Catherine Steadman | SOMETHING IN THE WATER

Plot (via Goodreads):

If you could make one simple choice that would change your life forever, would you? 

Erin is a documentary filmmaker on the brink of a professional breakthrough, Mark a handsome investment banker with big plans. Passionately in love, they embark on a dream honeymoon to the tropical island of Bora Bora, where they enjoy the sun, the sand, and each other. Then, while scuba diving in the crystal blue sea, they find something in the water. . . .

Could the life of your dreams be the stuff of nightmares?

Suddenly the newlyweds must make a dangerous choice: to speak out or to protect their secret. After all, if no one else knows, who would be hurt? Their decision will trigger a devastating chain of events. . . .

Have you ever wondered how long it takes to dig a grave?

Wonder no longer. Catherine Steadman's enthralling voice shines throughout this spellbinding debut novel. With piercing insight and fascinating twists, Something in the Water challenges the reader to confront the hopes we desperately cling to, the ideals we're tempted to abandon, and the perfect lies we tell ourselves. 

Review:

I want to preface this review with the fact that I had a strong feeling about SOMETHING IN THE WATER by Catherine Steadman before I had the chance to get my hands on a copy. I have a strange fascination with those who work in film and television jumping into writing a novel and vice versa. This novel was magnetic the minute I opened it and I was immediately sucked into this one after the first chapter. It was a blessing when the publisher (the wonderful Ballantine Books) reached out to see if I wanted a copy, I said "yes!" and when I saw it was part of the Reese Witherspoon book-club pick, I knew it was going to be something special.

I was right.

I loved how I didn't really know where this story was going or how we were going to get to the events described in the first chapter. What follows was a beautiful and complex story that is not only exciting, but features a story line that just jumps around in the most fantastic way. You never know what is coming and when you finally think you get a grip on what is happening, you are hit with a small twist and the story just takes a completely different turn. I absolutely loved the characters of Erin and Mark. The situations they got themselves into were a little questionable at times, but what I really loved was Steadman's way of creating these characters and reading how they responded to situations and seeing the way they grew and changed throughout the story as we get deeper into what is really going on. It was just so exciting to read and go on this crazy adventurous journey with these two characters.

This novel is a character-driven, adventurous mystery/thriller that is action-packed and full of intrigue. It is such a fun and scandalous summer read that holds you hostage and doesn't let go. The way that some smaller details play a bigger role as the novel progresses is so effective and speeds up the pacing of the novel cleverly. Without spoiling anything, I just absolutely loved how this one really picks up in the last 100 pages with clever pacing and the fantastic approach Steadman took with really increasing the action and twists with this was spectacularly executed.

Special thanks to Ballantine Books for this copy in exchange for my honest review and to Reese Witherspoon for always picking the best books for her book-club!

Rating: 4/5