*Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.*

After Katy Hays' debut novel, The Cloisters, captured me for a full afternoon on the beach last year, I was thrilled to see she had a sophomore novel releasing in 2025. The two stories are different but Hays' writing is consistent: unique settings that become characters themselves; characters with rich composition and sharp dialogue; and a darkness lurking around every seemingly-beautiful corner.

Saltwater is a rare thriller that kept me drawn in the whole way, still unfolding surprises into the final pages as I remained glued to the pages. For a summer escape to Capri, where the tensions is as thick as the humidity in the sea air, look no further.

4/5 stars

I ended up guessing a lot of this book but I still really liked it.
The story about a wealthy family and the damage they do to each other to keep the family status. It’s written with different character viewpoints in different time frames so you get a chance to see what happens to the characters throughout time. The setting is described well and in detail.

If you want a book about rich people behaving badly in a beautiful location, Salt Water delivers. This book was just “ok” for me as the plot was slow, with a lot of “I want to get away from my family” but “ they’re my family, I can’t leave”, and coming up with a devious plot to leave, on a continuous cycle. I’m not sure any of the characters had any redeeming qualities, nothing that made me root for them. The last handful of chapters told more than the rest of the book combined and had a few “wait … what” moments. I wanted more subtle drama, more mystery from this one.
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Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Saltwater by Katy Hays is a highly recommended family drama/thriller following the wealthy Lingate family on the island of Capri.

The Lingate family returns every year to the island of Capri. In 1992, playwright Sarah Lingate, wife of Richard, the youngest heir to the Lingate oil fortune, is found dead below the cliffs. She left behind her three-year-old daughter, Helen. Her death was officially ruled an accident but there are questions about this.

Now 30 year later, the Lingates are returning to Capri yet again. Helen has felt controlled and isolated by her family for years. Now, at thirty-three-years-old she has had enough. Helen along with Lorna Moreno, her friend and family assistant, is plotting her escape from her family's clutches. The plan involves an anonymous package that contains the necklace Sarah was wearing the night she drowned, reminding everyone of Sarah's death and threatening to expose secrets. But then Lorna disappears...

The atmospheric plot is tense, mysterious and secretive right from the start. The island is used to create a lock-room mystery which allows suspense to build and hidden secrets to be revealed. Capri is beautifully described and the setting becomes essential to the plot. There are plenty of hidden secrets and twists along the way in this study of family, wealth, and consequences. The plot does build slowly until the end, which will require some dedication to push through to the action.

The narrative mainly unfolds between the point-of-view of Helen and Lorna, with additional information from Sarah's story leading up to her death in 1992. Be suspicious of everyone and everything. Keep in mind that ultimately none of the characters are appealing or likable.

Saltwater is a good choice for those who enjoy novels populated by rich-people-behaving-badly. Thanks to Random House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion. 3.5

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Capri, this story revolves around the death of Sarah Lingate in 1992, leaving behind her three-year-old daughter, Helen. The Lingate family, dripping with old money, returns to the scene every year to prove Sarah's death was an accident. But on the 30th anniversary, they're in for a shock when they find Sarah's necklace - the one she wore the night she died.

Now, I'll be honest - I struggled to connect with these characters. Their wealthy background and seemingly trivial problems didn't exactly endear them to me. But here's the thing: the mystery itself? Absolutely gripping. I found myself turning pages, not because I cared about the Lingates, but because I desperately wanted to know what happened to Sarah.

Hays has a knack for peeling back layers of the story, revealing just enough to keep you hooked without giving away the game. The way she slowly unravels the truth is masterful, dropping breadcrumbs that had me constantly second-guessing my theories. Was it an accident? Murder? The twists and turns kept me on my toes, and I'll admit, I was pleasantly surprised more than once.

If you're a mystery lover who enjoys a good puzzle with a side of family drama, this book is definitely worth diving into.

Thank you, Ballantine Books and NetGalley, for my free book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this E-Arc, in exchange for an honest review.

Saltwater by Katy Hays takes us back to 1992, when the rich Lingate family was on vacation in the rich people's playground, Capri. Tragedy strikes when playwright Sarah Lingate is found dead after falling off a cliff and leaving behind her little girl (3 year old Helen), and although Sarah’s death is ruled an accident, many people suspect the Lingate family had something to do with it. Even though it’s been years, the Lingates continue to return to Capri every summer. Now, on the 30th anniversary of Sarah’s death, Helen, now 30, and the family assistant, Lorna, come up with a plan to help Helen escape her overbearing family. Things take a turn when Sarah’s necklace, the one she was wearing when she died, mysteriously shows up at the house where the family is staying. Just when things couldn’t get stranger, Lorna disappears, and everything starts to unravel.

What really happened to Sarah all those years ago? Who is Lorna, and where did she go? There are so many unanswered questions, and each twist brings more secrets to light.

I really enjoyed Saltwater. The way she writes is engaging, and the characters all have their own secrets that keep you hooked. I also appreciated the surprising twists throughout the story. I can’t wait to see what Katy Hays writes next!
Saltwater will be available on March 25, 2025 but you can pre-order it now!

#NetGalley, #BallantineBooks, #Saltwater, #KatyHays

Thank you so much @netgalley for my copy! This cover is to die for and really sets all the vibes for the story. Rich people being shitty is always so fun. You know you are in for juicy drama and this one delivered. Its also set on the coast of Italy and is lush with rich, atmospheric detail. There are multiple POVs and a jumping timeline between past and present which keeps the reader engaged.

I did pretty much guess all the twists, and at times I felt this was a bit repetitive but, it’s a great way to kick off warmer weather (or hoping) and escaping to the vivid blue sea.

DNF @30%.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review.

This will work for a lot of people. It's a typical thriller - time warps and people gone missing and murder and rich folks behaving poorly.

But it didn't work for me.

There were two perspectives, but the writing style did not do enough to differentiate the two voices / characters. I was never sure if I was reading Lorna or Helen. Also, the time skips and jumps and lack of continuity in the story and plot just messed with my head, and I wasn't a fan of the writing style.

I was mildly intrigued by the mystery, and I loved the setting, but I just couldn't bring myself to care much about the characters. It felt like there wasn't enough done to make them 'real' and to make me feel like I had any form of investment in what happened to them. By 20% in the story, I didn't get who Freddy was, what Marcus's deal was, I kept forgetting who Naomi was, and I just didn't understand what was happening in general. This may have been intentional to create mystery, but instead it just made me annoyed and frustrated and not wanting to read it.

3.5 Loved the setting and atmosphere of the very rich family and their secrets. The timeline/ POV jumping was a bit too much and stopped me from enjoying this one more. Oh Helen!

What really happened to Sarah Lingate? She was found dead beneath the cliffs of Capri but no one has ever revealed what really happened and her wealthy family continues the tradition of vacationing in Capri. 30 years later the necklace she was wearing is sent to the family and Lorna, an assistant to the family disappears. Is the disappearance related to Sarah's death? Moving between the present and the past readers discover more and more about the family and the secrets of the past. I recommend this to readers that enjoy books about family secrets.

I really wanted to like this book, I really did. The setting of a beautiful island in Italy with the story of an unsolved murder that haunts a family from years ago, all sounds so good. This book really dragged on though. I finally called it quits at 64%. I just couldn’t do it anymore. All of the characters were unlikable, and not well developed. It took me until about 25% of the book to even know which character was which and how they fit into the family. The plot was so slow moving as well. I just truly did not care anymore what was going on or if we would ever find anything out. The troupe of filthy rich family with secrets is not my favorite, so maybe I should have assumed I wouldn’t enjoy this one.

**4/5 Stars – A Haunting, Atmospheric Tale**

Katy Hays’ *Saltwater* is a mesmerizing blend of gothic mystery and artistic obsession, set against the eerie backdrop of a crumbling coastal estate. Her lush, immersive prose brings the salty air and decaying beauty to life, weaving a story where creativity and madness blur. While some plot elements are predictable and certain character motivations could be deeper, the novel’s haunting atmosphere and slow-burning tension make it a captivating read. Fans of *The Cloisters* and gothic fiction will be drawn to its intoxicating mix of mystery and artistic ambition.

*4.5 stars rounded up*

Morals, motives, manipulation, money… murder?

The infamous Lingate family have maintained standard party lines for the past three decades in regards to the death of Sarah Lingate: it was a tragic accident, & no further comment. But this year when they return to the villa on the island of Capri (the one sitting atop the cliff that Sarah was found at the bottom of) things are different, & secret after secret starts to come to light…

The parallels between past & present, the controlling family, the claustrophobic island setting, & the recurring themes of rot & decay make this an interesting read to say the least, & then we have the multiple twists as we get to the truth of what really happened in 1992 (& what led up to it). The fallout from these discoveries is equally as riveting, & I’m happy to add this author to my keep-an-eye-out-for-future-work list!

Thank you very much to NetGalley & Random House Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was hooked on this book right from the start! The writing was sharp and the Capri setting and family dynamics were pitch perfect. The story jumped between two timelines and between different narrators in a way that kept me engaged and thinking over different scenarios, but didn’t feel confusing, which sometimes happens when an author juggles multiple plot lines. A few of the twists felt a tiny bit too unbelievable, but I lovers thrillers for the surprise, unreliable narrators, and suspense, not the hyper-realistic stories and this certainly delivered.

Such a good story! It was slow at parts but the island setting and the mysteries all made it so atmospheric and gripping! Didn’t see the twist coming at all!

Old money, family secrets. But money won’t keep secrets buried forever. In this twisty thriller you’ll meet the Lingate family and they’ll do anything to keep the mysterious death of Sarah from tarnishing their name. 30 years later while gathered at the very location of her death, a delivery is made to Helen, Sarah’s daughter, that opens up the past. Will they discover what really happened that night? Was it an accident or something sinister?

I absolutely loved this one! Very suspenseful, kept me on my toes and guessing until the end! And the twists?! Woah!

Katy Hays' Saltwater is the book that officially has brought me back to the mystery-thriller genre. I haven't been so engrossed in a mystery-thriller book in probably well over a year and this one has me wanting more of them now.

Saltwater focuses on the Lingate family. The Lingates are dysfunctional, highly problematic, and slightly depressed, and yet. I couldn't get enough of them. The book starts off with a news article about the death of Sarah Lingate. She leaves behind a three-year-old daughter, Helen, and a husband, Richard. The Lingates--Richard, Helen, Marcus, and Naomi--along with Lorna, Marcus' assistant and Helen's friend, travel to Capri, the city in which Sarah died in 1992. Helen and Lorna have a plan for Helen to break free from the Lingates, for reasons that become clearer the more you read. However, before the plan can be completed, Lorna is found dead. Her death sets in motion the reopening of the investigation into Sarah's death and this is when things get absolutely wild.

The book weaves through multiple points of view and the past and present. Some readers might find the change in viewpoint and time jarring, but I found it crucial to understanding the overall story. Katy does an incredible job keeping you on your toes throughout the entire book. I thought I had figured things out multiple times only to be proven wrong in the next chapter or so. I didn't see the ending coming and it left me wanting a sequel because it was that epic.

Without a doubt, pick up a copy of Saltwater. It takes a minute to get oriented with Katy's writing style, but once you do, you'll be hooked just like I was and unable to put the book down.

SALTWATER was a thrilling family drama about a rich family with a deadly secret: the mysterious death of Sarah Lingate on an island in Italy. While the beginning is a bit slow and the end a bit rushed, the book is a compulsive read and it becomes hard to put down the more you read.

I love a good thriller and drama about a family with too much money. That’s exactly what this book provides. It gives such vivid descriptions about Italy that it feels like you are there with the characters. It has thriller and mystery elements, but I would really describe this as a character focused novel and highlights the inner thoughts and feelings of multiple characters. I think the author did a great job fleshing all of these elements out in a way that was well written.

My only issue is it does take a bit to get into the book and I do feel like the ending was rushed a bit. The twists at the end of the book got me, even if I felt they were a bit unrealistic and, because the end was rushed, not explained as fully as I wanted.

Once I started the book, I couldn’t put it down and I truly think this is worth the read. I definitely recommend this for those that love mysteries, family drama, rich people problems, character driven novels, and well written books.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The Isle of Capri, a beautiful but dangerous Mediterranean hotspot for the rich, sets the stage for a twisted family drama. It all begins in 1992 when playwright Sarah Lingate vanishes after a fight with her husband, Richard, during a family dinner. Richard returns alone to their villa, and Sarah is never seen again.

Fast forward 30 years, and Helen Lingate, Sarah's daughter, returns to Capri with her father, Richard, her uncle Marcus, aunt Naomi, and Marcus’s assistant, Lorna, for their annual vacation. Helen feels suffocated by her family and teams up with Lorna to escape, but things quickly spiral out of control. The family’s toxic dynamics—entitled, dangerous, and controlling—create a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere that keeps you on edge.

The character development is top-notch, making the characters easy to visualize—even if you’ll probably dislike most of them. Katy Hays brings Capri to life with vivid descriptions of the sights, sounds, and smells, and the setting adds to the suspense with its steep cliffs and constant threat of disaster.

The plot is full of twists and turns, and there’s always the lingering question of who’s a friend and who’s a foe. The tension builds as you wonder why the family keeps returning to Capri after Sarah's disappearance. While I was hooked most of the time, I did feel the story dragged a little at points. There’s one twist that raised some questions, but it was still an unexpected surprise.

Overall, it’s a gripping read that kept me entertained, despite a few minor reservations.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Saltwater by Katy Hays is a gripping thriller that masterfully intertwines family secrets, betrayal, and the haunting beauty of Capri. The story centers on Helen Lingate, who returns to the island thirty years after her mother's mysterious death, only to find new evidence that reopens old wounds. Hays's vivid descriptions transport you to the sun-soaked cliffs and opulent villas, creating an atmospheric backdrop for the unfolding drama. While the plot is engaging and filled with unexpected twists, some readers might find the multiple timelines a bit challenging to navigate. Nonetheless, the complex characters and suspenseful narrative make this a compelling read. If you enjoyed Weyward, Saltwater offers a similarly immersive experience with its rich storytelling and intricate exploration of family dynamics.