Thirty years ago, Helen's mother was found dead below their vacation house on Capri. Every year since, the Lingate family has returned as if nothing happened. However, this year's family trip rivals the drama of their vacation 3 decades ago. When Sarah Lingate's missing necklace shows up shortly after they arrive at the villa, everyone is instantly on edge. Haunted by what happened 30 years ago, the Lingate family is closer than ever to falling apart. Luckily, Helen wants to distance herself from her family and this event is the perfect opportunity to not only become independent but also uncover what really happened that night. Lorna Moreno, the family assistant, also seems to be in on what Helen is planning. Until she turns up dead in the same spot Sarah was discovered. Helen immediately suspects her family but isn't prepared to discover what else her family is hiding. Not everyone who arrived in Capri will be leaving Capri - alive or otherwise. The buried family secrets are coming to the surface whether the Lingate family wants them to or not.

I wanted to love this one but it gave me The Fury vibes (and I *hated* that book - lol). A lot of the plot seemed somewhat unnecessary and dragged on a bit too long. Naturally, the last 20% of the book was the best part. It took me sooo long to get through it because it just was not going anywhere. The plot has a lot of potential, but it just fell flat for me. Maybe it's because it had The Fury vibes or maybe it just wasn't the right time for me to read this. Some of the twists were obvious from the start, but others did actually catch me off guard. I didn't love the ending but it made sense given the rest of the book. It's not a bad book! I just...something wasn't working for me.

Received an ARC via NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this one. The pacing is great and the story hooks you pretty easily. I was afraid the alternating narratives and going back and forth in time would make it hard to connect to the characters but I felt like I got to know each of them pretty well.

I knew there would be some sort of twist but I couldn’t figure out when it would come and involving who. There was more than I bargained for and they hit the mark.

This would be a good summer read for sure.

What a fun, deliciously twisty mystery! I really liked the dual timelines and how the two stories intertwined. The book gets off to a bit of a slow start, but the tension and the pace builds to a satisfying, awesome ending. There were so many puzzle pieces and the final picture kept shifting as new details were revealed. I had so much fun trying to guess the ending… some things I got right, and some things I didn’t see coming! The only thing that would’ve made my reading experience better would’ve been a warm bucket of popcorn to munch on while racing to the conclusion!

This book has such a strong sense of place- Italy (and especially Capri) were described so well I felt like I was there with the characters. I think this would be a great book to read on vacation, or even a staycation! Overall this was a great slow burn mystery with a fantastic atmosphere and lots of family drama. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys layered mysteries/thrillers or stories about dysfunctional families!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was so much more than what I expected. The atmospheric setting of Capri, the twists and turns, the uncovering of old family secrets - this was so good and executed so well.

I know, based on The Cloisters, that Katy Hays is an expert at the atmospheric setting but Saltwater took that to a whole new level.

Nowadays, it really takes a lot for a twist to shock me - but this one truly gave me whiplash. Loved it!

4.5 stars ✨
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

The setting and voice pull you in fast, and the pace keeps moving from character to character so you have to pay attention. Quite a few great lines in the prose, and it’s a great beach read!

This was an okay thriller for me. I did like the dual timelines (past and present) but it just fell a little flat for me. The plot was interesting to me and I do think others would really enjoy it. The setting was in Capri, and it did make me want to go there.

An incredible setting. A decades old mystery. Generations of family dynamics. The perfect elements for a captivating read!

Saltwater will keep you guessing until the end. It would make a great book club selection as there is plenty to unpack and discuss.

Set primarily on the Italian island of Capri, this story follows a famous wealthy family, who is now most known for the mysterious mystery that occurred on the island. Get ready to unpack family legacy, true crime-style mysteries and so much more.

This is the perfect twisty summer book! Secrets, family drama, old money, summer on Isle of Capri.

I really loved the beautiful atmospheric setting of this book- makes me want to visit in the summer but without all the family drama! This book was full of juicy family drama, lies, secrets, twists, betrayals. Buckle up it’s a wild ride the last portion of this book is a wild ride.

Told in past and present timelines and various perspectives slowly unfolding the mystery of what happened in 1992. Go in blind. It really was such a well told twisty story.

Family, you can’t live with 'em, can’t live without ‘em! In this den of snakes, treachery, lies, betrayal and secrets slither throughout, and if you turn away for just a moment, you might be the next one struck.
Set on the Isle of Capri, with a desperate cast of wealthy characters and their twisted relationships, a murder mystery, and a plan to escape all come together and fall apart spectacularly. The overlapping scales of the story, along with the layers of the characters, kept getting deeper and more complex, and figuring out the intricate pattern to the end was nearly impossible.
I literally exclaimed ‘oh my God!’ while reading and was so excited for the author’s cleverness by the end. What an excellent novel, so well done!

This book is the definition of a slow burn to me. It has all the bad elements: family dysfunction, betrayal, murder, indulgence, glamorous locales, boats; the list goes on and on. From the beginning, we know something happens to Lorna and her frenemy, Helen, daughter of the rich family this story is based on is somewhat torn as to whether to worry about it. It also brings her questions a\bout her mother’s death roaring back. This unfolding of past and present makes for great suspense. Really enjoyed the story.

Sorry to say, not my favorite. Rich unlikeable people and I got a little bored towards the middle. It picked up at the end with a good twist. It had some promise, wish I liked it better.

This one is definitely a slow burn thriller. While it was good it just wasn't great for me. I love a more fast-paced book. So I think it was more the style vs the content I didn't like.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC of this title.

This novel will absolutely transport you to Capri and make you long for an Italian vacation...just maybe not with this particular family. Recommended for readers who love "rich people behaving badly" Saltwater by Katy Hays tells the twisty tale of the Lingate family who has been shrouded in mystery and suspicion ever since Sarah Lingate was found dead at the bottom of the cliffs at their summer rental in Capri in the early 90s. Treated as a suicide, there's always been rumors about what really happened to Sarah. Enter Helen, Sarah's daughter, and Lorna - Helen's uncle Marcus' personal assistant - who hatch a plan to uncover the truth and help Helen escape from under the thumb of her overprotective family. The story has a wide cast of characters that was a bit tricky to keep track of at times and winds it's way through place and time, alternating between the family trip in Capri that ended in Sarah's death, to the present day trip to Capri. I enjoyed this more than Hays' first novel, but ultimately still left me wanting some crisper editing and less convenient plotlines. 3.5 stars rounded up.

In July 1992, playwright Sarah Lingate goes missing from their holiday villa. The previous evening, the wealthy family attended a celebratory dinner where Sarah and her husband Richard reportedly had a disagreement, and Richard returned to Casa Malaparte alone. In the present day, 30 years after her mother‘s death, Helen Lingate, her boyfriend Freddy, her father Richard, uncle Marcus, aunt Naomi, along with Marcus‘s assistant Lorna, are back on Capri for their annual vacation. Helen is feeling constrained within the family dynamics and, along with Lorna, has devised a plan to gain independence. However, their actions have unforeseen consequences.

The characters are vividly described, making them easy to visualize. The plot is tense, mysterious, claustrophobic, and conspiratorial from the beginning. It is clear that a dynamic of cat and mouse is at play, raising questions about who is in control and who is not, as well as who is trustworthy. This scenario evolves into a game of survival, growing increasingly intense. Questions arise about why the family continues to return to Capri after Sarah's disappearance. The narrative keeps readers engaged and seeking answers, though it may feel somewhat prolonged.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It begins slowly with many questions but becomes a twisty ride once you get into it.

I would like to extend my gratitude to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine Books for providing the advanced copy, and to Katy Hays for delivering an excellent story.

I found this one to be a bit slow to start and at times had difficulty pushing through. The author went into great detail to paint the plausible suspects however in the end it felt rushed. This was a first time read for this author, would like to read others and compare.

A really enjoyable, thought provoking novel detailing the years of deceit and duplicity of a well to do family on vacation. The past and present are paralleled as a murder investigation unfolds. Some really enjoyable twists in this one as well.

Thank you for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.
I only made it through to about 50% unfortunately. The story was great planned with the different time lines; however, it felt like nothing was happening. I love a book that has action and you can't wait to pick it up and find out what happens next. This book, for me, just kept going and going without much happening to make it interesting. I am sure some will love to see the character development and slow motion on what is unfolding, it just wasn't for me.

Katy Hays delivers a twisty, atmospheric novel in Saltwater, a story filled with secrets, privilege, and unexpected turns. What starts as one thing quickly morphs into something entirely different, making for a gripping and unpredictable read.

The novel weaves together multiple points of view and timelines, which adds depth but can be tricky to follow. If you enjoy stories about rich people behaving badly, long-buried family secrets, and a setting dripping in sunshine and intrigue—in this case, the stunning island of Capri—this book delivers. The slow burn builds into a compelling mix of crime, mystery, and drama, culminating in a great ending that ties everything together.

A solid pick for fans of dark, twisty family dramas with a luxurious backdrop!

Quote: "Families can be like that. They infect the way you think about yourself. They refuse to make space. You mold yourself around them in ways that contort you, change you."

Thank you netgalley for the arc of saltwater in exchange for my honest review. I enjoyed the first book by Katy Hays so was looking forward to diving into this one, Katy is good with atmospheric details, She can set a scene that you can almost picture in your head. I was ready to jump On a plane to caprieven with all the mayhem occurring. This is a story about a complicated family who has a lot of secrets and lies. Money issues and trust issues, it has a happy ending for most, four stars

I loved this book. I love a good alternating timeline. The story gave hints of We Were Liars, which I also loved. Capri was such a character in this book; I could easily picture where things were happening. I looked up certain locations for an even better idea. My perspective of the other characters shifted often and I still don’t know if I really liked Helen. There was one storyline that didn’t feel tied up - maybe it just wasn’t explicitly stated and I was supposed to infer what happened but since it was a plot point discussed so frequently I expected a commentary on it.