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Saint X
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
139 posts | 113 read | 2 reading | 57 to read
Alexis Schaitkins Saint X is a gripping psychological drama straight from the headlinesabout a young girl whose older sister vanishes on a luxury Caribbean vacation and, years later, a chance encounter with one of the suspects which spirals into obsession. Claire is only seven years old when her college-age sister, Alison, disappears on the last night of their family vacation at a resort on the Caribbean island of Saint X. Several days later, Alisons body is found in a remote spot on a nearby cay, and two local menemployees at the resortare arrested. But the evidence is slim, the timeline against it, and the men are soon released. It turns into national tabloid news, a lurid mystery that will go unsolved. For Claire and her parents, there is only the sad return home to broken lives. Years later, Claire is living and working in New York City when a brief but fateful encounter brings her together with Clive Richardson, one of the men originally suspected of murdering her sister. It is a moment that sets Claire on an obsessive pursuit of the truthnot only to find out what happened the night of Alisons death but also to answer the elusive question: Who exactly was her sister? At seven, Claire had been barely old enough to know her: a beautiful, changeable, provocative girl of eighteen at a turbulent moment of identity formation. As Claire doggedly shadows Clive, hoping to gain his trust, waiting for the slip that will uncover the truth, an unlikely attachment develops between them, two people whose lives were forever marked by the same tragedy. Saint X is a flawlessly drawn and deeply moving story that hurtles to a powerful end.
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review
readswellwithothers
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

I‘d heard this recommended on the What Should I Read Next podcast a while ago and snagged it from the library yesterday for a weekend read. It took me away right off the bat, and I blew through it! I don‘t think I would have enjoyed it as much if I‘d expected it to be a “mystery.” Excellent character study and unique perspectives, wonderfully strong sense of place, a whole tide of tension throughout. I really liked it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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she.hearts.horror
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

Everything everywhere all at once …

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DebinHawaii
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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#HumbleHarvest

A #Saint” title from my #TBR for #AllSaintsDay
(Background is a photo I took in Montreal in 2014)

How is it November 1st?!

Eggs Well done 👍🏼 🕯️👌🏼 13mo
52 likes1 comment
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Cortg
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

Pretty good listen! This is a story based around a cold case murder but it dives deep into white privilege and racism. I liked that you get to know the characters involved with Alice‘s final night as the timeline slowly unfolds. Narrated by Alice‘s much younger, awkward sister, the reader learns the effects of her sister‘s murder that she‘s carried with her throughout her life. #Booked2023 ~Sunshine Noir

Cinfhen I really thought this was a great audio production! I Excelled choice 😎 1y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I‘m curious to see how the TV production of this compares. It‘s on Hulu and doesn‘t look like it‘s rated well. That doesn‘t mean I won‘t try it, though. 1y
Cortg @BarbaraTheBibliophage If you decide to give it a try, you‘ll have to report back and let us know your thoughts! 1y
See All 6 Comments
BarbaraTheBibliophage We liked the series but didn‘t love it. It suffers from some of the frustrations of the book but also is very true to the story and issues. Wish the ending twist was different … 1y
Cortg Thanks @BarbaraTheBibliophage I rarely watch TV but love hearing your feedback! I do like when the screen versions stay true to the book. 🥰 1y
42 likes6 comments
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ICantImReading
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This book was so immersive, fully carrying me away to paradise… and into a nightmare. It gave me a bit of “White Lotus” vibes and also reminded me of “I Have Some Questions For You”. Hypnotic and thought-provoking, “Saint X” offers a searing exploration of privilege, the ripple effects of grief, and the elusiveness of truth.

Cortg Great review! I‘ve been leaning toward this one for a sunshine noir challenge read ❤️ 1y
ICantImReading @Cortg oooh I feel like this would be a perfect fit! Thank you so much! ☀️🧡 1y
Chelsea.Poole Great review! This one has really stuck with me. 1y
ICantImReading @Chelsea.Poole thank you very much! It had such a strong sense of character and place that I think it will linger in my mind, too! 1y
58 likes4 comments
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Deblovestoread
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this multi cast audio book about the disappearance of a teenage girl during a family Caribbean vacation. Told mostly through the voice of her younger sister we also hear from other‘s who were on the island at the time. #Booked23 # SunshineNoir #52Books #publishedbyMacMillan

Cinfhen I thought this was really well done 👍🏽 1y
62 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Kimberlone
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

The new tv adaptation on Hulu turned me onto the book. I didn‘t finish the show (the acting quality of the FMC was a turnoff), but I did enjoy the audiobook production (full cast & some music/sound effects).

The premise takes the cliché “dead white girl” true crime phenomenon and attempts to upend the tropes of that genre by exploring the varying perspectives of all the people caught in the web of the girl‘s death at the center of the plot.

AmyG I enjoyed the book. I bailed on the series. 1y
Kimberlone @AmyG I think I only watched 1.5 episodes 1y
AmyG Ha, same here. 1y
60 likes1 stack add3 comments
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amyrohn
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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When I was a guest on the What Should I Read Next podcast a few years ago (ep. 221 if you want to listen!), Anne recommended this book to me. I put it on hold at the library, but right as my hold came in…March 2020 happened😬 It‘s been 3 years since the first time I tried to read this book and I‘m happy to say my attempt this time was successful! I‘m a little over halfway through already, and maybe I‘ll watch the Hulu show after!

Susanita That‘s cool! 1y
33 likes1 comment
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Victoriahoperose
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Panpan

I read this because the show just came out and I wanted to read it before I watched and I was so disappointed. I thought this was so slow and had so much build up for it to not really go anywhere. There was so much description that I thought was unnecessary and I was bored for most of it.

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CBee
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

I just….. don‘t know how I felt about this. The “mystery” fell a bit flat for me, and I semi guessed what happened way before it was revealed. I liked her writing, but so much of the book involved these detailed, flowery descriptions of places (Saint X, NYC) and it seemed like the characters got a bit lost sometimes. I liked it, but with reservations 🤷‍♀️ #booked2023 #sunshinenoir @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @alisiakae

Megabooks Yes!!! Agree with your review @CBee !! 2y
CBee @Megabooks thanks! It ticked off a challenge at least 😂😊 2y
Cinfhen I really liked this book when I listened to the audio - I think the multicast narration made it very engaging. It‘s a perfect pick for #SunshineNoir and #IslandVibes 😉 2y
CBee @Cinfhen I can see how audio might be better! Glad you enjoyed it 💚😊 2y
81 likes4 comments
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Breanne1
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Mehso-so

Admittedly I‘m a little surprised this became a series. It wasn‘t particularly thrilling and definitely classifies as a slow burn for me. Lots of themes were wrapped in to this mystery: class, immigration, race. It just didn‘t grab me the way I expected.

Hooked_on_books I read this not long after it published and gave it a pick at the time, but I remember literally nothing about it other than the cover (which I think is pretty). 2y
14 likes2 comments
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Smlambert725
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin

“She was what all the dead are: whatever the living make them.”
#April2023

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Djspens
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this one, it was not what I expected. Alison is on a tropical vacation with her family and goes missing their last night on Saint X. Her body is discovered a couple of days later. The suspects are cleared and cause of death is undetermined . Years later her younger sister, Claire, is living in New York and happens to get into the taxi driven by one of the suspects. This book was so much more than just your average whodunit.

BethM 😍 2y
42 likes1 comment
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Jenken1998
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

5 🌟. A privileged white family visits a Caribbean island. Their oldest daughter dies. 2 local men are questioned and released due to no evidence of involvement. Almost 20 years later, the younger daughter befriends one of those men, trying to learn the truth of her sister's demise. To me, it was not so much a mystery/thriller but a look at the lives affected by the death, the power of privilege, and how well do you really know those you love?

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emmaturi
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

I liked this story set in Saint X an Caribbean Island. An American family are on holiday, two daughters, the older girl ends up disapearing and presumed dead. Two men are arrested and then later released. Years later Claire the younger sister sees one of the men who were possibly responsible for her sister's murder. She finds the guy and tries to build a friendship between them to figure out what happened. Very suspenseful and gripping.

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Deblovestoread
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Summer 2023 is penciled in. Thanks for the Afrofuturism recommendation @CBee

#Booked2023 #Summer

Cinfhen Yay!!! More great choices!!! I‘m thinking maybe one of these for #Weird 2y
CBee @Cinfhen ooo good suggestion! I loved 2y
CBee You are welcome! I plan to use it too! It‘s been on my Kindle forever. I loved her Akata Witch series too, need to read the 3rd! @Deblovestoread 2y
squirrelbrain I just read Binti for a pop22 prompt - I liked it. (And it‘s short! 😁) 2y
47 likes5 comments
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Nalbuque
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

The fact there was no wait for this book at the library was shocking. I rly enjoyed it! It was pretty wild while being very “downy to earth”, if that makes sense? I loved how they go over life as an immigrant, life in the big city, family relationships, change…there‘s just so much in there! Well worth a read and a ponder.

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TheLudicReader
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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This book was the closest I could get to #LetterX, but it‘s definitely worth the read.
#alphabetgame
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Cinfhen Great choice 😍 2y
26 likes1 comment
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KT1432
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Mehso-so

“We see so little of people. We forget how much submerged darkness there is around us, at every moment.” I found the dissection of unrealized privilege that always rears its ugly head during times of adversity engaging. What type of person are you when grief hits? It‘s an interesting premise. The descriptions of the island, the people, and culture were also intriguing to me. But this is not a thriller as marketed, and I didn‘t care for the ending.

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TrishB
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

A good read, I liked the different POVs and how it all came together.

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TrishB
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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#quicklunchtimeread
Still reading this one, enjoying it but have not had much down time to read the last couple of days.

Gissy Looks good🥘 😋 2y
99 likes1 comment
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TrishB
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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#quicklunchtimeread
Vegan sushi and enjoying this book 😁

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Addison_Reads
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

After discussing this with a few other Littens recently, I decided to do a reread. This time I did the audiobook which I highly recommend because it has several narrators and I felt that really helped bring the story to life.

I might have enjoyed this more on my second read. The way the mystery unfolds through the various POVs is handled very well and makes the reveal at the end even more satisfying.

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TheBookKeepers
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Bailedbailed

I made it about 35% into this thriller book and was bored. The way the story was narrated made it hard to connect with any of the characters and it was overly wordy imo. A slow burn of a thriller that wasn‘t capturing my interest. I looked up spoilers for how it ended and feel good about my decision to bail 😂 #bookkeepersreadathon

LiteraryinPA I read it years ago and rated it a so-so. From what I remember, you made a good choice! 3y
TheBookKeepers @LiteraryinLawrence great to know!! Life‘s to short & my TBR too long to slog through books that aren‘t great 😆 3y
50 likes2 comments
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michellelav
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

This was a great vacation mystery. When Alison vanishes on the last day of her family vacation no one knows where she could have possibly went.. this story is told through multiple narratives, the main being Alison‘s sister, Claire. I‘ll have to look into this author!

50 likes1 stack add
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TheLudicReader
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

@StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego sent this book to me as part of my #poutinepenpals #fallswap and it was great. When six-year-old Claire, her older sister Alison and their parents take a vacation on Saint X, the unthinkable happens. Years later, while living in NYC, Claire meets one of the men involved. This is a beautifully-written examination of family, grief, race & privilege, the secrets we keep & the stories we tell ourselves.

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TheLudicReader
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Thank you so much @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego for the lovely #fallswap package, which I opened this morning as I have a busy day ahead. I can‘t wait to wear the socks, brew a cup of cinnamon apple tea and dive into one of those books. #poutinepenpals 😘❤️

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I'm glad you like it. 🧡📚🍁🦃 3y
34 likes1 comment
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marleed
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

This is a beautifully written book that demands the reader to slow down and take the story in. It‘s a story of young woman whose future forever changed following the tragic death of her beloved by all 18 yo sister. It is a reminder of crushing wave of tragedy, and the ripples that never fully resolve. As heartbreaking as the story was, I liked the ending.

vivastory This sounds interesting. Great pic! 3y
Andrea313 This picture is absolutely perfect! 😍 3y
See All 7 Comments
Amiable Gorgeous photo —it stopped me right in mid-scroll! 3y
EvieBee Agree with everyone. Fabulous picture and your review makes me want to pick this up! Like now. I‘m at the library. 3y
Megabooks I am HERE FOR this picture and enjoyed the book, too! 3y
marleed @Amiable @EvieBee @Megabooks Oh thank you. Sometimes a book or it‘s cover inspires me to try to be creative! 3y
74 likes3 stack adds7 comments
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kelli7990
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Mehso-so

Here‘s my review for another book I finished reading this month. I‘m counting this book for 1 prompt.

☑️Featured On BookishFirst - #bookishbingo

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Ast_Arslan
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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I am posting one book per day from my to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it. Some will be old, some will be new - don't judge me, I have a lot of books.

Day 89th

Join the fun if you want!

#tbrpile

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Lesliereadsalot
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
Pickpick

A girl goes missing on an island holiday and her sister spends her life trying to solve the mystery. Many plausible scenarios, several interesting characters, and a mystery until the end.

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SoManyBooksNotEnoughTime
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

Little Free Library book drop for Alexis Schaitkin's trade paperback release of SAINT X! 🌴🌴🌴

Get this copy at:
Little Free Library Charter #40119
10107 Flowers Ave
Orlando, FL 32825
Lat: 28.566737 Long: -81.24330189999999

If you're nowhere near Orlando, check out the link below for a map all of the Little Free Library locations where you can find a free copy of #SaintX

http://bit.ly/SaintXMap

marleed Omg - I can‘t tell you the thrill I get when I find a brand new book in a LFL. It‘s happened a few times. Gillian Flynn is from my current neck of the woods - I have a fantasy that she‘ll come out with a new book and I‘ll find a signed copy in a LFL on release day! 3y
SoManyBooksNotEnoughTime @marleed thatd be awesome!! 3y
55 likes2 comments
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DebbieGrillo
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

The way this novel started had my convinced that I'd end up hating it. But, the story drew me in and I was hooked. It was interesting to see how one girl's death impacted so many lives, changed their trajectories. The ending was satisfying.

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DebbieGrillo
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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"It's easy to discern the contours of other people's pain, much harder to recognise one's own."

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StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Mehso-so

Not a huge fan of the writting style. I liked the beginning, but then it got redundant and had too many unnecessary details and hypotheticals/ daydreams it got confusing. The reveal was anticlimactic, and the relationship at the very end was out out of the blue and didn't bring anything to the story. It had potential, I just wasn't a fan of the execution.

86 likes1 stack add
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DebbieGrillo
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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So far the novel has been in third person. I'm not used to this. I hope it makes a switch.

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aperfectmjk
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Okay... I get it. I see why there are so many mixed reviews and people just giving up on this one. I'm not finished yet... about 70%, but WHERE IS THIS GOING? This is definitely not a plot driven novel. I'm not even sure that I can say it's character driven because these are not likeable characters. Why do I need to know soooo much about all these characters to find out how and why Alison died? 🙄

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aperfectmjk
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Starting this one for March. First read for #bookspinbingo, Also pulled this for #TBRDeckofCards 8 of ♥️. I have my list together, but I'm going to wait until tmrw to put my card together for #bookspinbingo. @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
32 likes1 comment
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CaitlinR
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Mehso-so

This was an engaging thriller, although I found the themes repetitive, and it was longer than necessary. Schaitkin has, however crafted a great rendition of the power of obsession and how it can destroy lives.

Alison is a self-absorbed (and singularly uninteresting) teenager visiting the fictional Caribbean Island of Saint X with her family. She is murdered, and we unravel the crime through other's eyes, particularly her sister Claire.

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Macnjen
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Mehso-so

This is a story about a sister obsessed with her sibling's death and about the accused. Maybe it's the pandemic, but I really had trouble connecting with this book. Not sure if it's the writing or just a lack of focus on my part. There's local vernacular I had trouble with though it's not a huge part of the book. The end was not really what I expected, either. Call this a beach read.

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LauraBeth
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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I‘m going to bail on this one. I can already tell it‘ll just be a so-so read for me and I won‘t even remember it in six months.

MicheleinPhilly Bitsy is judging you! Or you‘re eating. 4y
LauraBeth I told her to sit and this was her face. 😂 4y
LeahBergen Oh, Bitsy! 😆 4y
See All 13 Comments
TrishBovell Cute doggie 4y
DebinHawaii Hi Bitsy! 🐶❤️ 4y
Suet624 Good call. 4y
LauraBeth @LeahBergen some things never change 😹 4y
LauraBeth @TrishBovell thanks 😊 4y
LauraBeth @DebinHawaii 👋👋 Bitsy has missed having her pic taken with books 😹 4y
LauraBeth @Suet624 I ditched it for Their Eyes Were Watching God and definitely think it was a good call! (edited) 4y
Suet624 Haha. Now those two books can‘t even share the same shelf. You‘re in much better company now. 4y
LauraBeth @Suet624 I see that now! 4y
Redwritinghood Wise decision 4y
70 likes13 comments
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LauraBeth
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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I went to the library today for the first time in forever and my absence was long enough for me to forget my library card PIN. When the librarian was helping me change it, she asked what I wanted the new PIN to be and I spit out 4 numbers and then hesitated bc I didn‘t know why I was choosing those numbers and I wasn‘t sure I‘d remember them. All day I was trying to figure out those numbers. Then it occurred to me that it‘s the husband‘s bday 😂

LauraBeth We‘re clearly just going to call it a day over here. 4y
Reviewsbylola 😂😂😂 our library makes our default PIN the last 4 digits of our phone # luckily. 4y
Leftcoastzen Now I‘m trying to remember mine!😂Still on curbside so not using it.🤔 4y
See All 13 Comments
LeahBergen 😂😂 Well, at least you know his birthday (if only subliminally). 4y
Librariana We had to go back to curbside after a spike 😔 And boy, do we miss our customers! But I hope everyone knows how hard we work behind the scenes to get books (print, audio, you name it!), movies, and music out to our community 😊 We're ordering all the things! Multiples of all the things! 😁 4y
Kappadeemom Glad to see you back on Litsy! 4y
Suet624 It‘s been a hard year. 🤣 4y
LauraBeth @Reviewsbylola *trying to remember the last four digits of my phone number* 😂 4y
LauraBeth It‘s so weird @Leftcoastzen bc I‘m someone who has used that PIN almost daily for almost 15 years! 4y
LauraBeth @LeahBergen 😂😂 as soon as I told her that PIN, I opened my Notes app and typed it in. I‘ll need to go in and amend it to denote it‘s his bday too 4y
LauraBeth @Librariana y‘all are honestly the unsung heroes of this whole mess bc y‘all kept it going and pivoted in new ways to help get readers their books. We appreciate you! 4y
LauraBeth @Kappadeemom I hope you and your crew (and your puppers) are doing well! 4y
LauraBeth @Suet624 completely! 😂 4y
95 likes1 stack add13 comments
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MyNamesParadise
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Mehso-so

This was ok. I wasn‘t expecting the format that it turned out to be. At 1st it was cool when the narrative switched points of view to different characters but then it got tiring. I enjoyed the segments featuring Claire, or Emily as she goes by, the most & that‘s where the real story was. I wanted more of that & Claire‘s family after what happened with Allison. Can‘t say I would read another book by the author, it just didn‘t match my expectations

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jouleian
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Bailedbailed

-⭐️ Ok...I just couldn‘t handle anymore. I was flat tired of hearing about Emily. Which btw she did the same shit all of her friends did in regards to Alison. I just couldn‘t it was a #dnf for me. #litsy

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jouleian
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin

I‘m really beginning to HATE this book. Its too...too...ugh! This book doesn‘t seem to be about Alison at all it‘s all about Emily‘s psyche and she‘s driving me nuts... #thisisbad potential #dnf #litsy

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jouleian
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin

Emily is a bit pretentious...🙄🙄🙄 #ijs #litsy #mystery

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jouleian
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Giving this one a go. Slow burn mystery and full cast and away we go! #mystery #slowburn #litsy #audiobook

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squirrelbrain
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

The lovely @Cinfhen gifted this to me and I did wonder why this book in particular. The blurb makes it sound like a crime / mystery as the body of 18 year old Alison is found at the end of a family holiday on the a Caribbean stand of Saint X.

It‘s so much more than that though. It‘s a character study of grief and loss, about obsession, racism and privilege.

It‘s very meandering, with lots of side stories about minor characters...⬇️

squirrelbrain ...so only read this if you like slow burn books. I love this kind of book on audio rather than in print and this is also a multi-cast narration (my first!) which I also loved. Finally, I adored the NYC parts, and it‘s made me soooo want to be able to go back. 4y
Cinfhen So glad you enjoyed this one!! For some reason it just stayed with me. And I do LOVE a multi cast narration 🙌🏻 especially with some sultry island accents 4y
squirrelbrain Yes, love all the accents in this @Cinfhen 🌴 4y
DebbieGrillo I'm "reading" this now on audiobook and had to scroll back 7 months to finds someone who rated this a pick. I think I might have DNFd it, if I was reading the print version. I'm thoroughly enjoying the audiobook. 4y
squirrelbrain Yes, @DebbieGrillo - I‘m not sure I would have liked it in print. I‘m listening to this one at the moment - similar storyline / theme but much darker ( and much better, I think) 4y
83 likes1 stack add5 comments
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ClairesReads
Saint X | Alexis Schaitkin
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Pickpick

I came to Saint X expecting a “missing/dead girl” story, and it didn‘t disappoint me on that front. What surprised me, was the level of nuanced, quiet insight that Schaitkin also explored the uncomfortable clash of culture and privilege that occurs on resort islands. It was much more thoughtful than I was expecting, and this managed to complement rather than detract from the central mystery. It was a great holiday read.