Salthouse Place by Jamie Lee Sogn

Book Description

In the far reaches of the Pacific Northwest, three best friends spend a day at the lake…but only two come home.

Ten years later, Delia Albio is tormented by the mystery of what happened to fifteen-year-old Zee on the lake that day. When she receives an email from Cara, the remaining friend in the trio, she can’t resist the pull of the “life-changing” news in the message. Delia, hopeful for answers, feels this could be her chance to reconnect with Cara and reckon with that fateful day at the lake.

Review

Salthouse Place by Jamie Lee Sogn is an intense thriller that follows one woman’s search for Truth.

Delia has never gotten over the death of her childhood friend, and her unresolved trauma has stunted her entire life. So when she finally sees a chance to find the answers she needs, she grabs it with both hands.

Wouldn’t you?

Not Your Typical Thriller

Like Sogn, Delia is a Filipino-American. Straddling racial identities can leave biracial people with a strong sense of otherness. Sogn reinforces Delia’s otherness in a myriad of ways, strengthening the character and the novel’s point of view.

The words clumsily tumbled from my tongue, spoken like an American would say and without the ring they had when Mom said them. It was a strange feeling, being half of something; even certain words didn’t really belong to me. — Jami Lee Sogn, Salthouse Place

As a biracial woman, I appreciated seeing my personal experience reflected in Delia’s journey.

Yes, representation matters.

But Sogn’s choice to lean into her own experience deepened her character and her character’s journey.

Story Magic

I beta read an early version of this book, prior to Sogn submitting her manuscript to PitchWars. The roots of this book were already deep and strong in that early draft.

But something magical happened through the many rounds of edits Sogn made, resulting in a stunning book.

Not only is the story tight and fresh, but there are so, so many beautiful lines of prose throughout the novel.

Salthouse Place delivered an immersive reading experience. I flew through it in a couple of hours and loved every moment.

If you enjoy twisty thrillers, moody Pacific Northwest vibes, and characters of color, check out Salthouse Place.

Content Warning

Animal Sacrifice, Blood, Gore, Sexual Abuse, Toxic Relationships, Violence

The header photo is a composite image. Base image by luis enrique on Unsplash