In "Saltwater," the plot centers on the enigmatic demise of Sarah Lingate, whose lifeless body was discovered at the base of the cliffs of Capri in 1992, leaving her three-year-old daughter, Helen, behind. Although there were suspicions regarding the affluent Lingate family, the circumstances surrounding Sarah's death were deemed accidental, resulting in years of family holidays at the same villa to perpetuate this narrative. On the thirtieth anniversary of her passing, the family stumbles upon the necklace Sarah was adorned with on the night of her death, which rekindles old conflicts and compels Helen to uncover the truth about her mother's fate. As she devises a plan to escape alongside Lorna, a family aide, the situation intensifies when Lorna mysteriously vanishes, compelling Helen to confront her family’s hidden truths and the unsettling realization that every individual present during Sarah's death may be implicated.

The novel skillfully intertwines familial drama with gripping suspense, portraying the Lingate family as affluent yet dysfunctional, ensnared in a labyrinth of deceit and betrayal. Hays vividly depicts the enchanting scenery of Capri, amplifying the narrative’s mood and tension. As Helen struggles with her burdensome familial connections, the intricate storyline unveils startling revelations that maintains the intrigue. The nuanced character interactions and the examination of themes such as affluence and trust contribute significant depth to this enthralling mystery thriller, rendering it an engrossing read for those in pursuit of suspense and drama amid the breathtaking landscape of the Italian island.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was so good! I love Italy so it was quite a treat to read a gripping and intriguing book set place in that beautiful country. The very last twist also was completely unexpected and caught me off guard. I loved this book!

I loved this extremely atmospheric story that includes unexplained deaths, family secrets, and rich people behaving very badly.
This is set on the island of Capri and it feels like you are there. The descriptions are so lush and beautiful. This is told from three different perspectives of women who are either part of the Lingate family or work for the family. I loved the multiple perspectives and layered narrative. We get different versions of how things happened and by the end, my jaw was hanging open. The twists and turn here were so well done that I never guessed them and that is my very favorite type of story.
I think this is going to be a very popular summer book in 2025 and I hope Hays continues to write these awesome books!

This one didn't pan out like I hoped and left me feeling a bit bored overall.
I think I wanted a faster paced. And while the twists and turns were interesting, I never really bought into the premise or the characters truly to care.
Eh...rich people behaving badly? Been there, done that. This book doesn't really add/say much we haven't read in the past but still a solid effort.

I really enjoyed this book, the settings, the well developed characters, the peek into the lifestyles of the old monied people, and how they live!! The twists and turns, in the kept me guessing! I was really shocked by the ending. This was a first time read for me with this Author, I am looking forward to reading more books her!

Katy Hays intriguing mystery set in fabulous Capri, had me guessing from the first page. I was so satisfied with all the twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Great characters, intricate details, perfectly evoked scenery , all result in a compelling read. Highly recommended!

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

I had a hard time getting into this book, was hoping for more suspense and a faster pace. I also have a hard time with the back and forth in time POVs. Would recommend to someone who loves a great mystery.

Having really enjoyed The Cloisters, I thought this would be a smashing good story. When in reality it's a bit boring. Has a feeling if deja vu.. like oh another rich family getting away with murder and everything in between.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

This novel presents an intriguing blend of mystery and dysfunctional family dynamics, appealing to readers who enjoy these themes. The writing is well-crafted, showcasing the author's thoughtful approach to storytelling. The characters are notably flawed, including the main narrators, which adds depth and complexity to their interactions. In particular, the character Lorna offers a captivating perspective that enhances the narrative.

The pacing of the story is relatively slow, which may not appeal to all readers; it felt more extended than its actual length. While the initial twists and reveals were somewhat predictable, they did remain satisfying and coherent within the context of the story. The later twists provided some surprise, though they bore a resemblance to one another, and the final twist, arriving just after a significant reveal, felt somewhat anticlimactic. Thank you to Netgalley for giving me a chance to read this!

This thriller was a provoking read with lost of questions that kept me wanting to read more. Who? Are they still around? Why now? I enjoyed the suspense built through the weaving of characters.

This book was a let down for me. An unwanted look into the lives of rich, spoiled, people who will do anything to get more wealth and status. The Italian background was interesting and well-drawn, but not enough to save this book. I do thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance and I wish I had enjoyed it more.

This novel offers an intriguing premise with a layered exploration of grief, identity, and the haunting impact of secrets. The narrative weaves together past and present with some clever moments of tension, and the setting is atmospheric, drawing the reader into a coastal town filled with both beauty and mystery. The characters are complex and their relationships evolve in interesting ways, but at times, the pacing slows, and some plot points feel a bit predictable. While the writing is evocative, there were moments when the story didn’t quite deliver on its early promise. Overall, it’s a solid read that will resonate with fans of character-driven fiction, though it may not leave everyone fully satisfied.

Thanks for the advance reader copy from Netgalley.

I had a bit of a struggle to get into this book because I didn't like the characters. I did enjoy the story line and the final reveal.

This is going to be long. I hope you find any of it useful.

I read The Cloisters a couple of years ago and it’s so interesting because although that is not my favorite type of plot, the book was one of my favorite books that year, and still is to this day. My copy rests on the bookshelf right next to my bed; that’s how highly it ranks. This 100% has to do with Katie Hays’ writing style. It absorbs you and does not allow you to look away. The Cloisters primarily held my attention because of how easy it was to live in the scenes surrounding the museum through her writing. Frankly, that MET location is one of my favorite museums and has even inspired one of my tattoos. Of course I was bound to love a book that aptly captures its mysticism.

In Saltwater, Katy Hays has done it again.

I was swimming a bit during the first few pages. There was an intentional obscurity that became extremely clear by the end. The present-to-past parallel play can be a lot to properly absorb.

Hays’ ability to depict the peculiar, almost grotesque, behaviors and mannerisms of the uber wealthy is magical. I’ve yet to encounter another author with this talent.

However, I struggled with this book for a few reasons:
- None of the characters had redeeming qualities. Everyone was so stuck in their miserable internal worlds that it felt like a headache to suffer through their internal musings in order to see the story through.
- The story became pretty convoluted. I really enjoyed the twists, but there are so many of them. While they make sense, it’s a bit overwhelming and I am almost left questioning ‘how could any of this happen in the same timeline? how is this reality real?’
- It is strange, the way that Ciro and Helen are essentially siblings…in a way. They didn’t grow up with this mindset, but ultimately they do call the same woman mama. There are a lot of underlying incestuous references that are just on the right side of taboo, but I think I’d enjoy them more if they were not as contingent to an underlying hate and inevitable betrayal that affects almost every character in the book.

Although everything is illuminated by the end of the book, I do feel that there remains a shrouding sense of mystery that prevents the reader from gaining full clarity. Freddy was a pawn for confusion — an agent of chaos. Naomi a wench who ultimately propelled the story forward, but was little more than a ghost. It was difficult to connect with these characters or feel that they held as much weight as they did in the story.

Overall, I liked the writing. Perhaps it could have been tighter and the story could have been slightly more lucid because I can see the case where people DNF because it requires more work to read than your typical mystery or thriller. It also doesn’t have that fun gothic element that made The Cloisters so enchanting. Rich people are pretty darn insufferable.

I was trudging my way through this one. It started VERY slow for me, which took away from my overall enjoyment of the book. However, the latter half of the book did pick up, which was redeeming. I usually find that I need some character to either relate to or root for, and that was missing for me here.

I would put this more at a 3.5 rating.

This story follows a rich family and we are along for their secrets slowly and messily unraveling.
The story moved quite slow and it took some time to be able to follow what character's POV I was in each chapter.
For the first half of the book I felt myself just speed reading to get to the point.

Part II definitely picks up in plot and action; but I did not find myself really connected to any of the characters or rooting for anyone.
However, I did enjoy the journey enough to read to the end.

It felt that the book was trying to fit in too many storylines and twists that in teh end just didn't feel connected.

great book overall!!! beginning was a little slow, but it totally picked up and turned out to be an excellent thriller/drama!!! 4/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This story is a mystery/thriller about the Lingate family. Sarah was found dead 30 years ago on Capri and it was ruled as an accident. Helen, Sarah’s daughter, travels back to Capri for their annual family trip. Sarah’s friend, Lorna, joins the family for this trip and they try to undercover the secrets of Sarah’s death. While finding out the truth, Lorna becomes missing. Read to find out the secrets of the Lingates!

This story is about family, wealth, and secrets. There are so many shocking twists and turns at the end of the story. My mouth was wide open while I was reading it.

The beginning of the story I found very confusing because each chapter is about a different character. It took me about halfway through the book to realize who everyone was with the flashbacks. I would’ve enjoyed this book more if I wouldn’t understand the characters more at the beginning

Book review 📖

📜Saltwater
✍️Katy Hays
📠Random House/Ballantine Publishing
📚Mystery/Thriller Fiction
🗓️Pub date: March 25, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Thank you @NetGalley and @randomhouse for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

✨This totally reminded me of The White Lotus and I had the theme song scrolling through my head when I would read certain parts.
I loved the backdrop of Capri, as I’ve traveled there and it was a fabulous memory.
However, the book itself, I found pacing to be slow and the storyline jumping all over the place. I wasn’t so much invested in plot or characters.

#netgalley #saltwater #katyhays #ballantine #advancedreadercopy #arc #bookreview #bookstagrammer #springreleases #thrillerfiction #mysteryfiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the arc!

Saltwater was an enjoyable read. The characters where just the characters you love to hate.

I did find the stacked twists at the end to be a bit redundant but it didn’t detract too much from my enjoyment.

Over all a solid 4 stars