First, I will begin by saying I loved this cover! The colors and the image were like a magnet for me. After a slow start, I was hoping that the pace would pick up but unfortunately it remained a slow burn as I experienced some feelings of confusion with the timeline and characters. A very wealthy family returns to Capri annually, the place where the matriarch disappeared and was later found dead in the sea beneath a cliff. Soon after arriving on the the 30th anniversary, another disappearance occurs, a strange package arrives and things begin to get really dark and disturbing. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read this digital copy in exchange first my honest opinion.

Oh, I liked this.

It’s slightly giving Mr. Ripley vibes. Not exactly the same, but the idea of people striving so much to belong to a certain class – and all the horrors that lurk beneath the surface of that class.

There are definite surprises here – many that I didn’t see coming – and I appreciated that immensely.

There’s definitely something unsavory about many of our characters. You feel kind of sullied just reading them. And when you find out their truths? Oof.

This was a good read. Just know that these folks leave you feeling a bit unclean.

• ARC via Publisher

I had a hard time caring about the characters here who all had ulterior motives so it was tough to root for anyone. That said, I loved the setting and the writing was well done.

In 1992 Sarah Lingate is found dead below the cliffs of Capri, leaving behind her three-year-old daughter, Helen. Despite suspicions that the old-money Lingates are involved, Sarah’s death is ruled an accident. And every year, the family returns to prove it’s true. But on the thirtieth anniversary of Sarah’s death, the Lingates arrive at the villa to find a surprise waiting for them, the necklace Sarah was wearing the night she died! Good book! This book had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, a great who done it and a few twists and turns. The story was interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Saltwater is a fun vacation setting read going back and forth in time between an infamous death. What happens when someone threatens a rich family? What skeletons are hiding in their designer closets?

I was immediately captivated by this book's title and colorful cover. It was the perfect representation for a book filled with beautiful scenery of Capri and a decades-old mystery. I was on the edge of my seat the whole book, trying to solve the mystery alongside the characters. The secrets were woven with such an immediacy that made me fly through the pages. Truly loved it!

Salt Water by Katy Hays is a twisty suspense novel with rich people behaving badly in one of the world’s most beautiful places, the island of Capri. From the cliffs overlooking the navy blue water to the boats and family secrets, I was transported to the island and captivated by Hays’ descriptions.

Saltwater by Katy Hays

Thank you NetGalley and Random house for this Arc

Sarah Lingate was found dead at the bottom of the cliffs in Capri leaving behind her husband and young Daughter. Although the dead was ruled an accident, Helen her daughter years later returned back to capri and yet another woman has gone missing. Helen is treated odd by her family and the pacing of this book was somewhat hard to follow bouncing from past to present for the first part.

I wasn’t a fan for the first of it and honestly it took a bit for me to push through this book. Others might enjoy this book but it was not my cup of tea

This book is a page turner! It started a bit slow, but I think the deliberate writing and twist and turn of every chapter is what made it so great. Just when you think you've got the answers or figured things out you reach another point with something new is unveiled all the way to the very end.

This story is about an old money family that has a suspicious death in the family that haunts them for decades to come. As the plot unfolds they all exhibit deep doubt, paranoia, and mistrust of all their loved ones. So many great themes here, how wealth can be a jail, what does family really mean and how far do you go to choose self over family. The story is wonderfully crafted, the details are immaculate and the timing of each reveal packs its own punch. Highly recommend if you enjoy suspense filled thrill rides.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my advance review! Will be looking forward to more Katy Hays books in the future!

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book has a White Lotus feel to it, with all of terribly rich people behaving terribly in a beautiful setting. I was engaged in the mystery and family drama, but by the end it was just too much. Too many secrets and dead bodies and the last 2 twists were completely implausible. I would recommend as a beach read, not a literary thriller.

Saltwater is a slow-burn thriller centered around a family drama. It jumps back and forth from 1992 to present day, slowly unraveling the events surrounding the death of Sarah Lingate back in the 90s while at the same time detailing the disappearance in present day of Lorna, an assistant to the Lingate family.

At its heart this is a family drama, and a "rich people behaving badly" family drama at that. Set in Capri, the backdrop of this novel is what really shines! The setting and the ending were what really worked for me in this book. (I also enjoyed the newspaper clippings that were interspersed throughout.) I would encourage anyone who picks this up to read it all the way to the end because there are some unexpected twists in the last 15% of the novel. For much of the book, I was thinking this would be a respectable 3 star read for me, but I ended up giving it 4 stars.

What didn't work as well for me was the cast of characters. I had the hardest time keeping all of the characters straight. I also did not anticipate how dark this would end up being. Almost all of the main characters make morally questionable decisions. You have to be in the right headspace to read a book like this, but readers who enjoy dark books won't have any issues here.

This book comes out in March, just in time for Spring Break or even summertime reading. This would be the perfect book to take to the beach or on vacation, especially if you're traveling to a sunny locale.

A big thanks to the publisher for an ARC of this book! As a side note for my Netgalley review...the cover is STUNNING. Well done to whomever designed the cover art. I think this one will jump off of shelves into people's hands because of how inviting the cover is and it matches up exactly with what the book is about.

I just finished "Saltwater" by Katy Hays, and it was a good pool day read! 🌊📚 Set on the gorgeous island of Capri, the story follows Helen as she deals with her family's secrets after a suspicious death shakes things up.

The book has plenty of twists that kept me guessing🤫. Overall, it’s an entertaining mix of suspense and drama that’s perfect for lounging by the pool or a rainy day inside! ☀️🏖️🌦️

I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.

The mystery of Sarah Lingate’s death has haunted her family for thirty years. Found dead below the cliffs of Capri in 1992, Sarah left behind her three-year-old daughter, Helen, and a legacy of suspicion surrounding the old-money Lingate family. Though Sarah’s death was ruled an accident, every year the family returns to the villa to reinforce that claim—until the thirtieth anniversary, when they arrive to find a chilling reminder: the necklace Sarah was wearing the night she died.

The story promises suspense, but it leans more heavily into family drama than a gripping mystery or thriller. While the picturesque setting of Capri is beautifully described, I felt the slow pacing and predictable plot points detract from the tension the book could have delivered. I also found it difficult to connect with the characters, who come across as selfish and money-driven, making it hard to stay invested in their outcomes.

For readers looking for an atmospheric family drama set in a stunning location, this book may appeal, however, those seeking a tightly woven mystery may find it lacking in the overall intrigue.

Pack your summer 2025 beach bags, friends. We’re heading to Capri!

SALT WATER is a story of old money extravagance, tightly held family secrets, and slow, simmering, rage. Within these pages Katy Hays immerses readers in a suspicious death of a playwright in1992 and a strikingly similar death of a young woman 13 years later.

Despite the backdrop of deaths, the island of Capri comes alive with its breathtaking beauty, sparkling blue waters, and ominous cliffs. Told in multiple POVs we meet various characters and it's difficult to determine who is friend or foe.

The story leans more suspenseful family drama than page-turning thriller but mystery fans will appreciate a few surprises along the way.

READ THIS IF YOU:
-enjoy a strong sense of exotic place
-like your beach reads with a touch of darkness
-are eager for beach read season

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: March 25, 2025

Many thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for the electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed “The Cloisters” the first book by Katy Hays but “Saltwater” did not meet my expectations. There is something wrong with this novel that is told from three different points of view in two separate timeframes. While set in the vividly described location of the Isle of Capri the story lacks pace which makes it a slow read. And, as I read I realized there were three unreliable narrators. Nobody tells the truth and each want to separate themselves from the family but the reasons they stay are weak. While I never deliberately try to determine endings, about 2/3 the way through it became plain to me. This should have been a better book.

Thanks to NetGalley for advance copy. Italy, Capri, family drama, two dead women years apart – all great, but this really took a while to get going. It got very good about 3/4 into the story. It took me a while to get there, but once I did, I finished it in one sitting Would have been more intriguing with more character development, but overall a good read.

Listen folks, all I have to say is WHAT A WILD RIDE! We’ve got all the sultry, summery, sloshed vibes and a gorgeous Mediterranean setting to boot. While I admittedly struggled to suspend my disbelief at times, if you like a bit of a slow burn mystery with some absolutely unhinged twists at the end this book is written for you.

This book has more twists and turns than the roads on the island of Capri. So many elements—mystery but is it murder, suicide, or accident? Old money versus new money, rich versus poor, family versus everyone else, and let’s not forget money. Did I mention money? So much money. To live with or without it, that’s the question. And who do you trust? So many questions.

I didn't find this to be a particularly involving mystery. A gentle ribbing of the wealthy elites, perhaps. A rather silly case of mistaken identities. The back-and-forth between decades did nothing for me except to at times confuse me as to the cast of characters. All in all, not one I would recommend.

Old money, family secrets, murder and drama – what’s not to love? And it’s set in Capri, yes please! I did enjoy this book but it was very slow going for a thriller. It took a while for me to really settle into it. There were too many characters to keep track, but Katy Hays did a good job of corralling them. Once I settled in it was a fun read. The last twist was a surprise. It’s a terrific look at greed, and the power money can have over people making them in to horrors.

Also, the cover is stunning.

Thank you Ballantine and NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review.