Saint X starts off describing the perfect island getaway for the white privileged, upper class Thomas family. They have two daughters, college student Alison and 6 year old Claire. The vacation quickly turns to nightmare when Alison disappears and horrifically is found dead in a nearby island lagoon. The police investigation turns up no evidence of foul play and the initial suspects are cleared of murder charges. Devastated, the family returns home.
The story flashes forward to Claire, now going by Emily, as an adult living in New York City. The rest of the book follows Emily's adult life, and the lasting impact Alison's death has left on Emily, her parents, the men accused of being involved in her disappearance and their family members as well as other guests of the hotel. One day Emily is getting out of a cab and sees the name of the driver is one of the men, Clive, who was a suspect in Alison's disappearance. What ensues is the somewhat unbelievable pursuit of Emily first following, then befriending an unsuspecting Clive, hoping that as they become friends that he will somehow disclose his part in what Emily believes is Alison's murder.
This book was unique in sharing the perspective of not just the family left to endure the loss of a child and sister, but also how Alison's disappearance impacted those accused, their families, the other guests at the hotel who interacted with or around Alison and even the economy of the island itself. Emily's obsession with Clive and trying to understand what happened to Alison takes over her life and mental health, and the ending is one that will have people talking.
A great choice for bookclubs, this one will give you plenty to discuss from white privilege, what really happened to Alison, the difficult process of living through a terrible loss, Clives's own ruined life and so much more.
The story flashes forward to Claire, now going by Emily, as an adult living in New York City. The rest of the book follows Emily's adult life, and the lasting impact Alison's death has left on Emily, her parents, the men accused of being involved in her disappearance and their family members as well as other guests of the hotel. One day Emily is getting out of a cab and sees the name of the driver is one of the men, Clive, who was a suspect in Alison's disappearance. What ensues is the somewhat unbelievable pursuit of Emily first following, then befriending an unsuspecting Clive, hoping that as they become friends that he will somehow disclose his part in what Emily believes is Alison's murder.
This book was unique in sharing the perspective of not just the family left to endure the loss of a child and sister, but also how Alison's disappearance impacted those accused, their families, the other guests at the hotel who interacted with or around Alison and even the economy of the island itself. Emily's obsession with Clive and trying to understand what happened to Alison takes over her life and mental health, and the ending is one that will have people talking.
A great choice for bookclubs, this one will give you plenty to discuss from white privilege, what really happened to Alison, the difficult process of living through a terrible loss, Clives's own ruined life and so much more.