A review by booksbytheglass
Saltwater by Katy Hays

mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

rich people are WILD 🤯 I’m a sucker for a family drama turned murder mystery, so I knew I was all in from the very first chapter!! 

alternating between the 1990s and present day, the lingate family is full of secrets, including what really happened to sarah on capri - and what is happening now to the family as they reunite on the same island… and let me tell you, the backdrop of capri and the lilian islands was GORGEOUS 💛 I absolutely ate up every description & felt like I was truly there 

the alternating POVs between sarah in the 90s, helen (her daughter) in present day, and lorna (the family assistant) in present day, made sense in theory - but there were some chapters that just felt jarring to me 🤷🏼‍♀️ I did enjoy seeing all of the events play out through their respective eyes though

and while I figured the family’s own secrets would be the death of them (literally and figuratively), the ending still shocked me 😮‍💨 it ended on a very satisfying note

helen was the only factor that didn’t always work for me… a product of her own family, she wasn’t the most likable or willing to do what it takes in the end (which I get it’s your family but they might have unalived your mom so 👀)

a huge thank you to netgalley and ballantine for the advanced copy in exchange for a honest review!

rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: barbara d’asti red blendo