Anbara Salam is half-Palestinian and half-Scottish, and grew up in London. She is the author of Hazardous Spirits, Belladonna, and Things Bright and Beautiful. She has a PhD in Theology and lives in Oxford, England.

"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

Publisher: Tin House

Pub date: 2025-10-07

Length: 384 pages