Casey Sherman’s Blood in the Water is a gripping true crime narrative that dives deep into a family shrouded in secrecy, tragedy, and unanswered questions. At the center of the story are two haunting mysteries: who killed the father, and what truly happened to his daughter. Sherman unravels these threads with meticulous attention to detail, presenting a complex case without sensationalism.

What sets this book apart is its unflinching look at societal misconceptions surrounding individuals on the autism spectrum. Sherman thoughtfully highlights the misunderstandings and stigmas that often affect how neurodivergent individuals are perceived—especially in high-stakes legal and emotional contexts. This adds a poignant layer to the investigative narrative and raises important awareness around empathy and inclusion.

Sherman’s journalistic approach is balanced and thorough, sticking closely to the facts while allowing readers to form their own conclusions. Blood in the Water is a compelling, thought-provoking exploration of crime, family dynamics, and the challenges of truth-seeking in a world too quick to judge what it doesn’t understand.

2.5 stars
I wanted to like this one more than I did. The audiobook was read by the author, who is a journalist, so he keeps a neutral stance throughout although I wasn't thrilled about his narration which was very flat.

Because of the way this ends, it feels completely unfinished and that was really frustrating. I'm the kind of person who likes answers, and if you are too, you might want to look into this case a bit more before reading this book. The reader can come to their own conclusions, but there are no actual answers to either of the mysteries presented in this book.

The delivery of the information is a bit dry--this happened and then that happened and then that happened. I never got confused and it's presented in a very straightforward, easy to follow way, but even so there's just something about the narrative that didn't truly connect with me as a reader. I didn't honestly care about any of these people, they are shown in very unflattering lights, so I never got to know them well enough to care about what happened to them.

If you like true crime and you're perfectly fine with an ambiguous ending, then you might like this more than I did.

This book pulled me in with its sharp storytelling and tight pacing. Sherman has a way of writing true crime that feels personal without turning it into a spectacle, which I really appreciated. I could feel the tension building with every chapter, and even when I thought I knew the story, he still found a way to surprise me. Some parts dragged a little with too much procedural detail, but it never lost its grip completely. I loved how he balanced the human side of the case with the cold facts—he made it matter.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars for a gritty, gripping read that had me itching to get on google to find out more!

Let me preface this review of the true crime audiobook Blood in the Water with the confession that I have a PhD in Dateline, with a minor in Lifetime movies. For some twisted reason, I am fully invested in real life crime and read a ton. On Netgalley, the author mentioned this was a book for everyone fascinated by the Murdaugh murders. Honestly, I stopped reading the description at that point, and instantly requested the audio.

Casey Sherman presents a methodical, detailed telling of Nathan Carman, his family, the wealth, the excess, sibling rivalry, and, of course, murder. I'd happily read more by this author because he can clearly write. He also happened to be the narrator for the book and, while initially I was concerned at his tempo, my brain adapted and by the end I was happy to have had him as the voice for his own work.

Here's my personal angst about the story - Nathan has Autism Spectrum Disorder (previously known as Asperger's Syndrome but we no longer use that name for reasons the internet can explain to you.) As a mom to a 30 something son with ASD it hurt me to hear this story. It hurts when a person is classified and when it's assumed everyone with that syndrome could also be a danger. Sherman did a good job of not villainizing all with ASD, but the mom heart in me was happy when the book concluded.

If true crime is your vibe, definitely give this one a look. An interesting family, with a sad ending.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 Stars (Excellent)
Setting: New England; North Atlantic Ocean
Genre: True Crime

Casey Sherman’s Blood in the Water delivers a chilling and compulsively readable true crime narrative that plunges readers deep into the dark, stormy intersection of family loyalty, wealth, and betrayal. Following the mysterious survival of Nathan Carman, whose mother vanishes under suspicious circumstances during a supposed fishing accident, Sherman expertly peels back layers of secrecy to reveal a tangled web of familial distrust and long-buried resentments.

Sherman’s journalistic rigor shines through in his detailed reconstruction of events—from Nathan’s miraculous rescue from the Atlantic to the unsolved murder of his wealthy grandfather years earlier. The author deftly balances empathy and skepticism, allowing readers to form their own conclusions while keeping the tension high. The pacing is tight, with each revelation leading seamlessly to the next, and the complex psychological portrait of Nathan is particularly compelling.

At times, the narrative can feel slightly repetitive as it circles back to certain theories and suspicions, but this is a minor flaw in an otherwise gripping account. Fans of true crime, especially those who followed the Murdaugh saga or enjoy stories of privilege gone awry, will find Blood in the Water a haunting and thought-provoking read.

Sherman reminds us that beneath calm surfaces often lie treacherous depths—and sometimes, the greatest threats come not from the sea, but from those we trust most. #netgalley #bloodinthewater #booked_this_weekend

I wasn't super invested in this, although I did find the story somewhat interesting, but I wouldn't reread it. Thank you to the author for the arc!

This is hard for me to rate because the writing and research were fantastic, however the story itself and the characters within it were all highly unlikable. This was a well-written account of a terrible story. I prefer even more narrative style non-fiction, but this one still grasped my attention. This was a story about greed and a dysfunctional family. I don't know what I believe about the ultimate guilt or innocence of Nathan Carman, but I DO know that we have a LONG way to go as a society. The descriptions of the ways that this family treated each other and the world around them were absolutely disgusting, and many of the anecdotes about the family dynamic serve to illustrate the limitless greed that surrounds the uber wealthy. The entire story was tragic, and I didn't encounter a single person that seemed to be relatable or redeemable. I don't know what the truth is around the boat incident and the murdered grandfather, but I can tell you that the overarching truth in this story is that there is toxicity swirling around this family like a flies around an animal carcass. This is a well written, well researched account of a dysfunctional family with too much money.