A murder mystery spanning 30 years on the beautiful island of Capri. The wealthy Lingate family vacations for one week every year in Capri. Sarah Lingate disappears in 1992 on the Lingate Capri vacation and 30 years later Lorna, the Lingate family assistant, also disappears with 10 million euros. Sarah is a famous play-write back in the US. 30 years after her death, Sarah’s daughter Helen discovers Sarah’s last play Saltwater and the necklace her mother was wearing the night she disappeared. Saltwater is based on Sarah’s life and the Lingate fortune. Helen and Lorna are determined to get to the bottom of the family secrets and what they uncover is so much more.
Katy Hays did a great job turning the island of Capri into its own character. Lots of family drama with twits and turns along the way. I really enjoyed Saltwater!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Saltwater
By Katy Hays

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 (4 out of 5)

Publishing date: 3/25/25

Goodreads blurb:

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.

Review:
wow that was a ride!

First of all- the Italian setting was great!

My feelings about the books changed as the story progressed. At the start I was kind of confused. There were a lot of names being thrown around and I felt like I missed a page explaining who the people were.

It was also kind of slow to start. I noticed my mind started to wander a bit in the beginning but once the pace picked up, so did the action!

As I was finishing the book, my rating changed. I was dead set on giving it a 3 star review. But the conclusion changed my mind. I thought the ending was fantastic! It answered all my questions and even made me say "whaaaaaat?! Your kidding me!" Out loud 😂 it was an adventure and I do recommend it!

Hey @netgalley and @atrandombooks - thanks for the chance to read this one early!

The setting seemed beautiful, but I was not as hooked as I had hoped. It is a good thriller/suspense - especially if your genre leans more to romance. If you are a consistent suspense reader, you might find it a tad predictable. I land in the middle and would recommend for a book club read as it has alot of twists for discussion.

Saltwater by Katy Hays is a thrilling ride that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story delves into the lives of a wealthy family and the lengths they’ll go to protect their reputation. Full of mystery and intrigue, the plot keeps you guessing as you unravel the “whodunnit(s).”

While I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, I suspect this was intentional on the author’s part, adding to the tension and complexity of the story. The setting in Capri, Italy, was a highlight for me. Even with the drama and dark twists, it was easy to picture the stunning backdrop, which added a layer of escapism to the murder mystery.

If you’re a fan of twisty plots, morally gray characters, and atmospheric settings, Saltwater is worth the read. It’s a book that leaves you questioning everyone’s motives, right up until the last page.

This is for the slow paced literary thriller girlies.

Hays has a beautiful writing style, and the story was interesting and had a great twist at the end. But… I personally, am not a slow paced girlie because it made this book seem sooo long. So this book, while good, was not a standout for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ebook in exchange for my review.

I have to say having never been to Capri, I sure feel like I know the place. Kathy Hays did such a fantastic job of immersing you into Italy.

The story was fast paced and part of the twists I never saw coming. Told in multiple POV’s during different times. The newspaper articles were a nice add in too. Even though the family is a bunch of rich snobs I did feel for Helen. I loved how the whole story wrapped up and the ending was excellent. The believability is stretched but that’s what makes it a fun read.

This would make for a great summer or vacation read.

The proof is broke into Part One and Part Two. There are no chapters to try and find your place. Within the Parts you are given each person’s pov and I hope when the book publishes that it will have chapters and not just the two parts.

I unfortunately had to DNF this book as it didn't hold my interest. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Lingates are a wealthy family from LA. Richard and his adult daughter Helen, Marcus and his wife Naomi, Helen's boyfriend and Marcus's assistant, Lorna all arrive on Capri for their annual vacation at a cliffside villa where Helen's mother Sarah died 30 years ago. The death was ruled an accident but questions remain. Then Lorna disappears and that re-raises suspicion about what really happened to Sarah.

4.5 stars.

I liked this book better than I expected. I requested it because I was I was intrigued by the setting with Capri being on my short list of places to visit. I think the location was used very well and this story would not have captured my interest in the same way in a different setting. Also, I tend to dislike excessive setting descriptions but it really worked here and it was done so well that it really added to the story. I felt like I was there. I did occasionally get confused during the flashbacks because there was some shifting from past to present that I didn't realize had happened. I had to suspend disbelief a bit at the end but overall it was a really good read.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Random House/Ballantine books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. The book is a thriller/mystery set in Capri. It is very much rich people behaving badly, in a beautiful setting. Helen Lingate was 3 when her mother died. Her mother, Sarah, died while the family was on vacation in Capri and she was found in the water near the house. It appeared she had jumped or fallen off the cliff. In the house was Helen's father Richard, her uncle Marcus and Marcus's wife Naomi. The Lingates come back to the same house every year for a week in July. This year, there are 2 extra people along-Freddy , Helen's boyfriend and Lorna, Marcus's assistant. It is not the usual vacation when a package arrives addressed to Helen. It contains the necklace her mother was wearing the night she died , along with a note for her uncles. The story is told in several different timelines, by several different narrators. There are twists and turns, feints and red herrings. You have to stick with it, and it gets a little tedious in the middle. There are a few loose ends that stick out , and a few things that don't quite jell, but it is a good beach read.

Coming off the movie Saltburn, this title immediately intrigued me. Since I’m freezing in the cold, this reminded me of beach and drinks

Thanks Netgalley for a copy of this. This book was great. Who killed Sarah? So many people confessed to it. It keeps you wondering the whole book. It was beautifully written.

Also how many books are about someone getting killed cuz they fell off a cliff? I have never been anywhere close to a cliff before but it seems like a common problem in the murder mystery world.

This was okay for me. Started very slow and took me a bit to get into but glad I finished it. Definitely will be enjoyed by many readers.

I just didn’t really enjoy this. I felt some sympathy for Helen, who grew up wealthy but has no freedom despite being in her thirties, and some sympathy for Lorna, Helen’s friend and the assistant to the family, because her upbringing wasn’t easy and after having some substance problems, managed to sober up. But I don’t particularly like reading about rich people behaving horribly.

In 1992, Helen’s mother’s body was found at the cliffs on the island of Capri. It was ruled an accident, but many have speculated over the years about the truth of that assertion. Now, the family is back in Capri, and it’s Lorna’s body that is discovered.

I mostly just found this boring, thus I struggled to get through it. I didn’t like the twists at the end—they just seemed too unlikely.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES MARCH 25, 2025.

The writinf style is great and would have enjoyed more if it weren't for all the change of POV's and dates in the storyline. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Who wouldn't love a warm vacation to the island of Capri? I mean that is if you can tolerate the people you have to go with. The Lingates come from old money and with that could some of their haunting pasts. Lorna and Helen just want to escape it all. Working together they form a plan and execute it while on vacation in Capri but as expected nothing is easy with this family. This story is full of suspense, secrets, lies, betrayals with a very twisty plot. Just when you think you know what is next, it all changes.
There were times the book slowed down a bit, however, push through and you won't regret it. I enjoyed the different characters, and their personalities really carried this book.
Great read!

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine Books, NetGalley and Katy Hays for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oof, this felt like Succession x The Perfect Couple which I loved! I really enjoyed the multiple POVs and the character development.

4.5 stars!

Initially, I was thinking this book was not going to be for me, but I was absolutely wrong. This is the first thriller/suspense that I've read in a while that has actually shocked me and took a twist that I did not expect at all. It did start a little slow but picked up and when it did, I was hooked.

Told from multiple POVS and with switches from present to past, we are thrown into the mystery of the Lingate family. A wealthy family with deep, tragic secrets, fancy lifestyles and tons of family drama. Once fully engaged with the characters and in the story, I was constantly questioning each character and their motives. It was fun because there was never a time while I was reading that I could pinpoint the "good guy". All of the characters seem to have something about them that makes them suspicious, and this will keep you guessing.

Katy Hays also does a beautiful job of giving us a real feel and visual for the Isle of Capri. I would highly recommend giving this one a go! If you are a suspense or a "whodunit" lover, I think you will enjoy this read!

Thank you NetGally, Katy Hays and Random House Publishing-Ballantine for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in return for my honest opinion!

An engaging thriller that pulled me in and kept me hooked from start to finish. I enjoyed the setting, the author’s attention to detail, and the suspense. Well done.

If you enjoyed The Perfect Couple get ready for a bit of Gatsby, Hilderbrand and and Wharton rolled into one.

Saltwater tears into the spoils of the wealthy and privileged Lingate family, leaving no room for sensitivities and simply a blood trail of mystique, revenge, betrayal, selfish, selfish betrayal.

I became engrossed with humble Lorna and motherless yet silver spooned Helen and completely clueless to the road I was led down by the two. Still cleaning up my jaw off the floor!

Saltwater by Katy Hays is a unique and very interesting book.
Told from several viewpoints and timelines this book will really draw you in.
Extraordinary character development and various plot lines that you wont see coming.
I highly recommend this book and will definitely recommend it to my customers