My thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books/Penguin Random House for the ARC of 'Saltwater' in exchange for an honest review
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Nothing like a relaxing sundrenched summer on the island of Capri with the filthy rich, ultra-entitled Lingate family. This sybaritic, sociopathic clan are swimming in old money as well the sparkling waters around their yearly vacation playground. Welcome to Lifestyles Of The Rich and Famously Creepy., littered with a walk-in closet size of family skeletons and at least one dead body.

The body in question - Sarah Lingate, the brilliant, award winning playwright and late wife of Robert Lingate, who oversees the Lingate empire with his older brother Marcus. In 1992, Sarah's career and life ended on one of those rocky beaches beneath the Capri cliffs. The so called 'accidental' death left the surviving Lingates forever tainted with suspicions and unanswered questions. And the tragedy's left Sarah's infant daughter Helen to be raised in the iron grip of her imperious, dictatorial family.

Thirty years later, Helen's grown into a 33 year old woman who feels desperately trapped, her life forever controlled by her domineering father and uncle. (Much the same way her mother felt prior to her death.) And now the family's rocked by the deliberate reappearance of Sarah's long missing gold necklace, sent to the Lingates by a person or persons unknown.


At that point, the book's off and running with a staggering amount of plot machinations, twist after twist and tantalizing flashbacks to 1992 that slowly begin to connect the pieces to this vast puzzle. The mysteries surrounding the Lingates and their private lives (both charmed and star-crossed) only deepen further and laid out only when you're rapidly turning those final pages.to reach the last stunning twist.

I've always had a soft spot for stories of corrupt family dynasties riddled with sins, so I couldn't wait to dive into this one. But I'd feel less than honest if I didn't point out the flaws that keep me from giving it a full 5 stars. First, it's way, way overlong and could've used some judicious pruning, especially in those repetitious flashback teasers that dole out a little more info one nugget at a time. Second, a few of the twists are just too far-fetched to swallow, forcing the author into those 'you-gotta-be-kiddin-me' leaps of logic to explain them. (The is the second book I've reviewed this year that threw in a twist that could only generate a chorus of 'gimme-a-break-with-this, will-ya?' from readers.

Apart from that, this one's an essential read for everyone who'd love to luxuriate in a gorgeous locale and a watch a wealthy nest of vipers swamped with a tsunami of family skeletons that tumble out like quarters from a jackpot=hitting slot machine. And think of the money I saved on airline tickets to Italy.......

thank you so much to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC! :)

this book had a lot of potential, but it didn’t fully work for me. salt water is a mystery set on the island of capri, italy. the story centers on the lingate family, who travel to capri every year to honor sarah lingate, who died tragically thirty years ago after falling from the cliffs. this year, her missing necklace suddenly shows up, raising questions about what really happened that night.

the lingate family were messy, manipulative, and full of secrets, which definitely made them interesting, but i found it hard to feel invested in their lives. sarah’s death and the sudden reappearance of her necklace set up an intriguing mystery. but i found the pacing uneven, with parts that felt slow and dragged out....

while i wouldn’t say the book was bad, it didn’t really pull me in. i liked the setting, and the ending tied things together nicely, but i just struggled with the slow parts and the characters. if you love stories with family drama and a heavy dose of tension, you might enjoy this more than i did!

Saltwater by Katy Hays is a murder mystery, plus kind of a psychological thriller as well. The Lingate family is very rich and very private. They don’t suffer outsiders easily and they don’t speak to anyone of family matters. Helen Lingate is thirty years old, an adult, and still is not allowed out and about without a guard. She wants out and she has figured out a way to get out. But, boy, is there a lot going on before that happens. Her friend Lorna is also Marcus’ (head of the family) assistant. No they are not having an affair, but Lorna is using her access to gather information on the members of the family, most importantly, Sarah, Helen’s mother, who died (or committed suicide or was murdered) years earlier. Richard, Sarah’s husband, had been accused, but that was short-lived. Helen had made the mistake of talking to a reporter years earlier. They had quashed the story, but it explained why Helen was kept under guard. The story mostly takes place in Capri, where they all spent a week each summer and where Sarah had been killed. What was to follow was interesting and more than convoluted. Ending with Lorna’s disappearance (death?)

This was an interesting and well-written family. Who wouldn’t want to be rich? But not it it meant living this way. Helen had a trust fund, but it had been drained, so if she were to leave she needed money. She and Lorna came up with a plan. That didn’t work out as expected, either. The plot was complicated but made a certain amount of sense. It lasted too long, but maybe that was necessary, not sure. The characters were good and each reminded the reader of someone they have seen on the television. The pacing was slow. It lasted too long, but had a relatively satisfying conclusion. I know this book is the big thing right now, but I am not moved.

I was invited to read Saltwater by Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine #KatyHays #Saltwater

Fans of character driven family sagas of the White Lotus variety will like this look into the Lingate family 30 years after the disappearance of Sarah Lingate, playwright, unhappily married to Richard, and mother of Helen. Now in her early 30’s Helen is beginning to realize how toxic her family is and hatches an escape plan with her friend Lorna. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advance copy for an honest review.

Helen’s mother Sarah disappears in Capri, Italy when Helen is just 3 years old. Her body was found off a cliff, and her death was ruled an accident. The family goes back to this town every year, and on the 30th death anniversary, Sarah’s necklace is found. Some of her family do not think her death was actually an accident, and Helen tries to get to the bottom of this mystery. While on the trip, the assistant, Lorna disappears and now there’s two mysteries to solve including tons of rich family drama.

The premise seemed like something I would enjoy, but I was quickly shown I did not like this author’s writing style. It was too descriptive for me when unnecessary, and the story draggeddddd on. The writing was dry, hardly kept my attention, and none of the characters were likeable. It is told from a present and past timeline, but I kept getting confused on who’s point of view was being told and what timeline we were in. It was just a bit chaotic for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC!

A woman died. A daughter grew up without answers. A family kept their secrets buried—until now. Because the past doesn’t stay hidden forever. And for the Lingates, it’s time to pay up.

Here are Reasons to Read:

A Rich, Old-Money Family with Deadly Secrets – The Lingates have spent 30 years covering up the truth, but the past is finally catching up to them.
A Haunting, Atmospheric Mystery – Set on the cliffs of Capri, the story weaves together gothic suspense, eerie family traditions, and a long-buried tragedy.
Twisted Family Drama & Psychological Tension – Daughter Helen must navigate a web of lies, paranoia, and manipulation to escape the suffocating grip of her powerful family.

While this book started off really strong, I have to say it started to lag in the middle. We jump around timelines, even within the same point of view chapter and sometimes that makes it hard to keep up. The original mystery is very twisty though and you find yourself just wanting to know what happens. But overall, you just want to like these characters more than you do but if you don’t mind that, this thriller might be for you.

Title: Saltwater
By: Katy Hays
Pub. Date: March 25, 2025

Genre:
Fiction, Women’s

Trigger warnings:
Deceitfulness, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Murder, Sucide (mentioned)

Memorable Quotes:
“We are also the product of our mistakes. Regretting them is a waste of time. They are a part of us.”

Summary/Review:
Helen is on an excursion in Capri when her mother’s necklace is discovered. Her mother, Sara Lingate, passed away mysteriously 30 years ago. However, secrets, betrayal, and lies are at the root of these wealthy characters.

This is a rich people making things disappear is the theme for this trope! The overall plotline of the book was intriguing for me, but writing from multiple points of view and dual timelines can be tricky. I felt the transitions between characters and past vs.present were really rough. I struggled and sometimes found myself going back to see who was who and where we were again. My background knowledge lacked the character depth and timeline to do such in this novel. It wasn’t for me, however, if you enjoy a slow build you might enjoy this novel.

Thank you to Katy Hays, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine , and NetGalley for the opportunity of an Advanced Readers Copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#Saltwater
#RandomHousePublishingGroupBallatine
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley

This book is so full of twists and turns, it will make your head spin! In 1992, Sarah Lingate was tragically found dead while on vacation with her family in Capri. The Lingates are old money, powerful and not to be messed with. in fact, they return to Capri every year on the anniversary of Sarah's death to the same villa, to prove to the world that they are not at fault.
However, all is not right in the House of Lingate. Helen Lingate, daughter of Sarah, chafing at her familial binds, has concocted a scheme with her uncle Marcus's assistant, Lorna Moreno, to extract money (and thus freedom for Helen) by blackmail. This seems simple until Lorna herself goes missing and is found dead.
Told in dueling timelines and from Helen and Lorna's POVs, along with Sarah's before her death, Saltwater will leave you dizzy and still thinking of this story days later. Unputdownable.

*Special thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine for this digital e-arc.*

Set on Capri, the landscape and environment absolutely lend character and ambiance to this one! I love a story that really feels like it inhabits the setting, and I also really enjoy the messy lives of rich people (and hopefully watching them getting taken down), so this one delivers. I appreciated the differing perspectives offered in the story between Helen and Lorna, and the occasional others that pop up and provide context. I preferred this one to the author's last book, but both of these books are really great at atmosphere.

Thirty years ago on the island of Capri a young mother who was on vacation with her family was found at the bottom of the cliffs of the rented villa. Every year the family still comes to Capri for a week to vacation. When the daughter of the victim was old enough she started attending as well. Having only been three when her mother died, Helen has few memories of her mother, and her father and the rest of the family will not talk about her. Even tho it was deemed an accident, rumors have followed the family ever since. Now Helen with the help of her friend Lorna, is determined to find out about what really happened to her mother. What Helen learns is that nothing she has been told is the truth, and no one is who they seem to be. And by the time the vacation comes to an end, there are multiple deaths, and most of the lies are exposed, but still not all.

Synopsis: The mysterious death of Sarah Lingate on Capri in 1992 still haunts her family 30 years later. During their annual family retreat to the island, Sarah’s daughter Helen searches for the truth about her mother’s death, but not before another body washes ashore.

Thoughts: The standout of this book is the gorgeous and moody atmosphere of the cliff side villa on the island of Capri. It makes for a stunning backdrop to the twisty murder mystery, which is a very, very slow burn. I will say I was blown away by the twists, though! The rich people behaving badly trope is actually done so well here, but I just don’t think it’s for me right now. I didn’t connect to any of the characters and wasn’t invested in what happened to them. TL;DR I loved the setting and premise, but the execution fell a bit flat for me.

Read this if you like:
🌊 rich people behaving badly
🌊 Capri
🌊 murder mystery
🌊 dual timeline
🌊 slow burn suspense
🌊 multi pov

"Maybe we are all ruins, enduring against the permanence of the sea, the sun, our grief."

This atmospheric thriller takes us to the stunning cliffs of Capri, where the Lingate family's annual vacation is starts to unravel when Sarah's necklace—missing since her fatal fall 30 years ago—mysteriously reappears.
The quote above perfectly captures the book's blend of stunning setting and emotional weight as the Lingate family confronts their buried past. While the gorgeous Capri setting creates a perfect backdrop for this family drama filled with secrets and tension, the execution doesn't quite live up to its potential. The multiple timelines and perspectives, which should have enhanced the mystery, often felt disjointed, leaving me flipping back to figure out which character was narrating. The pacing dragged in places, with some chapters feeling like unnecessary filler that could have been trimmed for a tighter story.
The Lingates themselves are not particularly likeable—a wealthy family harboring dark secrets—but this actually works in the book's favor, creating an unsettling dynamic that fuels the mystery. What truly shines is the final reveal, which I didn't see coming and thought was masterfully executed.
Despite its flaws, the atmospheric setting, family drama, and surprising conclusion make this a solid beach read. I'd definitely try another book by this author, though I wish this one had been about 10% shorter and more carefully structured.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review - 3.5 stars rounded to 4

Saltwater by Katy Hays was a solid read! It kept me on my toes throughout, and the ending was satisfying. A well-paced, engaging story that kept me hooked.

I was invited to read this book on Net Gallery a few months back. I thought it sounded right up my alley; a mystery/ suspense set in Capri? Yes, please. I held off on accepting it until I was sure I'd have time to read it before publication (I may have requested too many March/ April releases 😅)

This was definitely slow moving. I had a little bit of difficulty getting into the flow of it till the story and characters settled. You have Lorna's POV timestamped leading up to her disappearance, Helen's POV in the present time, and Sarah's (Helen's mom) POV timestamped in the past and leading up to her death. It's clear that Lorna has some secrets and suspicious reasons for working with the Lingates, and Helen... Poor Helen. For living a life of luxury, she's been so isolated and basically imprisoned by her family. At times, I had to keep reminding myself that Helen was in her 30's because it felt like she was merely a young adult with her family. The Lingates' suffocation was equally palpable in Sarah's storyline.

As the storylines all start to merge in a way, I could feel my adrenaline increase for answers. Was Sarah's death an accident or murder? Did something happen to Lorna, or did she disappear of her own volition? Could Helen find a way to finally make it out from under her family's clutches? Part 2 provided those answers as well as some new POV's and twists, but the storyline and my interest just seemed to dwindle again. All in all, this was an ok (but not great) read for me, and the setting was my favorite part. May be more of a hit for others though!

Saltwater by Katy Hays ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The writing and setting were everything in this one. I was pulled into this slow-burn mystery and enjoyed the slow pace until the very end.

This one embodied the ‘rich people behaving badly’ trope. Don’t expect to love the characters because they were all horrible in their own way. Don’t expect a quick, twisty thriller. This one was slow and clever, letting readers marinate in the Italian atmosphere filled with dark secrets and paranoia.

This read is perfect for readers looking for a summertime, leisurely read by the pool, fans of slow burn, atmospheric reads, and fans of rich people behaving badly.

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

Saltwater is the title of the never-published play by playwright Sarah Lingate. Wife to well-known “old money”, Richard Lingate, she dies on a trip to Capri under questionable circumstances. Filed an accidental death or suicide, 30 years go by before her story re-emerges during her surviving families yearly trip to the same villa.

My summary from above couldn’t be farther from what I got out of this novel. While this was the premise, the storyline took many different turns. Using multiple POVs and past/present/future timelines, it was easy to get lost in the monotony of “setting the stage” and filling in of all character aspects. The twist(s) were amazing and unexpected (and a little unbelievable), but you really have to push through the first 85% of the book to make it there. Overall, I think people will enjoy the book, but it wasn’t my cup of cappuccino.

This was a gripping thriller that masterfully blends suspense, mystery, and the stunning allure of Italy. Set against the stunning backdrop of Capri, the novel follows the unexpected journey of a young woman who is trying to figure out the real background of her mothers's death. But what begins as a routine investigation quickly spirals into a maze of secrets, lies, and chilling revelations.

The author's vivid and warm descriptions of Italy make the setting a character in its own right, with the "salt water" and the beautiful background creating an eerie contrast to the tension and danger lurking beneath the surface. The story takes full advantage of Italy's rich history, blending old-world charm with modern-day intrigue.

The plot is filled with twists and turns surprising you around all the corners. Just when you think you’ve figured out where things are heading, a new twist completely upends the narrative, making it impossible to put the book down. Whether it's the enigmatic locals with their own dark pasts or the sudden appearance of unexpected story turns, this book kept me on my toes!

One of the standout elements of the book is its fast-paced, unpredictable structure. Every chapter leaves you with more questions than answers, and the tension builds to a thrilling crescendo. The final twist is utterly satisfying, tying together seemingly disparate threads into an interesting conclusion that is both surprising and thought-provoking.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

While I found it a bit rough to start - lots of POV and timeframes to adjust to at the start - I did end up really enjoying the entertainment value it offered!

Lorna has joined a very rich family on a vacation. She's gone from friends with the daughter to the uncle's assistant. But the family is not an ordinary family. They go back to this same island, year after year, to try to prove to everyone that years ago - when the wife of one of the brothers fell to her death - that the family had nothing to do with it.

But this trip is different. Helen, the daughter, and Lorna, the assistant - they have some surprises for the family. I found the beginning to be a bit slow as you are introduced to many POV and the two timelines. I did appreciate the little bits of articles and information and I loved when they shed new light on the story and not just a re-telling of what we already knew.

I did find the twists in the end to be entertaining even if I struggled to find them believable. Sometimes the fun is in the sheer shock and awe - the twists were fun and the ending had a great pace and conclusion.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Loved from start to finish! I am in awe by the writing and the prose, and the story. I am so obbsessed with all of the characters, and the main character despite everything has redeeming and enduring qualities.

Saltwater by Katy Hays was just not enough for me to enjoy. I did love the descriptions of Capri, it sounds like a beautiful place but I would not enjoy being there with such obnoxious people. The writing was great but I just couldn’t enjoy the book. I felt like so much detail made things more confusing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.