Thread 26 : To feel disappointed - and disgusted and vindicated now 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 25 IS FULL

Please see the OP of Thread 25 for all the links to The Observer's reporting and podcast series, our threads one to 24 and so on.

After 25,000 posts there are still new things to discuss:
BBC Sounds - Secrets of the Salt Path - Available Episodes
If you are posting about a podcast, please start your post with the episode number you are commenting on, for clarity and to help others avoid spoilers if they wish to do so.

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. The Observer's excellent podcast series The Walkers (link in Thread 25) covers most things.
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, especially where details are unclear or still emerging. Remember, even Hollywood rabbits attract the odd flea: please do not engage with drive-by scolders 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. For over 8 months we have done amazingly well together for 25 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.

As ever, as we embark on our 26th thread riding the community charabanc, keep to the path, no saltiness, eat fudge and drink cider.

NO POSTS PLEASE UNTIL THREAD 25 IS FULL: www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5485730-thread-25-to-feel-disappointed-and-disgusted-and-vindicated-now-too-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

For me "the family" is Polly and other nephews and nieces (Martyn's kids) , and the comments are a thinly veiled attempt to prevent them spilling more of the beans to the likes of OC in the wake of the original LinkedIn comments by James Walker, the naval architect based in Southampton, "My uncle and aunt are pathological liars who leave a trail of destruction in their wake"

I've had another squint at the comments on her 'boots' pic. Right at the bottom there's one marked 'hidden by Instagram' although it appears if you click on it. It's from someone who agreed with the 'stringing along' comment and simply reads '#chloehadjimatheou'. I don't 'do' Instagram so don't really understand how hiding comments works. Can anyone explain and whether this pointer to the truth has been deliberately hidden by SW?

I hate to hark back but - I still want some kind of acknowledgement of TSP erroneously winning the 'first book' award. HNTDDD was NOT self-published if the Walkers set up their own publishing company in order to publish it, and TSP should never have been considered for the award in the first place.

I'm sorry but it makes me angry all over again every time I think of it! Bring me that chilled cider and another Finger of Fudge!

There's plenty of refreshing cider on board the charabanc @Vroomfondleswaistcoat, @DisappointedReader has thoughtfully chilled the cider, and stocked up on the fudge :)

I agree about the award, it seems like those who have found their involvement embarrassing to them, even if they understand that SW has scammed them and misled readers, have decided to forget about it, like a bad love affair. Those that realised the harm, despite any embarrassment, publicly dissociated themselves, others decided not to, like PRH. The CB people seem to be embarrassed, SW was potentially damaging but they just want to forget, even if it leaves SW with an award she shouldn't really have been entered for or accepted.

If I remember correctly doesn't SA have something to do with the CB award ? not our cardboard headless SA, but the living breathing one that Moth gets mistaken for, he has certainly been embarrassed, and I'm sure he must find the attention unwanted, he didn't want to talk to CH, maybe he didn't want to answer awkward questions about cardboard cutouts and charabancs :)

I just hope that the CB prize has upped its game in the interval to cross-check all entrants for previous publication, especially under another name. I know they quietly rewrote the 'self published' eligibility after SWs 'win' but even leaving it open to self-published authors for that first year was such a huge oversight that it does call their organisational abilities into question. I cast no aspersions on our Lovely Simon, whose name, I suspect, is attached to the award in an almost prosthetic fashion.

Came across this on Goodreads - On Winter Hill, 2 x 5 star ratings, and this review:

Review of advance copy received from Author
May 8, 2026
Seriously? Do yourself a massive favor and listen to “The Walkers” by the reporter Chloe Hadjimatheou (and the article published by the Observer) to hear an actually true story about Raynor Winn. And it’s far more entertaining than this rubbish.

It’s possible to hide negative comments on Instagram. The comment will still show to the person who left it but no one else will see it. You can even set your account to not publish comments containing certain words. Although ditzy SW might not know how to do this her children definitely will.

Thank you for explaining. Although it leaves me wondering what is the point of a facility to 'hide' comments if a click from a randomer can make them visible.

I guess people are usually not so rigorous as the charabancers - I mean the hidden comment, the boot, the polish, the bracelet, the daughter, the dog ....🕵

I'm slightly confused by the Instagram comment facility, if comments can be removed, screened to see if they contain certain words and blocked, along with hostile accounts. Sally can have Alice manage the account so that a negative comment never appears, how has the laces comment remained, is that deliberate so that the negative comments in response are shown?

To me, leaving one negative comment visible - which everyone then piles on and accuses the poster of being a bully etc - feels like a warning. Not unlike sticking someone’s head on a spike in medieval times. “Look what happens if you’re mean to our beloved Raynor”.

Isn't it a little odd that many of the comments on the boots IG post are overly gushing and many emphasise the "you're back!" line? We know SW has been active on IG for a while before this and previous times when comments were on temporarily, there were no such "welcome back" comments. Most iirc were love hearts. It's another reason why i think this is an orchestrated PR move, most likely spear headed by Alice.

Well it seems Fenella Bates (responsible for publishing TWS and LL) still backs SW. She commented with 3 love hearts. Although now at a different publishing house now, it's shameful of her IMO.

Thank you for sharing this information from the IG… I agree with you@YourMoneyforFrothingandYourChipsforFree that last comment of yours shows a sickening lack of respect from Fenella Bates. Three love hearts indeed. These people live in a fantasy world. How is it possible that the gigantic elephant in the room is still not being addressed?
Thank you @MulberryBrandy for the snippet about OWH on Goodreads. Most people have been very vocal about their opinions but still the grifter thinks she can grift and there are a handful of people willing to enable it, just parasites really.

I think you are right @Anythingbutheadlands, it also makes it look like they are not blocking negative comments and will face all criticism. Thank you for sharing the information about the Instagram comments, past and present @YourMoneyforFrothingandYourChipsforFree, I haven't been able to read them, I did wonder if the DM article would trigger something, the children have been kept out of the scandal so far, perhaps the strategy was to continue to keep a low profile for a while longer. With the children being outed, they can publicly rally together team Walker, if Alice is a driving force, I think she will be working on returning her mother to a monetising position, it costs money to live the kind of lifestyle they have become used to, they might have plans to continue with the wellness retreat idea, or maybe Alice will be taking up her pen, she could offer exclusive salt path tattoos for loyal followers :)

@Freshsocks if Alice is a driving force, I think she will be working on returning her mother to a monetising position, it costs money to live the kind of lifestyle they have become used to, they might have plans to continue with the wellness retreat idea, or maybe Alice will be taking up her pen, she could offer exclusive salt path tattoos for loyal followers :)

Alice is obviously very good at publicising herself but also using the need to log in to access her details. Her work rhythm seems very Moth ....

Welcome on board @rowanalice_ 🤘 The latest talent to join our growing @storiesandinkfalmouth family 💙 Check out Alice’s flash designs and come and visit our Cornwall studio #storiesandink | Stories & Ink | Facebook

Thank you @MulberryBrandy, I hadn't seen that piece, so interesting to hear Alice speak. She seems to be a chip off the old block, one week she's inspired and capable, the next she can't pick up a pencil, pity the poor people getting a tattoo when she's having an off week :)

I know it was quite a while ago that you mentioned it @HatStickBoots, but I listened to SA reading his Dear Pink Floyd poem, I really enjoyed it thank you for recommending 🌟

Awwww @Freshsocks I’m so glad you enjoyed the poem. I’m now feeling all warm and fuzzy inside knowing that 🙂 He’s a proper antidote to the crappy Walker team and especially welcome after watching that Facebook link and feeling rather ill after.

www.pinkfloyd.com/dear-pink-floyd

Seems a bit odd that the review appeared in May 2026. OWH was delayed quite a few months ago but presumably advanced copies would have been sent out sometime in 2025 before OC's expose. Would be interesting to get hold of a copy!

Yes, I didn't know how authentic this category is: advance copy received from Author
Do you just randomly select a category when you post a review? We do know that Chloe has a copy of Lightly Salted Blackberries, however, and that was an advance copy from the author - from someone mentioned in it.

@Vroomfondleswaistcoat I agree with you about the CB award and I also agree with @Freshsocks that the awarding of the prize has caused a great deal of embarrasment and with the acknowledgement of the book being an award winner it still gives TSP respectability and validity.

I have also being extremely disappointed that those in the media who championed SW and TSP have not expressed any disappointment at what has been revealed from OC's expose. if I was Sophie Rayworth I would be utterly embarrassed at my fawning over "Moth" Also, I did find Richard Osman's comments on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast rather haughty and dismissive when he says that "He hasn't read it (TSP) and it is not his sort of thing" and then goes onto say "He'd met the husband and he is charming" - isn't that the modus operandi of a con-artist? To charm and deceive their vicitims?

I haven't accessed the Goodreads comments on OWH but getting an advanced copy out into the public domain (if that has really happened) now smacks of trying to regain the narrative. Even if it is fictitious, bogus and poorly written.

The IG fan (depressing) comments reminded me of an issue a few years ago when the 1970s documentary "Remember Me This Way" about Gary Glitter was going to be released on DVD and there was (rightly) a considerable outcry regarding the proposed release considering Glitter's vile offences. Then there was a backlash that some fans wanted the film to be released as they were still fans of Glitter despite his offences, and that they mentally separated the pop star from his crimes. I think that SW's fans make a similar disconnect, that is doesn't matter if she committed crimes of embezzlement and stealing money from elderly relatives, so long as they believe in the fake narrative and refute what has been evidenced and reported their heroine is fine.

I find it utterly depressing that what SW did to her mother and in-laws commiting fraud and steeling money out of their bank accounts was acts of elder abuse, but can be waved away. Drawing a comparison the David Walliams cancellation due to is inappropriate behaviour towards young female staff at his publishers or agents, it is right that Walliams was cancelled. But SW should be equally as cancelled for her acts of elder abuse. But the woman is devoid of feeling other than towards her 'team'

I checked yesterday and you don't input a category for Goodreads reviews. Simply a single text box to write in...so the reviewer wrote the italisised claim of it being an advance copy from the author.

It might be that Sal was sent a box of books prior to predicted release date and she's sent a few out to people she thinks will be sympathetic to her cause. Which would also mean that OWH hasn't been substantially rewritten to take account of, or apologise for, Our Chloe's revelations.

I get sent a few author copies of my books about six weeks before publication, so I can hand the odd one out to people mentioned in the dedication or sometimes to high profile people I come into contact with. Sal might well have in her contract that she's sent a certain number before the book is actually released and she's got a load of copies she now has to offload.

Interesting and iirc that reviewer had posted about 450 other reviews ...

ETA the reviewer had spelt favour in the American way, not sure how Australians spell it !