Saltwater by Katy Hays

A thriller as twisty as the mountain roads of Capri, where it is set, Saltwater is a multi-point of view novel exercising the trope of the dysfunctional rich, selfish, patriarchal family. Helen’s mother died on the island when she was only three, and the ultra-private family barely mentions her name. The family is sacred, and anything that would sully the name is verboten.

 

Further, Helen is not allowed to intermingle with the underlings, basically anyone outside the family. In her effort, at thirty-two, to break free from the bonds her father and uncle impose, Helen hatches a plan. The disappearance of her father’s assistant, Helen’s friend, in a fashion remarkably similar to Sarah, Helen’s mother’s disappearance, starts the whole thing unraveling.

This isn’t a particularly deep book. Many of the characters are cardboard cutouts relying on our images of rich, cruel people, and we want a character to root for. Helen should be it, but sadly, she’s inherited the greed gene.

The book would be fun to read on a cruise, beach or especially on a trip to Capri. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for the advanced readers copy. Saltwater was released March 25, 2025.