I picked up this book because I really enjoy MaryJanice Davidson’s Undead series about Betsy the Vampire, and since there are so many series about vampires, I was looking forward to a new supernatural series with mermaids for a change. Unfortunately, this book just didn’t live up to my expectations. In the author’s defence, she does include an Acknowledgement at the start of the book that mentions that the writing of the book was plagued with troubles both personal and professional. That being said, perhaps the book should not have come out until these issues could be resolved, because the errors throughout are extremely distracting.

I found the overall plot to be fine – someone is polluting the harbour waters, and Fred (the mermaid) and her friends team up to find out who’s behind it. Not completely original, but just fine. But, while the characters have pasts and personalities, there’s little else going on with any of them. For the most part, they’re not that bright, and have some odd priorities, but they’re likeable enough. Except for maybe Fred who is bitter and rather depressing. However, when you compile an average plot with average characters, you’d better hope for some snappy dialogue to keep people reading, and that’s where Sleeping With the Fishes is sorely lacking. The dialogue doesn’t flow naturally, and sometimes I had to re-read portions to figure out who’s saying what. But my biggest issue with Sleeping With the Fishes is that there are some GLARING continuity errors. For example: why does Fred have to call and ask a friend to find out the name of someone she dated? The book contradicts itself more than once, and while the ending which sets up a future love-triangle almost intrigued enough to give Swimming Without A Net - the 2nd novel in the series a try, the lazy writing will keep me away. ( )

In the front of the book, MJD thanks her editor for keeping Sleeping with the Fishes from being "Betsy with fins" by suggesting the switch to third-person. But the truth is, you know what you're getting with a contemporary paranormal romance by MaryJanice Davidson, and you either like it or you don't. She has a very distinct voice that carries through regardless of the series (though her romantica does have a definitely different tone), and her heroines tend to have similar wisecracking voices.

In Sleeping with the Fishes, Fred is half-mermaid, and her life has just become way too exciting. It starts with her walking in on her parents having sex, which, even for a grown-up, is just too icky to contemplate. Then in short order, a mer-prince arrives and announces she's his queen; she gets a new mermaid-Barbie-clone intern; the fish at the aquarium where she works are on a hunger strike, demanding she play the Pet Shop Boys for them; a hunky new marine biologist arrives and actually sees that her hair is green, not the blue most people see... oh, and someone's dumping waste in the harbor.

It's a fun, fast read, full of humor and one-liners.... if I Love Lucy had fins, this would be the novel version. I'm looking forward to seeing these characters again. ( )

I liked this book. A lot. I read the complaints about it on here and I have to agree the plot was a little forced and the bad guy was a little unbelievable. But I know I read MJD for the dialougue mostly. I love the paranormal genre. I read lots of 'dark' vampire series/were type series. With MJD I know I get something different and thats what I like about it. Yes, I hope that the plots become more detailed. I'd love to see Fred have to go back to the Dark Sea w/ Arthur and 'see' how he lives. Tons of potential here. Far too much to give up on just yet. I for one, can't wait to read more about Fred and her friends. ( )

A unique book in the genre of mystical beings, I can honestly say I've never read a book about a half woman, half mermaid. Think of the movie Splash with an environmental twist to it. The main character (Fred) works as a marine biologist and works to uncover the cause of the toxins in the Bay where she lives. It was a quick read and original. Fred seems to have a little more depth and thought behind her than some of other of the characters from other books the author has written. If your looking for something quick, they won't necessarily fill you up or leave you thinking about it for days, this might be the one for you. ( )

I've read MaryJanice Davidson's Undead and Un... Series of books. I like them. Not the best written, or the deepest characters around, but there is a charm to those books. Unfortunately, this book by the same author held none of the fun loving, cuteness that I liked in her other series. Fred was annoying, and for a marine biologists, not very knowledgeable. Her gay best friend (er, make that metrosexual) spent more time mooning over Fred's boss rather than doing whatever he did. And the suitors - the merman was an idiot, the good look male marine biologist had a good begining, but it all went downhill once Love got in the way. These people seem to get paid to do nothing but stare at each other with starry eyes. This book seems to be missing all the things I liked about her Undead series, while reusing the same characters in a slightly different setting and making them somehow even more shallow. If you want to read a shallow, fun, feel good, fast, supernatural urban romance, go with the Undead and Unwed (Queen Betsy, Book 1), it at least has a queen who cares. ( )