Told in alternating POVs and timelines, this slow-burn mystery keeps you guessing until the very last page. All of the characters are morally ambiguous, nobody is as they seem, and the plot winds slowly through family drama, betrayal, and deception, all while treating the reader to a beautiful and opulent setting on the Italian coast.

I had a hard time connecting to the characters in this story, and the slow pace made it difficult to hold my attention. The setting and the mystery were enough to keep me interested through the finish, and I'm glad I pushed through because the twists at the end were so unexpected! Even though they seemed a little far-fetched, they definitely redeemed the story for me, and I found myself much more invested in the last 25% of the book.

Thank you to @RandomHouse and #NetGalley for the DRC of #Saltwater. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Could not put this book down! If you like books about the rich behaving badly, this is the book for you. Would make a great beach/vacation read.

The story revolves around the Lingate family. In 1992 while vacationing on the island of Capri, Sarah is found dead on the rocks below their villa. While people suspect her husband or his family were involved, no one is ever charged and her death is ruled an "accident". 30 years later, the Lingates return to Capri and Helen, Sarah's daughter, is determined to find out what really happened to her mother.

Told in dual timelines from multiple characters, this book will keep you guessing until the very end. While I found a specific aspect of the story hard to believe (no spoilers), I still really enjoyed this.

For the first 85% the book fell right in the middle of the road for me. It wasn’t so much of a mystery/thriller as it was a family drama story. A rich family story at that. The last 15% was a surprising twist I didn’t see coming. Keep reading for the end!

A thrilling mystery that takes place in beautiful Capri, Italy! A family mystery that spans across different characters and timelines - it kept me guessing and the author captured the essence of Italy as the backdrop beautifully.

Saltwater by Katy Hays ⚓️🥂💶

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow!!! This book had me on the edge of my seat with its family drama, lies and deception, and unreliable narrators. The wealthy, Italian vacation atmospheric aesthetic that this book was giving off, made me want to jump on a plane to Italy and be a fly on the wall, sipping an aperol Spritz while watching this family crumble from within. That being said, this book was so well written that I felt like I was watching a tv series! This book would do so well with an on screen adaptation, and I’m already hoping for it to get picked up by a production company even though the book hasn’t even been published yet 😂. I can truly say I never guessed all the twists and murders that this book provided, and my jaw was on the ground multiple times.

If you want a fun, flashy, and jaw dropping domestic murder mystery…pick this book up on March 25th, 2025!!

Thank you to @netgalley and @ballantines for an ARC for this title in exchange for a review!!

This book was a perfect popcorn thriller read for the upcoming summer. I enjoyed my time with it but I am not sure it will stay with me for a long period.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

This is a slow burn mystery about an old money family that just couldn't seem to capture my attention. I just didn't "get" it or the writing style.

This is a slow-burn mystery/thriller that follows Helen as she begins to discover the truth behind her mom's death.
This would be a good summer thriller, but it is very slow moving. The writing style took me a while to get into and it was hard for me to stay focused on the mystery due to it moving so slow. I think people would like this book if they enjoy more of a slow-building drama.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Saltwater by Katy Hays

"Saltwater" by Katy Hays has awakened my love for murder mysteries. This thrilling and suspenseful novel will leave you on the edge of your seat. I never saw any of those twists and turns coming.

It was insane to learn how each character played such a pivotal role in the story's outcome. I can't express how much I enjoyed this book. I was eating up every last word on the page. The pacing was perfect—absolute perfection.

The story is set on the island of Capri. The Lingate family returns to the island to celebrate the 30th anniversary of a tragic death. Following the lives of the Lingate family, you learn how flawed every character is, and how far they will go to protect their own.

Hays has written a captivating and suspenseful thriller. "Saltwater" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a complex thriller that will keep you guessing at every turn.

Thanks to Netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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!