S. F. Prescott

A twisty and satisfying thriller!

Katy Hays is a writer and adjunct art history professor in California, where she teaches rural students from Truckee to Tecopa. She holds an MA in art history from Williams College and pursued her PhD at UC Berkeley. Having previously worked at major art institutions, including The Clark Art Institute and SF MoMA, she now lives with her husband and dog, Queso, in Olympic Valley, California. The Cloisters is her first novel.

I really enjoyed this book! There were so many elements that hooked me. A rich family hiding secrets, a decades old murder, and it’s all set on the beautiful island of Capri. It definitely met my expectations for the genre, and I loved the fact that one of the characters was a playwright. (I love reading anything about writers.) The characters felt real, their relationships complex and infuriating. The entire Lindgate family were super entitled. I rooted for Sarah, Helen, and Ciro the most, especially after reading the past timeline chapters. The rest of the family were loathsome, (especially Naomi) which made the ending so satisfying.

There’s a disturbing scene in the marina when Helen and a couple of crew members spot a body floating in the water, and it reminded me of a scene from The Talented Mr. Ripley. Very dark and vivid. I loved all the reveals, but a lot happened in the last 70% of the novel which actually slowed the pace for me (except for the huge twist). The end felt satisfying to learn what happened to the assistant, and also Helen and Ciro’s relationship. An awesome novel! I can’t wait to pick up The Cloisters now.

For readers looking for the ultimate beach thriller, and who love twisty stories about dysfunctional rich families.

Synopsis:

On glittering Capri, anything can be a mirage. And no one holds a grudge like family.

In 1992, Sarah Lingate is found dead below the cliffs of Capri, leaving behind her three-year-old daughter, Helen. Despite suspicions that the old-money Lingates are involved, Sarah’s death is ruled an accident. And every year, the family returns to prove it’s true. But on the thirtieth anniversary of Sarah’s death, the Lingates arrive at the villa to find a surprise waiting for them—the necklace Sarah was wearing the night she died.

Haunted by the specter of that night, the legendary Lingate family unity is pushed to a breaking point, and Helen seizes the opportunity. Enlisting the help of Lorna Moreno, a family assistant, the two plot their escape from Helen’s paranoid, insular family. But when Lorna disappears and the investigation into Sarah’s death is reopened, Helen has to confront the fact that everyone who was on Capri thirty years ago remains a suspect—her controlling father, Richard; her rarely lucid aunt, Naomi; her distant uncle, Marcus; and their circle of friends, visitors, and staff. Even Lorna, her closest ally, may not be who she seems.

As long-hidden secrets about that night boil to surface, one thing becomes clear: Not everyone will leave the island alive.