Saltwater by Katy Hays is an intriguing thriller set against the stunning backdrop of Capri, but it doesn’t fully live up to its potential. The premise is compelling—a decades-old death and a family haunted by its secrets—but the execution feels a bit uneven at times. While the author effectively creates a suspenseful atmosphere, the pacing sometimes lags, and certain characters feel underdeveloped. I wanted to get to the end to figure out what happened, but sometimes just "knowing how this ends" was my only motivation for finishing, and that isn't great.

Helen’s journey of uncovering her mother’s past is engaging, but the twists and turns start to become a bit contrived as the story progresses. The family drama is rich, but it occasionally overshadows the mystery, leaving some of the central plot points feeling unresolved or rushed. Overall, Saltwater offers moments of tension and drama, but it may not fully satisfy readers looking for a tightly woven, unpredictable thriller.

Three stars for the vivid setting and potential and a memorable character or two, but there is room for improvement in character depth and narrative pacing.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

A dark, atmospheric family drama with more twists than the Amalfi Coast. A quick read that I devoured while on vacation, and a great pick for fans of White Lotus and Big Little Lies.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book was perfect for the summer. I devoured it in a day. The story was unique and I really enjoyed it.

I was really intrigued by this book. Although it started a bit slow and ominous, once the mysteries picked up, I couldn’t put it down. It was full of secrets and family drama and really, really terrible people. I must admit that there was one twist I didn’t see coming at all and I loved it. I wish the story had ended there, but instead it tried for one more shocking twist and I didn’t enjoy this one as much. Overall though, it was a good read.

WTF did I just read 🤯 I feel like you need a family tree or something to keep track of all the family connections and relationships 😵‍💫

This is a family drama tied up in a suspicious death 30 years ago so grab your popcorn 🍿 and buckle up because the story is going to get wild 🤣 I gasped out loud in shock, horror and sympathy ad I read this book. I could not guess the twists and turns or the ending.

The only reason it wasn't 5⭐️ is because it needed a character family tree w/ how large of a cast of characters there were.

Thank you Ballantine and Netgalley for the ARC.

This novel starts slow but turns into a solid family drama and thriller. Set in beautiful Capri, it makes you want to visit—though you might feel out of place with all the old money around! Helen's mother, Sarah, died 30 years ago under suspicious circumstances, and now, back at the same villa, Helen receives a mysterious package containing her mom's necklace. With help from a family employee, she plans to escape her controlling family, but things get messy when the employee disappears. Overall, it’s a decent mystery with some twists, but the back-and-forth timelines can be a bit confusing. It’s a good beach read with family secrets, betrayal, and suspense—just don’t expect too much depth.

3.5 rounded up to 4

Salt Water is set in magnificent Italy, on the isle of Capri. The setting drew this reviewer to the book, since I have wonderful memories of my visit to Capri decades ago. The tiny island, the Amalfi Coast, and the breathtaking views are impossible to forget. I enjoyed the novel's sweeping descriptions like a return visit. The characters in Salt Water have a history in Capri and return each year on the anniversary of the death of their matriarch, Sarah Lingate.

Salt Water is a multi-layered novel with several characters to know and a complex writing style. The story is told in dual timelines and multiple points of view. The pacing is a slow burn, though the story twists and turns keep the plotlines interesting, especially in the second half of the book. Readers who like mysteries set in faraway places might enjoy this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for providing an advance copy of the book to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews.com at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

This thriller is a gripping page-turner! The setting in the luxurious yet mysterious Capri villa creates an atmospheric backdrop for the story. The resurfacing of Sarah Lingate’s necklace on the thirtieth anniversary of her death adds a tantalizing twist that reignites old suspicions. As Helen and her ally Lorna try to escape the shadows of the past, the tension ramps up with every revelation. The mix of family secrets, paranoia, and danger keeps you on the edge of your seat. The twists and turns make it a thrilling read that’s hard to put down.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley. This is a perfect summer murder mystery book. Honestly perfect for the hot florida degree weather we are still having. So many twists that I did not see coming. I also liked the newspaper clippings, made it feel more real. It did go back and forth from current time and the past, which could be a bit confusing but I enjoyed it!

I seriously loved this book! I want to book a trip to Capri ASAP...without all the family drama and murders of course!

I really hate it when I have a book hangover but that is exactly what I had after this book. It was that good. It lived up to the hype. It surpassed the hype if I’m being 100% honest. Where has Katy Hays been all my reading life? My mood reading, not easily satisfied self NEEDED this book and trust me YOU DO TOO!

Who needs enemies when you have family? That was one thought of many I had while reading this book. The Lingate family clearly had many secrets, none of which you as the reader are privy to. Things unraveled in a slow and most immersive way.

I couldn’t understand Helen’s fear of her family, or what their motivation was for controlling everything she did. I mean she had a driver just to ensure she only went to school and home. Cameras. What were they so afraid of??

I think I got about 40-50% in and said my (first) oh snap (more colorful of course). Fast forward to 70% and it was a massive holy shhhh….. And then still…. That last chapter…. Just when I thought Katy was fresh out of twists. Nope. She got me again. Read this book.

-immersive storytelling
--b e a u t i f u l writing
-dual timeline
-multiple POV
-twists you won’t see compelling

I had a lot of fun reading Saltwater. Not only was it an engaging story, but it was nice to have a thriller told fully from the female narrative. I really enjoyed it. Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for gifting me an ARC of this book! Can’t wait to give it to friends next year as a fun summer read!

The author of The Cloisters is back with her second book, a murder mystery set in gorgeous Capri with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end.

Lorna, a personal assistant for the wealthy Lingate family, turns up missing one morning after joining the family for their annual summer retreat to Capri. Has she run away? Is she even still alive? The story is slowly revealed through flashbacks to the past few days and even earlier in the timeline, when Sarah Lingate, famously found dead on the island 30 years ago, was still alive.

The pacing is slow to start, but builds throughout the book as the story develops. The newspaper clippings related to Sarah’s death give you just enough to want to keep reading.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

Lord save us from emotionally stunted boyfriends who have been so sheltered by generational wealth that they don’t realize that putting together an elaborate proposal scheme the day after your uncle/biological father was tragically murdered by the man you thought was your father but is actually your uncle. Freddy was so dim, and most of the characters were pretty unlikeable. I was never sure if I could trust Helen, or if she would turn out to be another unreliable narrator. But I enjoyed how much I was kept guessing!!

Saltwater was a haunting and atmospheric read that stayed with me long after I finished it. The story follows a young woman's journey of self-discovery and healing as she grapples with the complexities of her past and the pull of the ocean. Hays' writing is both lyrical and raw, capturing the protagonist's emotional turmoil with vivid imagery and haunting prose.

I was particularly drawn to the exploration of the mother-daughter relationship, which was both tender and fraught with tension. The vivid descriptions of the coastal setting and the sense of isolation and longing resonated deeply. However, the nonlinear narrative and the fragmented storytelling took a bit of getting used to, and I occasionally found myself yearning for a more straightforward plot.

Overall, Saltwater is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that explores themes of identity, belonging, and the healing power of nature.

Saltwater lulls you into a sense of complacency by making you think it's just another "whodunit," (admittedly a very good one!) but morphs into a debate on the affects of "nature vs nurture" in shaping who we become. There is a dead body, and the central mystery of Saltwater is if Sarah Lingate fell or was pushed (and if so by whom) off a cliff near her Capri, Italy vacation home thirty years ago. In the present day Sarah's daughter Helen is vacationing at the same villa with her extended Lingate family when another suspicious death occurs. The plot builds brick by brick with precision and increasing intensity. Along the way multiple suspects emerge, and every character could be behind one or both tragedies. Don't bother trying to separate the innocent from the guilty-the ending of Saltwater seems to come out of nowhere but is really the culmination of a finely tuned and very clever narrative. Brilliant!

I received this ARC from Netgalley and Random House publishing group - Ballantine for a honest review.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ family drama/thriller

I absolutely devoured this book! It follows the story of three women. Sarah Lingate, the mother of Helen Lingate, who ends up dead at the bottom on the cliffs in Capri. Was she unalived? Or did she take her own life? Then you have Helen, who is trying to figure out what lead up to her mothers death and what actually happened, her family has told her what happen but is that really true? Lastly is Lorna, who is Helen’s uncle’s assistant. Lorna is friends with Helen and together they try to unravel the truth. But the Lingate’s have old money, and that wealth and status means a lot to them so can Lorna really trust anyone? Is Helen truly her friend or is she just using Lorna to get what she wants?

In this thriller there is so much family drama that’s going on and it sucks you right away in the beginning. Who can and can’t be trusted. Can you believe the stories and lies everyone is telling? The author does an amazing job describing Capri, an island that the family goes to visit every year after the death of Helen’s mother Sarah. I truly felt like I could visualize everything and she did an amazing job putting the pieces together of this family. The ending was nothing but twist and turns and I love every minute of this! This book will be released March 25, 2025. So make sure you add to your tbr so you don’t miss out!

Saltwater is an absolutely PERFECT vacation read and I devoured this one by the ocean in Belize. Every time I thought I had things figured out with this disturbing family - they found a way to shock me even more.

I absolutely love alternating time lines and POVs - especially when they are done this well and each character has a distinctive tone. Hays has written a page-turner here and I can’t get over how well paced this novel was! The ending absolutely shocked me and I loved every second of it!

I can’t wait to check out more from this author - I just saw that she has another book coming out in March of 2025 and I am so excited. Check Saltwater out if you love thrillers, family drama, alternating timelines, and the ocean!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC of this twisty title!**

This is a high four star read from me. Kudos to the author, who was new for me in my reading journey. The story takes places mostly on the isle of capri following the sophisticated life of the Lingates. POVs change throughout the story, but are not overly sporadic which I appreciated. Helens mother tragic death is detailed right off the bat and the rest of the book has readers trying to piece together whether it was a true accident or a cover for murder. Add in a new character who quickly becomes ensconced in the family and the plot continues to tangle. As newcomer Lorna suddenly goes missing, history seems to be repeating itself in real time. This was a really great summer read and had me hooked through each twist. I read it on an e reader and my one complaint is that some of the new article inserts were nearly impossible to read. Overall a great book!

This book is categorized as a thriller but I think it is more accurately a family story about all that can go wrong when family secrets are protected above all else.

On a vacation thirty years earlier, Sarah Lingate was found dead below the cliffs of Capri. The Lingate family is comprised of Sarah's husband Richard, his brother Marcus and wife, Nicole, and Helen, Richard and Sarah’s thirty something daughter. Also, as part of the entourage is personal assistant, Lorna, and Helen’s boyfriend, Freddy.

Sarah’s death was determined to be an accident but most people in Capri think the Lingates were involved and their wealth is shielding them. For some reason, the family still vacations in the same villa each summer. Helen, eager to release herself from the constraints of her family, solicits Lorna's help to blackmail the family. Lorna is a more than willing accomplice. The two hatch a plan that will give them freedom and wealth. It seems possible until it doesn't and Lorna goes missing. Helen really doesn't know who she can trust now.

The book is an extremely slow, repetitive read. The characters, both major and minor, were all unlikable and more importantly one note. We understood their flaws and motivations and didn’t need keep returning to it.

It does pick up with lightning speed toward the end taking the reader to unexpected places.

At times, it was hard to keep all the characters straight. For me, the highlight of the story were the descriptions of Capri. The scenery, the dangers of that beautiful locale, and the depiction of wealth was well done.

Many thanks to Random House and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this advanced review copy and provide an honest review.

I enjoyed this book!
So many twists and turns. So much family dynamics


Once you start to book, you will be immediately emerged into the story and the family
This is my first book by this author , but it will definitely not be my last