Thread 21 : To feel disappointed - and now disgusted too - after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?

[DisappointedReader]

NO POSTS PLEASE UNTIL THREAD 20 IS FULL

The Observer's original exposé: The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...

First thread: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film? | Mumsnet

Links to threads 2-16, the other 20 Observer articles and videos to date, Raynor Winn/Sally Walker's statement, our timeline and sources can all be accessed in the OP and first few posts of Thread 17: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5403285-thread-17-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Thread 18: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5422393-thread-18-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Thread 19: www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5437058-thread-19-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Thread 20: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5454438-thread-20-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

New posters joining us in the genuine spirit of our civil discourse are welcome. It would be helpful to get the background from at least some of the Observer exposé items before posting.
To all - Please be extremely cautious when it comes to naming or implicating people and addresses not in the public eye or with no direct connection to the story, and around the understandable health speculations, especially where details are unclear or still emerging. Remember, even Hollywood rabbits attract the odd flea. Please do not engage with drive-by scolders and ploppers who seem to have their own agenda and seek to derail. Avoid @'ing and quoting them as - from experience - this will only encourage them back to the threads. Over 5 months we have done amazingly well together for 20 very interesting, very serious and very silly threads so far. I can't be here as much as I'd like so all help with keeping our discussion walking along in our usual reasonable and respectful fashion is very welcome.

Keep to the path. No saltiness. Our Cardboard Mascot Our Simon has had his head stuck back on and is wearing a very fetching tinsel boa. The charabanc is bedecked with fairy lights and very well stocked up. May the seasonal fudge and mulled cider be with you one and all. 🎅🌲🎁❄️🎄

These threads are the gifts that keep on giving:
New:

• Salt Path: A Very British Scandal, available from Monday 15th December Sky Documentaries and NOW TV
• ‘Don’t look for the money. I’ve taken it all’: Salt Path author Raynor Winn’s ‘confession’ that she stole from her family | The Observer

Up and coming:

• Observer Newsroom: The Real Salt Path Story, Thursday 8th January 2026 6.30-7.30pm. More information and to book via this link observer.co.uk/our-events/the-real-salt-path-story
• Podcast series from The Observer's award-winning Investigative Journalist Chloe Hadjimatheou
• BBC Documentary (NB Not involving Our Chloe)

*MNHQ correcting above 'Documentary' to 'Podcast' at request of author

NO POSTS PLEASE UNTIL THREAD 20 IS FULL

I actually wonder if CH is building a solid case from the ground up that shows their characters as long-standing thieves and manipulators.
A. Starting with the bombshell of the embezzlement, £65000? that is a shocking amount of money to have deliberately stolen over some time.
B. Add in the relatives' accounts of stealing from both parents.
C. Relatives' dismissal of Timmoth's illness and other general information.
D. Speak to someone with actual CBD, showing the discrepancy in physical affect, and the expert medical opinion.
From there, highlighting the date discrepancy and building up the whole picture of how the whole premise of the book is false.

Better to start with the shock of large scale embezzlement, with witnesses you CAN talk to.

Then the issue of the illness and dates can't be sidestepped so easily.
The 'rebuttal' detailing the hurt of people questioning of Moths illness doesn't carry so much weight when CH has actually focused on other things first and foremost.
Trying to post in a hurry so hope this makes sense

I agree. Go for the things that are most harmful and hardest to rebut first (CBD and embezzlement) because these are things that Chloe H can hold up and say "well, there's no explanation that's going to make this go away", and then move on to situations where Sal can employ handwavery and whataboutery and where people might give her the benefit of the doubt.

Hit her hard with the damage she has OBVIOUSLY done and move on to the more subtle lies later.

Quite, the ‘dates’ prove the lot a lie & universally ignored.

I imagine deluded Sal thinks that the disclaimer is a valid excuse for everything and that altering the "Cooper" events, CBD severity, timelines etc etc was an acceptable level of change to protect the privacy of others. "It's not my fault that it made us look like homeless victims with a death sentence."

This does make sense @NineNuzzlyMinecraft, I watched the documentary again yesterday, CH seems to be building her story step by step, Salray is a very tricky character, it is frustrating me that things are taking time to be revealed, but as the old saying goes, slowly, slowly catchy monkey.

I don’t think anyone else has responded so:

Thursday, 08 January 2026 at 18:30

i’ll be there online!

Thanks
Looks like I’ll have to be up early as that’s 4.30am in Australia

And that, despite the disclaimer, some places were easily recognisable and suffered lowered takings because of having been defamed in the books...

The important thing is that this doesn’t drift away which is what I suspect the publisher is hoping. I have written to Penguin and would urge all of you to do the same - strength in numbers! It isn’t acceptable that readers are conned like this. Two million have been lied to in effect and many more via the film and library borrows. Ruth Saberton’s piece is posted on Substack and hopefully the story will reach some more people.Somebody said there is a podcast soon so fingers crossed. The documentary was on Sky so lots of people haven’t seen it.

What have you said that can’t be countered re: Sal’s ‘It was my truth & I’ve changed a few details to protect privacy’ rebuttal?

Have you managed to get an online ticket?

Yes I did - but quite a while ago when it was first announced.

Just reiterated that ‘My Truth’ isn’t the same as ‘The Truth.’ Also mooted the idea that legally I may well be due a refund for being mis sold this ‘unflinchingly honest’ book and will be looking into this. (May also have mentioned that James Frey’s readers sued DoubleDay in a class-action lawsuit for fraud and misrepresentation…)

There is ‘the truth’ & her opinion, that’s it. Did you mention date discrepancies?

I mentioned how the dates on the information she posted don’t tally with the book and pointed them to CH’s forensic investigation- which lawyers have already been all over. I don’t expect a reply, but I feel I have tried to do something proactive. Want to start 2026 without this clogging up my head!

Good for you.

There is a mammoth gap between 'her truth' AKA lies and 'the truth'.

This stuff is not just a difference of perception about how things went down but great big smacking deception and a backstory that changes everything.

There is room for opinion in many cases but that doesn't play when you acquire several million pounds off the back of pretending to be innocent trusting victims when in fact you are a profligate fraudster who evaded prosecution by borrowing money and then deceiving regarding how it had to be paid back.

By the way, dear fellow charabancers and followers of the True Path, I wish you all a fantastic NYE and the best imaginable 2026. x

Happy New Year All🥂

The actor David Heap died yesterday from CBS. He was diagnosed in summer of 2024, and in an interview with his wife in January 2025, she stated that they'd known for a while before the diagnosis that something was wrong. At the time of the interview last January he already needed 24hr care.

https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2025/1231/1551013-fair-city-actor-david-heap-dies-aged-76/

The interview is on the rte player, but I don't think you can access it outside Ireland.

Exactly, well said @Uricon2 !!
She always tries to shift attention, she won’t be pinned down. She is thoroughly annoying because she will not admit to any wrongdoing or deliberate deception. She’s relied on those skills her entire adult life. Just cut the crap Sal. Nobody cares that you changed a few names but fabricating events which didn’t happen and using emotional manipulation techniques to enable you to rob people who believe these events that you tell them are true, is not the same thing. Label the whole lot as fiction.

Happy New Year’s Eve everybody and good health, happiness and prosperity in 2026
🧦🥾🧣🎒🏕️⛺️🏕️🌲🌳🦯🪨🌊💨☀️🍫🍻🍺🥂🍜

Happy New Year to everyone on this thread.

Very sad news @TheTimeTravellersNiece he had so little time after his diagnosis.

Wishing everyone a very happy new year, I hope that you and your loved ones keep well and safe in 2026 🥂

Wishing you all a happy and healthy new year.

Happy New Year to my fellow charabanceers! Wishing you health, peace and happiness for 2026 with a huge side dollop of seeing these books at least lose their 'unflinchingly honest' label.