“A slow-burn gothic thriller . . . . will appeal to any reader looking for an intricately detailed, deftly researched historical novel with a hint of intrigue, a hint of romance, and plenty of shadowy corners where anything might be lurking.”—Literary Hub, A Notable Small Press Book of 2025
“Equal parts historical fiction, gothic thriller, and haunted whodunnit.”—Necessary Fiction
“Using a timeless structure to examine the ways that religion, ghosts, and grief shape a community, this gothic tale wrestles with themes of redemption and resolution.” —The Rumpus
“Readers will be guessing until the very end what is real, what isn’t and what is going to happen next. This book was like nothing else I read this year.”—Locus, 2025 Books We Loved
“Dead men’s shadows, creaking cupboard doors and poisoned relationships make for a gothic takeover of the science in this tale. I liked the way our archaeologist is gradually convinced of the supernatural terrors, even while a supposedly superstitious islander counters with evidence rooted in the everyday world.”—Scientific American, A Favorite Book of 2025
“Suspenseful, eerie. . . this moody mystery is an exploration of prejudice and ostracization, and a warning against living in the past.”—Ms. Magazine, Best Book of the Month
“Without a doubt, a fabulous read…The language alone is miraculous, and Salam’s knack for creating a mysterious and compelling setting is enough to mark this as a favorite read of the year. The Salvage is a journey both eerie and inspiring to embark on.”—Chicago Review of Books
“Salam’s prose shines…. Salam is shedding light on a universal human experience through a new lens.”—Full Stop
“Delightfully creepy…The mystery kept me on my toes throughout.” —Lesbrary
“Dials up the creepy…. if you’re looking for a fresh new voice in horror fiction, Anbara Salam might just be what you’re after.”—This Is Horror
“As an ethnic and professional outlier in a patriarchal, homogeneous society, Palestinian Scottish Salam’s protagonist provides plenty of opportunities to expose and confront misogyny, racism, entitlement, and abusive history…. [a] slow-burn mystery.”—Booklist
“An atmospheric psychological thriller… intertwines cabin fever, personal guilt, and ominous island histories.”—Foreword Reviews
“As chilly as the icy sea, as haunting as the prospects of ghosts, The Salvage is a novel to keep you up all night. Anbara Salam is a master of suspense. Be careful when you start this book, because you won’t want to stop.” —Rene Denfeld, bestselling author of The Child Finder and the forthcoming The Talking Bone
“A rich, gothic mystery, The Salvage has a moody, salt-drenched atmosphere, and layers of intrigue that span centuries. I couldn’t put it down.” —Flynn Berry, bestselling author of Under the Harrow
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