I was invited to read this book on Net Gallery a few months back. I thought it sounded right up my alley; a mystery/ suspense set in Capri? Yes, please. I held off on accepting it until I was sure I'd have time to read it before publication (I may have requested too many March/ April releases 😅)

This was definitely slow moving. I had a little bit of difficulty getting into the flow of it till the story and characters settled. You have Lorna's POV timestamped leading up to her disappearance, Helen's POV in the present time, and Sarah's (Helen's mom) POV timestamped in the past and leading up to her death. It's clear that Lorna has some secrets and suspicious reasons for working with the Lingates, and Helen... Poor Helen. For living a life of luxury, she's been so isolated and basically imprisoned by her family. At times, I had to keep reminding myself that Helen was in her 30's because it felt like she was merely a young adult with her family. The Lingates' suffocation was equally palpable in Sarah's storyline.

As the storylines all start to merge in a way, I could feel my adrenaline increase for answers. Was Sarah's death an accident or murder? Did something happen to Lorna, or did she disappear of her own volition? Could Helen find a way to finally make it out from under her family's clutches? Part 2 provided those answers as well as some new POV's and twists, but the storyline and my interest just seemed to dwindle again. All in all, this was an ok (but not great) read for me, and the setting was my favorite part. May be more of a hit for others though!

Saltwater by Katy Hays ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The writing and setting were everything in this one. I was pulled into this slow-burn mystery and enjoyed the slow pace until the very end.

This one embodied the ‘rich people behaving badly’ trope. Don’t expect to love the characters because they were all horrible in their own way. Don’t expect a quick, twisty thriller. This one was slow and clever, letting readers marinate in the Italian atmosphere filled with dark secrets and paranoia.

This read is perfect for readers looking for a summertime, leisurely read by the pool, fans of slow burn, atmospheric reads, and fans of rich people behaving badly.

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

Saltwater is the title of the never-published play by playwright Sarah Lingate. Wife to well-known “old money”, Richard Lingate, she dies on a trip to Capri under questionable circumstances. Filed an accidental death or suicide, 30 years go by before her story re-emerges during her surviving families yearly trip to the same villa.

My summary from above couldn’t be farther from what I got out of this novel. While this was the premise, the storyline took many different turns. Using multiple POVs and past/present/future timelines, it was easy to get lost in the monotony of “setting the stage” and filling in of all character aspects. The twist(s) were amazing and unexpected (and a little unbelievable), but you really have to push through the first 85% of the book to make it there. Overall, I think people will enjoy the book, but it wasn’t my cup of cappuccino.

This was a gripping thriller that masterfully blends suspense, mystery, and the stunning allure of Italy. Set against the stunning backdrop of Capri, the novel follows the unexpected journey of a young woman who is trying to figure out the real background of her mothers's death. But what begins as a routine investigation quickly spirals into a maze of secrets, lies, and chilling revelations.

The author's vivid and warm descriptions of Italy make the setting a character in its own right, with the "salt water" and the beautiful background creating an eerie contrast to the tension and danger lurking beneath the surface. The story takes full advantage of Italy's rich history, blending old-world charm with modern-day intrigue.

The plot is filled with twists and turns surprising you around all the corners. Just when you think you’ve figured out where things are heading, a new twist completely upends the narrative, making it impossible to put the book down. Whether it's the enigmatic locals with their own dark pasts or the sudden appearance of unexpected story turns, this book kept me on my toes!

One of the standout elements of the book is its fast-paced, unpredictable structure. Every chapter leaves you with more questions than answers, and the tension builds to a thrilling crescendo. The final twist is utterly satisfying, tying together seemingly disparate threads into an interesting conclusion that is both surprising and thought-provoking.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

While I found it a bit rough to start - lots of POV and timeframes to adjust to at the start - I did end up really enjoying the entertainment value it offered!

Lorna has joined a very rich family on a vacation. She's gone from friends with the daughter to the uncle's assistant. But the family is not an ordinary family. They go back to this same island, year after year, to try to prove to everyone that years ago - when the wife of one of the brothers fell to her death - that the family had nothing to do with it.

But this trip is different. Helen, the daughter, and Lorna, the assistant - they have some surprises for the family. I found the beginning to be a bit slow as you are introduced to many POV and the two timelines. I did appreciate the little bits of articles and information and I loved when they shed new light on the story and not just a re-telling of what we already knew.

I did find the twists in the end to be entertaining even if I struggled to find them believable. Sometimes the fun is in the sheer shock and awe - the twists were fun and the ending had a great pace and conclusion.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Loved from start to finish! I am in awe by the writing and the prose, and the story. I am so obbsessed with all of the characters, and the main character despite everything has redeeming and enduring qualities.

Saltwater by Katy Hays was just not enough for me to enjoy. I did love the descriptions of Capri, it sounds like a beautiful place but I would not enjoy being there with such obnoxious people. The writing was great but I just couldn’t enjoy the book. I felt like so much detail made things more confusing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Saltwater is a mystery thriller set on the island of Capri featuring rich people behaving badly, a dysfunction and lots of secrets. I enjoyed the atmospheric setting, but found the story to be lacking. I never really connected to any of the main characters and was bored by this book. It did have two great twists at the very end, but it wasn’t near enough to bump up my rating! ⁣

Three stars!
⁣⁣
⁣Thanks to @Netgalley and the publisher for an ACR of Saltwater. This one publishes on March 25, 2025.

This was like the perfect summer mystery and it had so many plot twists I genuinely did not see coming. I throughly enjoyed this book. If you love slow burn mysteries you should definitely pick this book up, it was fun.

Who doesn’t love reading about rich family mystery and drama. Intriguing from the very first page. This family drama keeps unfolding and the twists and turns keep coming. I was shocked the whole last quarter of the book but loved the outcome.

Saltwater is an interesting thriller full of family drama. I thought that the setting of Italy and how the author described it was wonderful. But overall the book was a little too slow paced for me. I did enjoy all of the twists at the end of the book though!
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC!

This atmospheric book went well with my beach trip this week. My location looked a little different than the beautiful Mediterranean. This intense cat and mouse thriller is told through several POVs. In 1992, Sarah Lingate was found dead below the cliffs of their vacation home in Capri. Ruled an accident, the town's people and some close acquaintances beg to differ, but no one goes against the Lingates. Richard Lingate was left to take care of his 3 year old daughter Helen. He had been seen arguing with Sarah at a dinner party over her playwrights she loves to write. With him and his brother Marcus's power, they can manipulate the truth. Their greed and deceit changes a situation to benefit them. The controlling entitlement of this family 30 years after Sarah's death, still rings loud in the ears of many even their daughter. Helen is guarded and protected from the outside and unable to speak with anyone about her mother's death.
The Lingates return yearly to Capri for Sarah's death anniversary. Helen is able to spend time with Lorna, uncle Marcus's assistant. Lorna's efforts to retrieve information about Sarah's death for Helen is suspicious. The necklace Sarah was wearing when she died appears in a box gifted to the Lingates from an anonymous person. Will this information prove to be deadly when Helen and Lorna plot a multi-million plan for them to get away? When Lorna goes missing, you know not to trust anyone.
Outstanding job by this author. I loved the tension, characterization and setting as I visualized each.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

-Rich people behaving badly and using privilege as both shield and sword? Check.
-Complicated family dynamics (including a decades-old unsolved murder)? Check.
-Sunny Capri setting that makes you want to don a pair of Audrey Hepburn sunglasses and charter a yacht? Check.
-Slow-burn suspense with dual timelines and multiple POVs? Check.

I loved Katy Hays’ debut, THE CLOISTERS, and was so excited to get an ARC of her sophomore novel. While I liked it, I didn’t love it - I had a difficult time with the cast of unlikeable characters, the slowness of the mystery, and the dual timeline was a little confusing.

I still think this will be a hot book of the summer and that there will be plenty of love for it - definitely give it a chance if you like family drama, gorgeous seaside settings, and slower-paced mysteries.

Pub Date: 3/25/25
Review Published: 3/23/25
eARC provided at no cost by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a sucker for a good mystery novel, especially one with rich people and their dark secrets. The premise of the novel is excellent: the mysterious death of the wealthy Lingate family. It's old money power at its finest.

The multiple timelines and POVs were a little confusing and complicated to follow. The pacing dragged in some places, but by the time the twist came, I wasn't that surprised. I'm very partial though, because when it comes to mysteries, I like them fast-paced and HIGH STAKES. This one was just a tad slower than my preference.

FINAL THOUGHTS: It wasn't a terrible book, it just wasn't for me.

I wish I loved this. I truly do. The setting is spectacular and the writing gorgeous. Katy Hays transported me to Capri with her beautiful words. Unfortunately, she lost me once I got there.

This is a tale of rich people behaving badly. Not only are their actions awful; they are awful. Every single one of them. The Lingates are obscenely wealthy and obnoxiously obtuse. Years ago, Sarah Lingate disappeared and was discovered dead on the rocky cliffs of Capri. Suicide or murder? The question remains a mystery.

Fast forward to the present day and another woman associated with the Lingates disappears. Here’s where it got messy. The constant switching from then to now to almost now was hard to follow, especially for a burn this slow. There was an overload of minute details to keep track of and it all got to be too much work for this to be a fun thriller. By the time I got to the final twist (WTH?), I was simply glad it was over.

Fans of atmospheric thrillers may find this more enjoyable than I did. Ms. Hays is a talented writer. She got me to fall in love with Capri and detest every member of the Lingate clan. Perhaps that was her goal. If so, well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

🛥️ Book Review 🛥️

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest opinions.

Publication: March 25, 2025

Rating: Not for me

I’m so bummed because the synopsis seemed promising. What didn’t work for me was how Lorna and Helen sounded the same in each chapter. I found it hard to fully connect. This led to the book feeling a lot slower for me as a reader.

For fans of:
🛥️ First person POV
💰 Dual POV
🛥️ Dual timeline
💰 Rich family
🛥️ Slow mystery
💰 Dysfunctional family

✨ What to read next ✨
🌺 Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins

Saltwater was just okay for me—right down the middle.

The prose was gorgeous and captivating but there are too many threads to keep ahold of, which is difficult enough for a thriller but nearly impossible when it's a slowburn. Having to keep track of every little thing got exhausting very quickly and it didn't help that I felt like the characters were also quite one-dimensional and stereotypical which made it difficult to want to pay attention to what was going on with them.

Saltwater is comp'd to The White Lotus, which is one of my favorite shows ever. I think this book shines because, like I said, it is well-written, and I believe The White Lotus is extraordinarily well-written as well. And while this indeed twists and turns like the show, it doesn't have that same bite to it, that same thing that propels you to keep watching or, in this case, keep reading. The atmosphere was spectacular and so was the subtleties of the family drama interwoven throughout, but it just wasn't engaging for me and I almost wished I hadn't been drawn to this book due to the comp because I could have given it a fair shot. I think if you want to pick this one up, do yourself a favor and view it as something completely independent of that show and you might enjoy it significantly more!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

3 ⭐️s
🚨 Pub Date: 03/25/25

The prose was very lovely. I read this in spurts due to other obligations . I wished I had read straight thru to make sure I kept track of each of the characters and their arcs. Good mystery but a bit of a slow burn. Loved this setting of Capri as I have been there. The island is a character in itself. Greate reveal at the end.

This book did not hold my interest from the very beginning. It’s convoluted and hard to follow at times. I felt nothing but annoyance towards the characters, and we only seemed to get to know them on a superficial level. Additionally, I believe there wasn't a satisfactory explanation for many of the characters’ motivations.

I should have skipped this book, especially since I didn’t enjoy *The Cloisters* and should have known better. Ultimately, it took until about 70% of the way through for anything significant to happen, and by the end, I felt overwhelmed by the numerous twists. In my opinion, the twists at the end were excessive.

<I>Saltwater</I> by Katy Hays starts with an interesting premise: a rich family, a death potentially covered up, and an annual vacation to the spot where it happened. I would say the writing was fine, but the characters were all so unlikeable and the pacing was off for me. And I could never really remember which character's perspective I was in. It was easier with the older timeline, but honestly I think there were just too many perspectives, especially towards the end. Also, the pacing was not great for me. The perspectives didn't end on a cliffhanger that would make me want to immediately turn to read the next one or get back to someone else's perspective. It was just ok and I'll explain my thoughts about the ending in more detail behind a spoiler warning. Overall, I would say there was definitely a twist and I don't regret reading this, but I wouldn't ever pick it up again.

<spoiler>The ending. How likely is it that two women, who don't know each other, both decide to fake their deaths in order to be free from the Lingates? Or did they know more about each other than we, as the reader, are lead to believe? It's kind of giving me <I>The Last Mrs. Parrish</> vibes here. I think it would have been more impactful if Lorna had actually died, instead of killing a party girl in her bid to get away from the Lingates. With Sarah, it made sense to me that she would use the opportunity provided to her by the unfortunate accident of Renata's similarities and Naomi's drunken/high state of mind. In the same breath though, how could you do that to two children? Was Ciro ever even told what happened to his birth mother? I get that he played along, but how, especially as a teenager, was he so accepting of Sarah literally stepping into the place of his mother? I just don't buy it.</spoiler>