Something in the Water had me from the first chapter. Well, more accurately, from the first line. I have to say that the opening line is one of the strongest that I've come across in the genre. Catherine Steadman doesn't ease us into this tale, she pulls us in head first. From there our narrator, Erin, takes us back a few months to give a bit of context to where she is when the story opens. The pace does slow down some during the next few chapters and I'll admit that at times I was tempted to skim. Thankfully, I resisted that temptation because there are some important things revealed even though I didn't realize that until later. Once Erin and Mark find what is in the water, the pacing picks up and it's a mix of twists, doubt, and frustration. Yes, frustration. Erin frustrated me to no end with her actions. There were points in this book that I seriously wanted to shake some sense into this woman. In fact, if it were a movie, I would've been talking to her - What are you doing? That's not going to end well! Stop! Don't do that! Then we have her husband, Mark, who comes across as a controlling jerk almost from the very beginning. For two people who are seemingly so much in love, these two spend a crazy amount of time keeping secrets from each other. Oddly enough, the most open person in the story is Eddie, who happens to be in prison. Yes, he's a criminal. Yes, he does favors, but he also expects a return on that investment.Yes, I absolutely loved Eddie! 

My advice - read this one. Read every word and pay attention. Then when you get to the conclusion, look back and count up how many aha moments you missed. And when you're done with that, take a few and really think about how it all played out and ask yourself if given the same set of circumstances, would you make the same decisions as Erin. 

I was a bit disappointed that some questions don't really get answered. At least not completely, but everything considered, I'm not sure I'd want all of those answers if I were in Erin's shoes.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine Books for the ARC of this incredible book.

First off if this is her debut novel then I am certainly looking for future novels by Catherine Steadman because this book was a pleasure to read. Psychological Thrillers seems to be the “genre du jour” right now and each one is always being billed as the next “Girl on the Train” but this is the first book I’ve read that actually lived up to the hype. The plot was very well conceived and the ending really is shocking. I had 3 different scenarios in my mind the whole time I was reading this book and it was not even close to the ending. 

Yes, the beginning of the book is a little mundane but  if you stick through you’ll be rewarded!!! Put this one at the top of the TBR pile!

Something in the Water		Catherine Steadman	6/4/18

“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!

The author does a good job of mounting suspense. This was a fast, entertaining read. I did find some parts of it unbelievable at times but that didn't take away from the enjoyment of the story.

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!

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!

This was a captivating thriller from start to finish. An unusual  plot, a relationship that's dense with subtext and drama, and a pace that propels the reader to the stunning conclusion.

WOW! What a debut novel by Catherine Steadman! The short version of the premise is it's about newlyweds who go on their honeymoon and find  "something in the water." The insanity that follows made it nearly impossible to put this book down. This book keeps you guessing throughout until the very last chapter. There are tons of plot twists and lots of suspense and many times when I thought the plot was headed one way- it went another. I struggle a bit with all the info about the interviews for her documentary but it all made sense in the end. This was a great read and will be looking forward to more from this author in the future. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book for my fair and honest review.

This psychological thriller has depths like the ocean in Bora Bora, where a lot of the main action takes place.  Although the book has a slow start, it quickly builds tension amid the struggles that a young honeymoon couple face.  I really enjoyed the premise of the book, but I would have liked the story to move along faster.  The secondary story of Erin, a documentary filmmaker, interviewing prisoners seemed unnecessary for a long time, but then the reader sees the reason for including this storyline.  I will most remember the moment when the couple,, Erin and Mark, are in the middle of enjoying a dream honeymoon and then discover something in the water that will change their lives.  It was important that they decide together what they will do with their discovery and that Erin was at first very reluctant to participate.  She then becomes the stronger character as she becomes bold and decisive once the die is cast.  Readers of twisted psychological thrillers will enjoy this book, but they should not expect instant gratification.  This book builds slowly to a story that is both engaging and mind-blowing.  Readers cannot help but wonder, “What would I do?”  The couple’s decision to keep secret what they find in the water sets the stage for a thriller that will not disappoint.

Definitely the best debut novel I have ever read! This thriller was so different from other books....loved how the plot was weaved together to make a fantastic story.  I've been recommending to everyone I know. Thanks for the advance copy.  I'll be waiting for her next book!!!

This is not going to be an in depth review. This book has to many ways that I could spoil it unintentionally by writing it up.

Let's just say it's a story about a young couple on their honeymoon in Bora Bora. They find something in the water while scuba diving. The book got me right from the beginning and I couldn't put it down. That's not to say that there were't things that were kind of cliche. That being said, the good out weighs the bad. My advice is to read the book!!

I really enjoyed reading this book! The plot was exciting and it kept me reeling in suspense until the last page! 

In the opening pages you are given a glimpse from a scene near the end of the book with Erin digging a grave. This quickly builds the suspense and raises a bunches of questions about how Erin and her new husband Mark arrive at this future point in time. It is an exciting read to get these questions answered! 

Reading on we are formally introduced to this seemingly normal couple who get married and go on their honeymoon to Bora Bora. There they are surprised to find a bag worth a fortune in the water while scuba diving. The suspense is taken to new levels from this point forward and it became a mad rush for me to finish the book in order to see how their crazy decisions would unfold. It is these crazy choices made by the characters that send them hurdling toward their fate outlined in the first few pages. It is a fast paced and exciting read that gets your heart racing!

Erin is a really interesting character and I enjoyed watching her decisions and wondering would the promise of money really make a normal person make similar choices as her. I can't say I find her a sympathetic character even once I finished the book because of her choices. Erin's flawed nature is written so well and it leaves you wanting to know where she well end up in the future.

Overall, I highly recommend this book! I read it in a couple of sittings because it was hard to put down. I just needed to know what happened in the end! The feeling of suspense was just awesome, something I haven't got from a book in such a long time. 

Thank-you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books at Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

There is one thing that every good book has in common, regardless of genre. Any guesses? Answer: Voice. It's not something specific that can be pointed out most of the time, and it's often times subtle. This book had it from the getgo, obvious from the opening chapter. Hard to ignore. Combine that with an exciting plot and relatable characters, and you have yourself a winner - that's what we have here.

My only complaint is something I can't put my finger on, but I felt like something was missing from the plot. Ultimately there were surprises and appropriate twists and turns, but the action lagged a bit in the middle third. But the voice keeps it going and makes up for the lag in action, and it all wraps up appropriately. I could imagine some being a bit unsatisfied with the conclusion, as it does leave some questions unanswered. But for me, I felt as if enough information was shared to satisfy my commitment, and for that I'm pleased.

All things considered, Something in the Water is a good debut thriller, and I do recommend it. And with that voice...Catherine Steadman is a name to watch.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

WOW. Fantastic debut. Riveting and exciting, this book will keep you guessing.  I could not put it down.. I spent a rainy Sunday reading the entire book. This book tells the tale of a newlywed and her groom, who encounter something on their honeymoon in Bora Bora that changes their lives. Exciting, with a lot of plot twists... I’m looking forward to reading more by Catherine Steadman in the future.

There is a reason greed is one of the seven deadly sins. Greed can ruin the best things in life and in this case, it has its sights set on Erin and Mark, honeymooners in Bora Bora. With him recently unemployed, greed saw an opening into what otherwise may have been a beautiful marriage and partnership. A few times I wanted to yell at the characters about something stupid they had done or something I wasn't sure why they hadn't done. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and spent a lot of time wondering just where it would end up, even though Ms. Steadman tells you right at the beginning of the story. Somehow that helps build the suspense instead of ruining the book.

Very good thriller for this writer's first book.  Maybe it is just me but I kind of figured out what was going on and who was involved by mid book but her fantastic writing skills forced me to keep reading.  Kudos to Catherine Steadman. Thanks to Net Galley for an early release to me for an honest review.

If possible, I'd give this one 3.5 stars. It has a very interesting premise, but there are parts that were entirely too far fetched to even be believable and those parts kept me questioning everything else.

Mark and Erin were rather unlikable and I didn't find myself with a lot of sympathy for them and the mess they were embroiled in. All along, at every step, they had decisions to make and they almost without fail chose the worst they could have.

It was odd to me that a couple supposedly so in love and on their dream honeymoon could so quickly unravel into two individuals completely out for themselves. Nonetheless, everyone likes different things, so give this book a shot and see what you think.

I requested this book on Netgalley and appreciate reading an early copy.

What a great debut novel. From that opening line to the very end got my attention. Could not put it down. The thrill, the suspense is there, all the what if's and what would yo do's. All the suspense and how the story develops through the pages. All the good elements that I always look forward to on a thriller this book has them.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I really, really enjoyed this one!  Initially, I found it a tiny bit slow (other than the big shock at the beginning) but about 20% of the way in, I was glued to my seat and never looked back. I finished this one in a day, that's how good I thought it was. I found myself racing through to see what would happen. At times I found it slightly far-fetched but overall I was intrigued as to how this would all go down. Parts were slightly predictable, but that did not stop me from enjoying this book. This is a great thriller that I would highly recommend. I'd give it 4.5 stars!

I couldn't stop reading this one.  I loved the suspense and how the story took off from an interesting book about newlyweds to a crazy ride after they find their 'treasure'.   Ok, the decisions that make are absurd but that's what made it fun.   

One thing that I think could have been better was the main character's seemingly abrupt changeover to a not-so-rational person.   Would definitely recommend.