this is definitely going to be the beach read of the summer (I think this is actually the first novel I’ve read this year). what’s not to love? murder, mystery, wealth, intrigue, control issues, agency… plus the glittering island gem that is capri. two underestimated women go about trying to solve a murder in the past and insuring their futures. it’s dark, it’s twisty, there’s more than one surprise at the end. I finished it in a night. go pick it up and start working on your tan.

Just so you know up front, I might come back and make this a 5 star rating. This book was so atmospheric and the sense of doom, mental claustrophobia, and foreboding was persuasive! The story was like a Greek tragedy, but taking place in Italy. So much plot! Character development might have been the outlier here that keeps it from being a 5 star read. Most characters were pretty surface level. All the connections seemed too convenient and the reader never seemed to get to know them more than what was needed for the story. But, the drama kept me hooked and turning pages! Oh and for once I truly appreciated and enjoyed those extra chapters at the end that helped to tie everything up! Guess that means there is always an exception to the rule!

ETA: I've seen the alternative title (Vipers) and cover and wish that was ours. It truly does a much better job of matching the tone and feel of the book. The Saltwater cover is way too bright and cheerful.

I love stories about rich people behaving badly, and this book delivers. It’s a great beach read with White Lotus / Perfect Couple vibes.

Katy Hays writes really vivid locations - in Saltwater, you can see the waves pounding against the cliffs and smell the salt air. Hays always sets a perfect mood for her books.

This book follows multiple POVs and takes place during two time periods. In the past, we follow the days leading up to Sarah Lingate’s death at the base of Capri’s treacherous cliffs 30 years ago. In the present, Sarah’s daughter and the rest of her family arrive for their annual visit to Capri. The arrival of a mysterious package suggests there may be new evidence in Sarah Lingate’s death.

Thus begins a twisty thriller filled with deception, blackmail, and truly dark secrets.
Everyone in Capri knows that some families are so rich they can get away with anything…

Ultimately, I feel like this book went one twist too far. But I couldn’t put it down, and that’s exactly what I’m looking for in a fun summer read.

I love a book about rich people who I don’t like! Saltwater is an excellent look at the inside lives of the wealthy and they’re morals or lack thereof. Hays did a beautiful job evoking the background of Capri and the dichotomy between the wealthy who vacation there and the tourists who day trip. I am fascinated by how well Hays described the wealthy in America, our desire for wealth and our uncomfortability with wealth. I loved Hays first book Cloisters, and I continue to enjoy her writing in her second book, Saltwater!

Thank you #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I will definitely be reading this book again in the future. It kept my attention the whole time, and I did not see that ending coming. Wonderful mystery story about family.

"No one holds a grudge like family."
Saltwater by Katy Hays is a gripping thriller that explores the intricacies of family and looks at the layers of secrets that they keep.
Thirty years ago Sarah Lingate was found dead underneath a cliff in Capri Italy. Police and locals are suspicious but the wealthy Lingates are investigated and let go to return home. Every year they return to Capri on the anniversary of Sarah's death for vacation, including Sarah's daughter Helen who was three at the time of her mother's death. Now thirty years later when the Lingates arrive on the island, Helen wants to know more about who her mother really was and what happened to lead to her death. When a necklace that Sarah was wearing the night she died arrives, dark family secrets are revealed. But someone is willing to do anything to keep them hidden.

I really like this book! The first part of the novel is slow but definitely stick with it! Towards the end you will understand the buildup. Little clues are sprinkled throughout and only after I finished the book was I able to connect everything together. The dual timeline and multiple POVs were outstanding and really lead up to that final twist at the end! Definitely recommend for fans of White Lotus and slow burn thrillers with shocking twists!

Thank you to NetGalley, Katy Hays, and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for this ARC. Release day is March 25th 2025.

SALTWATER by Katy Hayes is a twisty thriller set on island of Capri in Italy. It follows a wealthy family that returns to a luxury villa on the island every year, despite losing one of their own to a tragic death years ago. In 1992, renowned playwright, Sarah Lingate, is found dead beneath the cliffs of Capri while visiting the island with her husband’s family, leaving behind her three-year-old daughter, Helen. Suspicion swirls around the family, but Sarah’s death is eventually ruled an accident. On the thirtieth anniversary of Sarah’s death, the family returns to the villa, bringing along Lorna Moreno, a family assistant. The family is thrown into a tailspin when the necklace Sarah was wearing when she died mysteriously reappears. When Lorna vanishes and is later found dead, the decades-old murder mystery resurfaces, making everyone who was present thirty years ago a suspect once again. Alternating between the past and present and told from the points of view of several characters, long-buried secrets are revealed and family drama is at a peak. This is a chilling story of wealth, power, manipulation and betrayal in a vividly- described and atmospheric setting. Full of twists and turns, it kept my attention right up to the shocking ending. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

Beautiful Setting. Atrocious People. Maybe Someone Will See The Light. This is one of those tales where there aren't really too many "good" people - even the people you ostensibly want to root for are doing some very *bad* things! But the imagery of the beautiful Italian islands is absolutely stunning and well done... and even make it a point to play into the endgame, which is always appreciated.

While the book *does* start rather slow, stick with it. It is no Great Gatsby where the first x amount of it is an utter snooze fest that is more apt to put you to sleep rather than keep you up all night... but it *does* get to the "keep you up all night" level. Eventually. And then it keeps you there until damn near the last word of the tale.

Overall a fun book of its type, one with enough to keep you invested and take you to somewhere not where you are. (Unless you happen to be on said Italian islands. Then... maybe read something else if you want to be transported somewhere else? :D) Actually a rather good beach/ cruise read due to the setting at minimum.

Very much recommended.

I don't even know to start with this book. It drew me in from page one and I couldn't put it down. The author does a phenomenal job drawing. You into the characters and the suspense starts immediately on page one. Following this family as they try to navigate the journey of their dead mother and how's she died. I'm not sure I can even put into words, how great this book really is. I cannot encourage you enough to put this on your tbr or read it immediately.

Saltwater by Katy Hays begins with Sarah Lingate's suspicious death in Capri, Italy, and her wealthy family, including her now-adult daughter Helen, returning for the 30th anniversary of her death. The Lingates arrive and find the necklace that Sarah was wearing when she dies, and Helen decides this is the time to finally figure out what happened to her mother thirty years ago. This is a solid summer thriller, great for a warm vacation (which I also saved this arc for) with its White Lotus-esque world, rich family drama, and strong depiction of Capri. Hays keeps you guessing as twists unfold without going off the rails, and continues peeling back the layers of the Lingate family, looking at privilege, wealth, and the secrets that a family keeps.

Moody, atmospheric, and full of slow-burning tension, Salt Water delivers a gripping family mystery set on the sun-drenched cliffs of Capri. The writing is vivid, the setting lush, and the unraveling of secrets deeply satisfying. While the pacing lags in places and a few twists stretch believability, this is a rich, character-driven thriller perfect for fans of The White Lotus or The Secret History.

I did really love the idea of this book - murder, mystery, family drama - talk about a trifecta. At first, I was sucked in. Then I was confused and had a hard time staying interested. Maybe it was the timeline. I think that was more of a me problem than the author or writing! I enjoyed the ending and will give this a re-read on my next vacation and pay better attention to details. 3.5 stars for Saltwater and I'll be adding Katy Hays' debut to my TBR.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Katy Hays, and NetGalley for the advanced e-copy in exchange of my honest review.

I received a complementary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the author and the publisher.
This story masterfully mixes deeply buried secrets, drama of a wealthy dysfunctional family, that takes place with on the beautiful city of Capri. A daughter hunting for answers about her mothers death many years ago, while trying to get her freedom from a family that keeps her on a tight leash. Another murder occurs while they are there on this years family trip. Everyone is a suspect and all the family members have their secrets that they'll protect at all costs. While parts of this book dragged for me, overall I really enjoyed the story and it kept me guessing.

Ok this was a good one and am assuming it’ll be a BOTM pick etc etc for the summer. It’s white lotus rich people murdering each other while drinking champagne in Capri and so many juicy twists (that I actually didn’t see coming!) coming out TOMORROW 3/25 I suggest you pick it up!

First of all, let’s all take a moment to admire this cover. 🙌🏼


This book was fantastic. Overall, reading it was definitely an immersive experience: you could practically taste the sea air and smell the lemon trees. The characters were mostly deplorable in their own ways, but not so much that you viscerally hated them (or couldn’t finish reading). There were two mysteries from two separate timelines to unpack, which were of course related, so be ready to be able to jump between timelines here. My only gentle criticism is that the surprise twist at the end was a little far-fetched for me, but there were certainly concessions made that saved it from being truly implausible. The process of sorting through the clues of what happened in the past and present, as well as regularly changing suspects and savoring the build-up of tension in this book made it a really enjoyable read for me!


SYNOPSIS: Sarah Lingate’s body was found in 1992 at the base of the seaside cliffs in Capri, having left behind a young daughter, Helen. For thirty years, the Lingates have been returning to Capri to vacation and honor Sarah’s memory, and hopefully dispel any rumors among the locals that the old money Lingate family had anything to do with her death. Hungry for information about her mother and desperate to escape her family’s overwhelming control, Helen begins looking into what may have really happened on that fateful night. But family secrets are often ugly, and someone is willing to kill to keep them.

A rich people behaving badly story with the beautiful island of Capri as another character. The novel goes between three viewpoints: Sarah who is married to the wealthy Richard Lingate and longs to have a writing career, her daughter Helen thirty years later and Helen's friend Lorena who is also an assistant to Helen's uncle Marcus. The Lingates have old money and are secretive and don't allow the women in the family any type of freedom. The novel starts with the Lingates arriving to their annual vacation in Capri, it is also the 30th anniversary of the death of Sarah who was found at the bottom of the cliffs. Helen had never been told much about her mother and at age 33 she is longing for some freedom. Helen is watched by employees and cameras 24 hours a day and has never been allowed to finish college, travel by herself, find a job or do much of anything. She is in Capri with Freddie, a boyfriend who has been picked out for her by the Lingates.

Someone delivers a snake necklace to the family while they are in Capri and this necklace was worn by Sarah the last time she was seen. This starts off a storyline of Helen with Lorna's help in trying to find out what really happened to. her mother and what secrets are being kept. I didn't find any of the characters to be very interesting and I struggle with stories about women being held captive as Helen appeared to be. The other woman in the group is Naomi, married to Marcus and she spends her time in a haze of drugs and alcohol. i liked the descriptions of Capri and could almost smell the lemon trees, see the crystal clear waters and feel the gentle breezes. I did want more from the characters though as they all seem terribly miserable and seemed like they lived like they were in a much earlier time. The ending provides some twists, one of which was so outlandish I found it hard to believe. I think the book would have been better without that twist, but I did like the writing style and will read more by this author. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a reiew.

If you like a slow build to a finish with a lot of twists and turns, this may be the book for you. During an annual trip to Capri, the Lingate family remembers Sarah Lingate who died on the island thirty years ago. Helen, her daughter who never really knew her and has spent her life on a short leash is determined to figure out what happened to her mother, and in the process, find independence. The narrative spends equal time in the past and the present in a style that keeps the reader turning the pages. Although the plot can be a bit complex at time, it's a fun quick read. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Very much a slow burn, which I wasn't expecting. I thought it would be more fast paced. The writing style was confusing. With multiple timelines + POVs, I had a hard time following at times. Rich people behaving badly with some twisty twists.

Saltwater is a mesmerizing blend of family drama, wealth, and long-buried secrets set against the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of Capri. Katy Hays masterfully peels back the layers of the powerful Lingate family, exposing the dark truths lurking beneath their privileged lives. With atmospheric writing, gripping suspense, and a chilling mystery that refuses to stay buried, this novel is a must-read for fans of twisted family sagas and the sinister side of the rich and elite.  The twists came coming, audible-gasp-inducing read!

Thank you Katy Hays, Random House Ballentine, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

The Lingates take an annual vacation to Capri — despite the fact that Sarah Lingate, who was a playwright and had married into the Lingate family — was found dead on the cliffs below their villa in 1992. Her death remains part of the conversation, especially since, though it was determined to be an accident, everyone on the outside thinks someone in the family is guilty.

In present day Capri, the Lingates are just returning for their vacation, and Helen, Sarah's daughter who was 3 at the time of her death, receives a package — an anonymous gift ...the necklace Sarah was wearing the night she died.

From the beginning, the narrative delivery, via alternating points of view from Helen and the family's assistant Lorna, set the stage for an intriguing family drama. However, the pacing is uneven, the clashing of the near-in-time POVs (both are timed from X number of hours before Lorna's disappearance and both are handed out in first person present tense) were overwrought and stretched too thin, and the addition of other points of view later on in the book couldn't avoid the waft of a gimmick.

However, despite the issues with the characters and delivery, I found the overall story compelling enough to keep going. From a bird's eye view, the old-money, bad vibes family had a lot of potential and the Mediterranean setting was equally promising. There also seemed to be a decent exploration of handling multiple layers within the framework of the plot, but Hays couldn't quite manage to maintain a balanced pacing or allow herself to flesh out the characters more. They seemed to exist for the sole purpose of this story; it was hard to even imagine them off this island, back in the real world.