pick unpopular topics and make them interesting. Also unrealistic was the father who barged into a trial that was televised offering sandwiches and muffins, and the judge just letting that go by. (Note: I didn't think calling her a black b---- was necessary either, but I might be a little more sensitive on that subject than Picoult's regular readers. She could've been called tough, but I'd rather have not used that particular choice of words for my own personal reasons. But this is HER story, not mine, so I sucked it up and continued reading.)

Pros: I respect Picoult a great deal for always playing Devil's Advocate and potentially making her readers see the OTHER side of the story. Instead of saying "Oooh, rapists = bad," readers got to learn some backstory on the events that took place. Instead of saying "Oh, witches = evil," readers learned more about the actual practice of pagans. Even issues involving alcoholism and not being able to deal with death are brought up and makes a reader potentially see the other side of the story. On top of that, I am so frantic whenever I read about Selena because she is entertaining and one raw sista. I love it! I can't believe she managed to be so low-key in what sounds like a predominantly white town and how nobody seems to understand the connection between her and Jordan, but to each his own. Overall, I liked this story for Jack's past and present issues, and I learned some great Jeopardy trivia throughout the book.

This was one of my favorite books of the summer. :) It was mildly predictable, but still a great read.

Of all the JP books I've read I found this the worst - she takes a potentially interesting subject and turns it into sensationalist trash. Yes the current atmosphere in which males in responsible positions can have their lives ruined by an excusation of sexual abuse is worth exploring but given Jack's behaviour I couldn't help but think he brought on much of his own troubles. What sensible male teacher would do the following: get his teenage pupils to reenact a battle dressed only in swimwear and sheets? Keep a girl student's bra which he happened to pick up? Take a female pupil to get birth control pills because she asked him to? Move to a small town where it is almost certain that his past will be widespreadly known given that he has to register with the local police as a sex offender? Hang round sports fields giving advice to female students on how to play (and this is AFTER the lies of one teenage girl have landed him in jail!) Wander around in the dark woods after he has been beaten up by angry locals? In the end instead of this being a story about how public hysteria about child abuse can ruin an innocent life this turns into a story about a man who is understandably suspected of sexual abuse because of circumstantial evidence, much of it due to his own stupidity. As usual she tries to incorporate too many elements - teenage witches, incest, a woman who acts as if her dead daugher were alive, an alcoholic father, multiple romances, courtroom scenes, prison scenes etc etc.

The court case at the end was a complete damp squib - when a character suffers as Jack has I personally felt the need for him to be totally vindicated in a sensationalist way rather than an ambigious verdict which leaves doubt one way or another. As for the 'surprise' ending - as others have said it was hard to see that coming!

This book held my interest from the first sentence and was actually hard for me to put down. The characters' experiences provide different viewpoints on similar topics (false accusation of rape vs. reactions of rape victims). Presented in flashback form, characters are developed and their motivations become understood. Jodi Picoult is effective at adding to the layers of the story as well as in peeling back layers of characters' personalities.
Look for clues throughout the book of Gillian's hate of her father and the early years of some older characters. Two things I found hard to believe were Jack's mother's turning against him so relentlessly and the fact that Jack could be so irresistible to teenage girls. Have read 2 Jodi Picoult books now (also My Sister's Keeper); have found them both excellent and will definitely read more.

This book held my interest from the first sentence and was actually hard for me to put down. The characters' experiences provide different viewpoints on similar topics (false accusation of rape vs. reactions of rape victims). Presented in flashback form, characters are developed and their motivations become understood. Jodi Picoult is effective at adding to the layers of the story as well as in peeling back layers of characters' personalities.
Look for clues throughout the book of Gillian's hate of her father and the early years of some older characters. Two things I found hard to believe were Jack's mother's turning against him so relentlessly and the fact that Jack could be so irresistible to teenage girls.

I wasn't sure about the subject matter when I picked this up, but after just a few pages, I was pulled in. A lot of it reminded me of the movie "The Craft", and I don't think the characters and subplots were as deep as some of Picoults other novels, but it was still a good read, one I would recommend. The author has a way of making situations real, and attacking issues in our society today, and this novel is a great example of that.

While this is not the best work of Jodi Picoult, it is undoubtedly better than much of what is on the market. The style is authentically Picoult as it contains the twist-and-turn, flashback and character development Picoult readers have come to expect. The first forty percent of the book moves at an unusually slow pace for a Picoult novel, but does in fact pick up toward the end.

The story is set in, as usual, a New England town in New Hampshire. A man recently released from prison after serving a short term for "sexual assault" on a high school student of his lands in Salem Falls hoping to escape his old life and begin anew. He enters a romantic relationship, finds a job and settles down only to have his secret leaked by the police - the beginning of the end. From there he is accused of another sexual assault on the daughter of the wealthiest man in town and a trial ensues.

Like Picoult's other work, she attempts to slip some red herrings in addition to legitimate clues into the plot. Hoping to keep the reader guessing to the end, I was disappointed at how predictable this particular novel was. I've read 5 other Picoult books and none have come this close to predictable. Reader beware, if you are familiar with this style of writing, plot development and suspense tactics and tend to speculate the ending of a book, this may not be for you. If you are looking for a nice, well-written, slightly above-average book - pick this one up. Enjoy.

I am a new reader of Jodi Picoult's books and I am never disappointed.

However, I have to say that Salem Falls is by far the best I have read so far.

A captivating story of a small town in New Hampshire, the story line follows a convicted sex offender, a group of teenage girls, and all of the things that can happen around them in a small New England town.

Addie, a diner worker and main character of the story, is a fascinating figure and is somehow wound into all of the different story lines.

Without giving much away, a series of riveting court scenes kept me absorbed, and the jaw dropping end me left me wanting more- the perfect way to end a book. I am still thinking about it weeks later!

Thank you Jodi Picoult!! Keep your wonderful stories coming!

This book grabbed me from the beginning. Jodi Picoult took a difficult topic and sensitively showed both sides in this novel. She shows how events can be distorted and how circumstantial evidence can ruin a person's reputation. The ending was not much of a surprise which is why I only gave it four stars. Still I think it is one of her best.

This book grabbed me from the beginning. Jodi Picoult took a difficult topic and sensitively showed both sides in this novel. She shows how events can be distorted and how circumstantial evidence can ruin a person's reputation. The ending was not much of a surprise which is why I only gave it four stars. Still I think it is one of her best.

This story was riviting! Although I don't subscribe to Wiccan beliefs, this subplot added considerable depth and interest to the story. The trial captivated my interest, although the explanation of the DNA evidence was a bit too technical and confusing for the average reader to understand. I found the story hard to follow at times, especially in the beginning when I wasn't yet familiar with all the characters, because the scenes were very short and switched frequently between the parallel storylines. Rape was presented in a very sensitive manner from both the point of view of the victim and of the accused, and the two powerful themes of the story, that love can redeem a man and that lying has serious consequence, came through loud and clear. Kudos to the author for another wonderful story!

This book was amazing. It was slightly predictable at times, but the story was still wonderfully unique and certainly enjoyable.

As an English teacher I am always looking for new books to read, for my students to read, and to supplement my lessons. I have found it!!

I have been teaching "The Crucible" for seven years and am always incorporating world news with the story. I have FINALLY found a piece of literature to also use in my lessons.

Jodi doesn't suck the reader in the first few pages; she does it in the first paragraph. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read, but especially to those who love studying the Salem Trials of 1692.

This is my first Picoult, and I must say that expected a lot more from this book from the reviews, so maybe my disappointment was due to having such high expectations.

That's not to say it's not well written and a page-turner, because it is both, but the story gets too complicated with too many storylines running in parallel and a few twists and turns too many to be believable - I do think that suspending disbelief is crucial to really enjoying this book. While it never actually got boring, it did drag on longer than I thought necessary.

I read this novel after reading My Sister's Keeper, which i thought was a better read and had a surprising twist at the end. Salem Falls, however, is very predictable with no surprises what's so ever. I also found inconsistencies in the story that i felt should have been caught by the editor or proofreader or someone. (dates concerning Chloe's death and how many of Addie's rapists still lived in town). Anyways, i knew what was going to happen and why Gillian was so messed long before the end of the book. To the person below who couldn't figure out why Gillian was so angry at her father, reread the last page, it says it all and explains the semon on her thigh. Overall, ok read but nothing real exciting.

If you have not read this book, please be aware this review contains information you probably don't want to read...




I just finished the book and I am left with a question and some ideas. First of all, I don't think Gillian is as one dimensional as some of the reviews make her out to be. I agree with an earlier poster that says that if you re-read the language on the last page it answers several inconsistencies. It could explain why Gillian tries to poison her dad and why there is semen on her leg (if you remember, he ran after her when she wasn't in the house). However, I can't quite decide if I am making these facts up and fitting them where they don't belong. Any ideas???