What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSaltwater
Katy Hays · Book · 2026
If you loved Saltwater, start with Saltburn (Emerald Fennell, 2023) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Saltwater across media.
If you loved Saltwater, you are clearly drawn to stories where the glossy veneer of privilege hides deep-seated, dangerous family secrets.
Films on the same thread
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Olivia Newman · Film · 2026
Explores: Grief and healing, Intergenerational friendship, Hidden secrets.
Like the buried past in Saltwater, this story uses an unlikely discovery to peel back layers of grief and hidden history, offering a gentler path through similar emotional terrain.
Saltburn
Emerald Fennell · Film · 2023
Explores: Class Conflict, Privilege, Obsession.
This film mirrors the class obsession found in Saltwater, plunging you into an opulent, suffocating world where the desire for belonging spirals into a dangerous and unraveling psychological nightmare.
"Wuthering Heights"
Emerald Fennell · Film · 2026
Shares a thread with Saltwater: generational trauma.
The destructive obsession and generational trauma that haunt the characters in Saltwater find a classic, gothic resonance here, showing how family legacies can poison even the most passionate love.
Where the Crawdads Sing
Olivia Newman · Film · 2022
Explores: Isolation, Survival, Social Prejudice.
Just as the landscape of Capri serves as a silent witness in Saltwater, the marshes here isolate the protagonist, turning a murder investigation into a profound study of survival.
Series on the same thread
Your Friends & Neighbors
Jonathan Tropper · Series · 2025
Explores: wealth inequality, midlife crisis, moral decay.
If the dismantling of a wealthy family in Saltwater gripped you, you will appreciate this cynical look at how moral decay and hidden crimes destroy the lives of the elite.
All Her Fault
Megan Gallagher · Series · 2025
Explores: Missing Child, Parental Fears, Suburban Secrets.
Much like the domestic tension in Saltwater, this story begins with a simple, unsettling disruption that forces a protagonist to confront the terrifying reality hidden behind a suburban facade.
56 Days
Lisa Zwerling · Series · 2026
Explores: Drama, Crime.
This narrative mirrors the structure of Saltwater by meticulously reconstructing a deadly romance, proving that even the most intimate relationships can harbor secrets that lead to a sudden death.
Marshals
Spencer Hudnut · Series · 2026
Explores: Range justice, Post-traumatic stress, Law enforcement ethics.
The weight of family history and the struggle to balance duty with personal survival in Saltwater find a rugged counterpart in this exploration of ethics and long-held burdens.
Podcasts on the same thread
Serial
Serial Productions & The New York Times · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Justice system flaws, Legal ambiguity, Deep-dive reporting.
If the investigative pull of the crime in Saltwater kept you turning pages, this deep-dive into the flaws of the justice system offers a similarly compelling, real-world mystery.
CounterClock
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2025
Explores: unsolved homicide, seeking justice, historical mystery.
This investigation into a decades-old homicide mirrors the central mystery of Saltwater, tapping into the same urge to uncover the truth buried deep within a town's quiet past.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Saltwater a standalone novel?
Yes, Saltwater is a standalone psychological drama written by Katy Hays. The story focuses on an opulent family unraveling after a decades-old crime resurfaces, following the death of Sarah Lingate in 1992. There are no sequels or series installments associated with this title.
What is the primary setting of Saltwater?
The events of Saltwater take place in Capri, Italy. The narrative centers on the 1992 death of Sarah Lingate, who is found below the cliffs of the island, an event that triggers the unraveling of her family and the resurfacing of a past crime.
Who is the author of Saltwater?
Saltwater is written by Katy Hays. She is also the author of the New York Times bestselling novel The Cloisters. Her 2026 release, Saltwater, is categorized as a tense, suspenseful psychological drama that explores the dark secrets of a family.
What happens to Sarah Lingate in Saltwater?
In Saltwater, Sarah Lingate is found dead below the cliffs of Capri, Italy, in 1992. Her death serves as the catalyst for the book's plot, leading to the discovery of a decades-old crime that causes her surviving family members to unravel.