Oh, so fun! Dateline meets The Real Housewives of Italy in this deliciously witty tale of family and wealth. I dove in not sure what to expect, just knowing that I loved Katy Hays last book, The Cloisters. She does not disappoint! Although, this is a totally different vibe from the art museum mystery of her last novel— Think more along the lines of White Lotus!

Saltwater is masterfully written to the point that it both convinces you to want visit Capri, Italy while also spooks you enough not to go anywhere near it! Twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end!

So freakin’ fun. And beautiful cover!

Welcome to the Isle of Capri, and the summer home of the Lingate family. The Lingates are very rich and (sometimes) famous, and even after Sarah Lingate died there in 1992, the family returns every summer to prove (we’re not sure to whom) that they are still very rich and above reproach. Sarah’s death was ruled an accident, but we soon learn that there are many sides to this complex story and every family member holds a piece of it, which they keep closely guarded, from the world and from each other.

The beginning of the book is slow going. The story is told by several narrators: Sarah’s daughter Helen, Helen’s friend Lorna who is also her uncle’s assistant, Sarah herself from 1992, aunt Naomi and caretaker Renata. Each of them has learned to be elusive, so it takes some time before we figure out an overarching thread of truth. When Lorna goes missing in a similar way as Sarah did, the threads start to unravel, and by the last quarter of the book the secrets are practically spilling over each other as they are revealed. But wait, is Marcus’ truth the same as Richard’s truth? Does perennially drunk Naomi have a different version? Who will reveal the final secrets?

One of the strengths of this book is the way Hays subtlety underscores the reality of the Lingates’ existence by describing the scenery in which they navigate. The mansion is often depicted as having crumbling walls and peeling paint in corners which are not seen by the outside world. At one point, a character is described as circumnavigating a party like “a fatty sturgeon.” The veneer is very thin, and the assumption is that they have to work very hard to keep it from cracking.

One of the weaknesses of this book is that these pitiful people are deeply unlikeable. The one character who might be is Sarah, but she is gone, having been completely swallowed up by the family even before her disappearance. It is hard to find someone to cheer for. This is a tragic story in the classic Greek sense: the characters are implicit in their own downfall. It makes for an engaging tale, but not necessarily a feel-good one. Still, it pulled me in, and I left admiring the writer’s extraordinary skill, if not totally content with the story

Many thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

I liked Hay's previous book so much because of the setting, this one lacked the same unique pull that The Cloisters had, as I feel like this setting is becoming more common for books. Still an interesting story!

Thanks to Random House/Ballentine Books for this ARC of Katy Hays' 'Saltwater.'

Wow! What a soap opera of the lifestyles of the rich and famous this is!

A decades old murder of a rising star in the theatrical world, whose light had begun to dim under the pressure of marrying into a super-wealthy old family sends shockwaves through and down the years to culminate in a week-long frenzy of twists and turns on the island of Carpi in the Mediterranean.

Layer after layer of character and happenings are added and peeled off in rapid-fire succession throughout this fantasy of wealth, privilege, and consequences and lack thereof.

Really well-paced with those aforementioned twists and turns happening constantly and delightfully.

If this isn't made into a Netflix/Apple+/HBO Max miniseries I'll be amazed, it's written to be enjoyed on the screen.

Bravo!

Wish I had this book when I was at the beach, would've been perfect there. Torn between wanting to go to Capri, and wanting to stay far far away.
This was an intriguing family drama wrapped into a murder mystery that was a bit slow going at the start, but ended with a big twist (or a few). Quick, entertaining read that I wish I could talk about with my book club - maybe not the most original or thrilling thing I've read, but it took me for a ride. 3.5 rounded up.

I’ve had the opportunity to read Saltwater by Katy Hays. The tale is good overall. The mystery sleuthing is passable. The police/detective/forensic aspects are sufficient for the story.

I am happy to have read it. Two things kept pulling me away from enjoying the book as much as I would have liked to. The first is the pacing. It never appeared to slow down. I couldn't avoid the feeling of a driving rat-tat-tat in the back of my mind. Perhaps the author was in flow, and her words were gushing to the page. Second, it was filled with miserable characters living elite miserable lives. Thus, it did not create much sympathy for them. Both of these points my have been the writers intent to drive the reader's mood.

This is my first book by Katy Hays and I really enjoyed it. I though it was a great summer read, the setting was captured perfectly in the summer in Capri. Every time I thought I figured out the truth in the web of lies of the ultra rich, old money, Wingate family. The lengths these people are willing to go to to conceal their secrets is outrageous. Read this in two days and am thankful for the ARC.

thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review!

yeah this one just didn't do it for me. I'm stunned to see it's only 336 pages in print, as it felt way longer than that. I think this book needed to be about a third shorter... it felt overly long and drawn out. I think this writer is good but also she has sort of a dreamy quality to her writing that doesn't work much in a thriller. the characters are kind of generic Terrible Rich People. some of the twists toward the end are quite good, and some are absurdly implausible. idk! not terrible but just did not do it for me.

Are you ready for your next thriller and even better, it is set in Italy? If so, Saltwater should be your next read. You’ll regret skipping this one.

Secrets. Betrayals. Old money. Murder. All on warm boozy summer nights on the idyllic island of Capri. Buckle up for a ride with the Lingates. A fabulously wealthy family fuel by haunting pasts, secret suspicions and wicked characters you will love to hate.

Admittedly I am not a murder/suspense reader but this plot line and setting was too good for me to pass up. I think many readers will enjoy this title.

It does have varying character POVs and skips in time. However, the twisty plot turns, good pacing in the plot and captivating details will keep most readers in the pocket. The setting descriptions are fantastic. I feel like Capri was as much a player in the story as the characters. The ending was a little much for me but overall perfectly entertaining summer read!

It hits shelves May 2025. Pick it up for your Memorial Day weekend. Tell the Lingates I sent you. :)

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this advance readers copy. Congratulations to Katy Hays, think you got yourself another winner!

This started slow but ended up as a very respectable sophomore novel that is both family drama and thriller. And it really makes you want to go to Capri, though I think I would feel really, really poor there.

In 1992 Sarah Lingate was found dead below the cliffs of Capri. She left behind her three year old daughter, Helen and husband. Her death was determined to be an accident even though most people think her in-laws and/or husband, the Lingates are involved and their old money in shielding them.

Thirty years later the Lingates arrive back at the same villa in Capri for their annual vacation. Helen is essentially held prisoner, Britney style. When they arrive so does a package containing the necklace Sarah was wearing on the night she died. Helen decides to use this as an opportunity to escape from her family and enlists the help of family employee Lorna Moreno. Then Lorna disappears. Where is she and what happened to Sarah?

Katy Hays has written a page-turner! Riveting looks into the life of a rich family with undertones of murder and intrigue make for a great read. I enjoyed the snippets about Italy, too. The Lingates kept me reading to find out the ending and did not disappoint. I would definitely read more from this talented author.

I would say 3.5 stars for me! Based on the description I was really excited for this book however- I did feel like the writing did lack a bit. This book just made me want more overall. It was also a bit hard to follow along and keep track of everything mentally that it was a hard book to keep picking up.

I absolutely jumped on this novel by the author of one of my favorite debut novels ever, The Cloisters—and I'm so glad I did! Saltwater, by Katy Hays, is a past/present mystery with a fabulous setting, the island of Capri. It's hard to give too many details because I don't want to spoil even the tiniest bit of this story. I will also add that the novel delivered on the high expectations I had, not just from her previous book, but also from the gorgeous cover. Highly recommend!!!

wow what a good mystery of someone dying and money surrounding this rich family in capri. loved that it was told in different point of views and so many secrets and everyone had 2 sides to them.

Saltwater by Katy Hays was hard to get into. Normally I enjoy stories told from multiple times periods and narrators, but this one was slow moving and convoluted at times. However, I'm glad I stuck with it because it started to move faster and make more sense after the halfway point and the twist at the end was worth it. Reading this book felt like watching an old movie, very atmospheric. Four out of five stars.

I devoured this book. I was approved on Monday, and here I am, posting my review on Tuesday. My one regret is that I didn’t read it on a beach somewhere.

We split our time between the points-of-view of Sarah, who died in Capri in 1992, her daughter Helen, and Helen’s friend Lorna. There are two central mysteries in this book: what happened to Sarah in 1992, and where is Lorna in the present day?

The characters were so alive, so vivid; I was so interested in not just finding out what they did, but also their motivations for doing so. I was especially invested in all of the women in this book: Sarah, Helen, Lorna, and Naomi (Sarah’s sister-in-law). Four strong women figuring out their place in the world of the Lingate men, figuring out their roles and their desires and whether those are at odds with each other.

The first half of the book is a bit of a slow burn—in a good way—as we get to know the characters and the (beautiful) setting. But around the halfway mark, things really pick up and the twists start coming. Trust me when I tell you that you won’t see the last ten percent of the book coming!

This is the book I’ll be suggesting to my friends next summer when they’re looking for a well-written thriller to bring to the beach!

This was a really good book. Good storytelling. I kinda figured it out, but not really. Glad I didn’t. Will definitely recommend when released.

I enjoyed the description of the setting of this book, Capri is beautiful! Unfortunately, I was not able to get into the story and decided to DNF at 41%. I hope others like it more than I did!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Lingates are an old money family, those who want to be above reproach, above suspicion, whose name opens doors and where reputation is of the utmost importance. Helen Lingate grew up in this family, knowing her mother, Sarah died when she was three years old but not much more. Every year, the family returns to Capri, Italy to the same villa where Sarah died. Only this year, things are very different for the family, there are mysteries to solve. What is Helen plotting? What does Lorna Moreno, her uncle’s Marcus assistant know? Between her Aunt Naomi, who is a bit of a drunk, her uncle Richard, who wants to smooth over all situations, not to mention her own father, Richard, what does each member of the family know? Add in servants, acquaintances even the town’s folk, everyone has an opinion about what is happening, suspicions are raised, gossip is being spread and tensions are mounting.

This is a great read, the storyline flows between the present and the past. Each adding to the mystery and the tension the family is experiencing. Each mystery storyline provides clues but until the very end, you are not completely sure what is the truth. Well written, smoothly unfolding mystery, the characters are well developed and even the island of Capri is a wonderful addition to the story. This is a not to miss story!