SOLVED. Fantasy. Mermaids, book about evil mermaids that i read around 1999-2001 Spoilers ahead. [s]

[Kat]

The book begins with the protagonist (a boy whose name I can't remember) walking home and being chased by an old, raggedy man who turns out to be his missing father. As the story progresses the family is hounded by mysterious singing as well as large, savage dogs and it comes to light that the father had fallen in love with a mermaid (who's name I think was Neirlee or something close to it...) who lured him away to a tropical island where they had a son together.

The father explains that he was bewitched by the mermaids and in a trance, one day he awaken and sees them for what they really are. Although beautiful, the mermaids were cruel, and wrecked ships and I think killed the sailors? (I remember it said something about making things with bones?) he eventually escaped on a passing tourist boat and goes back to his family (much to the mermaids chagrin..).

Now that he has returned to his human family, his mermaid lover and son pursue him to bring him back. They attack the boys mother with huge black dogs that disfigure her face and a kelpie (meant for the boy) appears on a headland disguised as a pony and entices one of the mothers admirers to get on its back as a small pony, and once he is on it changes into a large white stallion, gallops towards the cliff edge and dives off to drown him.
The boy ends up meeting his half brother (as the mermaids can gain human and form via a shell belt) and they get along amicably but the mother mermaid tries to drown him.

To save his wife and son the father ends up succumbing the mermaids once again and goes back with them, he is once again bewitched, and the three (mermaid mom, father and mermaid son) go back to the island, (I remember it saying they were being pulled along by the white horses) leaving the boy and mother to pick up the pieces.

Have been looking for this book for years and would really appreciate any help anyone can give me!

Thanks!!

[Kris]

Kat, I moved your request to the "Unsolved" folder because you're looking for one specific book.

Around what year did you read this book? A range of years is fine.

That's a great start. You need to add more plot details (no spoilers) from your message #1 to the header by clicking the small "edit" link after the header. This only works on the full Desktop website - not the Mobile website or app. (On the Mobile website, click the "Desktop version" link at the bottom of the page.) We have thousands of book requests.

[Becca]

I think this could be Huntress of the Sea by Alan Temperley:
"When Ewan's father returns home after being lost at sea seven years previously, his body is covered with scars, and there is a wild look in his eyes. His arrival in the glen is not the only mysterious and sinister change. Monstrous screams in the night, murderous beasts, and ghostly apparitions threaten the peaceful, lonely glen. Is the newcomer really Ewan's father? Will Ewan and his mother survive the forces of evil that threaten them?"

[Kat]

Becca you literally just made my day! Thank you so much, that matches and the cover looks exactly how I remember it! This has been bothering me for ages and thank you so so much for helping me, I’ve ordered the book online so I’m very excited for it to arrive 😁 have a great weekend!!

[Becca]

I'm so glad I could help! Hope you have a great weekend too.