Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for a digital copy in exchange for a review.

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.

This book was a tough one for me. I was determined not to give up, but it took me several starts and stops before I switched to audio to see if that would help. Many have called it a slow burn but slow is the key word....it felt like it took a longtime to get there. I didn't find anyone likable, including Helen. There's twist that was ok, but not believable given the notoriety of the family in my opinion.

⭐⭐.5 stars rounded to 3

Here's the book you can throw into your summer beach bag-set in Capri, you will feel the warm breezes and smell the figs in the air. I enjoyed this fun read. Slow burn, twisty, with a surprise I didn't see coming--this was fun to follow. Rich people behaving badly as Helen, part of the uber wealthy Lingate family, and Lorna, assistant to Helen's uncle, work together to find out more information about Helen's mother's strange death 30 years earlier on Capri. If you need a book to get lost in, this is one to read!

Wealth, dark secrets, and a decades-old mystery set against the glamorous backdrop of Capri—this had all the makings of a perfect thriller. But did it fully deliver? Not quite.

The story opens in 1992 with the mysterious death of Sarah Lingate, whose body is found at the base of the cliffs. Despite persistent rumors, her influential, old-money family maintains it was nothing more than a tragic accident. Thirty years later, her daughter Helen returns to Capri and makes a chilling discovery: the necklace Sarah wore the night she died has resurfaced. As Helen digs deeper, long-buried secrets come to light, and it becomes clear that not everyone on the island may survive the truth.

The atmosphere was a real standout—Capri was so vividly described it almost became a character in its own right. 🌴 The "rich people behaving badly" trope was executed wonderfully, and the concept of an annual family retreat layered with decades of denial and tension was incredibly compelling.

While the book delivered on mood and setting, the overall payoff didn't quite match the promising setup.

30 years after the death of a playwright who married into a wealthy family, secrets are revealed. It alternates (at least at first) between Lorna, who disappears, and Helen, the daughter of the playwright. We get a few snippets too from Sarah in the past, leading up to the events that lead to her death. For years, Helen has grown up under the shadow of her mom's death, with many people assuming her family is responsible. Every year they go back to Capri, but this year is different - the necklace her mother was wearing when she died shows up mysteriously. This sets off a chain reaction of events that will uncover decades of family secrets.

This one was a pretty good read. It was not the most mind-blowing with twists - if you pay attention, the first big twist at the end is pretty obvious. The other one at the very end is perhaps more obvious just based on the nature of books like this.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Although the family has returned to Capri every year since the death of Sarah Lingate thirty years prior, the family is again faced with the suspicious death of a member of their party. This time, however their wealth and privilege my not be enough to protect them. If you love a mystery in a beautiful location with wealthy people behaving badly - this has it all.

The twists in this book. You’re reading this thinking everyone is 💀 but then it’s not them who’s 💀 it’s someone else and then you think you know who took them out and find out it was someone else and then the one person you think its decent is just as bad as the rest of them and what even 😂😂😂.

And all this in typical mystery thriller fashion comes out in the last 15% or so of the book and you’re like what did I just read?!

I had a hard time getting into this at first. I was listening to the audiobook, and the POV kept switching and then it was switching to past and present and the characters were sort of meshing together. If you’re going to pick this up, I definitely recommend the print copy.

Overall, this would be a good summer read. Lots of scandals and family drama, rich people throwing their money around to hide their dirty laundry. A little slow in the pacing in the beginning.

Thank you @netgalley and @ballantinebooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

What a fun ride filled with rich people you love to hate. Filled with tons of twists (some I predicted while others I didn’t see coming), dual timelines, rich people behaving very badly, and gorgeous descriptions of Capri. I had a fun time with this read and think it’s perfect for your next vacation!

"Saltwater" is a delicious and decadent thriller that unravels the dark underbelly of a wealthy, powerful family. Katy Hays expertly weaves together past and present, revealing how a decades-old death continues to haunt and control the Lingates. This is a story of twisted loyalties, bitter rivalries, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their secrets. Prepare for a wild ride where every family member has something to hide, and the truth is more shocking than you can imagine.

Check out this teaser :

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.

Haunted by the specter of that night, the legendary Lingate family unity is pushed to a breaking point, and Helen seizes the opportunity. Enlisting the help of Lorna Moreno, a family assistant, the two plot their escape from Helen’s paranoid, insular family. But when Lorna disappears and the investigation into Sarah’s death is reopened, Helen has to confront the fact that everyone who was on Capri thirty years ago remains a suspect—her controlling father, Richard; her rarely lucid aunt, Naomi; her distant uncle, Marcus; and their circle of friends, visitors, and staff. Even Lorna, her closest ally, may not be who she seems.

As long-hidden secrets about that night boil to surface, one thing becomes clear: Not everyone will leave the island alive.

the book was set on Capri and went back and forth in time which added to the mystery. I would say the book is more literary suspense and meant for the reader to savor. The built up was slow yet when I look back on it there were many twists. I would definitely read more by Katy Hays.

Family drama. A murder mystery. Multiple POVs and timelines. Old money. Lies and secrets. Saltwater has it all.

An annual trip to Capri for the week isn’t out of the ordinary, but this year will be one they won’t forget. Lorna is the dedicated assistant to the Lingate family, but has also become Helen’s close friend. But as she gets closer to the family she starts to uncover some secrets that they thought were well buried. More than anticipated comes to the salty surface on this trip than planned — but is it more than money can keep underwater?

4.5 stars— the last half of this book was a complete page turner, but it did take a while to get there. All of the twists were well placed and in the end there were few stones left unturned. Highly recommended for those that love toxic family dramas with a hint of murder and a lot of suspense.

The characters in this dual timeline suspense fell kind of flat. They just weren't very deep. There was a lot of inner dialog that was a little on the repetitive side. Solid mystery, though, and you're drawn right it at the start. The locale is superbly described and I felt like I was right alongside the family.

3.5 stars! I was sold on this book when I saw it referred to as "perfect for fans of The White Lotus." It was very atmospheric, in the sense that reading it transported me to the island of Capri. It also had a soap opera, gossipy feel throughout, although I felt it got just a bit slow at times. Thanks so much to Random House Publishing Group for e-mailing me an advanced copy - it's out now!

This one was a DNF for me. It was really slow and honestly confusing at times. It was difficult for me to remember where in time we were and whose perspective we were reading. The overall plot and premise had promise and I was enticed by the location. I might go back and give it a try again but I just couldn’t get through it.

The cover of this book and the comparison of this novel to the show 'White Lotus" is what first caught my attention; since I loved seasons 1 and 2 of that TV series, I knew this book would be fun. When I didn't have time to read Saltwater before my NetGalley copy was no longer accessible, I waited until the book published and got a print copy!

Once I started reading, I definitely enjoyed the back story of the famous Lingate family- deceased Sarah Lingate, a mysteriously-dead Pulitzer Prize nominated playwright, and her husband who is one of only two heirs to old money. How old? Old enough that great grandpa struck oil in the Bel Air area of Los Angeles. The inner thoughts of Lorna, a young adult working as a jack-of-all-trades assistant for the Lingates, clearly conveyed the stress of being an overworked go-fer in a job that required subservient attention to detail. Being on the island of Capri was not a vacation for Lorna and sometimes not even enough compensation for being on duty 24/7. For readers, however, the setting is described in such a way that they feel as if they have been on this island.

A lot of the book's emphasis seems to be an analytical look at the effect of wealth, especially that of extreme wealth passed down to other generations who have not had to put any effort into the monetary gain. A quote in the early pages of the book comes back to haunt the narrative: "I used to think the money made you free, and maybe sometimes it does, or it helps you believe you are...(page 28)."

I like the way author Katy Hays cleverly adds suspense and works in totally unexpected twists, beginning with little details such as why Lorna padded her resume for this job. Wasn't there an inside friendship with Helen that opened the door? One thing that made the book a 4 instead of a 5 for me was that I in the beginning frequently had to stop and review a couple of pages; I felt like I had lost track of whose POV was now telling the story or in which time timeline my current chapter was taking place. This tendency lessened as the book progressed and helped me to once again enjoy the story telling. There is definitely a lot of the promised bad behavior, but towards the end, I found myself wishing there could have been somewhat of a hero, one character that was a better person. The ending is quite sad and shocking - so be ready.

Really enjoyed this intriguing book! It had me on the edge of my seat and I genuinely was wondering what was going to happen. Great read!

Saltwater is a haunting, beautifully written novel that blends atmosphere, mystery, and emotion with striking precision. Katy Hays crafts a story that’s both eerie and elegant, with vivid prose and a slow-building tension that lingers long after the final page.

A compelling exploration of art, obsession, and identity—this is literary suspense at its finest.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

While I was intrigued by the description, the cover and a little bit the title made me hesitant to read this book. I am glad I overcame my doubts.
The book grabs you by chapter two- and quickly the reader is making mental pictures to keep the characters straight- there are members of a family repeating in two timelines. The story makes connections between the characters and lays breadcrumbs- but never will you solve it before you see it on the page. And even then- are you correct? Exactly what edge of your seat thrill seekers should pick up.

Oh and by the middle of the book- I loved the title- the cover- still not so much.

Recommended for: readers who love a good murder mystery, told from many points of view

Summary: Sarah’s body was found on the coastal rocks of a small island in Italy. The years following, her family would return to the island for family vacations. The book starts 13 years later when the family returns for their vacation and finds the necklace that Sarah wore the day of her death, waiting for them at the villa. Her daughter, Helen, who is also planning her escape from her controlling father, Richard, has questions. We follow many viewpoints and timelines, to learn the abundant amount of secrets this affluent family holds.

Review: All the viewpoints and timelines can be confusing to follow, in the beginning. But it is well worth the wait! I truly enjoyed unfolding the puzzle of a mystery the author layed out for us. I, personally, have a pet peeve of authors describing characters’ weight in a judgmental and negative way. Sadly, Hays does that a few times in this book. Having said that, I emphatically recommend this book for those that love convoluted mysteries.

Thirty years ago, on the island of Capri, during their annual vacation, the wife of a wealthy husband is found dead. The death is ruled an accident and the husband, daughter, his brother, and sister-in-law continue their yearly Capri holiday. When new evidence is found, the case is reopened. I found Saltwater to be a slow, slow burn with a multilayered plot and unlikable characters. Each of the family members seemed capable of just about anything to maintain their old money wealth and standing. Although whatever standing they had was pretty despicable. Their behavior was passed believable. The narrative was convoluted and slightly saved by the ending. This book was not for me, but might work for readers who enjoy twisty suspense stories that are not character driven. Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to read this advanced copy of Saltwater for my review.

i picked this book up in the fall of last year, but it did not keep my attention.
i will try picking it up again in the future, and when i do, i will update my review.
until then, technically, it is a dnf for me.