This was an excellent, "just-the-facts ma'am," recounting of the mystery surrounding Nathan Carman and the deaths of his grandfather and mother and is exactly what I was looking for. Sherman doesn't insert himself into the narrative like so many true crime authors do these days and simply lays out the facts so that the reader can draw his or her own conclusions (and for those curious about his opinion, he shares that in the book's afterword).

Casey Sherman does a great job in writing this type of book, it had that research element that I was looking for and had that true crime element that I wanted. I thought it was respectful and written well.

A very interesting exploration of a shocking true crime case. Keeps you thinking.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215057204

I had never heard of this case before and it was so intriguing. I couldn't put this book down. The writing was superb and there was a lot of well researched information. There was some very interesting people involved in this case, namely Nathan, his grandfather, and his mother. This case will leave you thinking and disturbed about what did or did not happen in that life raft.

Blood in the Water by Casey Sherman is a gripping true-crime account that chronicles the harrowing events surrounding the 1975 murder of a young woman in a small Massachusetts town. Sherman expertly weaves together the investigation, trial, and personal stories of those affected by the crime, creating a fast-paced narrative filled with tension and emotional depth. The book highlights the complexities of the justice system, the media's role in sensationalizing crime, and the long-lasting impact of tragedy on a community. Sherman’s meticulous research and compelling storytelling make Blood in the Water a powerful, chilling read for true-crime enthusiasts and anyone fascinated by the darker side of human nature.

Since I had just finished another true crime book this week, I only intended to read a chapter or two of this one this weekend. Well, it didn’t work out that way. I started reading it yesterday afternoon and finished reading it last night. Author Casey Sherman looks at an intriguing case that is not well known to most individuals who don’t live in New England. Did Nathan Carman kill his grandfather and mother?

Nathan’s grandfather John Chakalos was a very wealthy man who owned nursing homes. He freely gave money to his four daughters and grandson Nathan, but it appears, according to this book, some family members never thought it was enough. There was jealousy, too, that Mr. Chakalos favored Nathan since he was the first-born grandson. He saw Nathan as being his most important heir, the person who would run the business after he was gone.

How realistic was that wish? Nathan had Asperger’s Syndrome, had trouble communicating with others, and had a troubled relationship with his mother. (His parents were divorced.) He was good at teaching himself new things, though, and was very close to his grandfather. Nathan also considered his mother his best friend, but that obviously was one of those love-hate relationships between an only son and a dominating mother. Could he have possibly killed the only two individuals who spent time with him and cared so much about him?

It’s two complicated murder cases, to say the least. Others had animosity toward John Chakalos, including a family member who asked his groundskeeper if she could kill him and make it look like a hunting accident! She did not take the request seriously until he was shot to death in his own bed. In addition, he had a young “mistress” he did kinky things with, and, as she told it, it was nothing but a paying job to her. Did someone she know, such as an angry boyfriend, kill her elderly client? Plus, it's easy to imagine Nathan's grandfather telling him he needed to have a sex life with someone like her, if not her, and that caused Nathan great emotional turmoil. Enough turmoil to murder the old man? No arrests were made.

It’s two complicated murder cases, to say the least. Others had animosity toward John Chakalos, including a family member who asked his groundskeeper if she could kill him and make it look like a hunting accident! She did not take the request seriously until he was shot to death in his own bed. In addition, he had a young “mistress” he did kinky things with, and, as she told it, it was nothing but a paying job to her. Did someone she know, such as an angry boyfriend, kill her elderly client? Plus, it's not hard to imagine Nathan's grandfather telling him he needed to have a sex life with someone like her, if not her, and that caused Nathan great emotional turmoil. Enough turmoil to murder the old man? No arrests were made.

The death of Nathan’s mother Linda Carman reopened that case, though, because she had gone fishing with Nathan in his boat one night and he claimed the boat sank, as did his mother. The kicker was he was picked up in a life raft seven days later in such good physical shape, that the Coast Guard and others said he could not possibly have been in a life raft for a week! If not, where was he? Where was his mother? Were the two deaths crimes of hatred or greed or two incidents that left Nathan falsely accused of murder? What happened in Nathan’s jail cell and why?

Twisted story. Great true crime.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

I had never heard about this true crime before: Blood in the Water by Casey Sherman dives deep into the twisted case of Nathan Carman, a young man with a turbulent past who survived being lost at sea for a week. But the real mystery starts when questions arise about the fate of his mother, who is presumed drowned after their fishing boat sank. Nathan’s miraculous survival, paired with his seemingly perfect condition, stirs suspicion—not just about his mother’s disappearance but also the unsolved murder of his wealthy grandfather.

Sherman skillfully unravels a narrative that raises more questions than it answers. With millions of dollars at stake, the family’s deep-rooted conflicts come to light, pushing readers to wonder if Nathan was behind these tragedies or if there’s something more sinister lurking beneath the surface. This book is a captivating read for those who love true crime filled with family drama, high stakes, and unsettling questions about trust and betrayal.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read and review Blood in the Water prior to publication.

This book had me turning the page faster then probably needed lol I enjoyed digging into this one a lot! Murder, mayhem, a fishing trip gone wrong? Welp guess you’ll have to dive in to see what happens next!

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️