I ate this one up! Twists upon twists and an ending that I didn't guess!! This was the perfect whodunnit with multiple layers of mystery and intrigue. I loved the multi POV chapters and I was obsessed with the setting! I've actually travelled to Capri so I especially loved recognizing different restaurants, beach clubs, and shops that I've been to. I really felt like I was transported back to the island and seeing it through the lens of someone vacationing with mega-rich people was the cherry on top. I would definitely recommend this book as a vacation read and I would *absolutely* recommend reading with a limoncello or aperol spritz at aperitivo hour.

Immense wealth, the island of Capri, and murder. It sounded like this would be a fun thriller. Unfortunately, I didn't like the characters or how the story was told with multiple narrators and changing timelines. The ending was interesting but overall the book felt undeveloped.

Story of a rich family with lots of secrets, betrayals, affairs, etc. Dark undertones throughout and hard to find any characters to like or root for. I was curious to see what happened but it wasn't my favorite. The ending reveals also seemed too far-fetched.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Evocative and smart, Saltwater oozed with an old money voice that makes the characters one's you'll love to hate.

On the cliffs of Capri, Sarah Lingate is found dead. She leaves behind a young daughter and a family that wil return each year to the sparkling waters of Capri. Readers are tasked with discovering if the pilgrimage is simply to honor a lost love or a ruse to cover that the death was something more insidious than a tragic accident.

Hays really taps into the current trend of creating awful characters doing awful things. It just works! I was pleased to find the writing sharp and cutting, offering both a plot and people who kept me engaged to the final page.


thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine & NetGalley for the ARC!

Publication March 25th, 2025

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Katy Hays crafts a stunning and immersive story in Saltwater, blending mystery, obsession, and the weight of history. With lyrical prose and an atmospheric setting, the novel pulls readers in from the very first page. The tension builds beautifully, and the characters are complex and compelling. This haunting tale lingers long after the final page, making it a must-read for fans of literary fiction with a psychological edge. A captivating and unforgettable masterpiece.


Thank You NetGalley and Random House

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Saltwater sets up to be a great thrilling mystery, but for me, the story dragged too much. In 1992, Sarah Lingate is found dead below the cliffs of Capri. Her family rules it as an accident even though some questions were never answered. We skip ahead thirty years when her daughter returns to Capri and discovers her mother's necklace that has not been seen since her death. Now questions arise; what really happened?

Amidst the alluring descriptions of the backdrop of Capri, you have the stereotypical rich family that can get away with literally murder and never face the consequences. The reader is inclined to to not like them much. It also does not help that the story drags on and on and feels as if it will never get to the point and end. Katy Hays has beautiful writing, and I could picture myself in Greece. However, the pacing of the story and the big reveal was lacking excitement.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine for the eARC.

This book is beautifully atmospheric. Taking place in a gorgeous setting you are drawn into a family mystery that unfolds beautifully. I really was enamored by this book.

3.75 Stars

I don’t normally say a book would be better as a movie, but that’s exactly how I felt about Salt Life. I could totally see myself enjoying it on screen. It wasn’t quite the thriller I was expecting — more of a family drama with a touch of suspense. The story was okay, but if it ever gets adapted, sign me up! My main struggle was the beginning, which felt a bit disjointed, and the different POVs were confusing at times. Overall, not a bad read, but I think it would really shine on film.

A perfect book for fans of Succession or Salt Water. While I think the book took way too long to tell us what happened to Sarah, I really appreciated the wordlbuilding. I felt like I was on the island of Capri, at a lavish villa surrounded by scheming rich people. While this wasn't perfect, I look forward to what the author writes next!

Thank you Netgalley & Ballantine Books for an eARC ♥️♥️♥️

Thirty years ago, Sarah Lingate's life was cut short in a tragedy that was dismissed as an accident. But her daughter Helen is determined to uncover the truth, and as she digs deeper, she'll find herself entangled in a complex tapestry of secrets, lies, and twisted fates.
This gripping mystery takes you on a thrilling ride through time, jumping between 1992 and the present day. With multiple narrators, each with their own secrets and motives, you'll be kept guessing until the very end.🫣
And then, just when you think you've got it all figured out, the rug is pulled from under your feet with a twist that will leave you breathless!🤪

The pacing of this book felt a bit slow, and seemed to be more of a family drama than thriller. I did enjoy the descriptions of the Capri setting though and felt like this could be a perfect beach read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advance eARC.
I'm torn on this because I did enjoy the descriptive writing about Greece and the Isle of Capri. It felt like a character in the book. The rest of the characters... I don't know. They were definitely obnoxious and by the end the twist was pretty outrageous. It was semi entertaining but actually pretty slow.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC.

Saltwater follows the Lingate family who is trying to recover from the death of Sarah Lingate, who mysteriously died of suicide in 1992 while the family was vacationing in Capri, Italy. We follow the POVs of Helen Lingate, the daughter of Richard Lingate and Sarah, and Lorna who is Marcus Lingate's assistant, Richard's older brother. At the annual family vacation 30 years after Sarah's death history seems to repeat it self...

I really enjoyed the summer mystery vibes. The characters were well written in terms of them being rich and snooty, and acting like they were above everyone. We got flashback scenes from Sarah's POV of what happened in 1992, which slowly gave us more and more details about the Lingate's true nature.

I will say that I didn't connect with the characters very well. Especially Helen whose POV we get the most, at certain points I'd forget were in her pov as the writing was more of a narrator than 1st pov. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the book. The last 20% was crazy and there were plot twists that left my jaw on the floor.

Overall such a fun book I think people would enjoy a murder mystery set in Capri, really makes you want to travel to Italy.

Well written, character driven novel of wealth, greed, privilege, and the lengths people will go to protect their reputation and lifestyle. I was engaged with these characters from the very beginning, the plot was appropriately paced, and the twists just kept coming until the very end. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced reader copy

While the beginning sets up an intriguing premise, the middle section tends to drag, making it feel slower than necessary. Some parts felt overly drawn out, which slightly diminished the momentum. However, the final act more than makes up for it, delivering a satisfying and well-executed ending that ties the story together in a compelling way.

Overall, Saltwater is a solid read for those who enjoy atmospheric, character-driven narratives, even if they require a bit of patience to get through the slower sections. If you appreciate books that build tension gradually and reward you with a strong finish, this one is worth picking up

Oh man, this book had so much promise. I love family drama mixed in with murder but unfortunately this book didn't do it for me. Yes it has both of those but it's such a drag to get through. I was ready for the excitement but it fell flat. It's REALLY slow. I got about 41% in was like please give me something. I was very tempted to DNF it. I honestly wish I did. I really disliked the ending. It just felt so unpredictable esp for it to happen TWICE. excuse, me? I just don't understand that at all.

Sorry just upset by this one.

*I just want to thank Netgalley and publisher for a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.*

I think I lost track of the numerous, delicious plot twists. Saltwater focuses on the dysfunctional Lingate family, and features money, sex, and avoidance of responsibility. Ms. Hays lures the reader in with the first plot, the murder of Sarah Lingate. But it turns out that is just the tip of the iceberg. The thread that ties the multiple plots together is the annual vacation to Capri from Bel Air. There is Marcus who controls the decision-making in the family, or so it seems. His wife, Naomi, is an alcoholic who is envious of anyone who potentially threatens her way of life. Helen is the daughter of Sarah and Richard who plots to get out of the family. So as you can see, there a multiple who-don-its. Delightful read that you won't be able to put down.

What happens when the death of a matriarch in 1992 mirrors a current day death of 2022 of another young woman whom was trying to uncover the truth. In 1992, Sarah Lingate's is found dead floating in the water and it is caulked up to being a drunken nights accident but was it really?

In present day we have Sarah's daughter, Helen, trying to uncover the mystery behind her mothers untimely death and she asks the help of her friend Lorna. But not long after Lorna arrives she also goes missing. Our author reveals lots of duplicity that leads to blackmail, extortion, and murder which always proves families often hold messy secrets. In some ways I thought this book was too long and some chapters unneeded. However, still a great book

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

While the premise and setting of Saltwater really grabbed me, I unfortunately had a hard time getting in to the book. I would have liked a better introduction to the characters, and I felt the mystery was a little slow and a little too all-over-the-place.

Even though it took me awhile to get into the book due to it being set in a different time zone, I enjoyed reading it. It took me awhile to get into it because I don't typically read books thats set in the 90's or even 100 years ago. but reading this and it being a mystery I really enjoyed myself honestly, and I would recommned this book to so many people.