Unfortunately this was a miss for me. It was ultimately too unrealistic (and quite a bit like another thriller I just finished) with no redeeming characters to make me even care. The setting on the island of Capri was excellent though!

This is just my opinion, and I can see it really working for others. Aside from a few typos, it was well written and the plot moved fairly quickly. So give it a try if it sounds like something you’d enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars

The best way I can sum up Katy Hays’ latest book is Succession meets The White Lotus. If you are a fan of either of those streaming sensations or just love a good rich people behaving badly thriller, you will want to throw Saltwater in your suitcase for your next vacation, or in your beach bag for your next trip to the pool or oceanside.

I went into this book mostly blind. Truth be told, I am hard-pressed to pass up any title with the word salt in it. I took one look at the title and the alluring cover, and I was in. Saltwater did not disappoint this thriller-loving reader. I decided to read this on a flight to Puerto Rico, where my husband and I were going to be vacationing for a few days. When flying, I need a propulsive read and this book satisfied that requirement. Since I was leaving the frigid temperatures of the Northeast U.S. behind for a few days, I wanted a story that would blend well with the warm and sultry climate I was entering. Capri is not Puerto Rico, but the vibes in Saltwater suited perfectly for my weekend getaway.

Saltwater contains many characters you probably won’t like, but as with Succession, you might find yourself rooting for some of them nevertheless, or maybe not. This story revolves around one uber-wealthy family, the Lingates, and a past scandal that continues to haunt them 30 years later. While the Lingates vacation on the island of Capri, what often seems crisp and sparkling in the light of day, becomes murkier as evening approaches, and even less clear under the haze of alcohol, clubs, and all-night partying. I am the type of reader who tries to figure out the puzzles as I read, and this one seemed pretty straightforward, being the seasoned thriller/mystery reader I am. But even I found myself gasping out loud at some of the twists, turns and reveals as this story unfolded.

Saltwater by Katy Hays releases on March 25, 2025, just in time for summer in some parts of the world. If you enjoy thrillers set in summery, sultry settings, with a cast of characters that behave in appalling ways, and are looking for a perfect beach bag book, definitely give Saltwater a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for the ARC of Saltwater by Katy Hays. I am voluntarily reviewing this book, and all opinions are my own.

Saltwater is a twisty, atmospheric mystery set on the island of Capri—perfect for mystery fans looking for a great beach read this summer.

The story unfolds across multiple timelines and perspectives, a structure I typically enjoy. However, the narrating characters lacked distinct voices, making it difficult at times to track whose POV I was in. I often had to backtrack to the beginning of chapters for clarity. That said, I appreciated the newspaper articles woven throughout, which added an interesting break in the narrative.

As for the characters? Pretty much all of them were unlikable—this is a book where everyone is guilty in some way. Despite that, the intrigue kept me engaged, and the setting added to the suspenseful, immersive feel of the story.

Salt Water by Katy Hays is a compelling, emotional read about a daughter, who returns to her small hometown after her mother’s sudden death. She’s looking for answers, but what she finds are long-held family secrets and a lot of unresolved feelings. The setting of Calarosa, with its coastal vibes, really sets the mood for the book, which is full of grief, mystery, and self-discovery. Ruth’s journey of uncovering her mom’s past is slow but powerful, and the characters—especially her family—are messy and real. If you like stories about family drama, personal growth, and a little mystery, Salt Water is a great pick. It’s a bit of a slower read, but it is well written!

SALTWATER is a family drama turned murder mystery-thriller where all bets are off thanks to rich people behaving badly, betrayal and grudges.
Sarah Lingate disappeared, her body found below the cliffs of Capri, Italy in 1992. She was there vacationing with her husband Richard and his oil magnate parents-the Lingate’s. Her death was ruled accidental but was it really??
Thirty years later vacationing back on Capri, Sarah’s daughter Helen, along with the family assistant Lorna, plot an escape from the Lingate’s. The finding of her mother’s necklace (worn on the night she died) throws a wrench in her plans. Lorna disappears and her mother’s cold case is reopened. Everyone from that vacation in ‘92 is suspect including her controlling manipulative father.
Told with STELLAR TWISTS, red herrings, intriguing suspense, and an ensemble cast of the worst people you’ll ever NOT have to meet, thank goodness. This is a bit of a slow burn but didn’t bother me. And oh my gosh that ending was off-the-wall. I read in one sitting. 4.25 — Pub. 3/25/25

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thirty years ago, a famous playwright fell to her death on the island of Capri. Her ultra rich family returns to the island every year to prove that they don’t feel the sting of accusations that they had something to do with her death. Her young daughter, Helen, never knew her mother, and now, with the help of her uncle’s assistant is finally determined to learn the truth of what happened that fateful night years ago. But will the truth set her free or will it trap her further into her controlling family’s web?

This story is told through multiple timelines and many points of view. I did not have trouble keeping track of what was happening, though. Everything was well labeled.

This book was incredible. I just need to start out by saying that.

There’s so much intrigue and drama going on, I felt like I was watching Italian version of some kind of reality show, but with the stakes so much higher. You know, as in life and death - oh and tens of millions of dollars. Plus, the Capri setting in the Mediterranean was just amazing, I felt like I was on vacation too while I was reading this.

The author really plays the long game in this one, revealing just enough at various points to let you think you know what’s going on, and then the rug is pulled out from under you with another twist or revelation that changes the course of the story. It’s really incredibly exciting and makes you feel like anything can happen around the corner. I like books like that that keep you on your toes.

Plus, what’s great about these insular family dramas is that you don’t know who you can truly trust because everyone can be a suspect and everyone can turn on people at any time. So it was really down to the wire trying to figure out who was “good“ and who was “bad.” That also adds to the mystery in the drama because you can go an entire book thinking that someone feels one way only to realize that they’re on a completely separate plane. But I’m not going to spoil anything here.

I’ll also just say the ending was really fascinating, although you have to suspend belief a little bit. But I didn’t really mind that.

Overall, I highly recommend taking a trip to Italy with this book. You won’t be disappointed!

"Saltwater" is Katy Hays's second novel and it is no sophomore slump! If anything, I enjoyed it even more than I did "The Cloisters," Though it dragged on in parts, and I do think the book could have been shorter, I was entertained from the first page until the last. Part thriller and part family drama (and oh-my-goodness, the Drama with a capital D of this family!), this twisty book kept me guessing and was filled with misdirection and intrigue. The author's portrayal of the gorgeous island of Capri made me feel like I was actually there, indulging in the lifestyles of the wealth characters. The characters are so well-developed that they come alive from the pages, but I am thankful they aren't really real people because they are all awful people! I liked the author's use of multiple perspectives and timelines; it added to the suspense and was a very effective way to tell the story. And the ending blew my mind!

If you are looking for a murder mystery with a lot of family drama and "rich people problems" then this is the book for you! Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book, a perfect beach read.

I randomly decided to start this because I felt like I was in a reading slump and I wanted to try something that was different than what I usually read. I was immediately hooked. Firstly, I have to point out that I loved the setting. Being in Capri felt SO real to me. and I'm not sure why, but I was picturing White Lotus Season 2. I loved all the characters and didn't trust any of them. (I still don't trust Freddy???) I wish we would have for sure found out if Lorna's baby was his. Also, I feel like I didn't get clarity on how Lorna left Capri and why she did, and why Marcus was okay with it? Maybe I just didn't understand it fully. However, I did like all the twists!

I was completely captivated by Saltwater! The vivid descriptions of Italy made me feel like I was right there, soaking in the scenery alongside the characters. The mystery had me hooked from the start; I thought I had figured out the ending early on, but I was completely wrong. I could not have expected the twists that unfolded! I also loved how all the characters were so deeply interwoven, each connection adding another layer to the story. This was an absolutely gripping read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a beautifully written mystery with an unexpected ending.

Twisty rich family drama!! This book has so many surprises. The setting of Capri is beautiful but almost becomes toxic from this family's drama. Helen's mother's death 30yr before and now Lorna disappears, possibly recreating history. Loved the different POVs - they were expertly placed. Highly recommend! Thanks netgalley and Ballentine books for the early copy!!

Review: Saltwater

A decades-old mystery, a glamorous yet haunting setting, and a web of family secrets make Saltwater a compelling slow-burn thriller. In 1992, Sarah Lingate was found dead beneath the cliffs of Capri. Her death was ruled an accident, but suspicions have always lingered. Now, thirty years later, her daughter Helen returns to the island, determined to uncover the truth about her mother’s fate.

The novel seamlessly weaves between multiple timelines and perspectives—Sarah in the past, Helen and family assistant Lorna in the present—gradually unraveling long-buried secrets. The writing is lush and atmospheric, painting a vivid picture of Capri’s breathtaking beauty and underlying dangers. The setting becomes a character itself, with the glistening Mediterranean waters contrasting the darkness lurking within the Lingate family.

While the plot unfolds slowly, the final quarter delivers shocking twists that make the wait worthwhile. The inclusion of newspaper clippings adds depth, reinforcing the novel’s theme of perception versus reality. The audiobook narration by Allyson Ryan, Cassandra Campbell, and Carlotta Brentan enhances the storytelling, making it easy to track the different timelines and voices.

Though the pacing may feel too leisurely at times, Saltwater is a gripping tale of privilege, betrayal, and the cost of uncovering the past. Fans of Succession, The White Lotus, and The Fury by Alex Michaelides will appreciate this sophisticated mystery.

#MysteryThriller #FamilySecrets #SlowBurnSuspense #RichPeopleBehavingBadly #AtmosphericReads #Capri #BookReview #TBR

"On glittering Capri, anything can be a mirage. And no one holds a grudge like family.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters comes an electrifying thriller about an opulent family retreat to Italy that's shattered by the resurfacing of a decades-old crime.

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.

Haunted by the specter of that night, the legendary Lingate family unity is pushed to a breaking point, and Helen seizes the opportunity. Enlisting the help of Lorna Moreno, a family assistant, the two plot their escape from Helen's paranoid, insular family. But when Lorna disappears and the investigation into Sarah's death is reopened, Helen has to confront the fact that everyone who was on Capri thirty years ago remains a suspect - her controlling father, Richard; her rarely lucid aunt, Naomi; her distant uncle, Marcus; and their circle of friends, visitors, and staff. Even Lorna, her closest ally, may not be who she seems.

As long-hidden secrets about that night boil to surface, one thing becomes clear: Not everyone will leave the island alive."

First question, when did the aunt start being rarely lucid? Could she be hiding something!?!

Thank you NetGalley! I loved the description for this book. However the story itself fell flat. It started out slow and continued that way. While their were a few twists later on, I was already checked out of the plot

While I loved the setting, ultimately this one was a little too much of a slow burn for me. I was bored in the beginning, and by the time the twists and turns started coming about 3/4 of the way through I was already somewhat disengaged.

The description made me think that this was going to be a great family drama/thriller but... I was bored. It started out slow and did not really pick up. I felt like there wasn't enough character development and it caused me not to really care about anyone. They were all awful in the end.

There were a few twists at the very end but at that point I just wasn't interested anymore.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

A slow burn with an unlikeable (yet fascinating) family, Salt Water follows the Lingates as they vacation in Capri, honoring Sarah Lingate, who died there in 1992. When their assistant, Lorna, goes missing, tensions rise.

The dual timeline adds intrigue but feels disjointed, and the pacing drags until the final 100 pages—where twists come in a rush. While the ending delivers, I wish the suspense had been more evenly spread. A good read for those who enjoy messy family drama and slow-building mysteries.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published March 25, 2025.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I was completely bored and really had no interest in who killed who. It would have been a DNF if it wasn’t an ARC that I needed to read and review. Sadly cannot recommend.

The best part about it was the beautiful setting.

Sarah Lingate is found dead in 1992. Her family has never believed that it was an accident & everyday they come back to try & solve the mystery.. 30 years into the mystery, a surprise awaits them, the necklace that she was wearing the night she died. Will this help them find the answers that they need.

3.5 stars! I really enjoyed this book—rich people behaving badly, a beautiful Capri setting, and White Lotus vibes made for the perfect combination. I liked that while the mystery is certainly a heavy focus of the story, it also feels like a family drama at its core, making it a great fit for fans of both thrillers and domestic dramas! I could see this being a super popular beach read this summer. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for the ARC.

thank you net galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

this story follows a few characters across different timelines. In 1992, Sarah Lingate was discovered dead beneath the cliffs of Capri, the cause of death ruled "accidental" despite the suspicious circumstances.

this story follows the lingate family trying to navigate a vacation gone bad. They visit the same island every year in honor of Sarah Lingate, the deceased family member. Everything seems to be going as planned, that is until Lorna, the assistant, goes missing.

The story flip flops between past and present which makes for a confusing time. Some of the characters were hard to track, and unfortunately i didn't connect to any one of them. These characters were so unlikeable, which is a plus for me, I love an unlikeable character, let alone an unlikeable entire family!

This book was slow until about 3/4 of the way through, then a bunch of twists and turns happened. I appreciated the twists at the end, but wish it wasn't all jumbled in the last 100 pages.

If you like white lotus, rich people drama, and european settings with a fun little mysetery, this is a book for you!