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A Salem's Cipher Mystery #1
Salem's Cipher
A troubled codebreaker faces an epic plot reaching back through centuries of America's secret history
Salem Wiley is a genius cryptanalyst, courted by the world's top security agencies ever since making a breakthrough discovery in her field of quantum computing. She's also an agoraphobe, shackled to a narrow routine by her fear of public places. When her mother's disappearance is linked to a plot to assassinate the country's first viable female presidential candidate, Salem finds herself both target and detective in a modern-day witch hunt. Drawn into a labyrinth of messages encrypted by Emily Dickinson and centuries-old codes tucked inside the Beale Cipher, Salem begins to uncover the truth: an ancient and ruthless group is hell-bent on ruling the world, and only a select group of women stands in its way.
Salem Wiley is a genius cryptanalyst, courted by the world's top security agencies ever since making a breakthrough discovery in her field of quantum computing. She's also an agoraphobe, shackled to a narrow routine by her fear of public places. When her mother's disappearance is linked to a plot to assassinate the country's first viable female presidential candidate, Salem finds herself both target and detective in a modern-day witch hunt. Drawn into a labyrinth of messages encrypted by Emily Dickinson and centuries-old codes tucked inside the Beale Cipher, Salem begins to uncover the truth: an ancient and ruthless group is hell-bent on ruling the world, and only a select group of women stands in its way.
472 pages, Paperback
Published September 8, 2016
1907 people are currently reading
7910 people want to read
About the author
Jess Lourey
49 books4,378 followersMy name is Jess Lourey, and I write about secrets.
The story of my first published novel is both devastating and transformative, something I speak about in my TEDx Talk (https://youtu.be/a5vSLh3oPXI). I've come a long way since then. I'm proud to call myself a bestselling, twice Edgar-nominated, and twice Goodreads Readers Choice Awards shortlisted author who has won the ITW Thriller, Minnesota Book, and Anthony Awards. I write crime fiction, young adult, nonfiction, children's books, and book club fiction.
I've reached over a million readers since 2020. I'm also a former writing and sociology professor who still loves to teach transformative creative writing workshops built around my Rewrite Your Life method.
I live in Minneapolis with a rotating batch of foster kittens (and occasional foster puppies, but man those goobers are a lot of work). Pop on over to Lourey's Literati, my VIP Reader group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/38538...) and/or sign up for my molasses newsletter (https://jessicalourey.com/newsletter) for the latest news, giveaways, and insider information.
p.s. You can find the Unspeakable Things epilogue here: https://jessicalourey.com/survey-two.
The story of my first published novel is both devastating and transformative, something I speak about in my TEDx Talk (https://youtu.be/a5vSLh3oPXI). I've come a long way since then. I'm proud to call myself a bestselling, twice Edgar-nominated, and twice Goodreads Readers Choice Awards shortlisted author who has won the ITW Thriller, Minnesota Book, and Anthony Awards. I write crime fiction, young adult, nonfiction, children's books, and book club fiction.
I've reached over a million readers since 2020. I'm also a former writing and sociology professor who still loves to teach transformative creative writing workshops built around my Rewrite Your Life method.
I live in Minneapolis with a rotating batch of foster kittens (and occasional foster puppies, but man those goobers are a lot of work). Pop on over to Lourey's Literati, my VIP Reader group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/38538...) and/or sign up for my molasses newsletter (https://jessicalourey.com/newsletter) for the latest news, giveaways, and insider information.
p.s. You can find the Unspeakable Things epilogue here: https://jessicalourey.com/survey-two.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 324 reviews
February 18, 2024
The Publisher Says: A troubled codebreaker faces an epic plot reaching back through centuries of America's secret history
Salem Wiley is a genius cryptanalyst, courted by the world's top security agencies ever since making a breakthrough discovery in her field of quantum computing. She's also an agoraphobe, shackled to a narrow routine by her fear of public places. When her mother's disappearance is linked to a plot to assassinate the country's first viable female presidential candidate, Salem finds herself both target and detective in a modern-day witch hunt.
Drawn into a labyrinth of messages encrypted by Emily Dickinson and centuries-old codes tucked inside the Beale Cipher, Salem begins to uncover the truth: an ancient and ruthless group is hell-bent on ruling the world, and only a select group of women stands in its way.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Secret history novels are always fun for me...they put a spin on the facts that usually makes very little sense, but has the lovely quality of being off-the-wall...and this outing into that garden of fantasy is no disappointment.
If James Rollins had written a woman-centered story, this is what it would feel like. Since I like James Rollins, I think of that as a compliment. Salem and Bel, with their matrilineal cultish secret society, The Underground, are in opposition to the male-dominated world-spanning cult, The Order...don't you love the harkening back to the antique world's division of authority into women/Earth::men/land?...each side ready to lie, cheat, and kill to accomplish their goals. The two (so far) stories in Salems world make it clear that the nightmare of christian nationalism and fascistic order/totalitarianism are only going to be effectively opposed by women organizing and taking their power back into their own hands.
This being a message I am totally on board with, I say go get you a copy and learn what one intelligent, observant woman thinks is worth fighting for, and how to do it. I won't say it's a roadmap since we live in mundane reality not Conspiracytopia, but I will say I agree that the stakes are existential.
When the next woman is nominated to run for president I will not be surprised if she faces some sort of threat very similar to this story's plot. There is no reason to think that the incels and MAGAts will change in the next four years. I hope that somewhere there is an actual real-life cabal of powerful women ready to blast the patriarchy that will come gunning for her. If they had the quasi-mystical powers that the Underground...do you not just love the echoes of Persephone in that name?...and if they could just use Emily Dickinsons poetry a a cipher, too....
The idea of power in the hands of women scares some men so badly that they will stoop to anything to stop it from occurring. This being amply demonstrated by the events of 2016, when the first version of this book came out, the anxiety that propeled this story reads as relevant today as it ever has. Absent some Great Dismantling of the patriarchy, the plot of this story will remain evergreen.
An excellent investment of a minimal amount of money, for very solid return of pleasure in the read.
Salem Wiley is a genius cryptanalyst, courted by the world's top security agencies ever since making a breakthrough discovery in her field of quantum computing. She's also an agoraphobe, shackled to a narrow routine by her fear of public places. When her mother's disappearance is linked to a plot to assassinate the country's first viable female presidential candidate, Salem finds herself both target and detective in a modern-day witch hunt.
Drawn into a labyrinth of messages encrypted by Emily Dickinson and centuries-old codes tucked inside the Beale Cipher, Salem begins to uncover the truth: an ancient and ruthless group is hell-bent on ruling the world, and only a select group of women stands in its way.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Secret history novels are always fun for me...they put a spin on the facts that usually makes very little sense, but has the lovely quality of being off-the-wall...and this outing into that garden of fantasy is no disappointment.
If James Rollins had written a woman-centered story, this is what it would feel like. Since I like James Rollins, I think of that as a compliment. Salem and Bel, with their matrilineal cultish secret society, The Underground, are in opposition to the male-dominated world-spanning cult, The Order...don't you love the harkening back to the antique world's division of authority into women/Earth::men/land?...each side ready to lie, cheat, and kill to accomplish their goals. The two (so far) stories in Salems world make it clear that the nightmare of christian nationalism and fascistic order/totalitarianism are only going to be effectively opposed by women organizing and taking their power back into their own hands.
This being a message I am totally on board with, I say go get you a copy and learn what one intelligent, observant woman thinks is worth fighting for, and how to do it. I won't say it's a roadmap since we live in mundane reality not Conspiracytopia, but I will say I agree that the stakes are existential.
When the next woman is nominated to run for president I will not be surprised if she faces some sort of threat very similar to this story's plot. There is no reason to think that the incels and MAGAts will change in the next four years. I hope that somewhere there is an actual real-life cabal of powerful women ready to blast the patriarchy that will come gunning for her. If they had the quasi-mystical powers that the Underground...do you not just love the echoes of Persephone in that name?...and if they could just use Emily Dickinsons poetry a a cipher, too....
The idea of power in the hands of women scares some men so badly that they will stoop to anything to stop it from occurring. This being amply demonstrated by the events of 2016, when the first version of this book came out, the anxiety that propeled this story reads as relevant today as it ever has. Absent some Great Dismantling of the patriarchy, the plot of this story will remain evergreen.
An excellent investment of a minimal amount of money, for very solid return of pleasure in the read.
January 13, 2024
This was not a well written story. I found words simply didn’t fit in certain descriptions.
I understand Lourey wrote this a while back and it’s being published again, however, you can tell she has matured in her ability to unfold a story. I loved The Taken Ones.
The storyline wasn’t my cup of a tea. I had to actually skim through this. I hate to do that. Meh
Thank you Thomas&Mercer, NetGalley, and Jess Lourey for an ARC. All opinions are my own.
2.5 ⭐️ raised to 3
I understand Lourey wrote this a while back and it’s being published again, however, you can tell she has matured in her ability to unfold a story. I loved The Taken Ones.
The storyline wasn’t my cup of a tea. I had to actually skim through this. I hate to do that. Meh
Thank you Thomas&Mercer, NetGalley, and Jess Lourey for an ARC. All opinions are my own.
2.5 ⭐️ raised to 3
January 18, 2021
I absolutely LOVED Bloodline, the newest series by Jess Lourey so I decided to pick up another book or two by the author. Salem's Cipher is a fast paced thriller revolving around Salem and her childhood friend, Bel. The two women were raised under auspice of parents who belong to a secret society known as the Underground, a society that revolves around the power of the female. Of course, they are opposed by "the Order" a group of very powerful, extremely wealthy men. When Salem and Bel's mothers are kidnapped, they are charged with solving a series of ciphers in order to discover what is truly going on.
Most reviewers compare Salem's Cipher and the subsequent book, Mercy's Chase, to Dan Brown's books, particularly Angels and Demons. I've read all of Dan Brown and I found that this series is more similar to James Rollins' books. Both include underground subversives, both revolve around a massive amount of history and both contain a fair amount of action. Also, they stretch the reader to the point of disbelieving.... except.
If you follow the history that is presented in both books, Salem's Cipher and Mercy's Chase, you're going to find a whole lot of facts about women that you never knew existed. If you've been following current events in the US, well ever, but particularly over the past few month (November 2020 through the present, January 2021) you shouldn't have any problem comprehending the fact that there ARE subversive groups in the US. Someone is funding these Fascist groups, now aren't they? The interesting thing about both books is that they don't necessarily lean one way or another politically. They lean hard on being pro-Female and that is where I fall as well. I'm tired of pretending that men are the best and brightest in our culture when, in fact, we - women - have sat silently on the sidelines allowing them to get the glory for OUR work. So, with that in mind, I hope you will read these books AND follow up with your research. You will be amazed at what history has to show you!
For the sake of reviewing both books simultaneously, Salem's Cipher was a better read than the second book, Mercy's Chase but both were fascinating.
Most reviewers compare Salem's Cipher and the subsequent book, Mercy's Chase, to Dan Brown's books, particularly Angels and Demons. I've read all of Dan Brown and I found that this series is more similar to James Rollins' books. Both include underground subversives, both revolve around a massive amount of history and both contain a fair amount of action. Also, they stretch the reader to the point of disbelieving.... except.
If you follow the history that is presented in both books, Salem's Cipher and Mercy's Chase, you're going to find a whole lot of facts about women that you never knew existed. If you've been following current events in the US, well ever, but particularly over the past few month (November 2020 through the present, January 2021) you shouldn't have any problem comprehending the fact that there ARE subversive groups in the US. Someone is funding these Fascist groups, now aren't they? The interesting thing about both books is that they don't necessarily lean one way or another politically. They lean hard on being pro-Female and that is where I fall as well. I'm tired of pretending that men are the best and brightest in our culture when, in fact, we - women - have sat silently on the sidelines allowing them to get the glory for OUR work. So, with that in mind, I hope you will read these books AND follow up with your research. You will be amazed at what history has to show you!
For the sake of reviewing both books simultaneously, Salem's Cipher was a better read than the second book, Mercy's Chase but both were fascinating.
March 25, 2024
This book was a bit like the Da Vinci code but with a secret society of men working to keep women out of power stemming from the founding fathers and another group of women called the underground fighting for their rights and freedom. This book was originally published in 2016 but is being released and I think it’s good. While there were a few bits that require more than a little suspension of disbelief the overall story is compelling. It’s totally believable that patriarchy could be backed by something like a secret society. The two main characters were interesting but not developed the way I liked which stopped me from really liking them as much as I wanted to. I’m excited to read the second part and learn more about Mercy (I’m hoping based on the title). I will say the killer in this one is creepy beyond what I was expecting. He had suffered a lot, but it doesn’t change that he became next level creepy. In contrast I wasn’t impressed with the other bad guy, who terrified even the killer, but never seemed quite as creepy. Bel and Salem are awesome and their super scavenger hunt across the country was interesting.
November 24, 2017
Read this for book club and it was basically a poor man's/female version of the Da Vinci Code/Angels and Demons...except the plot/writing is more like the last few books of the Robert Langdon series...almost unreadable.
I wish I could remember all the reasons I didn't like this book, but it's been a while so a few have slipped my mind. The dialogue is terrible. The characters are one-dimensional. The story line seems ludicrous. I could get behind the craziness of Angels and Demons because Dan Brown somehow brought me into the story. Suddenly the unbelievable seemed possible. Not so with this one. I just could never get fully behind the idea that there was a secret society of men, bolstered by Andrew Jackson (?) whose sole purpose was to keep women down?!? Like there was an entire plan to kill a woman who might become president. (Also WTH was she doing giving a speech on Alcatraz anyway?!?)
Salem and Bel are boring and cardboard cutouts. I felt like Bel being a lesbian was just a way for Lourey to convince people that her book was "hip" and "up on the times". Then there was the whole thing about her gf and recreational drug use came out of nowhere. The end was terrible...really...Salem's booty call shows up and drugs her? It was just all ridiculous and I hated almost every second of it.
Give me a break. Are people's literary tastes this terrible? Do people not recognize good writing? Don't get me wrong, I read a lot of poorly written books but I don't sing their praises. This was not at all exciting. I literally didn't care. If you're looking for a thriller you are reading the wrong book.
I wish I could remember all the reasons I didn't like this book, but it's been a while so a few have slipped my mind. The dialogue is terrible. The characters are one-dimensional. The story line seems ludicrous. I could get behind the craziness of Angels and Demons because Dan Brown somehow brought me into the story. Suddenly the unbelievable seemed possible. Not so with this one. I just could never get fully behind the idea that there was a secret society of men, bolstered by Andrew Jackson (?) whose sole purpose was to keep women down?!? Like there was an entire plan to kill a woman who might become president. (Also WTH was she doing giving a speech on Alcatraz anyway?!?)
Salem and Bel are boring and cardboard cutouts. I felt like Bel being a lesbian was just a way for Lourey to convince people that her book was "hip" and "up on the times". Then there was the whole thing about her gf and recreational drug use came out of nowhere. The end was terrible...really...Salem's booty call shows up and drugs her? It was just all ridiculous and I hated almost every second of it.
Give me a break. Are people's literary tastes this terrible? Do people not recognize good writing? Don't get me wrong, I read a lot of poorly written books but I don't sing their praises. This was not at all exciting. I literally didn't care. If you're looking for a thriller you are reading the wrong book.
September 2, 2016
I read Lourey's "May Day" and though I liked the book I wasn't sure I liked it enough to continue reading the Murder-by-Month series. Nor was I interested in adding yet another author to my "Must Read" list. A good friend encouraged me to request "Salem's Cipher" and -- Wow! I'm glad I did.
Featuring strong lead characters, warring secret societies, and a plot to assassinate the first viable female president of the United States, "Salem's Cipher" had enough thrills, chills, and danger to grab my attention and keep me focused on turning (digital) pages until its conclusion.
I was happy to see that there will be a second book featuring cryptanalyst Salem Wiley (and, hopefully, her best friend Isabel Odegaard). It can't come too soon for me.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Featuring strong lead characters, warring secret societies, and a plot to assassinate the first viable female president of the United States, "Salem's Cipher" had enough thrills, chills, and danger to grab my attention and keep me focused on turning (digital) pages until its conclusion.
I was happy to see that there will be a second book featuring cryptanalyst Salem Wiley (and, hopefully, her best friend Isabel Odegaard). It can't come too soon for me.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
March 28, 2024
I am a huge suspense fan and an even bigger Jess Lourey fan, so seeing her backlog come up, after knowing her thriller works, I knew I had to get my hands on Salem's Cipher and I am so glad I did. While it's a departure from her thriller novels, it is no less thrilling to read, with a breakneck pace and a story that gripped me from the start. Featuring two childhood friends, a police office and a cryptologist, and a murder mystery that transcends time, Salem's Cipher was a can't put down read for me. With a historical mystery at the forefront, Salem's Cipher follows Salem and Bel as they seek to solve the mystery left behind when their mothers are attacked. There's secret societies, a patriarchy against feminism, and code breaking galore. A bit like Da Vinci Code, Salem's Cipher has just the right amount of historical significance and murder mystery to gather fans of any genre.
ARC provided.
ARC provided.
October 7, 2016
I would like to thank NetGalley, Midnight Ink, and Jess Lourey for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Salem Wiley is a recluse. She is also a genius who happens to be cryptanalyst or code breaker. She and close friend, Bel Odegaard must solve a puzzle of epic proportions, where the stakes are a matter of life and death. A great story with many twists and turns, with a rich historic tone. This book has the resemblance of the great books by Dan Brown with the pull of strong female protagonists reminiscent of The Bletchley Circle. A must read.
August 13, 2025
3.5⭐️ In the first of the Salem’s Cipher series, we are following genius code breaker, Salem Wiley in her quest to uncover a global conspiracy deeply rooted in history. I found this a little long, but I was engaged enough to want to find out how everything is resolved. I enjoyed the way that Jess Lourey combined the suspense, action, and historical elements in this story and found the parallels between the Hermitage Foundation in the book and the Heritage Foundation very unsettling. I can’t even imagine how much research went into learning about ciphers and code breaking. Kudos!
I am a big fan of Lourey’s Steinbeck and Reed series and this one didn’t hit quite the same as those for me, but it is still a fast-paced and engaging read. If you enjoy puzzles and action-packed suspense with some historical elements, I encourage you to check out this one.
Thank you to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this revised edition in exchange for my honest review.
I am a big fan of Lourey’s Steinbeck and Reed series and this one didn’t hit quite the same as those for me, but it is still a fast-paced and engaging read. If you enjoy puzzles and action-packed suspense with some historical elements, I encourage you to check out this one.
Thank you to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this revised edition in exchange for my honest review.
February 22, 2024
Salem's Cipher was a fun read with National Treasure and DaVinci's Code vibes. I wish that the answers to the mysteries would have had more to do with the Salem witch trials which really played a very minor role in the story. I wish some of the history had more depth and detail in the story. It read like an action movie, but I wanted more of the history. I did particularly enjoy the author's descriptions of Chinatown in San Francisco and the characters they met there!
January 27, 2020
Good if you suspend all belief
After reading " Unspeakable Things" by this author, I wanted to read more by her. " Salem's Cipher" was highly rated by other readers so I gave it a try. There were many typos and I could not buy into the plot. I enjoy plots that stretch reality but yet are able to draw you in with other elements such as liking or even hating the main characters! This particular book was just not working for me. I do recommend Unspeakable Things though, and I may try another book by this author, but there are so many other good books out there to try first.
After reading " Unspeakable Things" by this author, I wanted to read more by her. " Salem's Cipher" was highly rated by other readers so I gave it a try. There were many typos and I could not buy into the plot. I enjoy plots that stretch reality but yet are able to draw you in with other elements such as liking or even hating the main characters! This particular book was just not working for me. I do recommend Unspeakable Things though, and I may try another book by this author, but there are so many other good books out there to try first.
November 4, 2016
I can't even finish this. The feminist message in it is shoved in my face so much and so often that I just can't take it. The election plot is a thin parallel of the 2016 presidential election and it's trying to suggest that all sexist men are part of a secret order.
October 31, 2018
Reminded me of The DaVinci Code, lots of action, great characters, and lots of plot twists. I loved this book and stayed up way to late reading it!
May 9, 2019
Dan Brownish, if Dan Brown had feminist sensibilities and a crash course in Women's Studies. It's a conspiracy thriller with the Patriarchy represented by The Hermitage and the Underground representing a hidden matriarchy. Salem, our bottom-heavy heroine, is a computer genius and cryptographer, as well as a PTSD survivor. On this last label, she is called an agoraphobe, but it's clear that she has quite a number of triggers dating back to her Dad's drowning. Her symptoms are more along the lines of a panic disorder, but her reveries are more like PTSD. Early in the book, she wets her pants when her bootycall bf scares her, and I appreciated the author's candor about this humiliating moment of terror. I do wish she'd looked into some of the other aspects of PTSD because I felt like it wasn't well rendered elsewhere. Salem is a fairly likable heroine, but I haven't warmed that much to Isobel, despite her protection of Salem. You like Bel the way you like Mercy, as an extention of Salem's affection for her best friend and the foundling.
I can't really put my finger on why I don't like this author's writing style more than I do, except that her metaphors bite me. The plot races on at a good clip, and I felt that the book was well structured-you get insights into the past, the trauma of the day, and some intellectual salad with an eye to a balanced fiction. The premise doesn't thrill me even if I like Emily Dickinson, Lucretia Mott and all the reputed first ladies of the Underground. Partially because I think if there was a Hermitage it would have split into a million different factions, ditto with the Underground. That's how cults and sects work, especially those with hereditary components.
I do enjoy reading about the hidden cabinetry drawers, but after a few of them, I found it too formulaic. It's as if having seen one drawer pop out, then you have seen them all. And none of the drawers of the treasure hunt are as well constructed as Salem's Dad's creations. They seem to respond best to brute force without the joys of hidden acid vials or tiny razors or other failsafes to keep furniture with hidden compartments from being simply hacked apart.
I'm less comfortable reading about the cryptoanalysis because I hated maths and algebra. et I am interested in it because of the history it has had, and appreciate the fact Lourey pairs it with the physical security measures of the furniture. I just wish she'd spent some time with locks-it seems natural that her carpenter father would have taught her about picking them along with teaching her how to install hidden compartments because they are basically lock mechanisms.
More on the emotional development of the characters-Salem's family is pretty disfunctional even before her father's death. It seems apparent that she has a Wire Mommy, and would have been fearful even if she hadn't witnessed her father's death. Bel's blindness toVida's nature seems suspect to me, and it's one of the reasons I have a hard time liking her. She's spent her entire life watching Isobel run to her father and then run to herself because Vida can't seem to comfort her daughter. Instead she controls her by putting her through analysts training, trying to force her to learn to swim, box, do gymnastics...decoding things is mostly within Dad's realm so it's what Salem takes to more readily. In the course of the novel Salem is able to leave her neighborhood, her town and travel everywhere without her Adivan. At no point does she ever simply freeze for more than a few minutes, yet she whould have slipped into torpor repeatedly. I admit that I read Mercy's Chase first, my next review.
I can't really put my finger on why I don't like this author's writing style more than I do, except that her metaphors bite me. The plot races on at a good clip, and I felt that the book was well structured-you get insights into the past, the trauma of the day, and some intellectual salad with an eye to a balanced fiction. The premise doesn't thrill me even if I like Emily Dickinson, Lucretia Mott and all the reputed first ladies of the Underground. Partially because I think if there was a Hermitage it would have split into a million different factions, ditto with the Underground. That's how cults and sects work, especially those with hereditary components.
I do enjoy reading about the hidden cabinetry drawers, but after a few of them, I found it too formulaic. It's as if having seen one drawer pop out, then you have seen them all. And none of the drawers of the treasure hunt are as well constructed as Salem's Dad's creations. They seem to respond best to brute force without the joys of hidden acid vials or tiny razors or other failsafes to keep furniture with hidden compartments from being simply hacked apart.
I'm less comfortable reading about the cryptoanalysis because I hated maths and algebra. et I am interested in it because of the history it has had, and appreciate the fact Lourey pairs it with the physical security measures of the furniture. I just wish she'd spent some time with locks-it seems natural that her carpenter father would have taught her about picking them along with teaching her how to install hidden compartments because they are basically lock mechanisms.
More on the emotional development of the characters-Salem's family is pretty disfunctional even before her father's death. It seems apparent that she has a Wire Mommy, and would have been fearful even if she hadn't witnessed her father's death. Bel's blindness toVida's nature seems suspect to me, and it's one of the reasons I have a hard time liking her. She's spent her entire life watching Isobel run to her father and then run to herself because Vida can't seem to comfort her daughter. Instead she controls her by putting her through analysts training, trying to force her to learn to swim, box, do gymnastics...decoding things is mostly within Dad's realm so it's what Salem takes to more readily. In the course of the novel Salem is able to leave her neighborhood, her town and travel everywhere without her Adivan. At no point does she ever simply freeze for more than a few minutes, yet she whould have slipped into torpor repeatedly. I admit that I read Mercy's Chase first, my next review.
April 7, 2016
NetGalley copy in exchange of an honest review.
The story starts with two women who get attacked one night.They knew their enemies were coming to get them, but still, they get surprised and their bodies are nowhere to be found when their daughters are called by the police and the FBI.
Salem is one of those daughers. She is a genius cryptanalyst who’s been asked many times to work for different government agencies. On arrival on the crime scene, she discovers a code that her mom left for her to find.
And a whole new world opens to her, in which a terrible secret organisation wants to take over the world. Welcome to her new reality.
Phew! I’m out of breath and I haven’t moved from my chair. But I feel like I’ve run miles along with the characters.
This story feels… intelligent. It’s super well-researched, and I loved the inclusion of real facts and cultural information about bits and pieces of history/events. It feels like you’re getting entertained and taught, which is something I thoroughly enjoyed.
The style is on point. It’s fast-paced, very well articulated and super super oppressive. I felt anxiety creeping through my body on several occasions while reading this book (which is good because it felt realistic, but not that good for my mental health!)! It feels like the story has a mind of its own, and it decided to grip me by the throat and squeeze, squeeze, squeeze. And I really love that we get different perspectives throughout the story, and not only the two daughters’ one.
I identified to Salem a lot, and she is a character that is very well portrayed and to whom I have a lot of affection.
If you are interested by conspiration, race against time, threats, secrets, secret organisations, fear and strong women, this book is for you!
The story starts with two women who get attacked one night.They knew their enemies were coming to get them, but still, they get surprised and their bodies are nowhere to be found when their daughters are called by the police and the FBI.
Salem is one of those daughers. She is a genius cryptanalyst who’s been asked many times to work for different government agencies. On arrival on the crime scene, she discovers a code that her mom left for her to find.
And a whole new world opens to her, in which a terrible secret organisation wants to take over the world. Welcome to her new reality.
Phew! I’m out of breath and I haven’t moved from my chair. But I feel like I’ve run miles along with the characters.
This story feels… intelligent. It’s super well-researched, and I loved the inclusion of real facts and cultural information about bits and pieces of history/events. It feels like you’re getting entertained and taught, which is something I thoroughly enjoyed.
The style is on point. It’s fast-paced, very well articulated and super super oppressive. I felt anxiety creeping through my body on several occasions while reading this book (which is good because it felt realistic, but not that good for my mental health!)! It feels like the story has a mind of its own, and it decided to grip me by the throat and squeeze, squeeze, squeeze. And I really love that we get different perspectives throughout the story, and not only the two daughters’ one.
I identified to Salem a lot, and she is a character that is very well portrayed and to whom I have a lot of affection.
If you are interested by conspiration, race against time, threats, secrets, secret organisations, fear and strong women, this book is for you!
July 11, 2016
Review originally published at Book of Bogan
This is the sort of book you would get if you mashed Dan Brown's back catalogue, the Nancy Drew mysteries, Scooby Doo and Clueless together in one big hot mess. If that sounds like the thing for you, well, god bless and good luck.
Two women are brought together through the kidnapping and (possible) murder of their mothers, and are sent on a cross-country journey to uncover hidden secrets in American historical sites, while on the run from a shadowy organisation whose motives appear to be stopping a Hilary Clinton-analogue from becoming the next American president. Okay, so maybe there's a touch of National Treasure thrown in as well.
The main characters are boring, ditzy, and completely interchangeable. The clues they are following seem completely random, and their actions, as well as those of the people around them don't make any sense. The revelation that one of the characters is a police officer came completely out of nowhere, and was totally out of character with the way she has previously behaved. Salem - the other main character - is apparently a genius cryptanalyst who blunders from one scene to another.
I was not a fan of Dan Brown's books, and this felt like a lame attempt at a feminist tour-de-force version of those books. If it was nothing more than a vaguely entertaining read that actually managed to suck me into the underlying mystery/conspiracy, I'd be a happy bunny, but it was a failure all round for me.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the sort of book you would get if you mashed Dan Brown's back catalogue, the Nancy Drew mysteries, Scooby Doo and Clueless together in one big hot mess. If that sounds like the thing for you, well, god bless and good luck.
Two women are brought together through the kidnapping and (possible) murder of their mothers, and are sent on a cross-country journey to uncover hidden secrets in American historical sites, while on the run from a shadowy organisation whose motives appear to be stopping a Hilary Clinton-analogue from becoming the next American president. Okay, so maybe there's a touch of National Treasure thrown in as well.
The main characters are boring, ditzy, and completely interchangeable. The clues they are following seem completely random, and their actions, as well as those of the people around them don't make any sense. The revelation that one of the characters is a police officer came completely out of nowhere, and was totally out of character with the way she has previously behaved. Salem - the other main character - is apparently a genius cryptanalyst who blunders from one scene to another.
I was not a fan of Dan Brown's books, and this felt like a lame attempt at a feminist tour-de-force version of those books. If it was nothing more than a vaguely entertaining read that actually managed to suck me into the underlying mystery/conspiracy, I'd be a happy bunny, but it was a failure all round for me.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2017
Jess Lourey's Salem's Cipher felt like an ambitious mashup of The DaVinci Code and National Treasure with a bit of Indecision 2016 thrown in. Don't get me wrong, the book has a clever concept at its core: a several hundred-year (if not longer) rivalry between a women-hating male group known as The Hermitage Foundation, which I couldn't avoid reading as The Heritage Foundation, and a women-led feminist group known as the Underground whose leadership traced its roots back to Lucretia Mott and other foremothers in America's women's history. There was an underdeveloped Salem witchcraft trials connection which, having read a lot of that literature as well as the 1692 deposition narratives while in graduate school, left me most unsatisfied. And toss in some Emily Dickinson poetry for good measure along with ciphers and codes. What could possibly go wrong, right?
Instead, two young twenty-somethings find themselves making multiple cross-country trips after their mothers, one of whom is likely dead, are dragged into the war between these two groups as the U.S. sits poised to elect its first woman president. Characters are two-dimensional, either all good or all bad, and while it's a fast read I'm not sure that I'm up for additional entries in the series. But don't take my word for it, check it out yourself. Heck, Dan Brown's work is hardly Great Literature, but it sure was enjoyable. If you approach Salem's Cipher in that same vein, you likely will not be disappointed.
Instead, two young twenty-somethings find themselves making multiple cross-country trips after their mothers, one of whom is likely dead, are dragged into the war between these two groups as the U.S. sits poised to elect its first woman president. Characters are two-dimensional, either all good or all bad, and while it's a fast read I'm not sure that I'm up for additional entries in the series. But don't take my word for it, check it out yourself. Heck, Dan Brown's work is hardly Great Literature, but it sure was enjoyable. If you approach Salem's Cipher in that same vein, you likely will not be disappointed.
Want to read
February 9, 2022I did not finish this book. I borrowed the audiobook and could not get past the second hour. No offense intended to her, but the narrator Christine Delaine’s performance was just not for me. I am very sensitive to certain vocal inflections, and I found it was a little too over the top for me. A little Joan Crawford meets Fergie singing the National Anthem. It’s quite a performance, and I’m sure many will love it. Unfortunately, it just kept me cringing, and taking me out of the story. I hope it’s just me, and that others enjoy the audiobook, but I wanted to say something just in case there are others like me, who do better with more subtlety, and could save some time and/or money. Gonna grab the book instead. As a Minnesota girl, I feel like I have to finish it!
August 2, 2020
In the same vein as Dan Brown, we have secret societies that are at war with each other. The twist? A group of men will do whatever it takes to make sure women don’t succeed, especially a woman who is almost guaranteed to become president. The book is fast paced and interesting, but too many things happen conveniently for my taste. It is never fully explained how the bad guys so easily track the good guys. Those issues aside, it wasn’t a bad book.
August 20, 2024
Salem's Cipher takes readers on a thrilling journey with a brilliant code breaker who dismantles a centuries-old conspiracy while uncovering her own family secrets. Jess Lourey’s writing is exceptionally detailed, vividly bringing the story to life with her immersive descriptions. The book has a gripping, Da Vinci Code-like atmosphere that kept me completely absorbed from start to finish. If you enjoy intricate puzzles and heart-pounding thrills, this is a must-read.
July 15, 2025
I actually picked up this book from a bookstore in Bemidji on the recommendation of the worker there. I had no idea what to expect other than the author was Minnesotan and some of it takes place in minnesota. Imagine how delighted I was when I discovered it was similar to my favorite guilty pleasure movie National Treasure, but way more suspenseful and gripping. I already have the second book and will be starting it ASAP.
November 16, 2017
I picked this book up on a whim while browsing the library. I thought maybe it had to do with witches; it doesn't. Pleased to know it's the first book in a series. Female protagonists? Check. Secret societies? Check. Real history mixed with believable fiction? Check. Think Rizzoli and Isles meets National Treasure.
December 23, 2020
Secret Societies go Head to Head
Salem's Cipher, by Jess Lourey, is a thrill ride from beginning to end. With a storyline comparable to National Treasure or Indiana Jones, it keeps the reader moving at blinding speed. I recommend this book and am definitely reading the sequel!
Salem's Cipher, by Jess Lourey, is a thrill ride from beginning to end. With a storyline comparable to National Treasure or Indiana Jones, it keeps the reader moving at blinding speed. I recommend this book and am definitely reading the sequel!
August 13, 2025
I’m still not sure if this is a mystery for fantasy lovers or a fantasy for mystery lovers, but one thing’s for sure, this is not your standard thriller. Think secret societies, cryptic codes, and missing mothers all tangled together in a plot that hops through time, place, and history like it’s on a caffeine high.
My silly butt went into this book blind expecting another dark thriller from Jess Lourey. To be fair, it was listed under Mystery & Thrillers in NetGalley, but my ears were telling me fantasy with a side of dystopia and yes there is a mystery. Not my usual jam, which meant I had moments where I was a little lost in the timelines and keeping track of a slew of characters.
We follow best friends Salem and Bel on a hunt to find their missing moms, who have ties to an underground women’s group. The trail leads through puzzles, hidden messages, and revelations.
Unfortunately for me, it didn’t quite click, but that’s a me thing and I can absolutely see this audiobook finding its audience.
The narration is solid, the female leads are strong, and Lourey’s writing is good, but not every book is for every person. If you love your thrillers with a big dose of fantastical conspiracy, secret codes, and high-stakes political intrigue, this might be exactly your thing.
✌️Vibes:
🗝 codes and puzzles
👭 Best friends on a mission
🌍 Historical conspiracy meets fantasy
⚖️ Political themes
Thank you @brilliancepublishing @netgalley and Jess Lourey for this advance listen copy in exchange for my honest review.
DeAnn @deannsreadingriot 🖤
My silly butt went into this book blind expecting another dark thriller from Jess Lourey. To be fair, it was listed under Mystery & Thrillers in NetGalley, but my ears were telling me fantasy with a side of dystopia and yes there is a mystery. Not my usual jam, which meant I had moments where I was a little lost in the timelines and keeping track of a slew of characters.
We follow best friends Salem and Bel on a hunt to find their missing moms, who have ties to an underground women’s group. The trail leads through puzzles, hidden messages, and revelations.
Unfortunately for me, it didn’t quite click, but that’s a me thing and I can absolutely see this audiobook finding its audience.
The narration is solid, the female leads are strong, and Lourey’s writing is good, but not every book is for every person. If you love your thrillers with a big dose of fantastical conspiracy, secret codes, and high-stakes political intrigue, this might be exactly your thing.
✌️Vibes:
🗝 codes and puzzles
👭 Best friends on a mission
🌍 Historical conspiracy meets fantasy
⚖️ Political themes
Thank you @brilliancepublishing @netgalley and Jess Lourey for this advance listen copy in exchange for my honest review.
DeAnn @deannsreadingriot 🖤
February 9, 2024
This is my third book by Jess Lourey. Her books are vastly different and span a range of genres.
Salem is a tech genius. She is called home after her mom and childhood friends mom both disappear. What follows is a fast paced action packed plot.
Salems mom leaves clues and what is revealed is an underground women’s movement that hides a lot of secrets. This book is for fans of action that also enjoy historical puzzles and secret societies. If you are into secret messages in paintings. Think da Vinci code. This might be up your alley.
For me I liked the idea of the plot. It seemed like it could have been really interesting. It is a bit far fetched. If you can suspend disbelief and lean into the conspiracy theory you might like it.
My problem is that the execution was well intentioned but missed the mark. The chapters were short and the book was faced paced but the focus was not on character development rather the plot line. I felt that the development of the four main characters was severely lacking. It seemed like we jumped from scene to scene of let’s look for a clue. We were almost killed. Let’s go to another location to find another clue. Oh another close call. I wanted more depth out of this story. I would equate it to watching an action film.
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this arc. The opinions stated are mine alone.
Salem is a tech genius. She is called home after her mom and childhood friends mom both disappear. What follows is a fast paced action packed plot.
Salems mom leaves clues and what is revealed is an underground women’s movement that hides a lot of secrets. This book is for fans of action that also enjoy historical puzzles and secret societies. If you are into secret messages in paintings. Think da Vinci code. This might be up your alley.
For me I liked the idea of the plot. It seemed like it could have been really interesting. It is a bit far fetched. If you can suspend disbelief and lean into the conspiracy theory you might like it.
My problem is that the execution was well intentioned but missed the mark. The chapters were short and the book was faced paced but the focus was not on character development rather the plot line. I felt that the development of the four main characters was severely lacking. It seemed like we jumped from scene to scene of let’s look for a clue. We were almost killed. Let’s go to another location to find another clue. Oh another close call. I wanted more depth out of this story. I would equate it to watching an action film.
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this arc. The opinions stated are mine alone.
October 4, 2025
4.5 stars.
Salem Wiley is a genius cryptanalyst. She’s also a loner who prefers a safe and familiar path. Until her mother disappears in the wake of a brutal murder, leaving behind a cryptic warning of threats to come. Forced out of her safe zone, Salem embarks with her best friend, Bel, on a dangerous quest that reaches back centuries into America’s hidden history. Drawn into a labyrinth of messages encrypted by Emily Dickinson and hidden in the legendary Beale Cipher, Salem discovers her mother’s double life—and the truth.
Gosh, this was so much fun! Suspenseful from the beginning, it was so action-packed until the last page. The opening was so good, I was hooked in no time.
I was initially attracted to the story because of the cryptography bit, but this was essentially a human story, about Salem and her friendship with Bel, and about their mothers Grace and Vida.
I’d really recommend jumping into this blind. The thriller was amazing, and it was perfect as an audiobook. I loved the narration, the pacing and the delivery of the performance. I could imagine the scenes playing as an action movie! I’m definitely going to check out the sequel!
(Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
Salem Wiley is a genius cryptanalyst. She’s also a loner who prefers a safe and familiar path. Until her mother disappears in the wake of a brutal murder, leaving behind a cryptic warning of threats to come. Forced out of her safe zone, Salem embarks with her best friend, Bel, on a dangerous quest that reaches back centuries into America’s hidden history. Drawn into a labyrinth of messages encrypted by Emily Dickinson and hidden in the legendary Beale Cipher, Salem discovers her mother’s double life—and the truth.
Gosh, this was so much fun! Suspenseful from the beginning, it was so action-packed until the last page. The opening was so good, I was hooked in no time.
I was initially attracted to the story because of the cryptography bit, but this was essentially a human story, about Salem and her friendship with Bel, and about their mothers Grace and Vida.
I’d really recommend jumping into this blind. The thriller was amazing, and it was perfect as an audiobook. I loved the narration, the pacing and the delivery of the performance. I could imagine the scenes playing as an action movie! I’m definitely going to check out the sequel!
(Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
March 22, 2024
Many thanks to Netgalley & Thomas&Mercer Publishing for an ARC ♥️♥️
This thriller follows Salem Wiley, a total genius when it comes to codes and ciphers, as she unravels a centuries-old conspiracy that's straight out of a Dan Brown novel.
But here's the thing - it's not just about the codes and puzzles (though, let me tell you, they're super cool). It's also about Salem's personal journey, as she discovers her mom's double life and confronts some serious family secrets.
The writing is engaging and suspenseful, with a cast of strong female characters that'll make you want to high-five the whole squad. And the historical and literary references? Total bonus!
🔥
This thriller follows Salem Wiley, a total genius when it comes to codes and ciphers, as she unravels a centuries-old conspiracy that's straight out of a Dan Brown novel.
But here's the thing - it's not just about the codes and puzzles (though, let me tell you, they're super cool). It's also about Salem's personal journey, as she discovers her mom's double life and confronts some serious family secrets.
The writing is engaging and suspenseful, with a cast of strong female characters that'll make you want to high-five the whole squad. And the historical and literary references? Total bonus!
🔥
Read
August 12, 2024I usually love Jess Lourey books so much, but this one was a total miss for me. The constant feminist liberal agenda was corny and honestly ruined the book. It seems like she was more focused on throwing in the political crap than the actual meat of the story. Definitely disappointing. The entire story is based around this idea that there are a group of men trying to hold down all the women in America and will murder whoever gets in the way of that? Just seems totally bizarre.. I guess there are people who really believe this jargon and eat this nonsense up, but I’m just exhausted of constantly being force fed this liberal idea that women are always being held down.
May 12, 2022
3.25 stars
This book is kind of hard to rate because when this book was good, it was really good, but the rest was kind of bland. I also went into this book thinking it was literally going to be about witches due to the title, but I guess I was way wrong with that.
I have been waiting for the next Day Brown like author and this is almost like it, but it just needs a bit more to it to make it more engaging.
This book is kind of hard to rate because when this book was good, it was really good, but the rest was kind of bland. I also went into this book thinking it was literally going to be about witches due to the title, but I guess I was way wrong with that.
I have been waiting for the next Day Brown like author and this is almost like it, but it just needs a bit more to it to make it more engaging.
March 22, 2024
I'm a big fan of Jess Lourey's books so I jumped at the chance to read Salem's Cipher.
This story is more history (think national treasure) and less true crime inspired than her other books I've read so far. I love the message of feminism, friendship, sisterhood and taking down the patriarchy. The plot involving a female candidate for president is so relevant for the world we live in.
While Lourey's true crime inspired books will always be my favourites, Salem's Cipher is engaging and has the same quick pace that I love about her books. I will be reading the follow-up, Mercy's Chase, as I have questions that need to be answered!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the gifted arc.
This story is more history (think national treasure) and less true crime inspired than her other books I've read so far. I love the message of feminism, friendship, sisterhood and taking down the patriarchy. The plot involving a female candidate for president is so relevant for the world we live in.
While Lourey's true crime inspired books will always be my favourites, Salem's Cipher is engaging and has the same quick pace that I love about her books. I will be reading the follow-up, Mercy's Chase, as I have questions that need to be answered!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the gifted arc.
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