slow thriller drama withsome really fun aspects and themes. would recommend it, it was cool. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

A well plotted, twisty mystery loaded with family secrets. Two murders, decades apart happen on the Island of Capri - one is the wife of a wealthy man, and years later, a friend of his daughter's also drowns off the coast of the island. Are the two deaths somehow related? When a successful playwright plunges to her death on the coast of Capri, she leaves a young daughter named Helen. Helen struggles with the cloistered, controlling life of her wealthy family, and wonders about the night her mother died. Was it suicide? Murder? if so, who did it? The more Helen probes for clues with her new friend, Lorna, who works in her Uncle's office, the more she is convinced she needs a plan to escape - with money. When Lorna disappears, Helen is left to reckon with her family's secrets on her own - but will she survive? Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy.

A mystery/thriller set in Capri….how could I resist.

In 1992, Sarah Lingate fell or was pushed to her death on Capri, where her wealthy family vacationed each year. Her daughter, Helen, was three at the time.Thirty years later, the necklace that Sarah was wearing the night she died is sent anonymously to the family as they make their annual visit.

Atmospheric and suspenseful, family drama, twists, turns, deep held secrets, the monied class behaving badly; they are all here. Who can anyone really trust? My favorite character in this novel is the island of Capri, beautifully portrayed by the author.This is a bit of a slow burn, but worth sticking with it through the end.

Salt Water
By Katy Hays

This book is a mystery/thriller. The absolute best part of the book is its setting – the Isle of Capri. I have been to Capri multiple times and I think the author nailed it. Capri is beautiful and mysterious, the perfect setting for a whodunit.

On the other hand, I did not like any of the characters. The Lingate family are a bunch of miscreants who may or may not have been involved in Sarah Lingate's death 30 years ago. The whole family – as well as Marcus' assistant, Lorna – are once again on the island, as they have been every year since Sarah's death. Everyone involved has their share of secrets and plots, including Helen, Sarah's daughter; her boyfriend Freddy; her lover Ciro; and her friend and co-conspirator Lorna. The fact that everybody is hiding things from each other, while adding to the tension, makes all the characters unlikeable.

The storyline is reasonably well done, keeping the reader guessing, but somehow, given these characters, I found I really didn't care.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book to read and review.

This book started out slow, but once it picked up, it really took off! I loved the ending—it was packed with twists I didn’t see coming. The story follows Helen, whose mother was found dead in Capri when she was a baby. You’re right there with her in this psychological drama as she digs into her family’s secrets, stirring up even more chaos along the way. It’s a gripping read once it gets going!

A great family suspense set in the beautiful island of Capri. The book is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing and has some fantastic characters.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Saltwater is a twisted, family drama set in the island of Capri. In 1992, Sarah Lingate is found dead below the cliffs of Capri, but despite suspicions that the old-money Lingates are involved, Sarah’s death is ruled an accident. Weirdly, the family returns to the island every year but on the thirtieth anniversary of her death, a surprise awaits the family at their home on the cliffs.

Katy Hays did a great job of creating a page-turning, suspenseful story. This is a closed "island" story, where the family and characters are entrenched in the island of Capri. She seems to bring the island to life, with the presence of danger around in every chapter. Her character development of the multiple POV and different timelines, adds so much to the story. There are twists and surprises throughout the entire novel and it had me on the edge of my seat. I do have to say that there were parts that were slow to me but still had an air of suspense. It was overall an entertaining and intriguing read. As long-hidden secrets about that night back in 1992 boil to surface, one thing becomes clear: Not everyone will leave the island alive. And boy are we surprised!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books and Katy Hays for the eARC of Saltwater. Publication date for Saltwater by Katy Hays is set for 25 March 2025, I highly recommend this one!

The Isle of Capri, with its dramatic cliffs and luxurious allure, is a playground for the rich and a magnet for tourists. But beneath its breathtaking beauty, there's a dark undercurrent. In July 1992, playwright Sarah Lingate mysteriously disappears from a family villa after an argument with her husband, Richard. The next day, he returns alone, and Sarah is never seen again. Fast forward thirty years, and the Lingate family returns to Capri for their annual vacation. Helen Lingate, now estranged from her father Richard and the rest of her controlling family, is desperate to break free. She teams up with Lorna, her uncle's assistant, to escape the suffocating dynamics, but their plan soon spirals out of control, thrusting them into an even more dangerous game.

Katy Hays skillfully brings this tense, claustrophobic world to life. Her vivid descriptions of Capri—its sights, sounds, and smells—transport the reader to the island, capturing both its romantic charm and its sense of lurking danger. The story is a slow burn, filled with twists that keep you guessing: who's the predator and who's the prey? The Lingates are a truly vile bunch—entitled, manipulative, and deeply unsettling—and though you might think you know who to root for, the dynamics constantly shift, leaving you on edge. The suspense builds with each chapter, and the stakes grow higher as secrets about Sarah's disappearance are slowly uncovered.

While the plot is gripping and full of surprises, there are moments where the tension starts to feel drawn out. Some twists are more satisfying than others, but the mystery at the heart of the story kept me hooked. Hays has a talent for creating atmosphere and suspense, and while I had a few reservations, the overall experience was thoroughly engaging. "The Cloisters" proved her skill, and this book cements her as a master of psychological tension, delivering an unsettling, captivating read from start to finish.

A twisty family drama with lots of thrilling elements. The island of Capri glitters like a jewel in this book. Rich families doing a lot of rich people yhyings. Betrayal, secrets and murders are intricately woven into this book. There were so many twists I didn't see coming.. overall it's an enjoyable read.l although I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable but writing qas engaging and the plot kept pushing me to read on to find out what happens.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

It is a great book full of twists and turns that kept me guessing. And she has written some fantastic characters. Throughout the book, I found myself both rooting for and suspecting each and every one of them, knowing each of those feelings was completely reasonable.

A death 30 years ago comes back to haunt a rich family in Capri. If you love a story with a 30 year old mystery, rich people behaving badly, and an ending that will leave your jaw in the floor this is the book for you! This was a lot of fun and I could see it being adapted as a mini series. Nicole Kidman would make the perfect Naomi! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

“Saltwater” is a thrilling family drama and mystery story that makes you question everyone. It was entertaining and kept me wanting to read more and more.

We meet Lorna who works for Marcus Lingate who essentially is the head of the very wealthy Lingate family. She befriends her employers niece, Helen, and slowly gets Helen to open up about the family scandal that happened in Capri, Italy in 1992. Helen’s mom, Sarah, was found dead off the cliffs of Capri and while everyone assumed it was Marcus, Helen’s father, who had killed her, there was no proof and ruled a suicide. Everyone including Helen and Lorna wanted to know the truth. This years Capri trip began normally but slowly the Lingate’s secrets started to unfold and come to light about that day back in 1992. And another disappearance occurs. Was it a suicide? If not, was the family actually responsible? Who was telling the truth and who was lying?

So many questions and twists and turns that keep you increased. The story telling jumps from the present back to 1992 and you get the different viewpoints of multiple family members in each time period. I really enjoyed that. I like seeing everyone’s perspective. The ending was not something I expected. I love a book that throws me off and I can’t predict what’s going to happen and this book did not disappoint! I highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Saltwater by Katie Hays
Publication date 3/25/25
Rating 3.75

In 1992, Sarah Lingate falls to her death off the cliffs of Capri. Her death is ruled an accident but was considered suspicious by the public. Helen (Sarah's daughter) spends her life hearing whispers of these suspicions. Helens family tries to protect her from all the speculations. On the 30th anniversary of Sarah's death, Helen finds herself back in Capri with another disappearance linked to her family. She is faced with finding out what really happened to her mother.

The author's vivid descriptions of Capri made the island my favorite character.
All the human characters were flawed and focused on money, stature and public appearances. I had a hard time connecting with the main characters in this novel.

The setting, the multiple POV's, the jaw dropping twists at the end worked for me in this book.
The slow burn pacing of the first 2/3 of the book did not work for me. (the last 1/3 definitely made up for it)

I would recommend this book to people who loved the shows White Lotus and Succession. I would also recommend if you enjoyed reading The Retreat by Sarah Pearse or The Guest List by Lucy Foley. Saltwater comes out in the US in late March and would be a good addition to pack for spring break or summer vacations.

After enjoying the author’s debut, I was excited to get an arc of her sophomore release, “Saltwater.”

I loved the Italian setting for the book- I have never been to Capri but would love to go! I could envision the setting so well- the author did a great job taking the reader there.

I found this to be a slow burn at first but around the 50% mark it really picks up and I couldn’t put it down. I loved the alternative pov as well and the timeline jumps. It made me want to keep reading!

The ending definitely surprised me and I didn’t see it coming. I really enjoyed this one and think most people will as well!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This was a good thriller book. I would recommend it to my friends and family
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this one

I found this a bit hard to follow with all of the different points of view. The mystery wasn’t the focus that I was hoping it would be.

I loved this murder mystery with old money vibes and a 30 year old murder that comes back into play!

Sarah Lingate dies under suspicious circumstances in Capri, leaving behind her three hear old daughter, Helen. 30 years later, the Lingates return to Capri for their annual vacation and someone else disappears. I loved the dual timelines and thought they weaved together seamlessly. And I didn’t see the twists coming at all! If you love mystery, drama, and messy families- this one is for you. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The island of Capri and the plot kept me wanting to pick this book back up. The characters are loathsome. The last quarter of the book and all of its spins left me dizzy.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Saltwater felt like I was watching a season of the White Lotus! It set such an intriguing premise and the execution did not miss!

Sarah Lingate died in 1992 and since then the mystery of her death has followed her family. Her husband was initially a suspect before it was ultimately ruled a suicide. But the necklace she was wearing that night shows up unexpectedly 30 years later. So what really happened that night?

Helen, Sarah's daughter, feels trapped in her family, they dictate her life down to her boyfriend and their constant mantra for her is that we do everything for the family. Lorna is an assistant to Helen's Uncle and Helen has enlisted her help to try to escape the family. This novel was filled with mystery and intrigue, glimpses into the past and interesting conclusion.

I recommend you read if you like mysteries, letting rich people's mistakes catch up with them, and an intriguing premise! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the setting of this book, but struggled some to follow the characters and to see them develop. The intrigue and murder (and pretend murder) were interesting but the way the book was organized - each character had a chapter and then a few chapters later they would become central once again - confounded me. I'm sure not every reader will feel that way.