In “Saltwater,” Katy Hays crafts a mesmerizing psychological thriller that slithers beneath the glittering surface of wealth and privilege to reveal the rot that lies beneath. Following her successful debut “The Cloisters,” Hays proves herself a master of atmosphere and intrigue, creating a world where beauty and decay exist in perfect, uncomfortable harmony.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Capri—an island that has long attracted the wealthy and powerful—”Saltwater” weaves a complex narrative of deception, survival, and the lengths people will go to protect their status. Through multiple perspectives and timelines, Hays constructs a labyrinthine mystery around the death of playwright Sarah Lingate, whose body was found beneath the cliffs of Capri in 1992, leaving behind her three-year-old daughter, Helen.
When the Lingate family returns to the island for the thirtieth anniversary of Sarah’s death, they discover a disturbing gift waiting for them: the gold snake necklace Sarah was wearing the night she died. This discovery sets in motion a series of events that threatens to unravel the carefully constructed facade the family has maintained for decades.
Layers of Deception: Structure and Narration
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its intricate structure. Hays masterfully shifts between different character perspectives and time periods, slowly peeling back layers of deception to reveal the shocking truth at the core. The narrative is predominantly told through the eyes of Helen Lingate, now an adult, and her father’s assistant Lorna Moreno—two women who form an unlikely alliance in their quest to escape the suffocating grip of the Lingate family.
Hays cleverly employs newspaper clippings throughout the novel, providing a public-facing counterpoint to the private thoughts and actions of her characters. These snippets serve as stark reminders of how easily truth can be manipulated by those with power and influence.
The novel’s pacing is deliberate, building tension through careful revelation rather than fast-paced action. This methodical unfolding of truth creates a growing sense of unease that permeates every page, keeping readers guessing until the final reveal.
Characters: Complex and Morally Ambiguous
Hays populates her novel with richly drawn, morally ambiguous characters whose motivations and loyalties constantly shift. Helen Lingate is a particularly compelling protagonist—a woman who has spent her entire life under the control of her family, desperately seeking escape while simultaneously dependent on the wealth and status they provide. Her journey from dutiful daughter to architect of her own freedom forms the emotional core of the novel.
Lorna Moreno serves as an intriguing foil to Helen. As Marcus Lingate’s assistant, she has insight into the inner workings of the family while maintaining the perspective of an outsider. Her own traumatic past and questionable morality make her both sympathetic and suspect, creating tension around her true motivations.
The men of the Lingate family—Richard and Marcus—represent different facets of privileged entitlement. Richard’s spiritual posturing masks deep insecurity, while Marcus’s affable demeanor conceals ruthless ambition. But it’s Naomi, Marcus’s wife, who emerges as one of the most fascinating characters—a woman whose carefully maintained facade of fragility hides a terrifying strength and determination.
Setting: Capri as Character
Hays transforms the island of Capri into more than just a backdrop—it becomes a character in its own right. Her descriptions of the island’s natural beauty are lush and vivid, from the “sweeping views that take in the Gulf of Salerno” to the “lemon boughs thick on the trellises, looming over the tables.” Yet beneath this beauty lurks a sense of danger, embodied by the vertiginous cliffs that have claimed more than one life.
The contrast between the island’s natural splendor and the artificial world of luxury created by its wealthy visitors serves as a metaphor for the novel’s exploration of appearance versus reality. As Helen observes, “It’s amazing how easy it is to untether yourself from solid ground”—a statement that applies both literally to the island’s treacherous geography and metaphorically to the moral compromises made by the characters.
Themes: Money, Control, and Survival
“Saltwater” by Katy Hays delves deep into the corrupting influence of wealth and the desperate lengths people will go to maintain their status and control. As Lorna astutely notes, “Money has always made me uncomfortable, both having a lot and not enough.” This discomfort with money—its power, its limitations, and the inequality it creates—runs throughout the novel.
Family dynamics and the toxic relationships they can foster form another central theme. The Lingates are bound together not by love but by shared secrets and mutual dependency. Their family motto might well be summed up in Richard’s oft-repeated mantra: “You can only trust the family.” Yet as the novel progresses, this proves to be the most dangerous deception of all.
Perhaps most powerfully, “Saltwater” explores the theme of survival—physical, emotional, and social. Each character is fighting to survive in their own way, making increasingly desperate choices that blur the line between victim and perpetrator. As Sarah’s posthumously discovered play suggests, sometimes the most dangerous predators are the ones closest to us.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Hays’s greatest strength lies in her ability to create atmosphere. Her prose is elegant and evocative, bringing to life both the physical setting of Capri and the psychological landscape of her characters. The intricate plotting reveals a masterful control of narrative, as seemingly disparate threads are gradually woven together into a cohesive and satisfying whole.
The multiple perspectives and timelines, while generally well-handled, occasionally create confusion. Some readers may find themselves flipping back to earlier chapters to reorient themselves, particularly in the latter half of the novel when revelations come quickly. Additionally, certain character motivations—particularly those of Naomi and Stan—could benefit from further development.
While the novel’s deliberate pacing builds tension effectively, it may test the patience of readers accustomed to more action-driven thrillers. However, those willing to surrender to Hays’s methodical storytelling will be rewarded with a rich and nuanced reading experience.
Comparisons and Context
“Saltwater” builds on themes explored in Katy Hays’s debut novel “The Cloisters,” particularly the intersection of wealth, power, and secrecy. However, where “The Cloisters” focused on academic ambition within the rarefied world of a museum, “Saltwater” broadens its scope to examine the more pervasive influence of generational wealth and privilege.
Readers who enjoyed Donna Tartt’s “The Secret History” or Patricia Highsmith’s “The Talented Mr. Ripley” will find familiar elements in Hays’s exploration of moral compromise and the desperate desire to belong. The novel also shares thematic concerns with contemporary works like Tana French’s “The Likeness” and Celeste Ng’s “Everything I Never Told You,” examining how the past continues to exert influence over the present.
Final Verdict: A Sophisticated Psychological Thriller
“Saltwater” by Katy Hays is a sophisticated, thoughtfully crafted psychological thriller that transcends genre conventions. Hays has created a novel that functions equally well as a mystery, a family drama, and a pointed critique of wealth and privilege. Her prose is elegant without being pretentious, and her plotting is intricate without becoming convoluted.
The novel’s greatest achievement is its moral complexity. There are no heroes or villains in “Saltwater”—only people making desperate choices in impossible situations. As Ciro wisely observes, “We are always both people… The person who loves and the person who does terrible things.” This recognition of human duality gives the novel a depth and resonance that lingers long after the final page.
While some readers may find the pacing slow and certain character motivations underdeveloped, these are minor flaws in an otherwise exceptional work. “Saltwater” confirms Katy Hays as a major talent in contemporary fiction, capable of crafting narratives that are both intellectually stimulating and emotionally affecting.
For readers seeking a thriller that challenges as much as it entertains, “Saltwater” by Katy Hays offers a compelling exploration of how the past shapes the present and how even the most carefully constructed facades eventually crack under pressure. Like the treacherous waters surrounding Capri, this novel appears beautiful and inviting on the surface, but conceals dangerous currents beneath.
Key Takeaways:
- An atmospheric, intricately plotted psychological thriller
- Complex, morally ambiguous characters
- Vivid portrayal of Capri as both paradise and prison
- Sophisticated exploration of wealth, family dynamics, and survival
- Elegant prose and masterful control of multiple perspectives
- Occasional confusion due to complex narrative structure
- Some character motivations could be more fully developed
- Deliberate pacing that rewards patient readers