Something in the Water: A Novel

Catherine Steadman's debut psychological stunner is sure to be one of the most read novels of the Summer of 2018. A couple finds themselves in a deadly predicament off the island of Bora Bora. Erin, a Film Documentarian, and her husband Mark, an investment banker, are enjoying their honeymoon on Bora Bora. During a scuba-diving excursion, they turn up something in the water that could change their lives. When the two decide to keep it a secret rather than turning it over they start a deadly chain of events that will find their lives quickly spiraling out of control. Tough to put this book down once you've started and a near-perfect beach read!

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

This is an engrossing thriller that hooks you from the very first page as protagonist, Erin is digging a grave for her dead husband, Mark in an attempt to cover up his untimely death. Then we flash back to the months before and after the wedding as we come to find out the hows and whys. Lots of exciting (albeit not always feasible) that is often visceral and chilling kept me turning pages quickly as I got caught up in the nightmarish storyline easily. Told from Erin's point of view, the novel moves along as we get her backstory as well as the blooming romance between the couple. I often found myself cringing anxiously as I hoped they would get away with their plans, but of course nothing is ever as easy as it seems!
I liked the character of Erin even though she was often a bit naive and too trusting, and I also liked the interwoven story lines of her marriage and her documentary production. Overall, it was a great, suspenseful mystery that kept me entertained to the end!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I'd give this book a 4, only because I wasn't all that thrilled with the ending. An ending that leaves you wanting to know more. Some reviewers are saying the ending was a big "so what!"
I wouldn't go that far, but I would've liked an ending that expanded more on what happened after all is said & done.
Otherwise, I personally thought the book was very good...for a 1st time author~this is her debut novel. I'd read her next one, should she write another book.
The book is written in 1st person~by Erin. She writes it like she's actually talking to you. I could feel her emotions. There were times (many?) that I could totally relate to her.
The beginning of the book leave you assuming one thing, but by the end of the book, you come to find out that it wasn't quite what you originally assumed. So there are twists & turns to keep up your interest.
Erin & Mark are about to be married...trying to get their wedding together, but then Mark loses his job. So, they end up with a smaller wedding and a shorter honeymoon than they originally planned, but all goes well.
Well...until they're on their honeymoon and they find "something in the water", that is. Their find was a duffel bag. They try to do good with what they found by giving it to the hotel managers, only for them to not to know what to do with it, so it ends up back in Erin & Mark's hotel room.
Erin & Mark's curiosity get the better of them, so they of course open the bag. And maybe, just maybe they should've put it back in the water? What's in the bag could help them financially...they make their decision on what they are going to do with their "find" and that's when things start going wrong. What Erin & Mark start doing with those contents could be considered criminal. Then Erin starts to question Mark's behavior a little and she'll eventually realize that she maybe should've put more thought into that. Little does she know, that Mark trusts her even less. What more could go wrong, right? Well...let's see, getting strange phone calls, people following you, people breaking in & attacking you and...of course, murder or should I say murder in the plural-as in, murders could come sneaking up on you.
The ending is sad, and yet things fell flat for me regarding Mark and what Erin would find out about him. It left me very unclear as to what his role in all of this was. Maybe that's because Erin wasn't totally clear about it either? But the ending does leave you with hope on the way. Read the book and you'll find out what I mean by that.

Steadman grabs readers in the first chapter by creating a scene that later needs to get filled in. This is generally a great technique, yet it wasn't that first chapter that grabbed me. It took a few chapters for me to get into this story and appreciate Erin, the narrator.

Mark and Erin are newly married, honeymooning in Bora Bora when they make a discovery while scuba diving that ultimately changes their lives. This book was a little like watching a train wreck happen - and yet I couldn't put it down. I would shake my head and groan at the various decisions Erin and Mark made, and by the middle of the book was turning pages frantically and hoping I wasn't interrupted because I couldn't get to the ending fast enough.

This is a perfect book to take to the beach this summer, and the attention it is getting as a Reese Witherspoon book club selection is definitely well deserved. Anyone looking for a novel of suspense or psychological thriller won't be disappointed in this book.

Erin and Mark a young couple are very much in love and are busy planning their wedding and honeymoon to Bora Bora. Erin is budding documentary filmmaker and Mark a successful investment banker but just before the wedding Mark loses his job and finds it difficult to get another one. They both still decided to put their troubles decide and go on their lavish honeymoon. During their two weeks of of pure enjoyment they decided to go on a scuba diving adventure and what they find in a bag there changes their lives forever.

Something in the Water is an enjoyable debut thriller by Catherine Steadman. The start of the book was a little slow as we are introduced to the characters but the book picks up pace at around 35% .Strong well developed characters makes this an interesting read and will look forward to reading more by this author.

I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Ballantine Books & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

Have you ever dreamed of going on vacation and stumbling upon a bag that contained all sorts of riches? Nope? Me neither.... but this is a story of a newly married couple that found themselves in a heap of trouble because of a bag they found by accident -- or rather, it found them, while they were on a romantic boat ride. The contents of the bag could set a whole bunch of things straight for them, or make life a lot easier, for Erin and her newly betrothed, Mark. Prior to the wedding, Mark lost his job, and a new one was not forthcoming. They had bought a house and planned for a lavish wedding. As Mark panicked before the wedding, some changes needed to be made. The honeymoon however, was not changed - a lavish vacation on a four seasons resort. A couple could get used to this... and perhaps they could.... depending on what is in the bag that they stumbled on. This would be a good beach read. I enjoyed it (even though I was not at the beach!) and once it grabbed my interest in kept it through to the end. It took a little bit before it had my full attention, but once it did, it became a very quick read as I did not want to stop reading it until I knew what happened. There may be a few things that you have to suspend your disbelief about.... but we do it all the times at the movies. No reason why we cannot do it with the books we read, as well. Need a new book to pick up? I recommend this one!

Wow! This is your next great summer thriller! You look at this blurb and maybe you think its been done before. The psychological thriller where a couple is caught in a web of lies. Twists and turns and things unexpected. It has been done, but not quite like this one. I found this crazy story uniquely appealing. The setting was unlike any others I have read. It intermingled mystery with everyday life in such a believable way that you could almost see yourself falling into Erin's shoes.

A lot of the thrillers out there have to do with extreme mental health, serious substance abuse, etc. This one was refreshingly different. These are normal people in normal circumstances who encounter things that toss them into a trying and difficult situation that turns their lives upside down. It was relatable and realistic and had me on the edge of my seat literally gasping out loud. I really enjoyed this one and am super excited to read future releases from Steadman. What a home run debut this was. Beautifully done!

3.5 Stars with a roundup to 4.0 because I REALLY could NOT put it down.

"Digging a grave is very hard.".....as you will discover reading the first chapter entitled, of course, "The Grave."

It all begins with an actual grave being dug, then quickly reverts back in time to the start of a new relationship, marriage, and big plans for the future. Then, even though a big disappointment for the newlyweds rears itself, the expensive first class South Pacific honeymoon goes on....and an eerie and intense atmosphere ensues. It's this feeling of the NOT KNOWING what or who to trust that kept me glued to the pages.

That SOMETHING IN THE WATER was not at all what I thought it would be....but better!

Super entertaining.......and one fine debut! And ok, one downside (for me) was that one of the main characters was naive, reckless and, YES, just plain stupid at times, but STILL.... great summer read!

I REALLY wanted to love this book from the moment I read the discription. And it did start off with a bang. Erin and Mark are just getting married and have been together a while, doing lots of things as a happy couple. They go to Bora Bora on their honeymoon. Erin is telling the story. It starts off with her digging a grave, telling how she wonders how deep it needs to be. She’s burying her husband. Next we are taken back to where it all began, before the wedding. This is great, I’m thinking. But it got so weighed down with her droning on and on. I found myself skipping through parts of it around 30% of the book. I think it was mainly because I wasn’t crazy about the characters. Erin was so annoying. Mark was ok but not as developed as I would’ve liked. That being said, if you have the patience to wade through all the details, the ending will knock your socks off. The beginning and ending are wonderful. So intense. It makes you wonder just how well you really know someone.

4.5 Stars

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book description sucked me in and I couldn't wait to get to the "aha" moment. When it's revealed, the story takes a 180 turn and you are on an intense, white-knuckle, roller coaster ride. I found myself quietly "yelling" at the characters , "cmon, really?"

Erin and Matthew are on their honeymoon, and the author takes great care with the description and detail, as if you are seeing this in a reel in your head. Their trip is blindsided by something they find and are faced with a decision that will change them forever.

I want to keep this spoiler free because this story is worth the read. I could not put this down because I had to know how it ended, and I wanted to give this 5 stars because I'm still asking the question, "what would you do?" , but I wanted a little more at the end.

Mark and Erin are in Bora Bora on their honeymoon after a romantic wedding and engagement. While there they make a discovery in the water that requires them to make life changing decisions to avoid danger. Soon the plan backfires and they are in danger.
From the beginning of the book with Erin digging Mark's grave I was captivated. This is a outstanding psychological thriller and I was unable to put this book down. I loved it. The author does a wonderful job of subterfuge among the characters and the plot contains many hidden twists and turns to the reader which are reveled later on in the book.

The author is Catherine Steadman who played Mabel Lane Fox on Downton Abbey. This is her first novel. A outstanding debut ! I would definitely recommend it. Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my personal opinion.

The one thing I liked about this book was it's title - "Something in the Water" is kind of cute and witty.
Other than that, the protagonist was too dumb to live, yet live she did, although she could have died numerous times from her disasterous decisions and for just being stupid.
The begining was intriguing, burying her husband' s body with surprising calmness (no spoiler, it is spelled out from the begining).
The honeymoon destination was interesting and exciting. I enjoyed reading it, even though I thought there was something fishy about Mark and both of them keeping unnecessary secrets from each other.
But after they found "something in the water", they kept making one bad decision after another getting into ridiculously unbelievable situations and having so many convenient circumstances to move the plot along that I just kept reading to see how it would end.

This was a gripping page turner of a thriller! At first I thought this was going to be like a typical couple gets caught in some unsavory business but eventually works their way out type of novel but I was completely wrong. I was kept guessing until the end and that ending surprised me. Thanks to #netgalley for the opportunity to read this galley of #somethinginthewater

First, I want to thank Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with this Arc. I first heard of "Something in the Water" by Catherine Steadman on Reese Witherspoon's book club and I could not wait to read it. Everywhere I looked, it was being hailed as the next big psychological thriller. I had to admit I was a bit apprehensive on whether or not this debut novel truly held up to all of the hype. The book focuses on a pair of newlyweds who literally find something in the water while scuba diving. And finding that something just might change the course of their lives forever.

Overall, this book was fast paced and enjoyable. It was a little predictable at times but that did not take away from how good it was. I mean that first chapter alone! Ohmygosh! I will definitely be sure to check out more of Catherine's work in the future!

This book begins with someone telling us how to dig a grave. Right off the bat, you know someone is going to die and it's not accidental.

Then the story starts at the beginning of this couple's relationship. I found myself rooting for this couple all along the way until after the honeymoon. Then I definitely changed my mind. Of course, it went back and forth for a while. I couldn't figure out who was the actual bad guy.

There were many suspects and this was definitely a gripping read. Towards the end my pulse was racing, I couldn't read the book fast enough. And then the spiel about the Glock? Come on, get with the book. HA!!!

Excellent read. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

Thanks to Random House Ballantine and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

This is an awful book. The character is infuriating, annoying, self-absorbed and just an idiot. There’s lots of colorful and descriptive language—too much. Her mindless train of thoughts or idiot reasoning when trying to be a criminal is just painful. By the end of the book, I just wanted the main character to be put out of her misery, for all of us.

This book starts off with a bang. The narrator is burying her husband in a shallow grave, and we know it’s going to take the entire book to find out why. But that’s okay. Great beginning. And then it begins to lag. So much unnecessary filler material , right down to details of tasting potential dinners for an exquisite wedding they can’t afford, then canceling the venue. But they still went to Bora Bora for two weeks. I began to realize I didn’t like these people or the book. And it just got worse. Unbelievable situations with unrealistic decisions. Contrived moments of pseudo suspense. Stupid choices. Eventually I understood why the husband was dead. These people were too ridiculous to survive. Something in the water sounded more like an excuse for what was wrong with them, and the ending reinforced that. A real disappointment.

Erin and Mark are on the verge of marrying when he suddenly loses his job. Financial worry leads Erin to agree with Mark's suggestions about downsizing wedding plans, including a shorter honeymoon in Bora Bora. Despite the job setback, the couple seems to be weathering the storm and find themselves enjoying their honeymoon immensely. Erin even overcomes her fear of diving, and she and Mark embark on a dive together. Unfortunately, they dove into a deep mess in the waters off Bora Bora. A mess involving a downed plane and a bag of items that will change their lives. The question is whether the change will be for the good, and so starts a game that may not be apparent to either of them. Is Mark concerned that Erin's documentary on soon-to-be released prisoners will expose them to unwanted scrutiny? Is Erin recklessly steaming ahead to solve mysteries connected to their underwater find? The reader might think she knows the outcome after the initial chapter, but Catherine Steadman cleverly keeps her guessing to the very end. More importantly, Steadman challenges the reader to question how she might act and react if confronted with the an unexpected discovery and its life-altering impact.

First of all, it was very difficult to believe that a woman who makes documentaries for a living could be so unaware of details happening around her. All the way through the book she did things that were so stupid, they were unbelievable. The time frame was too rushed. Why wouldn't they just put most of the "items" in a safety deposit box and sit on it for a few years? For a first time author, I was impressed. Beware - she's a Brit, so you'll be scratching your head over some of the terminology.

Whoa. I just finished this book and my brain is buzzing! I have so many thoughts and so many questions, most of which cannot be shared here becuase I don't want to give you any spoilers. But man this was a GREAT book! Ever since reading Gone Girl I have really enjoyed psychological thrillers. Most have been well written and satisfying but I've been able to figure out the gist of it by halfway to three quarters in (I'm looking at you Woman in the Window). Something in the Water had me guessing until the very end! I am so surprised that this is Ms. Steadman's debut novel. It was flawlessly written, giving us just enough little nuggets to keep our interest but not enough to guess how it's all going to end. In my opinion this is the best psychological thriller I've read since reading Gone Girl almost 7 years ago. Go out and get it now!

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House publishing- Ballantine for a chance to read and review this book.

When I started reading this book I didn't look at any previous reviews or even the book blurb, I really expected that the something in the water was going to be an alien or something equally other worldly. This was SO much better!!

Erin is on her honeymoon with the love of her life Mark, when they find a duffel bag floating in the water. Ask yourself, what would you do? I found myself having to walk around the house trying to clean and such with the book plastered in front of my face, at one point I became so anxious for Erin that I could feel my heart pounding. I loved the progression of the story and the ending was awesome.

If you like a good suspense story that will keep you glued to your chair with a book in your hand, then this is the story for you!

Overall, it is a fun summer read. However, her narrations of setting and setup read more like a screenplay with too much exposition. She loses her way in trying to describe details so there is little room for you to add your own narration; consequently, you have a hard time developing an attachment to the book or its characters. I know her plan is to get a movie deal out of this book and she doesn’t make it a secret with the writing. Became a distraction.
The characters start off well enough, but plot points and situational devices to propel the book’s storyline are clumsy. Spending an entire chapter describing the experience of first class travel, yet running out of time at the end to give some meat to the bones of the story causes critical moments to get less than a paragraph make it so unbalanced. Through better editing, this book could be half as long. Most adults -by the way, this isn’t a book for kids thanks to surprise interjection of explicit sexual scenes that feel wedged into the book’s intimate moments - are capable of developing enough references from life to relate to scenes without a step-by-step-step explanation on how iPhones work.
Very much a freshman in this world. Screenplays might be a better route. If you want a mindless jaunt through a horny wealthy white woman’s world, you are set. Or just watch real housewives. This book isn’t as hard as burying your dead husband, but getting my partner to let me listen to it on a road trip was. After ten minutes he was begging me to turn it off during the chapter where we learn about wtf was in the water...well actually it took three chapters to learn that...
thunk. thunk. thunk.

First, I listened to the book on Audible and the author's dramatic training and execution in the narration was often more intriguing than the writing. Catherine Steadman does an incredible job of making the characters unique through inflection, accent, and tone. Her vocalizations kept me going as I listened in the car, more than the verbose and plodding plot. Not sure I would have finished the book ( probably skipped to the end) if I had a traditional read. I did not like Erin, the main character-- ( yes even Ms. Steadman vocal portrayal made her annoying - perhaps that was intentional), finding her self-centered rather than self-possessed, shallow and making decisions with a wonky moral compass. Her frequent "f- bombs and "OMG's" were frequently echoed by me in the car. Really, dear Erin, did you just do, say, think, miss what just happened!! There is a hint that her family life may play a part in her decisions, but not well developed within the storyline. Lost of ways in which this could have been better, but for a summer, take my mind off work while I am communicating in the car, listen and Ms. Steadmans vocal portrayals, I give it 3 stars.

The main protagonist is the worst. She constantly makes a series of terrible choices and the situation gets worse and worse. And you are sitting there watching this all go down not in an interesting way.

Why? Why? Why?

It's like watching a B-rated horror movie with a plot that forces the main character to intentionally make terrible choices just to make it a horror story. There's no other reason.

Forced plot, uninteresting story, terrible characters.
Skip this one, it's a waste of time.

Erin and Mark seem to have it all: he's a successful banker, she's a documentary filmmaker on the brink of a professional breakthrough; they're young and in love, about to embark on their dream honeymoon to Bora Bora. But when, after a blissful day of scuba diving, they discover a mysterious bag filled with incalculable riches, their subsequent choices trigger a sequence of events that will change their lives--and their marriage--forever.
The first part of the book is Erin burying her husband. Then it goes back a couple of months and leads up to this part. Erin is in over her head as the storyline progresses. I could not put it down because I had to know who is really the bad person and why.Erin is maybe trusting the wrong people?
I received this from NetGalley for a review.

This is a dense and sluggish retread of A Simple Plan by Scott B. Smith. Think of it as the newlywed version. The plot is far too familiar and the execution plodding and full of holes...and far too much chance. Even a last minute twist does not excite or intrigue. The author needed a stronger editor. She succumbs to too much first-person, “I ... this and that.” That is something I am attempting to manage in my own writing so empathize. Overall, I would take a pass.

LOVED this story of Erin and Mark, and their very dark honeymoon. This young couple, so "in love" with each other, get married and discover a secret that changes the course of their marriage and ultimately, their lives. Erin narrates the book, and keeps her readers on the edge of their seats as the story unfolds. A bad decision is made, followed by a flood of subsequent bad decisions.

I read this story in record time - couldn't wait to discover what would happen. I was at first uncomfortable with the very end, but after considering each aspect of the story, found that, though I might have tweaked it a little, the ending fit with the message that story conveyed.

I highly recommend this book for readers who love short chapters, and a lot of psychological action!

Erin is a documentary filmmaker. Mark is a banker. They are happy and in love, planning their upcoming wedding. While on their honeymoon in Bora Bora, they find a mysterious bag in the water. The contents of the bag forever change their relationship.

The story is told from Erin's viewpoint. She and Mark seem to have everything going for them, but things get very complicated during and after their honeymoon. The characters are mostly likable and believable. A slow build up that is intriguing and suspenseful.

A page-turning psychological thriller. Great for fans of domestic thrillers with a strong female protagonist.

I received a digital copy of this book from Ballantine Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I highly recommend! Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book! Wow...it pulled me in from page 1, which starts out with Erin digging a grave for a dead body. Then it goes back in time to explain how she ended up there. Erin and Mark make a great couple...planning their upcoming wedding, talk about starting a family, etc. Then life takes an unexpected turn just before the wedding. Erin tells us the story, beginning with how she met Mark. There were no overdone love scenes or wasted words on trivial details.

This is the first book by Catherine Steadman, but I’ll be watching for more. She is a great storyteller and has a wonderful way of keeping you captivated. The story was easy to follow and definitely surpassed my expectations. The best book I’ve read in quite some time...couldn’t put it down! #SomethingInTheWater #NetGalley

“Being a criminal is mentally exhausting.” Couldn’t sum it up better myself! Erin proves that everything you think you know, you don’t in this un-put-downable thriller.
Steadman’s pithy humor and full bodied, suspenseful story hooked me and didn’t let go. The characters are realistic, Erin’s personality is especially sarcastic and to the point, while the plot is intriguing and keeps you on your toes. Bravo!
*I received an arc from the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review

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*

4.5 stars to this Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick! Wow - can't wait to read more from this author because this was a great book!

The book opens with Erin digging a grave to bury a body. Not just any body - her new husband's body. Then we go back in the past several months to Erin and Mark's story of their relationship and marriage. They hit some hurdles before the marriage - Mark loses his job as a banker and Erin is busy with her film documentary following prisoners leading up to and after their release - but they eventually find themselves on an idyllic honeymoon in Bora Bora. Until they find something in the water.

This is a fast-paced thrill ride although it can be similar to watching a horror movie and shouting to the screen, "No! Don't go in that creepy basement by yourself!" But it is written in such a way that will have you thinking along the lines of...what would I do in this situation?

Highly recommended - bravo on a great debut novel!

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. Let me start off by saying I am not usually a big fan of books in this genre but I've been on a kick with this type for a month or two now and this one's synopsis piqued my interest. I am so glad I requested this book. It was fantastic! The introduction starts off with the main character, Erin, describing how hard it is to dig a grave. You then read it's for her husband! The story then goes back three months to their honeymoon and what happened there. Needless to say, I was hooked. I tore through this book in no time and it had me on the edge of my seat the entire way.
This is Catherine Steadman's first novel and I will definitely be looking forward to reading more of her work.

AMAZING BOOK!!! but... the only problem was that there was so much going on in this story line. It's what makes it great and also does not because of all of the moving parts. The main character was a little crazy and that is what made me so intrigued because I had no idea what she was going to do next. Sometimes I thought she was a robot, just acting out on what she saw in front of her. Definitely a plot twist at the end but I wish they would have gone into more detail about her husband's past because it was never really brought to the surface. The ending also could have been wrapped up a little neater, it tied up all of the loose ends but there was still some things that could have been clarified more. All in all, awesome read and I have already recommended it to my friends.

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman was quickly added to my read list when I heard that Reese Witherspoon's company Hello Sunshine had snapped up the film rights last year, almost 12 month prior to publishing in the USA.

This mysterious thriller was a delight to read, and I could not get enough! The plot was well thought out, to ensure the right twists were in place to throw audiences off the scent of what was "really" happening right under the newlywed's nose.

The story follows Mark (investment banker, now unemployed) & Erin (documentarian, focusing on the reintroduction of prisoners back into their lives on the outside), they are madly in love and planning their dream wedding when Mark looses his job, and wedding and honeymoon plans are adjusted. Little did they expect to find something in the water during a romantic scuba dive trip out to an old shipwreck. What they uncover shocks them, changing the course of their lives forever.

This book is action packed, but make sure you don't read the last 100 pages at home alone, a creek on the stairs with send shivers down your spine!

I would recommend Something in the Water to anyone who loves Shari Lapena, Ruth Ware, or B.A. Paris, or mystery/thrillers. This is a very impressive novel by first time author Catherine Steadman.

**I received this book from Netgalley for the purpose to read and provide an unbiased review.

WOW! That was unexpected and amazing! Something in the Water grabs you, and grabs you hard! The pages flew past as I dove head first into the action, and there was truly something in the water. I could not put this one down. Granted I was on a long car ride and had nothing but time, but I firmly believe that because of the amazing writing, plot-driving action and nail-biting moments, I would have finished it in one sitting whether I was in the car or on my comfy reading chair.
The MC, while sometimes annoyingly naive stayed very true to character from start to finish. She sometimes made forehead smacking decisions and had me chiding her aloud, but based on who she was, and how she reacted, the "bonehead" moves were in the end, spot on.
Something in the Water has action, adventure, mystery and a "cast" of very real characters. By far the best read so far of 2018! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for providing me with a copy fir an honest review!
After surviving some trying times, a couple is finally married. They are having the times of their lives on their honeymoon in Bora, Bora. While out on a private scuba diving excursion, they come upon "something in the water." What exactly did they discover, and where is the owner? Will it be the answer to their prayers or begin a living nightmare?
Wow! What an excellent debut! I really enjoyed this book and read through it quickly! It engaged me and had me on the edge of my seat during many moments within the book! I highly recommend it and will definitely be reading Catherine Steadman's next novel!
?????/5
#somethinginthewater #reesebookclubxhellosunshine #books #bookstagram #booksofsummer #catherinesteadman ##whattoread #ilovebooks #suspense #booklover #readersofinstagram

I listened to the audio version and it was one of the best books I've heard in a long time. If you like Ruth Ware, you'll like this book. It's probably a good thing that I wasn't reading the print addition because I would have been looking ahead to see what happens. The author/ narrator was fantastic. Narrated like an actress (she is), but you know it's been read the way the author envisioned it. I know a lot of the low reviews noted that the main character kept doing stupid things; but I think that was the point -- she was completely out of her depth and didn't know what to do (like a normal person!). I liked the plot, and I also liked the way the main character becomes increasingly obsessed with "the problem" (I don't want to spoil it for you) causing her increasingly irrational decisions.

Knowing who was getting killed in the first chapter was a big turn off. I almost dropped the entire thing but, in general, as a first time novelist, Catherine did a good job. I listened to the audiobook so I would like to provide some feedback about the recording. I am one that could get disappointed very quickly if the narrator is no good. This is a self narrated book, Catherine herself did the recording of her own book. Her actress experience served her well in this task. She was able to keep me going with it. As for the content itself, as other people mentioned it is almost surreal. I can’t understand how someone can be so stupid. I am a stupidity intolerant person that was another reason to almost stop listening. But I was curious. I wanted to know who the bad guys were, or why the husband did what he did. But none of that happened. So many open ends. And the end... c’mon. I really thought something good was coming from it or some kind of closure for the good stuff. Well... good luck Catherine. Maybe you can keep reading books from other authors.

The main character makes bad decisions again and again. Her endless inner ramblings and indecisiveness drove me nuts. I'm giving up about 2/3 of the way through. The author has a gorgeous accent and does a great job with narration. The idea of the story is very compelling, it's just the execution - seems to me to be bad editing. Certain details and other aspects are randomly over-analyzed. How is this book getting so many good reviews?!?

I almost never write reviews but I found the main character so idiotic that I felt as if I had to write something. The start of the book seemed promising at first, but as soon as the story gets going you quickly realize that Erin is literally the dumbest person on the planet. Not only does she makes impulsive and illogical decisions that make no sense, she is always making assumptions or jumping to conclusions that no intelligent, rational person would come up with. Literally by the end of the book *semi-spoiler* where she was in the hotel room and kept commenting on how she didn't want to die, all I could think was that I wish she would because there's no possible way somebody who made decisions like she did could make it that far. I can't even count how many times she admitted how stupid she was being and then immediately went and did whatever it was that she just admitted she shouldn't be doing. I'm getting irritated just thinking about it again, writing this.

So, long story short: Don't waste your money unless you enjoy the feeling of wanting to strangle the main character for the entirety of the novel.

OK, wow! What a ride! So, a fair warning - this book is really boring until around chapter 13 and then it takes off. The excitement begins on their honeymoon and never lets up. I literally could not put this book down and read it in 3 days. While it wasn't the best book I have ever read, it was certainly a page turner. A little disappointed in the ending as I was able to predict it very early on....
Still, a great summer read! Thanks to Reese for bringing attention to this book as I probably would have overlooked it otherwise!

Something in the Water focuses on an engaged couple, Mark and Erin. In the midst of planning their wedding, Mark loses his investment banker job. Erin is working on a documentary detailing the release of three prisoners. During their wedding dinner tasting, Mark feels the financial pressures and admits he doesn’t have the money for the wedding. In fact, he is even talking about selling the house! The reality of their situation is now hitting Erin and she is angry that Mark shortened their honeymoon, without even consulting her.

During their honeymoon in Bora Bora, Mark and Erin go out in a boat to go diving. On their way back, they spot lots of white paper sheets swirling in the water. Then they hear a “thunk, thunk” against the boat and they rescue the source of the noise, which is a duffle bag. How Mark and Erin deal with the bag and its contents becomes the focus of the story.

There is a modicum of suspense in Something in the Water. The book begins with Erin digging a grave and she reveals to the reader who will be buried there. After this short chapter, the storyline retreats to three months earlier and most of the book details what has led up to Erin digging the grave. I must confess that I was disappointed that we are told, in the first few pages who is dead and will be buried there. I would’ve enjoyed the book more if the identity of the body was not revealed until towards the end of the story.

The writing is solid and after a slow start, the story picks up and the pace improves. We get to know Erin very well — she makes a series of bad decisions that puts her life in jeopardy. The “B” story, Erin conducting her interviews with the three prisoners, did not hold as much appeal to me until much later in the story when there is some intersection with the main narrative. Something in the Water is a fun beach read and may just tempt you to take a trip to Bora Bora.

This book is so good! I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes one of 2018's best sellers. Mark and Erin are on a luxury honeymoon in Bora Bora when they discover something in the water. The newly married couple must decide whether to speak out or hide what they found. Mark lost his job right before the wedding and Erin is self-employed so they have a difficult choice.

Great mystery with an early spoiler thrown in early in the book. Loved it! Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

I think this is an excellent debut novel, I thoroughly enjoyed it!! On a once in a lifetime dream honeymoon, newlyweds Mark and Erin's life-changing discovery leads them on a harrowing journey. Their shocking surprise find follows them back home and continues to impact their daily lives. Did they make the right decision? A very relatable story for most, making you wonder "what would you do?". A fast-paced domestic thriller with a suspenseful and unbelievable ending! Highly recommend this read!

I found this novel to be a very enjoyable read. Considering this is her first novel, Ms Steadman does a good job of keeping the reader in suspense. The title caught my eye and it definitely lives up to its expectations. However, had the word “Girl” been in the title, I wouldn’t have given it a second thought. Publishers have been pushing that title for too long now and those books have become tired. Congrats to Ms Steadman for delivering a first-rate thriller.

There wasn't much to this plot or storyline - It was predictable, things were left incomplete, and some plot lines were unnecessary or seemingly just fillers. I wanted to be scared, I wanted twists, but instead got the same old, same old. It's an easy read, but not necessarily worth the time. The story could have gone multiple ways to weave together the characters but instead each stands on their own and it feels jumpy.

This book was amazing! When I first started reading it, I thought it was kind of off to a slow start. Like it had to many details for a book beginning, but then as I kept reading it got more interesting and had me hooked! The story catches your attention and just when you think you have it figured out there’s a twist! I love the setting of the book and the characters seem like people a person could relate too. The ending of the book is definitely not what you expect. I was captivated and couldn’t wait to finish this book! I would certainly recommend this author. I cannot wait to read her next book!

Some reviewers were frustrated that the main character make lots of stupid mistakes. Yes, she does.; however, don't let that prevent you from enjoying this book. Steadman weaves an intriguing thriller that's rich in vivid detail, plot twists, and complex (yet flawed) characters. You do need to suspend a small amount of disbelief -- but isn't true of any complicated story? In the end, Steadman connects many different elements of an unusual story. After completing the book, I continued to think about her characters and imagine what they would do in the upcoming months and years. That's the key to a great read. Do you still care about the characters after the last paragraph? I do - and am looking forward to Steadman's next novel.

This is a STUPID book. I’m so disappointed that I invested any time reading it. The protagonist is downright DUMB! She’s so dumb that you really don’t care what happens to her. Seriously stupid plot. I’m shocked that it has a four out of five star rating. This book doesn’t even qualify as a pleasant beach read. I suspect the high rating has to do with all the marketing on the store and with Reese Witherspoon.

I was excited for a good summer read and Reese W recommended, it so it sounded like a winner. It wasn’t. No protagonist to root for. Clumsy, manic main character. All fiction books require some suspension of belief, but this one really stretches the limits of what’s plausible. And as far as the big *plot twist* there wasn’t a good reason for it and it was predictable. The book really had promise but went off the rails early on.

Grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go! This book will keep you guessing right until the end. Full of twists and mystery. This is a do not miss that will have you asking yourself, "What would you do?" I received an ARC. This is my honest review.

This book was enjoyable. The opening definitely draws you in. The middle and bulk of the story about these characters was interesting at times and also dull at the same time. But overall the story kept me engaged and wanting to know the motivations behind the characters. I also kept wondering what I would’ve done if I were in this situation. I can picture this story being turned into a movie or television series.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Ballantine Books for the advanced ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a real Great Book. You will not want to stop reading it !! Because there is one of us or You know someone who is just like this. And l Betcha you will agree with me. You will Not get wet but you will not get much sleep so l would grade it as a weekend read. And then hand it over to someone to get even with so the next day they will be so tired out from not being able to Stop Reading It !!!

I liked it as a whole but knowing who died at the beginning took away some of the suspense. I guess over all there were some suspenseful moments of reading. The plane crash I believe was from the storm not really sure why it was in the water. The book leaves the reader to guess the motive of some of the characters reasons for their actions. I did finish it and was compelled to read on so I give it four stars.

What would you do if you found treasure that could be life changing? Erin and Mark are scuba diving on their honeymoon and find some underwater treasure that will definitely change their lives forever. Whether the changes were for the better remained to be seen. I raced through this book and couldn't wait to find out the ending. The ending when it came, was a bit confusing. Great writing by a debut author!

I’m a busy mom of 3. Every book I have read over the past ten years has been about parenting or stress relief.
Every time I try to pick up a novel, I fall asleep. Went on a trip w my sis and I read this in 2 days. It was phenomenal. Didn’t want to put it down. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the book. Highly recommend! I’m so happy I found my love of reading (fiction) again after so many years!

Unspected and unpredictable plot. It caught my interest and attention as I became curious about the outcome of the characters. There are unrelated events trying to explain the behavior of the main characters but they are immature, non realistic and silly. Could had been a very book if the characters had more depth.

“Something in The Water” by Catherine Steadman is intense thriller with so many twist and turns that the reader will be kept guessing until the very end. Mark Roberts and Erin Locke have an amazing life together as they plan their upcoming wedding and their exotic island honeymoon. The honeymoon is everything they hope for until they find an unexpected package, that may change their life in unexpected ways. This novel was a real page turner that I had a hard time putting down. I was given an advanced copy of this book, and all of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I listened to this story on Audible. I was totally captivated at first. I could barely stop listening. I kept wondering how Eddie would become more involved but that never really happened. I figured her husband would end up being a sleeze, but almost a bit too hard to accept so quickly in the story. The ending just left me cold...too abrupt and such a shame after a great beginning.
I do think the author was a terrific narrator...better than many I've listened to.
Just wish the ending could have been better and Eddie a stronger character in the plot.

Imagine if:

1. You commit a crime
2. You make the stupidest decisions, at all times, for no apparent reason
3. You are hated by everyone and all are out to get you, at all times, for no apparent reason
4. You only do things that make no sense whatsoever, at all times, for no apparent reason
5. You somehow stumble into victory
6. You (the reader) are never told why anything that happens, happens

The only good thing I will say about it is that the author's narration on Audible is very well done. The author is an actor so it sounds like she's acting it out instead of reading a book, which is unique among audiobooks. Still, she is acting out a ridiculously stupid character so you decide if that's worth your $25.

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman is filled with a lot of "what would you do?" moments. The first Chapter grabs the reader with knowledge of what happens later. The next chapters lead you to that time. Ms Steadman does an excellent job of fitting events together. Looking forward to the next book by this author. I was given an early copy to review.

Something in the Water was an interesting suspense book. Mark and Erin are on their honeymoon taking a boat out to a remote location when something hits their boat on the way back. It turns out to be a bag full of valuable items, but no identification.

As the rest of the story is told, Erin & Mark decide to keep the items since they do not believe they will be anyone lookig for them and quickly begin to realize that they are wrong.

The book takes some interesting turns and twists and even surprises you in the end.

Mabel Lane Fox was a sly babe on the make in Downton Abbey. Now in real life, the author/actress tries to pull on a sly one of us. It’s engaging enough to keep you reading but, seriously when you’re burying the husband in the first chapter, (spoiler alert? I think not) some of the slyness seeps out of the tale. Plus, there is a HUGE question of motive here that lingers like the odor of bad perfume. I like Eddie though, Caroline; there’s your next book. Have him hook up with Erin in a new caper.

The protagonist behaved stupidly throughout this entire book, but we are supposed to believe that she is an educated and intelligent person. The suspense wasn't that great. The ending was unsatisfying. A lot of suspension of disbelief is required to read this book because many of the details of how things work are just wrong.

This book begins not with a couple faced with a moral dilemma or tough choice. Rather, they make a choice completely devoid of any conscience, and the book just goes downhill from there. The lack of scruples by the two main characters, especially the wife, is just dumbfounding, as is the “twist” at the end. It’s an understatement to say that I was disappointed in this recommendation by Reese Witherspoon.

What a roller coaster ride this book was!! Was it realistic? Not exactly but I believed it all while I was reading. Far fetched? Yeah, have to admit it was - but did I care? Not a bit. I just settled in for the twists and turns that had me guessing constantly until the end. The only thing that bothered me a little was the author's choice to have Erin burying Mark in the first pages of the book. I would have rather not known it was him she was burying until the end. But I won't quibble with that. Overall, it was a very enjoyable read!

I was excited to read this after seeing the great reviews. I have been very dissapointed with thrillers lately and this is another one to add to the growing list.

I felt no connection with Erin and her husband. She is the narrator and talks directly to the reader and the whole novel is her inner thoughts. Not much action. I skipped through large info dumps that didn't add anything to the plot. The plot has been done a million times when one lover turns on the other and then person realizes they were being lied to the whole time. I just thought the author would add a new exciting twist.

The best part and only good part is the prologue. It gives the reader the impression that we are about to take a dark journey into a disturbed woman's mind. It was giving me Gone Girl Amy Dunne vibes and the impression that the "something in the water" would have some type of connection to her past that she never wanted her husband to find out about. Don't worry that wasnt a spoiler because the reader is instead given an uninspired and boringly predictable Lifetime movie to watch when nothing good is on.

I had to force myself to finish this book for my Book Club. Now, I will have to force myself to remain calm at Book Club because this book was so annoying to read. I lost count how many times I fell asleep reading this oddly crafted story. At times, it was as if the author's was writing a text message because the narrative was so bizarrely casual. The story had so many plot holes it could have sunk like the loot in the Russian airplane. It was beyond lackluster, silly (as in stupid) in too may ways to describe. Did she forget she was pregnant in the last few chapters because she made no mention of it until the end, does the author have any clue how difficult it really is to bury two bodies, did she think bleach would disguise a bloody hotel room, the forensic and technological issues were so pathetic that a rookie patrol cop could have busted the case wide open. The "twist" at the end reminded me of an 8th grader grasping at a way to end a story. I wanted to like this book but it just got worse as it progressed (or dare I say, failed to progress in a realistic or believable manner). By the end of it, I felt angry that I didn't toss it and wondered how to politely share my disgust with my book club friends. I will assume the majority will share similar reviews. The only thing salvageable was that a key setting was in London and I like London. Beyond that, there was NOTHING about "Something in the Water" that entertained me.

It is hard to describe just how much I disliked this book. I am so thankful that I borrowed it through Overdrivr and didn’t waste my money on it.

The book starts with a woman digging a grave in agonizing, boring detail. Reading the first chapter was like plowing through molasses in winter. I figured that it had to get better; after all it had 4 stars, right? It didn’t. Tedious writing, depthless characters, laborious details. I finally skipped to the end to see if it redeemed itself. It didn’t.

Right at the beginning, when the main character does something really stupid, I almost stopped listening. But I told myself it had to happen otherwise the story won't proceed, so I tried to power through. I've just finished listening the entire book, and sigh... it was stupid. Overall the store review fooled me. Don't waste your time & money.

This book is a page turner and a perfect summer read. It's a roller coaster of a book, fast-paced with twists and turns. I like how the author is almost overtly descriptive, it adds to the suspense for me. It had me in suspense and guessing all the way to the end. It's a fun read and worth checking out. I'm listening to the Audible version and I must say that the author reading her own work is great. You are hearing it in the way she intended it be heard and that just adds so much to the story. Loved it!

This book took me a little while to read as it starts out with Erin digging a hole and it takes a while to get to the point where we could follow along and understand. I will say that after that first chapter it does go back in time to show us what has happened leading up to the point where the book started. Erin. and her husband Mark are the main characters in this book and we are provided with what has been going on in their lives and we can see what they do to overcome daily struggles.

I got the audiobook version of this, read by the author. I think the narrator is a fictionalized version of herself. It's a common plot theme and interesting thought experiment: "what would you do if you found something very valuable, of shady provenance, and could maybe get away with just taking it?" The book does a very good job of building tension. I did think that after the first few chapters, it took a pretty long time to start getting interesting. When you get past the halfway mark, the book starts to move a bit faster. I enjoyed watching the characters try to outthink their various pursuers, real and imagined.

I don't get all the negative reviews. This is a great debut novel and a fun read.

I feel the same way as lots of the 2-star reviewers. I don’t think I would have even read chapter two if I hadn’t seen Reese Witherspoon’s review (and to be fair - a dozen or so other very positive reviews).
The author is no Ruth Ware, that is for sure. I wish so bad it had a more clear ending. And wrapped things up in a better way. I can’t say I’m disappointed since I did kind of enjoy wondering what the hell was going to happen. And I am finding myself thinking about it, which is much better than forgetting about a book five minutes after reading it. That’s why I gave it two rather than one star, but my advice is to skip this one and read another Ruth Ware instead.

I listened to this via Audible; it seemed like a good plot, at first, but as you get more into it, turned out to be very disappointing.
I agree with another reviewer, I don't like that the intro tells you basically what the very end is going to be, they could've been more vague about it.
When there's an attempt to reveal the plot at the end, there's no real answers, just the main characters assumptions of what was believed to be the answers.
I think if the author really wanted the plot to be a real thriller, mystery, and sell the plot, there could've been more character development for certain characters.
I also think, much of the story line doesn't really add up, meaning that its not feasible that an average character like the main character would have so much luck, and make countless idiotic actions. Some of it's hard to read (or hear in my case), because its just preposterous the careless, thoughtless, and flat out stupid decisions, and actions the main character makes.
The ending is abrupt, and I had to rewind a few times to check if I missed some clue, some shred of explanation, but nothing. Not very happy at all.

The premise of this story is fantastic, and honestly the story itself is amazing as well. Unfortunately, the writing was just to choppy and not cohesive enough for me. I kept pushing through because I knew the story was something special. I still suggest you give it a chance because the mystery, thrills and suspense is definitely there. This is the debut for the author, so I hope she’s able to hone her skills a bit more because honestly, this was one of the more creative and thrilling stories that I’ve read, so if she works on her technical skills a bit, she will be a force to be reckoned with.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

To paraphrase an asinine quote “There went six hours of my life I’ll never get back”, like you’re likely to get any of your hours back.

The first person narrator is a foul-mouthed twit. Let’s face it…If a man wearing a Rolex poor-mouths, treats you like Julia Roberts in “pretty woman” and calls you stupid even before the honeymoon, there is probably something amiss in the relationship.

You have the stereotypical, omnipresent Russian mafia and a mob boss, with a heart of gold, who still rules the world from his prison cell. If you want the whole story you will have to read the book. At the end of the book the mob boss has one last task for our heroine but we are never made privy to this task. Are we being set up for a series? No thanks, I’ll pass. Don’t know, don’t care.

I am often kind with debuts, but this one was sloppily written and full of unnecessary detail that detracts from a weak story. Mostly stream-of-consciousness narration paired with a litany of hypothetical questions and a heroine who acts so stupidly (by her own admission, many times over) that the novel’s twist stops feeling like a twist and more like what we’d all do if we were married to her. Two stars because I had to read to the end, but mainly out of rage.

This book starts off with a bang; you know part of the ending right away. But I struggled to stay "on the edge of my seat", as 1) the characters were hard to like and 2) the indecision about the "right thing to do" wore thin. Overall it's entertaining; just not worthy of a 5 rating.

This was an interesting read. However, it was at times difficult to get into because the author got very wordy with rather irrelevant talk. A few times I was ready to give up on the book but it did provide me with a few naps. Ending not terribly surprising and left the reader without full closure

Thank you Random House for an arc via netgalley. The first chapter drew me in right away. Digging a grave for your husband. What?!? I had to know how we got there. I enjoyed the story arc and the twists and turns. Even though I figured out the end before we got there I still found the ride entertaining. Highly enjoyable read that has yourself asking "What would you do?"

I have to agree with what many others have already said about the main character. How a woman who is supposedly a bright and intelligent woman could do so many stupid things is just simply unbelievable. It was difficult to get through this book. I think the editor let down the author on this one.

I'm listening to the audiobook and tend to do a little more driving than I need to because I don't want to stop listening. I'm surprised at the negative reviews that I read. I love her voice and I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next. I definitely would suggest it. Unless it really goes down hill, I LOVE it.

I loved this novel! I think the readers who gave it dismal reviews were missing the point. Not every protagonist is going to be just like you or me. Not everyone will make rational, good decisions. What was great is that I found myself fully engaged, saying “WTF, WHY would she do that!?” And she’s so unlike me it was fun! The twists and turns were exhilarating and I had a hard time taking a break from it. This is one of those books I will search for again and again for the sheer entertainment of it. I hated finishing it!

This first person narrative starts in the here and now and then jumps back a point in time that started it all. The dialogue is smart and fast flowing. The reader is often presented choices of what the main character should do under the circumstances: the right and wrong, the stupid and smart choices. And the reader promptly thinks of the repercussions ahead of the choices, the pitfalls of the fateful decisions. Betrayal and greed are partners in crime in this absorbing, riveting and confounding tale of stupidity and recklessness. It’s a bumpy ride for the characters and the readers alike.

Trying to read but so slow and uninteresting , first 12 pages were hard to even stick with...now on 35 and no better. I should of read kindle reviews before I spent my money!!! Save your money and get from library if interested in this book!!! Very disappointed!
/

I just finished this book and wow, I don’t know that I’ve ever been so annoyed with a main character or with a book. At first I was sucked in to the story but then I was just completely annoyed by the main character’s completely ridiculous decisions. When I finally finished reading I actually said out loud to myself, “seriously?” Don’t bother wasting your time.

The beginning of this book is what would typically be the ending. The back story leading up to the final drama had me thinking I had it figured out several times. Had me guessing until near the end.

I received an advanced copy, but voluntarily left review.

Is it asking too much to create snappy dialog, a likable main character, and a believable plot? Apparently so. Seems like a lot of people liked this book. I thought it was just plain stupid and incredibly obvious. And the dialog...nobody talks like that, people! I enjoy a good beach read, but I prefer mine with no pretense of intelligence - just some down-and-dirty romance, a little smarminess, a fun beachy setting, perhaps a bit of casual sex. This book does not measure up...on any level. Waste of my time.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this book was a nicely paced addictive psychological thriller.
This is the author’s 1st book and I can’t wait to read what she writes next.
I highly recommend this book.

Meh. Practically every decision Erin “has” to make is a false choice, compounded by the fact that she can be counted on to choose the worst, least necessary option at every critical junction. More than once I found myself rooting against her.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a strange and bazaar psychological thriller. It took me a while to get into it. I'm glad I stuck with it as it did get better, but still trying to get over the ending.

This was a good and different thriller read. I don’t see too many thrillers about mob and crime world. I thought the ending was too convenient and had it figured out well before it wrapped up. Enjoyed the book though and stayed up way too late finishing it.

This book is terrible. Its proof that Hollywood affiliations allow a wannabe author to circumvent good writing, skip over editors who actually stand up to writers, and duck publishers who publish books for good writing rather than a mention on some actress' bookclub. I want my money back. P.S. This book is not worth one star but the store required me to choose one.

I was excited for a good summer read and Reese W recommended, it so it sounded like a winner. It wasn’t. No protagonist to root for. Clumsy, manic main character. All fiction books require some suspension of belief, but this one really stretches the limits of what’s plausible. And as far as the big *plot twist* there wasn’t a good reason for it and it was predictable. The book really had promise but went off the rails early on.

Grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go! This book will keep you guessing right until the end. Full of twists and mystery. This is a do not miss that will have you asking yourself, "What would you do?" I received an ARC. This is my honest review.

This book was enjoyable. The opening definitely draws you in. The middle and bulk of the story about these characters was interesting at times and also dull at the same time. But overall the story kept me engaged and wanting to know the motivations behind the characters. I also kept wondering what I would’ve done if I were in this situation. I can picture this story being turned into a movie or television series.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Ballantine Books for the advanced ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a real Great Book. You will not want to stop reading it !! Because there is one of us or You know someone who is just like this. And l Betcha you will agree with me. You will Not get wet but you will not get much sleep so l would grade it as a weekend read. And then hand it over to someone to get even with so the next day they will be so tired out from not being able to Stop Reading It !!!

I liked it as a whole but knowing who died at the beginning took away some of the suspense. I guess over all there were some suspenseful moments of reading. The plane crash I believe was from the storm not really sure why it was in the water. The book leaves the reader to guess the motive of some of the characters reasons for their actions. I did finish it and was compelled to read on so I give it four stars.

What would you do if you found treasure that could be life changing? Erin and Mark are scuba diving on their honeymoon and find some underwater treasure that will definitely change their lives forever. Whether the changes were for the better remained to be seen. I raced through this book and couldn't wait to find out the ending. The ending when it came, was a bit confusing. Great writing by a debut author!

I’m a busy mom of 3. Every book I have read over the past ten years has been about parenting or stress relief.
Every time I try to pick up a novel, I fall asleep. Went on a trip w my sis and I read this in 2 days. It was phenomenal. Didn’t want to put it down. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the book. Highly recommend! I’m so happy I found my love of reading (fiction) again after so many years!

Unspected and unpredictable plot. It caught my interest and attention as I became curious about the outcome of the characters. There are unrelated events trying to explain the behavior of the main characters but they are immature, non realistic and silly. Could had been a very book if the characters had more depth.

I found this book hard to get into. It just wasn't holding my interest, but I kept going and it got a little livelier.
I finished the book, and, while it was readable, I found it very unrealistic. The story is unique in
the setting and the events that occur, but so implausible that I found it quite silly.
The ending was predictable, no surprise there.
All in all, this book is not a memorable one for me.

I can't describe how disappointed I was with this supposed mystery. The writing was on the 3rd grade level interspersed with the F word on scores of pages. In addition, I guess the author thought using bold typeface that it would impress a point to the reader? I found it unnecessary and boring. Characters were poorly developed and shallow. The entire story was beyond entertaining. I would suggest the author stick to acting and not book writing.

A decent read and a premise that differs from many thrillers as of late. However, I didn't care for the characters or feel connected to them. This makes a fine "beach read" - holds your attention but doesn't stay with you long after finishing. I would still read future works from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

A long, idyllic honeymoon in Bora Bora seemed like the perfect start to their marriage, and it was, until Erin and Mark found something in the water…something that would change their ordinary, humdrum lives in a way they never thought possible.
If you love a great, multi-layered psychological thriller, this is a book you don’t want to miss. I couldn’t believe this novel was written by a debut writer. Simply brilliant!

Thought this was an intriguing plot until about a third of the way through. The rest was absurd and ridiculous. Glad I got it from the library so I didn’t have to waste my money on it. Complete waste of time!

While the female protagonist is the stupidest human being in the history of human beings, this book is terrific. I couldn’t put it down. I listened to it on Audible as read by the author herself in her cooler-than-cool British accent. That might have made a difference, I can’t say. I will say I loved it and am going off to search for another book from this author!

Captivating first chapter hooked me, but terrible writing after that. The author beats you over the head with ideas that she continues to re-establish again and again. We get it already. The main character is PAINFULLY stupid. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME! Did the editor even read the book I wonder?

There seems to be a trend in modern thrillers for the protagonist to be unlikeable. In SIW, Not only that, but there seems to be no one to root for, no one you can relate to no one you care enough about to see it through to the end. Well, maybe with the exception of Alexa, but she wasn't a main character in the plot. The only thing that got me to the end of this book was that I had to know if I was right about the plot twist. Sadly I was, The narration, I thought, was pretty good. The writing itself was good, but well written with a bad plot and poor character development is still not a good book. The plot was painful to get through. Here is a supposedly intelligent educated woman making one stupid decision after another. I suppose you could say she was using her " lizard brain" a few times, just plain greed motivated, but come on, for months on end? All the wile chiding herself for making said stupid choices while she is about to make yet another one? I would return this book if I hadn't listened to it all the way though,

You know the commercial where the screaming teens are running from the guy with the mask and the chain saw and end up in the shed with all the chain saws out in the open covering their eyes?...this book is kind of like that. I found myself talking out loud in the car to Erin the main character. I said “don’t do it!” Over and over and every time she did it. I wanted to finish the book just to see if maybe she learned something from her decisions, but to no avail. I chuckled through most of it...like a road runner skit would make me chuckle. So it wasn’t a total loss

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for this book. Unfortunately, I just could not get into this book. Only got a couple chapters in and just couldn't continue. I wish it had been better - it sounded very promising.

From the beginning, this page-turner weaves an intricate plot of odd coincidences, sinister characters, exotic settings, and gruesome scenes into a mystery that keeps the reader guessing throughout! Enjoy!

Figured out who was “the bad guy” 10 pages in and literally just kept reading to figure out when the heck the narrator would do the same. Not clear why this book has so many good reviews or why it’s on Reese’s book club list! It’s the only reason I picked it.

Just an OK book. Nothing really special here. Good summer/beach read. It would be hard to tell you much about this book without spoiling it for you. Therefore I will talk about it in generalities. Couple fall in love, get married and take honeymoon from London to Bora Bora. They go scuba diving and discover......wait for it................something in the water.
This happens about half way into the book. Then they have to deal with what they find and the inherent repercussions.

I sat down to read a chapter or two before watching a movie and I ended up reading for over 3 hours and skipping the movie! This is by far my favorite book of the year and I can't wait to read more from this author!

The novel started well but the plot twist were very unrealistic. I won't give examples to avoid giving the book away. The protagonist actions seemed like a series of bad decisions that that character shouldn't make and the the "surprises " that ensue were predictable

This was a great read, one of those books that you can’t wait to get back to. What lengths would you go to in order to keep a found treasure that could set you up financially for the rest of your life? You might just be in over your head.

Far fetched but it is fiction after all and fiction does take liberties with plausibility. That understood, I was compelled to keep reading and ride the wave. Characters were predictable but the plot was never lacking with twisted events that kept the reader wondering what was next in store for Erin.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Something in the Water, is a great concept for a book. Some of the story line grabbed my attention but other parts I felt moved slowly and became hard to read. I really liked that the author did a lot of research to make sure the story worked with the facts, but her descriptions were very lengthy for me. I really couldn't connect with the characters, they were very bland and I couldn't tell you what I liked about them.

I have to agree with what many others have already said about the main character. How a woman who is supposedly a bright and intelligent woman could do so many stupid things is just simply unbelievable. It was difficult to get through this book. I think the editor let down the author on this one.

I'm listening to the audiobook and tend to do a little more driving than I need to because I don't want to stop listening. I'm surprised at the negative reviews that I read. I love her voice and I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next. I definitely would suggest it. Unless it really goes down hill, I LOVE it.

I loved this novel! I think the readers who gave it dismal reviews were missing the point. Not every protagonist is going to be just like you or me. Not everyone will make rational, good decisions. What was great is that I found myself fully engaged, saying “WTF, WHY would she do that!?” And she’s so unlike me it was fun! The twists and turns were exhilarating and I had a hard time taking a break from it. This is one of those books I will search for again and again for the sheer entertainment of it. I hated finishing it!

This first person narrative starts in the here and now and then jumps back a point in time that started it all. The dialogue is smart and fast flowing. The reader is often presented choices of what the main character should do under the circumstances: the right and wrong, the stupid and smart choices. And the reader promptly thinks of the repercussions ahead of the choices, the pitfalls of the fateful decisions. Betrayal and greed are partners in crime in this absorbing, riveting and confounding tale of stupidity and recklessness. It’s a bumpy ride for the characters and the readers alike.

Trying to read but so slow and uninteresting , first 12 pages were hard to even stick with...now on 35 and no better. I should of read kindle reviews before I spent my money!!! Save your money and get from library if interested in this book!!! Very disappointed!
/

I just finished this book and wow, I don’t know that I’ve ever been so annoyed with a main character or with a book. At first I was sucked in to the story but then I was just completely annoyed by the main character’s completely ridiculous decisions. When I finally finished reading I actually said out loud to myself, “seriously?” Don’t bother wasting your time.

While this book isn't normally something I would have enjoyed, I had a lot of fun listening to it. The author does an amazing job narrating the audio book and she really makes Erin come alive. While there are some people who don't like all the rambling details, I felt like it really fit the perspective, thoughts and actions of the main character. I would recommend this book to others and I HIGHLY recommend the audio version.

I love the idea of a young actress writing a wonderful novel. I believe anyone has the capability to be a writer if they put their mind to it but it isn’t something that should be rushed.
To me, this book was not ready and the writing needs a lot of work. The beginning is choppy, the characters are dull, story is painfully boring. Someone should have stepped in to tell her to refine it 100 times over. I had to stop reading it because I don’t think a book deserves to be finished if you aren’t interested by page 90.
I feel so much sadness when’s Bookclubs promote poor books like this.
There are such brilliant books in the world, so not read this one.

The beginning of this book is what would typically be the ending. The back story leading up to the final drama had me thinking I had it figured out several times. Had me guessing until near the end.

I received an advanced copy, but voluntarily left review.

Is it asking too much to create snappy dialog, a likable main character, and a believable plot? Apparently so. Seems like a lot of people liked this book. I thought it was just plain stupid and incredibly obvious. And the dialog...nobody talks like that, people! I enjoy a good beach read, but I prefer mine with no pretense of intelligence - just some down-and-dirty romance, a little smarminess, a fun beachy setting, perhaps a bit of casual sex. This book does not measure up...on any level. Waste of my time.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this book was a nicely paced addictive psychological thriller.
This is the author’s 1st book and I can’t wait to read what she writes next.
I highly recommend this book.

Meh. Practically every decision Erin “has” to make is a false choice, compounded by the fact that she can be counted on to choose the worst, least necessary option at every critical junction. More than once I found myself rooting against her.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a strange and bazaar psychological thriller. It took me a while to get into it. I'm glad I stuck with it as it did get better, but still trying to get over the ending.

This was a good and different thriller read. I don’t see too many thrillers about mob and crime world. I thought the ending was too convenient and had it figured out well before it wrapped up. Enjoyed the book though and stayed up way too late finishing it.

This book is terrible. Its proof that Hollywood affiliations allow a wannabe author to circumvent good writing, skip over editors who actually stand up to writers, and duck publishers who publish books for good writing rather than a mention on some actress' bookclub. I want my money back. P.S. This book is not worth one star but the store required me to choose one.

I thought this would be a fun summer read. It was so painful. The stupidity of the main character perpetuates negative stereotypes of women. The main character is a blindly naive, white, rich, entitled woman who has to rely on men to guide her deeper into the depth of her own downfall.

Reese, what were you thinking?

This book is somewhat like watching a 1950's movie serial. The dopey heroine sticks her head in a hornet's nest; the dopey heroine promises not to run into a burning building but does it anyway. Everything this woman does strains credulity at every level. How she managed to live as long as she had without some else murdering her is the biggest mystery in this stupid book.

Compulsive and gripping - from the very first chapter! This is one you will stay up most of the night to finish. Steadman has written a tautly-woven, beautifully paced novel that reminds us all, some things are, indeed, too good to be true.

I got the Audible version of this book, and my husband and I listened to it on a cross-country road trip. It made the driving all the more bearable. We were hanging on the edges of our seats the whole time. Highly enjoyable!

This book had me hooked from the first page. It was a fast an easy read. The first part is very fast paced I wish I could have given it an extra star but the middle of the way through I figured out about Mark. It would have been nice to have a different twist at the end.

A newlywed couple get more than they bargained for on their honeymoon when they find a mysterious locked bag. Erin and Mark seem like the perfect couple however even early in their relationship signs appeared that these two people are not who they seem to be.

The main issue I had with this story is the utter lack of believability leading up to the dramatic end. It was absurd. I get what the story was trying to achieve however it missed the mark both in its portrayal of two people who remained so unappealing from start to finish so that it was difficult to root for anyone as well as in the story’s events and how ludicrous the plotline when viewed along a continuum.

Unless you are not paying attention, it is easy to figure out the ultimate outcome, especially after the opening chapter. No surprises there. The ending meant to be provocative or cryptic failed to tie the story together. It was awkward and out of place.

Erin is an interesting character in that she seems devious and clever in some ways but not at all smart in others creating the kind of personality paradox that doesn’t add up. None of her experiences rang true and though fiction, readers like a certain amount of reality mixed in. We were reminded over and over how physically attractive Mark is however none of his attractiveness comes through.

Something in the Water is a quick and somewhat entertaining read however there are far better books in this genre. I would suggest giving this one a pass.

BRB Rating: Skip It.

First I'll tell you how I read this book, then I'll tell you why, and then I'll suggest that you go ahead and read it regardless.

I have been travelling with my smallest e-reader, a tiny smart phone that isn't very smart. The screen is bigger than a business card, but not much and there isn't a lot of text on the page at one time – maybe a paragraph or two. I don't like this reader but use it anyway when I need to. I read "Something in the Water" by flipping through the pages nearly as fast as I could, slowing to read a sentence here and a whole page there, finishing the book in a remarkably short time.

The tiny screen is one reason that I could go from screen to screen so quickly. Another is that Ms Steadman has added way too much description and back story in the text. I really didn't care about most of it and skipped it entirely. Then, the story is told in the first person, a literary form I don't much care for. Finally, I felt that Erin, our hero, does some stupid stuff and takes strange risks that no real person would take, and I found her and her film project somewhat unbelievable.

All that being said, I think there are many mystery and thriller readers who will enjoy this story of a young woman and her husband who get drawn deeper and deeper into crime. Go ahead and give it a try.

I received a review copy of "Something in the Water" by Catherine Steadman (Random House – Ballantine) through NetGalley.com.

A pretty good beach book. It was entertaining and suspenseful; the apparent give-away at the beginning withe burial of a body isn't quite the spoiler that it seems to be, in fact, I kept reading part to find out how the story got to that point. There are some slow sections, and perhaps too much description ( especially of the lifestyles of the wealthy, but this is escapist reading ). Just a warning, no one is particularly likeable, except maybe Eddie Bishop, the super-hardcore criminal. I quite liked his character.

The narrative of the heroine strayed so much in this story that she became more than unreliable. Instead she ended up being totally unbelievable. This book had the makings of a great thriller, but those small strays and inconsistencies began to add up and in the end it ruined the story for me.

These characters made such utterly idiotic decisions it made it incredibly difficult to get through...such bad decisions it made it unrealistic. I also felt the writer was trying to be so much deeper than he really came off. Hard to finish. And hardly trilling.

The reviews for this book originally dissuaded me from ordering, however, I found myself wanting to keep listening (Audible version) to see what happens next. Erin, the main character, does make a lot of stupid decisions, but the writing was extremely descriptive and made me feel like I could imagine myself in the situation.

The main character makes one ridiculous decision after the other which became rather annoying; however, it was very suspenseful and hard to put down once I started. Unexpected ending even with the known facts in the very beginning of the book

Great first book! I was hooked from the beginning. I liked knowing she was burying her husband and couldn’t wait to see how it played out. It was a quick read that I didn’t want to put down. Look forward to more books from her.

Predictable or not, I LOVED this book!! I listened to it on Audible and the author, who narrated, did a splendid job reading, especially differentiating the voices of the characters. I would highly recommend the audio version.

Grabs you with the first sentence, and doesn’t let you go until the last. Looking forward to more from this author! Her narration of the book for the audiobook version is simply perfect! Read and listen to this book: you’ll be glad you did!

The deep satisfaction while listening reminds me of the deep satisfaction while listening to Sophie Kinsella and Helen Fielding. The heroine is a little less sharp but just as sympathetic and story is of the same sort of never world. Very few books have this sort of delight and suspense.

I only give this two stars because the beginning hooks you right off the bat. Then it drags and drags and drags. There is no “teeth” to this book. The main character is just stupid and the ending was unfulfilling.

My first thriller in a long time while (not sure if that is the right reference). Simplistic at best. Not deep with twist and turns, characters have fantasy like life. Was cruising while listening to audible so it made for good listening, not worth passing on.

One of the worst books I’ve read in a long time. I couldn’t have cared less about the characters and honestly felt like not finishing the book. Yet I always finish a book I start no matter how painful. I can not recommend this to anyone, it’s that bad.

We're expected to believe a middle class thirty something who has lived a pretty unremarkable life is suddenly transformed into a criminal almost instantly?!?!

So happy I got this at the library, and didn't spend any $. Kinda mad about the time spent reading it!

I noticed a lot of reviews that say the main character is stupid. This is so true, and you have to really work at it if you want to get past that. The characters just are not well developed. I held out to the end, but there was no great payoff for it, and the pace is often a crawl.
Some interesting ideas, you have to go through a lot of slog for them.
Sometimes the book is the dog.

Wow! I can honestly say I loved this
book. Brilliant, clever, unlike anything else I'd read. It just has a distinctive style and flavor. I could literally not put it down and I read it frantically in two days.
Bravo! I can't wait to read the next one.

At times exciting, others confusing with a constant shift of venues. Basically, I liked the story but at times thought the flow very confusing. Too much talking and not enough flow. Thats just my thought. I felt the editing could have been better. Again, Just my opinion!

I've never written a book review on the store, but felt so compelled because of how much I disliked this one. Why was the main character portrayed in the beginning to be some smart, thoughtful, intuitive woman (a documentarian), when really she just turns out to be dumb?! Every move she makes you're going "WHY WHY WHY". I realize she is not supposed to be the typical heroine, but it's hard to make a connection with any character in this book, or even care what happens to them.

Spent all that time hoping and waiting for some great twist at the end, but it seriously disappoints. Never been so frustrated during a book. Only thing I really loved was the author's narration of the whole thing. I think if I wasn't listening to the Audible version, I would have never even tried to finish it.

I know this is going to become a movie adaptation, but unless they change the entire story, you can guarantee I would be throwing my popcorn at the screen.

Started slow but about three or four chapters I really got into it. But near the end it started to unravel and you could see what was coming about a mile away. The way they used a sound filter when someone was on the phone was obnoxious. I like to the narrator, and it’s rare that a writer not famous narrates their own book. I appreciated that. Too bad the ending ruined the good parts of the story.

This book was the first in a long time to grip me enough that I finished it in one sitting.

Something in the Water centers a fresh-faced, dewy-skinned, pair of honeymooners named Mark and Erin. However, while Mark is certainly one of the central focuses of the story, this is really Erin’s journey through and through.

Even though the beginning of the story doesn’t have anything particularly crazy happen, Steadman does a great job at neatly folding a mounting sense of dread into her story. Before Mark and Erin are able to jet set to their picturesque honeymoon spot in Bora Bora they’re hit with a tremendous blow — Mark loses his job. Steadman swiftly lays the groundwork to the rest of her story without ever losing the tension, not an easy task to accomplish.

When I first glimpsed the title of this book I assumed it was going to be about something much different than what we ended up with, (I have to give her credit for a clever “shark in the water” symbol that I won’t get too much into in order to avoid spoilers), but I was happy with the story we got.

Even though the real heart of the conflict doesn’t kick off until around a quarter of the way through the novel there was never a moment where I felt bored, Steadman used every chapter to build layer upon layer and once the real hook came in I was snagged and engaged. Pacing is one of the novel’s greatest strengths, it’s brisk and unrelenting, once you’re in, you’re in for the long haul.

That said, I never felt quite like the characters lived up to the story being told around them. Erin was frustratingly naive. I liked her as a character but as a narrator she was frequently irritating, lovesick to the point of being blind to her husband’s faults, and couldn’t seem to learn from her mistakes. I also found the ending of the novel to be so predictable it was almost a slap in the face. Any and all nuance went out the window by the third act leaving me baffled as to why the story was taken in that direction.

Not to nitpick but I had my fair share of issues with the writing too. For the most part the writing style was simple without being rudimentary, it got the story told and there was some beautiful prose but it could also be repetitive, with phrases being repeated near exact within paragraphs of each other and pet names like “honey” and “sweetheart” being sprinkled around so heavily it was almost nauseating to read especially as they were always from the male characters to the women. I felt like the book needed another solid edit to flatten out some of the kinks and mind you I did read an early copy so that could still be happening as I type this, I hope it is.

In spite of these flaws, I would still recommend this book. It’s a tightly plotted, addicting, and just flat out fun thriller. If you don’t overthink the plot then it makes for the perfect beach read for more reasons than one!

Special thanks to Catherine Steadman, Netgalley, and Ballatine Books at Random House Publishing for allowing me the pleasure of reading this book in exchange for an honest review!

Wow! Nothing since Outlander has captured my attention like this story! Thank you Catherine Steadman I’ve been looking for an author like you. Your story makes a great fast paced and fun summer read.

Something in the water is a novel about an innocent couple on their honeymoon. Things become complicated when they discover a most unpredictable situation that leads into world of deceit and danger. Suspense remains high as the author takes you into her world. You will be engaged throughout and surprised at the outcome.

This book had me hooked from the first page. It was a fast an easy read. The first part is very fast paced I wish I could have given it an extra star but the middle of the way through I figured out about Mark. It would have been nice to have a different twist at the end.

A newlywed couple get more than they bargained for on their honeymoon when they find a mysterious locked bag. Erin and Mark seem like the perfect couple however even early in their relationship signs appeared that these two people are not who they seem to be.

The main issue I had with this story is the utter lack of believability leading up to the dramatic end. It was absurd. I get what the story was trying to achieve however it missed the mark both in its portrayal of two people who remained so unappealing from start to finish so that it was difficult to root for anyone as well as in the story’s events and how ludicrous the plotline when viewed along a continuum.

Unless you are not paying attention, it is easy to figure out the ultimate outcome, especially after the opening chapter. No surprises there. The ending meant to be provocative or cryptic failed to tie the story together. It was awkward and out of place.

Erin is an interesting character in that she seems devious and clever in some ways but not at all smart in others creating the kind of personality paradox that doesn’t add up. None of her experiences rang true and though fiction, readers like a certain amount of reality mixed in. We were reminded over and over how physically attractive Mark is however none of his attractiveness comes through.

Something in the Water is a quick and somewhat entertaining read however there are far better books in this genre. I would suggest giving this one a pass.

BRB Rating: Skip It.

First I'll tell you how I read this book, then I'll tell you why, and then I'll suggest that you go ahead and read it regardless.

I have been travelling with my smallest e-reader, a tiny smart phone that isn't very smart. The screen is bigger than a business card, but not much and there isn't a lot of text on the page at one time – maybe a paragraph or two. I don't like this reader but use it anyway when I need to. I read "Something in the Water" by flipping through the pages nearly as fast as I could, slowing to read a sentence here and a whole page there, finishing the book in a remarkably short time.

The tiny screen is one reason that I could go from screen to screen so quickly. Another is that Ms Steadman has added way too much description and back story in the text. I really didn't care about most of it and skipped it entirely. Then, the story is told in the first person, a literary form I don't much care for. Finally, I felt that Erin, our hero, does some stupid stuff and takes strange risks that no real person would take, and I found her and her film project somewhat unbelievable.

All that being said, I think there are many mystery and thriller readers who will enjoy this story of a young woman and her husband who get drawn deeper and deeper into crime. Go ahead and give it a try.

I received a review copy of "Something in the Water" by Catherine Steadman (Random House – Ballantine) through NetGalley.com.

A pretty good beach book. It was entertaining and suspenseful; the apparent give-away at the beginning withe burial of a body isn't quite the spoiler that it seems to be, in fact, I kept reading part to find out how the story got to that point. There are some slow sections, and perhaps too much description ( especially of the lifestyles of the wealthy, but this is escapist reading ). Just a warning, no one is particularly likeable, except maybe Eddie Bishop, the super-hardcore criminal. I quite liked his character.

The narrative of the heroine strayed so much in this story that she became more than unreliable. Instead she ended up being totally unbelievable. This book had the makings of a great thriller, but those small strays and inconsistencies began to add up and in the end it ruined the story for me.

These characters made such utterly idiotic decisions it made it incredibly difficult to get through...such bad decisions it made it unrealistic. I also felt the writer was trying to be so much deeper than he really came off. Hard to finish. And hardly trilling.

The reviews for this book originally dissuaded me from ordering, however, I found myself wanting to keep listening (Audible version) to see what happens next. Erin, the main character, does make a lot of stupid decisions, but the writing was extremely descriptive and made me feel like I could imagine myself in the situation.

The main character makes one ridiculous decision after the other which became rather annoying; however, it was very suspenseful and hard to put down once I started. Unexpected ending even with the known facts in the very beginning of the book

Great first book! I was hooked from the beginning. I liked knowing she was burying her husband and couldn’t wait to see how it played out. It was a quick read that I didn’t want to put down. Look forward to more books from her.

Predictable or not, I LOVED this book!! I listened to it on Audible and the author, who narrated, did a splendid job reading, especially differentiating the voices of the characters. I would highly recommend the audio version.

Grabs you with the first sentence, and doesn’t let you go until the last. Looking forward to more from this author! Her narration of the book for the audiobook version is simply perfect! Read and listen to this book: you’ll be glad you did!

The deep satisfaction while listening reminds me of the deep satisfaction while listening to Sophie Kinsella and Helen Fielding. The heroine is a little less sharp but just as sympathetic and story is of the same sort of never world. Very few books have this sort of delight and suspense.

I only give this two stars because the beginning hooks you right off the bat. Then it drags and drags and drags. There is no “teeth” to this book. The main character is just stupid and the ending was unfulfilling.

My first thriller in a long time while (not sure if that is the right reference). Simplistic at best. Not deep with twist and turns, characters have fantasy like life. Was cruising while listening to audible so it made for good listening, not worth passing on.

One of the worst books I’ve read in a long time. I couldn’t have cared less about the characters and honestly felt like not finishing the book. Yet I always finish a book I start no matter how painful. I can not recommend this to anyone, it’s that bad.

We're expected to believe a middle class thirty something who has lived a pretty unremarkable life is suddenly transformed into a criminal almost instantly?!?!

So happy I got this at the library, and didn't spend any $. Kinda mad about the time spent reading it!

I noticed a lot of reviews that say the main character is stupid. This is so true, and you have to really work at it if you want to get past that. The characters just are not well developed. I held out to the end, but there was no great payoff for it, and the pace is often a crawl.
Some interesting ideas, you have to go through a lot of slog for them.
Sometimes the book is the dog.

I really wanted to love this book since I loved the author in Downton Abbey. I gave it a good shot, but 2 stars is being generous. The main character is made up to stupidity and sheer, dumb luck. I found it very predictable, and the fist 1/3rd of the book could have been condensed to 10 pages at most. The middle 1/3rd is the best part of the book, and it didn’t really need to be that long either. The last 1/3rd is very predictable and boring. I am really disappointed as I hoped with all the praise it would be very good.

4.5 Stars. I really really liked this book. This was my first Reese Witherspoon Book Club read and it was a page turner. I did not see the ending coming at all. That's all I'm going to say! Transported me to Bora Bora. You won't be disappointed!

It's a very quick, somewhat predictable, but nonetheless addictively enjoyable. Perfect, Summer, beach book. Looking forward to additional stories about these characters, I hope they are coming. Narration is great.

After reading some of the low star reviews, I think they missed the point. This book was fun to read and kept me guessing about what was going to happen next! After you read it, go back to the first chapter. The story will come full circle!

It is really hard for me to give this 2 stars… but I just didn’t enjoy it. Maybe I had too high expectations because Reese Witherspoon selected this as June’s read for her book club. (Side note… I wonder how she selects books because I was not impressed this month.) I was not a fan of the writing style… it was very blunt and, in my opinion, boring. “He did this. She did that.” I got so frustrated with this writing style that I ended up skimming a lot of the end. The characters were also super unlikeable and, to be honest, not very smart. I wanted to scream anytime either one of the main characters did anything. Also, the story was a very slow build that it frustrated me. For me, the ending did not justify the slow build-up. Personally, I would not recommend this book when there are so many thrillers available out there.

Thank you to Catherine Steadman, the publisher, Random House – Ballantine, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Audio book. Who had this brilliant idea that sleeping beauty can read the book? Voice is monotonous, flat, sleeeping, and boring. I wanted to listen to the book for my commute, but geez, it’s putting me to sleep.

Great narrator. The books starts with the ending and a grizzly scene. You spend the entire rest of the book trying to reconcile how the couple went from one extreme to the other. Definitely recommend it.

There are too many suspense novels with young, flawed, plucky British female protagonists these days. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this one, until I came to the end. The plot became very bogged down and hard to follow at the end, I suppose in an effort to maintain the suspense.

This book had such promise. Unfortunately it never came together for me. My biggest problem I had is my problem and not the authors. The story is narrated and this style just never works for me. I was never able to connect with the characters. I received an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley.

Something in the Water was everything I hate about mediocre mysteries: predictable characters, lots of unnecessary exposition, plot holes, deus ex machina, and a whiny main character with a weak motivation.
It's first person from a prison documentary director, Erin. While on honey moon with her bigger than life husband, who just lost his job' they find a suspicious package of cash and more in the ocean. The timing is perfect and the reader gets to see a very exhaustive way to put away suspicious money.
I don't see why there was so much hype over this book. I seem to think it's due to the actress author because the book itself seems weak to me.
The ending is especially weak and over done and some of the antagonists die and the others just disappear?? That's awful convenient for the main character. I'm irritated by all the loose ends and overworked unnecessary side plots.
Something in the Water is written for a different crowd I guess. I don't think I would recommend it.