A Caribbean vacation to a luxury resort should be the highlight of the year, and for sisters Claire and Alison it is, but for all the wrong reasons.
When their family visits the island of Saint X for New Years, Alison–fresh from her first year of college–and Claire–10 years her younger–are finally reunited. Unfortunately, that long awaited reunion is cut short when Alison disappears from the resort.
Her body is found a few days later, but her mysterious death makes waves all the way from Saint X to New York, casting ripples in the lives of everyone in between that would last for years to come.
“Saint X” was author Alexis Schaitkin’s 2020 release and her debut novel. Schaitkin expertly weaves themes of grief, racism, and the dangers of fanaticism into this startling, character-driven plot line. Blunt and piercing, the contrasting viewpoints p the characters provide a deeper look into the causes and effects of what happened that night on Saint X.
Schaitkin’s writing single handedly renewed my faith in novels based on character studies. I’ve always liked books with more complex characters that offer a deeper understanding of the plot and its themes, but my zeal for character study books was tarnished last year after I made the mistake of reading “I Have Some Questions for You” by Rebecca Makkai. Makkai’s novel made me question if I even liked character studies, so I thank “Saint X” for reigniting my love for them.
The characterization of both Alison and Claire is burtally unflinching, even in the face of questions on societal corruption, morality and introspection. The deep and near-constant examination of each character is nearly overwhelming, but is so worth it. Not only does it help make the plot more engaging, but it also forces the reader to reflect on themselves and what they are reading.
While Schaitkin’s book is not exactly fast-paced, her enthralling and unique writing style gives it a flair that makes it impossible to get bored. Her use of metaphors and anecdotes to detail the lives of her characters proves the pertinence of Schaitkin’s style to the subject matter.
But I can’t talk about “Saint X” without recognizing its validity in its expressions of grief and loss. Everyone handles grief differently, and this is represented to its fullest extent in this novel. Some resort to blocking that part of themselves off and ignoring the sadness. Others make that part their entire being, and focus all of their energy on that grief. More, still, search for comfort in meaningless distractions or physical manifestations of what they lost.
All of these phenomena and more are addressed by the characters of “Saint X,” offering insight into the minds of the bereaved in the real world.
That is, perhaps, the greatest appeal for Schaitkin and “Saint X.” Its strong correlation with real world events like the ‘true crime epidemic’ and the many, many unsolved murder and missing person cases provides valuable commentary on justice, elitism, and society’s reaction to these things.
In short, “Saint X” is simply unforgettable. Its impactful plot line and complex characters make it a perfect read for those looking for something emotionally absorbing and contemplative. It’s undoubtedly a five out of five stars.
