[cite web |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/premium/0286/0286-8331068.html |title=`Salem Falls,' by Jodi Picoult; (June, 2001) | author=Catherine Hinman |date=June 22 2001 | work=The Orlando Sentinel |accessdate=2008-09-10] His mother - a crusader for women's rights, running an improvised "halfway house" for prostitutes - refuses to believe his claims of innocence and abandons him.]After serving out his sentence, he needs a fresh start, which he finds when he wanders into a diner in Salem Falls, New Hampshire. Without revealing the details of his past, he is hired on as a dishwasher, assisting the owner in the kitchen. He begins a romantic relationship with Addie Peabody, the woman who co-owns and operates the diner with her father and is mourning the death of her young daughter, Chloe, from bacterial meningitis at nine years old.
Due to New Hampshire law, Jack is required to register with the local police department as a convicted sex offender. Because this is a matter of public record, soon the entire town becomes aware of his past.
Some local teenage girls experimenting with Wicca - manipulative, disturbed Gillian, daughter of Amos Duncan the most prominent businessman in Salem Falls; Chelsea (whom Jordan McAfee's son, Thomas, takes an active interest in); Whitney and Meg - take an interest in Jack. Although he does his best to stay away from them, one night he accidentally stumbles upon them in the woods while they are celebrating the Wiccan holiday of Beltane.
Because of his past and the prevailing attitude in Salem Falls that Jack should not be there, he is quickly accused of sexually assaulting Gillian. Due to his intoxicated state at the time, Jack is unable to recall where he was that night.
Jack is defended by Jordan McAfee and assisted by Selena Damascus.
Throughout the trial, Jordan manages to cast reasonable doubt on Gillian's testimony. However, Meg confides in Addie that she remembers Jack touching her in a sexual manner. Addie believes her because she thinks that "no woman would lie about something like that", and takes Meg to report the incident to policeman Charlie, who is Meg's father.
It unravels that Gillian and her clique were taking drugs on the night of Beltane. Gillian forces Meg to hide the drugs and the evidence of their campfire, knowing it will destroy her story and credibility. Meg complies with Gillian's wishes.
Chelsea gets an attack of conscience, though, and mails "The Book of Shadows" (a witch's handbook, and proof that they are part of a witch's coven) to Thomas, who takes it to Jordan. Jordan then uses it against Gillian.
Jack is pronounced not guilty. Meg tells Charlie that Gillian convinced them to make it all up, as a game, to see if they could ruin his life, but Charlie agrees to protect her.
It is revealed that Addie, too, was gang-raped at sixteen by Charlie and Amos. Charlie apologies and Addie appears to accept this. Jack offers to move with Addie to New York, to reconcile with his mother. She agrees.
Jordan and Selena - who have been battling their mutual attraction - get together. It is revealed that Chelsea and Thomas conspired - via witchcraft - to do so.
The final twist is saved for the final paragraph, in which it is revealed that Amos has sexual relations with his daughter, Gillian since she was young, and as the novel ends, seems to continue doing so.
Characters
* Jack St. Bride is a former star athlete and high school history teacher who is accused and convicted of statutory rape. He is an avid watcher of "Jeopardy!".
* Addie Peabody owns and operates the diner in town, along with her father. She is revealed to be the victim of a rape in her teenage years, which resulted in a pregnancy, the child of which died early in childhood.
* Roy Peabody is Addie's father who co-owns and operates the diner.
* Gillian Duncan is a teenage girl living in Salem Falls who is attracted to Jack.
* Amos Duncan is Gillian's father and owner of the largest pharmaceutical company in Salem Falls. He and Addie went to school together.
* Jordan McAfee is Jack's defense attorney. He, his son Thomas and his assistant Selena also appear other Jodi Picoult novels "The Pact" and "Nineteen Minutes".
References
External links
* [http://www.jodipicoult.com/salem-falls.html "Salem Falls" entry on official Jodi Picoult website]
