The Lingate family seem to be very rich and very secretive. They have always seemed that way and when Sarah married into the family she found out just how secretive and controlling they are.

It’s 1992 and Sarah’s body is found on the rocks. No one is arrested. The family has closed ranks. Her daughter, Helen, is only three years old and has a lot of questions thirty years later as the family arrives back at the house on Capri.
That seems rather morbid.

With the help of an assistant to one of her uncles, Lorna, Helen has plans to confront her family and escape all of them.

There were so many despicable characters in this book! All acting so badly!

The story was slow and repetitive in the middle but as expected in the end.


NetGalley/ RHPG/Ballentine March 25, 2025

ARC - Received from NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group for review. To be published March 25, 2025.

Saltwater does what I feel like many books in the genre fail to do these days: truly keep you guessing and invested. Some books you can see the character intentions and reveals right away, while Saltwater takes it’s time laying out every piece without giving you everything you need to complete the puzzle before the book is done.

It stars simple enough, with the gorgeous scenery of Capri as a background: The Rich; with their family secrets and the lengths they are willing to go to protect their own, themselves. While the narrative can feel slow at times - I felt that it only helped keeping me on edge, immersed in what was happening throughout the book and I kept trying to guess what the twists would be, only for the author to completely knock down every theory I had. I truly did not expect the ending, but it did such a wonderful job that I was truly appalled when I finished the book but completely satisfied.

This was an amazing read and I cannot wait to discover what else Katy Hays has to offer, truly one of my favorite authors now.

5 stars for this absolute gem! So much to love about "Saltwater" by Katy Hays. Thriller, family saga, lavish vacations on the Isle of Capri and a deep dive into the depravity of an uber wealthy, old money family that you will love to hate. Very "Succession" like characters.

The Lingate family, who returns to the island of Capri every summer because of or in spite of the fact that one of the daughter's in law fell to her death from the cliffs 30 years prior, leaving behind her husband and 3 year old daughter Helen. Adult Helen is determined to untangle herself from her family but their grip on her is tight. She is monitored 24/7 and while coming from a very wealthy clan is controlled by the short leash and allowance they give her. For this year's pilgrimage back to Capri she enlists a confidant (Lorna) who also happens to be her uncle's assistant in the family "business" and they hatch a plan to escape the family with enough money to secure their freedom.

Let's just say things don't go the way they were planned and Helen gets a lesson in just how far her family will go to protect themselves and their reputations. Twists and turns abound and I hope you'll be as shocked by the ending as I was. Just perfect I every way.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

2 1/2 stars. The wealthy Lingate family vacations on Capri every summer, even though Sarah, one of the sisters-in-law, died in a tragic accident 32 years prior. I'm not sure why I didn't like the book more than I did. It's the kind of story I like - a family drama, where everyone has secrets. The description sounded good enough, but the author made the story too mysterious at the beginning. I felt like I'd been dropped into the middle of a story, rather than the beginning of one - the author mentioned too many provocative situations, and there was too much to keep track of at first. I figured something big would happen, and it did, around 85% into the story, but by then I didn't care much for any of the characters. Many thanks to NetGalley, Ms. Hays, and Ballantine Books for the ARC of this title.

The book wasn’t poorly written, but at times I had a hard time staying with it. It was very slow, somewhat flat, and wandered off at times; that’s when I had a hard time knowing what was going on. The storyline was dark and very complex, but it was not a page-turner. I did not really connect with any of the characters, and that’s probably why I couldn’t keep them straight. The ending was very contrived, and I wasn’t crazy about it. I do, however, appreciate that the author put solid research into the setting.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Saltwater.

I liked this book. I love the different point of views and the only thing I wasn’t really a fan of was the extreme slow burn. It was very intriguing and you had enough of the right information to put things together.

I really loved this book.

The Story is intriguing and gives just enough information to help the reader put together all of the pieces. The pace is just right and I enjoyed every minute reading this book.

I also love the time hops from 1992 to present to a few hours before. It really adds dimension to the story.

This book follows the Lingate family, specifically Helen. She is part of a family with a lot of money and a lot of secrets, especially after the unsolved murder of her mother on the island of Capri in '92.

This book reads like a mystery-thriller slash who-done-it but with more depth. Every one is out to protect themselves and it culminates in drama and surprise. Every single character will have his/her life turned upside-down, the only question is, who will make it out alive?

This is a great summer read and I recommend it!


Thanks Random House-Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a very slow burn. This thriller/mystery focuses a lot more on family dynamics, money, and interpersonal relationships. I liked the multiple POV / time frames, which helped keep the story interesting since it did take a bit to pick up. The ending was a ridiculous for me, and you definitely need to suspend your belief, but it was very entertaining nonetheless. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the eARC!

Richard and Marcus are the two brothers at the helm of the Lingate family. Marcus is married to Naomi, and Richard is a widow, previously married to Sarah, with a daughter - Helen. The Lingates come from old money, and have never known what it’s like to be without it or the lack of power you have, without it.

Years ago (1992), while on a family vacation to the island of Capri, an accident befalls the Lingate family. Sarah is found, washed up on the rocks of the island - dead. Helen, a young child (who’s with not much memory of her mother), is left with only her father, Richard, to rely on. The Italian police spend many months doing an inquiry in the death and -surprise to no one- the Lingate’s are free of any wrongdoing.

Fast forward, and the family is vacationing on Capri. These yearly vacations together are often heartened toward remembrance of Sarah. This year, however, Marcus invites his long-term assistant, Lorna - not because he’s romantically interested in her - but because he wants to show her the power of old money.

There are a lot of mysteries when you dig into families like the Lingates. Mysteries they’d rather pay to stay hidden. Who killed Sarah? Is Lorna on Capri to try to uncover the mystery of Sarah’s death or to just be an obedient employee? What other family secrets have been left/kept on the island of Capri over the years and what avalanche of horror starts to be uncovered as the veil unravels?

This captivating novel serves up a deliciously complex cocktail of old money, family intrigue, and twisted mystery, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Capri's picturesque landscape. As the story unfolds, dark secrets, lies, and betrayals abound, weaving a tangled web of deceit that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With its lush island setting and scandalous undertones, this book embodies the essence of a sultry summer escape, perfect for fans of juicy family dramas and gripping mysteries. But be prepared for a slow-burning, character-driven mystery that focuses on the intricate web of family relationships and secrets.

Started and finished this book in one day! Great thriller to snuggle up with on the beach! Definitely will recommend to friends!

First, I just have to say the cover on this book is beautiful! I would have totally judged a book by its cover and bought this one on the cover alone. This book took me forever to get through. I always read before bed, and there were several nights I found myself making every excuse not to pick this up. I did not care for the writing style and was confused for a very long time. I did eventually finish and found the twists at the end unexpected and enjoyable. Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC of this book.

The comparison to White Lotus is an apt one for this thriller set in Capri. For Italy lovers, for fans of twists and turns, for those who enjoy stories about complicated family dynamics, this is a great, quick summer read.

A glamorous and thrilling read, this murder mystery transports you to a picturesque setting that feels like a scandalous summer vacation. The book pairs perfectly with champagne and a lounge chair, it’s a captivating escape that gives until the very last sentence.

Saltwater is described as having White Lotus vibes, and this rings true. Set in Capri, the story centers around a famously wealthy family and the tragedy surrounding them. The result is an atmospheric mystery with compelling, albeit largely unlikable, characters.

The first part of the book moves at a slower pace, but it helps to build tension and provide the necessary background. It also showcases how carefully the veneer of the Lingate family is constructed, and the reader is given a good feel for who they are underneath the money. As more is revealed beneath the glamour, the less trustworthy the characters become, and the unreliable narrators add to the plot.

While the Lingate characters are well-developed, Lorna, the outsider with a storied past, feels the opposite. One can’t help but wish more had been revealed about her background. Additionally, while the first part works well, the second half becomes muddled. The more convoluted the plot, the less likable the characters also become, and in turn, it is harder to root for anyone.

Overall, this is an engaging mystery in a great setting, and this will appeal to fans of The White Lotus and Saltburn looking for more stories about wealthy people being bored, terrible, and self-destructive in the way we seem to crave.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★ .5
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: March 25, 2025
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

This was a fantastic read. I read this in a weekend and enjoyed every moment of it. This pulls you right in and takes you alongside Helen, our main character. Helens mother suddenly passes while Helen is a young child and what is ruled an accident starts to look not so much accidental once her necklace turns up that she was wearing when she tragically passed.

Helen is now determined to dig into the past and find out the truth of what truly happened but she is unaware that while doing this, she is digging up skeletons and things that were meant to be left buried. On top of all of this…Helen is determined to break from her father and uncles stronghold that they have held upon her for so long, she is ready for her OWN life.

We are taken through this rollercoaster of emotions and twists as well as turns and it absolutely keeps you guessing until the very last page. The writing is beautiful and the setting of this book (CAPRI) … I couldn’t imagine a better place. Not everybody is who you think they are…who can you trust and who can you turn to. This book is a must read for anybody who enjoys a fast paced thriller with a slow burn mystery aspect and a GORGEOUS backdrop.

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Slow Burn Mystery, Family Drama, Wealth, Secrets, Suspense, Thriller, Dark Secrets, Italian Glamour, Fast Paced Twisty

This book was so good, once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. Family secrets, lies, and betrayal after betrayal after betrayal. I was always trying to guess who was hiding what, and when the next secrets would be revealed.

For a suspense novel, this was pretty lack luster for me. Overall the story was decent but not something I would rave to my friends about.

The story goes back and forth between past and present, but it feels like it’s done so in an unorganized way. While you know of the present day murder throughout a lot of the book it lacks the feeling of sitting on the edge of your seat waiting to figure out what happened. Also to be honest, the ending about Helen’s mother didn’t quite make sense to me, but maybe I’ll return after this officially releases to talk more about that.

I think maybe if you don’t enjoy the uneasy feeling of reading a phenomenal thriller/suspense or want to ease your way into those kind of books this one would be good for you. Reminder this is just my opinion, read over the description and definitely pick this one up on March 25, 2025.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect book to read by the pool or the beach! It’s set in Capri, Italy, and sets the scene perfectly. You’ve got old money, brooding family drama, mystery, and murder. Yes, please!

The multiple POVs threw me for a loop a little bit, where sometimes it was confusing to keep track of everything properly, but definitely came together in the end. A lot of the characters and equally unlikeable, but I think that only aided in me not being able to put it down! I originally requested this book for the cover because it was so breathtaking, and I will definitely be buying a physical copy to display when it’s released next year!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Katy Hays, and Random House Publishing-Ballentine for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great read! It too me a minute to figure it all out, bit of a head scratcher in the begining but holy cow the end! Took me by surprise! Such a good one though! I would definitely recommend this!