My overall feelings: claustrophobic, anxious, curious.

“We are always both people,” Ciro says. He runs a finger down my back, like the idea is painful. “The person who loves and the person who does terrible things.” We are always both people.”

Told in before / after style, we learn about the Lingate family and its chaotic, complicated, messy family dynamics. We meet Lorna, friend of Helen and family assistant, who mysteriously goes missing on vacation with the Lingates. This book gave me major HBO’s White Lotus vibes and I was loving every minute of it. I could see every scene playing out like a movie in my mind, Katy did a fantastic job with this one! Thank you NetGalley and Katy Hays for this ARC! Out on March 25, 2025!

Thank you Net Gally and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

Firstly, the cover is beautiful. It was rather a slow burn from start to finish for me and I found myself having to look back
because I was getting confused about who was who. However, I was determined to get through it.
It's a typical rich person story, with all the arrogances and deceit that seems to come from families with old money.
There's always something in the past that everyone is trying to figure out or hide. It took til the end to finally get interesting,
but by then I was already ready to begin another book. By the end I was just glad it was done and there was a little surprise to
finish it off. I wasn't disapponted, but also wasn't on the edge of my seat for the finale.

I stayed up a bit too late a few nights in a row finishing this one - a sign of a good mystery! However, there was a bit too much drama and layers and jumping around for me. I felt like there were a few holes in the storylines, or things that were tied up a bit too nicely. The Lingates--a storied, wealthy LA-based family--are full of secrets, as are all those who surround them. Every year they return to Capri, where Sarah Lingate died (murder? accident? time will tell...). This year, they are accompanied by Marcus Lingate's assistant, Lorna, who is not all that she seems. The story jumps around from the time of Sarah's death to the current summer. It would definitely be a great summer/beach read.

Saltwater by Katy Hays
Genre: Thriller
Length: 336 pages
POV: Multiple
Expected Pub Date: March 25, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the e-ARC of this book. The opinions given are solely my own.

Brief Synopsis:
The wealthy Lingate family has returned to Italy after new information surfaces (in the form of a necklace) about Sarah Lingate's 'accidental' death back in 1992 on that very same island of Capri. Here's the Lingate cast of characters:

👔Richard Lingate- widower of wife, Sarah. Wealthy, but seemingly cruel, and was not in favor of his deceased wife's newest written play that included a very non-fictional and damning plot.

🕶Marcus Lingate- Richard's brother. Smooth, handsome, always ready to talk his way out of any situation.

🍸Naomi Lingate- Marcus's wife. From a wealthy family herself. A bit of a drinking problem.

👡Helen Lingate- Richard & Sarah's only child. Feels trapped Ina family because of their secrets. Longs to escape their grasp but is bound through money and history.

✍️Lorna- Marcus's employee/assistant, also Helen's best friend. Does she know too much?

Opinion:
This gave me major 'Succession' vibes with a Mediterranean setting. The more I learned about the Lingate family, the more I disliked many of them, and the more I wasn't sure who to trust. This was definitely the point of the author in order to create confusion and keep the plot interesting. It was pretty engaging and fast-paced, with a great twist at the end I did NOT see coming. I loved the rich family drama and how it caused a crazy web of deceit and disaster. Definitely give this one a try!

“Saltwater” by Katy Hays is a thriller that takes place on the beautiful Island of Capri Italy, a haven for the super wealthy.
A 33 year old woman who has lived her life under the carful watch of her super wealthy and powerful family returns to the island for their annual summer retreat. When she was three, her mother plunged to her death in a suspicious manner and she has always felt her father or family member was involved. The family arrives along with friends and her uncles assistant who suddenly disappears soon after their arrival in the same fashion as her mother. Past and present collide as we puzzle through the very twisted mystery.

The story is very complex and layered with many characters. The writing style is also complex and I had a hard time navigating through the dysfunctional family secrets, the many characters, and the slow unraveling of the mystery.

Overall, I do think it will be a fun beach read and I look forward to Ms. Hays next book as I was a huge fan of her first book, “The Cloisters”.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I finished this book with mixed feelings. I went in with high hopes based on the premise, as mysteries and dysfunctional family dynamics both appeal to me. The writing itself was lovely, and it's clear this book was well thought out. The characters are all flawed, even the main narrators, but they were interesting and Lorna in particular had a fascinating perspective. This book also really, really made me want to go to Italy.

It was a slowburn, which I don't often mind, but this just felt drawn out. It felt much longer than it actually was. The twists and reveals, at first, were predictable to me but I was okay with that. It made sense and was satisfying. The final twists did manage to surprise me, but they were too similar, in my opinion. The final twist was a bit lackluster coming right after the reveal just before it.

Overall, it was a fun read, and I still had a good time with it.

2.5 stars

This was a much better read for me than The Cloisters but didn't quite stick the landing. I actually think the chapters about before Lorna's disappearance could've been removed all together because while it offered another angle and it was the only way for us to get to know her, it didn't add much to the plot. Or at least the narrative device could've been used more effectively. This family was just terrible and I had no sympathy for a single one. Even the tertiary characters. If you enjoyed The Villa and Til Death Do Us Part then you'll probably enjoy this

Saltwater follows the Lingate family, an old money clan, during their seasonal stay on the Italian island of Capri. Since 1992, they’ve made this yearly return to Capri during the week when Sarah, who married a Lingate, mysteriously went missing and was found dead on the rocks at the base of the island. The Lingates don’t return to mourn. They return to maintain the position that they hold at all costs. This year, personal assistant Lorna, disappears as well.
I struggled to stay interested for the first part of this novel. It starts slowly, showing a privileged family and the exclusive destination, which feels overdone. There’s a great deal of backstory and a great deal of evaluating the family members’ nonchalance, and little happening in the moment. But deviously hidden in all the snide remarks and snubs are secrets. It is satisfying to see them drawn out in the end. This is the kind of story that reaches its full end, then adds another layer and another that changes everything you thought you understood.

Saltwater is an atmospheric thriller with a complex plot and striking setting that captivated me right away. I was engrossed in the tension and secrets surrounding the Lingate family; Katy Hays does an excellent job of examining the murky underbelly of family loyalty and deceit. I was left breathless by the ending, and the twists kept me guessing. You won't want to miss this one if you enjoy thrillers that are rich in location and full of surprises!

A prestigious family wrought with secrets, when a close member of the family is missing, the past begins to be unearthed. No one can be trusted and when the mysterious death of Helen's mother is once again at the forefront of everyone's mind, she begins to wonder who is capable of murder. Maybe for the second time. This novel was so enjoyable, I loved all of the twists and turns!

What a pleasant surprise! I've not read anything by this author before, but now I'll be looking for all her books! Excellent writing, smart plot.

this book will definitely have an audience, but that audience isn't me. the descriptions of italy are beautiful, but the cast of characters are so uninteresting and lifeless. it's not much of a page turner either.

I am unable to give this book a positive review. Unlikeable characters, miserable lives, convoluted scenarios, disjointed story line. The finality comes in the last couple of chapters. Too late. I only finished it as to fulfill my obligation to agree to read and review this book. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine Books. # Saltwater, #RandomHousePublishing, #Goodreads.

Saltwater met all of my expectations. I loved Katy Hays's other book, and this one felt similar in terms of extremely atmospheric and twisty, while still having a literary edge. I think I liked Saltwater even more because the setting on Capri and the dual timeline story about family secrets was right up my alley. I only wish I could have read it on a beach!

This book was right up my alley! I love a good suspense story with adults who act badly and where you can’t really trust anyone! There are quite a few characters in this book, but don’t let that stop you from reading this one. The past and present timeline was perfectly executed. It was also interesting and had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what happened to Sarah Lingate. The Capri setting was beautiful, of course. If you are looking for a good thriller that has a lot of family secrets then this is your book. Side note: the cover is stunning.

Thank you to the publisher and also to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

Saltwater is an atmospheric thriller that hooked me from the start with its intricate plot and vivid setting. Katy Hays does a fantastic job of exploring the dark undercurrents of family loyalty and deception, and I found myself completely immersed in the tension and secrets surrounding the Lingate family. The twists kept me guessing, and the ending left me breathless. If you love thrillers that are full of surprises and rich with a sense of place, you won’t want to miss this one!

Unfortunately not for me. In a world with SO many books being published, I just don't see this as a must in our collection.

"Saltwater" is an exciting thriller about a decades old crime.
An opulent family arrive at their villa in Capri and the story unfolds.
An investigation is reopened and there are many twists and turns.
I recommend this intriguing tale.

My Thoughts

Thirty years the Lingate family have lived with the shadow of Sarah Lingates’ death directly affecting their actions from that day onwards.

The deceptions and lies that are always present in the way they present themselves at social gatherings carries over into the way they interact in private as well.

Some people behave badly and some rich people behave the worst and this family absolutely have done so for decades.

Storylines are dual time lines with past to present day from different characters viewpoints.

The mystery was engaging as it played out over the course of this book with a few falters here and there as things take darker and darker turns.

With beautifully described settings and disturbing characters this is not a book that is light reading but one you have to go into with an open mind to be able to get to the truth by its ending.

[EArc from Netgalley]



On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

I was offered an advance read of this novel by the publisher via NetGalley and accepted because the cover was so striking and the title grabbed me. Seemed like the perfect summer book. Helen's mother died when she was 3 under suspicious circumstances on Capri where her family vacations every year. This is a peek into wealthy people behaving badly - and Helen is not treated well by her family. The story is told in the past and present from a few points-of-view. This novel was not for me - I didn't connect with the characters but mainly the reason was that there was too much suspenseful build-up that went on and on and I would have preferred the reward of some earlier reveals to keep me engaged. I can see how this novel would appeal to others, particularly as a beach read when it releases in May 2025.