This book hooked me from the get go and didn't let up. I liked how we got a glimpse of where it would end, and then retraced the steps of Erin and Mark to find out what really happened. There were a lot of peripheral characters and plot points that all tied in neatly to the main story. A compulsive read. A definite must add to your summer reading list!

This story grabbed me from the very start and didn't let up!! We follow Erin and Mark, a couple of honeymooners that go on a diving trip and find a bag containing incredible things that could change everything for them. Will it change them? Will they start questioning who they are? This story was gripping, dark and twisted. It was fun following this couple through twists and turns. Will be looking for more from this author.

Erin, a newly engaged documentary filmmaker is our protagonist, and this novel reads like it is her confession.

“I’m not a bad person. Or maybe I Am. Maybe You Should decide? But, I should definitely explain. And to explain I need to go back. Back to that anniversary morning, three months ago.”

And, so she does.

Telling us, about how this all started and telling us about that “Sliding door moment” when she and her new husband, Mark, now on their honeymoon in Bora Bora must decide which decision to make when they find “Something in the Water”. Left or right? Towards change or towards more of the same. A decision that will alter their destiny forever.

Described as a psychological thriller, I was trying to determine if Erin was reliable or not. In control, or totally naive?

There were definitely all of the necessary elements of a good psychological thriller-suspense, action and paranoia. But, I was thinking as I read it, that I would recommend it to friends who might be enjoying the TV show, “Good Behavior” starring Michelle Dockery or the Ocean’s 11 films rather than to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers that are more character driven.

So, I laughed when I discovered that Catherine Steadman was actually Ms. Dockery’s co-star in Downton Abbey, playing the role of Mabel Lane Fox., and this was actually her debut novel.

Now that I have discovered what was in the water, I will look forward to seeing what this author has in store for us next...

Thank You to Netgalley, Random House Publishing-Ballantine Books and Catherine Steadman for the ARC provided to me in exchange for my candid review!

“Something in the Water” will be available on June, 5th, 2018.

“Something in the Water” by Catherine Steadman opens with the narrator, Erin Locke, speaking directly to the reader.
“Have you ever wondered how long it takes to dig a grave? Wonder no longer. It takes an age.”

Then we learn about the body.
“I wonder if he’s still warm. My husband.”
How did Erin get there? Burying her husband? Readers are compelled to read and find out.
“And to explain I need to go back.”

Erin is a documentary filmmaker engaged to be married to Mark in a few weeks. Her documentary will follow three different prisoners during and after incarceration, charting their hopes and dreams about freedom. She conducts the preliminary interviews, and then jets off to her honeymoon. While there, she and Mark, an experienced diver, explore the majestic blue waters near their Bora Bora resort. It is then that they see something in the water. What is it? Paper? Flotsam? Jetsam?” And nothing will ever be the same again.

Erin guides readers through her life from July 8 to October 3. Her first person narrative has the rhythm and cadence of conversation, and she adds history to give readers a sense of time and place. Her tone is friendly and casual, as if she and the reader are just two friends talking over coffee and lunch. “You might not know it but … Don’t get me wrong… So here’s a math problem for you… And you know what happens next.”
She talks to herself. “I’m nervous… Think about something else… Stop it, Erin. Stop it… Don’t be paranoid…I’m sure it’s fine. “She questions herself. “ Am I all wrong? What the hell would I do with a gun?” She chastises herself. “I really don’t have time for this…I should have seen this coming.”
It is a thriller with tension that builds on every page, and Erin’s other stories contribute to the trauma. Her documentary about three convicts adjusting to their new lives is interesting, but that does not go exactly as planned. The honeymoon to Bora Bora is romantic, but does not go as planned. Furthermore, after that ill-fated dive, married life with Mark does not go as planned either. Erin’s whole life is a house of cards about to tumble into that grave she is digging for her husband. That opening really keeps readers turning the pages. How did things get to those starting words?
I received a copy of “Something in the Water” from Catherine Steadman, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley. It starts with a shock and relives the day-by-day events that led up to it. There is an “end” to Erin’s saga, one that may or may not be expected or satisfying.

I am waffling between rating this two stars or three stars. So I'll share with you my review and then see what I think.
Erin and her husband head to Bora Bora for a fun-filled honeymoon. While they were diving one day, they came across a bag containing diamonds, money and a USB port. What was supposed to be a celebration of their marriage became a run for their life.
The summary sounds more fun than the book really is. Erin narrates the story and it's almost stream of consciousness. I enjoyed that the narrative was written like she was having a conversation with you; it made the story floor--that is until we get onto tangents and I want her to redirect to what is actually going on. Once we get to the actual plot, these tangents are far less and far apart, but leading up to the story takes some patience from the reader.
My biggest issue with this book is that these characters are not evenly written throughout the books. One minute they are able to sneak into a hotel office and delete CCTV video (which I don't buy at all) to taking the diamonds with them!
You see the twist coming easily. If you are paying attention early on, you can see it in the way the characters interact. Plus, it's not really a twist; so many books do this.
I enjoyed teh voice it was written in and the book was an easy read but I was unsatisfied with the story and finale.
I guess I'll settle on 2.5 stars.

Erin’s fiancee loses his investment banking job just before they marry, causing ripples throughout the wedding planning due to his loss of income. They go ahead and hold the big wedding and go on their intended honeymoon in Tahiti, keeping their hopes up for his future employment. While scuba-diving on honeymoon, they discover a plane wreck in the ocean. A more experienced scuba diver, Erin’s new husband Mark retrieves a dufflebag of money from the wreckage. Despite good intentions, they end up smuggling it home where they begin an ongoing debate on what to do with it, even as they hide it in their home. Mark seeks opportunities while Erin continues her documentary on the before and after of three convicts released from prison: a young girl who turns to terrorism, a middle-aged woman who helped her terminally-ill mother die with dignity, and a professional criminal.

Every character is fully fleshed out, with complex motives and emotions, and behavioral integrity. Steadman skillfully leads the reader in a carefully laid out zig-zagging path, following Erin’s ever-shifting perspective with each new piece of information. She carefully weaves in Erin’s new-found colleagues, showing the balancing strategy of the average person faced with the chance to “get away with it,” as the possibilities of advantageous connections enable her to do just that while maintaining that she is a good person and “not a criminal.” The ending circles back to the opening, of Erin digging a grave for her husband, for a highly satisfying conclusion. I was fortunate to receive an early copy from the publisher of this page-turner—a must-read for fans of psychological and crime thrillers.

I posted the review to my website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and B&N.

Not only is Catherine Steadman a fine actress (Downton Abbey), but this book proves she is also a knockout suspense writer. Confession: It took me six days to finish this book. My normal read-time is closer to two) Why? The tension became so great that I had to put it down and do something else until my heart rate slowed down.

The beginning is the end. Erin is digging a grave into which she plans to bury her husband. The story then goes back to tell you how she got there. It's a well written, highly charged novel with some creative twists. Steadman is also clever in writing directly to you, the reader. Along the way, she shares clever hints like how to hide purchases of suspicious items. Simply add a Super Tampax box and the clerk will hurry to pack it all up and get the box out of sight. Who knew?

Interesting characters, chief of which is a crime boss doing time for money laundering who is literally a life saver for our heroine. In addition there is Alexa, a soon-to-be released felon who helped her mother die as she suffered from terminal cancer and Charlotte, the crime boss' daughter.

This book is sure to become a top seller for the Gone Girl market. Yet it is so much more interesting than others of its genre.

Thanks to NetGalley , the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review "Something in the Water". This review is being shared with Goodreads.

Sometimes I’ll read a book with good reviews without really paying much attention to what the book is about. So when I was able to get an ARC of Something In The Water, I was excited to read this book about SOMETHING in the WATER. Although the story starts there, it goes so much further…

We meet a young couple, see them get married and go on their honeymoon. All seems ideal, until they come across a little something in the water that doesn’t belong to them. Whey they choose to keep what they find, it changes their lives in ways they never could’ve imagined, turning their normal British, suburbanite lives into scheming, plotting, cover-ups they may not survive. Even though I was initially mislead by the title, I still enjoyed the book. Pages flew in my interest to see how it was going to end, and when I got there, I was not disappointed. Fun read for sure!
**Special thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine

This book was good...mostly. I have to admit, I struggled at first. I honestly thought that this was going to be a tale of obsessive love or something, with how powerful he was and how wimpy-seeming she was. Then they made their discovery, and bam! It was so much more than that.

I gave the book 4 stars. I liked the writing style, but it took me a little while to get into the story. The beginning was shaky; the middle was good; the ending was strong. I want there to be a sequel, starring Eddie and Erin and the favor she owes, all while dodging the police detective Andy, and seeing Holli come to justice again. There is definitely enough wiggle room for a sequel, so let's get on it!...please.

My favorite character was Eddie. He reminds me of a stereotypical mobster, but one on a show more like Castle, rather than The Sopranos. I liked how levelheaded Alexa was. I'm still not sure how I felt about Holli; kind of creeped out, maybe. I'll let you form your own judgements about Mark and Erin. All in all, if you don't like the beginning, keep going. I did, and I have zero regrets.

The very first sentence grabs your attention, and it never lets go throughout the rest if the book. This is an exceptional debut psychological thriller from Catherine Steadman.

Erin and Mark are planning a dream wedding and honeymoon. Although they have to adjust their plans slightly, everything seems to be going pretty good. Two young lovers having the time of their lives. That is until they make a dreadful discovery in the middle of the ocean while out on an excursion. This discovery, and their actions surrounding it, will forever change their lives.

Just when they thought everything was back to normal, the loose ends from the honeymoon tied up and in the past, strange coincidences begin popping up that put Erin and Mark on edge again. They are once again fearful for their lives.

Erin is working on a documentary centered around three inmates that are scheduled to be released from prison soon. One of these inmates seems to take a creepy interest in Erin's personal life. This keeps the tension high with anticipation of what might happen next. The tension in this subplot is ratcheted to the next level around 30% into the book. Later on in the book, the two plotlines suddenly begin to weave together. Erin and Mark have to remain vigilant and aware of everyone and everything around them, and Erin finds an unlikely partner in crime.

Erin begins to question everything they are doing. She even questions her husband's integrity, and she has second thoughts at every turn. One bad decision after another will ultimately lead to self-destruction, and Erin and Mark seem to meet instructions at every turn, leading g tons shocking conclusion that will make you question everything in your life.

I received this as a free ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounding up to 4.0 because of the thrilling first 3/4 of the book. Erin is burying her husband Mark, I mean literally burying her husband in the dirt in the opening of this book. The rest of the book leads us to just how exactly that happened. We are given a masterful story by Catherine Steadman that in my opinion with the last few chapters unravels a bit. There are too many loose ends and questions unanswered in my mind by the time I get to the end. At that point, I had really lost my patience with Erin and her husband. Throughout the begin I felt that this could be a huge 5 star book, the writing flowed so well you would not realize you how much time you had just spent reading. Where the book fails, I think, is in the unwinding of the plot, the author did not make it believable enough for me. I would still recommend to anyone who likes suspenseful reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a chance to read and give an honest review

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman is her debut novel and she does an amazing job, one would never guess it's her first novel. It started off a little slow and I questioned whether or not, if I should keep going but I am so glad I did. She was getting us ready for what was about to happen!! Bora Bora sounds amazing! A place I want to visit. At 30%, I could not put the book down. Holy cow! Her descriptives are right on. Sucks you right into the book and it's like your in the pacific sea with them! Highly recommend this book!! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this complimentary book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Loved this book! The opening was fantastic. I enjoyed Erin and Mark's journey to their wedding and ultimately to their honeymoon where everything changes after they hear "thunk, thunk" and then find something in the water. It was fascinating to read about the choices they made after finding something in the water and wondering what would happen next. There were many twists and turns and I really enjoyed how Erin's documentary fit right into the story line. I had my suspicions about the end but kept trying to figure out why. What a wonderful read; I cannot believe this is her debut novel. Thank you Netgalley and Random House for an ARC copy.

This book tells you the end first and then jumps into the past to tell you how things got there. So, have you ever wondered how long it takes to dig a grave? That is where we start this thriller. Erin is digging a grave and mulling over how much time she has to do it. This book was crazy and while I found some of it to be unbelievable I still couldn’t put the book down. I liked Erin immediately and despite the times she made some completely ridiculous choices, I still rooted for her. Mark was a little off though and I wish that aspect of his character had been a little bit more fleshed out. This book kept me hooked from the very first line and if you like thrillers this one is worth checking out!

Catherine Steadman has written a great first novel. The characters are fully fleshed out. The plot moved along at just the right pace and kept me Interested right up to the surprising conclusion. The story is believable, it could have happened to anyone.

The book opens with Erin Locke digging a grave. She gives the reader a stream of consciousness about grave digging and almost at the end of the chapter we learn the identity of the dead body. The next chapter is three months earlier and the story is then told in a linear fashion. The book was so interesting I actually forgot who Erin was burying.

Erin is happy with her life. She has a rewarding profession making documentaries and her relationship with her boyfriend makes her happier than she ever thought possible. When Mark suggests they get married they start planning the wedding and the honeymoon. Neither of them has been to Bora Bora. They like the idea of warm weather, the ocean, semi seclusion and a five star hotel. They had no idea how this trip would change their lives

I received an ARC from NetGalley. I am happy to voluntarily write this review. #Something in the Water#NetGalley.

In this new novel by Catherine Steadman, the protagonist begins the narration by describing what a difficult time she is having trying to bury her husband with just a shovel. Erin, a documentary filmmaker, is married to Mark, an investment banker. After the burial prologue, the story goes back to explaining the life of the narrator and her husband. The couple was planning their wedding and honeymoon. It was supposed to be a first-class affair with a deluxe class honeymoon in Bora Bora.

The expensive wedding gets downgraded when Mark loses his job. The couple decides to continue with their trip to Bora Bora, down to two weeks, from three.
Even though there is a beautiful home waiting for the couple when they return, they begin to make questionable decisions based on money. The relationship takes a quick turn, and the reader must buckle up for a brush with criminals, police, and
mysterious people who are following Erin. She never seems to doubt her actions because she wants the life she expected to have and is determined to get it, no matter what she has to do. The key to destruction here is the money. Erin followed the money.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine for this E-arc.

Riveting. Surprising. Ending is a good segue to a sequel. Who is in that plane in the bottom of the Pacific? What happens after the attack by Holli and accomplice? Do Erin and baby leave London? Does more intrigue occur into why Mark did what he did?

SOMETHING IN THE WATER is a mystery where a young couple, on their honeymoon, find something in the water that changes their lives. Even though the ending was no surprise, the story raised a lot of questions as to just what one WOULD do in the same situation. Pretty interesting characters made this a pretty interesting read. #SomethingInTheWater#NetGalley

It sure makes you think. What would you do? I know we all like to think we would do the right thing but would we?

This story was good! I won't bother going into plot summaries there are enough out there already. So many decisions were made by the narrator that had me cringing. But I don't think they were stupid decisions, risky definitely. Once you cross a line and get away with it it's maybe that much easier to cross it again?

Were some things unbelievable? Sure, but it's a story and it was so entertaining!

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for a free copy in exchange for a review. This did not influence my opinion or rating.

A very strong debut that grabs you quickly, but then changes to a much slower pace until the momentum builds to its clever conclusion. This story leaves you asking the question “what if” or “what would I do” if there was no one else that knows. Erin was a frustrating character and had me shaking my head more than once saying no, or not a good idea, but somehow she doesn’t lose her balance throughout. The storyline did have an unbelievable feel with technology these days, but it still had me engrossed. I did wish for a more dramatic ending, but all in all it was a well written read.