Saltwater

By Katy Hays

Book Overview

On glittering Capri, anything can be a mirage. And no one holds a grudge like family.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters comes an electrifying thriller about an opulent family retreat to Italy that's shattered by the resurfacing of a decades-old crime.

"Perfect for fans of White Lotus, this is a spring break murder mystery for the ages."--People

In 1992, Sarah Lingate is found dead below the cliffs of Capri, leaving behind her three-year-old daughter, Helen. Despite suspicions that the old-money Lingates are involved, Sarah's death is ruled an accident. And every year, the family returns to prove it's true. But on the thirtieth anniversary of Sarah's death, the Lingates arrive at the villa to find a surprise waiting for them--the necklace Sarah was wearing the night she died.

Haunted by the specter of that night, the legendary Lingate family unity is pushed to a breaking point, and Helen seizes the opportunity. Enlisting the help of Lorna Moreno, a family assistant, the two plot their escape from Helen's paranoid, insular family. But when Lorna disappears and the investigation into Sarah's death is reopened, Helen has to confront the fact that everyone who was on Capri thirty years ago remains a suspect--her controlling father, Richard; her rarely lucid aunt, Naomi; her distant uncle, Marcus; and their circle of friends, visitors, and staff. Even Lorna, her closest ally, may not be who she seems.

As long-hidden secrets about that night boil to surface, one thing becomes clear: Not everyone will leave the island alive.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593875559
• ISBN13: 9780593875551
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.3" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

A pit of vipers!

The phrase "lifestyles of the rich and the famous, they're always complaining" kept popping into my head as I read this book. The title is well suited, as you read and see how the Lingates are like vipers, willing to bite and kill to keep their power/money/lifestyle. It is a kind of slow burn thriller with lots of twists as secrets and lies come to light on this week on Capri (as well as a dead body or two). The characters are nicely real, though not really easy to like, even Helen who, with Lorna's help tries to find out the truth about the death of her mother and extract herself from the grasp of her family so that she can live her own life, away from the dark shadows of the past. Though I do like her, and a bit Lorna as they are not quite as rotten to the core. This book, shows well, what lengths anyone could go to for riches and freedom. Told in mostly three views (Lorna, Helen, and Sara), weaving the past and the present, so that the reader gets the whole story. I did not expect that twists but it added to the story nicely and really made the case that the Lingates were a pit of vipers, willing to do anything to stay on top with the power. I did enjoy this novel and I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this!