Family drama. A murder mystery. Multiple POVs and timelines. Old money. Lies and secrets. Saltwater has it all.

An annual trip to Capri for the week isn’t out of the ordinary, but this year will be one they won’t forget. Lorna is the dedicated assistant to the Lingate family, but has also become Helen’s close friend. But as she gets closer to the family she starts to uncover some secrets that they thought were well buried. More than anticipated comes to the salty surface on this trip than planned — but is it more than money can keep underwater?

4.5 stars— the last half of this book was a complete page turner, but it did take a while to get there. All of the twists were well placed and in the end there were few stones left unturned. Highly recommended for those that love toxic family dramas with a hint of murder and a lot of suspense.

The characters in this dual timeline suspense fell kind of flat. They just weren't very deep. There was a lot of inner dialog that was a little on the repetitive side. Solid mystery, though, and you're drawn right it at the start. The locale is superbly described and I felt like I was right alongside the family.

3.5 stars! I was sold on this book when I saw it referred to as "perfect for fans of The White Lotus." It was very atmospheric, in the sense that reading it transported me to the island of Capri. It also had a soap opera, gossipy feel throughout, although I felt it got just a bit slow at times. Thanks so much to Random House Publishing Group for e-mailing me an advanced copy - it's out now!

This one was a DNF for me. It was really slow and honestly confusing at times. It was difficult for me to remember where in time we were and whose perspective we were reading. The overall plot and premise had promise and I was enticed by the location. I might go back and give it a try again but I just couldn’t get through it.

The cover of this book and the comparison of this novel to the show 'White Lotus" is what first caught my attention; since I loved seasons 1 and 2 of that TV series, I knew this book would be fun. When I didn't have time to read Saltwater before my NetGalley copy was no longer accessible, I waited until the book published and got a print copy!

Once I started reading, I definitely enjoyed the back story of the famous Lingate family- deceased Sarah Lingate, a mysteriously-dead Pulitzer Prize nominated playwright, and her husband who is one of only two heirs to old money. How old? Old enough that great grandpa struck oil in the Bel Air area of Los Angeles. The inner thoughts of Lorna, a young adult working as a jack-of-all-trades assistant for the Lingates, clearly conveyed the stress of being an overworked go-fer in a job that required subservient attention to detail. Being on the island of Capri was not a vacation for Lorna and sometimes not even enough compensation for being on duty 24/7. For readers, however, the setting is described in such a way that they feel as if they have been on this island.

A lot of the book's emphasis seems to be an analytical look at the effect of wealth, especially that of extreme wealth passed down to other generations who have not had to put any effort into the monetary gain. A quote in the early pages of the book comes back to haunt the narrative: "I used to think the money made you free, and maybe sometimes it does, or it helps you believe you are...(page 28)."

I like the way author Katy Hays cleverly adds suspense and works in totally unexpected twists, beginning with little details such as why Lorna padded her resume for this job. Wasn't there an inside friendship with Helen that opened the door? One thing that made the book a 4 instead of a 5 for me was that I in the beginning frequently had to stop and review a couple of pages; I felt like I had lost track of whose POV was now telling the story or in which time timeline my current chapter was taking place. This tendency lessened as the book progressed and helped me to once again enjoy the story telling. There is definitely a lot of the promised bad behavior, but towards the end, I found myself wishing there could have been somewhat of a hero, one character that was a better person. The ending is quite sad and shocking - so be ready.

Really enjoyed this intriguing book! It had me on the edge of my seat and I genuinely was wondering what was going to happen. Great read!

Saltwater is a haunting, beautifully written novel that blends atmosphere, mystery, and emotion with striking precision. Katy Hays crafts a story that’s both eerie and elegant, with vivid prose and a slow-building tension that lingers long after the final page.

A compelling exploration of art, obsession, and identity—this is literary suspense at its finest.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

While I was intrigued by the description, the cover and a little bit the title made me hesitant to read this book. I am glad I overcame my doubts.
The book grabs you by chapter two- and quickly the reader is making mental pictures to keep the characters straight- there are members of a family repeating in two timelines. The story makes connections between the characters and lays breadcrumbs- but never will you solve it before you see it on the page. And even then- are you correct? Exactly what edge of your seat thrill seekers should pick up.

Oh and by the middle of the book- I loved the title- the cover- still not so much.

Recommended for: readers who love a good murder mystery, told from many points of view

Summary: Sarah’s body was found on the coastal rocks of a small island in Italy. The years following, her family would return to the island for family vacations. The book starts 13 years later when the family returns for their vacation and finds the necklace that Sarah wore the day of her death, waiting for them at the villa. Her daughter, Helen, who is also planning her escape from her controlling father, Richard, has questions. We follow many viewpoints and timelines, to learn the abundant amount of secrets this affluent family holds.

Review: All the viewpoints and timelines can be confusing to follow, in the beginning. But it is well worth the wait! I truly enjoyed unfolding the puzzle of a mystery the author layed out for us. I, personally, have a pet peeve of authors describing characters’ weight in a judgmental and negative way. Sadly, Hays does that a few times in this book. Having said that, I emphatically recommend this book for those that love convoluted mysteries.

Thirty years ago, on the island of Capri, during their annual vacation, the wife of a wealthy husband is found dead. The death is ruled an accident and the husband, daughter, his brother, and sister-in-law continue their yearly Capri holiday. When new evidence is found, the case is reopened. I found Saltwater to be a slow, slow burn with a multilayered plot and unlikable characters. Each of the family members seemed capable of just about anything to maintain their old money wealth and standing. Although whatever standing they had was pretty despicable. Their behavior was passed believable. The narrative was convoluted and slightly saved by the ending. This book was not for me, but might work for readers who enjoy twisty suspense stories that are not character driven. Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to read this advanced copy of Saltwater for my review.

i picked this book up in the fall of last year, but it did not keep my attention.
i will try picking it up again in the future, and when i do, i will update my review.
until then, technically, it is a dnf for me.

This book started out sooooooo slow but it’s definitely safe to say I did NOT see the ending coming. It did get me in a reading slump for a bit.

Honestly, this book was not a win for me. It was too slow and out there to be enjoyable to me. I found myself frequently bored and not wanting to pick the book back up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rich people, dead bodies, the Capri coastline, family secrets. What more could you ask for in a book? With that description, this is 100% something that would be right up my alley, but unfortunately this one was more contemporary fiction than it was twisty, mystery thriller.

30 years ago, Sarah Lingate was found dead below the cliffs of Capri while on a family vacation, leaving behind a three-year-old daughter. Her death was ruled an accident, but there have always been raised eyebrows over what really happened that night. Now, her daughter has returned to Capri, as she does every summer. But when her friend is found dead, fingers point right back at that fateful night for the Lingate family, raising questions of whether Sarah’s death was truly an accident.

Like I said – more character driven than plot driven, but if you enjoy that style of book you probably will still enjoy this story. What I will say? This was ranked much lower in my mind, but the last 50 pages shook me with a great twist that ended up having me bump my rating higher.

There’s definitely tension and drama found here – not necessarily the page turner I wanted it to be, but still a good intro-to-summer mystery to have on the shelf.

An EXCELLENT trashy, easy yet I could not put down read.
Loved the snark, the gossip feel, great twists!
Excellent summer/beach read!

This mystery is a whodunit that will keep you guessing until the end. There are so many tangled lies and plot twists in this story that will make you second guess what you think you know. No one can be trusted, and everyone may not be who you think they are. Murder, betrayal, secrets, and deception are rampant throughout the story.

Katy Hays is masterful at writing a page-turning thriller set in Capri. Told from multiple points of view, this one will keep you guessing until the very end. If you liked The Cloisters, you're going to want to read this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC.

This book might have started slow, but it was so worth it for the pick-your-jaw-up-off-the-floor ending. This one is for anyone who enjoys a messy, wealthy family drama/thriller. I loved the blend of dark and twisty family secrets with the beautiful setting on the island of Capri.

Thank you to the publisher and to netgalley. This filled my white lotus craving with a mystery set in Capri! The book opens with the death of Sarah Lingate in 1992, now 30 years later her daughter (Helen) returns to Capri where she finds the necklace that Sarah was wearing the night she died. While the summary seemed to really grab my attention, the writing didn't work for me.

This felt very slow for me. Loved the setting and looked forward to the premise. But it wasn’t what I was looking for.