Bad boys can catch you, hook, line, and sinker . . .Kyra had always been the baby. Third mermaid daughter of three, she had been overprotected since birth. More interested in boys and makeup than adventures like sister Zoe or inheriting command of Sirenia like Ava, she studies underwater dance at the academy and spends her spare time flirting with mermen. But when she catches a member of … catches a member of Poseidon’s security team dismantling the safe that protects the mermaid treasures, she fears the worst. The problem? Thanks to her practiced naiveite, nobody takes her warning seriously.
Kyra embarks on a double life: Lolita by day, Mata Hari by night. Navigating cloudy waters tainted by the ink of squid intended to hide the merman’s trail, she leaves the safety of Sirenia and follows his path . . . until that path leads to his dead body. With an unknown killer inside Sirenia, Kyra knows no one is safe. Lacking the drive and bravery of her two older sisters, she uses her purity to discover the truth, but what happens when her childlike charm hooks a dangerous killer? Hidden reserves of courage could save her life . . . or leave her dangling on the line.
What happens when a sweet mermaid suspects corruption in the ranks? If you’re that mermaid, you might have to grow up fast.
You’ll love frolicking in the virtual world of Sirenia, because mermaid mysteries are fantastically fabulous.
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Kyra is the youngest of the three mermaid sisters we are learning about in Diane Vallere’s Mermaid Mystery novellas. She has been coddled and babied her entire life. Known for her beauty and her singing voice, she plays into both of those roles, flirting with every merman who shows interest. On her way to music lessons one morning, she finds the Nautilus Vault opened and several squid tied up near the entrance. She frees them, but she can tell someone has been inside the vault. Can she figure out who is responsible?
In many ways, this novella feels like a coming of age tale since Kyra really grows as the story progresses. No, she doesn’t start out as shallow as she may at first appear. I really enjoyed getting to know her and watching the growth happen over the course of the story. Now, this isn’t to say that we don’t get a mystery as well with plenty to keep us engaged. The growth comes directly from the events of the story, and it all feels very natural. There isn’t quite as much background on mermaid culture as there was in the first story, but we do get enough that if you jumped in with this story you wouldn’t be lost. The other characters are interesting, and we see some other sides of them than we did in the first novella. More than anything, I had fun imaging I lived in the ocean as well.
NOTE: This story, along with the stories of Kyra’s sisters, are included in the Mermaid Mysteries anthology. Buy them individually or as a set, but there is no need to buy both.
What happens if you discover something awful, you try to warn folks, and no one believes you ?
The ingenue grows up and guts it out – but she’s still a little boy crazy! Intense and humorous action and drama
Murky Waters is another exciting installment in Vallere’s new mermaid mystery cozy series. Kyra, the youngest sister, finds herself on a journey of discovery as she uncovers a new mystery deep under the sea. Unlike her sister, Zoe, Kyra doesn’t go looking for adventure however adventure still finds her when she discovers a dead merman, a missing treasure, and a conspiracy that threatens her family. Not knowing who to trust, Kyra must take matters into her own hands to solve this perplexing mystery.
Vallere does a great job at setting up her next adventure in this series. I wasn’t sure how adventure was going to find Kyra based on her description in book one, but Vallere set up a good story that helped developed this character further while also making for an entertaining read. I also loved how this book put a stronger focus on the bond between the sisters because I feel that their sisterly bond is the heart of the series making for a compelling read. The book captures the reader’s attention from the beginning and never lets go. Overall Murky Waters proved to be a great read that I would most definitely recommend. I look forward to reading Vallere’s next adventure in this series.
Received a copy of Murky Waters from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Loved learning more about Kyra, Mad Midge and young Triton. Fun new series , cannot wait to read more. Great characters, beautifully written stories. I was given a free ARC by the author. My review is freely and honestly given
A family-friendly tale about the youngest mermaid sister finding adventure which can be read in an afternoon if you don’t stop to discuss it. I read an Advance Reader Copy and this voluntary review is my own opinion.
I kind of think that I am not the intended audience for this book- I’m a guy so mermaids weren’t a big factor in my childhood plus the complexity and reading level for this book is geared lower than my many years of living and reading. Yet I still found myself charmed by this novella about Kyra, the youngest sister of a mermaid clan. The first book in the series focused on the middle sister who has a penchant for exploration while this story shifts to the youngest of the three sisters who has shown no knack for mysteries, justice or any thing beyond looking good and flirting with mermen.
The clever thing the author does is turn Kyra into an investigator by embracing her naivete and social status to drive the process rather than have her suddenly become a different person because she stumbled upon a murder in her watery village. In the end, she becomes a better version of herself because of what she went through. That is a nice message for younger readers.
The sisterly bond between the mermaid sisters is further developed in this story even though Kyra is front and center. If the past two books are any indication then we will learn that Ava, the oldest sister, isn’t as distant and stuffy as she seems in the other mermaid’s stories. Once all three tales are told, we will have a better idea of who each of them are since we will have seen them from several different perspectives. Maybe if everyone else enjoys these stories as much as I have we will get a fourth story from their mother’s point of view? For now, just immerse yourself in this quick and fun read and then keep your eye out for the next installment.
(In exchange for an advanced reading copy, I am giving this honest opinion about the book.)
I’m loving this delightful series! Murky Waters is our second 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.
Another excellent adventure with the mermaids! This is Kyra’s story. She is the youngest of the three mermaid sisters, and is never taken seriously. Never underestimate the youngest member of the family! I love these adventures, and this is a great addition to this series. I love how author Diane Vallere thinks outside of the box, and writes wonderful quality stories that are above the rest! I highly recommend this book and this series!