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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Ratings: 5 Stars Absolutely Perfect

I absolutely loved this book! The plot was amazing. The characters were unique and memorable. Everyone MUST read this book! 

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Review:

This is the first novel I read by Jodi Picoult and I absolutely love it. The novel was filled with just the right amount of romance, suspense, mystery, angst, and parallels between The Crucible by Arthur Miller, which I absolutely loved when I read it in high school. I read all 433 pages on my two flights from Boston to San Antonio. I just speed through this novel. I really recommend it.   

The novel is told through multiple perspectives. The two main characters though are Addie Peabody and Jack St. Bride. The novel really focuses on the imperfection of the American justice system, one of my favorite things to talk about (political science dork!).  Jack had been a professor at an all girls high school. He was a soccer coach and had some close relationships with the girls on the team. When a crush is  presented as something more, Jack is called upon to defend his innocence only to lose. I was really blown away by how the whole situation was handled. And this is all in the past with the chain of events  slowly unraveling throughout the novel.  

Addie Peabody is a very misunderstood young woman. She has gone through several damaging events that a woman and a mother should never have to go through. I admired her strength and even her weaknesses. She had enough courage and doubt to make her seem realistic. She takes in Jack when he comes looking for work and finds herself attracted to a man with secrets. She has to decide if she will stay by his side when he is once again accused of relations with a minor or if she will desert him. 

The plot was beautifully written and unraveled. I love a good mystery suspense. I hoped the novel would end happily, but couldn't be sure because the novel was based off The Crucible, which does not have a happy ending. The parallels were well-embedded in the novel. I just had to know how the story was going to end. Good job Jodi Picoult for a well-written novel! 

If you loved The Crucible, I think you will really enjoy this novel. If you are looking for a good mystery/suspense, give this novel a try.