Salem Falls

I swear, Jodi Picoult is a magic story weaver! I am so impressed with this novel and the fact that it completely surpassed my expectations, especially after reading the stellar Plain Truth. Salem Falls is so juicy and exciting, an intoxicating cocktail of everything I love in a suspensful, page-turning drama. And even though I had a strong hunch about the book's ending, it was no less exhilarating to watch it unfold.
Salem Falls tells the story of Jack St. Bride, a former teacher who, according to him, was wrongly accused of sexual assault against one of his students. After doing his time in jail, Jack heads out to start a new life and stumbles into the peaceful, sleepy town of Salem Falls. But it doesn't take long before his past catches up with him, and Jack finds himself fighting another battle for his life. And at its core is a quartet of girls, best friends who are part of a witches coven -- and one girl in particular who has the power to destroy Jack St. Bride.
A perfect blend of magick, power, desire and betrayal, with an explosive courtroom drama of an ending, Salem Falls will have any reader glued to their seats, feverishly turning pages. I loved this book and look forward to reading the rest of Jodi Picoult's novels.

I'm a big fan and have read a bunch of books by her - 19 minutes, Plain Truth, Vanishing Act, The Pact, and My Sister's Keeper. I loved those books. Is it me, or does the majority of her books have some type of court room scene?
Salem Falls, I couldn't get passed page 51. It seemed that every chapter she added new characters that would confuse the heck out of me.....and the story was so slow and I just didn't like the character of Addie........and found Jack's character just too hard to figure out. And wayyyyyy too many characters to keep track of -
This won't deter me from Jodi's books, but I'm hoping I don't cross another bad one......I do NOT recommend this book - it was terrible.....sorry Jodi.

I have enjoyed Jodi Picoult's books but the historical note about Giles Corey is just flat out wrong. He was not the only male who died during the 1692 Salem Witchcraft mass murders. Twenty people were killed as witches, although Corey was on the only one pressed to death under stones. Also murdered were George Burroughs, George Jacobs St., John Proctor, Samuel Wardwell and John Willard. Roger Toothaker died in prison. The description of current witch practice was reasonably accurate, but no self-respecting witch would behave in the manner described. Remember that the Salem witches were innocents who were caught up in an historical perfect storm of superstition, instability within the society and a repressive existence for women. The idea that now the witches are getting revenge is historically silly.

In Loyal, New Hampshire, teacher Jack St. Bride cared so much about his students, he tried to be there for them. However, good intentions and deeds do not go unpunished as Jack learns when he is arrested, tried, and convicted for sex with a minor. Jack insisted he was innocent and so did his victim, Catherine Marsh, whose diary hung Jack.
After eight months behind bars, Jack settles in Salem Falls where his Ph.D. in history makes him qualified to wash dishes at the local diner owned by Addie Peabody. Jack reports to Detective Saxton as required by state law of any sex offender. Over time, Jack and Addie begin to fall in love, but lightning strikes again. Four teens accuse Jack of raping Gilly Duncan, daughter of the town icon. With his past and the evidence against him very solid, Jack appears to be heading for his second pediophile conviction even if it seems more like a modern day witch-hunt.
SALEM FALLS is an exciting legal thriller that focuses on whether an accused person with a previous conviction for the same crime can receive a fair trial. The story line is fast-paced, as Jack seems like an ordinary person caught in maelstrom of his own making or just bad luck (read the book if you want to know). Addie is a great heroine, but three of the accusers sans Gilly fail to come across as genuine. Still, Jodi Picoult provides her audience with a well-written tale that leaves the audience thinking about the varying degrees of justice.

Harriet Klausner

I'm not sure I will ever feel as satisfied as I did after reading My Sister's Keeper but nonetheless...

A man tries to begin his life again in a new town after being falsely accused of rape and spending 8 months in jail. Small towns being what they are, it's not long before his secret is found out and Jack becomes the target of another young girl looking for an outlet for her "growing pains." In comes the Wiccan "coven", or a teenage group of girls consisting of a leader and her 3 followers. It is they that accuse Jack of rape for the second time.

During his time in Salem Falls, Jack falls in love and makes enemies, both of which are aspects that add to the appeal of this book. The problem is that the ending is so very predictable (unusual for Picoult) that I could've writteni t myself.

Not a bad read, but not her best.

A plot that illustrates just how prejudiced and closed minded people can be. Jack's naivety during his time as a teacher at a girls school frustrated me...I wanted to shout "don't do it" at him. On the other hand naivety isn't a crime so you just had to keep reading to find out whether justice was upheld.

I liked Jack, Addie and Roy but the other characters although necessary, I could take or leave. I think that was the intention though, for us to focus on mainly Jack and Addie and the hurdles they had overcome and the inner strength they both had. The court case and events surrounding it were compelling and although you hope that truth will prevail...you're just never quite sure whether it will.

I adore Jodi Picoult. I have a very hard time putting her novels down. Her writing is mesmerizing, usually. I didn't find that to be the case in Salem Falls. I could not like nor related to Jack, the main character. He was too remote and distant from the reader. I felt like I was on the outside looking in at him. It was an unpleasant feeling.

Also, I was more than a little unhappy with Picoult's depiction of witchcraft and paganism. I am a practicing pagan and I found that her explanations of how magick works and what paganism is very informed. However, her representations of pagans - 4 lying, scheming, teenage girls and 1 typical pagan/hippy hybrid - to be lacking and insulting. You can do much better than that, Ms. Picoult.

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.

Jodi Picoult does a good job of creating characters and making you want to read about them. She did that in Salem Falls with two of her characters, Addie Peabody & Jack St. Bride. Her third main character, Jordan McAfee, an attorney who has been in her other books, comes off as "not so bright" in Salem Falls (we have to be reminded that he is a good defense lawyer).

The problem with Salem Falls is that there are just too many unrealistic behaviors/scenes in the book - from terrible courtroom scenes to teenager relationships/remorse to an alcoholic father miraculously being able to function.

If you suspend belief in reality, this book is a good beach/vacation read.

Salem Falls is yet another great work by Jodi Piccoult. Her magical storytelling ability doesn't fail to bring yet another story and another set of wonderful characters to life.
Set in the small town of Salem Falls, New Hampshire this story is a lesson in people. We come to know and love Jack and Addie and Roy, and come to loathe other characters. Her development of them is exceptional, and truly enjoyable. The story has wonderful twists and turns keeping you guessing the entire length of the book. Just as you begin to believe one thing, something happens to turn that upside down as well.
If you enjoy Jodi Piccoult's novels, or enjoy wonderful suspense with great character development, Salem Falls is a great novel for you. Once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it back down. Enjoy!

I must confess that when I ordered this book, I was anxious to read it and put Harry Potter Vol. #4 aside so I can read it. I love Jodie Picoult's writing, and was eagerly anticipating more of the same with this book. I found to my disappointment that it wasn't as riveting as The Pact or as enthralling as Keeping Faith. I am disappointed ~~ while the writing is always lyrical and riveting, the story holds no surprises for me.
Jack St. Bride is accused of raping a girl in Salem Falls ~~ and Jordan MacAffee is his attorney again. Addie, the woman who falls in love with Jack, also undergo a personal revelation as well in this multi-faceted novel. There is a group of teenage girls who practice Wicca ~~ which is interesting. And there's the showdown, which Picoult is known for ~~ but if you're looking for a great Picoult book, I highly recommend The Pact because the courtroom scene there is wonderful! It is suspenseful and breath-stopping. But in this book, it's lackluster and disappointing.
Please don't hesitate to read this book ~~ it is still a good read. It just isn't up to par to her other books ~~ and it could be the subject is familiar to me. What teenage girl doesn't fanastize about her favorite male teacher? And what woman doesn't shudder at the idea of being raped? Or being accused falsely of a crime one didn't commit? And reading about some of Jack's past helps give him a human face in the book ~~ it just didn't explore his personality like I hoped it would. It's almost as if Picoult is trying to write about rape, sex and its effect on women ~~ but something's missing there as it leaves me with more questions than revelations. This is a powerful subject but it misses the mark somewhere.
It is still a wonderful book ~~ just don't get your hopes up too much like I did. It just isn't my favorite Picoult book.

SALEM FALLS by Jodi Picoult
Jodi Picoult does it again with SALEM FALLS, a story about a man who is falsely accused of rape. Jack St. Bride was a teacher and soccer coach at a small town high school, when he is accused of rape and is sentenced to 8 months in prison. When he is released, he finds his way to another small town, Salem Falls, to start a new life, hoping that anonymity will give him the peace he is looking for.
The wheels of fate start turning when he has to report in to the local police department and let them know he is a sex-offender. In this small town, gossip spreads fast, and soon the entire town learns who Jack really is. Only two people feel that he is innocent of the crime he was accused of back home: Addie Peabody, who owns the "Do-or-Diner" and her father, Roy Peabody. Both of them are dealing with losses that have greatly affected their current life, and in some way they can relate to Jack as he struggles to escape from his past.
At the heart of this story is the theme of "the witch hunt", as the towns people watch Jack closely with condemning eyes as they wait for him to make his first mistake. He is then accused of yet another rape, this time accused by the only daughter of the richest man in Salem Falls. Jodi Picoult keeps the reader guessing, as even the reader isn't sure whether Jack is guilty or not. As with KEEPING FAITH and THE PACT, this book ends in the courtroom, and it is anyone's guess what the final verdict will be.
This is yet another Jodi Picoult book that I enjoyed a lot. Although it took me a while to get into the story, as I had a hard time relating to the teens who practiced witchcraft, it all came together in the end. Highly recommended, I am giving this book five stars.

While sipping too-strong coffee in the bookstore cafe, I stumbled across the name Jodi Picoult in a Writer's Digest article on writing page-turners. I was in the mood for reading someone new, so I headed for the P's in the fiction section.
Ugh! What a disappointment when I began reading the cover blurbs! Then I picked up Salem Falls. Witches! That was all I needed, so I headed for the checkout. Yes, I also bought the Writer's Digest.
I must be honest and say that I needed a year to finish this book. However not because I found it unreadable, but because Ms. Picoult strikes a bit too close to home in her descriptions of how modern men must interact with teenage females. One of my male friends was falsely accused by his ex-wife of raping his step-daughter, and the next six months of his life were absolute hell. Reading the first half of this book was very discomforting.
For her accurate portrayal of Jack's paranoia after his first conviction, I give Ms. Picoult five stars. However, Salem Falls is far from being a perfect book and the reader cannot analyze the investigative and courtroom procedures too deeply. Conversely, Ms. Picoult makes suspending belief easy, offering the reader a surprise or a new angle every ten paragraphs or so.
Looking through descriptions of her other books, I do not find anything that particularly interests me, but for readers of this genre, you are in good hands.

The author is very talented and writes her novels extremely well.

Her books are filled with suspense and keep the reader captivated and on their toes, for me that is the ideal reading material....

The only thing I would have to knock was the very end of the book, I know that isn't a very good sign (and I do hope it won't put you off reading it) but I just thought the end of the book was completely unexpected and I would've appreciated it more, had there been some subtle indications of the ending through the book which would have not lead the ending to be so utterly surprising and almost out of place, even though it was dealing with the topics touched upon throughout the book, it did leave me feeling a little disappointed.

This is readable, likeable, but not great. This is the story of Jack St. Bride, a former teacher who although innocent, was convicted of the statutory rape of a student, after being convinced by his attorney to plea-bargain. He spent 8 months in jail and moves to Salem Falls to make a new start. He goes to work in a diner, working for a woman named Addie, who was also raped as a teen, got pregnant and lost her daughter at a young age and is still grieving. I found it unrealistic that everyone that knows Addie accepts as "normal" that Addie talks to her deceased daughter, and of her daughter, as if she is still alive, even setting a place for her every day in the diner. A predictable romance develops between Jack and Addie.

A sub-plot about teens involved in witchcraft wasn't my cup of tea either, but teen readers will like it. Ms. Picoult strings her words together well and has some very good novels out there, but if you haven't read her before don't start with this one. "Plain Truth" and "My Sister's Keeper" are a couple of her best.

I knew halfway into the book how it was going to end and hoped that I was wrong, that the writer wouldn't be that silly. But she did it.

Lots of inconsistencies throughout, but the most ridiculous parts were the antics in the courtroom during a serious trial. First we were led to believe the judge was a no-nonsense kind of woman, but then she allows Roy to bring in muffins and sandwiches before giving his testimony.

Also unrealistic was Addie living there quietly and peacefully with two of the men who had raped her. I didn't care much for Jack or Addie and found it hard to sympathize with Jack.

This book has a little of everything: romance, intrigue, witches and a courtroom battle.
While I liked this book, I did find it to be somewhat predictable. I knew the ending before I reached it but Picoult has a way with telling a story.
I found Jack to be an interesting character, a man with a past he cannot escape. His love interest, Addie, has her own haunting past. They were probably the most developed characters in the book. I found the teenagers to be a little too superficial, they just didn't come across to me as very realistic.
I plan to read more from this author, especially her newer releases. For one of her better stories with a courtroom drama, try reading The Pact. It won't disappoint.

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.

Jodi Picoult is an amazing storyteller. I have never read a book of hers that I didn't love. Even if the subject matter is hard to read about, her storytelling makes it difficult to put the book down. Salem Falls is no exception. I always want to know what's next for her characters. As usual, I hated to see the story end. Excellent!

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.

Absolute torture. It took me about two months to get through this book. It tries to build itself up into something it is not with too many subplots that add no value to the real story. The characters do not bring much to the table either. Stay away!

I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as My Sister's Keeper or Vanishing Acts. Maybe it was the subject matter and the blatant rip of The Crucible, but are teenage girls really that eager to incriminate male teachers/coaches? Jack St. Bride has the rottenest luck of anyone on earth to be wrongly accused not once but twice. The sad truth is that innocent people do sometimes get railroaded, and that was well captured in this book. I just found 400 pages to be a bit long. It was well researched--the author did her homework on technical details such as DNA testing and forensic science.

Honestly, I have spent 434 pages in better company than this book. Picoult is heavy-handed and formulaic in a setting that has been overdone for years now - that of the quirky New England small town. Her slightly mad waitress is stereotypical and uninspiring. Her corrupt police officers make me crave another viewing of Fargo. Her portrayal of teenagers is laughably laced with outdated (even at the time of writing) pop culture references clearly written by someone twice the teens' age (although, being Wiccan and having been a teenager not long ago, I have certainly encountered their like). Further, there are times when she simply does not know when to stop using flowery adjectives to gild the wilted lilies of her characters. Her reference to someone's penis as "the plum-purple weight of him" made me cringe.

The plot itself is a little more interesting. One of the few characters who actually engender some emotion - in this case, positive emotion - Jack St. Bride, is engaging, and one wants to see him through his struggle, which is described in admirable, if implausible detail. Even though his bad luck is literally unimaginable, the situations are painted vividly enough that we want to continue to follow them and learn more. However, the courtroom scenes are unrealistic and weak. Emotions which should be inferred simply from a given plot twist are overwrought with drama and laden with adjectives. The last page is predictable from halfway through.

If I didn't like Jack St. Bride's character so much, I probably wouldn't have finished the book. However, there is enough juiciness and plot development to keep the reader engrossed, and despite the flaws in the writing, I got through it quickly and with some satisfaction. Don't read this if you are expecting great fiction. It is preferable to read this than to turn on a Lifetime special on the same subject - statutory rape, however. The book also appears to offer more information on Wicca than your average "Teen Witch" manual.

I was hoping for more from Jodi Picoult after reading her other books. This is a pedestrian plot with unremarkable characters and an outcome that is predictable. By the time I waded through to the end, I was skimming the pages to finish it. I didn't particulary like or dislike any of the characters and I found the plot lacked believable substance. I should have foreseen it when a recently-released prisoner was picked up by a cab driver and taken to an idyllic destination where he immediately melded into the landscape. I know that Picoult can do better and I am eagerly awaiting her next effort.

Really enjoyed this book of Jodi Picoult's. It's one of her older ones and, in my opinion, better than some of the more recent ones of hers I have read. The story moves along at a good pace, the characters are interesting, and the way the story unfolds is genuinely intriguing and surprising. Occasionally, some of the events in the courtroom scenes don't come across as authentic, but overall, a good read.

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.

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 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.

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.

I just don't understand how writers can be so brilliant. But
Jodi Picoult is truly one exceptional author, and this is only the first book I've read by her. The writing was excellent. The
pages just begged to be turned.
Jack has been falsely accused of felonious
sexual assault and pleads no contest to get less of a sentencing. Afterwards he heads to Salem Falls to start a new life for himself. Somehow rumors of Jack's past follow him and it's deja vu all over again.
This book was excellent. I laughed, I cried. There's nothing better than a good book, and this is one of them:)

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.

One again Jodi Picoult manages to weave a plot of vulnerability, superstition, and the never-ceasing power of love.
Upon arriving in the small town of Salem Falls, Jack St. Bride is alone, untrusting, and longing for a new life to fill the emptiness that has become him while wasting away in prison. He stumbles into the Do-or-Diner where the young owner Addie, offers him a job on the spot. When Addie offers him this job, she has subconsciously offered up her trust, and from there, the plot unravels.
Addie has lived in Salem Falls her entire life, and has indeed suffered the drawbacks of small town living. As a rape victim and single mother, she too makes her way through life longing to place her trust and hope in someone.
When a young woman in Salem Falls accuses Jack of brutally raping her, the small town is enraged. Jack St. Bride has ruined exactly what their small town stands for--safety--and the citizens of the quiet, close-knit community will go to extremes in order to ensure that their town's reputation is safe.
Readers are in for a truly shocking and genius end that only Picoult could deliver. Perhaps after reading Salem Falls, you too, will question the age old cliche of small-town security....

Insightful regarding issues of rape and the consequences to the victim, the family, and the communities in which it occurs, Again, Jodi Picoult has researched well and shown the inner workings of the teenage psyche.

I have yet to read a Jodi Picoult work I did not like. That being said, it was clear to me that this is an older work of hers. She was still working on refining her plots- specifically her subtlety in text, predictability, and omniscient narrative instead of writing in each character's account via their voice. I really enjoyed elements of the story, even if some of the main characters lacked a little depth. She has some unbelievable aspects in the plot as well, but it's suspenseful and definitely worth a read!

Jack moves to Salem Falls to start over. He just got out of jail for doing something he didn't do. He got a job at the Do-Or-Diner and meets Addie Peabody. Addie is still trying to get over the loss of her daughter and starts getting attached to Jack. Then Jack gets accused of doing something he didn't do and everything gets shaky. Addie doesn't know who to trust, Jack doesn't remember what happened, and almost the whole town is against Jack St. Bride.

I really like this book. It is love and reality all in one. It teaches you that you can do anything you put your mind to. What I don't like about this book is all the preparation time for court. It takes a while and I would have rather read about Jack ad Addie instead of the trial.

A display of her books in the local bookstore led me to give this immensely popular author a try. I did not expect great literature, but I hoped for some diversion and a clever plot that would keep me turning pages. What I got was 400+ pages of cardboard characters, dreadful dialogue, a central romance without chemistry, wince-worthy metaphors that would not pass muster in Creative Writing 101 ("He felt as though he had been asked to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear") and a hackneyed plot devoid of any suspense or originality. The book culminates in one of the most ludicrous descriptions of a trial ever written, with a key witness interrupting the proceedings not once, but twice, to distribute homemade goodies. Remarkably, the judge not only fails to stop this nonsense, but devours the food with relish! The author does achieve the rare feat of simultaneously suggesting that most men are sexually-abusive beasts AND that women, especially young girls, can't be trusted when they make accusations of abuse. Last but not least, any reader who doesn't see the "surprise" twist at the end coming for several hundred pages has not been paying attention! Avoid this one.

I liked this book. I didn't feel anything in particular about Jack, but I knew he was innocent from the beginning. I wasn't really sure why needed to know his mother's background story, but I guess some pages needed to be filled in. I agree with other reviewers, that some of the courtroom tactics were unbelievable. I understand that Gillian was being abused by her father, but I don't see any relevance to her falsely accusing Jack of rape. That confused me. But, all, in all, I thought it was a good book.

Salem Falls is the kind of novel that keeps you up at night, the kind in which you forgo sleep just to read. I love Piccoult manages to tell modern morality tales with such suspense. I liked the allusions to the crucible and to the Salem Witch trials. The characterization was excellent. This novel will have you question everything you know about the people in your life, about your neighbors and community members. Superb.

How many of us would doubt a young girl has been sexually assulted if all the information was in front of us? Far from being the devil, my sympathy was there for Gilly almost as much as it was for Jack. All were victims in more than one way. For me some ends were not tied as tightly as I would have liked but it stil kept me reading, welcoming the hibernation that comes with any good book.

This is the first book that I have read by Jodi Picoult. It was fantastic, so the other books must be just as good and better, according to some peoples reviews. I found this to be a suspenseful book, a real page turner. I could NOT put it down. I was up for six hours reading till the end. It is a pretty quick read, but the story moves along nicely. The relationship between Jack and Addie is a bonus to this otherwise courtroom based drama. There are just two things wrong with this book. First of all, it is unrealistic in some points. Jack must be a very handsome man to be attracting all of these teenage girls. First Catherine and now Gillian. That is highly unlikely. Also, the story is not wrapped up. I wish we could of found out what happened to Jack and Addie (marriage?? romance??) and to Gillian. Otherwise a great book! Must read! This book would make a great movie!

I have read at least three books from Picoult and have never been disappointed in her work. Most authors stick to the same subject but Picoult goes out of her way to make sure to keep things interesting and cover a variety of topics. I was impressed by this book and didn't expect it to cover what it did in the fact of the subject matter. It kept me reading and very interested and I thought the ending served as a cliffhanger and found it shocking if what I thought was accurate. I would highly recommend this book even to men. I also encourage her readers to keep reading the rest of her novels as they each serve their own surprise and appeal.

This was the first Picoult book that I ever read. While the story line was not necessarily new (trial,suspected rape, denial and more of the same)the web of subplots kept me guessing all the way to the end. There were times when the bad guys looked good and vice versa all while the truth was ignored. It probably happened someplace. Read it. I now am going to read her other novels.

I read most of Jodi Picoult's books. She's one of my favorite authors. This was an older one I didn't read before. I'm glad I found this one. It was another winner. I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended especially for Picoult fans.

I have read quite a few of Picoult's books, and the only few that stick out as favorites are Nineteen Minutes, The Pact, and now, Salem Falls. Jodi weaves a complicated web in your mind as you're reading - you really don't know who to believe. I couldn't put this one down, I simply had to find out what happened. I enjoyed it simply because Picoult did a wonderful job of causing the reader to second-guess their own judgement repeatedly throughout the novel.

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.

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 the store 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 the store"! I know she will relish every word.

It's ok. Not her best by far, although it kept my attention so I finished it. I guessed the ending about midway through, so kind of a let down at the end. Not the worst book I've read, but not the best either.

I was disappointed with this after reading My Sister's Keeper (which I loved).

There are too many plot holes in this story, too many inconsistencies. Like how the semen on Gilly's thigh was never explained - that's the most major one. The characters don't seem realistic. Addie and Jack's relationship annoyed me - the scenes with them seemed very contrived. The dialogue, most of the time, comes off as cheesy. Its the only way to describe it. Cheesy, cheesy, cheesy and cliched. The story only picked up its pace during the courtroom scenes (the best scenes out of the entire book) but still the ending was very unsatisfying as it did not explain a whole lot of things. And also, Picoult ends nearly *every* scene with a character dropping a one-liner. I found this rather irritating. Maybe its just me.

Addie misunderstands Jack so many times and overreacts again and again -the reader can only tolerate so much up to a certain point. The worst scene, I think, was when Jack tried to clear out Addie's dead daughter's room to get Addie to move on. It was so unoriginal.

The plot is not believable. It just doesn't work. The portrayal of Gilly was inconsistent and one-dimensional. Why did she try to poison her father? What would it have achieved? Why was she so angry at him in the beginning? Her motives were never clear from the start and Picoult does not satisfyingly explain them.

I'll say one good thing though. She can write courtroom scenes pretty well.

I really enjoyed this book. My favorite is The Pact, but this is my second favorite of her's if not equally as good. Every day I was looking forward to making time to read this book and I couldn't put it down. It makes you get really into the characters and trying to figure out what happened. Like The Pact, it keeps you guessing up until the end. You think you know what happened, but then, maybe not. Character development was excellent, as usual. Unlike The Tenth Circle where rape is seen exclusively from the victim's side, this book gives an interesting spin from multiple viewpoints and really puts the word "alleged" into perspective.

I have read most of Jodi Picoult's books and could not wait to sink my teeth into this one. It was very difficult, for one, to get into the story. The book jacket tells you most of the story without turning a page. Secondly, I was really not interested in the characters. They seemed to be just that, superficial. Lastly, too much of the story was unbelievable.

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 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.

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.

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.

Jodi Picoult has become one of my favorite author's after reading My Sister's Keeper. This novel, like her others, captured me from the very beginning and I couldn't put it down. Like some of her other novels this has a little twist at the end which causes you to look at the story in a different way. I've managed to read all but 3 of her novels now. I'm not one to follow any particular author but Jodi's technique has me captured and I can't wait for her next novels. I find it had to believe that everyone didn't give this book a five star rating. Give it a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Huge fan of Jodi Picoult, a magnificent author that grabs the reader from the first page. Her depiction of Wicca was accurate and respectful, and as in all of her books, her knack for suspense and characterization was great.

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???

This book was a great read, until the last chapter. Before gettting there, I did not like the doubts thrown in about Jack, after we were lead by the author to believe in him. The ending is horrible, not because of anything horrible that happened, but because it is not clear. You are left with an IDEA that MAYBE you understand. Maybe some readers like this, for me, it diminishes the experience of the book. I don't want to "make up my own ending". I can do that by reading half a book. I've asked others what they thought the ending meant but I can't find anyone who has read it. I'm just chalking this one up to a loss of about six hours of my life and keeping the writer and her style in mind as things to avoid in the future.

I am a huge piccoult fan and I really really loved this book. I thought it was really well written and Picoult always has a wonderful surprise at the end of her book. Great read...one of my favorites.

I have read "The Pact" and "Mercy" by Ms. Picoult and I could not wait to read "Salem Falls." I thought the writing was wonderful, as usual, and I again found myself unable to put the book down as I felt with her previous novels. The only disappointing part was that the story was pretty predictable, unlike the Pact where it was a surprise ending. But for Picoult fans, such as myself, you will still enjoy this book and it makes for an interesting story of character building!

Jodi is a twisted, facinating writer that delivers every time and knows how to grab a reader. They are dark at times, but in this world very believable. This ended bitter sweet such as all of her books do!

Like "Plain Truth" I couldn't put this book down. Jodi Picoults writting grabs ahold of you at the beginning of the book and doesn't let go until the last page. The story is very interesting and I love how she tells the story from many different characters. The last line of this book is haunting and beautifully written, it leaves you saying "...WOW, I can't believe it..." READ THIS BOOK!!

I am in the process of reading all of Jodi Picoult's books. (I only wish I had read them in the order in which they were written.) Salem Falls was a page-turner! I enjoyed the story and the characters. I suspected the ending, but kept myself from peeking and just enjoyed the unfolding of the story. Ah hah! I was right! I just ordered another 6 of her books. Now I will have them all.

I was so keen to get started on this new Jodi Picoult, that I actually started reading it in the store before I bought it, so you can imagine my disappointment when I got down to the serious business of reading it! I found the story line predictable, the characters very flat, and overall, the whole novel was pedestrian. The "made for t.v." version of Wicca that was presented in the novel did nothing to improve my view of the story, and generally, I would have expected better from a writer of this calibre.

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!!

i had just finished reading My Sister's Keeper so I had great expectations for Salem Falls. Fortunetly, Salem Falls was good, i was not let down. The two are different kinds of books but each are goodness! Salem Falls covers many different topics like trust, love, and forgiveness. all great topics!! :)

This is the second book by Jodi Picoult that I have read. I became a fan after reading My Sister's Keeper.

Her writing style is what keeps the book interesting from beginning to end.

The characters are believeable and she doesn't bore you with details and facts that do not enrich the story.

Each chapter leaves you wanting more and will keep your interest to the very last page.

Another great Jodi Picoult creation. This one is a little more graphic than others, including violent and sexual situations, as well as a rape trial. Probably not meant for teen or young adult readers, but a great and fascinating story all the same.

This book is good, but not really what I expected. It had a few twists to it, but I pretty much knew what was going to happen next. I was a little surprised by the ending. Jodi Picoult is a great author.

Like "Plain Truth" I couldn't put this book down. Jodi Picoults writting grabs ahold of you at the beginning of the book and doesn't let go until the last page. The story is very interesting and I love how she tells the story from many different characters. The last line of this book is haunting and beautifully written, it leaves you saying "...WOW, I can't believe it..." READ THIS BOOK!!

I am in the process of reading all of Jodi Picoult's books. (I only wish I had read them in the order in which they were written.) Salem Falls was a page-turner! I enjoyed the story and the characters. I suspected the ending, but kept myself from peeking and just enjoyed the unfolding of the story. Ah hah! I was right! I just ordered another 6 of her books. Now I will have them all.

I was so keen to get started on this new Jodi Picoult, that I actually started reading it in the store before I bought it, so you can imagine my disappointment when I got down to the serious business of reading it! I found the story line predictable, the characters very flat, and overall, the whole novel was pedestrian. The "made for t.v." version of Wicca that was presented in the novel did nothing to improve my view of the story, and generally, I would have expected better from a writer of this calibre.

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!!

i had just finished reading My Sister's Keeper so I had great expectations for Salem Falls. Fortunetly, Salem Falls was good, i was not let down. The two are different kinds of books but each are goodness! Salem Falls covers many different topics like trust, love, and forgiveness. all great topics!! :)

This is the second book by Jodi Picoult that I have read. I became a fan after reading My Sister's Keeper.

Her writing style is what keeps the book interesting from beginning to end.

The characters are believeable and she doesn't bore you with details and facts that do not enrich the story.

Each chapter leaves you wanting more and will keep your interest to the very last page.

This book is good, but not really what I expected. It had a few twists to it, but I pretty much knew what was going to happen next. I was a little surprised by the ending. Jodi Picoult is a great author.

This is a great story to read curled up on a rainy Saturday afternoon. I would have given it a higher rating, but the plot is predictable and some of the characters are annoying to the point it takes away from the pleasure of reading the book.

I do it with every Picoult book. I start to read when I have a few minutes of down time, I get completed sucked in, then can't put it down! As usual, Salem Falls was brilliant! Jodi Picoult has a way of writing about 'touchy' subjects that make you want to understand. I've read most of her books and I'm never disappointed!!!

I have read almost all of Picoult's books, and by far, this one is probably one of the worst. I had to force myself to read through this one. Unlike most of her other books, I would NOT recommend this book to others.

Jodi really outdid herself with her newest novel, Salem Falls. I have read all of her books and this one ranks right up there with The Pact. It's addictive, shocking, won't-let-you-go reading, and you won't be able to put it down! I read it in two days, and after I was finished, I was compelled to read it over again to look for the clues I missed! You won't be disappointed with this book, and my only advise to you is this...do NOT read ahead!!!!!!!

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.

I read this book in bookclub. As soon as I finished it I handed it over to my mom to read. It grabs you right from the beginning, and is hard to put down until you are done. Not a great book, but very enjoyable to read.

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!

Picoult never ceases to amaze me. This book captured all my attention as I read it in one 13 hour span. I couldn;t put it down, however, I wished the ending would have given me a little more closure.

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.

Not unlike her previous novels, Jodi's newest, "Salem Falls," is spectacular. From the first page, I was hooked...I read and read and read! This book is definately one of my favorites and is a MUST-READ!

I have never read a Jodi Picoult book before, but this one came highly recommended by a co-worker and a book club member, so I took it on vacation with me. I stopped reading this half way - I just couldn't take it once Jack got arrested again. Too predictable, too weird, too boring. The Hawthorn rip off was just so obvious. I thought I might pick it up again to finish it, but there are just too many other good books out there.

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.

I thought I was going to enjoy this author I recently came upon. I greatly enjoyed Nineteen Minutes and bought Salem Falls next. The poor language (taking the Lord's name in vain) has been a huge turn off; I'm actually embarrassed to listen to this audio book while my son is around. Jodi Picoult, please refrain from this langauge! It is not needed to form the characters or make a point in the book.

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.

Absolute torture. It took me about two months to get through this book. It tries to build itself up into something it is not with too many subplots that add no value to the real story. The characters do not bring much to the table either. Stay away!

I have read almost all of Picoult's books, and by far, this one is probably one of the worst. I had to force myself to read through this one. Unlike most of her other books, I would NOT recommend this book to others.