Thirty years ago, a famous playwright fell to her death on the island of Capri. Her ultra rich family returns to the island every year to prove that they don’t feel the sting of accusations that they had something to do with her death. Her young daughter, Helen, never knew her mother, and now, with the help of her uncle’s assistant is finally determined to learn the truth of what happened that fateful night years ago. But will the truth set her free or will it trap her further into her controlling family’s web?

This story is told through multiple timelines and many points of view. I did not have trouble keeping track of what was happening, though. Everything was well labeled.

This book was incredible. I just need to start out by saying that.

There’s so much intrigue and drama going on, I felt like I was watching Italian version of some kind of reality show, but with the stakes so much higher. You know, as in life and death - oh and tens of millions of dollars. Plus, the Capri setting in the Mediterranean was just amazing, I felt like I was on vacation too while I was reading this.

The author really plays the long game in this one, revealing just enough at various points to let you think you know what’s going on, and then the rug is pulled out from under you with another twist or revelation that changes the course of the story. It’s really incredibly exciting and makes you feel like anything can happen around the corner. I like books like that that keep you on your toes.

Plus, what’s great about these insular family dramas is that you don’t know who you can truly trust because everyone can be a suspect and everyone can turn on people at any time. So it was really down to the wire trying to figure out who was “good“ and who was “bad.” That also adds to the mystery in the drama because you can go an entire book thinking that someone feels one way only to realize that they’re on a completely separate plane. But I’m not going to spoil anything here.

I’ll also just say the ending was really fascinating, although you have to suspend belief a little bit. But I didn’t really mind that.

Overall, I highly recommend taking a trip to Italy with this book. You won’t be disappointed!

"Saltwater" is Katy Hays's second novel and it is no sophomore slump! If anything, I enjoyed it even more than I did "The Cloisters," Though it dragged on in parts, and I do think the book could have been shorter, I was entertained from the first page until the last. Part thriller and part family drama (and oh-my-goodness, the Drama with a capital D of this family!), this twisty book kept me guessing and was filled with misdirection and intrigue. The author's portrayal of the gorgeous island of Capri made me feel like I was actually there, indulging in the lifestyles of the wealth characters. The characters are so well-developed that they come alive from the pages, but I am thankful they aren't really real people because they are all awful people! I liked the author's use of multiple perspectives and timelines; it added to the suspense and was a very effective way to tell the story. And the ending blew my mind!

If you are looking for a murder mystery with a lot of family drama and "rich people problems" then this is the book for you! Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book, a perfect beach read.

I randomly decided to start this because I felt like I was in a reading slump and I wanted to try something that was different than what I usually read. I was immediately hooked. Firstly, I have to point out that I loved the setting. Being in Capri felt SO real to me. and I'm not sure why, but I was picturing White Lotus Season 2. I loved all the characters and didn't trust any of them. (I still don't trust Freddy???) I wish we would have for sure found out if Lorna's baby was his. Also, I feel like I didn't get clarity on how Lorna left Capri and why she did, and why Marcus was okay with it? Maybe I just didn't understand it fully. However, I did like all the twists!

I was completely captivated by Saltwater! The vivid descriptions of Italy made me feel like I was right there, soaking in the scenery alongside the characters. The mystery had me hooked from the start; I thought I had figured out the ending early on, but I was completely wrong. I could not have expected the twists that unfolded! I also loved how all the characters were so deeply interwoven, each connection adding another layer to the story. This was an absolutely gripping read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a beautifully written mystery with an unexpected ending.

Twisty rich family drama!! This book has so many surprises. The setting of Capri is beautiful but almost becomes toxic from this family's drama. Helen's mother's death 30yr before and now Lorna disappears, possibly recreating history. Loved the different POVs - they were expertly placed. Highly recommend! Thanks netgalley and Ballentine books for the early copy!!

Review: Saltwater

A decades-old mystery, a glamorous yet haunting setting, and a web of family secrets make Saltwater a compelling slow-burn thriller. In 1992, Sarah Lingate was found dead beneath the cliffs of Capri. Her death was ruled an accident, but suspicions have always lingered. Now, thirty years later, her daughter Helen returns to the island, determined to uncover the truth about her mother’s fate.

The novel seamlessly weaves between multiple timelines and perspectives—Sarah in the past, Helen and family assistant Lorna in the present—gradually unraveling long-buried secrets. The writing is lush and atmospheric, painting a vivid picture of Capri’s breathtaking beauty and underlying dangers. The setting becomes a character itself, with the glistening Mediterranean waters contrasting the darkness lurking within the Lingate family.

While the plot unfolds slowly, the final quarter delivers shocking twists that make the wait worthwhile. The inclusion of newspaper clippings adds depth, reinforcing the novel’s theme of perception versus reality. The audiobook narration by Allyson Ryan, Cassandra Campbell, and Carlotta Brentan enhances the storytelling, making it easy to track the different timelines and voices.

Though the pacing may feel too leisurely at times, Saltwater is a gripping tale of privilege, betrayal, and the cost of uncovering the past. Fans of Succession, The White Lotus, and The Fury by Alex Michaelides will appreciate this sophisticated mystery.

#MysteryThriller #FamilySecrets #SlowBurnSuspense #RichPeopleBehavingBadly #AtmosphericReads #Capri #BookReview #TBR

"On glittering Capri, anything can be a mirage. And no one holds a grudge like family.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters comes an electrifying thriller about an opulent family retreat to Italy that's shattered by the resurfacing of a decades-old crime.

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.

Haunted by the specter of that night, the legendary Lingate family unity is pushed to a breaking point, and Helen seizes the opportunity. Enlisting the help of Lorna Moreno, a family assistant, the two plot their escape from Helen's paranoid, insular family. But when Lorna disappears and the investigation into Sarah's death is reopened, Helen has to confront the fact that everyone who was on Capri thirty years ago remains a suspect - her controlling father, Richard; her rarely lucid aunt, Naomi; her distant uncle, Marcus; and their circle of friends, visitors, and staff. Even Lorna, her closest ally, may not be who she seems.

As long-hidden secrets about that night boil to surface, one thing becomes clear: Not everyone will leave the island alive."

First question, when did the aunt start being rarely lucid? Could she be hiding something!?!

Thank you NetGalley! I loved the description for this book. However the story itself fell flat. It started out slow and continued that way. While their were a few twists later on, I was already checked out of the plot

While I loved the setting, ultimately this one was a little too much of a slow burn for me. I was bored in the beginning, and by the time the twists and turns started coming about 3/4 of the way through I was already somewhat disengaged.

The description made me think that this was going to be a great family drama/thriller but... I was bored. It started out slow and did not really pick up. I felt like there wasn't enough character development and it caused me not to really care about anyone. They were all awful in the end.

There were a few twists at the very end but at that point I just wasn't interested anymore.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

A slow burn with an unlikeable (yet fascinating) family, Salt Water follows the Lingates as they vacation in Capri, honoring Sarah Lingate, who died there in 1992. When their assistant, Lorna, goes missing, tensions rise.

The dual timeline adds intrigue but feels disjointed, and the pacing drags until the final 100 pages—where twists come in a rush. While the ending delivers, I wish the suspense had been more evenly spread. A good read for those who enjoy messy family drama and slow-building mysteries.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published March 25, 2025.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I was completely bored and really had no interest in who killed who. It would have been a DNF if it wasn’t an ARC that I needed to read and review. Sadly cannot recommend.

The best part about it was the beautiful setting.

Sarah Lingate is found dead in 1992. Her family has never believed that it was an accident & everyday they come back to try & solve the mystery.. 30 years into the mystery, a surprise awaits them, the necklace that she was wearing the night she died. Will this help them find the answers that they need.

3.5 stars! I really enjoyed this book—rich people behaving badly, a beautiful Capri setting, and White Lotus vibes made for the perfect combination. I liked that while the mystery is certainly a heavy focus of the story, it also feels like a family drama at its core, making it a great fit for fans of both thrillers and domestic dramas! I could see this being a super popular beach read this summer. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for the ARC.

thank you net galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

this story follows a few characters across different timelines. In 1992, Sarah Lingate was discovered dead beneath the cliffs of Capri, the cause of death ruled "accidental" despite the suspicious circumstances.

this story follows the lingate family trying to navigate a vacation gone bad. They visit the same island every year in honor of Sarah Lingate, the deceased family member. Everything seems to be going as planned, that is until Lorna, the assistant, goes missing.

The story flip flops between past and present which makes for a confusing time. Some of the characters were hard to track, and unfortunately i didn't connect to any one of them. These characters were so unlikeable, which is a plus for me, I love an unlikeable character, let alone an unlikeable entire family!

This book was slow until about 3/4 of the way through, then a bunch of twists and turns happened. I appreciated the twists at the end, but wish it wasn't all jumbled in the last 100 pages.

If you like white lotus, rich people drama, and european settings with a fun little mysetery, this is a book for you!

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Salt Water
Author: Katy Hays

Thank you so much Random House Publishing for this ARC! This releases on 3/25, and it was an amazing thriller read. How do I buy the movie rights to this? In the year of 1992, Sarah Lingate is found dead and it is ruled an accident. Thirty years later, the Lingate family return to Italy for their annual trip and they find the necklace she was wearing on the night that she died. People were always suspicious that they were involved in her death. Helen is Sarah’s daughter that was three years old when she died. She is desperate to escape her family, and works with an assistant to plot a way out. The finding of the necklace throws a wrench in her plans. This book was super twisty and I will not lie.. I was shocked by a few things! It was a bit slower paced, but I loved how descriptive the author is, I loved the added newspaper clippings throughout the book, and the storyline was truly captivating. This really needs to be a movie.. 🎥 🍿. Highly recommend my thriller fiends add this to your TBRS!

The Lingates just can’t stay away from Capri, despite the fact that their dark past is tied to the beautiful island. Katy Hays describes the scenery so well that you can almost smell the salt in the warm, Mediterranean Sea breeze.

The point of view goes back and forth between Lorna & Helen, and neither one of them seem like they’re forthcoming with their intentions despite the fact that they’re friends, sort of. Lorna is the « help » but is supposed to be enjoying the vacation. Helen is the daughter of Sarah Lingate, who tragically died in Capri in 1992 under mysterious circumstances.

Are Lorna & Helen working together, conspiring for a greater plan? It seems to be the case. Lorna goes missing. The story is told from Lorna’s perspective before her disappearance & Helen’s perspective after. Do you ever know who the people around you are? Who can you trust?

Could not put Saltwater down. The twists and turns kept coming all the way to the end. It’s a must read from me!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of ”Saltwater” in exchange for my honest opinion. I was definitely hooked from the very beginning. There’s nothing like a full cast of unreliable narrators to keep the plot moving. Every time you think you have something figured out there is a twist - some of them expected. Unfortunately there was just one twist too many near the end to make it very believable. While this was an enjoyable read and I was ready to give it four stars most of the way, the last few chapters made it a three for me. That being said, I would definitely read more books by this author.

I was so excited to get an arc of Katy Hays’ newest novel after really enjoying her first, The Cloisters. This new dual timeline thriller felt perfect for a summer beach read!

While vacationing with friends and her boss, Lorna goes missing from the island of Capri…. Or has she? What makes this even odder, her friend Helen’s mother was found dead years before off the cliffs of this same island. Are the two mysteries linked?

Without giving too much away for the twists this novel takes, the reader is able to enjoy a dual timeline murder mystery in both time views. Although the setting is laid out beautifully and the characters all seem fun, I did find the plot of the book lacking. At many points the chapters tended to drag on, and too many POV made it hard to keep track of who was narrating.


Thank you Katy Hays, NetGalley, and Ballentine books for the advanced reader copy of this thriller, out March 25th!

Everything I wanted in a rich people behaving badly story. Loved the setting of Capri as a huge bonus since I’m not on vacation for spring break! This story delivers incredible twists if you are patient enough to wait until nearly the end. So explosive I didn’t see either of them coming which made for a wild ride. Perfect setting and perfect family to live to hate. Pack this one in your beach bag!!