Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reader copy.

Sure, there are some small things I could quibble with, but this book kept me locked in from the beginning. All of the twists felt well earned and both surprising and inevitable. A great sophomore effort.

No one holds a grudge like family. And no one can close ranks around a secret like family. This twisty thriller about the suspicious death of a disillusioned wife, will keep readers guessing until the final reveal. Highly recommended. #Saltwater #NetGalley #SaltMarshAuthorSeries

Started a little rough, lots of characters and just overall a rocky beginning for me...
Finished strong! Great storyline. Fantastic scenery. Provocative ending.

Will recommend.

Saltwater by Katy Hays is a tense thriller featuring family secrets and the affluent behaving ever so badly. Hays transports the reader into the widely unknown world of the top 1%'s vacation on the island of Capri. The story follows the Lingate family and their nosy assistant who is searching to find out what really happened to her boss's late wife.

Secrets. Betrayals. Old money. Murder. All on intoxicated summer nights on the idyllic island of Capri Hays sophomore novel is sure to keep you entertained.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for the eARC

Really enjoyed this twisty family drama with mystery/ murder thrown it.
I especially enjoyed the setting of Capri , the beauty of the place and seedy side of rich people who live there.
Helen is our heroine whose mother died when she was very young. The event was labeled an accident. Helen has a most controlling and overbearing family. She and a family assistant delve into the death of her mother Sarah with an eye to liberating Helen financially and emotionally.
The ending was spectacular and unexpected.
My only difficulty with the book was the multiple timelines that were at times confusing. Would need to turn back to the chapter beginning to orient to what was going on and with whom.
Overall I found this a real page turner with a wonderful settings that I think readers will enjoy!
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for ARC. Expected publication date is 3/25/2025. 4.5

This novel blends a family saga with a mystery, set against the backdrop of Capri. Helen’s summers, haunted by her mother’s mysterious death, take a turn when Lorna, her uncle’s assistant, arrives. Told from both Helen’s and Lorna’s perspectives, secrets unravel as the island’s glamour hides dark truths, ending with a series of twists.

The pacing felt slow and didn’t hook me right away, with several twists stacked at the end were shocking!

Overall, outstanding!

Thank you NetGalley, Publisher and Author for sending over an arc in exchange for honest review!

Outstanding! I really enjoyed this family drama set in Capri. The characters were realistic, the action was taut and I would keep reading if it was longer. I was completely enthralled with the premise and its execution and will look for other books by Katy Hays to read.

Thank you to #netgalley, #ballantinebooks and the author for this arc ebook to read. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 3.25 stars/review contains spoilers
***Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

The premise is interesting--Helen's mother, Sarah is ruled an accident in 1992 while on vacation in Capri, Italy. Every year her family, The Lingates' return to prove they have nothing to hide. On the anniversary of her death, the family shows up for the annual vacation and Sarah's necklace is the catalyst for everything unravelling.

The pacing was very slow and really didn't grab my attention immediately. Also, several twists happen at the end back to back (maybe the last 90 % or so). The parallel "deaths" of Sarah and Lorena (faked, to escape the family) just felt a little pointless with how the delivery. It just seemed like everything was suddenly a little too neat and easily wrapped up.

This story line reminded of Bad Summer People, where you don't have much sympathy for any of the characters and they are all a bit ruthless/rich people on vacation doing shady things.

This gripping novel masterfully weaves a complex family saga with an intriguing mystery, maintaining suspense throughout. Helen's summers on Capri, where her mother's tragic death remains shrouded in uncertainty, take a surprising turn with the arrival of her uncle's enigmatic assistant, Lorna. Alternating between Helen's and Lorna's perspectives, the story unfolds against the island's stunning backdrop, where wealth and lavish parties conceal secrets and shocking revelations, culminating in an unexpected twist that redefines the narrative.

I really enjoyed this novel.

Storyline started out a little slow but I did love there element of the story being in different points of view.

Most of the characters were a little shady for my taste but eventual some leveled off to where you started wanting to cheer for them, The books could get a little wordy but not enough for me to give it a negative review. (it could have been my anxiety, LOL)

I will definitely ready more from this author. Her writing style was different than most authors I read, but again I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance ecopy of this title. The Lingate family is extremely wealthy and extremely private. They are still reeling from the death of Sarah Lingate in Capri 30 years ago. Sarah's daughter, Helen, has led a sheltered life due to this event, but wants to break away from her stifling family. She enlists her uncle's assistant to help her to do this. While the family is (again) visiting Capri, this assistant turns up dead. In the aftermath, Helen unravels the story of her mother's death, and proves she has been a Lingate through and through all along. A riveting story.

This book was well written with a lot of rich people behaving badly (one of my favorite tropes), but unfortunately it didn’t work for me. I think it was the pacing that just felt off.

Such a good book! It had so many twists and turns. It was also hard to know who and what is correct, who to believe since they all had drama and beef with each other even though they are a "loving" family. It made me keep wondering who was actually the person who did it. I enjoyed this book and read it quickly since it was well written!!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

A fast paced rollercoaster of a thriller that will have you doubting what you know at every turn. The characters are well developed, and like with any complex family dynamic it's hard to parse out who is on whose side because everyone is a little annoyed at each other even if they say they love each other.

A twisty family saga and mystery that keeps the reader guessing all the way to the end.

Helen, her father, aunt and uncle spend summers on the Island of Capri where Helen's mother died years ago. It was never determined if Sarah fell or was pushed. This year, Helen and her boyfriend Freddy are joined by her uncle's assistant Lorna. Everyone seems to have a secret the novel goes from Helen's story to Lorna's and back. Set against the backdrop of the beautiful island, the immense wealth and partying all play roles. Just when it seems as though the story has been told, a surprise turn comes up. Engaging and suspenseful.

This was a really good book, but I struggle to call it a thriller. It was much more family drama and suspense.

This is a story about a family filled with lies and deceit. The love of money and the status of being being rich can make you do things you never thought you would do.

"Saltwater" by Katy Hays offers an intriguing exploration of identity and the complexities of relationships, set against a vivid coastal backdrop. However, some readers might find the pacing uneven, with certain sections feeling drawn out. The character development is compelling, but a few characters could have benefited from deeper exploration. Overall, it's a thought-provoking read that resonates on many levels, though it may not fully satisfy those seeking a tighter narrative.

3.75 stars

Saltwater is a slow burn. Much of the beginning is getting to know the characters through multiple viewpoints. Helen is the child of the very rich Lingate family. On a trip to Capri, she is determined to get out from under the family so she can live her own life. In addition, she wants to learn more about her mother - suspected to have been killed by Helen's father, but officially ruled a suicide.

Enter Lorna - Helen's uncle Marcus' assistant, who takes the trip with them. When a mysterious necklace is delivered to Helen on Capri, a whole new mystery enters the picture.

With twists and turns, Saltwater shows the dark side of money - and how different are we all really from each other when we're desperate?

I enjoyed this book - particularly the character building. I do wish we had some insight from a couple of the characters that were missing, but I really liked the multiple viewpoints telling the story. If you like thrillers, this could be a good one - just be aware it's not entirely fast-paced, but is satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Although there were alternating points of view along with alternating timelines and a a slow start this book became very interesting. With multiple twists this book provided a wow factor.