I have mixed feelings about “The Cloisters”. I feel like it doesn’t live up to its potential. It could have been a tarot version of Da Vinci Code, but it missed the mark. 

I’m not a fan of how Hays uses description. There’s so much description of Rachel’s family’s lake house. In contrast there are scenes between Rachel and Ann where the description is a lot more sparse.

Also, what happened to Ann’s mother?!? She just fades into the background. 

Maybe this is a spoiler, but there’s really one slightly redeemable character in this story, but that’s changed in the final scenes. I can somewhat understand Hays making the choice to have that character do what they do, but it feels like an out of character move to me, even with the background layered into it. The background is presented as being accidental, but the present action is a choice made to look like an accident. 

In the end I think I cared more about the Cloisters and the tarot cards than any of the people.