Katy Hays’ Saltwater is a dark, atmospheric thriller that masterfully combines psychological tension with the unraveling of a decades-old mystery. Set against the stunning yet ominous backdrop of Capri’s cliffs and sea, the novel immerses readers in a story of long-buried secrets, familial dysfunction, and the chilling ways the past refuses to stay buried.

The novel centers on Helen Lingate, whose life has been overshadowed by the mysterious death of her mother, Sarah, thirty years ago. Returning to Capri with her controlling and fractured family, Helen discovers that the secrets surrounding that fateful night are closer to the surface than ever. The reappearance of Sarah’s necklace sets off a cascade of revelations and dangers, culminating in a deadly confrontation.

Hays deftly captures the oppressive atmosphere of the Lingate family, portraying them as both glamorous and deeply flawed. Helen’s father, Richard, embodies control and paranoia, while her aunt Naomi’s tenuous grasp on reality adds a sense of unpredictability. The supporting characters, including Helen’s enigmatic ally Lorna Moreno, are richly drawn and complex, with shifting allegiances that keep the reader guessing.

The plot unfolds with a steady buildup of tension, alternating between the present-day investigation and flashbacks to the events leading up to Sarah’s death. This dual narrative structure allows Hays to peel back the layers of the Lingate family’s history, revealing secrets and betrayals that deepen the story’s intrigue. The island of Capri, with its stark beauty and isolation, becomes almost a character in itself, amplifying the sense of foreboding and danger.

Helen is a compelling protagonist, caught between the suffocating grip of her family and her desire for freedom and truth. Her determination to break free, coupled with her vulnerability, makes her a character readers will root for. The tension between her and the rest of the Lingates is palpable, heightening the stakes as the truth about Sarah’s death edges closer to the surface.

The pacing is deliberate but gripping, with each revelation bringing new twists that keep the reader hooked. Hays explores themes of power, loyalty, and identity with nuance, crafting a story that is as emotionally resonant as it is suspenseful. The final act delivers a shocking yet satisfying resolution, cementing Saltwater as a standout in the psychological thriller genre.

Saltwater will appeal to fans of atmospheric, character-driven mysteries like those by Ruth Ware and Tana French. With its evocative setting, deeply flawed characters, and a mystery that lingers long after the final page, this novel is a must-read for those who love stories that delve into the dark corners of family and memory.

2.75 stars. I absolutely love Capri and was attracted to the setting and plot of this book, but ultimately it didn't live up to the hype for me. I felt the switching perspectives and timelines were hard to follow and there wasn't enough suspense to keep me really invested. I think Saltwater will work for many, but it isn't a book that will be memorable for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballentine for the advanced copy. Saltwater is available on March 25, 2025.

Katy Hays’ Saltwater is an atmospheric and suspenseful thriller set against the stunning yet ominous backdrop of Capri. With echoes of classic gothic mysteries, the novel weaves together long-buried secrets, family betrayals, and a lingering sense of danger that keeps readers hooked until the very last page.

The story centers around Helen Lingate, who returns to the island for the thirtieth anniversary of her mother Sarah’s death. Officially ruled an accident, Sarah’s fall from a cliff has always been the subject of speculation, with whispers among locals and those who knew her suggesting a darker truth. Helen, whose father has always remained silent about her mother, is desperate to understand who Sarah really was. Her quest for answers is further complicated when Marcus Lingate, the powerful head of the wealthy California family, brings along his assistant Lorna—only for Lorna to vanish and be found dead in eerily similar circumstances to Sarah.

Determined to uncover the truth, Helen enlists the help of a childhood acquaintance, the son of the longtime caretaker of the estate. As she digs deeper, she unearths layers of deception, long-held grudges, and shocking revelations that call into question everything she thought she knew about her family.

Hays crafts an immersive setting, making Capri feel both intoxicatingly beautiful and perilously claustrophobic. The novel’s pacing is taut, filled with twists and turns that keep the reader engaged, even as some of the developments may feel a bit predictable to seasoned thriller readers. However, the strength of Saltwater lies in its intricate character dynamics, particularly the dysfunctional, powerful Lingate family and the way their past haunts their present.

Overall, Saltwater is a compelling read, perfect for fans of slow-burning psychological thrillers. The blend of family drama, mystery, and an evocative setting makes it a gripping, atmospheric novel that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katy Hays, and Ballentine for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

I really loved the gorgeous Italian island setting of this book, and the mystery along the way. I thought it was well-done how you questioned literally everyone and everyone made questionable choices--well, some people made objectively horrifying choices, but even the "good" people weren't perfect. Everyone was enmeshed in this old, rich family's drama and no one left with clean hands. I found at least one of the twists downright unbelievable, but I was willing to forgive it and I liked the ending overall. In the end, I found it an enjoyable read.

The story was good! i loved the suspense, i did find that this was hard to get through, but i kept on.

4 solid stars for a twisty mystery, set on the island of Capri, Italy. For those of you who like surprises, there is a major one at the end. The blurb sets the scene:
" 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."
Helen is now 33 and with the help of her friend Lorna, she is determined to find out what happened when her mother died. The book goes back and forth between 1992 and the present day.
Each chapter in the book has one of several narrators:
Helen
Lorna
Sarah
Naomi, married to Marcus. Marcus is the brother to Helen's father Richard.
Helen does solve the mystery. From the beginning of the book, the reader gets the sense that there are secrets that will be revealed. I recommend this book to mystery fans.
One quote by Lorna upon arriving on Capri: "I've spent two months preparing for this trip, but I couldn't have prepared for the way the island smells-of figs-or the way the light kisses the agaves and the pines. I couldn't have prepared for the scene-the jewelry, how everyone wears their fabric draped loosely but has insisted their plastic surgeon pull their skin tight, the personal security that follows at a safe distance."
Thank You Kathleen Quinlan at Random House Publishing Group for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#Saltwater #NetGalley.

Pub Date Mar 25 2025

What a fun, immersive thriller. The perfect escapist read that kept me entertained while feeling original and like it had something to say.

Saltwater started off strong then definitely dragged for me in the middle. I loved the introduction to this old money family, the history of their vacations of the isle of Capri, and the modern day evolution of the family’s next generation. I liked the vagueness of Lorna, the family assistant, and her background. She felt mysterious and intriguing, but then - IMO - her storyline completely fell off and I felt disappointed. And that’s when the whole book started dragging. Then the ending was FULL of twists and turns and I was genuinely surprised. But I’m not sure if that slow middle was worth the wait. I feel like this story needed to be reigned in. There were maybe too many characters and too many secrets. It didn’t flow well.
This is my first book by this author and her other book did interest me, so I will pick it up because I liked her character development and the atmosphere and scenery she painted and I assume another book by her would also be enjoyable.
Saltwater is good and intriguing, but just buckle in for some slow-burning in the middle.

The book started off hard to follow with multiple POV’s and dual timelines. However, after the main characters and the plot were established, it was easy to follow. The story was intriguing right from the start due to an abundance of deception. Not only are the characters lying to each other, the reader must question if they themselves are being lied to as well. The setting in the book is described beautifully. I could picture Capri, the house, the boats, etc. in my mind due to the vivid detail. After a rough start, I couldn’t put the book down. I couldn’t wait to read what happened next and how each piece of the puzzle was connected. The book took you on several twists and turns and the ending was shocking! Just when I thought I had everything figured out… the writer does a phenomenal job. I very much enjoyed this read and look forward to reading more by her.

4.5 ⭐️’s

Thank you to NetGalley, Katy Hays, and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine & NetGalley for the ARC! 💌

Rich people, dark secrets, and a decades-old mystery in glamorous Capri? Sounds like my kind of thriller! But did it deliver? Ehhh… not quite.

The book kicks off with the mysterious death of Sarah Lingate in 1992. Her body was found below the cliffs, but despite all the whispers, her powerful, old-money family insists it was an accident. Now, 30 years later, her daughter Helen returns to Capri, only to find a chilling surprise—the necklace Sarah was wearing the night she died. Cue the paranoia, the secrets unraveling, and the feeling that not everyone on this island is getting out alive. 😱

I LOVED the atmospheric vibes—Capri was painted in a way that felt so lush and eerie, making the island almost a character itself. 🌴 The whole “rich people behaving badly” trope was chef’s kiss 👌, and the idea of an annual family retreat where everyone is pretending the past doesn’t exist? SO GOOD. 🌊

🌊 Rich People Drama
💰 Murder Mystery
🌊 Dual Timeline
💰 Slow Burn Suspense
🌊 Family Secrets & Betrayals
💰 Isolated Setting

But here’s where things went sideways:

✧ The writing style was…not it. The multiple timelines and perspectives should’ve made the story gripping, but instead, it felt messy and hard to follow. I kept flipping back to figure out who was talking. 🤔

✧ Where’s the suspense?! A mystery with a setup this juicy should be thrilling, twisty, and unputdownable—but instead, the pacing dragged. I wanted secrets spilling, betrayals, OMG-moments, but a lot of it felt like filler. 🥱

✧ The characters? Meh. Helen had potential, but I never really felt connected to her or any of the family members. They were just kind of… there. 😒

By the time the big reveals rolled in, I was already mentally on a boat back to the mainland. Did I gasp at some twists? Sure. Was I wowed? Not really. 🙄

If you love slow-burn mysteries with moody settings and complicated family drama, you might enjoy this more than I did. But if you're looking for a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller? This might leave you feeling a little shipwrecked 🚢.

Final verdict? Good concept, meh execution. Would I vacation in Capri? Absolutely. Would I revisit this book? Nope. 🏖️

Unfortunately, I couldn't connect with any of the characters and as a result, I was not engaged with the plot. There was nothing unique about any of the family secrets.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.*

After Katy Hays' debut novel, The Cloisters, captured me for a full afternoon on the beach last year, I was thrilled to see she had a sophomore novel releasing in 2025. The two stories are different but Hays' writing is consistent: unique settings that become characters themselves; characters with rich composition and sharp dialogue; and a darkness lurking around every seemingly-beautiful corner.

Saltwater is a rare thriller that kept me drawn in the whole way, still unfolding surprises into the final pages as I remained glued to the pages. For a summer escape to Capri, where the tensions is as thick as the humidity in the sea air, look no further.

4/5 stars

I ended up guessing a lot of this book but I still really liked it.
The story about a wealthy family and the damage they do to each other to keep the family status. It’s written with different character viewpoints in different time frames so you get a chance to see what happens to the characters throughout time. The setting is described well and in detail.

If you want a book about rich people behaving badly in a beautiful location, Salt Water delivers. This book was just “ok” for me as the plot was slow, with a lot of “I want to get away from my family” but “ they’re my family, I can’t leave”, and coming up with a devious plot to leave, on a continuous cycle. I’m not sure any of the characters had any redeeming qualities, nothing that made me root for them. The last handful of chapters told more than the rest of the book combined and had a few “wait … what” moments. I wanted more subtle drama, more mystery from this one.
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Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Saltwater by Katy Hays is a highly recommended family drama/thriller following the wealthy Lingate family on the island of Capri.

The Lingate family returns every year to the island of Capri. In 1992, playwright Sarah Lingate, wife of Richard, the youngest heir to the Lingate oil fortune, is found dead below the cliffs. She left behind her three-year-old daughter, Helen. Her death was officially ruled an accident but there are questions about this.

Now 30 year later, the Lingates are returning to Capri yet again. Helen has felt controlled and isolated by her family for years. Now, at thirty-three-years-old she has had enough. Helen along with Lorna Moreno, her friend and family assistant, is plotting her escape from her family's clutches. The plan involves an anonymous package that contains the necklace Sarah was wearing the night she drowned, reminding everyone of Sarah's death and threatening to expose secrets. But then Lorna disappears...

The atmospheric plot is tense, mysterious and secretive right from the start. The island is used to create a lock-room mystery which allows suspense to build and hidden secrets to be revealed. Capri is beautifully described and the setting becomes essential to the plot. There are plenty of hidden secrets and twists along the way in this study of family, wealth, and consequences. The plot does build slowly until the end, which will require some dedication to push through to the action.

The narrative mainly unfolds between the point-of-view of Helen and Lorna, with additional information from Sarah's story leading up to her death in 1992. Be suspicious of everyone and everything. Keep in mind that ultimately none of the characters are appealing or likable.

Saltwater is a good choice for those who enjoy novels populated by rich-people-behaving-badly. Thanks to Random House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion. 3.5

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Capri, this story revolves around the death of Sarah Lingate in 1992, leaving behind her three-year-old daughter, Helen. The Lingate family, dripping with old money, returns to the scene every year to prove Sarah's death was an accident. But on the 30th anniversary, they're in for a shock when they find Sarah's necklace - the one she wore the night she died.

Now, I'll be honest - I struggled to connect with these characters. Their wealthy background and seemingly trivial problems didn't exactly endear them to me. But here's the thing: the mystery itself? Absolutely gripping. I found myself turning pages, not because I cared about the Lingates, but because I desperately wanted to know what happened to Sarah.

Hays has a knack for peeling back layers of the story, revealing just enough to keep you hooked without giving away the game. The way she slowly unravels the truth is masterful, dropping breadcrumbs that had me constantly second-guessing my theories. Was it an accident? Murder? The twists and turns kept me on my toes, and I'll admit, I was pleasantly surprised more than once.

If you're a mystery lover who enjoys a good puzzle with a side of family drama, this book is definitely worth diving into.

Thank you, Ballantine Books and NetGalley, for my free book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this E-Arc, in exchange for an honest review.

Saltwater by Katy Hays takes us back to 1992, when the rich Lingate family was on vacation in the rich people's playground, Capri. Tragedy strikes when playwright Sarah Lingate is found dead after falling off a cliff and leaving behind her little girl (3 year old Helen), and although Sarah’s death is ruled an accident, many people suspect the Lingate family had something to do with it. Even though it’s been years, the Lingates continue to return to Capri every summer. Now, on the 30th anniversary of Sarah’s death, Helen, now 30, and the family assistant, Lorna, come up with a plan to help Helen escape her overbearing family. Things take a turn when Sarah’s necklace, the one she was wearing when she died, mysteriously shows up at the house where the family is staying. Just when things couldn’t get stranger, Lorna disappears, and everything starts to unravel.

What really happened to Sarah all those years ago? Who is Lorna, and where did she go? There are so many unanswered questions, and each twist brings more secrets to light.

I really enjoyed Saltwater. The way she writes is engaging, and the characters all have their own secrets that keep you hooked. I also appreciated the surprising twists throughout the story. I can’t wait to see what Katy Hays writes next!
Saltwater will be available on March 25, 2025 but you can pre-order it now!

#NetGalley, #BallantineBooks, #Saltwater, #KatyHays

Thank you so much @netgalley for my copy! This cover is to die for and really sets all the vibes for the story. Rich people being shitty is always so fun. You know you are in for juicy drama and this one delivered. Its also set on the coast of Italy and is lush with rich, atmospheric detail. There are multiple POVs and a jumping timeline between past and present which keeps the reader engaged.

I did pretty much guess all the twists, and at times I felt this was a bit repetitive but, it’s a great way to kick off warmer weather (or hoping) and escaping to the vivid blue sea.

DNF @30%.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review.

This will work for a lot of people. It's a typical thriller - time warps and people gone missing and murder and rich folks behaving poorly.

But it didn't work for me.

There were two perspectives, but the writing style did not do enough to differentiate the two voices / characters. I was never sure if I was reading Lorna or Helen. Also, the time skips and jumps and lack of continuity in the story and plot just messed with my head, and I wasn't a fan of the writing style.

I was mildly intrigued by the mystery, and I loved the setting, but I just couldn't bring myself to care much about the characters. It felt like there wasn't enough done to make them 'real' and to make me feel like I had any form of investment in what happened to them. By 20% in the story, I didn't get who Freddy was, what Marcus's deal was, I kept forgetting who Naomi was, and I just didn't understand what was happening in general. This may have been intentional to create mystery, but instead it just made me annoyed and frustrated and not wanting to read it.

3.5 Loved the setting and atmosphere of the very rich family and their secrets. The timeline/ POV jumping was a bit too much and stopped me from enjoying this one more. Oh Helen!