SALTWATER by Katy Hays is a tense and twisty thriller featuring family secrets and Rich People Behaving Badly, with a strong sense of place transporting the reader to the glistening shores and plummeting cliffsides of the Italian island of Capri.

The Lingate family is Old Money with a fixation on maintaining appearances, even when this means closing ranks when one of their own dies suspiciously. As an adult, Helen, the daughter of the deceased, just wants to live in the present, but her family seems tied down by the past. She would do anything to escape the bonds of her overly controlling family in order to experience true freedom for the first time in her life. Lorna is similarly ready to free herself from the life she is forced to live in the shadow of the rich and powerful. The two women plot together to free themselves from the unwanted constraints of the Lingates and other families like them.

This was a decent thriller with conspiring, betrayal, and murder, all set in enticing locales such as an Italian villa and on the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Who can trust whom? One aspect of this story that didn't work so great for me was that the chapters alternating amongst three timelines, but each occurring in the same locations with almost the exact same characters present, got confusing at times. "Okay, so this chapter picks back up with Helen on a boat with Ciro, but is this the time Freddy was there with them, or Lorna? Was this before or after that other event? I can't remember!"

Things get a tad bit convoluted and farfetched as truths are revealed, but overall I enjoyed this bracing story of suspense.

I plan on posting my review to my blog at jessicacrawfordwrites.com on March 25, 2025, and to my Instagram account @shelfesteem101 around the same time.

This was a suspenseful and tragic novel. How far will a family go to protect their legacy of fortune? What happened 30 years ago when Helen's mother disappear and then was found dead? Was it suicide, an accident, or murder? Why won't her father, uncle or aunt discuss Sarah's life? Who really know what happened and why does the family return to Capri every year?

Helen is ready to find out what her family knows of her mother's death and she has a new friend to help her, her uncle's assistant. What happened all those years ago and what is going on when the assistant Lorna goes missing?

This is a story full of secrets. Helen's secrets, her families' secrets, Lorna's secret. Who will be the first to crack and who has the upper hand? Lots of twist and turns in this fun novel. My heart went out to Helen who was basically a prisoner in her own family. Only 3 when her mother died she longs to "know" her mother. And Lorna is going to to help her. Lorna has almost as many secrets as the Lingate family.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend to all

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the ARC of this ebook. All opinions expressed are my own.

In the mystery aspect and backstory, I liked it. The island of Capri and a wealthy family with dark secrets? Absolutely for me. And it was a good story, truly. The only reason I’m docking a star is the chaotic ness of it. It felt TOO chaotic, and for all that chaos, it wasn’t as suspenseful as I wish it was for what the setting gave, If that makes sense? The start was slow, but it does pick up and redeem itself the further we get into Helen’s story. The family drama was a nice touch and even there wasn’t a wedding or anything, it gave me Elin Hilderbran vibes. To sum up my absolutely chaotic thoughts, I would recommend it if you want a quick and fun little mystery!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. What will people do to preserve a family’s reputation? How far will they go to maintain the status quo and to protect an appearance of wealth and stature? What drives people to the actions they take and the apparent lack of remorse they feel? These are all questions i asked as I read Saltwater. “I used to think people like you didn’t get jealous.” “No. We get it the worst, actually. When you think you have everything, it’s impossible to imagine someone having more.” Successful playwright, Sarah Lingate, goes missing and is subsequently found dead, on the Isle of Capri while vacationing with her husband and family in 1992. Fast forward to present-day Capri. The family returns for a week each year to commemorate Sarah. Her daughter, Helen, just a child when her mother died, is now grown and feeling smothered by the family and looking for a way out. “Isn’t that what family is? A cult you can never leave, a set of behaviors that are burned into you?” The stage is set for great family drama and a peek at how the rich live. “That’s the worst part about rich people; they want to give you things, but only so you can acknowledge their generosity. Every kindness is a reminder that you exist in their world out of pity or usefulness…They’re all the same.”

There are twists galore that come at you quickly at the end. I liked the last part of the book but felt it took a while to set the stage. What contributed to that, for me, was confusion presented by the story going back and forth between 1992 and the present, voiced by so many different characters.

Told in alternating POVs and timelines, this slow-burn mystery keeps you guessing until the very last page. All of the characters are morally ambiguous, nobody is as they seem, and the plot winds slowly through family drama, betrayal, and deception, all while treating the reader to a beautiful and opulent setting on the Italian coast.

I had a hard time connecting to the characters in this story, and the slow pace made it difficult to hold my attention. The setting and the mystery were enough to keep me interested through the finish, and I'm glad I pushed through because the twists at the end were so unexpected! Even though they seemed a little far-fetched, they definitely redeemed the story for me, and I found myself much more invested in the last 25% of the book.

Thank you to @RandomHouse and #NetGalley for the DRC of #Saltwater. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Could not put this book down! If you like books about the rich behaving badly, this is the book for you. Would make a great beach/vacation read.

The story revolves around the Lingate family. In 1992 while vacationing on the island of Capri, Sarah is found dead on the rocks below their villa. While people suspect her husband or his family were involved, no one is ever charged and her death is ruled an "accident". 30 years later, the Lingates return to Capri and Helen, Sarah's daughter, is determined to find out what really happened to her mother.

Told in dual timelines from multiple characters, this book will keep you guessing until the very end. While I found a specific aspect of the story hard to believe (no spoilers), I still really enjoyed this.

For the first 85% the book fell right in the middle of the road for me. It wasn’t so much of a mystery/thriller as it was a family drama story. A rich family story at that. The last 15% was a surprising twist I didn’t see coming. Keep reading for the end!

A thrilling mystery that takes place in beautiful Capri, Italy! A family mystery that spans across different characters and timelines - it kept me guessing and the author captured the essence of Italy as the backdrop beautifully.

Saltwater by Katy Hays ⚓️🥂💶

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow!!! This book had me on the edge of my seat with its family drama, lies and deception, and unreliable narrators. The wealthy, Italian vacation atmospheric aesthetic that this book was giving off, made me want to jump on a plane to Italy and be a fly on the wall, sipping an aperol Spritz while watching this family crumble from within. That being said, this book was so well written that I felt like I was watching a tv series! This book would do so well with an on screen adaptation, and I’m already hoping for it to get picked up by a production company even though the book hasn’t even been published yet 😂. I can truly say I never guessed all the twists and murders that this book provided, and my jaw was on the ground multiple times.

If you want a fun, flashy, and jaw dropping domestic murder mystery…pick this book up on March 25th, 2025!!

Thank you to @netgalley and @ballantines for an ARC for this title in exchange for a review!!

This book was a perfect popcorn thriller read for the upcoming summer. I enjoyed my time with it but I am not sure it will stay with me for a long period.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

This is a slow burn mystery about an old money family that just couldn't seem to capture my attention. I just didn't "get" it or the writing style.

This is a slow-burn mystery/thriller that follows Helen as she begins to discover the truth behind her mom's death.
This would be a good summer thriller, but it is very slow moving. The writing style took me a while to get into and it was hard for me to stay focused on the mystery due to it moving so slow. I think people would like this book if they enjoy more of a slow-building drama.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Saltwater by Katy Hays

"Saltwater" by Katy Hays has awakened my love for murder mysteries. This thrilling and suspenseful novel will leave you on the edge of your seat. I never saw any of those twists and turns coming.

It was insane to learn how each character played such a pivotal role in the story's outcome. I can't express how much I enjoyed this book. I was eating up every last word on the page. The pacing was perfect—absolute perfection.

The story is set on the island of Capri. The Lingate family returns to the island to celebrate the 30th anniversary of a tragic death. Following the lives of the Lingate family, you learn how flawed every character is, and how far they will go to protect their own.

Hays has written a captivating and suspenseful thriller. "Saltwater" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a complex thriller that will keep you guessing at every turn.

Thanks to Netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Katy Hays has written a riveting thriller taking place in the beautiful setting of Capri. Decades ago, Sarah Lingate, of the extremely wealthy and prominent Lingates, was found dead under the cliffs, leaving her husband and three year old daughter, Helen. It was determined to be an accident, however with many unanswered questions. Currently, Helen has returned with the family for their yearly visit. This time, the necklace Sarah was wearing when she died has turned up. Helen and Lorna, assistant to the family, are determined to find the truth, and then maybe Helen will be able to escape her family’s control. This book is very well crafted, with many interesting characters (both likeable and unlikeable). Not everyone survives the trip, and not everyone is who they seem. It is a very good read with exciting twists and turns.

Katy Hays’ "Saltwater" is a beautifully atmospheric novel that brings the cliffs of Capri to life with stunning, evocative prose which was welcomed during the many snowy days we've been currently experiencing. It felt nice to be transported to Capri. But back to the story, in 1992, Sarah Lingate was found dead beneath those very cliffs, leaving behind her young daughter, Helen. Though suspicions swirled around the powerful Lingate family, her death was ruled an accident. Now, thirty years later, the family returns to their villa, only to find Sarah’s missing necklace waiting for them—a chilling reminder of the past. The dual points of view added depth but were sometimes a bit confusing to follow. Still, the slow burn and unraveling of secrets and the eerie sense of history repeating itself kept me hooked.

Lifestyles of the ungodly rich might seem aspirational, but they're also highly secretive. You're either behind the curtain, or you're not, and they want as few people behind it as possible. Sometimes they even leave their own children unenlightened...until their hand is forced.

The Lingate's traditional summer holiday is to the Italian island of Capri. It's beautiful, but the coastline is almost completely hard, jagged cliff-facing. Dangerous - which they know better than most, since one of their own tumbled to her death there in the 90s. 30 years later they haven't stopped their annual pilgrimage, and neither have the questions about Sarah's untimely death. Money can buy a lot, but can it get away with murder?

This novel isn't as quickly paced as a typical thriller, but it is suspenseful, mysterious, twisted, and tangled. There is generational drama and several potential suspects. It turns into a curiosity about one crime and turns into an investigation into another. And what a spectacular, picturesque setting!

The characters in this book aren't exactly likeable, but they do inspire curiosity. What motivates people as powerful as these? Where are their weaknesses? Why have they made the decisions they've done, and what might compel them to reveal the truth of what happened 30 years ago?

I found myself very engaged with this story. I wasn't sure where it was going, but there was enough intrigue from the first pages to keep me studying all the information presented, ready for anything. There are several characters with motivations to find out more about Sarah's death, and just as many prepared to guard their secrets about her. It was really skillfully executed, and I wasn't expecting quite as many twists as were revealed by the end.

Saltwater would make a great vacation read, an engrossing sick-day or weekend read, or it might just add some intrigue into your regular reading lineup. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Note:: I was provided with a free copy of this novel by the publisher and netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

After reading Hays' The Cloisters, I was so excited to get my hands on this book. This is a story about lies, control, a mysterious death, and a wealthy family whose facades are in the spotlight. What stands out to me when I read this is the way the dark underbelly of wealth and privilege is displayed. These people have power, but with that comes the need to really control what is said about the family, to ensure that they look a certain way. Beneath that polished exterior though are hidden motives and a desire to keep what they have at all costs. Our main character is the daughter of the victim, and 30 years following the death of her mother, she seeks to break the chain of her family and bring the truth to light. It's a great read that would probably be a good beach read. It kept me guessing. Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this book!

From the start I could not put it down!! It reminds of so many drama tv shows I watch but in book form. Its as if White Lotus, Below Deck, and The Perfect Couple created a book!!

The characters were so interesting to read and root for or not root for and then at the same time I was curious about the death of the other characters. How was this mystery going to unfold? Who did it? How did it happen? I think Katy did a great job of building tension not just between the characters but between readers and the situation the characters were in as a whole. I wanted to know how Sarah died and what she was like prior to her death. Most of all I wanted to know what Helens life was like post her mothers death, I wanted to understand the family dynamic and I was on the edge of my seat to figure it out and how it was connected to Sarahs death.

I really enjoyed this from beginning to end. I could not put it down and found it so easy to read and move through.

In SALTWATER, written by Katy Hays, Sarah and Richard Wingate are vacationing in 1992 (30 years ago) in Capri, Italy. Helen, Sarah and Richard’s daughter, wonders if her father killed her mother. I wonder how Sarah ends up dead beneath one of the cliffs in Capri and read on.

I enjoy reading about the wealthy Lingate family. Katy Hays does a good job easing the reader to a time period in the past and back to the present. In fact, her writing is quite engaging. The story unfolds with chapters told from different points of view. The sub-headings of the Lorna chapters, suggesting a number of hours until her disappearance, entice me to read on. Various unknowns keep me riveted until the end. Unfortunately, the ending frustrates me. I feel the way I felt when I finished reading GONE GIRL—not good. Thank you, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of SALTWATER.

This literary thriller is about a very wealthy family that has a tragedy that throws suspicion on them. It is told through three female voices Sarah the mother who tragically died, Helen her daughter and Lorna a friend who works for the family. The story started off slow but I really enjoyed the twists that the ending provided.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
Publishing date March 25, 2025