I received a free ARC ebook of <i>Saltwater </i> from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

The sun-soaked island of Capri is the setting of this novel. With two timelines that are 30 years apart, it is necessary to cement the correct time in your brain before reading the chapter. I did lose the thread a few times, but that may have been due to the holidays and a house full of guests.

The Lingate family is old money rich with seemingly few unanswered needs. Helen Lingate, however, finds her family stifling and controlling as their main purpose seems to be guarding the family horde of secrets.

Thirty years earlier. Helen's mother, Sarah, was found dead at the bottom of a cliff. Murder? Suicide? No real determination was ever made, but a cloud of suspicion hangs over Helen's father, Richard. Helen longs to break free from her family; she just needs money to do it. Enter Lorna, her uncle's assistant. Together, they plot to unravel the truth of Sarah's death and bring it to the open unless they are handsomely paid to keep silent.

The characters are either jealous or disdainful of others. Is it possible to be too rich? For the Lingates, there is never enough.

Hays has a stunner of a surprise at the end.

Saltwater
By: Kate Hays

4 Stars

This is a story about family, secrets, and murder. Helen is trying to figure out what really happened to her mother. They say it was suicide, the family does. The suspicion is always there that the family was involved somehow. Helen begins to dig deeper, and secrets come to light that change everything. Now Lorna, the assistant, has gone missing, and Helen begins to connect the past to the present.

Wow. This story was twisty and thrilling. It was fast-paced and filled with drama and mystery. The Lingate family will shock you. Affairs, danger, and drama kept me hooked from start to finish. By the end, I was shocked at some of the revelations that come about. Lorna? Sarah? Helen? Each made this story and showed great depth throughout. They were only some of the interesting characters in a well-done family thriller.


*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

While the characters in Saltwater were at times difficult for me to care about, the setting was so captivating it kept me reading. I loved that the decadence and heartlessness of Ancient Rome, specifically Tiberius, seemed to undergird the general rot of the Lingate family in modern day. I enjoy alternating timelines and multiple perspectives in novels, but there were occasions reading Saltwater that it was a bit confusing and I would have to flip back to see whose perspective was in play and where I was in the timeline.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Lingates have been reclusive and enigmatic ever since Sarah Lingate's mysterious death in 1992 on Capri. For the longest time Helen Lingate could not comprehend why her father, Richard, and her aunt and uncle, Naomi and Marcus, would spend so much time coaching her on staying out of the public eye and never accepting friends. Or why on earth they would still want to go to the same house every year for vacation where her mother died thirty years ago. She's not sure her father murdered her mother, but she's not wholly convinced her family is innocent either. When her uncle's assistant, Lorna, approaches Helen with an offer of friendship, and eventually a potential way to escape the suffering reclusive life - how far will the two of the go during their week on the island of Capri?

This was so fascinating and so different from Katy Hays' The Cloisters. I loved it. It dives into the divide between the class systems and their lives, and how money can control motivations. It focuses on family dynamics, especially in one surrounded in grief and manipulation, and the dichotomy of struggling with still caring for the people who raised you and finding the line where you no longer can.

I struggled a little with some aspects of the ending. I'm not sure how I felt about some artistic choices made - particularly there were two major plot points that were the premise of the whole book and essentially in two chapters at the end it undoes those points. I'm not sure I liked that aspect. Mostly because it was glossed over in an epilogue and not flushed out.

I think a lot of people will really love those twists, however. Anyway - Read Saltwater! Out March 25, 2025!

Saltwater was an interesting read. Just when you thought you had things figured out another truth was revealed, rearranging all the events. Centered around a thirty year old unsolved murder, the family of the victim who returned to the scene of the crime each year all seem capable of almost anything.
I enjoyed the exotic setting of the island of Capri.. I was impressed by the web of intersecting characters and the misdirections they caused as I struggled to solve the crimes committed.
My only regret is that I had trouble finding a character to relate to. The rich really are different, so much time was spent on what was worn, eaten, drank and the excess in which it was done. I think Saltwater will appeal to many mystery and suspense lovers.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted copy.

This book was suspenseful, but a little too unbelievable for my taste. The setting was gorgeous and it made you feel like you were actually there. The writing was a little dry, but overall it was a good book.

I received an ARC of this book from Random House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. My first thought is - when can I go to Capri??? The author did an amazing job with the setting. From the summer crowds, to aperitivo time, to the ruins - it was fascinating and vividly described. At the beginning, I had a little bit of trouble keeping the characters straight, particularly Richard and Marcus, but once the story developed more, that was resolved. I enjoyed the multiple viewpoints/timelines. I thought the author did a good job on pacing as far as which chapters would be Helen, which Sarah, etc. There were a few parts where it was a little slow, and some character behaviors which seemed maybe not quite believable, which is the reason I took off one star. I was completely shocked with one of the twists, actual mouth dropping open in surprise, so that is huge for me as a thriller reader. I feel like there were maybe one or two details not totally explained, so I would be curious to see if other readers thought the same.

I requested this because I love anything where the premise is “rich people problems abroad” as it reminds me of books by Katherine St. John/Katherine Wood. This one definitely delivered in that aspect! I was super hooked from the start because of the mystery of the mother’s death — and the twist that came at the end was crazy! It was a really enjoyable read that I’d recommend for anyone who loves a good warm weather thriller.

Really like this thriller - took a bit to get going but then I really enjoyed it and it made me want to go on vacation so badly!!

I began this book with high hopes of it not only being a great mystery read but it allowing me to revisit Capri, where I spent the summer three years ago. While it did reference several of the places I was familar with and the story ended up having a twist at the end that I definitely did not see coming, I found keeping track of who the characters were and their relationship to each other a bit confusing, perhaps due to the constant switching from past to present, but this family is just one mixed up mess, so it's easy to see why Helen would want to escape it. Overall, I would say that it fits the bill for a summer/beach read for most people.

This was not for me. Rich selfish characters, nor could I find any characters that I felt for making me interested. I'm sure there's many who would still enjoy this book , just want my cup of tea.

For starters THIS COVER IS STUNNING!! I will most definitely be displaying this on my shelf when my preordered copy gets delivered! I loved the suspenseful family drama that was going on however I do think it was a bit slow and I was waiting for things to pick up for a while. I will say the last 20% or so did make the rest worth it. I’m excited to see what else this author has to offer in the future! Hopefully more stunning covers as well!

DNF’d at 26%. I kept trying with this one but I was just bored. Pair that with I couldn’t keep track of the timelines or differentiate between the characters and I gave up on this one unfortunately.

Katy Hays’ second novel Saltwater is an enthralling blend of mystery, drama, and intrigue, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Capri. As a first-time reader of Hays’ work, I was thoroughly impressed by her storytelling and writing prowess. This book held my attention from start to finish, and at one point, I simply couldn’t put it down.

The story’s setting is a character in itself. Capri’s stunning scenery, combined with an air of secrecy and wealth, immediately evokes White Lotus vibes, making the narrative all the more immersive. Hays’ vivid descriptions will leave readers longing for an Italian getaway.

The plot centers around the Lingates, a wealthy and enigmatic family who guard their privacy fiercely. In the early 1990s, Sarah Lingate tragically fell to her death from a cliff in Capri. While the family was cleared of any wrongdoing, suspicions have lingered ever since. Every year, the Lingates return to Capri, maintaining their traditions and mysteries.

Enter Lorna, the assistant to Marcus Lingate, Sarah’s brother-in-law. Lorna strikes up a friendship with Sarah’s daughter, Helen, now 33 years old. Together, they concoct a plan to uncover the truth behind Sarah’s untimely death. However, Lorna’s sudden disappearance throws their plans into chaos, adding another layer of mystery. The revelations that follow are nothing short of jaw-dropping, with twists that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

The characters in Saltwater are a fascinating mix of morally gray individuals—a cast you’ll either love to hate or hate to love. Their complex relationships and hidden motives add depth to the narrative, making the twists all the more impactful.

Hays’ ability to weave a suspenseful, character-driven story is remarkable, and the ending delivers twist after twist, ensuring a satisfying conclusion. This book is a must-read for fans of thrillers and family dramas. Saltwater is a fantastic debut that showcases Katy Hays as an author to watch. Highly recommended!

I had fun reading this novel. There were times I thought I was starting to figure it out, but Hays kept sending me down twists and turns all the way to the end of the book.

I wouldn't say I was really rooting for any specific character as they all had their flaws and issues, but I was satisfied with how all of their endings fit together.

If you are a fan of thrillers then look no further. This story was filled with family drama, murder, mystery, lies, secrets and so many twists I lost count! And that ending! You will not want to put this book down! Great read!

This book was just okay. At times it was very predictable. The characters were hard to like. I did enjoy the setting of the book though. Thank you to Random House Publishing-Ballantine and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

DNF at 15%. A story and characters I just could not get into, with unbearably slow pacing and a confusing timeline. I'm very disappointed, because I had high hopes for this one.

This is my first book by this author, and I found it to be a really good read overall. I really enjoyed the multiple timeframes that the story was told in, as well as the multiple POVS. I thought the first three quarters of the book was really good. The story was moving along quickly, and I was really invested in the characters. There was suspense, and I loved that I couldn't predict where the story was going. In the last part of the book, I found the twists to be a little to far fetched and unbelievable for me. It became a little too chaotic for my liking, which kept me from rating it higher. Overall, though, the whole of the story was enjoyable.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy to read and review.