Saltwater

A Novel

By: Katy Hays

Narrated by: Allyson Ryan, Cassandra Campbell, Carlotta Brentan

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.

©2025 Katy Hays (P)2025 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Engrossing and sinister, Saltwater has all the elements thriller readers love: dead bodies, deception, and betrayal. But at its core, this multilayered story delves into the concepts of familial loyalty and generational trauma, making Saltwater a must-read.”—Julie Clark, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Flight

“A riveting, atmospheric, elegantly written, and twist-packed tale . . . brilliant!”—Ellery Lloyd, New York Times bestselling author of The Club

“A masterful, riveting, and unsettling tale of privilege, greed, and lust . . . I can’t remember reading a book with as many deftly executed twists and revelations. I devoured it in what felt like seconds.”—Ella Berman, author of the Reese’s Book Club pick Before We Were Innocent

Bad narrators

I think I would have really enjoyed the book, but unfortunately the narrators chosen were hard to listen to.

Gorgeous thriller!

A very atmospheric and cerebral thriller. Could get lost in the world Hays created. The narrators are engaging and bring the POV characters to life.

Awful audio

This was unfortunately an awful audio. The narrators sounded like the same person and were so boring. They did not pull me in at all. I’ll be watching for them in the future to avoid audios narrators by either of them.
The story was also so slow. I didn’t finish the audio or the ebook. Too slow and boring.