I received a digital review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not sure where to begin with this review, as providing a full synopsis might reveal too much. This story is set in Capri and follows the Lingate family, an old-money household, through multiple timelines and points of view. Sarah Lingate was found dead on the cliffs of Capri in 1992, and there are lingering suspicions surrounding her death. In the present day, her daughter, Helen, seizes the opportunity to gather information about Sarah's death when her missing necklace is delivered to the family villa. The family assistant, Lorna, helps Helen try to escape from her family but then goes missing herself. As a result, the case surrounding Sarah's death is reopened, and Lingate family secrets begin to emerge.

I genuinely loved this book. I typically don't enjoy creepy thrillers, but this one was perfect for me. The story is filled with constant twists and turns; just when you think you've figured it all out, a new secret comes to light. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and highly recommend this book.

This book had me questioning everything! I really enjoyed the multi POV, especially over a long time frame and I think this was done very well. I loved the setting of the book as well, a family on vacation that goes horribly wrong.

The book was a little slow and did feel a bit repetitive as time went on, but I think the ending was executed really well. The characters were well developed and felt like people you would meet in real life. I loved the perspective of this book also.

I really enjoyed this book. I definitely got a White Lotus vibe (so I you liked that.. you will like this book). I also liked the different timelines with different POV's.

Book takes place in Capri. You have wealthy people doing horrible things.. murder and mystery..

I love a story with a strong sense of place, and this mystery set on the island of Capri fully immersed me in the idyllic setting. With both past and present day mysteries and told thru multiple points of view, the story started off as a slow burn beach read but switched gears the final quarter with twists and turns that came fast and furious.

The atmosphere, setting, intrigue, and twisted relationships made this book a perfect escape from the winter blues. 

Thank you Ballantine Books and Netgalley for providing me with an early copy to read and review.

This was such an interesting book. It feels like if White Lotus was a book - rich people behaving badly, tropical location, a little murder, a little suspense, and a lot of not really knowing what’s going on.

I enjoyed the story, the dual timeline, and the twists and turns, but I do wish it moved a bit faster, or was shorter.

A perfect beach and/or summer read. This started slow but picked up as it went along. It was quite the crazy ride. This had so much family drama

The concept of this book was fascinating. The author is good at creating atmosphere, because it came across as stuffy and pretentious just like the characters universe. Unfortunately, the characters also felt too caricaturish and failed to connect. The book also got somewhat tedious in between. The commentary angle falls flat since the rich people seem to inhabit a different dimension altogether.

I saw another review that mentioned "rich people behaving badly is always entertaining" and I could not agree more. Saltwater by Katy Hays is a collection of wealthy characters that lacked any redeeming qualities - but they sure did know how to create a mysterious storyline.

The setting of the book is Capri, and honestly, the island is the star of the show. The scenery was lush and I felt instantly transported to a Mediterranean hideaway that was just full of rich people behaving badly. The story drug a little bit for me in the first part but started to pick up by the second half of the book. By the end, I felt that it all wrapped up nicely and I was satisfied with the conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a mystery set on the lovely Isle of Capri. I loved the setting and the way the story took me to a place I have never been. It is the story of the very wealthy Lingate family who visit the Island each year for a week. The narrative is slow and has too many leading characters. I must admit I got lost in all the unsolved murders and unlikeable characters and I just could not get involved in the story. Katy Hays is a good author but this story just has too much to believe.

I wish to thank Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A twisty, turn-y mystery with a duel timeline happening. A fun beach read, but you still need to pay closer attention to keep things straight as it goes along. Some plot elements a bit over the top, but entertaining.

Helen and the rest of her dysfunctional family go to the island of Capri where her mother fell to her death from a cliff 30 years ago. She uncovers many secrets and lies while relentlessly searching for the truth.
This was a great story full of twists and turns.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the opportunity to read this eARC that will be released March 25, 2025!

I requested to read and review this book for free from Ballantine Books. There is many twists and turns in this book just when you think the answers are clear they are not. The answer to who did it and why are complex and unbelievable. The Lingate family has an appearance they want to maintain. And will do certain things to maintain it. When Lorna and Helen make a plan to find out the truth to Helens mom will they find answers. Or will a payout make them change their mind. Stan wants the truth to come out and does an investigation but will he find put the truth. How does Ciro and Renanta fit into what is going on? Will there secrets come out ? This book is for a mature audience and can be read anywhere.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publisher’s, and Katy Hays for an ARC of Saltwater! I didn’t get really into the book until about 20% and then I was hooked. The beginning is very descriptive - it truly felt like I could picture Capri and be there in the story, but it made it a little harder to follow along with the characters and how the story is building. I’m glad I held on because it turned into a phenomenal story. The writing is beautiful and compelling. Once the story gets going it’s hard to put down this book. It follows the Lingates returning to Capri every summer after Helen’s mother, Sarah, has tragically died there. It was ruled an accident and the Lingates want to prove that by still coming back to Capri. Helen was only 3 years old and has always wanted to know more about her mother. Everyone is interested in her death, but she wants to know the woman she was. Helen works with her uncles assistant, Lorna, to try and get some answers and to escape from her controlling family. Once they have all arrived to Capri, Lorna disappears. Helen is determined to find out what happened to Lorna and find out about the truth of what happened to her mother as the case is reopened.

This was totally like Succession vibes which I love!! Devoured this book! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for early arc of this book! I would definitely recommend this book!

So many twists and turns in this one. Set in Capri, we follow Helen and her family (along with her friend/assistant Lorna) as they vacation at the same location that Helen’s mom died decades ago. Because old money must keep up appearances. The POV flips between present day and when Sarah died. There are similarities between the timelines and far too many crossovers. This explores family dynamics, class struggles, and the ends justifying the means. Be ready to be on the edge of your seat.

This would be a great beach/pool summer read. I loved the setting of Capri, it felt very breezy/vacation-y. The characters are the fairly unlikeable Lingate family unit, steeped in money and privilege and the control that comes along with it.

The premise is two pronged - the disappearance of the family assistant and the mystery of Sarah Lingate’s death many years prior while on vacation. I found the flashbacks to Sarah much more interesting than the current mystery of the missing assistant. There is a lot of action happening between and behind the backs of the family members concerning both.

I felt the book moved a little slowly for my taste, but it most definitely picked up in the last third and became much more exciting. Loved the ending, found it to be a solid twist.

Thanks to Katy Hays, Ballantine Books & Random House Publishing Group for the free advance copy!

I enjoyed this book overall and I especially loved the setting. It is a mystery/suspense novel based upon the disappearance/death of the character’s mother. I could have used a bit more suspense in the pacing, but as a slow burn, it did well, especially with the twists at the end. Everyone loves a thriller but badly behaved rich people hiding things, so for that, it hit the mark! I think the majority of people will enjoy this atmospheric thriller. Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I did not think this was a good book. The one-dimensional characters are all incredibly similar, and I found it hard to keep track of who was who. The plot itself was boring, the red herrings were not really so, and the "twist" at the end was absurd. I understand that this is an advance copy, but it badly needs to be edited. If I had to see a reference to a "stripped" umbrella one more time, I was going to throw my Kindle across the room.
I will not be recommending this to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the ARC!

This was suspenseful! Lies at every turn and never knew who to trust or believe. I thought I had it figured out at 92% in, but there were still more twists to come. A quick and entertaining read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of Saltwater. What drew me to this book was definitely the setting, as I had recently visited Capri. Having only seen it as a tourist I loved reading about it through the eyes of someone familiar with the island. The descriptions were wonderful. Unfortunately, that was really the highlight of the book for me.

The story just didn't draw me in. It was told through dual timelines and from several POV's, which I found to be a bit confusing and hard to follow. I also didn't feel connected to any of the characters. There were lots of twists and turns, but I found them to be a bit redundant and found myself thinking, "Really? Again?"

I wanted to like this, but sady I did not.