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Tails from the Deep
Three sisters vying for attention.
One matriarch to keep them in line.
A world of adventure filled with nefarious characters, hidden secrets, mysterious activities, and sunken treasure.
Sunken treasure?
Yes, sunken treasure. Because this is the ocean, where pearls are common, crimes are not, and mysteries lurk behind every cluster of coral.
Welcome to Sirenia, the mermaid colony in unchartered waters!
TAILS FROM THE DEEP – Mermaid Mystery #1
There’s something fishy going on at the edge of Sirenia…
Zoe wasn’t looking for trouble. As the middle daughter in a family of three mermaid sisters, she never gets the attention she deserves. She spends her days frolicking with sea creatures by the sunken battleship that sits at the edge of Sirenia, and her nights being lectured about danger. But when she finds a diver trapped in the kelp by the wreckage, she overcomes her shock to free him. The problem? The only available tool to cut him loose is the knife in the body on the ocean floor by his feet.
What happens when a mermaid saves dangerous stranger?
If you’re that mermaid, you might have to solve a mystery to save yourself.
Zoe learns the diver is a detective tasked with solving the dead man’s murder. Being in the unique position of finding evidence underwater, Zoe volunteers to help . . . until she finds a clue that links the body to her older sister. Now the only way to ensure the safety of her sister—and protect the mermaid colony she always dreamed of leaving behind—is to discover the dead man’s identity herself. Zoe is used to being invisible around the other mermaids, but what happens when her sleuthing for clues exposes herself to the humans who may be responsible for a murder? With the evidence hidden in the ocean floor, digging for clues could lead to an early grave . . . in Davy Jones’s Locker.
You’ll love splashing around in the virtual world of Sirenia, because mermaid mysteries are the perfect escapist fiction.
Get it now!
One matriarch to keep them in line.
A world of adventure filled with nefarious characters, hidden secrets, mysterious activities, and sunken treasure.
Sunken treasure?
Yes, sunken treasure. Because this is the ocean, where pearls are common, crimes are not, and mysteries lurk behind every cluster of coral.
Welcome to Sirenia, the mermaid colony in unchartered waters!
TAILS FROM THE DEEP – Mermaid Mystery #1
There’s something fishy going on at the edge of Sirenia…
Zoe wasn’t looking for trouble. As the middle daughter in a family of three mermaid sisters, she never gets the attention she deserves. She spends her days frolicking with sea creatures by the sunken battleship that sits at the edge of Sirenia, and her nights being lectured about danger. But when she finds a diver trapped in the kelp by the wreckage, she overcomes her shock to free him. The problem? The only available tool to cut him loose is the knife in the body on the ocean floor by his feet.
What happens when a mermaid saves dangerous stranger?
If you’re that mermaid, you might have to solve a mystery to save yourself.
Zoe learns the diver is a detective tasked with solving the dead man’s murder. Being in the unique position of finding evidence underwater, Zoe volunteers to help . . . until she finds a clue that links the body to her older sister. Now the only way to ensure the safety of her sister—and protect the mermaid colony she always dreamed of leaving behind—is to discover the dead man’s identity herself. Zoe is used to being invisible around the other mermaids, but what happens when her sleuthing for clues exposes herself to the humans who may be responsible for a murder? With the evidence hidden in the ocean floor, digging for clues could lead to an early grave . . . in Davy Jones’s Locker.
You’ll love splashing around in the virtual world of Sirenia, because mermaid mysteries are the perfect escapist fiction.
Get it now!
110 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2019
79 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Diane Vallere
86 books1,016 followersRequest MY NIGHTMARE IS YOURS on NetGalley: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...
I use Goodreads to track my reading and TBR list. For that reason, my rating scale is less important. I don't force myself to finish books, and I don't rate books I DNF. Each year I choose my own BOTY from my have-read list.
AUTHOR BIO: Diane Vallere is the national bestselling author of several mystery series. She edited the Agatha Award-winning essay collection Promophobia: Taking the Mystery out of Promoting Crime Fiction. Diane majored in art history at the College of William and Mary and worked in luxury retailing before reigniting her love of fiction. She currently lives in Pennsylvania. Find out more at: www.dianevallere.com.
Amazon: http://bit.ly/DianeVallere
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3aVXczm
YouTube: https://bit.ly/2RfiyAE
I use Goodreads to track my reading and TBR list. For that reason, my rating scale is less important. I don't force myself to finish books, and I don't rate books I DNF. Each year I choose my own BOTY from my have-read list.
AUTHOR BIO: Diane Vallere is the national bestselling author of several mystery series. She edited the Agatha Award-winning essay collection Promophobia: Taking the Mystery out of Promoting Crime Fiction. Diane majored in art history at the College of William and Mary and worked in luxury retailing before reigniting her love of fiction. She currently lives in Pennsylvania. Find out more at: www.dianevallere.com.
Amazon: http://bit.ly/DianeVallere
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3aVXczm
YouTube: https://bit.ly/2RfiyAE
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 24, 2019
Diane Vallere’s books always provide out of this world adventures. This time we are taken under the sea to explore the lives of Zoe the mermaid and her family. Zoe is an entertaining main character and the story keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is easy to feel a connection with the characters and there is so much potential for Zoe and her future adventures!
May 26, 2019
Mermaids and murder.
This was an interesting story. Mermaid and how they live were explored. The murder involved humans and the protective boundary that exists to stop invasion of underwater homes. I loved the Emporium and how undersea people shop and barter. A new way to look at mysteries.
This was an interesting story. Mermaid and how they live were explored. The murder involved humans and the protective boundary that exists to stop invasion of underwater homes. I loved the Emporium and how undersea people shop and barter. A new way to look at mysteries.
July 19, 2019
As soon as I heard the author was planning a mermaid cozy mystery series I knew I had to read it. It just sounded to unique and fun. And that's exactly what this book was; a lot of fun. The mix between mystery elements and mermaid parts was well done and it gave an unique twist to the mystery or an extra dimension to the mermaid story depending on how you look at it. I enjoyed learning about the mermaid world and having a bit of mystery as well.
The mystery wasn't as strong as in many cozies. Tails of the Deep is a pretty short read and the mystery gets resolved rather quickly. There aren't many suspects or twists and I wasn't surprised at the murderer. The resolution did feel rather sudden and a bit rushed and there wasn't much of a wrap up where things were put in it's place and explained. I was left with some questions and would've liked to see a bit more about how this got resolved and how everyone reacted to what happened. I liked seeing how Zoe got involved in this mystery and how she had this taste for adventure.
So while you might not want to read this one for the mystery, I would recommend it if you're looking for a fun read. I enjoyed the underwater world Diane Vallere created in this book and following Zoe's adventures. It was fun to see how different these three sisters are and I am looking forward to the stories of the other two sisters. I think I also enjoyed this extra as I was looking for a fun light hearted book and that's exactly what this one was.
Zoe is the middle sister, she doesn't have special privileges like her older sister or is the baby of the family like her younger sister. She longs for adventure, even tough that's not the mermaid way. It was fun to see her explore a sunken skip and stumble upon a murder and how determine she is to figure out what happened. While she doesn't hesitate to put herself in danger, she did some smart things as well and was pretty protective of her sisters.
The author did a great job showing what life underneath the ocean was like. The author gave a good feel for what their society and community was like and I liked how the mermaids could communicate by song and how the songs were part of the story. There also is a bit of how society views mermaids and how Zoe didn't follow that image. I liked the idea of a treaty between humans and mermaids that protected the mermaids and it made a lot of sense. Then again there were also some parts that confused me a bit like how they can read underwater or how not everything floated away. But nevertheless the world had a lot of flavor and I could image what everything looked like even though I had some questions remaining. I also liked some of the unique touches like how they talked to all the sea creatures and the market.
To summarize: This is a fun mermaid themed read with a light mystery. This book was just a lot of fun to read. It is pretty short and the mystery feels a bit quick. The mystery wasn't as complicated as in most cozies, but it did add an extra theme/ focus to the book. The resolution to the mystery felt a bit rushed though and I remained with some questions. I enjoyed getting a feel for how these mermaids lived underwater, their community and society and their rules. While some things didn't quite make sense and I have some questions left, overall it was great to get a feel for this underwater society. There were some nice unique touches. I would recommend this is you're looking for a fun mermaid read with a mystery as well.
The mystery wasn't as strong as in many cozies. Tails of the Deep is a pretty short read and the mystery gets resolved rather quickly. There aren't many suspects or twists and I wasn't surprised at the murderer. The resolution did feel rather sudden and a bit rushed and there wasn't much of a wrap up where things were put in it's place and explained. I was left with some questions and would've liked to see a bit more about how this got resolved and how everyone reacted to what happened. I liked seeing how Zoe got involved in this mystery and how she had this taste for adventure.
So while you might not want to read this one for the mystery, I would recommend it if you're looking for a fun read. I enjoyed the underwater world Diane Vallere created in this book and following Zoe's adventures. It was fun to see how different these three sisters are and I am looking forward to the stories of the other two sisters. I think I also enjoyed this extra as I was looking for a fun light hearted book and that's exactly what this one was.
Zoe is the middle sister, she doesn't have special privileges like her older sister or is the baby of the family like her younger sister. She longs for adventure, even tough that's not the mermaid way. It was fun to see her explore a sunken skip and stumble upon a murder and how determine she is to figure out what happened. While she doesn't hesitate to put herself in danger, she did some smart things as well and was pretty protective of her sisters.
The author did a great job showing what life underneath the ocean was like. The author gave a good feel for what their society and community was like and I liked how the mermaids could communicate by song and how the songs were part of the story. There also is a bit of how society views mermaids and how Zoe didn't follow that image. I liked the idea of a treaty between humans and mermaids that protected the mermaids and it made a lot of sense. Then again there were also some parts that confused me a bit like how they can read underwater or how not everything floated away. But nevertheless the world had a lot of flavor and I could image what everything looked like even though I had some questions remaining. I also liked some of the unique touches like how they talked to all the sea creatures and the market.
To summarize: This is a fun mermaid themed read with a light mystery. This book was just a lot of fun to read. It is pretty short and the mystery feels a bit quick. The mystery wasn't as complicated as in most cozies, but it did add an extra theme/ focus to the book. The resolution to the mystery felt a bit rushed though and I remained with some questions. I enjoyed getting a feel for how these mermaids lived underwater, their community and society and their rules. While some things didn't quite make sense and I have some questions left, overall it was great to get a feel for this underwater society. There were some nice unique touches. I would recommend this is you're looking for a fun mermaid read with a mystery as well.
June 11, 2019
“Tales from the Deep” by Diane Vallere is the first book in the “Mermaid Mystery” series. Zoe, Kyra, and Ava are three mermaid sisters from Sirenia, one of many mermaid colonies across the ocean run by strong female Mer-Mothers. Mermaids are the royalty of the ocean, peaceful, beautiful, elegant, and intuitive. This is Zoe’s coming of age story, “I want my own role,” and the story continues in her first person narrative.
Zoe is well read, “I’d read about it in books from the Library Under the Sea.” She also expounds her life philosophy; “There are times when we need to accept our actions and stand behind them, whether they were condoned or not.” She talks directly to readers, discussing what she thinks about things, “The human world was very inconvenient;” describing what she does, “You already know what I did. I swam closer;” sharing what she sees, “I peeked over the side of the shipwreck. I spied a diver.” However, she saw much more than just a diver, “blood came from the body lying on the ocean floor next to the diver’s foot.”
In her search for answers, she meets Seth, a police diver, and together they seek information about the death. The more Zoe searches for answers, the more questions she has, including concerns about Seth’s involvement in the mystery.
Capitalism is alive and well on the ocean floor. Mad Midge runs the local emporium. “She was financially secure. Anything else she sold was extra, though that didn’t stop her from stocking unusual items to attract people to her stand at the weekly market.”
“Tales from the Deep” is an altogether fun book to read. It has all the usual components of cozy mystery, a dead body, police, clues, ill-gotten gain, revenge, and greed, but all under water. “‘That’s the thing about dark waters,’ he said. ‘You can’t tell what’s lurking in them.’“ The action is understated, but readers of crime fiction will enjoy reading it and taking a break from headache- inducing stress of other books. It is interesting, fun, and still suspenseful. It might be a fun kids' movie musical, except the underlying crime and murder do not really encourage protagonists and mermaids to break out in song. Of course, my opinion might have been influenced by the three-year old twins who were watching “The Little Mermaid” DVD while I read the book, but it’s all good.
Zoe is well read, “I’d read about it in books from the Library Under the Sea.” She also expounds her life philosophy; “There are times when we need to accept our actions and stand behind them, whether they were condoned or not.” She talks directly to readers, discussing what she thinks about things, “The human world was very inconvenient;” describing what she does, “You already know what I did. I swam closer;” sharing what she sees, “I peeked over the side of the shipwreck. I spied a diver.” However, she saw much more than just a diver, “blood came from the body lying on the ocean floor next to the diver’s foot.”
In her search for answers, she meets Seth, a police diver, and together they seek information about the death. The more Zoe searches for answers, the more questions she has, including concerns about Seth’s involvement in the mystery.
Capitalism is alive and well on the ocean floor. Mad Midge runs the local emporium. “She was financially secure. Anything else she sold was extra, though that didn’t stop her from stocking unusual items to attract people to her stand at the weekly market.”
“Tales from the Deep” is an altogether fun book to read. It has all the usual components of cozy mystery, a dead body, police, clues, ill-gotten gain, revenge, and greed, but all under water. “‘That’s the thing about dark waters,’ he said. ‘You can’t tell what’s lurking in them.’“ The action is understated, but readers of crime fiction will enjoy reading it and taking a break from headache- inducing stress of other books. It is interesting, fun, and still suspenseful. It might be a fun kids' movie musical, except the underlying crime and murder do not really encourage protagonists and mermaids to break out in song. Of course, my opinion might have been influenced by the three-year old twins who were watching “The Little Mermaid” DVD while I read the book, but it’s all good.
March 14, 2020
Zoe is the middle of three sisters, the daughters of Mother, the leader of the merfolk settlement Sirenia somewhere under the sea. Unlike her other sisters, Zoe loves to explore. One of her favorite places is a shipwreck beyond the edges of her merfolk village. She sneaks out there quite frequently, so when things seem off one day, she is quick to notice. When she returns the next day, she finds a human diver trapped on the bottom next to a dead body. She frees the diver, but her actions lead to questions that might impact her settlement. Can she figure out who to trust and what is really going on?
Mermaid mysteries are definitely something different, but I couldn’t resist when Diane announced she was going to write these. After all, I love the water, so the idea of living under the sea, at least for a few pages, was too irresistible. I’m glad I did because I enjoyed this story. This reads very much like a cozy murder mystery with plenty of twists and turns. The end was a little abrupt, but that’s a minor issue. As we read, we also get a feel for mermaid culture, which was a delight. Many of the slight twists on our world and expectations made me smile. It was definitely well thought out. We also get to know Zoe very well over the course of the story since is many ways these stories are coming of age stories in addition to mysteries. Since it is a 100 page novella, there isn’t tons of character development for the rest of the characters, but they still come across as real. The other two stories focus on Zoe’s sisters, and I can’t wait to see how they are developed and how that fits with Zoe’s take on her sisters. If you are looking for a slight fantasy edge to your cozy, I definitely recommend this novella for something different.
NOTE: This story, along with the stories of Zoe’s sisters, are included in the Mermaid Mysteries anthology. Buy them individually or as a set, but there is no need to buy both.
Read my review of all three novellas at Carstairs Considers.
Mermaid mysteries are definitely something different, but I couldn’t resist when Diane announced she was going to write these. After all, I love the water, so the idea of living under the sea, at least for a few pages, was too irresistible. I’m glad I did because I enjoyed this story. This reads very much like a cozy murder mystery with plenty of twists and turns. The end was a little abrupt, but that’s a minor issue. As we read, we also get a feel for mermaid culture, which was a delight. Many of the slight twists on our world and expectations made me smile. It was definitely well thought out. We also get to know Zoe very well over the course of the story since is many ways these stories are coming of age stories in addition to mysteries. Since it is a 100 page novella, there isn’t tons of character development for the rest of the characters, but they still come across as real. The other two stories focus on Zoe’s sisters, and I can’t wait to see how they are developed and how that fits with Zoe’s take on her sisters. If you are looking for a slight fantasy edge to your cozy, I definitely recommend this novella for something different.
NOTE: This story, along with the stories of Zoe’s sisters, are included in the Mermaid Mysteries anthology. Buy them individually or as a set, but there is no need to buy both.
Read my review of all three novellas at Carstairs Considers.
September 15, 2019
It was fun taking a dive into Diane Vallere new Mermaid Mystery series. I've never read a book with mermaids before. I love the author and thought it looked cute. It was refreshing to have a different setting. Can't wait to read about the other two sisters.
June 7, 2019
If you’ve ever wondered just what goes on under the sea (especially in the lives of mermaids), I highly recommend that you read Diane Vallere’s mystery Tails From the Deep, the first in a mermaid cozy mystery series. Tails from the Deep features Zoe, the middle sister in a trio of mermaids. Zoe’s older sister, Ava, is the “responsible one” while her younger sister, Kyra, is the flirtatious one. This leaves Zoe to explore, which is her favorite thing to do. And it is this exploring that leads her to the site of a sunken ship, where she discovers a dead human body and a human diver investigating the scene. After she discovers a clue pointing to Ava, Zoe dives deeper into the investigation, putting not only herself but all of Sirenia (the mermaid kingdom) in danger.
I found this story to be utterly charming. Diane Vallere’s description of the setting is lush and detailed and very colorful, making you feel like you are there - or at the very least, you want to see pictures. There are also “sea related” parallels to the human world. Themes such as acceptance of those who are different and concern for the environment are present without distracting from the main story.
Zoe is an appealing protagonist. She is headstrong enough to follow her desire to explore and yet self aware enough to consider the consequences of her actions and not rush headlong into things. She has a fairly good relationship with her sisters, though it is not without contention. I do wish Zoe had a friend or sidekick, though. Perhaps she will find one in the next story.
The mystery is involved and has plenty of suspects and a few red herrings (appropriate for a mystery set in the undersea world). While it does come to a conclusion somewhat quickly, the resolution is satisfying and does leave room for another tail (or two). I am looking forward to “Murky Waters”, the second in the series. I’m excited to see where Zoe’s next adventure will take her.
I found this story to be utterly charming. Diane Vallere’s description of the setting is lush and detailed and very colorful, making you feel like you are there - or at the very least, you want to see pictures. There are also “sea related” parallels to the human world. Themes such as acceptance of those who are different and concern for the environment are present without distracting from the main story.
Zoe is an appealing protagonist. She is headstrong enough to follow her desire to explore and yet self aware enough to consider the consequences of her actions and not rush headlong into things. She has a fairly good relationship with her sisters, though it is not without contention. I do wish Zoe had a friend or sidekick, though. Perhaps she will find one in the next story.
The mystery is involved and has plenty of suspects and a few red herrings (appropriate for a mystery set in the undersea world). While it does come to a conclusion somewhat quickly, the resolution is satisfying and does leave room for another tail (or two). I am looking forward to “Murky Waters”, the second in the series. I’m excited to see where Zoe’s next adventure will take her.
June 10, 2019
I admit, I was feeling a bit hesitant when I received a review copy of “Tails From The Deep” by Diane Vallere. The book is a mixed genre – a cozy murder mystery featuring a main character (Zoe) who is a mermaid. Not exactly a mainstream genre and also not what I might normally read. Fantasy elements can be tricky to pull off and while I like fantasy stories, I am not a big fan of hybrid animal tales. For instance, I don’t like the television show “Bojack Horseman” but I like “Charlotte’s Web”.
So I was relieved to find myself enjoying the book. It was a bit more light-hearted and straight forward than the author’s previous books, probably because it is geared to a much younger demographic than the author’s normal fare. Also, you definitely have to suspend your disbelief and not worry about the science of undersea life. Just think of it as if The Little Mermaid got involved in a murder mystery.
If that sounds fun, then try this book since it is a quick read. Think of it as a light snack before moving on to the entrée of Vallere’s other books. My one gripe- although sharks were talked about, none of them actually appeared in the story, not even when there was dead bodies and blood in the water. Oh well, maybe in the next book. If you love this particular genre though, then you are in luck because I believe there are two more books in the series coming out very soon, one for each of Zoe’s two sisters. I’m curious to see if they will be self-contained stories for each sister or if they will focus on Zoe, but through her sister’s eyes. Take a dive into this fun series!
So I was relieved to find myself enjoying the book. It was a bit more light-hearted and straight forward than the author’s previous books, probably because it is geared to a much younger demographic than the author’s normal fare. Also, you definitely have to suspend your disbelief and not worry about the science of undersea life. Just think of it as if The Little Mermaid got involved in a murder mystery.
If that sounds fun, then try this book since it is a quick read. Think of it as a light snack before moving on to the entrée of Vallere’s other books. My one gripe- although sharks were talked about, none of them actually appeared in the story, not even when there was dead bodies and blood in the water. Oh well, maybe in the next book. If you love this particular genre though, then you are in luck because I believe there are two more books in the series coming out very soon, one for each of Zoe’s two sisters. I’m curious to see if they will be self-contained stories for each sister or if they will focus on Zoe, but through her sister’s eyes. Take a dive into this fun series!
June 16, 2019
Tails from the Deep by Diane Vallere is book one in her humorous Mermaid Mystery series. In Sirenia, a mermaid colony in unchartered water, live three sisters. As the middle daughter, Zoe believes she never gets the attention or responsibility she deserves. Zoe is inquisitive, spending her days exploring the waters of their colony, even going toward the forbidden edge of Sirenia. Her nights are another story as that’s when she is lectured about the dangers around them. Zoe loved exploring a sunken battleship near the edge of the colony with the other sea creatures. Imagine her surprise when she discovers a diver trapped in the kelp near the ship and a dead body, below him with a knife sticking out. Zoe is determined to save the stranger, and not just from the kelp. This journey takes Zoe in many directions as she finds clues linking her older sister to the body, possible exposure to humans which could be the death of her, and possible criminal behavior by some sea creatures.
Ms. Vallere wrote a wonderful story that should definitely not be missed, was riveting and kept my attention to the very end. This story was filled with wonderful dialogue, lots of clues – even some red herrings, an imaginative view of ocean life, and endearing characters. I was kept on my toes while reading this story and guessing wrong as to who was actually the killer; boy was I surprised when I found out. I highly recommend Tails from the Deep to other readers and am anxious for the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Ms. Vallere wrote a wonderful story that should definitely not be missed, was riveting and kept my attention to the very end. This story was filled with wonderful dialogue, lots of clues – even some red herrings, an imaginative view of ocean life, and endearing characters. I was kept on my toes while reading this story and guessing wrong as to who was actually the killer; boy was I surprised when I found out. I highly recommend Tails from the Deep to other readers and am anxious for the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
May 29, 2019
An interesting concept about the mermaids and mermen co-existing with humans. They have laws and a treaty about where each can go withing the vast aquatic area. Then there is a mermaid who runs a huge shop and trades with humans regularly. These are things I had never considered when thinking about mermaids, although I must confess it isn't a topic that has consumed much of my time.
As many questions as the author answered, she raised others that I would have liked addressed. How are the "houses" of the mer-people formed? Are they structures or just open spaces? How do they fix their meals? Linguine was mentioned I believe---do they cook? They sleep on beds we find out because Zoe hides something under the bed. How come things don't drift away with the ocean currents? I find it fascinating to observe the author's thought processes and just wish more questions could have been answered.
I found the story to be cute and a little more youthfully oriented than most of Ms Vallere's previous books. I would think this book would appeal to the 7th grade through young adults even more than most cozy mystery readers. I also think it would be a delightful book to read to children as a family activity. It certainly has some good values expressed by Zoe and the mermaid way of life. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
As many questions as the author answered, she raised others that I would have liked addressed. How are the "houses" of the mer-people formed? Are they structures or just open spaces? How do they fix their meals? Linguine was mentioned I believe---do they cook? They sleep on beds we find out because Zoe hides something under the bed. How come things don't drift away with the ocean currents? I find it fascinating to observe the author's thought processes and just wish more questions could have been answered.
I found the story to be cute and a little more youthfully oriented than most of Ms Vallere's previous books. I would think this book would appeal to the 7th grade through young adults even more than most cozy mystery readers. I also think it would be a delightful book to read to children as a family activity. It certainly has some good values expressed by Zoe and the mermaid way of life. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
June 1, 2019
Cute story. Original plot. Great characters.
Questions:
(1) If the mermaids are friends (and talk to) all the sea creatures (except the bully sharks) then how can they eat mussels and scallops?
(2) What happened to the trunks containing the coins (not the badges; the coins Ava took to the council)?
(3) Did Laker take the trunk of badges while Zoe was asleep in the clamshell? If so, why? Later he tells Diver Seth it’s at Mad Midge’s, but Zoe says it was gone when she woke up.
(4) Why did Laker drop the fishing net over Zoe? He must have known it would likely kill her - how could he try to kill his girlfriend’s sister?
(5) Laker killed Diver Seth’s brother. Laker tried to kill Diver Seth. Laker trapped Zoe in a fishing net (which is proven to kill mermaids). How could Zoe’s sister keep dating Laker? And more importantly, why did the council let him stay in Sirenia?
(6) In chapter 1, Mother tells Zoe it is unseemly for a mermaid to show interest in something that came from the human world, and was always telling her to leave stuff alone and stay out of trouble. In chapter 18, Mother tells Zoe she is brave for seeking adventure and gaining knowledge, and Zoe should experience the adventure she desires. Why did Mother change her mind?
Dropped a few stars for poor editing (a serious problem with all of Vallere’s books). Look forward to reading the next book in this series.
Questions:
(1) If the mermaids are friends (and talk to) all the sea creatures (except the bully sharks) then how can they eat mussels and scallops?
(2) What happened to the trunks containing the coins (not the badges; the coins Ava took to the council)?
(3) Did Laker take the trunk of badges while Zoe was asleep in the clamshell? If so, why? Later he tells Diver Seth it’s at Mad Midge’s, but Zoe says it was gone when she woke up.
(4) Why did Laker drop the fishing net over Zoe? He must have known it would likely kill her - how could he try to kill his girlfriend’s sister?
(5) Laker killed Diver Seth’s brother. Laker tried to kill Diver Seth. Laker trapped Zoe in a fishing net (which is proven to kill mermaids). How could Zoe’s sister keep dating Laker? And more importantly, why did the council let him stay in Sirenia?
(6) In chapter 1, Mother tells Zoe it is unseemly for a mermaid to show interest in something that came from the human world, and was always telling her to leave stuff alone and stay out of trouble. In chapter 18, Mother tells Zoe she is brave for seeking adventure and gaining knowledge, and Zoe should experience the adventure she desires. Why did Mother change her mind?
Dropped a few stars for poor editing (a serious problem with all of Vallere’s books). Look forward to reading the next book in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2019
Tails from the Deep is an exciting first installment in Vallere's new mermaid cozy mystery series. Zoe is the middle daughter of three mermaid sisters, and she likes to explore and isn't afraid of danger. When on a visit to a shipwreck that she likes to explore, Zoe comes across a dead body and an injured investigator. In order to protect her people, Zoe decides that she must solve this murder mystery herself before it endangers the entire mermaid community.
I have to admit to not being sure what to expect from a mermaid cozy, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked jumping right into this new adventure. Vallere does a great job with her world-building creating a unique setting and some great new characters. Zoe is well developed and proves to be a great character to set up this new and unique series. The book's mystery is well done, and it does a great job at keeping you guessing until the end. If you are looking for a fun yet unusual mystery, then this book is for you. Tails from the Deep proved to be a great read, and I look forward to reading the next adventure in this series.
Received a copy of Tails from the Deep from the author in exchange for my honest review.
I have to admit to not being sure what to expect from a mermaid cozy, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked jumping right into this new adventure. Vallere does a great job with her world-building creating a unique setting and some great new characters. Zoe is well developed and proves to be a great character to set up this new and unique series. The book's mystery is well done, and it does a great job at keeping you guessing until the end. If you are looking for a fun yet unusual mystery, then this book is for you. Tails from the Deep proved to be a great read, and I look forward to reading the next adventure in this series.
Received a copy of Tails from the Deep from the author in exchange for my honest review.
June 2, 2019
I'm a huge fan of this author's Sylvia Stryker series and was so curious when I first heard about her new mermaid cozy series. I just had to read it as soon as it came out. This first installment was awesome! It's fun, fresh, unique, and so, so good.
Sirenia is a fascinating place full of wonder. It's quite a neat underwater society. And the whole mermaid mythology was really cool. It was fun learning all about them.
Tails from the Deep is the perfect summer read. I enjoyed my time spent in the pages of this novella so much. My only complaint is that it had to end so soon. I'm very much looking forward to the sequel!
Sirenia is a fascinating place full of wonder. It's quite a neat underwater society. And the whole mermaid mythology was really cool. It was fun learning all about them.
Tails from the Deep is the perfect summer read. I enjoyed my time spent in the pages of this novella so much. My only complaint is that it had to end so soon. I'm very much looking forward to the sequel!
May 27, 2019
Loved the tale
So, I loved parts of the descriptions...like Zoe's tail being one of the few that glowed and sometimes gave her away. I wish I had more description of her home and interaction with other mermaids. And I suppose I will hear more about Laker in Kyra's story but what was his stand in this adventure?
This is not your typical mermaid. I am looking forward to future adventures of the three sisters and getting to know their community. Charlie was a little corny though.
So, I loved parts of the descriptions...like Zoe's tail being one of the few that glowed and sometimes gave her away. I wish I had more description of her home and interaction with other mermaids. And I suppose I will hear more about Laker in Kyra's story but what was his stand in this adventure?
This is not your typical mermaid. I am looking forward to future adventures of the three sisters and getting to know their community. Charlie was a little corny though.
June 3, 2019
This isn't the usual story I read from Diane. I thought I would give it a try and it is a very pleasing story about a mermaid and a detective that need to solve a mystery. Things aren't going to be easy for Zoe, the middle mermaid. After saving a diver, does this put her in danger? You will have to read the book to find out. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book
June 18, 2019
Great start to a wonderful mermaid mystery. Love the descriptions of the different mermaids, the ocean , the sea creatures and the plant life. Plus the intricacies of mermaid life and shopping. I cannot wait to read more. I was given a free ARC by the author. My review is freely and honestly given
October 4, 2019
Addicted
Already a fan of Diane’s fashion mysteries, I picked this up for fun. Wow! I was surprised by how much I enjoyed spending time with the merfolk. The mystery was not what I expected. It was so much better. If you are looking for a cozy about finding yourself, I recommend this book. Oh, and grab the others in the series as well!
Already a fan of Diane’s fashion mysteries, I picked this up for fun. Wow! I was surprised by how much I enjoyed spending time with the merfolk. The mystery was not what I expected. It was so much better. If you are looking for a cozy about finding yourself, I recommend this book. Oh, and grab the others in the series as well!
April 4, 2020
A fun read!
I didn’t know what to expect, and I got exactly that! Tails from the Deep is a quick read with a fun mystery the reader will unravel along with the mermaid Zoe. It is a peek at an underwater world that is much more fleshed out than the story allows us to witness in one novel.
I didn’t know what to expect, and I got exactly that! Tails from the Deep is a quick read with a fun mystery the reader will unravel along with the mermaid Zoe. It is a peek at an underwater world that is much more fleshed out than the story allows us to witness in one novel.
May 28, 2019
Tails from the Deep is a delightful trip to the undersea world of Mermaids. As expected of this author, the writing is top-notch, the plot is tight and multi-layered, and the characters are well drawn and believable. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.
June 1, 2019
I love how author Diane Vallere writes stories that are unique and interesting. The characters were fascinating, and I like the interaction between the mermaids/mermen and the humans. The story was intriguing, and I never saw the plot twist coming. This is a great start to a new series.
June 9, 2019
I can always count on Diane to throw something new into cozy mysteries. A MERMAID COZY SO EXCITING! Zoe is a fantastic addition to the other characters in her canon. I was mesmerized from the beginning and could not stop pushing along the pages of my kindle. Read!!!!!
June 22, 2019
Ms Vallere has created a delightful fresh new series that involves mystery, murder, mermaids, undersea life, sisterhood, and sometimes a human. The colors, the society, the descriptions are all wonderful. I'm really looking forward to reading the second installment.
June 9, 2019
A cute cozy mystery. Suitable for all ages, and perhaps most appealing to teens and young adults.
June 11, 2019
This is a family-friendly mermaid tale that can be read in a day which is nothing like Hans Christian Anderson. I read an Advance Reader Copy and this voluntary review is my own opinion.
March 8, 2020
Good cozy
I enjoyed the dive into the ocean for frothy mermaid adventures. Zoe, the middle child mermaid, is finding her path in adventures.
I enjoyed the dive into the ocean for frothy mermaid adventures. Zoe, the middle child mermaid, is finding her path in adventures.
March 14, 2020
Enjoyable little story
Diane has developed an interesting plot for a story with interesting mermaids and a few humans th as t was hard to put down.
Diane has developed an interesting plot for a story with interesting mermaids and a few humans th as t was hard to put down.
Read
May 28, 2020Read chapter one here: https://www.dianevallere.com/tails-fr...
June 29, 2020
A fun read
This was fun and light to read. I enjoyed meeting the mermaids and learning a bit about life under the sea.
This was fun and light to read. I enjoyed meeting the mermaids and learning a bit about life under the sea.
May 28, 2019
This cozy mermaid mystery is a great deal of fun. Ms. Vallere creates a believable underwater world and it made me want to dive in and spend a great deal of time with the characters! Ms. Vallere's books are always wonderfully edited and very well-written, her characters well-developed, and her plots interesting. I recommend her work to everyone! Ever since reading this book, I have felt rather like a mermaid myself!
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