I think of the first half of this book at 3 stars, and the last half as 4. I did round up, but I would give this a 3.5 star rating. It took me two weeks to read, which is about twice as long as I normally take on a book this length. I was never fully grabbed. I enjoyed the second half much more, where the pace was picked up. I was satisfied with the ending. I thought parts of the plot where predictable, but I mostly had the sense that I didn't know how the book was going to end - and I do love when that happens!! My absolute favorite thing about this book was the author's talented way of building up suspense. Possibly one of the most talented authors in this regard. They way she describes things - you FEEL it. Also, had no idea until after I finished the book that Catherine Steadman was Mabel in Downton Abbey! Overall happy, and I will recommend.

4.5/5.

<i>Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for my free ARC in exchange for my honest review.</i>

<i>I wonder at what stage all of this started. If I could wind it back, how far back would I have to wind?</i>

This book blew my out of the water. <i>Haha, see what I did there?</i>

From the first chapter, we know something bad has happened. I was immediately drawn to Erin, our narrator and main character of the book. Erin is a documentary filmmaker who is engaged to Mark, who works in finance.

After the first chapter, we travel back in time and learn how Mark and Erin met and how they fell in love. We pick up a few weeks from the wedding, which is also when Erin is beginning her film on prisoners transitioning back into real world.

Erin and Mark then head to Bora Bora for their dream honeymoon, and while scuba diving, they discover something that serves as the catalyst for the rest of the book. From there, we follow Erin and Mark as they deal with the ramifications for what they found until we finally circle back to the events in the first chapter.

<i>I promise myself that once this is all over I'll be honest; I'll never lie again. I'll be the best wife in the world. I promise.</i>

And what a circle it is. I've read a number of thrillers in the last couple years, but this one is up there as one of the best ones. I loved it. The writing style is near perfection. Without being overly descriptive and wordy, the author clearly paints an image of everything we (the reader) sees. From what I see on Goodreads, this is the author's first book, which is quite surprising. It is so well done and I'm very much looking forward to reading what she writes next.

I'd highly recommend this--even better if you can read it by the ocean/pool/lake.

<i>But what could I have done? What can you do? You can't save everyone. Sometimes you just have to save yourself.</i>

Oh my! This plot pulls you in deep. Erin and Mark seem to be one with the 'beautiful people'. Then I've event and then the unbelievable starts to play out. I really like that most of the questions get answered. If you like the psychological thrillers this is for you.

Such a great character study, this novel. I loved how we went from Erin burying the body, then back-tracked to the beginning--it's been done many times, but in this case it was superbly executed.

Great character insights through Erin's eyes throughout, and although the plot line is a bit of stretch, I was happy to go along because of the great writing. A book that lives up to its description and comparison to Ruth Ware, etc.

I'll be putting this author on my favorite list.

Wow what can I say I loved it, loved how the first chapter just pulls you into the story and sets it up that you have to continue on with it to see how and why there is a body, how the main characters got to where they are , just wow , with that said thinks Netgalley for giving me a chance at reading and reviewing Something in the Water .

Wow! This was a great read!!! The opening chapter completely hooks you as our main character Erin is burying a body in the woods. We quickly go back in time to figure out how she got to this point, and one would never believe that Erin could find herself in this situation. It was such a great ride to see how one small, but big decision, snowballs into such a big event that we get to our opening scene of her burying a body. What a thrilling plot with all kinds of twists and turns as Erin and her husband Mark deal with a sudden ethically and legally challenging issue. Love the characters, the plot, and the ending. Such a great read; can't wait to read more from this author!

Although the ending was predictable and the storyline was far fetched, it was a fun ride. The fast pace and action packed novel makes for a entertaining and satisfying summer read.

'Something in the Water' is a fast-pacing, nail-biting mystery-thriller that grabbed me from the first page. The opening pages are fantastic--the main character, Erin is digging a grave, but whose grave is it? Flashback to several months previously, and Erin is happily engaged to man she adores, enjoying a successful career, and planning her wedding and honeymoon. So what went so horribly wrong?

Reading this book is like watching a car crash in slow motion. You know things are going to end very badly, but you are powerless to stop it. All you can do is hang on (and shout at the main characters for their self-destructive choices).

I recommend to anyone who likes a fast-paced, enjoyable thriller that will keep them guessing. This will be a great summer read!

This was such a great, entertaining read. I absolutely couldn’t put it down and when I had to, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Mark and Erin were such a lovely couple who seemed to have everything - but who couldn’t seem to keep from wanting more. The situations that arose from that desire were terrifying and also delicious to watch -you know that guilty deliciousness that comes from watching someone else’s train wreck? And I loved every minute of it. Not sure what that says about me but it’s what I read this genre for in part. And this one served that up in spades, that whew! I’m so glad this isn’t happening to me feeling.

I don’t think I will ever look out at the ocean in quite the same way ever again and I may be taking Bora Bora off my bucket list. No, not really. Actually the descriptions of Bora Bora were gorgeous and I loved the locations in Switzerland and England as well. They definitely set the stage well for this dark and twisty tale.

I highly recommend this one to lovers of psychological suspense. This was a delicious one!

This book was very interesting. I was intrigued throughout the whole book just because I wanted to see what Erin would do next. It definitely caught my attention in the beginning and I was anxious to see how it would end.

Something In The Water is difficult for me to review as there wasn't much original about it and it was one of those books where the outcome was a little too overtly foreshadowed throughout the beginning chapters. Those two issues, just compounded my frustration with the lead character, Erin, who made so many ill-conceived decisions throughout the novel that it was honestly just hard to swallow. Erin and her husband find "something in the water". Literally almost every decision she makes after that point is what ANY reader can see is the wrong one. In most thriller novels, there are one or two moments like that, which if few enough, the reader can forgive. In Something In The Water, it happened too frequently for me to forgive. It was enough to make me want to quit reading multiple times. Alas, I have a problem quitting any book I have invested time into, so I did finish it. The ending was ok.

Full disclosure, I had my hopes way up high for this novel when I added it to my TBR list over a year ago after reading that Reese Witherspoon's production company had bought the film rights for it. It sounded so good! Therefore, my disappointment was a bit greater than it would have been if this had just been a novel I picked up without any built up anticipation. I think most readers will enjoy this as a routine thriller to pass a few hours with this summer. I ultimately decided to give the book three stars rather than two because after it was over, I determined the book wasn't aiming to be high literature, just a soapy, fun summer-thriller. And based on that description, Something In The Water was enjoyable enough.

A newlywed couple decides to keep a suitcase of diamonds and cash they find while scuba diving off the coast of Bora Bora and the inevitable results ensue.

The lead character in this story was very annoying. She just couldn't leave well enough alone. A lot talking about trust but none given. The boyfriend was always saying everything is fine, but of course it wasn't. The story was too slow moving and too much detail and information about things that weren't important to story. The ending seemed to come out of nowhere.

This novel just grabbed me and I couldn't let go if I wanted to and when it was done I was left in this bewildered mess like what just happened? Definitely recommend this if you need some adventure in your life...but need it safely through books.

Erin and Mark are excited to go on their honeymoon to Bora Bora. It's an expensive trip that they can't afford, since Mark has recently lost his job. (It's hard to feel sorry for this couple as they talk about being nervous about losing their million dollar house and having to downsize their lavish wedding. They clearly don't live in the real world, so it's difficult to connect with them.) Without providing any spoilers, they find something while on vacation that could make a huge difference in their lives, but keeping it could clearly put them in danger.

Erin's poor decision-making skills lead to most of the tension in the novel, but also to a lot of frustration for the reader. It's hard to imagine anyone making the decisions she does, so it stretches credulity a bit. It's a bit cheesy, and definitely has some unbelievable moments, but overall it's a fun little page-turner.

I enjoyed this book. I read this is a first novel for Ms. Steadman. Well, she did a remarkable job. I couldn't put the book down, I needed to know what would happen next. The characters are spot on. A naive young bride and the man she looks up to as her husband. The hardened criminal showing kindness I'm trying to help her. All mesh well to tell the story. The storyline ran smoothly. Awesome book.
5 Stars

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman. A young couple, Erin and Mark, are getting married. They have their stuggles, but things change dramatically when Mark loses his job. The wedding plans change, but they still can go on their honeymoon to Bora Bora. When they are snorkeling, they come across a bag and Mark goes under to see what might be down in the water. He discovers a plane with the passengers on it - and Mark says they are "bad people". They open the bag and discover money, jewels, and usb/phone - and figure out that there is a Russian connection to the bag.
Erin and Mark keep the bag - but nothing comes without a price. Erin and Mark discover that this bag brings a fortune but also a fate. Can they get away with this without anyone discovering who they are......or will they be "found out"...
Really good! Written in first person - Erin - the reader takes the journey in Erin's mind and this takes it to a new level - I really couldn't put this down to find out what was really going on...Recommend.

Received this from NetGalley and the publisher as an advanced reader copy in return for an honest review! It's hard to let you know what this is about, without giving any spoilers. Erin and Mark are newlyweds on their honeymoon. While snorkeling, they find something in the water that will change their lives and their relationship forever. I will be honest, when I first started reading this book, I was not sure I was going to like Erin. When you read the book you will understand. As I kept reading though, I slowly started to understand where things may be going. She did very frustrating things at times, but due to those things, the book kept me on the edge of my seat. Although in my head I said I would never do those things, or my husband wouldn't, if you really put yourself in their place you start to wonder..
I would hope that I would do the right thing. Highly recommend this book for fast-paced suspense! And for those that like their books without bad language and detailed sex scenes, this is also a book for you. I missed neither. I can't guarantee no bad language but I don't recall any.

Erin and Mark are sickeningly happy. The kind of couple that has sex every single day and it's always amazing, who have pet names and miss each other when they're apart, who risk their lives for each other. The kind of couple you hate just because they are so happy.

But you can't always see what's lurking below the surface.

Just as they are starting their lives together as a married couple, they find "Something in the Water" during their honeymoon that changes everything. Thus begins a sequence of events that is as riveting as it is unbelievable. I admit I had to suspend my disbelief in order to get past the fact that some rich Russian thugs were hunting them down AND the police were investigating Erin in connection with terrorism, all while they are opening Swiss bank accounts and selling a bag of diamonds and going about their regular everyday business. Simultaneously. Within the space of a couple of weeks. But, I suppose, "That's the way life works, isn't it—nothing, and then everything at once." Although farfetched, having that many problems all at once makes it more difficult to figure out who the "bad guy" really is.

I found myself cringing at Erin's naiveté and mentally smacking her upside the head for being so dumb/impulsive/thoughtless/secretive/risky. She knew everything she was doing was incredibly stupid, yet she kept chugging along. Turning on the phone was the worst possible thing she could have done...everyone who's watched Law & Order or NCIS knows that. Trusting and confiding in Eddie was a huge gamble. And how did she not realize immediately that Patrick wasn't from the prison? Hell, taking the bag in the first place was far from a brilliant idea. But even I didn't see Mark's betrayal coming until right before Erin realizes it herself.

In the end, everything fit together perfectly: Erin had a perfectly believable explanation, and she didn't have to come clean about the bag or the plane crash or anything they'd done. Everything except Mark. Did he really love her? (He had to have loved her—it's not like she was rich from the beginning, to justify marrying her and then betraying her.) If he did love her, how could he have betrayed her like that? What was his ultimate plan—to kill her, or just disappear with the money, without a trace? When did he come up with this plan—in the middle of their honeymoon? And why did he turn on her out of the blue? It's not like he could have been planning that for the entirety of their relationship, and he couldn't have known anything like that would ever happen. Or did he just decide to seize the opportunity when it presented itself? And if so, why did he even marry Erin at all? Oh, and, one other thing: What the heck was on that flash drive?!

I did find parts of this novel tedious: Erin's long inner monologues (with the same questions over and over), the educational info dumps (the significance of the size of champagne bubbles?), lengthy dialogue with no interruption (no one talks that long without doing something!), the fully transcribed phone conversations (we don't need to hear them from hello to goodbye). That said, it was still an excellent book, one I may have to read again later to pick up on the subtle hints I'm sure I missed before.... and I will definitely pick up Steadman's next book!

I was really disappointed in this book. After the prologue I’d thought I had found another amazing thriller.... but I was wrong.

The entire book just seemed too drawn out, too much happened, and there were too many unnecessary events and details.

It felt like the author tried too hard to mislead us. The ending also fell flat. And while I’m curious about the news event that takes place when the book ends, I don’t plan to get the follow up book if there is one.