How Does 'Saint X' Explore Class And Privilege?

As someone who devoured 'Saint X' in one sitting, I was struck by how brutally it exposes the fault lines of class and privilege. The wealthy tourists on this fictional Caribbean island exist in a bubble of luxury, completely insulated from the locals who serve them. Their privilege isn't just about money - it's the expectation that the world will bend to their needs. When Alison disappears, the immediate media frenzy and diplomatic pressure showcase how wealth commands attention in ways poor victims never receive. The resort staff become disposable suspects, their lives scrutinized under a microscope while the rich guests' alibis are taken at face value. What's chilling is how normal this all feels, how the system automatically protects the privileged without anyone needing to conspire. The book doesn't hammer you with messages but lets you sit uncomfortably with these realizations as the mystery unfolds.

'Saint X' dissects class and privilege with surgical precision, revealing how they shape every interaction on that fateful island. The dichotomy between the pristine resort and the struggling local community creates a powder keg of tension. Wealthy guests like Alison's family move through spaces designed to cater to their every whim, while the islanders work multiple jobs just to survive. This isn't just backdrop - it's central to the mystery. The police investigation immediately focuses on the staff, particularly Clive, whose working-class background makes him an easy target. Meanwhile, privileged characters like the rich boyfriend skate by with minimal scrutiny.

The brilliance of Alexis Schaitkin's writing lies in how she shows privilege operating on systemic and personal levels. When Emily revisits the island years later, she's still treated differently because of her American passport and presumed wealth, even as she tries to connect with Clive. The book forces readers to confront uncomfortable questions about who gets second chances in life, and who gets crushed by a single mistake. The resort itself becomes a metaphor for how privilege creates artificial paradises while ignoring the suffering just beyond their walls. Schaitkin doesn't provide easy answers, but she makes it impossible to look away from these harsh realities.

What grabbed me about 'Saint X' was how it flips the typical missing white woman narrative inside out. We've all seen media obsess over wealthy victims while ignoring marginalized ones, but this novel makes you feel that imbalance in your gut. Alison's privilege isn't just her family's money - it's her American passport, her race, her education, all creating an invisible force field that should have protected her. When it fails, the shockwaves reveal how the entire system is rigged. The local police face pressure to solve the case quickly to protect tourism, while the island's economic dependence on resorts means justice takes a backseat to keeping wealthy visitors happy.

The later sections with Emily and Clive hit even harder. Emily's middle-class guilt clashes with her inability to truly understand Clive's world, no matter how hard she tries. Clive's life shows how poverty leaves scars that never fully heal, while Emily gets to walk away when the truth becomes too uncomfortable. The book's genius is making readers confront their own privilege by showing how it warps relationships and justice without ever being preachy. If you want to see class dynamics stripped bare, this is storytelling at its most razor-sharp.