“Saltwater” is a thrilling family drama and mystery story that makes you question everyone. It was entertaining and kept me wanting to read more and more.

We meet Lorna who works for Marcus Lingate who essentially is the head of the very wealthy Lingate family. She befriends her employers niece, Helen, and slowly gets Helen to open up about the family scandal that happened in Capri, Italy in 1992. Helen’s mom, Sarah, was found dead off the cliffs of Capri and while everyone assumed it was Marcus, Helen’s father, who had killed her, there was no proof and ruled a suicide. Everyone including Helen and Lorna wanted to know the truth. This years Capri trip began normally but slowly the Lingate’s secrets started to unfold and come to light about that day back in 1992. And another disappearance occurs. Was it a suicide? If not, was the family actually responsible? Who was telling the truth and who was lying?

So many questions and twists and turns that keep you increased. The story telling jumps from the present back to 1992 and you get the different viewpoints of multiple family members in each time period. I really enjoyed that. I like seeing everyone’s perspective. The ending was not something I expected. I love a book that throws me off and I can’t predict what’s going to happen and this book did not disappoint! I highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Saltwater by Katie Hays
Publication date 3/25/25
Rating 3.75

In 1992, Sarah Lingate falls to her death off the cliffs of Capri. Her death is ruled an accident but was considered suspicious by the public. Helen (Sarah's daughter) spends her life hearing whispers of these suspicions. Helens family tries to protect her from all the speculations. On the 30th anniversary of Sarah's death, Helen finds herself back in Capri with another disappearance linked to her family. She is faced with finding out what really happened to her mother.

The author's vivid descriptions of Capri made the island my favorite character.
All the human characters were flawed and focused on money, stature and public appearances. I had a hard time connecting with the main characters in this novel.

The setting, the multiple POV's, the jaw dropping twists at the end worked for me in this book.
The slow burn pacing of the first 2/3 of the book did not work for me. (the last 1/3 definitely made up for it)

I would recommend this book to people who loved the shows White Lotus and Succession. I would also recommend if you enjoyed reading The Retreat by Sarah Pearse or The Guest List by Lucy Foley. Saltwater comes out in the US in late March and would be a good addition to pack for spring break or summer vacations.

After enjoying the author’s debut, I was excited to get an arc of her sophomore release, “Saltwater.”

I loved the Italian setting for the book- I have never been to Capri but would love to go! I could envision the setting so well- the author did a great job taking the reader there.

I found this to be a slow burn at first but around the 50% mark it really picks up and I couldn’t put it down. I loved the alternative pov as well and the timeline jumps. It made me want to keep reading!

The ending definitely surprised me and I didn’t see it coming. I really enjoyed this one and think most people will as well!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This was a good thriller book. I would recommend it to my friends and family
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this one

I found this a bit hard to follow with all of the different points of view. The mystery wasn’t the focus that I was hoping it would be.

I loved this murder mystery with old money vibes and a 30 year old murder that comes back into play!

Sarah Lingate dies under suspicious circumstances in Capri, leaving behind her three hear old daughter, Helen. 30 years later, the Lingates return to Capri for their annual vacation and someone else disappears. I loved the dual timelines and thought they weaved together seamlessly. And I didn’t see the twists coming at all! If you love mystery, drama, and messy families- this one is for you. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The island of Capri and the plot kept me wanting to pick this book back up. The characters are loathsome. The last quarter of the book and all of its spins left me dizzy.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Saltwater felt like I was watching a season of the White Lotus! It set such an intriguing premise and the execution did not miss!

Sarah Lingate died in 1992 and since then the mystery of her death has followed her family. Her husband was initially a suspect before it was ultimately ruled a suicide. But the necklace she was wearing that night shows up unexpectedly 30 years later. So what really happened that night?

Helen, Sarah's daughter, feels trapped in her family, they dictate her life down to her boyfriend and their constant mantra for her is that we do everything for the family. Lorna is an assistant to Helen's Uncle and Helen has enlisted her help to try to escape the family. This novel was filled with mystery and intrigue, glimpses into the past and interesting conclusion.

I recommend you read if you like mysteries, letting rich people's mistakes catch up with them, and an intriguing premise! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the setting of this book, but struggled some to follow the characters and to see them develop. The intrigue and murder (and pretend murder) were interesting but the way the book was organized - each character had a chapter and then a few chapters later they would become central once again - confounded me. I'm sure not every reader will feel that way.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC of Saltwater by Katy Hays. New favorite author! This book was so good. I like books that are written in the characters points of view, it really gives you a better insight into the story. Katy Hays’ writing makes you feel each characters emotions and the setting in Capri gives makes this story a great thriller. . Helen’s mom went missing and was then found dead in the water at the edge of a cliff in 1992. The family returns every year in memory of her mother. This year will be different. Helen is tired of the lies and the way she has been treated by her Uncle and her Father. She wants and needs to know what happened to her mother. Did she jump, was it an accident, or did someone kill her. With the help of her Uncle’s assistant Lorna, this family trip will be all telling. Will someone confess? 5 star read for me. I couldn’t put it down.

3.5 stars

This is your classic “rich family has secrets in a rich people vacation spot” story which unfortunately didn’t do it for me. All of the characters were annoying and bland and most of the book was just them moving from place to place with not a lot of plot development. There were hints at some big secrets to be revealed but the buildup was so slow that the payoff wasn’t really there.
The flashbacks were definitely the best part of the book. There was a lot more drama there and I liked the pacing of those chapters better. However, they felt kind of disconnected from the rest of the book.
The end was so chaotic with so many plot twists and secrets that by the time I got to the actual big reveal I was kind of numb to it. I also felt like i had to really suspend by disbelief to be able to go along with it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC!

Saltwater by Katy Hays is a great follow up to The Cloisters. The tension is palpable. I found this psychological thriller to be incredibly atmospheric. While I felt it started slow, halfway through it picked up. As always, the rich behaving badly captivates and enthralls.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

It took me forever to get going with this book. I found myself re-reading parts of it to figure out what was going on, and there were too many characters to keep track of - I ended up writing myself a note, I just couldn't keep them straight. Ultimately this was a DNF for me, it didn't hold my interest at all and I disliked every character. The writing wasn't bad, per se, but it definitely wasn't for me.

The magical Mediterranean island of Capri is the setting for Saltwater, a mystery-slash-drama revolving around the ultra wealthy Lingate family.

Saltwater takes on the popular “Rich people are evil” trope:

An arrogant family of uber-rich people are trapped together in a remote location. Someone does something bad and there’s a cover-up. Eventually they all turn on each other. We gleefully watch their demise and smugly think, despite our lack of wealth, we’re better people than they are.

If you enjoy this trope, you’ll love this book. There is excess, there are secrets and lies, there are affairs and other family dramas. All the ingredients of a juicy beach read.

The author does a good job of capturing the magic of Capri’s geography and atmosphere - the cafes in the Piazetta, the winding pedestrian streets, the jagged cliffs with steep faces, the glittering Mediterranean. While the island caters to the wealthy, the working class residents are the ones who clean up the dirt and keep the secrets.

The pace is a bit slow and the character development a little unbalanced, but it didn’t stop me from blowing through this book in three days.

I didn’t predict the ending. However, the ending is pretty unbelievable, so I doubt many will guess it.

Loved the mystery and suspense in Saltwater! Was a great fast paced read. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC opportunity.

It’s got this perfect blend of mystery and self-discovery. Hays' writing is vivid and beautifully descriptive, making you feel like you’re right there with the characters. I loved how the book touches on themes of family, love, and the weight of secrets, all while keeping you hooked with some pretty unexpected twists. If you're looking for a story that's emotional, thought-provoking, and a little mysterious, Saltwater is definitely worth checking out!

Saltwater by Katy Hays singlehandedly pulled me from this years reading slump. It was such a sharp original story that I got instantly sucked in and enjoyed every minute of it. Helen and her family visit an estate in Capri ever since her mother passed away there in 1992 due to mysterious circumstances. Helen must piece together the reason why her mother died, and find whom is responsible. I was kept on my toes this whole story, and I didn't see the end result at all which made this a huge win for me. I can't wait to recommend this to all of my book clubs and friends to read, can't recommend enough!

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing, Netgalley, and Katy Hays for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was graciously given an advanced copy of Saltwater by Katy Hays on NetGalley from Ballantine Books and I really enjoyed it. I read The Cloisters also by Katy Hays and really enjoyed it, so I was excited when I received the approval on this one.
Saltwater is a twisty thriller of the have and the have nots on the island of Capri. The story is told from the perspective of Helen the daughter of a woman who was found dead below the cliffs of Capri when she was a child, and her best friend Lorna who has taken on the job of assistant to Helen’s uncle. Helen’s family is old money with lots of secrets that the family is willing to protect at all costs. What happens when the family and ‘the help’ go on a vacation to the same island where Helen’s mother was found dead?
This one did keep me guessing through to almost the end. I usually try to figure out the twist before we get to them, but this one did a good job with red herrings and kept you guessing.

A captivating read with a beautiful Italian setting centered around rich people and the things they’ll do to protect their own. The story is told from the perspective of three women, alternating between the past and present and slowly revealing what really happened to Sarah, who died thirty years ago, and Lorna, who is missing in the present.

The story can be a little slow at times, but by part two I was reeled in. I couldn’t help but root for some of the characters even though none of them were necessarily good people. I was on the edge of my seat by the end and was truly shocked by some of the reveals. This is the second book of Katy’s that I’ve read and it has definitely cemented me as a fan!

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

I was shocked from the start. It did slow down for a bit, but I pushed through, and it was so worth it to me. So much drama and secrets between this family. I felt so bad for how Helen had to live. The shocking twists at the end.. left me speechless. I loved this one!

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Random House / Ballantine Books to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.