very well researched and told story. Gripping narrative of a very compelling true crime story. highly recommend.

When a life boat is spotted in the North Atlantic by a tanker crew one morning a heroic rescue is made retrieving Nathan Carman from the chilly waters. Nathan is in amazing health for drifting seven days in hazardous conditions with minimal food and water. He and his mother were tuna fishing off the coast of New England when their boat sank and Nathan was unable to locate his mother. However his story doesn't quite add up and the Coast Guard becomes suspicious and investigate further. Learning of the unsolved murder of his multi-millionaire grandfather a few years ago and the family battle over his estate raises their hackles ever more. Nathan is on the Aspergers spectrum and is socially inept and mental awkward . His aunts have long suspected Nathan's involvement in the death of the family patriarch although as the oldest grandson he was very close to him and was indulgent with his eccentricities. For the next ten years Nathan and his family were embroiled in civil and criminal court with no resolution. No sign of his mother was ever found and his grandfather's death remains unsolved. When Nathan unexpectedly took his life while waiting for a court appearance he may have taken the answers to many questions with him. I had never heard of this case but have read other true crime narratives by Sherman. Sherman's prose and research is very engaging and informative. He has a talent for infusing what could be dry non fiction into a page turner and always provides extensive foot notes to document his information. If you enjoy true crime this qould be one to add to your want to read list.

Somehow I missed this interesting crime while it was evolving over a ten year period in New England. The author does a fine job remaining neutral, is Nathan Carman guilty of killing first his ultra wealthy grandfather, and then three years later guilty of killing his mother? The book begins with Nathan being rescued after he and his mother experience their boat sinking. What made the book all the more interesting was that Nathan had Asperger's. The reader has to factor this important condition into weighing whether or not Nathan was guilty of the crimes. I loved the way the author presented the shocking ending. I finished the book a few days ago and am still going over the circumstances in my mind.

This true crime book examines the case of Nathan Carman, who was suspected of killing both his grandfather and his mother. Nathan was born into a wealthy Connecticut family, the Chakolos. He also was on the autism spectrum, a fact which affected his ability to make and keep relationships and friendships. This book follows Nathan Carman and his family from the shotgun killing of John Chakolos through the drowning death of Linda Carman, his mother. It is a fascinating exploration of the theories surrounding the deaths, and especially the man at the heart of the mysteries.

This is a haunting and compelling narrative that grips you from the first page and lingers long after the last. Sherman masterfully weaves a tale that refuses to offer easy answers, leaving readers to wrestle with its complexity. For true crime aficionados and lovers of profound storytelling, this is an essential read. At its heart lies a bitter family conflict—a dark tapestry of greed, deception, mystery, and murder. The characters—particularly Nathan, his grandfather, and his mother—are both mysterious and unforgettable. This case will linger in your thoughts, leaving you profoundly uneasy and challenging your perception of the delicate line between truth and morality.

Blood in the water details Nathan Carmen’s life struggle with his family, including a grandfather who is murdered, a mom who disappears, as well as outlying family members who blame it all on him. He also struggles with Aspergers at the same time.

I had never heard of this story before, but I’m so glad I found this arc. The author does a phenomenal job of explaining the timeline and details of this story. A must read.

In his usual comprehensive style, Sherman does a good job describing what happened and who was involved. However, the fact that all the major incidents, including the suicide, retain multiple questions left me ultimately unsatisfied. Had I known it was just a recounting of events without any real answers, I might not have read it. I requested it because I have liked his books and trusted his reporting skills. I know there's been clinical research on autism and crime, so some of that might have provided a helpful context. More about the kid and his horse connection would have been helpful, too, because without it, he just seems like a callous recluse quite capable of murder. I won't recommend this book simply because I don't know anyone who likes ambiguous endings for true crime.

This book was a very interesting true crime read. It was well researched and well written. The case was one I hadn’t heard off. Two murders in one rich family. Coincidence? It had it all, crazy family dynamics and lots of theatrics. Definitely a book worthy case. I enjoyed it and was pretty gripped by it. Towards the last 30 percent as we headed to the trial, I did feel like I had read enough. I think there was a lack of depth to the main character who had Asperger’s or autism. This is prob down to how he was in life, as the books describes that he was lacking of social cues, lacking emotion. I just felt that I had read enough. Overall, a decent true crime read. Rounded up to 4 stars.

Wow! So, I enjoy a good true crime story… and one that’s well told. Nonfiction doesn’t allow for as much leeway in the writing style or language as fiction so a nonfiction book has to offer other elements.
This one hits the mark!
Compelling, intriguing story, well told in chronological order so it’s easy to follow, a mystery that holds the reader’s attention.
No spoilers here but it’s a compelling book that moves along quickly ( I read it in a day ). I loved each minute of my reading time and absolutely didn’t know how it would end….
Highly recommend. And if you read the book don’t skip the Author’s Note at the end. It adds a bit more information that is interesting to the story.
If you like true crime and a story with family drama, this is one to dive into

Thank you NetGalley and publisher Sourcebooks for the ARC. My opinions are my own and not influenced

Family drama and true crime. This was an interesting case to read/learn about, but it got a little heavy on legal information at times.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

I found this true crime narrative very intriguing. Somehow I had missed the story unfolding in real time through 2023. Nathan Carman finds himself embroiled in a bitter family dispute, complete with greed, lies, mystery and of course, murder. I am somewhat of a details person...and this did not disappoint. People were introduced in chronological order (such as the seller of the boat and various family members) without having to go back and insert them in my memory when they testify in court or appear on a later page. I found Sherman's research impeccable with no stone unturned. He doesn't insert his opinion or bias but simply displays the facts for the reader to assess themselves. I hear Netflix is making a documentary eventually, and I am already looking into other newscasts and video clips of which the Carman family was a part. Highly recommend for any true crime fans or just those looking for a riveting narrative nonfiction story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this ARC! All opinions are mine.

Casey Sherman does an amazing job bringing to light the facts of a true crime case I had heard of but didn't know the details. The research done for this book was extensive and makes for a really interesting read. When the patriarch of a wealthy family is killed people point fingers at his grandson. Then the grandson's mother dies in a boating accident that might be more than it seems. I remember hearing about this case, but I was unaware of the details and craziness that followed this young man. The author reports the facts and leaves it up to the reader to draw their own conclusions. Loved it.

Blood in the Water tells the story of Nathan Carman and the mysterious deaths of two people close to him - his mother and grandfather- years apart. When young Nathan is rescued floating in a life raft after his fishing boat sank, it sets off an investigation and national notoriety when the circumstances of his rescue are examined more closely, and reveals that his mother was on the fishing boat as well. Despite a widespread search, his mother was never found, and when police look more deeply into Nathan, they discover that his multimillionaire grandfather was murdered years earlier, with Nathan as a person of interest. The author does a superb job laying out the facts of the story, and letting the reader decide for themselves Nathan’s guilt or innocence, and he doesn’t inject his own opinions into the case. This leaves the reader with an objective and comprehensive narrative of the investigations into the deaths, culled from police reports, court testimony, etc. This is a fascinating story, and the book moves quickly and will hold your interest. A must read for true crime aficionados. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Nathan Carman, is a lonely man on the Autism spectrum who stands accused of two family murders. His grandfather having been shot in his bed and his mother gone without a trace when her son’s boat sinks on a poorly planned fishing trip . Between 2013 and 2024 Nathan went through a harrowing public legal battle to declare his innocence to his family, insurance agencies, and the police.

Before reading this book I hadn’t heard of this case, which shocked me. John Chakalos was a pillar of his northeast community. His daughter, Linda Carman was a kind, divorced mother of a child with Asperger’s (now Autism Spectrum Disorder). These two would be the ideal victims to be plastered in headlines, especially with the surviving sisters fighting to make sure the killer is found.

Sherman does a great job of subtly highlighting the blunders that the police made throughout their investigations. By the end of the book I was left wondering how between several police agencies, private insurance investigators, and the Coast Guard there was still no real answer on who murdered John Chakalos and what happened to Linda while on her son’s boat. We’re left to decide for ourselves if Nathan was guilty or not guilty.

At times I felt like I was being bogged down by legal and maritime jargon. It took me out of the story. While Sherman lets the reader decide if Nathan was guilty or not, that felt like a coincidence. At some points he really harps on Nathan’s ASD and other times he makes sure to mention that people saw him as cold, creepy, or untrustworthy. He does this without taking the time to give a small explanation of what Asperger’s is or how that might change his demeanor.

Overall, this being my first Sherman read I would happily pick up another.

I took about a week to get through this book. I had a bid of a harder time to get through this than most books because my attention would leave. However I had never heard of this case so that was pretty cool to read about. I don’t want to spoil but it wasn’t what though. I would have given 5 stars but it was dry at points.

This is a wildly mysterious case in which the suspect’s wealthy grandfather and then mother die under suspicious circumstances. Is it just a coincidence or did Nathan Carman kill both close family members for money? They were the two people who were closest to him in the world, and he had virtually no other friends besides them. Nathan was on the autism spectrum and avoided getting close to most people. A twisted case with a surprise ending.

Much to my husband’s puzzlement, I am a big fan of true crime. I listen to podcasts, watch TV shows like Dateline and 48 hours, and read true crime books (another great thing about reading on a device rather than a printed book: you don’t have to cover up odd titles or gruesome pictures!). So when there is a wealthy family with multiple murders, it’s likely I have at least HEARD of the story/family/case. When I read that Casey Sherman, author of Helltown and A Murder in Hollywood, had a new book about Nathan Carman,my initial reactions were “Oh, good!” and “Who is Nathan Carman?” As I read further, I was eager to read it, and thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley, I received a copy of Blood In The Water in exchange for my honest review.
The story opens with the miraculous rescue of Nathan Carman as he is found floating on a lifeboat in the North Atlantic. His story is that he and his mother were fishing in their boat, the boat sank, and despite his efforts to find her, his mother had disappeared and apparently drowned, leaving no trace. A WEEK EARLIER. Funny thing, Nathan is in incredibly good shape for having (allegedly) been on a lifeboat in the North Atlantic for an entire week. So, no surprise, both his family members and law enforcement have questions. MANY questions.
Their questions only multiply when they consider the mysterious murder of Nathan’s multi-millionaire grandfather just a few years back. Nathan's mother was extremely wealthy as a result, and now it looks like Nathan is in line to inherit at least seven million dollars. It turns out Nathan’s grandfather was killed with the same kind of gun he bought just a month earlier, and he left a huge chunk of his wealth to Nathan’s mother, along with leaving $500,000 to Nathan. Nathan lived well for a few years,, not working (or really doing anything productive), but he eventually started to run out of money…so, he took her out on their fishing boat, along with a life boat and supplies adequate for himself for a week…hmmm.
It’s an incredible story, and I am not surprised to read that Netflix is making it into a movie (or series, not sure which). Like I said, I read a lot of true crime. Much of it is not that well written, but Mr. Sherman writes very well and clearly does his research. I enjoyed it! Four stars.

I hadn't heard of this case or this family before now, but this was WILD. A large, chaotic, and traditionally patriarchal family with tons of newish generational wealth combusts when the next heir to the family business allegedly *jumps the gun* in order to get his inheritance.

The end of this book was a gut-punch. I won't elaborate for anyone that also isn't familiar with this case, but wow.

Three stars for this true crime/family drama.

Nathan Carman, a disaffected loner is connected to, not one, but two murders within his own family. Like, it’s the holidays and all, so I kind of see it, but really? One is hard enough to hide. Trust me, I’ve done the math on this.

First Nathan’s wealthy grandfather is shot to death n his home. Then Nathan is pulled from the sea in a dramatic rescue and claims that the boat where he and his mother were fishing suddenly sank and he was the sole survivor. Of course there’s a great deal of money at stake. Is Nathan, who is on the autism spectrum, making him difficult to communicate with, guilty?

Well, my friends, of course he is! This is really never in doubt…are you new? Nathan isn’t even a very good criminal but this is yet another story that shows just how hard it can be to convict someone of murder when even the proverbial blind man blah, blah, blah. While this is interesting true crime Nathan really is a sad sack, and you really want to see him pay.

read if you like:
📚 non-fiction
👮‍♂️ true crime
🙋🏻‍♂️ little covered stories

summary:
I can’t believe I live in New England, love true crime and never actually knew this story. The book follows Nathan Carman, a young man found floating on a raft off the coast of Rhode Island, who claims his boat sank and his mother is missing. As questions loom about his story, the author takes us back to his childhood, as the grandson of an extremely wealthy man living in Connecticut. When his grandfather suspiciously passes away, all eyes are on Nathan and his mother, and while they avoid suspicion at the time, Nathan’s Atlantic rescue reopens the investigation around who he really is and what he’s done.

This book moves quickly at first, sharing the details of his rescue and then flipping back to his childhood. However, the latter half of the book moves a little bit slower, going into detail about the investigation and trial of Nathan’s multiple crimes. If you love a criminal procedural, or like understanding the detail behind state-specific criminal charges, this book is a fascinating look at a man’s escape from accountability. I would love to hear a podcast about this story — if anyone knows of one, let me know!

Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS and NetGalley for the advanced copy! Check this book out when it releases on April 8!