Katy Hays has written a riveting thriller taking place in the beautiful setting of Capri. Decades ago, Sarah Lingate, of the extremely wealthy and prominent Lingates, was found dead under the cliffs, leaving her husband and three year old daughter, Helen. It was determined to be an accident, however with many unanswered questions. Currently, Helen has returned with the family for their yearly visit. This time, the necklace Sarah was wearing when she died has turned up. Helen and Lorna, assistant to the family, are determined to find the truth, and then maybe Helen will be able to escape her family’s control. This book is very well crafted, with many interesting characters (both likeable and unlikeable). Not everyone survives the trip, and not everyone is who they seem. It is a very good read with exciting twists and turns.

Katy Hays’ "Saltwater" is a beautifully atmospheric novel that brings the cliffs of Capri to life with stunning, evocative prose which was welcomed during the many snowy days we've been currently experiencing. It felt nice to be transported to Capri. But back to the story, in 1992, Sarah Lingate was found dead beneath those very cliffs, leaving behind her young daughter, Helen. Though suspicions swirled around the powerful Lingate family, her death was ruled an accident. Now, thirty years later, the family returns to their villa, only to find Sarah’s missing necklace waiting for them—a chilling reminder of the past. The dual points of view added depth but were sometimes a bit confusing to follow. Still, the slow burn and unraveling of secrets and the eerie sense of history repeating itself kept me hooked.

Lifestyles of the ungodly rich might seem aspirational, but they're also highly secretive. You're either behind the curtain, or you're not, and they want as few people behind it as possible. Sometimes they even leave their own children unenlightened...until their hand is forced.

The Lingate's traditional summer holiday is to the Italian island of Capri. It's beautiful, but the coastline is almost completely hard, jagged cliff-facing. Dangerous - which they know better than most, since one of their own tumbled to her death there in the 90s. 30 years later they haven't stopped their annual pilgrimage, and neither have the questions about Sarah's untimely death. Money can buy a lot, but can it get away with murder?

This novel isn't as quickly paced as a typical thriller, but it is suspenseful, mysterious, twisted, and tangled. There is generational drama and several potential suspects. It turns into a curiosity about one crime and turns into an investigation into another. And what a spectacular, picturesque setting!

The characters in this book aren't exactly likeable, but they do inspire curiosity. What motivates people as powerful as these? Where are their weaknesses? Why have they made the decisions they've done, and what might compel them to reveal the truth of what happened 30 years ago?

I found myself very engaged with this story. I wasn't sure where it was going, but there was enough intrigue from the first pages to keep me studying all the information presented, ready for anything. There are several characters with motivations to find out more about Sarah's death, and just as many prepared to guard their secrets about her. It was really skillfully executed, and I wasn't expecting quite as many twists as were revealed by the end.

Saltwater would make a great vacation read, an engrossing sick-day or weekend read, or it might just add some intrigue into your regular reading lineup. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Note:: I was provided with a free copy of this novel by the publisher and netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

After reading Hays' The Cloisters, I was so excited to get my hands on this book. This is a story about lies, control, a mysterious death, and a wealthy family whose facades are in the spotlight. What stands out to me when I read this is the way the dark underbelly of wealth and privilege is displayed. These people have power, but with that comes the need to really control what is said about the family, to ensure that they look a certain way. Beneath that polished exterior though are hidden motives and a desire to keep what they have at all costs. Our main character is the daughter of the victim, and 30 years following the death of her mother, she seeks to break the chain of her family and bring the truth to light. It's a great read that would probably be a good beach read. It kept me guessing. Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this book!

From the start I could not put it down!! It reminds of so many drama tv shows I watch but in book form. Its as if White Lotus, Below Deck, and The Perfect Couple created a book!!

The characters were so interesting to read and root for or not root for and then at the same time I was curious about the death of the other characters. How was this mystery going to unfold? Who did it? How did it happen? I think Katy did a great job of building tension not just between the characters but between readers and the situation the characters were in as a whole. I wanted to know how Sarah died and what she was like prior to her death. Most of all I wanted to know what Helens life was like post her mothers death, I wanted to understand the family dynamic and I was on the edge of my seat to figure it out and how it was connected to Sarahs death.

I really enjoyed this from beginning to end. I could not put it down and found it so easy to read and move through.

In SALTWATER, written by Katy Hays, Sarah and Richard Wingate are vacationing in 1992 (30 years ago) in Capri, Italy. Helen, Sarah and Richard’s daughter, wonders if her father killed her mother. I wonder how Sarah ends up dead beneath one of the cliffs in Capri and read on.

I enjoy reading about the wealthy Lingate family. Katy Hays does a good job easing the reader to a time period in the past and back to the present. In fact, her writing is quite engaging. The story unfolds with chapters told from different points of view. The sub-headings of the Lorna chapters, suggesting a number of hours until her disappearance, entice me to read on. Various unknowns keep me riveted until the end. Unfortunately, the ending frustrates me. I feel the way I felt when I finished reading GONE GIRL—not good. Thank you, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of SALTWATER.

This literary thriller is about a very wealthy family that has a tragedy that throws suspicion on them. It is told through three female voices Sarah the mother who tragically died, Helen her daughter and Lorna a friend who works for the family. The story started off slow but I really enjoyed the twists that the ending provided.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
Publishing date March 25, 2025

This is a good pool/beach read if you like twisty plots, beautiful scenery (the island of Capri, Italy) and severely flawed characters. Rich family has long-held secrets, one family member discovers a few of those secrets, chaos and drama ensue. Not the most original plot, but the novel is entertaining, if a little long. Rouned up to 3.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books and the author for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review this novel.

The beautiful island of Capri in Italy is the setting for a truly outrageous family drama. Thirty years ago a young successful playwright, Sarah Lingate goes missing after an evening out with her husband. The very wealthy and connected Lingate family is exonerated of any blame in Sarahs's death. The storyline jumps back and forth in time and seems a little slow in the beginning but it certainly picks up and by the end I couldn't put the book down.

Present day has Sarah's 33 year old daughter, Helen, wanting to break free of the confines of her family, they keep a very tight leash on her saying it's all for her own good. But the household of her father, her boyfriend, aunt and uncle along with her uncle's assistant is a group of people with very few positive traits. As Helen tries to figure out the past and present, she finds she is always a step behind her family.

The setting of Capri is amazing and Katy Hays does a great job of bringing us onto the island with it's beauty, cliffs, nightlife, luxury, and much more. It really sounds like a playground for the rich. Hopefully not all rich are like the Lingates because they are lacking in redeeming qualities.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

3.75 stars, rounded up.

Saltwater tells the dark story of the Lingate family. They are rich, obsessed with maintaining their image, and have no problems hurting people and each other in pursuit of getting what they want. If you enjoy stories of rich people behaving badly, you'll like this book. The pacing of the story is a tad slow, but steady. I stayed interested in how it would all shake out, so that wasn't an issue for me. I loved the setting and how Hays wrote the island of Capri. It almost felt like a character--beautiful! Saltwater is full of twists and secrets and will appeal to readers who enjoy literary thrillers, dark family dramas, and atmospheric books!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Atmospheric and Hauntingly Beautiful

*“Saltwater” by Katy Hays is a mesmerizing novel that immerses readers in a world of art, obsession, and the power of the sea. The writing is lyrical and evocative, drawing you into the protagonist’s journey with a dreamlike intensity. Hays masterfully captures the push and pull of desire, isolation, and transformation, making the novel feel both intimate and expansive.

The novel’s strongest element is its atmosphere—Hays brings the rugged coastline and shifting tides to life in a way that feels almost hypnotic. The themes of identity, reinvention, and the blurred lines between past and present are handled beautifully, leaving a lingering sense of unease.

The only reason for four stars instead of five is that some parts of the story feel slightly meandering, with moments that could have been more tightly woven into the narrative’s emotional core. However, the novel’s spellbinding prose and immersive world more than make up for it.

If you love slow-burning literary fiction with gothic undertones and a deep connection to nature, Saltwater is well worth the read!

Set on the island of Capri in Italy, Saltwater is a novel by Katy Hays. Thirty years ago, Sarah Lingate, there on vacation with her wealthy husband and extended family, is found dead at the bottom of a cliff. Ruled an accident only because the Italian police couldn’t prove otherwise, Sarah’s death has lingered over the Lingate family for years. Present day, the Lingates are back in Capri on their annual vacation, with Helen, Sarah’s daughter, her boyfriend Freddy, and Lorna, a Lingate assistant. Lorna goes missing, and the story of Sarah’s death re-emerges and intertwines with Lorna’s disappearance.
Lies and deceit, family secrets, infidelity, blackmail… lots of juicy topics. Chapters flip flop around different characters and timelines, which keeps the suspense and surprise lingering until the end. It is not as quick paced as a typical suspense read and could be considered a hybrid of family drama and suspense. The idyllic setting of Capri was well described and gave an authentic feel. While the story got a bit too outlandish by the end, it was still a pretty enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for my ARC.

Saltwater by Katy Hays is one of the most twisty thrillers I have read in a long time. The book starts out a bit complicated with multiple points of view in multiple timelines. The Lingate family is forever haunted by the death of Sarah Lingate 3o years ago. Now the mystery surrounding her death is being reopened and family secrets may finally come to light.

The main character of this book I would say is Helen. She is the daughter of Sarah Lingate and as an adult she feels trapped by the burden of her family. In looking for a way to escape she has to uncover the secrets of the family's past. Unfortunately her family's narcissistic ties to money and each other prevent her from easily escaping.

The plot is described as a slow burn, but I had the opposite experience. There are so many characters, details, and moving parts. While I was forced to start slow I felt that the pace moved rather quickly. This book is the epitome of rich and privileged people behaving poorly and using money to hide their super shady behavior.

Almost every character in this book gets a point of view at some point and within at least one timeline. At first this made this book complicated to follow because there were so many puzzle pieces and details to keep straight. I think if I had been listening to this book on audio I would have easily gotten lost, and for that reason I recommend the physical.

Readers who enjoy constant twists and turns will love this book. Despite the initial complexity of the book, Katy Hays does bring it all together in the end in a way that the reader will understand. Saltwater kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page. I rated it 3.75 stars and rounded up to 4 on Netgalley & Goodreads.

Saltwater is a fun thriller with lots of twists and turns. Some of it was a little predictable, but the ride was still really fun. The story is told from different perspectives, starting off alternating between Helen and Lorna, and then moving to some other characters. Helen is the adult daughter of a wealthy, old money family, whose mother was mysteriously killed when she was a child. Her family returns to Capri every summer, to the site where her mother died. There are a few holes in the story, one of which is why the Lindgates kept returning to this spot. And there were some coincidences with the connections between Lorna and the Lindgates, but that didn't run the book. And I had a few different theories throughout the book and was delighted by the ending. Beautiful scenery in Capri too!

2.5 stars. Based on the description, I really thought I would enjoy this book. But it was just so painfully slow moving and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. They were all either unlikable or unrelatable or both. I only rounded up to 2.5 stars because I was surprised by the twists at the very end. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

This was a good, twisty read. There were times when I was a little frustrated at the structure of the story, getting small pieces of information at a time, and out of order, but it all came together by the end. It had a bit of a White Lotus vibe, which I liked. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nearly 30 years ago, playwright Sarah Lingate’s body was found below the cliffs on the island of Capri. Left behind are her wealthy husband and his brother, along with his brother’s wife. Her young daughter was home in California with a nanny. The death was ruled an accident, but the family is still shrouded under a cloud of suspicion.

The Lingate family continues to visit the island for a week every summer, and Helen Lingate grows up vacationing in the place her mother died. Her family is controlling and vindictive, and she’s felt trapped under the weight of their name for most of her life. This summer, her mother’s necklace mysteriously appears at the villa, which sets off a string of events no one could have seen coming.

-Mystery
-Multiple POV
-Dual timeline
-Slow burn
-Lush setting

The mystery and setting of Saltwater were fantastic! The moody tone set by the author was unwavering throughout the book, and I loved its contrast with the bright cover art.
The ending was definitely one I did not predict; to the point that I didn’t enjoy it. It seemed to be more for shock value than as a natural development of the story. The characters were truly some of the most unlikable I’ve ever read, with no redeeming qualities.
Despite that, Saltwater was well-written and I did enjoy the glimpse into a totally unfamiliar world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Saltwater
By Katy Hays

I was excited to read, Saltwater by Katy Hays from the cover and description alone. I had read, The Cloisters previously and liked it so much I knew I had to try this novel. Hays’ art history background serves both novels well as she incorporates the present day with ancient places and their many moods.

When reading you have no idea who to trust and whose viewpoint is accurate. Even the narrators don’t know if they can trust themselves. As murky as that seems, these folks come back to the scene of the crime, a murder in Capri, every year, as the rich with blinders on are bound to do.

Even Capri is a hot mess and hiding things in this story. Money isn’t freedom. Guilt and jealousy make people do desperate things. Who do you think you know? Everyone is hiding something while thinking they have the upper hand. It is throughly enjoyable reading experience with twists and turns til the end. It builds then slides like a landslide.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced digital read.

Thank you to NetGalley for another ARC!

4 stars this time!

In the beginning, I kind of wrote this off to be a snobby rich family drama. There’s almost an eerieness to it in what’s left unsaid. At one point, I thought I could place exactly what was going to happen because I had read a bit of thriller/mystery and there’s usually a formula to them but the timeline in this book kept throwing me off. It’s written out of order on purpose so you get certain information at a certain time, but that also makes it great.

The ending I could predict but also not at all? I’m not sure how that makes sense but I did gasp. It’s one I will have to eventually read again so I can get all the information because I feel like I missed some things

This dark thriller about a toxic, wealthy family with many secrets gripped me from the beginning. The multiple points of view and timelines shifting between thirty years ago and the present effectively build the suspense as the present-day murder of a pregnant woman after a party ties to the murder of a pregnant woman after a party in the past. Both murders take place in an island setting amongst a small, wealthy circle of suspects, adding to the claustrophobic and mysterious atmosphere. The characters slowly reveal more of themselves, their relationships, and their secrets as the novel progresses, and themes of family loyalty, class snobbery, the inequity of power between rich and poor, and the destructive nature of secrets between intimates play out. The concluding chapters contain several twists, some of which I saw coming and some not--I couldn't decide if there are almost too many final dark revelations--but I would recommend this to lovers of psychological thrillers, family sagas, toxic love affairs, and exotic settings (the island of Capri in this instance).