Katy Hays has delivered a fun mystery set during a week in July on sun-drenched Capri. Full of mostly unlikable characters all out for themselves, just when you think you have figured out "who dun it," more murders and secrets come to the forefront to keep you guessing. With solid writing and a beautiful setting, Hays has another hot on her hands. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine for the proteinuria to read this twisty eArc! 3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first Kat Hays novel. The story follows past and present of the wealthy Lingate family as they are on their annual trip to Capri. Helen 's mother's death from 30 years ago remains unsolved. She starts to dig into the past with a friend who happens to work for her uncle. She wants to know more about her mother since Helen was 3 at the time of her death.. The family's history seems to be a tangled mess and no one will talk. I found the story line very unpredictable. and captivated me from start to finish. Thank you #Netgalley and #penguinrandomhouse for an advanced copy of #Saltwater in exchange for a honest review..

Rich people are just so fun to read about, they’re larger than life in the best way.

The book was super twisty and the ending was a little insane but at the same time it felt a little boring. I didn’t particularly enjoy the writing style itself, it felt a bit disjointed.

The plot was so much fun and I would highly recommend reading this book in the summer, especially if you’re on vacation. The vibes were on point and would be perfect for July.

So if Saltwater sounds interesting to you I would recommend waiting till the summer to read it. (It’s releasing March 25th)

"Don't be late for cocktail hour!"
Saltwater by Katy Hays is a dark and twisted mystery of the lives of the rich and privileged.
Sarah Lingate is mysteriously killed on the island of Capri while visiting with her husband and brother in law, leaving her young daughter Helen motherless and puzzled. For 30 years the family returns every year to the island to reflect on her death. On the most recent visit a package arrives addressed to Helen, opening up the 30 year old conundrum.
What follows is a twisty novel full of secrets, lies, betrayals, and family drama that will have you astonished and guessing until the final pages!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

**Features:**
- Rich people behaving badly
- ‘What really happened’ mystery and trying to solve a character’s disappearance
- Complicated family relationships and a family member feels ‘trapped’ by family expectations and manipulation
- Set in Capri

**Synopsis:**

Money is a cage Helen Lingate is all too familiar with. In addition to being one of the richest families in the world, the Lingates are still haunted by the death of Helen’s mother, Sarah Lingate, when Helen was only three. Though ruled either an accident or suicide, many believe that the Lingates themselves had something to do with it and had used their money to cover it up. Now an adult, Helen is still kept close to the rest of the family not just for protection, but for control. Desperate to escape, Helen enlists the help of family assistant Lorna Moreno and the two hatch a plan while the family makes their annual trip to Capri. However, things quickly go sideways when Lorna disappears and the necklace Sarah wore on the night of her death thirty years prior appears at the manor door. Who is Lorna really? Where did she go? What happened to Sarah all those years ago?

**Thoughts:**

This is a fantastic blend of family drama and mystery. It takes a while for the book to set itself up and there are a lot of moving pieces from the very beginning. However, once the pieces are on the board, things really pick up. Everyone in this book is working for their own interests and there are no truly ‘good’ characters to be found. My allegiances were constantly shifting as the story digs further and further into the different family members. The story is told from multiple perspectives and jumps back and forth in time. Helen is the first perspective we get and I find her voice a bit repetitive and scattered. Where it made it hard for me to understand what was happening initially, it becomes clear through the other perspectives that this narrative style fits Helen’s character and is not indicative of the writing as a whole. The other voices we see throughout are equally unique and I was really fascinated with all of these characters even if they weren’t ‘likeable’.

Though I liked the mystery aspects of this book, I was definitely in it more for the family drama. The overall plot has its twists and unfolds in an intriguing way, but I also wouldn’t say that there is anything I found mind blowing. Discovering everyone’s skeletons in the closet and seeing how that shifted both my own view of the characters and their dynamics as a group was what really had me invested. Capri makes for a brilliant backdrop as well and I loved feeling the ‘luxury’ of this location as I watched the drama unfold. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to readers who like messy characters, family drama, and rich people behaving badly.

Katy Hays’ second novel, Saltwater, is a captivating blend of mystery, drama, and suspense, set against the stunning backdrop of Capri. The perfect summer/beach read. As a first-time reader of Hays’ work, I was thoroughly impressed by her storytelling and writing skill. From the very first page, this book held my attention, and at one point, I simply couldn’t put it down.

The setting of the novel is a character in itself. Capri’s breathtaking landscape, paired with an undercurrent of secrecy and wealth, instantly calls to mind the atmosphere of The White Lotus, making the story all the more immersive. Hays’ rich descriptions will undoubtedly leave readers yearning for a vacation to the Italian island.

At the heart of the plot is the Lingate family, an affluent and enigmatic clan fiercely protective of their privacy. In the early 1990s, Sarah Lingate tragically fell to her death from a cliff in Capri. Though the family was cleared of any wrongdoing, lingering suspicions still surround her death. Every year, the Lingates return to Capri, preserving their traditions—and their mysteries.

The story takes a turn with Lorna, the assistant to Marcus Lingate, Sarah’s brother-in-law. Lorna befriends Sarah’s daughter, Helen, now 33, and together they devise a plan to uncover the truth behind Sarah’s death. But when Lorna suddenly disappears, their mission is thrown into disarray, adding even more intrigue to the unfolding events. The twists and turns that follow are shocking, with revelations that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the final pages.

The characters in Saltwater are a fascinating blend of morally complex individuals—a cast of personalities you’ll either love to hate or hate to love. Their intricate relationships and hidden motivations add layers of depth to the plot, making the twists even more impactful.

Hays’ ability to craft a suspenseful, character-driven story is impressive, and the conclusion delivers one surprise after another, ensuring a rewarding and thought-provoking read. For fans of thrillers and family dramas, Saltwater is an exceptional novel. With this book, Katy Hays has proven herself to be an author to watch. Highly recommended

Saltwater began at a slow pace then midway the pace picked up which made the book more enjoyable. I loved the messed up family dynamics and the ending was great. Overall. a satisfying read.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital arc.

The book jumps between past and present as well as the narrator. I did not have a hard time following along. The character development built as we learned more about everyone.

It was a slightly slow start for me but once I got to know everyone I was hooked. I really enjoyed the setting in Capri.

The newspaper articles were tough to read not being able to enlarge the print.

The Lingate family are old money rich. Every summer they have been reliving the death of Sarah when they return to the island of Capri. While Sarah’s death was rules an accident everyone has their theories and secrets. As the thirtieth anniversary of her death approaches her daughter Grace receives the necklace she was wearing the night she died. Everyone is haunted by the past but Grace wants to figure out what really happened to her mother.

I will update with my social media post closer to release.

Salt Water started slow but was an overall worthy read. It felt a little like the TV show Succession which I thoroughly enjoyed. I think a lot of people will really enjoy it, basically a mystery where the main characters mom disappeared years ago. Now she is back in Capri and someone else disappears. Most of the folks in the novel are unlikable and I had a hard time rooting for any of them but perhaps that was the flavor the author was going for. I'd like for it to have moved along a little faster but overall it was a pleasant enough read.

This is a great summer beachy type of read that will be enjoyed by so many. There's lots of family dysfunction and melodrama going on in this mystery novel. It's all about rich people behaving badly and dark family secrets.

Saltwater is to be published at the end of March, 2025. Be sure to order your copy in advance.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House publishing Group-Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In Saltwater by Katy Hays, we meet the Lingate family. The family is wealthy, extremely private and circles the wagons whenever there is any type of family problem or gossip. Helen Is the daughter of Sarah and Ricard Lingate. Helen is a young girl when her mother goes missing and is eventually found dead. Family is all she has known. She is kept on a tight rein by her family and has little freedom. As an adult, begins to resent her almost “captivity” by her family. Helen begins to question all she has learned from her family about her mother’s death. Then she meets Lorna. Together they hatch a plot to expose her family and give Helen the freedom she desires. The story takes many twists and turns and keeps you guessing till the very end, which is just great. Enjoyed this book very much.

In 1992, Sarah Lingate was found dead at the bottom of the cliffs of Capri. It was ruled an accident at the time. However, her daughter Helen has other thoughts on the matter.
Thirty years later, the family is gathered together in Capri, and Helen is determined to find out the truth behind her mother's untimely death.

There's sun, sand, and scandal. In short, this is a fun beach read!
Best categorized as a family drama, the Lingate family is the Real Housewives on steroids. There's fights. There's betrayal. And you'll find yourself hating all these characters but completely incapable of looking away from the car wreck.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

pretty fun! the writing style didn't work for me all the time - it felt constantly melodramatic, and I wanted a little more lightness and reprieve from the drama - but that may be more of a personal preference than a real critique. compelling mystery, beautiful setting, kept me reading.

The setting is perfection! Makes me want to book a trip to Capri ASAP. Saltwater is both thriller and family drama. I love a good family drama! While at times the writing style seemed a little difficult to follow, I still really enjoyed this mystery/thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this thriller! The POV shifts and timeline jumps kept me invested and on the edge of my seat!

Saltwater - Katy Hays
Pub Date - 3/25/25
Rating - 4/5
Page Count - 336
Summary - 30 years ago, Helen's mother Sarah was found dead below the cliffs of Capri, Italy. Her death was ruled a suicide, even though everyone was a suspect. Helen and her family return to the island every year and on the 30th anniversary trip, they find Sarah's necklace she was wearing the night she died waiting for them. Helen enlists the help of her uncle's assistant Lorna to get herself out of her family's clutches once and for all. Suddenly, Lorna goes missing and Helen is forced to consider everyone in her family as a suspect - her uncle, her aunt, and her father. Could the same person who killed her mother be Lorna's killer as well?

Thoughts - Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Ballantine Books, and Katy Hays for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed this book! The setting was calming and I felt like I was right there on the island with the main characters. This book is a slow burn until about 75% of the way through when the plot picks up and you can't stop reading. For me, that last 25% was what made the rating climb up from a 3 to a 4 since I did not see that twist coming. Great story!

I had a vision of a thriller that included a yacht girl ever since I learned the term. This nailed it and one of my favorite tropes: Rich people behaving badly. This thriller has so many twists and turns that make it a fun ride. It’s also devastating and dark how the amount of family trauma is lurking behind every single step. Most importantly of all this book points out an important question. Wasn’t it always because they were bored?
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review. This is out in March 2025 and I highly recommend pre ordering!

Saltwater is told in two timelines. Sarah is found dead while she is vacationing with her family. She tells the story of her marriage to Richard Lingate, the birth of their daughter, Helen, and everything that went horribly wrong.
Helen, now all grown up has no life that is not controlled by her family. Her story details, her fervant wish to escape, though she is not willing to go penniless. Helen was a hard character for me to like. She seemed so detached, but that was probably deliberate, considering her upbringing.
To me, this was a slow burn until around 70% when many secrets began to be revealed. I related more to Sarah’s story, though knowing how it would end made sure I could never root for her to escape. When I thought it was over, there were a couple of, I did not see that coming moments that genuinely surprised me. I do not want to say anymore about the end because I would be swimming right into spoiler territory.
Not a beach or treadmillread for me, but it worked on the couch with a blazing fire during the cold month of January.

This was too long and could have been very edited down - I skimmed quite a few parts
The twists at the end were actually good, which saved this rating
If you like slow burn, suspense thrillers, then you will probably love this!

Helen Lingate has been returning to the island of Capri with her wealthy family for her entire life. Now in her early 30s, she has no memory of her mother, who died after falling from a cliff during one of the summer holidays there when she was 3. Controlled and isolated by her father and uncle in an effort to keep outsiders away, Helen has decided to break away. She enlists Lorna, her uncle's assistant, to help her finally find out what happened to her mother. Helen's mother Sarah was a renowned playwright before she married into the wealthy Lingate family. Sarah was also isolated and beginning to think of separating herself from the family to return to her literary life when she died. Rumors have always circulated that Helen's father Richard had something to do with Sarah's death, but no charges were ever filed. Now Helen and Lorna think they have a way to find out the truth while at the same time breaking free of the family's control.

There were plenty of twist and turns that were unexpected, especially at the end of the book. Before that, it was a bit slow with Helen being bored and rich and hearing about family, family, family. No one was likeable and they all had dark sides which money was able to hide.