Something In The Water by Catherine Steadman @simonschusterUK #book #review @CatSteadman #SomethingInTheWater

Something In The Water by Catherine Steadman

Published by Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: 8th June 2019

Crime Thriller

Book Description:

Erin is a documentary filmmaker on the brink of a professional breakthrough; Mark a handsome investment banker with a bright future. They seem to have it all. But do they?

On a dream honeymoon to the tropical island of Bora Bora, Mark takes Erin scuba diving. Everything is perfect. Until they find something in the water. Something that will change their lives forever. 

Erin and Mark decide to keep their discovery a secret. No one else need know; they trust each other implicitly.
 
But someone else does know. And in situations like these, it is far better to trust no one, not even those closest to you …

My Review:

The opening paragraph of this book is one of the best I have ever read. If ever there are words to intrigue you sufficiently to want to read the rest of the story these are they.  "Have you ever wondered how long it takes to dig a grave? Wonder no longer."

Bombshell dropped, I was into this book straight away. Especially as the scenes then change to the run up to a young professional couple's wedding. Mark works in the respected world of finance, Erin is an up and coming documentary maker.  Surely the initial chapter can't be anything to do with them? Then the possibilities start to open up, with the couple's circumstances changing significantly enough for them to have to rethink their whole wedding. My brain was buzzing with questions as to what could possibly link them to the opening paragraph.

The one part of the wedding they decide not to compromise on is their honeymoon: the trip of a lifetime to Bora Bora.  With their accommodation being a stunning water bungalow, the white sandy beaches and scuba diving opportunities this trip is just what they need after the uncertainties of the previous weeks. The relaxing atmosphere doesn't last long though when a diving expedition throws up more than they ever could imagine.

The tension quickly rises from their hasty retreat from their honeymoon destination, back to the streets of London where Erin tries to get answers to what has happened, all the while trying to think up solutions to the dilemmas they face. It's not the life she imagined for the start of her marriage to the love of her life.  Yet with all that's going on, Mark is keen to stay in the back seat and let Erin be more pro-active. Why would a man let his new wife take all the risks? And why is high profile criminal Eddie getting in touch with Erin from behind bars? What on earth have the young couple got themselves into?

I found this book totally engrossing, and couldn't wait to see just how deep the couple had fallen into the criminal world they found themselves in.  The answers were way off anything I had considered at the beginning of the book and I was shocked and proud at just how brave Erin was.  Husband Mark never ceased to amaze me with the ugly side to his personality.

This is a completely different book to anything I have read before and I enjoyed it from the first page to the last. Knowing who the author is in her other day job I was extremely impressed by this, her debut novel and can't wait to read her future work.

About the Author:

Catherine Steadman is an actress and writer based in North London, UK. She is best known for her role as Mabel Lane Fox in Downton Abbey and is currently filming on the new Starz television series 'The Rook'. She grew up in the New Forest, UK, and lives with a small dog and an average sized man. Something in the Water is her first novel.