HOLY SHIRTS AND FORKS, everyone must go buy and read this book when it comes out next week. I was on the edge of my seat EVERY SINGLE PAGE. It gives Succession meets White Lotus vibes and yet you are constantly questioning what will happen next! There are sooo many twists and turns that you don’t ever see coming, even until the very end! I loved the way the author peeled back the layers of the story and unveiled different elements of what happens currently and 30 years ago. It is so hard to do and very well done in this book.

the description of this book intrigued me from the beginning and it did not let me down! i was hesitant to read the slower paced book, but the story, details, and setting had me hooked. i loved all of the twists at the end and felt so many of the emotions the characters felt as well. if you’re looking for a vacation mystery, this is the book for you!

A "good" book. Why so base? I'm in the middle. I thought some of it was inspired writing and the premise is very "movie of the week" but I got lost in the middle and couldn't keep up with remembering anything I read. So, translation: maybe it was me. Still giving it a 3. I like some of the twists and yet I saw some of them coming. Your opinion will be different.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc! I so enjoy getting "in" on the upcoming titles!

Rich people family drama with a Mediterranean backdrop and a murder? Yes, please.
Saltwater was great! I loved the multiple POVs, timelines, and newspaper clippings. What happened to Sarah Lingate? Why was the Lingate family so concerned about their reputation? And what was Helen actually up to with Lorna? What’s with all the secrets?
This was a twisty story with a nice backdrop and a shady family full of scandals and secrets. I enjoyed reading it and highly recommend sticking it in your beach bag this spring/summer. The cover is also beautiful!

Disclaimer: I am pretty picky about my thrillers. I loved that this was about rich family drama. I usually find remote islands to be cliche and too claustrophobic but the way the author described the setting worked really well for me. It felt so beautiful and treacherous at the same time and I loved it. I wanted to know the ending and I couldn’t put it down. I needed to know how this would end. However, this wasn’t a four or five star read for me because I didn’t like any of the characters and I was pretty confused throughout the first half. I kept trying to figure out which character I was supposed to root for and I didn’t want to root for any of them so it made for a pretty ok reading experience.

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy.

Saltwater is a beautifully written debut that explores grief, identity, and the deep ties that bind us to our past. Set in a small coastal town, the novel follows Juliet, a young woman who returns home after her mother's death to confront unresolved memories and relationships.

The sea, both a literal and symbolic presence, mirrors Juliet’s emotional journey, reflecting her internal struggles as she grapples with loss and the weight of family secrets. Hays’ writing is evocative, capturing the tension between nostalgia and the painful reality of returning to a place that no longer feels like home. The coastal setting becomes a character in itself, bringing a sense of isolation and beauty to the story.

While Saltwater isn’t fast-paced, its quiet, introspective nature draws you in. Hays’ strength lies in her atmospheric prose and the subtle emotions between characters, creating a layered exploration of how grief and memory shape our identities.

Helen Lingate has long desired an escape from her controlling, old-money family. Her mother Sarah, an accomplished playwright, died when Helen was young under mysterious circumstances. On the 30th anniversary of Sarah Lingate's passing, Helen teams up with her assistant Lorna to orchestrate a complex plan: one that will free them both from the family's grip. But in the wake of the plan, Lorna herself goes missing under a new set of mysterious circumstances.

A multifaceted, multigenerational mystery unfolds against the backdrop of Capri, bringing in a variety of points of view: Helen herself, Lorna in the hours leading up to her disappearance, Sarah in the weeks and months before her untimely demise, and other players throughout the Lingate family. At the center of it all are a duffel bag full of money, a snakelike necklace of Sarah's thought to be lost, and Saltwater: Sarah's unproduced final play that could air all of the Lingates' dirty laundry. As Helen explores two disappearances at once, she discovers that pretty much nothing is as she originally believed.

Saltwater aims high and exceeds expectations, succeeding where so many thrillers of its kind have fallen short. Every little thread, from Helen's love interest to Lorna's background to the movements of housekeeper Renata, are ultimately woven back into the the overall story in a meaningful way. Hays doesn't make the mistake of showing her hand too early; but when the time does come to play it, she does so to full effect. The twists and turns are surprising without being untethered, stretching even on to the final page. There are no two ways around this: Saltwater is simply an excellent book.

A twisty tale of family drama and murder on Capri that moves back and forth in time and between narrators. Helen's mother Sarah died-was killed-on the island when she was three and her family shut down around her after. Now, in the present, Lorna, who is a bit of a grifter, has managed to wind her way into the family and into a friendship of sorts with Helen, a friendship which she exploits. What really happened to Sarah, who was once a playwright, and what's happened to Lorna will collide over time. Helen's perspective and Lorna's are a bit different to say the least but then there's also Naomi, Helen's alcohol soaked aunt. Her father Richard, her uncle Marcus don't have a voice in this but they loom over it all. It's nicely atmospheric - with tastes, smells, heat and the rest that will transport you to Capri. What is the secret of the necklace that arrives at the Capri vacation home? So many secrets, so many questions, so many twists, some of which you might see coming and others which will be a surprise. If I have a quibble it's that this goes on a bit too long but wow that end. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

I was really happy with this story. The intrigue and mystery was there from the beginning - it kept me reading, needing to know what happened/happens. I think I still need to process my thoughts on the two twists at the end, but initially I think I liked them and they work well with the story. I would recommend this book to others. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. All options are my own.

Saltwater by Katy Hays takes readers on a journey following a rich family vacationing in Capri- the same place where 30 years ago one of them died.

I enjoyed the mystery in the story as well as the multiple perspectives and timeline. There was a portion in the middle that was a little slow, but the last section picked up and kept me on the edge of my seat. There were also several twists that I didn’t anticipate.

Saltwater is a dual timeline, multi POV, mystery set on the island of Capri. In 1992, Sarah Lingate is found dead at the base of the cliffs, and her death is ruled accidental despite suspicious circumstances. In the present day storyline, her daughter Helen feels trapped by her controlling ultra wealthy family, and is planning an escape.
I looooved Katy Hays' debut, The Cloisters, so I was very excited to read her next book. Unfortunately, it's a slower paced mystery/drama, and I was trying to read it during a book slump. So, I'm not sure how much that affected my opinion, but this was a too slow for me. There were a couple twists at the end that I truly didn't see coming, but also felt so unbelievable that I wasn't impressed.
If you're looking for an atmospheric, slow burn mystery set on Capri, check this out when it comes out next week!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for the ARC.
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Saltwater by Katy Hays

Thank You NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for a complimentary copy of this novel!
The Lingate family take a yearly vacation to the isle of Capri. But one incident in 1992 has left a dark shadow. Sarah Lingate was found dead at the bottom of the cliffs. Although her death seemed to be a suicide, there were still some suspicions by the local carabinieri it could have been her husband. She also left behind a 3-year-old daughter, Helen. Every year the Lingates return to the island, but the 30th anniversary of Sarah’s death hangs in the air. Someone has other ideas and wants revenge. So, the Lingate family is there on the island, Helen is now 33 years old, and their assistant Lorna has been with them a few years as well. One night, while at dinner, a box arrives with a piece of jewelry believed to have been stolen from Sarah’s dead body the night she died. Someone knows the truth of what happened that night and the Lingates will stop at nothing to hide that truth, even murder. What happened to Sarah that fateful night in 1992? Was her death a suicide or a more nefarious act took place that night?
This novel was so good!!! The ending will leave you shocked with the secrets and twists that are revealed! Look for this novel March 25, 2025!!

So vibey with the rich beautiful people on the Italian island of Capri....except there are two murders.

🌊 Italian island
🌊 murder mystery
🌊 multiple POV
🌊 dual timeline with flashbacks
🌊 rich people doing bad things
🌊 family drama

Listen....even if you predict some things, I guarantee you won't predict all. I knew who Sarah's killer was, but still didn't foresee a few twists.

It's a slow burn, and I did feel disengaged for a bit, but then the end totally sucked me back in. I love a book with karma to the rich, a murder mystery (or two), and something unexpected, and this book had it all.

Thank you Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the
ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an early copy of this book in exchange for a review. This read like The White Lotus and was enjoyable all throughout. Your classic rich people corrupted by money kind of story. I was entertained throughout and overall found this enjoyable.

Prestige, power, secrets, keeping appearances, and control all come into play in Saltwater. The Lingate family returns to the island of Capri every year. It was there that Sarah Lingate was found dead below the cliffs. Each year they return but this year there is something waiting for them - a necklace! It's not any necklace; it is the necklace that Sarah was wearing the night she died!

This book gives a look at the Lingate family and how they take care of their own even if that means using control and manipulation. It shows, Sarah's daughter, Helen who has brough Lorna Moreno, an employee of the family. Helen wants to know what happened to her mother and hopes that Lorna can help her. When Lorna goes missing, an investigation ensues....

This book has a good mystery and lots of family drama and tension. The Lingates are not a family that I would want to spend much time with. They are not the most likeable bunch and have a bunch of secrets between them. While I did not warm up0 to the Lingate family, I did enjoy the atmosphere of this book. Capri is a wonderful setting for this mystery thriller. This is tension and drama galore as well as a few twists and revelations.

I did not see the final reveal coming and I thought the author did a great job pulling that off. I found this to be a solid read and would enjoy reading more books by this author in the future.

Saltwater is the second novel by Katy Hays, who previously published the atmospheric novel The Cloisters. It is a dark, family drama set on the gorgeous island of Capri. The story follows the Lindgate family, renowned for their old money, who vacation yearly on Capri. The family includes brothers Richard and Marcus, Marcus’ wife Naomi, and Helen, Richard’s overly controlled daughter. It’s a cast of unlikable characters behaving badly to save their image. There are 2 mysterious deaths that occur on the island 30 years apart and are tied to the family, Helen’s mother Sarah and Marcus’ assistant Lorna.

The novel was a slow burn for me, with a few surprising twists, especially at the end. The author demonstrates exquisite scene building throughout; I could nearly see and smell Capri. And I love the look of cover. Thriller fans who enjoy twisty stories of rich people behaving badly should consider this. 3/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own. Pub Date: 3/25/25

This book tries to do too many things and just doesn’t succeed. The pacing and characters are interesting, and I found myself engaging with and enjoying sizable parts of this book. Unfortunately, everything this book tries to do I have seen done better in other books. The plot is over complicated and relies on gimmicks to drive it forward. The conceit of the “missing play” feels incomplete and unnecessary. This book is overwritten and tries to force a trite statement on wealth within a plot that simply can’t support it. I could see this book being a good vacation read, but it simply doesn’t stand out amongst a sea of similar thrillers.

"But like all secrets, it gets bigger the longer you keep it."

Thriller? Family Drama? You get both with the Lingates. I loved the past/present telling of the story and watching each and every one of the characters get what they deserved in this book. A quick read!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!

This book starts out slow and is hard to get into at first. Then, when Lorna disappears it gets a little more exciting. A series of unpredictable twists and turns keeps things interesting.

However, none of the characters are really all that likable. They are all pretty selfish making it hard to root for any of them. Plus, the ending is ruined because even though the book has not one but two central mysteries both of them involve the exact same plot twist. The first time it is an exciting revelation, but the second time it just seems like lazy writing and takes away from the overall enjoyment of the book.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free ebook ARC of this title in exchange for my review.

Rich folks in elaborate vacation places, secrets and a mystery - that's a hit or miss for me. I can't seem to stop reading - or watching them - but sometimes they just don't work well as a thriller. Sadly, this was on that didn't work. There are 2 timelines for this book, back in the 1990's with a woman's death, and now, 30 years later with her daughter returning to the area. Cue the drama - will they all make it out? I don't' remember. :( The writing style didn't work for me, and the book was not suspenseful, very little character development and by the time we got to the big reveal, I think I was asleep. :( I doubt I would recommend this to any of my friends.

3 stars