When she is only 7 years old, Claire’s older sister Alison disappears while the family is vacationing on the Caribbean island, Saint X. When Alison’s body is found, two local men are arrested, and later released, under suspicion of having killed her. Years later when Claire comes across Clive, one of the men initially arrested, she becomes obsessed with following him in the hopes that she will discover what really happened to Alison.
This was such an interesting book and I’m still not positive of my overall opinion on it. Based on the synopsis I would have expected a suspense/thriller but thanks to earlier reviews I knew that wasn’t the case. I think that helped, so that I went in with the right expectations. I was quickly drawn in to the story through the author’s beautiful writing and enjoyed the way each section shifted from POV and provided some flashbacks for backstory.
Saint X really explored the connection between the sisters and the lasting effects of this trauma and grief on Claire, as well as Clive. It also touched on topics such as class and race - at times in a very realistic and poignant way, and at other times in a way that felt it served no purpose as part of the story. Overall, interesting, well-written, but a little all over the place too.
3/5 stars
This was such an interesting book and I’m still not positive of my overall opinion on it. Based on the synopsis I would have expected a suspense/thriller but thanks to earlier reviews I knew that wasn’t the case. I think that helped, so that I went in with the right expectations. I was quickly drawn in to the story through the author’s beautiful writing and enjoyed the way each section shifted from POV and provided some flashbacks for backstory.
Saint X really explored the connection between the sisters and the lasting effects of this trauma and grief on Claire, as well as Clive. It also touched on topics such as class and race - at times in a very realistic and poignant way, and at other times in a way that felt it served no purpose as part of the story. Overall, interesting, well-written, but a little all over the place too.
3/5 stars