The Mermaid and the Murders

Danika DelMar is a mermaid but much to her mother’s dismay all she wants to do is be on land and attend high school like a human would. When Danika meets the new boy at school she’s immediately interested but even more so when she finds that he’s also not human but a Salt Golem.

Things seem to be going well for Danika until one day when returning to the sea she finds a dead body. Afraid that the authorities will be too close to her home she moves it closer to shore to be found but when another turns up Danika needs to find out who is behind the killings or risk her secret.

The Mermaid and the Murders started off a bit rocky for me but by the end I loved the creativity with this one. The beginning though started towards fitting in with the popular, “mean” girl crowd which didn’t seem too appealing but thankfully the story got going in another direction fairly quickly.

The story is very imaginative with all the different elements brought into play. Obviously from the title I knew this would involve mermaids but I didn’t expect all of the different things along with them. Along with that we get the added element of suspense as the murders begin taking place which opened up a much bigger plot.

Overall, very creative and engaging fantasy read that I ended up really enjoying.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book from netgalley for review.

I haven't read many books with mermaids before, so this one caught my attention when I saw it available for request. I'm not sure what the common themes are with mermaid stories, but I found a lot of it interesting in this book. How mermaids were all women and that they killed men when they had sex with them. Definitely not a book for a younger kid since there is sex and murder. I found some of the character's very likable, but others, not as much. The different types of sea creatures are interesting and I'm curious to see where the story will go in the next book (hopefully there will be one).

I went into this with no expectations. My review copies from Netgalley have been pretty hit or miss lately but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I wasnt expecting all the different creatures which was definitely a bonus. Right from the first chapter the murders added a great layer of mystery.

I would consider this more new adult than young adult due to the details about sex and the murders. At first I was a little confused about how the mermaids have sex but its explained later on. Theres some romance but its not overbearing which I really appreciated. I enjoy romance but I like it when the plot can stand on its own.

I didnt want to put this book down and my mind didnt wander off like it tends to do when I get bored or when I feel disconnected from the characters. I wasnt constantly checking how much of the book I had left to read and when I did check I couldnt believe how much I had already read.

Having a lot in common with the main character Danika made me like her even more. I love learning and I could relate to her struggles with protecting her family secrets. I was also part of a popular group growing up and I tried to be nice to other people even if my group wasnt.

I loved her relationship with Sam. Im somehwhat picky when it comes to love interest because I find most of them are way to cocky or down right controlling. This wasnt the case with Sam. I thought he was the cutest and sweetest thing in the world. He was supportive and protective without being jealous or controlling.

This story was entertaining with a wonderful love interest and some great intrigue. My only issue with it is that it didnt really move me emotionally but besides that it was fantastic. I also really enjoyed how it all wrapped up nicely at the end. Im excited for the sequel and would love a chance to review it.

The Mermaid and the Murders is a fast-paced, murder-mystery kind of YA book. I loved following the main character, Danika, as she tried to solve the murders and as she tried to figure out how to live her life (in the water or on land). I also loved the different kinds of mythology that was used in this book. Seriously, I've never heard of a salt golem until I read this. Rachel Graves does add a bit of new mythology to the mermaid genre, but didn't stray too far from the mermaids you'd normally see(which can be either a pro or a con, depending on your POV). I wasn't a huge fan of some of Danika's relationships with other characters and the plot seemed a bit juvenile but overall, I'd say an interesting book for someone who likes to read about mermaids, murders and sex.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I've really only read one other book about mermaids at this point, and I found I enjoyed the authors take on the mermaid community. Granted, their take on life definitely doesn't match mine, but I found it interesting. The inclusion of the other sea creatures all seemed to tie the story line together as well, and I really enjoyed being able to join in on the experience of Danika DelMar, the protagonist. This book might take a few gruesome turns here and there, but it is told well and in an easy to follow manner. I recommend this read to individuals that enjoy fantasy and mystery novels.

This was an interesting read. The lore and history of the mermaids was fascinating. I also enjoyed seeing other undersea mythical beasties.