This was a really good read. I enjoyed the mystery, the twists, the psychological terror.
I hardly find a psychological thriller that actually makes me worry, bite my nails, and tremble in my seat. This book was all of that. It really had me is some horrible suspense.

Erin and Mark are on their honeymoon. They have planned their wedding and honeymoon for months now and things fell apart a bit for the wedding. Things had to change when money became an issue. They decided to take their honeymoon as planned. While on honeymoon many things happen, the most important is what they found when they were scuba diving. This can change their lives forever. The only issue, danger comes with it. A danger that can kill them. This event that happened on their honeymoon seems to put stress on their new marriage and things just seem to go all wrong.


This was a very good read. It did start off a little slow for me. Maybe not slow enough to keep me uninterested. The story was building around Mark and Erin. The kind of life they lived, the way the felt for each other, the worries that seem to surround them. The mystery was a bit to take off. It seemed to take a bit to get to their honeymoon and the thing they find. The entire premise of the book is wrapped around this event, to me, it seemed to take longer than I would want to get to this event. That is okay though because once it did the story just took off and I couldn't put it down.

The story was interesting, the mystery riveting, but really had me on edge was the suspense. I just didn't know what was going to happen. To be honest for the second half of the book I was just always on edge waiting for something to jump out at me and scream BOO. It's been a while since a book has done this to me. The author did an excellent job of freaking me out for sure.

I didn't quite connect to the characters as I would have liked. I liked Erin well enough. The story is told from her point of view and I was able to get to know her. She made some bad choices and seemed to have some deeper issues, but I liked her and I was rooting for her.

Mark, I didn't really feel at all. I guess I just couldn't because I couldn't get into his head. I couldn't understand him or get a good feel for him. He seemed to just be there at times. In the end, I guess this wasn't an issue since the story felt more like Erin's story really.

The only issue besides the slow start that I had a hard time with was the ending. There were some things that just weren't wrapped up for me and I had so many questions at the end. I feel there were loose ends. I needed to know who the bad guys were and what they wanted. I didn't get this. But there was closure for Erin and Mark's story. So that was good.

I can say the ending was exciting and I was panicky and shocked and everything I like to feel in an ending to a thriller. So that was good. The story was also full of twists and turns. This part of a psychological thriller was fulfilled.

Really this was a very good read and it hit all the major points for me.





Loved It!

Wow… just wow is how I would describe this book. From the first opening page to the very last page of the book, it held my attention. I really loved this psychological thriller and I would label it a true psychological/suspense thriller for me. I loved the opening of the book… as it starts off going to almost the ending of the book, then jumps back to the beginning of Erin’s story right before she married Mark. There are so many different twists and turns in this book. The main character Erin (was very likable) and her husband Mark (he was okay, but not so likable). As you got deeper into the book, I kept saying to myself “no, no don’t do that, how naïve/stupid can you be?” The story was unique, flowed great and kept building up and getting better with each page. I read the eBook version, and because I didn’t have a lot of free time to read, I decided to buy the audible book so I could listen to it when I couldn’t read. The Audible narrator was absolutely perfect, I can't believe it was the author reading it herself. The ending blew me away… I so didn’t see that ending coming!
So far this is my favorite book I’ve read this year. I got lost in the story, and I was sad when it came to an end. (It left me wanting more, and that’s a good book for me).

This is the first book I’ve read by Catherine Steadman, and I look forward to reading more of this same genre from her. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good psychological/suspenseful thriller. It’s great to read or listen to the audible version. It’s definitely one credit worthy, and I would buy the book for a friend that enjoys psychological thrillers. I thought it was that good.

*A very special thank you to Random House–Ballantine via NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review*

This has the potential to be a great novel but the characters were undeveloped, unbelievable, and unsympathetic. It’s so hard to love a character who’s actions are just continuously unrealistic. That, coupled with some of the weird twists in the plot line, made it more difficult to digest this book. The idea is great and the writing is good, but the direction the story took as well as the unlikeable characters made it hard to read.

Mark and Erin appear to be the perfect couple, embarking on their new life together as a married couple. Mark is an investment banker who lost his job just prior to their wedding. Erin is a documentary filmmaker on the verge of making it big with her project focusing on three newly released prisoners. Their honeymoon to Bora Bora is a once in a lifetime trip for both of them. At first, it is everything that they had hoped for, but one afternoon they are out diving when they come across a duffel bag. They tried to turn it over to resort personnel, but the bag found it's way back to them. The bag containing a million dollars, a bag of flawless two-carat diamonds, a phone, a thumb drive, and a gun. The newlyweds are excited but cautious. Where did this bag come from and what kind of people could be looking for it? They return to the spot they found the bag in an effort to find more information and they find the wreckage of a plane. To them, this is justification for keeping the bag. They cover their tracks, head home, and plot ways that will allow them to keep the money in ways that won't raise flags with the authorities. As the days pass they come to realize that this money puts them in a very dangerous position. Mark does everything he can to discourage Erin from selling the diamonds, but she just won't let it go. She soon realizes just how far she, and Mark, are willing to go for millions of dollars. And it is farther than either of them thought possible.

I had no idea until I started to write this post that Catherine Steadman is an actress best known for her role on Downton Abbey. Something in the Water is part thriller part heist novel. I get it that Mark and Erin were hoping to get away with the perfect crime, but they put their lives in grave danger to do so. I thought they were rather stupid for everything they did, but there wouldn't have been a story if they had turned the bag into the authorities. The stress of being found out pushed Erin and Mark apart, rather than bringing them closer together. Erin (and the readers) assumed that Mark's strong opposition was because he feared for safety, but they would be wrong. I think that that revelation was the most shocking to me. For a thriller, I didn't think the book was very fast-paced, but rather the story started slow and took some time building the suspense. The end was a bit shocking to me, but in the end, I was pleased with the way the author wrapped everything up. - CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS

Bottom Line - In Something In The Water, Catherine Steadman takes two very ordinary people and shows what happens to them when they try to get away with the perfect crime. She proves that a crazy amount of money can and will destroy even the strongest of people. It makes for some interesting food for thought. What would you do if you could potentially get away with taking millions of dollars that do not belong to you?

Details:

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman
On Twitter
Pages:352
Publisher: Random House Publishing
Publication Date: 6/5/18
Buy it Here!

I first heard of this book from NetGalley, and then I saw it as a Reese Witherspoon selection in Barnes and Noble. I was then super excited to read it, and it didn't disappoint! I didn't want to put it down! I stayed up late a few nights just reading "one more chapter"...which lead to 2-3.

This is not your average honeymoon. It opens as a first person narrative of what happens (presumably) at the end of the story. While the couple is dealing with the "something in the water", the protagonist, Erin, is busy making a documentary about prisoners near release, adding that extra true crime/murderino intrigue.

Erin, sometimes breaks the fourth wall, and it's a humorous and simple reaction. I find her to be a strong character, and Steadman describes her thoughts and feelings so well that I feel like I know her. I can truly relate to Erin, and I think that's what helped me love this book so much.

I've already told a few of my friends about it. I look forward to Reese's adaption!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC, for which I have given an honest and unbiased review*

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman is a 2018 Ballantine publication.

Slightly predictable morality tale with a nice hook and a few clever twists-

You just got married, you’re in financial straits, looking at a drastic change in your quality of living standards, but you’ve already got a nice honeymoon planned in Bora Bora- so why not enjoy every minute of your vacation? That's what newlyweds Erin and Mark plan on doing before they head back to reality and an uncertain future.

But, on a standard scuba dive they discover something in the water, a discovery that puts them in a very prickly position. However, the bottom line is they probably hit the Motherload. But, they also make another, very grisly discovery, and in their paranoid horror and glee, make a few whopping mistakes that could come back to haunt them.

Can they get away with keeping something that doesn’t belong to them? Should they? What if someone finds out?

The pressure they were under before is nothing like the pressure they are under now. As they work to cover all their bases, they face one moral dilemma after another, as lies and rationalizations take over and they slide further into moral bankruptcy every day.

Erin, a documentary filmmaker, is our narrator, laying out the full story going back to when she and Mark first met. Mark’s job as an investment banker, ended abruptly and quite unexpectedly, forcing Mark to face the dismal prospect of having to take any job he can find, in an economic downturn.

The treasure they find is the answer to all their problems, but they aren't prepared for the lengths they will have to go to to profit from their discoveries, while trying not to get caught. They soon find themselves rubbing elbows with less than trustworthy people, justifying their moral compromises and keeping secrets from each other.


Right now, psychological thrillers are so popular publishers are rushing subpar novels with interchangeable plotlines into the marketplace in record numbers.

It’s so bad I’ve begun removing PTs from my TBR pile, before I burn out completely. ( Sort of reminds me of the fever pitch PNR and Urban Fantasy reached back at the peak of 'Twilight's' popularity- thank God that's over! Maybe Fifty Shades of Grey knockoffs are on the way out too- one can only hope!) But- I digress.


This book, however, had a very intriguing synopsis and the ratings were mostly favorable, so I had to see why it was popular. While I was hopeful, I also approached the book with cautious optimism.

Thankfully, despite my having picked up on a few ‘tells’ early on in the novel, I found myself caught up more in the character’s fear, guilt and self-loathing, their guilty consciences- or lack thereof- battling against the need to cover their butts and pull off the caper of the century, all so they can maintain a lifestyle they had grown accustomed to. It was an interesting journey, from that standpoint. The parallels between Erin’s documentary subjects and her own life didn’t go unnoticed and the role they played in the story was ironic.

However, the characters were often so naïve, so utterly clueless, I wanted to scream- or maybe I didn't give them enough credit. You’ll have to be the judge on that one.

Overall, the story is a little predictable, but I was very engaged, and very interested to see how everything would turn out in the end. It’s an addictive read, with some well- timed twists, that are every effective. Overall, I ended up enjoying this one for the most part. It has a few flaws but didn’t feel like a book written just to cash in on a trend. Perhaps, Steadman will try her hand at this more often- in between her acting roles, of course.

4 stars

When a newlywed couple finds something completely unexpected on their honeymoon, they make decisions that change everything for them and their life together.

Here's the thing with this book. It starts out with a lot of promise. The first chapter is a great set up that had me hooked right away.

But the middle section, at least to me, was very predictable. I called it very early on. This made getting through the middle section almost a bit of a chore.

The end, however, was also really well done. It was completely unexpected, a great twist, that surprised me and left me thinking.

So, total, the book was pretty good. It was just that middle section that really lacked. Steadman has great ideas, she just needs to work on carrying the interest of the story completely through, not just the beginning and ending.

This did have me on the edge of my seat for most of the book, but not for the usual reasons. Erin became a source of complete frustration for me and I continued to read to see what else she could possibly get herself into, how messier could she make her situation? Not that Mark was a saint, but I wasn't exactly rooting for Erin to have a happy ending. The ending did catch me a little by surprise, though, because I had honestly thought "the plane people" didn't exist at one point. Nice pacing, just enough suspense and mystery, but not all the questions are answered in the end, which, in this case, bothers me a bit.

Many reviewers were shocked by the ending.....I was not. I thought the book was slow and I think the plot and outcome were painfully obvious! I kept with - I am no quitter!

Finding a bag of diamonds and money while on honeymoon in the Pacific, the couple tries to work through the guilt of what to do with what they have have found. The story builds as the couple makes some tough decisions and these decisions questioned at times. There are trust issues between the couple and the her work causes some anxiety for her new husband.

Something in the Water had me totally hooked from the first page. The novel begins with a bang and then just continues to get better and better. I think what I loved the most was that I couldn't wrap my head around what would happen next. It also kept making me think what I would do in that situation, and to be honest I still don't know!

This novel is filled with intrigue and excitement from the first page until the very last and I can't recommend it enough. The setting was incredible and the world building was perfect. I could picture the scene as if it were happening right in front of me or on my TV screen. And speaking of TV screen... I need someone to make a movie of this novel ASAP!

All in all, Something in the Water is the perfect summer thriller and I would highly recommend it! It is full of twists and excitement that will leave you guessing until the last page. Thank you to Penguin Random House/Ballentine and Netgalley for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 4/5

Erin and Mark are a London couple on their luxurious honeymoon in the South Pacific. They are very much in love and are planning a long and happy life together. However, their lives are irrevocably altered while they are out scuba diving together and they discover something both mysterious and shocking in the ocean. How each of them acts and reacts to their discovery makes for a compelling read. What would you do, your partner do? What is trust? Who do we trust and should we? Do we ever really know anyone? Intriguing and unlikely characters become instrumental in determining the future of their marriage and their very lives.

Unfortunately, this one did not work for me at all. It felt convoluted and even silly at times. I thought it started out fairly strong but quickly fizzled out for me.

Awesome read-- started off slow in the beginning, but quickly picked up and kept me up past my bedtime because I couldn't stop reading! Full of twists and turns and surprise throughout. Definitely cannot wait to share with my customers!

Told in the first person, this is a chilling story of how one bad choice causes a ripple effect that irrevocably changes two newlyweds. Erin, a brilliant filmmaker, and her fiancé, Mark, a London banker, have the perfect life – until Mark loses his job and his self-confidence. Erin is busy on her first feature length documentary, following three individuals being released from prison, but takes a break to go to Bora Bora for their honeymoon. When she and Mark go scuba diving, they find a bag full of cash. They do try to turn it in to the authorities – but it comes back to their luxurious bungalow like some kind of fateful boomerang – and the next minute they are in danger that threatens to destroy their lives.

For fans of fast moving suspense – authors such as Harlan Coban, Ruth Ware, Sharon Bolton, and Tana French.

This was a dark and fast-paced novel that was hard to put down but full of “No, please, don’t do that!” train wreck moments that made it hard to conventionally enjoy as I was too busy being afraid of what would happen next. The book starts with a bang with Erin is digging a grave, then flashes back to three months earlier when Erin and Mark were enjoying a weekend in Norfolk, preparing for a fancy wedding, and we learn more about their history and relationship. The most intriguing character is Eddie Bishop, a notorious criminal Erin meets with in prison, prior to his release, so she can feature him in her film. Their relationship is terrifying – who knew making a documentary could be so dangerous? And Erin is not a good liar, or is she?

Catherine Steadman is an English actress best known to American audiences from Downton Abbey, in which she played Mabel Lane Fox, an heiress who marries one of Lady Mary’s rejected suitors. She is much prettier in real life, which is not surprising. You may remember what Charles Audley says in Regency Buck: "I'm come home to try my luck with the heiress. Where is she? Does she squint like a bag of nails? Is she hideous? They always are."

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes. Recommended for fans of psychological suspense and as fun summer reading

I enjoyed Something In The Water. I am not sure it will be one of my favorites of the year, but it held my attention and interest throughout.

I was so excited to get this book early from netgalley. It drew me in from page 1. Finished it in two days. It was fast paced and kept my interest the entire time. I highly recommend it to everyone that enjoys the mystery/thriller genre.

This is an awesome beach book to read! I loved the storyline and was just taken in by the characters. Very nicely done. Would make a great movie

I’m never really sure what to expect from a debut novel. Most are pretty good but Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman was a standout. Told in the first person, the tension slowly builds as Erin and Mark try to determine how to handle an unexpected and, potentially, dangerous situation.
Erin is a somewhat naïve documentary filmmaker who, by her own admission, simply fell into her profession through luck and opportunity. Her fiancé/husband is a banker; currently unemployed. While on their honeymoon at an island resort in Bora Bora they find something that changes their lives. As they navigate through uncharted territory, trying to decide how to handle their new situation, they also continue to try and maintain a normal lifestyle. Little do they know they are on a collision course.

I enjoyed the author’s writing style. Told from Erin’s POV (definitely quirky at times), the story moves along as she analyses and debates her various options. I particularly liked her side comments about a variety of things, including the history of Anabel’s, a private club in London and why desert islands have at least one palm tree.

I will admit that Erin often acts foolishly and her grasp of the enormity of her situation is very often naïve. More than once I found myself wondering what in the world she was thinking. And, at some point I began to understand some of the underlying forces that Erin had yet to see. Regardless of these moments, I thoroughly enjoyed the story as it unfolded. Steadman weaves a steady tale. Her rich descriptions add to the overall story, its atmosphere and its tensions.

What a great summer read!

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

I was not a very big fan of this one. I found it a slog to get through. I started reading it, and when I put it down, found myself not returning to it for weeks at a time. The story took too long to get going and the characters were utterly uninteresting. I found Erin to be too dumb and naïve for me to root for. She always seemed sure she had a good idea, and it would always blow up in her face. The story picked up in the middle, and I did enjoy it to some extent. I think the author did a fair job setting up his twist. I was pleasantly surprised even though a part of me had already guessed its outcome.

All in all, Something in the Water was forgettable and not something I am interested in re-reading. It was just okay.

This book starts out with a big bang and leaves you trying to figure out how we get there. I was expecting this to be a honeymoon gone wrong but there is SO MUCH MORE.