Summary reviewed by:
Terrence Timmons
Terrence Timmons
Analyst
Bachelor of Arts (BA), University Of California, Santa Barbara 2019
With over 4 years of experience as an analyst. Terrence Timmons is committed to analyzing summaries without compromising on quality.
Saint X will haunt you from the moment you open the first page, whispering the mysteries of a paradise lost. Set against the lush backdrop of a fictional Caribbean island, the novel unravels the tragic disappearance and death of Alison Thomas, an eighteen-year-old girl on vacation with her family. Though seemingly a thriller, this novel delves deeper into the psyche of grief, guilt, and the elusive nature of truth.
The narrative is primarily told through the eyes of Alison’s younger sister, Claire, who was only seven when the tragedy occurred. Years later, as an adult living in New York City, Claire—now going by Emily—stumbles upon a former suspect in her sister’s case. This encounter reignites her obsession with uncovering what really happened to Alison. Through Claire's journey, Schaitkin explores the long shadows cast by trauma and the often uncomfortable truths hidden beneath the surface of what we believe to be true. The island, initially a paradise, becomes a place of dark secrets and murky waters, as Claire digs deeper into her sister’s life and the lives of those who were with her in her final days. Saint X is not just a mystery but an exploration of privilege, race, and the ripple effects of violence on those left behind.
Date Published: February 18, 2020
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Psychological Thriller
Literary Fiction
Contemporary Fiction
Mystery
Family Drama
Claire Thomas (Emily): Claire, who later adopts the name Emily, is the younger sister of Alison Thomas. As a child, she is innocent and adores her older sister. As an adult, Claire is haunted by Alison’s death and driven by an obsessive need to uncover the truth. She values loyalty, demonstrated by her unwavering commitment to discovering what happened to her sister, despite the personal toll it takes on her life.
Alison Thomas: Alison is the beautiful, enigmatic older sister whose death drives the narrative. She is charming, privileged, and adventurous, yet also deeply troubled beneath the surface. Alison values independence, as seen in her desire to break free from the constraints of her privileged life, seeking experiences that challenge her identity.
Edwin Hastie: Edwin is a local man on the island who becomes a suspect in Alison’s death. He is complex, carrying the weight of societal expectations and economic hardship. Edwin values honesty, which he demonstrates in his candid and painful confession to Claire about his relationship with Alison and the events leading up to her death.
Clive Richardson: Clive is another island local who was initially implicated in Alison’s death. He is stoic and bears the scars of a hard life, shaped by the injustices he faces. Clive values dignity, as he endures the suspicion and accusations with a quiet strength, refusing to let the world define him by the tragedy that he was tangentially connected to.
Grief and Loss: The novel explores the enduring impact of grief on those left behind after a tragedy. Claire’s entire adult life is shaped by the loss of her sister, leading her to an obsessive search for the truth that ultimately reveals the impossibility of closure.
Privilege and Power: Schaitkin examines the intersection of privilege and power, particularly how Alison’s wealth and status influence the investigation into her death and the lives of those around her. The disparity between the tourists and the locals on the island highlights the different worlds they inhabit.
The Elusiveness of Truth: The novel delves into the idea that truth is often subjective and multifaceted. Claire’s search for what happened to Alison reveals that the truth can be ambiguous and difficult to accept, leaving more questions than answers.
Identity and Self-Discovery: Both Claire and Alison grapple with their identities, shaped by their environment and circumstances. Claire’s journey is not just about uncovering the truth about Alison, but also about understanding herself and her own place in the world.
Saint X begins with the Thomas family vacationing on a luxurious Caribbean island. Alison, the older daughter, is vibrant and seemingly carefree, while her younger sister, Claire, adores her from a distance. Tragedy strikes when Alison goes missing, and her body is later found. The circumstances of her death are shrouded in mystery, with suspicion falling on two local men, Edwin Hastie and Clive Richardson, who were seen with her on the night she disappeared. The case generates media frenzy but ultimately ends with no definitive answers, leaving the Thomas family shattered.
Years later, Claire, now going by Emily and living in New York City, unexpectedly crosses paths with Clive, who is working as a cab driver. This chance encounter reignites her obsession with her sister’s death, compelling her to delve back into the past. She begins to unravel the layers of the case, reaching out to people who were on the island at the time and revisiting the evidence. As she digs deeper, Claire uncovers Alison’s hidden life, revealing a young woman who was struggling with her identity, her privilege, and her desire to escape the expectations placed on her.
Claire's investigation leads her back to the island, where she confronts Edwin. He reveals that he and Alison had a brief, intense connection, driven by a mutual desire to break free from their respective lives. On the night of her death, Alison panicked during an encounter that spiraled out of control, leading to her fatal fall. Edwin’s confession shatters Claire’s understanding of the past, but it also brings her a sense of resolution. She realizes that the truth she sought was more complex than she imagined, filled with ambiguity and the limitations of human memory and perspective.
In the end, Claire comes to terms with the fact that some aspects of Alison’s death will remain unknowable. She returns to her life in New York with a deeper understanding of her sister and herself, accepting that the past, with all its pain and unanswered questions, cannot always be neatly resolved. Saint X closes with Claire moving forward, carrying the weight of her sister’s memory but no longer letting it define her existence.
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