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.

In 1992, Sarah Wingate, an aspiring writer is found dead at her husband’s family estate on the Isle of Capri. In 2022,her 33 year old daughter, Helen, and her boyfriend, Freddy, return to the Isle to find out the truth about her mother’s death. After reading the second chapter, I realized I needed to make a family tree in order to keep the characters straight. They all seemed to have the same characteristics of wealthy, unprincipled,and selfish humans, who sleep with anyone at any time. The story bogs down with the main characters acting suspiciously when several unexplained deaths occur. As the reader tries to understand their motives, we are surprised by the duplicities, lies, and fiendish deeds they have gotten away with. The incredulous revelations in the last 50 pages defy the sensibilities of the reader

I hope the author will reach the high standard of THE CLOISTERS with her next endeavor.

Saltwater is a slow burn-family drama-mystery for fans of rich people behaving poorly!

In 1992, Sarah Lingate was found dead at the bottom of cliffs in Capri. Her death is ruled unsuspicious, but many people believe the wealthy Lingates had something to do with it.

Helen, Sarah's daughter who was three at the time of her death, now returns with the Lingates every summar to Capri. After she teams up with Lorna, a family assistant, hoping to get themselves away from the family, Lorna goes missing. Helen must figure out what happened to Lorna to keep herself safe.

This was a fun popcorn thriller with all the shady wealthy people vibes!

Saltwater tells the story of the fictitious Lingate clan. A family rich in wealth, it also has its fair share of dark secrets.

In 1992 Sarah Lingate is found dead in Capri. Her death suspicious, it’s still ruled as accidental. In the aftermath Sara leaves behind a young daughter named Helen. Somewhat inexplicably, the family returns to the scene of the crime each year.

But on the thirtieth anniversary of Sarah’s death, the annual trip takes a twisty turn. The family returns to the villa only to find the necklace that Sarah was wearing the night she went missing. Where did it come from and what does it mean?

As the reader begins to piece together what happened to Sarah, the family’s assistant and Helen’s friend, Lorna, goes missing. What happened to Lorna and is it connected to the mystery that occurred all those years ago?

Saltwater is a slow burn novel with an even slower pace. Told through the rotating viewpoints of Sarah, Helen, and Lorna, respectively, I didn’t find any of the women particularly engaging or even likable. While I love a good family drama rooted in the trappings of wealth and power, Saltwater unfortunately left this reader feeling adrift at sea.

Helen and her family return every year to the island of Capri, where her mother, Sarah, died thirty years before. Her father was suspected in her mother's death, but ultimately it had been ruled a suicide. The wealthy family are very close knit, and are clearly hiding plenty of secrets. Helen feels stifled by their power and control.

This year, Helen and her friend Lorna plan on leaving. But when the necklace that Sarah was wearing the night of her death is mailed to the villa, the old case is reopened and the family comes under suspicion again.

The story is told through the dual timelines of thirty years ago, when Sarah died, and the current day. We hear from several of the main players, from Helen, Lorna, Sarah, Richard (Helen's father), Marcus (her father's brother) and Naomi (Marcus's wife). This gets a little confusing at times, trying to remember who is 'speaking'.

There are quite a few minor characters to keep track of too, and some great plot twists. I thought I knew who had killed Sarah several times, and was wrong every time. I enjoyed the way the truth was revealed.

The novel has a very lush feel, with the wonderful backdrop of Capri with it's fantastic scenery and dangerous cliffs, and the rich and famous people that summer on the island.

An enjoyable read.

The Cloisters by this author was a 5⭐️ read for me, so I can’t help but feel a little disappointed by this book. There is nothing wrong with it at all, but it felt very rub of the mill for the genre. Until the end, that is.

We follow a wealthy family, of course, as they take their yearly family trip to Capri. There obviously are some secrets tied to this place for the family, and this trip will unravel all of them.

The pace felt glacial for me at the start, with it finally picking up steam at the 2/3 mark. The ending really did surprise me and I did not guess how everything would be revealed. The ending saved this from being a 2 star. I will keep picking up this author’s releases for now, and hope her next resonates with me like The Cloisters did.

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In 1992 Sarah Lingate was found dead below the cliffs of Capri. She left behind her three year old daughter, Helen and husband. Her death was determined to be an accident even though most people think her in-laws and/or husband, the Lingates are involved and their old money in shielding them. This book kept me reading on and wanting to know the truth, though it did seem to be very prolonged. The cover is very pretty and drew me in. Katy Hays seemed to truly capture summer in Capri. The characters were well drawn out, some not so likable. It is a perfect mystery thriller filled with family drama. A perfect beach read. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this advanced readers copy.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book and felt like I was there! I read it in one day! I would definitely recommend this book. I loved all the characters and the storyline.

The wealthy Lingate family has been surrounded by suspicion for the past 30 years, since the death of Sarah Lingate on the cliffs of the Island of Capri, but despite the public opinion, every year the family returns for their annual holiday. Longing for answers about her mothers death, Helen attempts to balance the expectations of her controlling family and the curiosity of her own to know the truth about her mothers life and death. Saltwater is a very complicated family saga with themes of power, status, and deeply buried family secrets. While there were aspects of this book I found difficult to keep track of, I really did enjoy this deeply disturbing look into the very flawed Lingate family, and the depths some will go to maintain family secrets. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

The introduction to the Lingates, an old money family, and their history is engaging. However, the book feels overstuffed with characters and secrets on top of secrets, affecting the flow of the storyline. Lorna's storyline (the mysterious family assistant) is not as engaging as the family's, and she's a difficult character to root for. "Saltwater" starts strong but begins to drag towards the middle of the book. The slow pace continues until a surprising ending filled with twists. Overall, the story is intriguing but requires a lot of patience to power through the slow middle section of the novel.