Katy Hays' Saltwater is a beautifully written and emotionally rich novel that immerses readers in a story about love, loss, and the complexities of self-discovery. With its lush prose and vivid imagery, this novel explores the intersection of personal growth, the environment, and human connections, making it a thoughtful and engaging read.

The story follows the protagonist as she navigates the aftermath of a loss, returning to a coastal town where she grapples with her past and the relationships that have shaped her. Hays does an excellent job of creating a poignant atmosphere, with the sea and its surrounding landscape serving as a powerful metaphor for the character's internal journey. The setting is intricately described, and the natural world feels as alive and integral to the story as the characters themselves.

The characters in Saltwater are multi-dimensional and compelling. The protagonist’s emotional struggles are portrayed with depth and nuance, making her journey of healing and self-understanding both relatable and moving. The relationships she forms—both new and old—are thoughtfully explored, and the dynamics between the characters add emotional weight to the narrative.

Hays’ writing is lyrical and introspective, with a deep sense of place that immerses the reader in the story. The pacing of the book is deliberate, allowing the narrative to unfold slowly and thoughtfully. This slower pace may not be for everyone, especially those looking for a more fast-paced, plot-driven story. However, for readers who enjoy character-driven stories that explore themes of grief, identity, and connection, Saltwater is both rewarding and beautiful.

One minor drawback is that the novel’s pacing can sometimes feel a bit too slow, and at times, the introspective nature of the story might feel overwhelming for readers who prefer more plot-driven narratives. However, for those who appreciate rich character development and evocative prose, these moments add to the emotional depth of the book rather than detract from it.

In conclusion, Saltwater is a poignant and beautifully written novel that delves into themes of loss, love, and personal growth. Katy Hays’ lyrical writing and rich character exploration make this a moving and thought-provoking read. While the pacing may not suit everyone’s tastes, readers who enjoy introspective, emotionally-driven stories will find Saltwater to be a deeply rewarding experience.

The cover of this book is so beautiful, the scenery in the background and the gorgeous water is what drew me into it as well as the title. This is my first book by this author, and it is a mystery thriller, that follows a MPOV across a variety of different timelines. Each story is intricating interwoven to keep the reader engaged and turning pages.

In this book is based off the island Capri and follows a wealthy family that we soon discover has a dark family secret from 30 years ago (who doesn't love a good family drama, and mystery, what family doesn't have dark secrets of their own). 30 years ago, Sarah Lingate was discovered at the bottom of a cliff off of Capri. Her cause of death was ruled "accidental" or was it?

From the time of Sarah’s "accident" the family makes it a tradition almost to go to the island every year. On the anniversary of her thirtieth death anniversary, something strange happens to the Lingate family related to Sarah’s death. Helen, Sarah’s daughter, decides to leave with the family assistant, Lorna. What happens next is that Lorna disappears, and the thirty-year-old death investigation is cracked wide open again.

This author did a wonderful job of writing an atmospheric, captivating and engaging plot and storyline. It keeps the reader flipping pages to see what happens next. I personally love books that bounce between narratives, and have MPOV's, I love knowing each person's thoughts and point of view.

A thriller set in beachside Italy is right up my alley! Especially after just watching season 2 of The White Lotus.
Rich people and their bad decisions is always a good time, but throw in family drama and murder and it’s even more exciting.

While I loved the setting and the twists, the pacing of this was a little off for me as a thriller fan. It was a little too slow for me until about the 60% mark, after that I was having a thrilling time unraveling the mysteries of the Lingate family. I love Katy’s historical influences and her intelligence shines in both of her books!

In 1992 Sarah Lingate is found dead and suspicions run rampant that the old money Lingate family she married into had something to do with it. Now thirteen years later, the family returns to the island of Capri.

A great mystery for those that love wealthy people tropes, especially in vacation settings. I enjoyed how newspaper clips from the past helped to tell the story. This was an interesting story and the writing was well done, it just wasn’t my favorite but it may be yours! The author is talented and the writing flowed well.

“This, I have always known, despite its sparkling, azurine beauty, is a place of violence.”

Saltwater comes out 3/25.

rich people are WILD 🤯 I’m a sucker for a family drama turned murder mystery, so I knew I was all in from the very first chapter!!

alternating between the 1990s and present day, the lingate family is full of secrets, including what really happened to sarah on capri - and what is happening now to the family as they reunite on the same island… and let me tell you, the backdrop of capri and the lilian islands was GORGEOUS 💛 I absolutely ate up every description & felt like I was truly there

the alternating POVs between sarah in the 90s, helen (her daughter) in present day, and lorna (the family assistant) in present day, made sense in theory - but there were some chapters that just felt jarring to me 🤷🏼‍♀️ I did enjoy seeing all of the events play out through their respective eyes though

and while I figured the family’s own secrets would be the death of them (literally and figuratively), the ending still shocked me 😮‍💨 it ended on a very satisfying note

helen was the only factor that didn’t always work for me… a product of her own family, she wasn’t the most likable or willing to do what it takes in the end (which I get it’s your family but they might have unalived your mom so 👀)

a huge thank you to netgalley and ballantine for the advanced copy in exchange for a honest review!

rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: barbara d’asti red blend

Set in Capri - a rich family and their personal assistant stuff up all the dramaaaa
Sarah is killed and no one's knows what happened
But also, Lorena was killed and would you look at that...no one knows what happened.
So good.sooo twisty.
Loved this!

Thank you @prhaudio @ballantinebooks for a copy of this book.

This book was 2 mystery for the price of 1. We have Helen who goes to Capri with her family and her friend, Lorna, ends up missing, all the past of Sarah's death resurfaces. The story is very slow paced and atmospheric. There are so many layers to the story and the story is told in multiple POV to give the story depth.

I curious to what happened to both Sarah and Lorna and all the secrets kept by the Lingate family. Allyson Ryan, Cassandra Campbell and Carlotta Brentan did a good job on narration.

THe setting of Capri was what made me pick this book but the mystery and twists were what kept me reading. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and a lot of back and forth in the plot. Why do writers feel like they need to do that - just tell the story. The book is addicting however, and the mystery definitely keeps you engaged.


A woman is found dead in 1992 below the cliffs of Capri - and her death is thought to be an accident. Her family doubts it was just an accidnet and when they returnon the 30th anniversary of her death - they find the necklace she was wearing the night she died. Long hidden secrets are revealed and many remain suspects.

Sarah Lingate was found dead on the cliffs of Capri in 1992. Sarah leaves behind her three year old daughter, Helen, and her husband, Richard. Richard comes from old money and his family is under suspicion following Sarah's death. However, shortly after it is ruled an accident and the Lingate family is cleared to move on with their lives. This includes returning to Capri each year to vacation for a week. Everything goes normally until the thirteenth year of Sarah's death, when they arrive on Capri to the necklace that Sarah was wearing on the night she died waiting for them.
Review:
Saltwater is an atmospheric thriller that starts off a little slow, but really picks up speed and doesn't let you go until the very final page. It is full of old money, family drama, and lots of secrets and lies. You honestly have no idea who to trust. I thought I knew where this was going the entire time and although some of my suspicions were true, the two big final twists shocked me to my core. I found the first part to be a little slow moving, but the second part is bingeable, unputdownable, and completely worth the ride! I highly recommend picking up Saltwater when it publishes on 3/25!
Thank you to NetGalley, Katy Hays, and Ballantine Books for this ARC of Saltwater in exchange for an honest review!

ARC REVIEW ✨

Saltwater by Katy Hays

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

Rating: 5⭐️
Genre: Mystery
Yes, no, or maybe: ABSOLUTELY YES

Read if you like:
-mysterious deaths
-rich people drama
-family secrets
-multiple timelines and POVs

This book was brilliant! I enjoyed it from page 1 until the end. This is not a fast paced thriller, but a delicious unraveling of a 30 year mystery. The drama had me saying “WHAT” out loud, many many times! I don’t want to give anything away so all I’ll say is, this book is well worth the read.

We have multiple POVs in multiple timelines. Our main character, Helen Lingate, is trying to unravel her mothers mysterious death that occurred 30 years ago while seeking to escape her controlling family. The Lingate family is back on the island where it all happened, and everyone is a suspect. I had such a soft spot for Helen and loved to hate her family.

Again, I do not want to give anything away about the mystery but let me tell you, this was a JOURNEY! I was hooked and couldn’t pull myself away until I knew exactly what happened! It was everything I wanted in a mystery.

If you love a mystery with lots of drama and gasp out loud moments, don’t pass on this one!!

**Available March 25th, 2025**

Katy Hays’ Saltwater is an atmospheric and layered thriller that transports readers to the sun-drenched yet ominous cliffs of Capri. The novel follows Helen Linegate as she attempts to free herself from the grip of her powerful and secretive family, all while unraveling the decades-old mystery of her mother Sarah’s tragic death.

At first, I found it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story, as the book spends a significant amount of time building the world of the Linegates and their complex family dynamics. While this slow-burn introduction adds depth and intrigue, it occasionally felt like a distraction from the core mystery. However, once the plot gains momentum, the novel becomes impossible to put down. The twists come fast, making up for the gradual start and keeping me engaged until the final pages.

Hays excels in crafting a moody, immersive setting that enhances the novel’s tension—Capri feels both enchanting and claustrophobic, a perfect backdrop for the unraveling of long-buried secrets. Though I wish the pacing had been more evenly distributed throughout, the novel ultimately delivers a gripping, satisfying read.

I give Saltwater four stars and would recommend it to fans of atmospheric thrillers, especially those who enjoy the slow-burn intrigue of authors like Rachel Hawkins.

Sarah Lingate died mysteriously in 1992. Her body was found below the cliffs. Her old-money family insists it was an accident, but was it really? Now, thirty years later, her daughter Helen returns to Capri. Helen soon discovers the necklace her mother, Sarah, was wearing the night that she died. How did the necklace get there? What secrets are the Lingates hiding?

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of Capri. The way the author described it made me feel like I was right there with the characters. I also really enjoyed the rich-people-behaving-poorly plotline. What fell a little flat for me was the pacing. The secrets were revealed just a little too slowly for my liking. However, when the secrets were revealed, they were juicy and shocking. If you like slow-burn thrillers, this one is for you. I give it 3.5/5 stars.

I devoured this book.
I loved getting the story from all the different POVs and the build up was delicious!!
Each character had such dark pasts and situations throughout their life that, in my opinion, helped them take on the situations they found themselves in.
I loved the whole, behind the scenes feel, with this family and their secrets.

This is a great read if you like mysteries and a good timeline work up!!

I was really drawn in by the premise of Saltwater - 30 years after her mother’s suspicious death, Helen receives the necklace her mom was wearing when she died. I also loved the setting of Capri - the place her mom died and where the family returns each year.

However the execution really fell flat for me and I couldn’t get into this one. At 20% I decided to dnf because reading it felt like a chore and not a joy.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the free book to review.

WOW! This book has all the twists and feels! It took me a minute to get hooked- a lot of names in the beginning. Lorna, Helen and Sarah I had to make a list with the connections. I was sucked in! The island of Capri, family secrets, murder and love. Never would have guessed the twist and ending. Loved it- this will be a great summer read. Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine Books!

Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC.

I gave this book 3 stars. The concept was good, but it became too much back and forth for me to care. I only finished the book because I was more than halfway through when I realized I did not care about any of the characters.

It is set in Capri, which sounds so pretty, but there was no one to root for and it fell flat for me.

By the end of this book, my head was spinning from all the twists and turns, and that's a good thing. But most of them crossed the credibility line, and besides that, I really didn't like any of the characters enough to care much about how things turned out for them.

Despite those misgivings, though, I did enjoy the book. It's got all the right (write??) stuff in it, and I admire anyone who can come up with a plot this complex in the first place and then keep all the details straight.

The focus is on the uber-wealthy Lingate family and the death of Sarah Lingate, a relatively new mother of Helen, in 1992. From that point on, the case of Sarah's body being found at the bottom of a cliff was long since closed by local police, but suspicions lingered. The most common belief is that she was murdered by Richard, her husband and Helen's father. But over the years, the family closed ranks as only the snobby rich can do (and this bunch is as snobby as they come), so the rumors have remained, well, rumors.

Today, Helen is a grown-up, and she's returned to the island of Capri with the family, for what I guess is summer R&R. This time, they're accompanied by Richard's "assistant," Lorna, who has the role of rich-boss gopher honed to a fare-thee-well (but clearly has an agenda of her own). Soon after the return to Capri, they get a surprise welcome back gift that's less than welcome: a box containing the necklace Sarah was wearing when she died - and a demand for a huge sum of money.

The rest of the book follows the events on Capri - complete with another disappearance - and glimpses of what led up to Sarah's death (chapters shift among characters and time frames). The end, of course, pulls it all together, and readers learn the truth about what happened all those years ago. Now that all those loose ends have been tied up, I'm ready for the next book by this talented author - and thanking the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.

Salt Water by Katy Hays, (author of NYT best-seller The Cloisters) takes us to the luxe and gorgeous island of Capri, where we are immersed in the mysterious death of Sarah Lingate, which occurred 30 years prior. When history starts to repeat and another member of the wealthy-behaving-poorly Lingate family + entourage disappears, Sarah’s death is re-examined along with the recent disappearance. Add in controlling family members, quirky personalities, and dysfunctional dynamics swirling within the lives of this old moneyed family and you have a twisty, turny thriller.

The story is told via duo timeline and multi-point-of-view narration, mostly through the experiences of three young women: Sarah Lingate, her daughter Helen, and Helen’s close friend Lorna. Their personalities are written to reflect various levels of strength and this variation provides added interest as we learn about their backstories and watch them navigate the goings-on within the famous family. The tale flips between present day and 30-years past, the narraration intermingled with snippets of newspaper articles that provide an engaging context for the flashback scenes.

This novel is a solid choice for mystery and thriller fans who are looking to appease the Winter doldrums. The setting of Capri is described so crisply that the reader can feel the breeze blowing along the cliffs and the sun shining on their faces. It isn’t the first book to combine a dreamy locale with dramatic happenings, but Hays does it uniquely, starting her story with a knotted ball of storylines that she continues to weave in interesting and unexpected ways.

Salt Water certainly had me entertained but it was not without its flaws. Hays kept the plot twists plentiful, but at times it became downright convoluted. One of the twists had me scratching my head as Hays invites the reader to step almost beyond suspension of belief to near implausibility. The fun of anticipating the tale loses some of its luster when part of it seem nearly impossible.

If you are a mystery or thriller lover, Salt Water will satisfy the itch for a tricky domestic thriller novel with the added bonus of an enviable, lush setting. Readers may also enjoy the themes Katy Hays explores such as family legacy, wealth, privilege, and power while working to unravel this mystery. But when all is said and read, Salt Water was fine but I think there are better options on offer in this popular genre.

I loved this book! The atmospheric writing had me hooked from the beginning. This will be a perfect beach read this summer.!

I love a slow burn mystery, unfortunately this one was hindered by undeveloped characters that I could not compact with and too many plot twists that didn’t seem to really relate to the story as while. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.