This book was a ride. I really enjoyed the multiple POV's and various time points. I think this really allowed for the reader to see so many aspects of the mystery while also ending the book not knowing everything. I enjoyed this much more than The Cloisters, and I felt very intrigued seeing the inside of this dysfunctional elite family doing whatever they could to retain their status. Overall not necessarily a "thrilling" mystery, however an enjoyable read for anyone who enjoys stories about dysfunctional families and the 1%.

This book is full of family drama, mystery, unlikable characters, and a dash of suspense. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. It kept me curious and I did not see the ending coming. Definitely an enjoyable read

This riveting novel by Kay Hays is set in alternative timeline and viewpoints. While it does take a bit to understand the characters, it is absolutely worth the wait. Most of the story is set on the beautiful island of Capri where the Lingate family vacation yearly.
Helen is attempting to make sense of her family and the untimely death of her mother when she was three years old. Though ruled accidental thirty years ago, a cloud of suspicion remains.
Be warned- this novel picks up steam in the last third or so. I found myself unable to put it down. This is recommended for anyone who enjoys a messy family drama with a bit of mystery in the mix.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I wasn't sure at the beginning whether I was going to like this as it was many points of view as well as many flashbacks. But every time the voice became Helen's, I enjoyed it more. Plus, most of the action takes place on the Isle of Capri, which was lovely. Books about ultra rich people can sometimes be annoying, but the way some characters, such as Lorna, presented the people she worked with was interesting.
The morals of almost everyone in this book were questionable, and their reactions to murder and their lack of guilt were annoying.
However, the several twists at the end redeemed the whole book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. This is my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of Saltwater by Katy Hays.

Rich people behaving badly is usually a topic I avoid, but the setting really took the cake here in Saltwater and had a slight White Lotus feel. I think this will be a popular one for readers of domestic thrillers.

I liked the three narrators, the setting, and the ending, but the middle was a tad drawn out and boring. The story was also missing something for me, but I still enjoyed it.

3.5 stars

The Lingate Family—old money that vacations in Capri every year, despite it being the setting for Sarah Lingate’s death in 1992. Helen, daughter of Sarah and Richard Lingate, is stifled by her closed life as a member of the Lingates. Lorna is assistant to Marcus Lingate. They gather in Capri with wives and boyfriends and are shocked by the arrival of a distinctive necklace Sarah was wearing the night of her death (murder?).

This is a twisty novel that I think is a definite improvement from the author’s previous novel. I enjoyed the Italian setting & some of the twists were great. A solid summer thriller read.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this ARC.

“Saltwater” by Katy Hays is an exquisite novel that masterfully weaves the elements of mystery, art, and self-discovery into a captivating read. From the outset, Hays captivates the reader with her vivid descriptions and intricate storytelling.

The novel unfolds as a journey through a dysfunctional family, seamlessly incorporating elements of intrigue and suspense. The characters are meticulously developed, each harboring their own secrets and complexities that keep the reader engaged until the very end. Hays’ portrayal of the protagonist’s inner struggles and triumphs imbues the narrative with depth and relatability.

The narrative employs a multi-timeline structure, employing several characters as narrators. The author skillfully maintains the reader’s intrigue until the conclusion by gradually revealing the layers of the plot. The exotic setting further enhances the mystique of the story.

A wealth family, luxurious living, the island of Capri, secrets, keeping appearances, death- should make for the perfect thriller.
But…. Saltwater is a dual timeline mystery/thriller with lots of surprises. It begins with the unsolved death of Sarah Lingate in 1992, while vacationing with the family on Capri.. The reader also meets her daughter, Helen, 30 years later in the current timeline. Helen was only three when her mother died. The details of the beautiful island and people that live and vacation there were so vivid, I almost could see it all.
The LIngate family is full of secrets- how did Sarah die, why don’t they talk about her, why has Helen been secluded her whole life and where does their money come from? The big question is why do they return every year to the same place Sarah died, and not even talk or celebrate her?
The family is back on Capri for their annual holiday. Helen brings her friend/ employee Lorna with her. Their plan is to find out what exactly happened to Sarah on the night she died. But then Lorna goes missing.
This book had so much potential, and I loved the ending!!! However, I was so confused in the first half or so. I was constantly going back to help clarify timelines, characters, etc. Dual timelines usually work for me, but not in this case.

Thank you to Random House, Ballantine and NetGalley for this digital ARC.

Sarah Lingate’s family have their hands full years after her body was discovered. New lies and twists unfold with the family as they try to uncover what really happened to Sarah. The writing held my attention captive as it navigates through different point of views of past and present. If you’re looking for a crazy thriller that takes place in the most beautiful setting of Capri, this is the book for you!!

Requested this book for the beautiful cover and location. It did not hit for me the way I wanted, sadly. The family drama was an interesting saga, but I didn’t love the narrators.

The cover (and all the chatter about this one) drew me in, unfortunately it just didn’t keep me interested at all. I love a good vacation setting, but I just didn’t care about the characters at all. I would read a chapter and then have to read it again because I forgot it all. I ended up DNFing at about the 40% mark. The reviews seem to be mostly positive, so I may go back and try again, but it wasn’t for me right now.

3⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for an advanced copy of Saltwater.

In 1992 Sarah Lingate was found dead on the island of Capri. Everyone thought her husband murdered her but they were never able to prove it. The family still goes to Capri every year to remember her. Her daughter Helen has been very sheltered by her family since then and even now as a woman in her 30s she still does not have a life of her own. She is determined to learn more about her mother but when another body is found that has ties to the Lingate family they may not be able to get out of this one.

I was really enjoying the book and the plot and the characters up until the end of the book it just seemed way too ridiculous for me.

I love a good dysfunctional rich family murder mystery/drama. It kept me on my toes and would have never guessed the end! I really enjoyed the multiple POV’s, which is always fun!

When I first started this book, I got a few chapters in and couldn't get into it. Picked it up a week or so later and it still felt draggy and I don't know...stilted might be a good description for it. I love a good family drama and a psychological who done it but this wasn't grabbing me. I put it aside again. I am no quitter and don't like to DNF a book so I picked it up again yesterday when it was at about 10%. I kept going and it finally started to click and I couldn't stop reading until I finally knew who did what. The author did a great job of leaving the tiniest of breadcrumbs that allowed you to figure things out (I'll be honest, I missed them lol until I went back to re-read certain portions. What I felt, in the beginning, was much too wordy or too much "background" turned out to be more important than I thought and several twists and unexpected outcomes had me truly happy and cheering at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House – Ballantine for providing an ARC for review.

Saltwater is a mystery novel surrounding the immensely wealthy Lingate family. The disappearance of a family friend/assistant (outsider) named Lorna is juxtaposed against the death of Sarah Lingate from thirty years prior. The story focuses on how wealth and social status can be both liberating and restraining, particularly when the power of generational wealth is leveraged against other family members to maintain posterity. For instance, Helen has lived a very privileged life filled with private education, expensive holidays and luxury shopping. However, her family weaponizes her inability to access her family funds and keeps her on a tight leash. She goes only travels where and when she is given permission to do so. Her partner was chosen and approved for her by her aunt. The story further explored how people with power and privilege will close ranks when their resources are threatened, particularly by those that the family considers as ‘other,’ such as Lorna and Helen’s mother, Sarah.

There’s a lot I enjoyed with this book. The setting feels rich, and the family dynamics are realistically messy and complicated. I will say that the number of plot twists at the end felt gratuitous, and the suspension of disbelief required at the end was too much. Also, I feel that there was a particular plot point that went underexplained, and it would have been satisfying to find out more. However, I would still recommend this and very much enjoyed myself while reading it.

Fell for the cover, stayed for the setting! I enjoyed this twisty tale of rich people behaving badly on the island of Capri with deadly consequences. The story centers around the Lingate family, who has been vacationing on the island of Capri for ages, even after the wife of the younger Lingate brother, Richard, was found dead on the cliffs below during a trip in the early 90s, only a few years after the birth of her daughter, Helen.

The family is back on Capri for their vacation and Helen is all grown up now, in her thirties, but the incident comes back to haunt the family in the form of the necklace Sarah was wearing when she died, thought to be lost at sea

The story changes between multiple POVs, starting with Helen and her uncle Marcus’ assistant Lorna in the present day, and flipping back to that fateful summer of 1992 in Sarah’s POV.

I found the beginning to be a bit chaotic and confusing, which is often the case when I don’t trust the narrator, but as the pieces started to come together in part two it got better and I blew straight through the latter part in a day as the twists started coming.

This escapist thriller with its lush cover would be perfect for the beach bag this summer! Quick and full of drama and intrigue.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine Books for sending this DRC for review consideration.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and suspenseful. The ending I would have never guessed. Overall, this is a winner and I can highly recommend it.

People with money who have skeletons in their closet are what this story is about.. Every year they go to Capri where Helen's mother died after falling over a cliff. Everyone thinks her father did it but it has been classified a suicide. Helen feels trapped within her family. When a necklace that belonged to her mother turns up, Helen sees and opportunity to escape her controlling family. What are the secrets that everyone in this family is hiding.
This is a book with many twists and turns. You will find yourself trying to figure out if this was a murder and has the same thing happened again. By the end everything is solved but some of it is a surprise for the reader. I enjoyed that the story kept the reader guessing even when I thought I knew what was going on. I would recommend reading this book.
Thank you to #NetGalley, @hetkatyhays, and #BallantineBooks for a copy of this book.
#SaltWater

As the daughter of the wealthy Lingate family looks for answers to her mother's death many lives will be changed. In her search,h she and a friend decide to blackmail her family as they suspect they know who killed her mom 30 years ago. One will lose their life and the other will lose everything in her quest for the truth and a way out. As the two stories years apart come together the secrets of the past collide with the secrets of the present. This novel started slow but as the characters developed it all came together. The characters are very well designed and the plot is very believable. The ending was interesting as I did not expect Helen to do what she did. A nice relaxing who done it novel by Katy Hays.