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Salem Falls
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Salem Falls
Author: Jodi Picoult

Book Information
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Book Type: Paperback
Members Wishing: 0
Rating:

ISBN-13: 9780743418713 - ISBN-10: 0743418719
Publication Date: 8/6/2002
Pages: 464


Other Versions of this Book: Hardcover, Hardcover

Book Description:

Love can redeem a man...but secrets and lies can condemn him.

A handsome stranger comes to the sleepy New England town of Salem Falls in hopes of burying his past: once a teacher at a girls' prep school, Jack St. Bride was destroyed when a student's crush sparked a powder keg of accusation. Now, washing dishes for Addie Peabody at the Do-Or-Diner, he slips quietly into his new routine, and Addie finds this unassuming man fitting easily inside her heart. But amid the rustic calm of Salem Falls, a quartet of teenage girls harbor dark secrets -- and they maliciously target Jack with a shattering allegation. Now, at the center of a modern-day witch hunt, Jack is forced once again to proclaim his innocence: to a town searching for answers, to a justice system where truth becomes a slippery concept written in shades of gray, and to the woman who has come to love him.


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Top Member Book Reviews

Kimberly A. (proudArmywifey) wrote on 10/27/2007...

13 member(s) found this review helpful.

This book had me pissed off almost the entire time....but that's the great thing about Picoult's writing. She pulls you into the story so much, that you feel what the characters feel. I could not put it down because I wanted so badly to see how everything would play out. A suspicion I had about a character early in the book was put to rest when nothing had come of it near the end, but then BAM!!! Right there it was in the very last sentence, and I was literally left with my jaw hanging to the floor. Great book!!

Janis K. (scrapbooklady) wrote on 9/1/2007...

10 member(s) found this review helpful.

"Salem Falls" was hard to put down. The characters' experiences provide different viewpoints on similar topics, that is, 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 the different characters' personalities. She is also good at making situations real, and attacking issues in our society today, and this novel is a great example of that...I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read.

Keri E. (Kairbear) wrote on 2/8/2007...

8 member(s) found this review helpful.

This is the second book I've read by Jodi Picoult. It took me a few chapters to get into it, and I'm sure glad I didn't give up, as I usually do. It's an engrossing story and kept me reading well into the night.

Amy H. (purplevelvet0900) wrote on 5/30/2005...

7 member(s) found this review helpful.

Picoult is an excellent writer. She keeps the reader very involved. It was hard to put this one down, and there are surprises down to the very last paragraph.

Theresa B. (readreddog) wrote on 2/22/2007...

6 member(s) found this review helpful.

Jodi Picoult writes about current social issues. In Salem Falls she addresses child molestation and the shadow that follows those who have been accused of child molestation. Really good book. Hard to put down because of the writing and subject.

Connie (jazzysmom) - IL wrote on 3/7/2009...

3 member(s) found this review helpful.

How could one man be so likeable and have such a shitty life?? I, as another reviewer, was mad at man kind and those snot nose girls thru most of the book. But to put this book down is impossible, being mad is what spurs you on page after page. Before i knew it it was way past time for me to turn out the lighs, I had finished story, and i was in love with Jodi Picoult books. Such emotions this book will bring out! You will find yourself rooting for the looser and loving him.

Joyce B. (tripletmom) - Leicester, MA wrote on 9/21/2008...

3 member(s) found this review helpful.

As usual Jodi Picoult makes you think. Story about a man wrongly accused of raping a young girl & how it changes his life forever. Spends time in jail & then when he tries to move on with his life in a new town word spreads about his past. Will he again be sent to jail? Did he commit rape? You'll have to read to find out!

Elizabeth R. (esjro) - Stockton, NJ wrote on 3/30/2008...

3 member(s) found this review helpful.

This was the first Jodi Picoult book I read, and I bought it new because she is so popular with other PBS members. I was not disappointed. Her style and the small towns shoe writes about remind me of The Gilmore Girls, but with more crime. The characters, while not all likable, are believable and she does a good job of at least making their behavior understandable under the circumstances.

I have heard some criticize Picoult for not being literary enough, but I don't think that criticism is warranted - she writes entertaining books that will make yuo think.... though perhaps not very hard.

Kristi W. (gardenia) wrote on 9/5/2008...

2 member(s) found this review helpful.

I loved this book and couldn't put it down. I've been reading all of Jodi Picoult's books and haven't found one yet that can compare to My Sister's Keeper - until this one! She has a way making you empathize with her characters. She even brought back some characters from The Pact. And I can say, she truly surprised me in the end with this one.

This is a definite read for all Picoult fans.

Cami B. (psychoreader) wrote on 10/7/2007...

2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Jodi Picoult doesn't ever disappoint.Great book!!


Please Rate these Book Reviews

Marcia Z. wrote on 10/20/2009...


Thriller of a novel with a small town setting. Jodi Picoult has nailed another societal "issue" with her signature attention to detail and gift for dialogue.

Heather R. (dolleygurl) - Colchester, CT wrote on 10/8/2009...


Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Audio Book

All Jack St. Bride wanted to do was find somewhere quiet to start his life over; somewhere people wouldn’t know who he was or what baggage he brought with him. Unfortunately for him, a small town is not the place to do this. In a small town people come together to protect their own from outsiders at ANY cost.

Gillian Duncan has everything a teenage girl could want – her father is the wealthiest man in town, she is pretty, and has a bunch of girlfriends. She is also carrying around some heavy secrets, such as…she’s a witch. One night when her and her friends are celebrating a pagan ceremony things get very out of control. When the dust settles Jack St. Bride is accused of felonious sexual assault on Gillian Duncan – the second time in a year he has been accused of this type of crime! Jack adamantly denies this charge, as he had with the previous one, but no one believes him. How will he ever get out of this situation? How many times does lightning strike the same place?

I had started reading this book in hardcopy about two years ago, but I didn’t get very far – for reasons that I can’t remember now. Once I started listening to the audio book I quickly fell into the story. The story jumps back and forth in time between Jack’s youth, his first charge of sexual assault, and the present (the second charge). It was relatively easy to follow these time shifts because Jack’s life is so radically different. One of my favorite characters was Jack’s lawyer, Jordan McAfee. His perception of Jack from when he first comes to town, to representing him as his lawyer and flip flopping as to whether he believes him or not mirrored many of my own thoughts. If you have read The Pact, another Picoult book, you might recognize him as the defense attorney for Chris.

The ending will absolutely blow you away! A traditional Picoult book with that hook ending that you never see coming, but once you read it, you recognize all the signs that were pointing there all along. Amazing!

4.5 out of 5 stars!

Angela T. (angelatres) wrote on 8/27/2009...


A good book--not the best Picoult book I've read but not the worst either. It was very interesting all the way through.

April G. wrote on 7/24/2009...


Another great Picoult book. So far I have not read a book of hers that I have not loved. I read this book in 2 days - lucky for me I was on a road trip so I had plenty of reading time in the car! The characters completely captivate you. GREAT READ!

Judy G. wrote on 7/21/2009...


Wonderful author. Can't put her books down when I start to read one!!

Ginny B. wrote on 7/17/2009...


Good book! It is not one of my favorites she has written, but it a good story about the relationship of girls, their coaches and their parents. There is a twist at the end, sort of saw it coming! If you have teenage girls or girls at all, you will enjoy this book!

Gayle B. wrote on 5/20/2009...


Another great Jodi P. book!

Joy H. (JJWH) - NM wrote on 4/30/2009...


Powerful! Secrets, lies...love and truth, small town and very real life. Read it cover to cover in one day, didn't want to put it down...

Franchesca M. (short-angry14) - NM wrote on 4/26/2009...


Wow! What an amazing book! Can't seem to get over how easily Jodi Picoult manages to suck you into a story and keep you interested the entire way through. I am fast becoming a hardcore Picoult fan, and can't wait to read the stack of her books I've acquired through this website after reading My Sister's Keeper. Salem Falls is incredible!

Jana P. (Jana) wrote on 3/8/2009...


Great story! As usual, well-written.


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