Something in the Water is a stunning debut novel by Catherine Steadman,it begins with a Erin digging a grave but for who ? The book had me gripped from page one and centres around Erin and her husband Mark who seem to have it all money,good jobs and no worries but then Mark loses his job and cracks begin to show in their relationship,but they marry and honeymoon in Bora Bora where their lives will never be the same again as they come across diamonds and money whilst diving.They both think their money worries are over and look forward to a dream life,but events don't work out how they hoped and both are faced with dilemmas that will stretch their relationship to the limit and question who they can really trust.A great thriller that i couldn't put down with a great ending.If this is the quality of novel that Alison Steadman is going to write then i for one will be looking forward to her next book.A superb 5 star read.

I liked the author's style of writing but I found the story to be too far fetched to be believable

I liked the writing of this book, and to an extent I enjoyed the storyline. However, I just found it to be a little far-fetched. I don't understand how any of the things that happened would actually be feasible to happen?! It just seemed like a fantasy novel. I loved Catherine's writing style though

What would you do if you found a million dollars and a bag of diamonds, and you knew that the people they belonged to were dead at the bottom of the sea? Erin and Mark, newlyweds on their honeymoon are faced with the very same question, and, well, they go down the finders keepers route. But of course, the kind of people who carry around a million dollars and bags of diamonds with them on a private plane ride across Bora Bora usually have unsavoury connections who might want to know where they've disappeared to. Predictably, Erin and Mark take a number of risks to ensure their little deception works in their favour, and -- equally predictably -- not everything goes to plan.

The story is quite riveting right from the start, when Erin (the narrator) is digging a grave, and you realise she's burying her husband. The author does a good job of keeping the pace, even though the story is quite predictable, not just about Mark, but also about what's going to happen. A lot of the shenanigans the couple get up to are quite unbelievable, but if you are willing to suspend disbelief and settle in for the ride, then this is a decent thriller.

(Review copy from Netgalley)

Absolutely loved this book. A very unusual story that held me firmly in it's grip the whole way through. One of those books that you did not want to end. Wonderful stuff.

Aghhh Erin is so annoying. How can such a supposedly intelligent woman get her self into this type of situation?

I found this book so incredibly frustrating and wanted to repeatedly shout at Erin to just stop. Does this therefore make it a 4* book? In my opinion no as sometimes it just was not credible

Not a bad read though

Since thanks to NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review

This book is quite different ... it starts with someone digging a grave in the woods - the initial intention to dig six feet down. Whoever is digging wishes Mark was there to help. The character talks to the reader directly asking if the reader knows certain facts and then informs the reader of the answer. When the character needs to know something - google supplies the answer. It is a great start to the story and pulls the reader in straight away.
Having completed the initial task this character takes us back three months and we are led through from then to this point with suspense, humour and false leads. YES you want to shout at Erin - are you mad? Don't do it? but then do any of us know what we would do until it happens to us!!
An excellent debut novel ... can't wait to see more from Catherine Steadman.
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster/Netgalley for sending me a digital copy of this novel in return for posting a review of my personal opinion.

This Book starts in the first person with Erin the main character digging a grave for her husband Mark and how hard it is, worryingly it is in great detail which makes you wonder if Catherine Steadman actually has dug a grave, The story then jumps back 3 months which leads us to what is happening in the beginning of the book. It all seemed a bit unlikely, a documentary maker and a banker getting in to all the trouble they get in to but
the idea was great but I found it did drag on a bit in the middle but stick with it as the end was quite good, it would probably work quite well as a movie.

Something in the Water Catherine Steadman.


Let me say from the beginning, I really enjoyed this book.

But, if it was a car it would have a 0-60 of about 5 minutes. Then however, it accelerates and takes you on one hell of a journey, that will have you gasping for breath.

The start of the book sees Erin Locke, a 30 year old documentary maker, digging a grave. But who is the grave for.

3 months earlier Erin was a young woman who was about to get married. Everything is perfect. She is about to start filming a new documentary about prisoners who are about to be released; her husband to be, banker Mark, is about as perfect as can be.

Then things start to go bad. Mark loses his job. The dream honeymoon turns into a nightmare when they find a bag following a storm.

The decisions that they make together, and those that Erin starts to make on her own, lead them into a steady spiral of danger, which will lead back to the start of the book and Erin digging a grave.

This story is brilliant and original. I have to admit I nearly gave in on it, the first 20% of the book is slow, but wow it was worth hanging in.

Erin is one of those characters that you actually like and hate at different times in the book. The story is written in the first person, from her point of view, but I never felt like I actually knew her, or what she was going to do next.

It made for a great read, unpredictable and thrilling.

I got the feeling even Catherine Steadman didn’t know what Erin was going to do next, or how she would react to some of the situations she finds herself in, until she actually wrote them.

Holidays are coming and this would make a great poolside read.

Pages: 400
Publishers: Simon & Schuster UK
Publishing Date: 26th July 2018

This was a tense, page turner that really raced towards its conclusion. I would highly recommend this book if you're after a Summer thriller.
What struck me first was the colloquial voice of the main character, Erin. She "speaks" to the reader directly and we hear her thoughts. For example, "...I'm happy to say that it's about as hard to take apart a handgun and reassemble it as it is to change a Brita water filter. If you're interested." I personally liked that because I instantly felt we had an honest character on our hands who was going to be level with us, even if that meant we might judge her for some of her choices.
My one critical thought was that I felt there was a lot of time spent on descriptions of some things, for example, the First Class lounge in Heathrow's Terminal 5, explored while the character is on the way to Bora Bora. We are told across several pages about BA's First Class Dreamliner seats, the champagne, the BA pajamas, etc., whereas there are only a few lines spent on the main characters' wedding. I found that unusual and it threw me having so much detail in some places and not getting that same level of detail in others. I suppose I like consistency on that! I would also say I found it surprising that I was reading a UK book and that there were so many American spellings - for example the spelling of "check" rather than "cheque", "flavor" and not "flavour". It made me wonder whether that was a purposeful choice.
I was sure that there was at least one more thing to be revealed at the finish of the novel relating to one of Erin's parents... but maybe that's part II!
Overall, a quick, easy read that kept me gripped.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster UK Fiction and Catherine Steadman for an ARC of this book.

A dryly funny thriller that promises to gather momentum but never quite delivers. The main character is well written but everyone else lacks the depth needed to truly engage. That said, the story itself is engaging with plenty to keep you reading, right up to a neat ending.

This twisty psychological thriller is the debut novel by the actress Catherine Steadman. It starts with Erin digging a grave and narrated in the first person we learn from Erin how difficult such a task actually is, it also appears from her narration that the grave is intended for her husband. From this chilling start the book goes back three months and we are introduced to Erin a documentary filmmaker (about to commence a new project involving the lives of three soon to be released prison inmates) and her soon to be husband Mark who is an investment banker. Ostensibly life looks pretty good for both of them but knowing how the book starts you immediately realise that a lot is going to happen in the next three months for this seemingly perfect idyllic life to come apart. The first warning comes when Mark unexpectedly losses his job but despite a downgrading of the wedding the couple nevertheless head off on their honeymoon to a five star resort on the Pacific island of Bora Bora.

The dream honeymoon is progressing well until when on a scuba diving excursion they make a discovery in the water which will dramatically change their lives for ever. Ok you may need to suspend your credibility levels at times for instance Swiss anti-money-laundering law requires you prove where your money is coming from, many certified documents are required in order to open an account. However if you don't look to much into the details and are prepared to accept the unlikelihood of someone encountering members of the Russian Mafia, old South London crime gangs and Islamic State in a short period of time and just go along with the action then I think you may enjoy this. It is certainly fast paced and there are some twists and sub plots to enjoy and you get an insight into Erin's decision making process.

Overall a pretty credible first time effort with enough not to be put down moments. Certainly I would suggest that this could be something to be considered to be taken as a good holiday read. Despite a few misgivings I would overall recommend this book.

Reminiscent of a James Bond Movie with a good twist towards the end! I loved reading this book although at times I had to stop reading as I was so scared for Erin. It will make a wonderful film script. Very enjoyable!

Have you ever wondered how long it takes to dig a grave? This is the question that Steadman presents us with at the beginning of her debut novel (it takes longer than you think apparently.)
We follow a newly married couple on the honeymoon of their dreams to the oasis of Bora Bora where their worlds suddenly change forever when they find something in the water on their scuba diving jaunt.
Fate seems to have certain plans for this couple and as the holiday draws to a close and their marriage is tested, they have to make decisions that will change their lives forever.
Gripping and genuinely frightening, Something In The Water is a sure fire hit. It draws you in, packs a punch and leaves you feeling like you've been involved in something you don't want anyone to know about. I had palpitations reading this!
The perfect book to read on your summer holiday...but just watch out for things in the water...

This is Catherine Steadman’s debut novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Erin and Mark are getting married. They live in a wonderful house and both have great jobs until Mark loses his. This changes Mark’s attitude and Erin doesn’t seem to realise the precarious position this leaves them in financially.

In the meantime she is continuing working on a documentary about three people leaving prison and the crimes they were involved with. I thought these three characters were cleverly developed and just what Erin needed.

On their honeymoon in Bora Bora, they discover a package in the water while out diving and this is where the twists and turns develop rapidly.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster UK Fiction and Catherine Steadman for the ARC of ‘Something in the Water’ in return for my honest review.

Highly enjoyable and strongly recommended.

The premise of this book is so good, it’s different and gripping. I felt it got off to a slow and detailed start but once the bag was found everything ramped up a notch.

The book was building towards an intense ending and I was unsure where it was going to go, sadly I wasn’t satisfied and wanted more answers and more details. The Mark reveal was severely lacking - when did he change? Did he love her? What was his aim? I would have liked a chapter or perhaps epilogue from his perspective to understand his actions and rationale.

Things I’d love to know more about - what Eddie wants from Erin, Eddie in general, what was on the encrypted files, how did Mark know Patrick, what was Holli up to after prison. I also think there was a lot more to explore with the prison documentary storyline and the lives of the prisoners Erin was following.

If the detail and scene setting in the first few chapters was mirrored in the final chapters this would easily be a 5 star read, with plot points lacking and me the reader wanting more it’s just 3.5 Stars.

Thanks to NetGalley, Catherine Steadman and Simon and Schuster for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very good debut novel and is a well written thriller. It took me a little time to get into it but I’m glad I stuck with it as the ending was great.
I’d read more from this author.

For a debut book this had everything. Escapism into the privileged world of exotic holidays in the tropical paradise of Bora Bora at the exclusive Four Seasons Resort Hotel. Erin, and her husband Mark cut short their honeymoon after discovering a life-changing fortune out at sea on a scuba diving trip. They know people will come after them because the money and their cache of diamonds can safely be assumed that they belonged to 'bad people' and there are bad people who will come looking for them unless they can cover their tracks.
This book had me gripped from beginning to end. Catherine Steadman has a successful acting career and I hope she will be able to make time to continue writing.

Erin is a documentary filmmaker and her new husband Mark is an investment banker. They go on their dream honeymoon to Bora Bora. They are thoroughly enjoying their vacation until they find something in the water...
The book seemed to be quite interesting right from the start, but it became a little too illogical and unrealistic for me as it progressed. I didn't really like the ending, and it didn't seem to follow logically from the rest of the story. It isn't a terrible book, but it was less than I had hoped it would be.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. It was very well written but unfortunately not for me.