White LotusFans:SaltwaterIs the Perfect Companion Novel — Read an Excerpt! (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Katy Hays and the cover of ‘Saltwater’.Photo:Julia Gravette; Ballantine Books

Julia Gravette; Ballantine Books

Grab an aperol spritz and head to the coast of Capri with a new gothic suspense that proves darkness can lurk under even the most glittering surfaces.

As the mystery around Sarah’s death reopens, the insular Lingates reach a breaking point. Amidst the turmoil, Helen sees her opportunity to escape the clutches of her paranoid, enigmatic family, enlisting the help of Lorna Moreno, a family assistant. Everyone’s a suspect, and as family, friends, visitors and staff begin to turn on each other, the thrilling mystery speeds toward the gasp-inducing ending. Perfect for fans ofWhite Lotus, this is a spring break murder mystery for the ages.

Below, get a taste ofSaltwater.

Listen to an excerpt from ‘Saltwater’

Ballantine Books

I walk to the front of the boat and make a big show of diving into the water to the sound of their cheers. Helen follows and we all swim, the knot of us, into the inlet where the water is crystal clear and turquoise, nothing like the navy of the deeper Mediterranean.

“This is why you need more than a week,” Ciro says, splashing Lorenzo. Who, I notice for the first time, has a scar running from the crease of his eye to his chin. We can’t go ashore here. It’s not like the shallows below the house. Here everything is deep — 8, 10 feet. I can see the bottom, so it seems welcoming, but there’s nowhere to rest, and my arms and legs are tired.

“I’m going back,” I say. “For some water. Some sun.”

A look passes between the three Italians, and they take off together, a sea of thrashing arms and legs. They’re grinning as they do it, and I’m not worried, not at first. But then they reach the boat before we do, and Giuseppe is already in the bow, pulling up the anchor chain.

Helen swims alongside me, a smooth, unperturbed stroke, low in the water. She flips onto her back.

It’s all bravado.

The motor starts up. And it looks like they’re going to leave us. Here. Alone in this inlet.

To drown.

“Helen—” It’s all I can manage, but when I look at her, she’s smiling.

She’s f—ing smiling.

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When we reach the boat, the swim ladder has been pulled up. Helen treads water next to the boat like it’s nothing, no big deal. We wait. We wait until they come to the back of the boat, the three of them, standing there.

“I thought you were going to give us a ride,” she says. “Or should we make other arrangements?”

Ciro smiles. “Oh, did you want a ride?” He gestures toward the Marina Piccola. “We’re running late, you know. We need to hurry back. It’s lighter with just the three of us.”

“Very funny,” Helen says.

“No, really,” he says, his voice light. He’s laughing. “We have to go.”

“It’s a bad joke, Ciro,” Helen says, surprisingly firm, like she’s in a position to challenge him, not stuck in the water. “Lorna’s tired. Put the ladder back.”

He turns toward the steering wheel as if it’s time to leave.

“Wait!” I say.

I grab onto Helen. I don’t mean to, but I pull her underwater. My legs exhausted, my body weak. I tire so easily these days. It’s hard to override the fear I feel, thinking about him abandoning us here when I’m so close to getting out.

Helen comes up for air, and I tell myself to let go of her upper arm. I don’t want to drown her. But that part of my brain seems to have shut off. The only thing remaining is survival.

“She can pay you.” The words are out of my mouth before I know what I’m doing.

But Helen can’t answer because I’ve dragged her back under. I don’t even notice myself do it. I doubt she heard my offering.

Ciro turns in time to see Helen surface once more.

“Lorna,” she manages, “you have to let go—”

I do. I think I do. Only she goes back under again. My hand, I realize, is towing her down. This time, she kicks me: her foot connects with my side and I flinch.

“Lorna—” Ciro calls from the boat. It’s a warning.

Both Giuseppe and Lorenzo are behind him now, watching the scene.

Helen’s free arm flaps weakly to the surface.

“Please!” I say.

I don’t know if Helen can breathe. I tell myself, again, to let go. But my body isn’t listening, even as she fights me.

Ciro’s in the water then, swimming toward us. His stroke is cutting and fast, and he doesn’t even bring his head up when he grabs me and pulls me off her. The jerk so strong I cry.

For a moment, I think he’s dislocated my shoulder.

Helen is coughing, but Ciro is supporting her, dragging her toward the boat.

“Just float,” he tells her, “just breathe.”

“Helen—” I say. My voice is hoarse. “I’m so sorry. Oh god, I’m so sorry. I—”

“Helen—” I try again. She has to know I didn’t mean it. It wasn’t me. It was some animal trying to survive. She has to understand.

“It’s okay,” she says. “I’m fine. Just a joke gone too far.” She looks up at Ciro like it’s his fault. But he turns to me, and I can read it on his face. He would leave me here now. He would let me drown to save her.

source: people.com