The initial premise intrigued my but unfortunately I did not love this one. It was slower paced than the premise made it seem, and the multiple timelines and POVs were at times difficult to follow. The setting was a read highlight of the novel!

Rich family, suspicious death, stunning island of Capri setting sets this book up to be enthralling. Not quite.
The Lingate family goes to Capri every year, before and after Sarah Lingate fell from the cliffs to her death. Helen, Sarah's daughter, was 3 years old when her mother died. Not believing it was suicide, but murder, she teams up with Lorna to extort her family out of money.
The story is slow moving, never grasping my attention or full interest. The character development was minor, no one standing out or capturing my emotions.

Saltwater by Katy Hays was a slow-paced book, which made it difficult for me to stay engaged with the story. Unfortunately, I didn't find any of the women, Sarah, Helen, or Lorna, likable. There may be others who enjoy this story, but it was a miss for me. I won't be reviewing it on my social media accounts.

I found this book to be very difficult to follow. I had high hopes as the description of the book was interesting. However, I found it difficult to stay interested in the story.

Book Review: Saltwater by Katy Hays – 3.5 Stars

This was my first book by Katy Hays, and while I didn’t love it, I didn’t dislike it either. I’d probably give it 3.5 stars overall.

The writing itself was beautiful—very atmospheric and immersive. I felt like I could see, smell, and feel the setting, which really added to the overall mood of the story. But at times, it felt like the plot moved a little too slowly, and I kept waiting for something bigger to happen.

The characters were interesting, but I didn’t feel super connected to any of them. Still, there was a haunting quality to the story that stuck with me after I finished it.

Not a favorite, but I’d be open to reading more from Katy Hays. She definitely has a unique style, and I’m curious to see what she does next.

Held my interest early on and the twists at the end were unexpected. Maybe a little unbelievable but there is enough reasoning to say it’s plausible. Makes me glad I don’t have a toxic family like that!

The island of Capri, Italy. A wealthy family with dark secrets. A murder case 30 years ago. The cause of death was ruled accidental despite the suspicious circumstances.

What its about: 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 one was a bit slow for my liking, but I really appreciated the rich family with secrets aspect, and the twist did get me! Solid 3 stars!

In 1992, a murder mystery unfolded on the glamorous Isle of Capri in Italy. It’s like a tale of the rich and powerful behaving badly. The mysterious death of Sarah Lingate, the wife of a wealthy businessman named Richard Lingate, remained unsolved for years. Fast forward to 2022, and Richard’s assistant, Lorna, goes missing during a vacation. The mystery deepens, and it becomes clear that every family member and close friend of the Lingates has their own secrets and knowledge about what happened back in 1992 and now. The story weaves together multiple timelines and perspectives, making it a complex and intriguing read. There were a lot of characters, so I had to keep track of their relationships and connections. Once I did that, it became easier to follow the plot and understand the significance of each relationship. Honestly, I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likable. The plot was a bit slow-paced, which required some attention to keep track of the intricate details. The setting of Capri was stunning, with its beautiful landscapes. It felt like the island itself had its own hidden secrets. Despite the slow pace, I found the book entertaining. It might not be for everyone, though, as it could be a bit slow-burning for some readers. I would recommend it to those who enjoy a slow-paced murder mystery. It could make for a great beach read.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for pre-approving me for this read!! I truly waited too long to pick it up, but now as I did I’m so happy I got the chance to read it!!
RATING: 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️’s
Atmospheric. Tense. Beautifully unnerving. Katy Hays delivers another gripping read in Saltwater—a novel that tugged me in with the tide and didn’t let go until the last page.

The blurb promises a story of reinvention and hidden darkness: A woman flees her former life in New York and seeks refuge on the rugged northern California coast, only to find herself tangled in the mysteries of a remote, secretive community. And let me tell you—it delivers.

“You don’t come to the edge of the world without wanting to fall off.”
As a die-hard fan of mysteries and thrillers, I’m always on the hunt for something that keeps me guessing—but what I loved most here was the slow-burn suspense. It’s not about twist after twist; it’s about the creeping dread, the unshakable sense that something isn’t quite right. Think gothic coastal vibes, with whispers of cultish charm and psychological depth.

The writing is vivid and lyrical. Hays knows how to build tension like a rising tide. There were moments I had to stop and reread sentences just to appreciate the craft.

So why 4 stars? There were a few pacing dips mid-book, and I found myself wishing for a bit more resolution with certain character arcs. But honestly, the mood and themes more than made up for it.

If you loved her previous novel *The Cloisters*, or enjoy books that blend the eerie and the elegant—this is a must-read.
Highly recommend if you're into slow-burn mysteries, cultish atmospheres, and morally gray characters.

This was an atmospheric read, set mostly on Capri, you could practically feel the luxury roll in.

It follows an old-money family returning to the place of their mother’s mysterious death, 30 years later, just like they’ve done every year prior. However, what meets them is an open window to the past and lingering questions about what really happened that fateful night.

The air of mystery stays with the story throughout, though the build-up to the action takes its sweet time. Yet once it starts, be ready to be nearly overwhelmed by all the twists.

The story is tinged with White Lotus vibes and focuses on two timelines and different perspectives. I love a mo' money, mo’ problems predicament, and this one doesn’t disappoint.

While this book has a fabulous setting, mostly miserable characters and an intriguing and calculated plot, serious editing should have removed the confusion of who was narrating at any given point and made the transitions seamless. Unfortunately I did not find this to be the case. While I was able to follow the past, present and in between, the distractions were numerous. The characterizations of an ultra insulated family that keeps its members prisoners to the whole was shocking in the recognition that it is probably true of many mega rich families. Putting that aside, the twists and red herrings were well placed and at times breathtaking. The confusion and illusion was as spectacular as the crystalline turquoise waters of The Isle of Capri. Longer than it needed to be, the story shuffled along when it could have raced. The little breadcrumbs strewn along the way should have had more impetus - “we lurch into motion”, stop dead and then lurch again. How much more appealing a race after a lurch would have been. The skewed timeline was a problem for me. The verbal and psychological tangents caused the story to ebb more than flow. There was almost a surreal inner examination of what everyone was doing without any substantial understanding or conclusion. The relationships were so problematic that “normal” was never even a consideration.

There is money, or is there? Blackmail or not? Love, unrequited, found and lost. Murder or suicide, death either way. Truths, half truths, untruths, and outright lies. So many things hanging and twisting and unresolved. This is a good book, but not as good as it could have been. I want to thank Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a copy.

This is not my usual genre but I thought the premise sounded interesting and ended up really enjoying it! I've always loved mysteries and this one had lots of those elements combined with some suspense. The twists and turns caught me off guard and I definitely did not see some things coming which is always fun! Would recommend for anyone looking for a summertime mystery.

I’m a sucker for rich people behaving badly and a crazy journey – which you’re find in Saltwater by Katy Hays. I love dual timelines, so that is always a bonus for me. This book had twists you won’t see coming. I think anyone who enjoys suspense and beach reads will love this one.

Pretty okay
Wasn't expecting it to go the way it did and the concept was solid but the writing really threw me off
2.5 stars

interesting concept but unfortunately the writing was quite unrefined. It lacked an ability to properly flesh out the characters in a way that made me care about what's going on with them. also the time jumps back and forth felt overdone and unimaginative

I read Katy Hays' first novel, The Cloisters, and liked it okay but felt like the plot was lacking. This one, Saltwater, was much better, but maybe skewed too far in the other direction. The Capri setting, the Lingate family, and the general mystery of what happened to Sarah (and then Lorna) was compelling enough, but there was a little too much vamping and oblique statements to understand what was really going on. The twists felt convoluted, the storyline felt oversaturated, and some of the twists were straight up unbelievable. Maybe the third novel will strike the right balance?

This is the first thriller that has held my attention in quite some time. The setting as well made it a stand out in the genre. In a sea of thrillers, this one is worth it.

Phenomenal! If you like a murder mystery, good atmosphere, and rich people drama, you will LOVE Saltwater! While the writing left me wanting more, it was still an enjoyable read and I would recommend for a quick beach read.

Thank you to Random House — Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think a lot of people will really enjoy this one. A mystery where Helen’s mom disappeared many years ago and now they are back in Capri and someone else disappears. But not only that, the way Helen is treated by the family is just bizarre and very controlling.

Saltwater is a great book for anyone who enjoys rich people behaving badly. It’s more of a family drama than it is a thriller or mystery, but the ending does have a satisfying twist. I found all of the different points of view a bit hard to follow at times, but it was enjoyable overall.