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The Cloisters: A Novel Hardcover – November 1, 2022

4.0 out of 5 stars 7,493 ratings

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In this “sinister, jaw-dropping” (Sarah Penner, author of The Lost Apothecary) debut novel from the author of Saltwater, a circle of researchers uncovers a mysterious deck of tarot cards and shocking secrets in New York’s famed Met Cloisters.

When Ann Stilwell arrives in New York City, she expects to spend her summer working as a curatorial associate at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Instead, she finds herself assigned to The Cloisters, a gothic museum and garden renowned for its medieval art collection and its group of enigmatic researchers studying the history of divination.

Desperate to escape her painful past, Ann is happy to indulge the researchers’ more outlandish theories about the history of fortune telling. But what begins as academic curiosity quickly turns into obsession when Ann discovers a hidden 15th-century deck of tarot cards that might hold the key to predicting the future. When the dangerous game of power, seduction, and ambition at The Cloisters turns deadly, Ann becomes locked in a race for answers as the line between the arcane and the modern blurs.

“A tour de force by an important new voice” (Rachel Kapelke-Dale, author of
The Ballerinas), The Cloisters is a haunting and magical blend of genres that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
"Layla" by Colleen Hoover for $7.19
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover comes a novel that explores life after tragedy and the enduring spirit of love. | Learn more

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

An Amazon Best Book of November 2022: The Cloisters starts with a country mouse in the big city storyline, as Ann Stilwell arrives in New York City to take up a position as a curatorial associate at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, only to find herself redirected to The Cloisters, a gothic museum, instead. The researchers she meets there are a close-knit bunch, maybe too close. On the surface, they’re diligently working to research the history of divination, but below the surface, the relationships are roiling with sexual tension, competition, and academic ambition. The discovery of a 15th-century deck of tarot cards puts the cat among the pigeons, precipitates a murder, and brings this slow burn thriller to a boil. If you like your tales of dark academia threaded with dark secrets and even darker agendas, then this sultry, atmospheric thriller is worth the price of admission. —Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Editor

Review

“Claustrophobic . . . An underhanded antiques dealer, a sexy Cloisters gardener with a side hustle in poisonous plants, a suspicious death or two, a mysterious centuries-old document written in an obscure language, the sense that no one, not even Ann, is telling us the whole truth—all this adds up to a dense forest of a plot . . . Is this a story of the occult, or a story of ambition, or a tale of one (or more!) murderous psychopaths? The answer is a shock, and it sneaks up on you unawares.” The New York Times

“A story of academic obsession, Renaissance magic and the ruthless pursuit of power. Captivating in every sense of the word.”
—Sarah Pearse, New York Times bestselling author of The Sanatorium

“Sultry and sinister . . . Hays's debut teems with sexual tension, the secrets of divination, and scholarly obsessiveness. With a jaw-dropping twist at the end,
The Cloisters serves as a warning to us all: we may think we know what life has in store, but fate and fortune tend to turn their own tricks." —Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary

“A moody and suspenseful story . . . Readers will be fascinated by the evocative setting as well as the behind-the-scenes glimpses into museum curatorship and the cutthroat games of academia . . . An accomplished debut.”
Publishers Weekly

“A tour de force by an important new voice,
The Cloisters begins as a fish-out-of-water story. But as Katy Hays deftly weaves in layer after layer of the occult, art, and academia, it turns into a rich tapestry that speaks to issues of privilege, power, and ambition—and, more than anything, the darkness lurking just inside ivory towers. Virtuosic and incredibly compelling, The Cloisters grabbed me in a way that no book has done since The Secret History.” —Rachel Kapelke-Dale, author of The Ballerinas

“A tantalizingly clever tale, laced with surprises as devious as its cast of shadowy scholars,
The Cloisters had me gripped from cover to cover. Hays’s debut is diabolical and darkly entertaining, a masterwork of literary suspense that surges to an otherworldly conclusion.” —Mark Prins, author of The Latinist

“Like the moment before a thunderstorm on a summer afternoon,
The Cloisters is sultry, lush, and trembling with menace.”—Julia May Jonas, author of Vladimir

“Mesmerizing . . . A seductive unfurling of lies, envy, and the pull of the occult,
The Cloisters does for tarot what The Secret History did for Greek class. This sharp, shadowy book held me in thrall from beginning to star-crossed end.” —Sara Sligar, author of Take Me Apart

“Prepare to lose your entire afternoon to
The Cloisters, first for its atmosphere, a medieval museum at the tip of Manhattan, and then to pursuing a young scholar in her search for an ancient tarot deck, while keeping a sharp eye on the brilliant, attractive colleagues who may be out to help her or kill her. Good luck staying ahead of this one and have a great time poring over the many treasures inside.” —Maria Hummel, author of Reese’s Book Club Pick Still Lives

“A sharply smart, engaging debut exploring art, desire, ambition, and privilege set in the mysterious, opulent, famed Cloisters museum in Upper Manhattan, with dark surprises through its final pages. Hays’ smooth narration deftly conjures the complex, sexy webs between her characters . . . A fun, seductive, intelligent read.” —
Nicola DeRobertis-Theye, author of The Vietri Project

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atria Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 1, 2022
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1668004402
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1668004401
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.3 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 7,493 ratings

About the author

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Katy Hays
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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.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
7,493 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the novel engaging with a plot that morphs into a psychological thriller and mystery, featuring beautifully descriptive writing and historical references that draw readers in. The book receives positive feedback for its readability and entertainment value, though opinions about character development are mixed, with some finding them well-developed while others say they never connected with them. The pacing receives mixed reviews, with customers noting it begins slowly and the second half feels rushed.

65 customers mention "Readability"49 positive16 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and fantastic to read, with one mentioning it was particularly enjoyable on the beach.

"...Overall though it was a really good read and now I am on the search for more stories with tarot cards at the center." Read more

"...This read was magical and exciting!" Read more

"...It was a fantastic read on the beach, well paced and descriptive of my home city and my favorite museum...." Read more

"...In the end, this book was a disappointment...." Read more

34 customers mention "Writing quality"31 positive3 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its beautiful descriptions and wonderful prose, with one customer highlighting how the setting and atmosphere come alive for readers.

"Wow.. take an intriguing setting, such as the Cloisters in NYC and merge a mystical mystery concerning the Tarot.. I couldn’t put this story down,..." Read more

"...That really took the shine off this story for me. It is well-written. It has an unusual setting and focus. It's entertaining." Read more

"...TL;DR: Interesting concept but exceedingly poor execution. I so wanted to enjoy this book...." Read more

"...None of this would matter if the plot were intriguing or the writing graceful. Authors can take liberties. Of course. Of course they can...." Read more

23 customers mention "Entertainment value"20 positive3 negative

Customers find the book highly entertaining and immersive, with one customer noting how it slowly builds intrigue.

"Ann Stilwell finally has a wonderful and exciting opportunity! She has a summer position at the Metropolitan Museum of Art!..." Read more

"...It is well-written. It has an unusual setting and focus. It's entertaining." Read more

"...Even though the story rolled out at a leisurely pace—slowly building intrigue—there wasn’t enough character development for me to truly understand..." Read more

"...like that which is different, yet still creative, well written, and entertaining . . . I highly recommend this book!" Read more

17 customers mention "Historical background"17 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the historical references in the book, with one mentioning how the backdrop of history and art draws readers in, while another highlights the fascinating research department.

"...The book also shows the dark, cutthroat world of academia that most people like to pretend does not exist. Highly recommended!" Read more

"...Can’t wait for the next book from author and historian Katy Hays (I also love the detail of her dog’s name, Queso. Incredibly cute!)." Read more

"...I’m not sure I liked Any of these characters. I appreciated all the medieval and ancient references. They definitely added a dimensions to the book...." Read more

"The history grabs you and pulls you in. Great book." Read more

36 customers mention "Character development"19 positive17 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some finding them well developed while others describe them as shallow and unengaging.

"...not-quite-right university would have to love the book and cheer on the main character, also portrayed in a wonderful way by Katy Hays...." Read more

"...But what ruined the book for me was the despicable nature of the characters...." Read more

"...The characters are not typical, and if you don't have to feel like you'd like to be best friends with the main character in order to like a book,..." Read more

"Characters are a cold bunch as they run from their realities and mistakes...." Read more

20 customers mention "Pacing"9 positive11 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with several noting that it begins slowly and the second half seems rushed.

"...this book had way too many lengthy descriptive passages and way too many errors for me to enjoy it...." Read more

"...It was a fantastic read on the beach, well paced and descriptive of my home city and my favorite museum...." Read more

"...I found her unreliable and didn't really want to go on her journey. But the storyline was interesting and I loved the scenery...." Read more

"This book is not the same old, same old kind of mystery. It starts slow and builds steadily, however, as the main character evolves the plot takes..." Read more

15 customers mention "Description"10 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's descriptions, with some finding them lovely and detailed, while others find them ambiguous and unnecessary.

"I liked The Cloisters a lot. It was a fun ride and I look forward to reading books by Katy Hays in the future...." Read more

"...The main word that comes to me when I think of this novel, however, is vague. This is its major problem...." Read more

"Story held reader immediately. Gothic atmosphere and description of The Cloisters excellent. Loved the characters. Gripping story...." Read more

"...Incredibly cute!)." Read more

It was okay!
3 out of 5 stars
It was okay!
The hype for this book was a 5 but the story is only utmost a 3.25! My main problem with this book was nothing happens for the first 250 or so pages. I cannot keep my attention on the book with this type of narration—information dump. Slow burn Gothic vibes were spot on tho. I’m not very familiar with the medieval art or The Met Cloisters, but I loved how sinister and juicy the mystery and twists were! The Cloisters could have been a great book—I might as well say I kept reading just for the Tarot cards! The plot is interesting and blends fantasy, historical fiction and mystery; all the specifics of the genres are balanced well, which I enjoyed!! The story itself is about obsession and power of magic which is written well, but I really would have appreciated more if the first 250 pages had happening things like the rest of the book. Thank you Atria Books & Mystery Book Club for the book club copy + discussion!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Wow.. take an intriguing setting, such as the Cloisters in NYC and merge a mystical mystery concerning the Tarot.. I couldn’t put this story down, read it in one day ! Bravo 👏
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2024
    “What if our whole life—how we live and die—has already been decided for us?”

    So this book gave off the creepy ominous vibes pretty early on and I was in love. I always find that I enjoy the academia type stories more than I anticipated and this one having tarot cards as the focus was really cool. I think what I enjoyed most about this one was that even though it had this supernatural element... the motivations were all so normal. Ambition, love, betrayal, power, envy, anger all of them played a crucial role of the story and the unfolding of events. Ann is very much motivated by her desire to be an academic and Rachel becomes someone she clings to and trusts because of the power she radiates.

    Ann is very skeptical of the importance that Patrick places on the tarot cards at first but I love how we gradually see her perception shift, almost to fit her motives. The book really highlights the stark contrast between the idea of fate and choice and I loved the way it did. I have to say that at times the book felt like it was dragging just a bit and I really wanted some action to happen. I was a little disappointed that the tarot cards weren't providing a bit more of an occult element but like I can forgive it because of the way things played out.

    The book really saved all its shock for the end. I have to admit that I didn't see the ending coming and I truly loved the shock reveals we got. I enjoyed all the ways that ambition and obsession played out in this story. I love that it kept the creepy vibes going the whole time but I feel like some elements could have been explored a bit more. Overall though it was a really good read and now I am on the search for more stories with tarot cards at the center.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2022
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    As I live a few blocks from the Cloisters, am a member there (via the Met), and visit there often, I try my best to read anything that uses the Cloisters as a setting. Somewhat surprisingly, this is actually the second novel I’ve read with the Cloisters as a key setting. Unfortunately, this novel is not nearly as engaging as James Carroll’s The Cloister.

    In this novel, a young woman named Ann Stilwell comes from Washington to NYC with a degree in art and a summer job at the Met. On the verge of losing her job on day 1, she is scooped up by Patrick Roland, the curator of the Cloisters and begins working there. She becomes friends with associate curator Rachel Mondray and gardener Leo Bitburg. The art historians are working on a exhibition of tarot cards, and become enamored of the idea that divination with the cards is quite possible.

    There are some good things here. There is the interesting fish-out-of-water experience of Ann trying to fit in with the artsy culture of NYC. The relationships Ann develops with Leo and, especially, Rachel are engaging in certain aspects. Also, unlike a number of novels I’ve read lately, this novel finishes strong, with some surprising, yet not outrageous, revelations.

    The main word that comes to me when I think of this novel, however, is vague. This is its major problem. I was unhappy with her descriptions of the Cloisters. Despite knowing the place well, I couldn’t picture the spaces she was trying to describe. And was she restricted from naming the artwork on display there? The pieces she describes could be found in any museum and the Unicorn tapestries, which are the Cloisters most famous holdings, don’t even rate a mention. Worse, the movement towards a belief in the power of the tarot is almost completely undeveloped. There was nothing in the characterizations here that actually made me believe that the characters believed.

    In the end, this book was a disappointment. I got the feeling that Ms. Hays had maybe visited the Cloisters once or twice but never got to know the place well. Her descriptions of the neighborhood in which I live lacked any kind of precision that would give the novel a feeling of place. Though the story is a fair one, there’s nothing about it that makes me think the Cloisters was where this novel had to take place.
    111 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Anyone who has ever spent decades searching for the perfect tarot deck that engulfs the heart in magic would have to like The Cloisters. Of Romani/Gypsy ancestry, my Gran started me on sketching my own deck at age 8 using woodchips scattered on the cellar floor from her husband’s woodworking. I continued it until marriage and later made another deck after menopause, but neither one invoked the necessary bonding I am still seeking in my old age. I will add that the Romani had what my Gran called the Drom Ek Romani (Way of One Gypsy) cards/wood chips centuries before the decks became popular during the Renaissance, but that is an oral tradition with no proof. I believe Katy Hays brilliantly tapped into the feelings upon discovering the deck that seems to reveal the secrets of life. And, anyone who has ever tried to break into academic life with a mere B.A. degree from a not-quite-right university would have to love the book and cheer on the main character, also portrayed in a wonderful way by Katy Hays. However, it has always been difficult for me to like a book if we discover that certain characters are morally flawed beyond our own standards, but I will not indulge in spoilers. The book is also special because it somehow morphs into a psychological thriller and a mystery and I found that to be a treat on so many levels. A five-star read, for me.
    21 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Chiara Buschittari
    4.0 out of 5 stars Libro meraviglioso
    Reviewed in Italy on October 31, 2023
    Libro arrivato perfettamente, copertina meravigliosa, l'unica differenza rispetto a quanto visto in foto (ed è per questo che gli ho dato 4 stelle invece di 5) è la mancanza del/dei segnalibri visto/i nelle foto di presentazione del prodotto. Non è un elemento essenziale, ma mi sembrava giusto farlo presente.
    Amazon velocissimo come sempre, ottimo servizio, personale sempre molto gentile.
    Report
  • Edna Palatnik
    5.0 out of 5 stars Um mistério sutil
    Reviewed in Brazil on December 17, 2022
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Muito bem escrito
  • Arta Buneta
    4.0 out of 5 stars Almost excellent
    Reviewed in Germany on December 12, 2023
    Slow chapters aside, a perfect read.
  • Marmarion
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting
    Reviewed in Canada on April 16, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Having quite recently visited the Cloisters for the first time, I was drawn to this novel. It did prove to be a rewarding read, although I found the ending puzzling. I particularly enjoyed the emphasis on the Tarot, a subject I have recently become enamored of. The characters were well-described and the plot caught my interest throughout. As the story reached its climax, I feared a conventional movie-type ending, but was pleasantly surprised. I anticipate Hays’ next novel.
  • shadayn
    3.0 out of 5 stars lecture en demie teinte
    Reviewed in France on March 11, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Je ne sais pas quoi penser de cette lecture qui est un mélange entre contemporain et Dark Academia. Je n'ai ni aimé ni détesté. Je suis dans le flou total.
    D'un côté, l'ambiance un peu mystérieuse, sombre donne envie de se plonger dans l'histoire et de l'autre le récit en lui-même est ennuyeux au possible. Il y a bien quelques passages qui éveillent la curiosité, les tarots anciens pour prédire l'avenir, l'endroit où se déroule le récit.
    Concernant les personnages, Patrick était sympathique, Leo aussi. Moira et Michelle n'apparaissent pas assez pour que je m'en fasse une idée et les personnages secondaires sont tout de même intéressants. Quant à Rachel, dès le départ, je l'ai eu dans le nez. Sa façon de parler, ses actions, tout sentait la relation toxique à fuir. Elle est douée pour manipuler son monde et Ann est une cible facile car petite nouvelle et venant d'une autre ville.
    Personnellement, je m'attendais à quelque chose de sombre allant sur une sorte d'enquête mystérieuse et au final ça finit en thriller mou et peu intéressant. C'est dommage, il y avait matière à faire quelque chose de plus prenant, on est resté en surface.
    En conclusion, je reste sur ma faim avec cette histoire. Il y a du bon et du moins bon dans ce récit. Parfois, on est happé par un chapitre et après le soufflé redescend. Pour le niveau d'anglais, il est abordable et pour certains termes, pas de panique, les personnages l'explique, aucunement besoin d'un glossaire.