#1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult comes a compelling and disturbing novel about a prep school teacher accused of rape by a group of young girls, the woman who stands by him, and the repercussions of the case in a small, New England town where the past is only a heartbeat away.Join 9,358 other subscribers Blogs I Follow

It explains a lot at the same time as raising more questions. The relationship between one of them and her father even more so. The behaviour of the girls in this story is quite frightening. I was really hoping they could find happiness and move on from their traumas together.

Addie is such a likeable, genuine character who has already had her fair share of heartache. I loved the relationship that develops between Jack and Addie. I understand every accusation must be investigated (rightly so), but it must be terrifying to be at the mercy of the courts knowing you have done nothing wrong. It’s also scary to think how many genuine girls/women are disbelieved because of those who have made up stories. It’s scary to think how many men are falsely accused of horrific attacks and have their lives devastated by lies. This is such a compelling story and one which made me question what I believed to be true many times throughout. This time he will go to trial and prove his innocence. Her closest friends are backing up her story, but Jack knows he did not do what he is being accused of, again. A certain local teenager sets about trying to get him thrown back in jail once again by claiming he brutally raped her in the woods. The residents of Salem Falls soon get wind of his previous jail time though and some are determined to drive him out of their town. When he meets Addie, it seems his life might finally be changing for the better. He serves eight months in prison and on his release finds himself in Salem Falls in the hope of making a fresh start where no-one knows him. Bride, a handsome teacher who is accused of sexual assault by one of his teenage students and is convinced by his lawyer to accept a plea bargain rather than face a trial he might not win despite his innocence. I have now been reminded how much I enjoy her writing. I haven’t read a book by Jodi Picoult for a while and this one has been sat on my bookshelf for quite a while.

Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult