Saltwater - by Katy Hays

About the Book

"From New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters comes an electrifying thriller about an opulent family and their mysterious assistant whose annual retreat to Italy is shattered by the resurfacing of a decades-old murder. The world was shocked by playwright Sarah Lingate's death thirty years ago at a Moorish, whitewashed villa on the island of Capri. Absolved of the crime, the Lingate family maintains that what happened that night was a tragic accident, and every July they come back to prove it's true. This time, Helen Lingate, sole heir to the family fortune, has a plan. Tightly controlled by her father, Helen enlists the help of the family assistant, Lorna Silva, to free herself from her family's grip. But behind closed doors, the legendary Lingate family unity is at a breaking point. Upon arrival to their villa in Capri, a gift is waiting for them: the necklace Sarah was wearing the night she died. In the aftermath, the paranoid, insular Lingates begin to unravel. As the investigation into her mother's death is reopened, Helen begins to lose trust in everyone around her: her controlling father Richard, drug-addled aunt Naomi, aloof uncle Marcus, and even Lorna, whose past she realizes is frustratingly opaque. And as they fracture, the long-hidden truth about that night and the secrets they've kept from one another boil to the surface-and they might not leave the island alive. On glittering Capri, anything can be a mirage. And one thing is true: no one holds a grudge like family"--

Book Synopsis

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.

"Engrossing and sinister . . . a must-read."--Julie Clark, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Flight

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.

Review Quotes

"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

"The truest literary successor to HBO's Succession I've encountered, Saltwater is so gorgeously written that its twists didn't need to hit nearly so hard nor land nearly so perfectly for this to already be one of the best books of 2025, and yet they do. What a knockout."--Ashley Winstead, bestselling author of Midnight Is the Darkest Hour

"Saltwater is sultry and sophisticated, with a menacing undercurrent that keeps you thrillingly unsettled until its final spellbinding twist."--Rachel Koller Croft, author of Stone Cold Fox

"Brilliantly written in scintillating prose, Katy Hays's Saltwater is an Italian opera for the modern age. Superbly plotted and deftly executed, this searing takedown of the upper crust is one to savor."--Katherine Wood, author of Ladykiller

"A twisty, seductive thriller."--Nina Simon, New York Times bestselling author of Mother-Daughter Murder Night

About the Author

Katy Hays is the New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters. She is an art history adjunct professor and holds an MA in art history from Williams College and pursued her PhD at UC Berkeley. Having previously worked at major art institutions, including the Clark Art Institute and SFMOMA, she now lives with her husband and their dog in Olympic Valley, California.