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They Call Her Dirty Sally: A Silver Bell Legends novel Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 9,479 ratings

For years, the town of Silver Bell, Arkansas has quietly mourned the hospital fire that claimed the lives of nine of its residents—the town doctor, a young expectant mother, and seven infants. So, when journalist Finn Hardwick is assigned the story as part of a national thirtieth anniversary memorial service, he arrives at the town ready to interview its residents, thinking they’ll be ready to share and eager to make headlines.

He isn’t prepared for the resistance. Or for what appears to be a collective unwillingness to answer his questions.

Faced with one roadblock after another, Finn enlists the help of Billi Ellis, the young motel receptionist that everyone in the town seems to like. Maybe she can get them to open up to him. Maybe she can help him make sense of everything he keeps uncovering. Especially the unexpected tie this tragedy appears to have to his own life.

A tie that leads him directly to the old woman who seems to hold the key to everything. The woman everyone avoids…the woman they call “dirty”…the woman who hasn’t spoken a word to anyone since the day the hospital burned.
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09XJ8NSRB
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ LongMill Press (August 2, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 2, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 545 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 376 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 9,479 ratings

About the author

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Amy Matayo
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Author Amy Matayo is an excellent speaker, mathematician, seamstress, chef...and liar. She's decent at writing books but not much else. Then again, the book thing makes her marginally cool and a whole lot intimidating.

Not really. Not even her kids are afraid of her.

She graduated with barely passing grades from John Brown University with a degree in Journalism. But she's proud of that degree and all the ways she hasn't put it to good use.

She laughs often, cries easily, feels deeply, and loves hard. She lives in Arkansas with her husband and four kids and is working on her next novel.

visit her website at http://www.amymatayo.com

You can also find Amy on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/amymatayo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amymatayo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amymatayo.author/

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
9,479 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well-written with perfect sentences and paragraphs. They appreciate the richly developed characters and their cultures. The story is described as enjoyable, heartwarming, and thought-provoking. Readers mention that it shows the harm that comes from bullying and the worst sides of humanity. They describe the writing style as lovely, vibrant, and artfully written. Overall, customers find the book to be heartfelt and capture their hearts.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

77 customers mention "Writing quality"71 positive6 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of this book. They find it well-written with perfect phrases and sentences, making it an easy read with relatable characters. The author is described as one of the best writers of her generation. Readers enjoy the multiple narrators and timeline format.

"My first book by this author and I will be back. It’s refreshing to stumble across writers who use their talent to weave a story that is worth..." Read more

"...I liked the way the author started each chapter with a character’s name. Easy and very satisfying read!..." Read more

"...interesting story is told in a nonlinear timeline fashion with multiple narrators. I absolutely loved this book from start to finish." Read more

"I really loved this book! Was hooked from the first page. I look forward to reading more books by Amy Matayo!" Read more

75 customers mention "Character development"70 positive5 negative

Customers find the characters well-developed and engaging. They appreciate the author's descriptions of cultures and timelines.

"...Her characters were richly developed and drew me into their world. Her plot was intriguing and I was never bored. I enjoyed your book. Thank you." Read more

"...It's definitely worth the read. Sally's character is well thought out and I mostly loved the ending. Paul could have done better sooner." Read more

"...I liked the characters, the deliciously convoluted plot and the ending...." Read more

"...I enjoyed how the story developed and how each character came to life." Read more

46 customers mention "Joy"46 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's wit, human drama, and joy at the end. They find it heartwarming, engaging, and well-written. The story tugs at their heartstrings and encourages them to question life.

"...The author dealt with adult subject matters without profanity and/or inappropriate explicit scenes and as a Christian woman, I appreciate that...." Read more

"...Moving on, all things considered, did I enjoy reading the story? Yes. Were the factual inaccuracies confusing and distracting? Yes...." Read more

"...The story is heartwarming and human, and I highly recommend it...." Read more

"...gift of creating characters with the best back stories and sarcastic banter that goes on for days...." Read more

44 customers mention "Thought provoking"44 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and enlightening. They appreciate the three perspectives and flashbacks in the story. The book teaches lessons in life with each chapter and brings together the pieces in an unexpected way. Readers find the story heartwarming and hard to read, but they love the message and the way it's told from different perspectives.

"...The author dealt with adult subject matters without profanity and/or inappropriate explicit scenes and as a Christian woman, I appreciate that...." Read more

"I loved the story and the message of this book but I found it hard to read. It's very wordy and slow-paced...." Read more

"Wow! What can I say but this story is both horribly sad, but also enlightening. Proof of how mass indoctrination through lies can destroy lives...." Read more

"The characters are great, well defined, and believable. The storyline is so good it should be made into a movie...." Read more

14 customers mention "Sensitivity"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book sensitive and well-written. They say it shows the harm of bullying, the best and worst sides of humanity, injustices, compassion, and love. The characters represent the best and worst of mankind, with intrigue, mystery, love, hatred, and hope for redemption. Readers appreciate the story's portrayal of love and forgiveness.

"...Shows the best & worst sides of humanity!" Read more

"...written classic story about the petty, spiteful and downright criminal treatment of a girl who has nothing going for her except grit,..." Read more

"...The characters and story compelling. Story shows the harm that comes from bullying...." Read more

"...author’s brilliant story telling kept me reading, waiting and hoping for redemption. Loved this book and will definitely read another by this author." Read more

13 customers mention "Writing style"13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style. They find it lovely, vibrant, and artfully written. The story is poignant and heartbreakingly poignant, with thoughtful characters. It's a real page-turner with twists and turns. Overall, it seems like a great read with relatable characters.

"...Brave Sally! Steadfast Sally! Strong Sally! Beautiful Sally! I enjoyed this book. A must read." Read more

"...good and the love story between Finn and Billi is captivating and so very sweet." Read more

"...Beautiful! Highly recommend this." Read more

"...Or wait!?!? Thank you for another amazing story that seems soooo real!!!" Read more

8 customers mention "Heartfelt writing"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing heartfelt and funny. They say it flows out of the pages and touches their hearts. The book is filled with compassion, kindness, and love.

"...and Paul have captured my heart and honestly, Amy Matayo, can you please assure me there will be sequels!?!! Aughhh!!!..." Read more

"...one more page"... Loved the characters, how the author let you really see into their hearts, and how each became connected to one another...." Read more

"...town scandals, closed minds and the worst of people fill the book but kindness, love and a deep sense of right also make an appearance...." Read more

"...Chock full of injustices, compassion and love, I highly recommend this treasure of a book!!!" Read more

57 customers mention "Heartbreaking story"38 positive19 negative

Customers have different views on the story. Some find it poignant and messy, causing tears. Others describe it as sad and cruel, noting that it holds their interest.

"...It’s sadness was both angering and heartbreaking - filling me with a deep desire to bring about justice - someway, somehow...." Read more

"This book left me with so many emotions. Brave Sally! Steadfast Sally! Strong Sally! Beautiful Sally! I enjoyed this book. A must read." Read more

"...Society is still so narrow minded and so incredibly self centered and cruel...." Read more

"Such a heart wrenching read of the immense cruelty that people can show. The story kept me riveted to find out what happened next...." Read more

My only complaint is that I wish I would’ve read this sooner.
5 out of 5 stars
My only complaint is that I wish I would’ve read this sooner.
“𝘞𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵, 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘦? 𝘈 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘥, 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦, 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴.”Such a well written book- I 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 every page!From the 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤 that alternate each chapter by their perspective, to the 𝕗𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜𝕤 of childhood struggles, down to the 𝕗𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕤 of what 𝙵𝚒𝚗𝚗, 𝙱𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚎, 𝙿𝚊𝚞𝚕 and 𝚂𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢’𝚜 future holds for them.🇦‌🇳‌🇩‌ 🇹‌🇭‌🇪‌ 🇪‌🇳‌🇩‌🇮‌🇳‌🇬‌…𝐘’𝐚𝐥𝐥🤌🏻
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2024
    My first book by this author and I will be back. It’s refreshing to stumble across writers who use their talent to weave a story that is worth reading. The author dealt with adult subject matters without profanity and/or inappropriate explicit scenes and as a Christian woman, I appreciate that. I have lost too much money already tossing out silly waste-your-time books, or trashy books that I will not soil my mind with. Her characters were richly developed and drew me into their world. Her plot was intriguing and I was never bored. I enjoyed your book. Thank you.
    21 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2024
    So much drama, some nice twists and turns. I really liked it! I liked the way the author started each chapter with a character’s name. Easy and very satisfying read! I could truly believe something like this happening in small town Arkansas back in that time period.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2024
    I cannot recall the last time I shed more tears while reading a book yet Sally, poor poor Sally, my God my heart ached for her from the time she was 5 and onwards. My anger swung like a pendulum at the town the mob mentality mindset and the continued existence of kicking a dog when it’s down or in our case a human. Society is still so narrow minded and so incredibly self centered and cruel. We need to start setting example of compassion empathy and genuine kindness for those who need our help. No child should be hungry or cold or need shoes or family live in squalor especially not when the parent is working a full time. How disgusting of a society and of our country does that make us we have indentured servitude STILL being common practice and corporate corruption and greed allows their owner to have billions and billions of those people’s wages and not an ounce of regard or regulation is done to put an end to it. We’ve allowed the 1%. To not only exist but to continuing to criminally exploring and stealing wages from their employees while evaded taxes and worse being excused from paying taxes by the government. It sickens me to my very narrow.
    This is a story that millions can resonate with all across this country and it’s shameful for myself to think I live in a country where this is ignored and allows to continue because no one wants to fight for an issue that isn’t theirs to solve. It’s cowardly and God save our souls. There will be a long hard day of reckoning for a large majority of us but moreover for those who’ve enjoyed their 1% luxuries in this life they shall forever be cast into the hands of hell in the next. I hope the do enjoy their excess on this side of the our life. Perhaps that’s my old solace and that of those who’ve been forced to endure and suffer like this with no hope or assistance or compassion from anyone. Maybe it is knowing that for their souls eternity that they and their loved ones will sit on the right side of the pearly gates having been forced on the outside of them here on earth.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2024
    This is one of the best stories I've read. Comparable to education and west with giraffes. It's a nice story I could have read aloud with my grandkids. There is some very mild sensuality in there but none I'd consider too much for 13+. It's definitely worth the read. Sally's character is well thought out and I mostly loved the ending. Paul could have done better sooner.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2025
    I loved the depth of the characters, along with a compelling story great job. Sad to realize that situations like this actually occur.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2023
    I enjoyed reading this story, not for the unfairness, bigotry and sadness, but for the ensuing happiness that Sally found. I liked the characters, the deliciously convoluted plot and the ending. Moving on, I feel that the sort of treatment that Sally was subjected to in her life by the townspeople of Silver Bell does happen ... everywhere. I've seen it first-hand ... and it's been going on forever. It reminded me that we all need to treat each other with more kindness, respect and understanding. Now, let's talk about the factual discrepancies in the book that were just a bit disconcerting. First, when I read that Papa was a "train engineer" on page 133, I think what was actually meant was that he was a "trained engineer" since he was college-educated and working as an engineer at the company referenced in this book. Second, and most importantly, the timeline in the beginning of the book was incorrect. I found that there were age and year references that were wrong. It started when Sally said that she was seven years of age in 1956 (page 114). That means she was born in 1949. However, while reading the book, you'll actually see that she was most probably born in 1945. That would coincide with her being 15 in 1960 (page 194) and so on. Going on that, it seems right then that she would have been 23 in 1968 when her baby was born and 53 in 1998 at the time of the article being written for the 30-year celebration. Finally, I’m confused re why Sally appeared in her front yard and at her front door partially clothed when Finn first visited her and then when Finn and BIlli went to see her. Was the author trying to say she was mentally ill or creating those mental pictures for shock effect? It wasn't later discussed in the book, and we know from reading the story that Sally wasn't mentally ill ... she was angry, and I don't blame her, so what was the point? Moving on, all things considered, did I enjoy reading the story? Yes. Were the factual inaccuracies confusing and distracting? Yes. Note that I would have given this book five stars, but for the confusion caused by the timeline. Therefore, three stars for a very nice story.
    30 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2024
    I couldn't put down this book. It would have rated 5 stars but for the overuse of metaphors and the several places where sentences were incomplete when I turned a page. To be fair, that could be the fault of the download 😕.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Dierra Maynard
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great characters
    Reviewed in Canada on December 17, 2024
    This book has fantastic characters and really captured life in a small town. Poverty and the consequential side effects were described in a way anyone with a heartbeat should be able to fully grasp.
  • Garlandstitcher
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is an amazing book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 6, 2023
    When I first started reading this I thought I wasn’t going to like it. That changed! Pulls at your heart in so many ways. I had to keep reminding myself it was a novel and not true life - though I am convinced the events that happened to Sally really do happen in the real world. I kept asking myself how can people be so cruel and why. There wasn’t one main character that I didn’t like. Could picture the characters and places easily in my mind. Such a good read and such a good story. Just wish I could find more books like this. If you are wondering about trying this book - you won’t be disappointed.
  • MarieMac
    5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing read
    Reviewed in Australia on September 8, 2022
    When I first realised the story took place in 1998 and over many previous years I really didn’t think I would enjoy it. But I was soon completely engaged with the terribly sad life of Sally. A really enthralling book. So great to read a book with so much depth, with standout characters and dialogue that flows. My only criticism is that occasionally I thought the timelines didn’t quite work. I’ve read many of this author’s books. This one is certainly very different but probably her best.
  • Satisfied customer.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story.
    Reviewed in Canada on October 28, 2024
    An enjoyable read, heavy subject, but the author has a sense of humor that made it good to read. I like how each chapter was written in the first person, time lines easy to follow, characters rich. The message of forgiveness. The message to care for one another, to not ostracize. I just really like Ms. Matayo's writing style, look forward to reading more from her.
  • Avid Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly moving
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 29, 2022
    This was a story which gripped me from the very start. Who was Dirty Sally? What had she done? Why had she done it? So many times my eyes filled with tears as I read her story. And the conclusion to the book was a faithful tribute to the whole story arc. I loved Finn and Billi who are unwitting caught up in the retelling of Sally's story. Absolutely brilliant storytelling and a tale that will live on well after you’ve turned the last page.

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