The story started off slow, but it caught my interest in the first chapter. As I continued to read, it picked up speed. Mark and Erin on are their honeymoon when they find something in the water off the coast of Bora Bora. What they find and how they handle the discovery turns their world upside down. It asks the question “how well do we really know our loved ones”? What would we do in their situation?

His book is definitely worth reading and I would recommend it. Just be patient and it will pick up speed!

While spending their honeymoon in Bora Bora, newlyweds Erin and Mark Roberts make a gruesome discovery which threatens to forever change their lives and, in fact, may even result in them losing their lives.

Upon their return to London, they face some serious decisions. Are they both in agreement? Tension escalates with each passing day until the final startling conclusion.

This debut novel is suspenseful and fast paced with an unexpected ending. However, the main characters are not very likable. Erin is especially annoying as she frantically moves from one thought and action to another. Maybe her actions result from the stress she feels, but it is hard to sympathize with her. Despite the flawed characters, there are many suspenseful parts, and this book is still a good read.

Thank you to Net Galley, Ballantine Books, and author Catherine Steadman for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this debut novel.

SOMETHING IN THE WATER by CATHERINE STEADMAN is a twisted thriller that did not disappoint! The first half started out slow, but once I got to the second half I couldn't put this book down! This was definitely a roller-coaster ride... buckle up and enjoy!

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Could. Not. Put. It. Down.
I hope Catherine Steadman continues to write fiction because this, her first suspense novel, is riveting. I read it in two days! The narrator, alone, is worth the read because she is both engaging and infuriating, which makes for a great character. And the plot…it moves quickly with lots of clues and twists. I had fun trying to solve it, and I did about 3/4 of the way through, but there were still plenty of unexpected reveals that kept me turning pages (on my Kindle, courtesy of Net Galley). I suspect Ms. Steadman translated her experience as an actress (Mabel Lane Fox on Downton Abbey probably her best-known role) into her skills as a story teller. I do hope she is hard at work on her next novel.

While on their honeymoon in Bora Bora Mark and Erin come across something in the water that sets off a crazy chain of events. The premise alone to me had me hooked already wanting answers this book is a thrill ride from beginning to end! I stayed hooked chapter after chapter! I really enjoyed the concept of the documentary Erin was working on involving prison and inmates it was extremely interesting and well done. Erin was a spitfire I loved her character while also just wanting to smack her sometimes for the decisions she made. This book was very well plotted and just got tenser with every word. I couldn’t put it down until I got answers! Would definitely recommend to a friend!

This book started out for me a little bit slow. But once it got going, I could not put it down! Had to stay up a few nights just to read an extra chapter.

I was excited by the beginning of the journey and the roller coaster ride that ensued.

Very well done!

This was such an exciting read. The plot is something that has been done before, but what makes this story fresh is the characters. I was fascinated by the main character's job - being a documentarian - and her subjects for her current project were engrossing. So much so, that it would be cool to have a spin-off book with those minor characters. Also, the main character's decision-making was unpredictable so you never knew what would happen next.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this thrilling book for an unbiased review.

Getting ready to go to Bora Bora, so I was drawn to this book. Enjoyed it. First time reading anything by this author.

Not sure why but I couldn't get into this book, which seems a shame as I like mysteryish books. Will attempt rereading it again when published.

Something in the Water is the debut novel from Author Catherine Steadman. The story begins with main character Erin in a bit of a...predicament, from there she tells the story from the beginning. And what a story it is!
We follow couple Erin and Mark sometime before their wedding, going into their marriage with high hopes. Just before the wedding though, Mark gets some crushing news and their plans have to change. The wedding is still on, just not as extravagant as what had been planned. Erin still gets her first class flight to their honeymoon in Bora Bora though.
The author does a fantastic job at describing Bora Bora. The couple is having a great time up until returning from one of their diving trips only to find something mysterious in the water. Up until this point, the pace has been extremely slow in the novel. Not boring, but slow. This changes after their discovery.
The rest of the novel seems to be one bad decision after another. By the time we got there, the ending wasn't a surprise at all really. I really enjoyed the novel, but I feel like the plot would not have unfolded had Erin exercised any common sense and the ending really was anticlimactic.

This was an excellent book, a very gripping thriller. I look forward to reading more from this author!

I think of the first half of this book at 3 stars, and the last half as 4. I did round up, but I would give this a 3.5 star rating. It took me two weeks to read, which is about twice as long as I normally take on a book this length. I was never fully grabbed. I enjoyed the second half much more, where the pace was picked up. I was satisfied with the ending. I thought parts of the plot where predictable, but I mostly had the sense that I didn't know how the book was going to end - and I do love when that happens!! My absolute favorite thing about this book was the author's talented way of building up suspense. Possibly one of the most talented authors in this regard. They way she describes things - you FEEL it. Also, had no idea until after I finished the book that Catherine Steadman was Mabel in Downton Abbey! Overall happy, and I will recommend.

4.5/5.

<i>Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for my free ARC in exchange for my honest review.</i>

<i>I wonder at what stage all of this started. If I could wind it back, how far back would I have to wind?</i>

This book blew my out of the water. <i>Haha, see what I did there?</i>

From the first chapter, we know something bad has happened. I was immediately drawn to Erin, our narrator and main character of the book. Erin is a documentary filmmaker who is engaged to Mark, who works in finance.

After the first chapter, we travel back in time and learn how Mark and Erin met and how they fell in love. We pick up a few weeks from the wedding, which is also when Erin is beginning her film on prisoners transitioning back into real world.

Erin and Mark then head to Bora Bora for their dream honeymoon, and while scuba diving, they discover something that serves as the catalyst for the rest of the book. From there, we follow Erin and Mark as they deal with the ramifications for what they found until we finally circle back to the events in the first chapter.

<i>I promise myself that once this is all over I'll be honest; I'll never lie again. I'll be the best wife in the world. I promise.</i>

And what a circle it is. I've read a number of thrillers in the last couple years, but this one is up there as one of the best ones. I loved it. The writing style is near perfection. Without being overly descriptive and wordy, the author clearly paints an image of everything we (the reader) sees. From what I see on Goodreads, this is the author's first book, which is quite surprising. It is so well done and I'm very much looking forward to reading what she writes next.

I'd highly recommend this--even better if you can read it by the ocean/pool/lake.

<i>But what could I have done? What can you do? You can't save everyone. Sometimes you just have to save yourself.</i>

Oh my! This plot pulls you in deep. Erin and Mark seem to be one with the 'beautiful people'. Then I've event and then the unbelievable starts to play out. I really like that most of the questions get answered. If you like the psychological thrillers this is for you.

Such a great character study, this novel. I loved how we went from Erin burying the body, then back-tracked to the beginning--it's been done many times, but in this case it was superbly executed.

Great character insights through Erin's eyes throughout, and although the plot line is a bit of stretch, I was happy to go along because of the great writing. A book that lives up to its description and comparison to Ruth Ware, etc.

I'll be putting this author on my favorite list.

Wow what can I say I loved it, loved how the first chapter just pulls you into the story and sets it up that you have to continue on with it to see how and why there is a body, how the main characters got to where they are , just wow , with that said thinks Netgalley for giving me a chance at reading and reviewing Something in the Water .

Wow! This was a great read!!! The opening chapter completely hooks you as our main character Erin is burying a body in the woods. We quickly go back in time to figure out how she got to this point, and one would never believe that Erin could find herself in this situation. It was such a great ride to see how one small, but big decision, snowballs into such a big event that we get to our opening scene of her burying a body. What a thrilling plot with all kinds of twists and turns as Erin and her husband Mark deal with a sudden ethically and legally challenging issue. Love the characters, the plot, and the ending. Such a great read; can't wait to read more from this author!

Although the ending was predictable and the storyline was far fetched, it was a fun ride. The fast pace and action packed novel makes for a entertaining and satisfying summer read.

'Something in the Water' is a fast-pacing, nail-biting mystery-thriller that grabbed me from the first page. The opening pages are fantastic--the main character, Erin is digging a grave, but whose grave is it? Flashback to several months previously, and Erin is happily engaged to man she adores, enjoying a successful career, and planning her wedding and honeymoon. So what went so horribly wrong?

Reading this book is like watching a car crash in slow motion. You know things are going to end very badly, but you are powerless to stop it. All you can do is hang on (and shout at the main characters for their self-destructive choices).

I recommend to anyone who likes a fast-paced, enjoyable thriller that will keep them guessing. This will be a great summer read!

This was such a great, entertaining read. I absolutely couldn’t put it down and when I had to, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Mark and Erin were such a lovely couple who seemed to have everything - but who couldn’t seem to keep from wanting more. The situations that arose from that desire were terrifying and also delicious to watch -you know that guilty deliciousness that comes from watching someone else’s train wreck? And I loved every minute of it. Not sure what that says about me but it’s what I read this genre for in part. And this one served that up in spades, that whew! I’m so glad this isn’t happening to me feeling.

I don’t think I will ever look out at the ocean in quite the same way ever again and I may be taking Bora Bora off my bucket list. No, not really. Actually the descriptions of Bora Bora were gorgeous and I loved the locations in Switzerland and England as well. They definitely set the stage well for this dark and twisty tale.

I highly recommend this one to lovers of psychological suspense. This was a delicious one!