" 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.