Merfolk

World's Scariest Legends #4

by Jeremy Bates

From USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author Jeremy Bates comes the latest book in the bestselling WORLD'S SCARIEST LEGENDS series.

A cave-diving expedition on a mysterious island goes horribly wrong for a renowned marine biologist and his fellow divers when they become hunted by a deadly breed of predators that, until then, had only been known in myths and legends.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Mermaids, Thriller, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Adventure

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 21, 2021

About the author

USA TODAY and #1 Amazon bestselling author Jeremy Bates has written over twenty novels and novellas, selling more than one million copies worldwide. His work has been translated into multiple languages and optioned for film and television by major studios. Midwest Book Review has likened his storytelling to that of Stephen King and Joe Lansdale, calling him a "master of the art." Bates is a KDP Select All-Star and the recipient of the Australian Shadows Award and the Canadian Arthur Ellis Award. He was also a finalist in the Goodreads Choice Awards, the only major book honors chosen by readers.

His latest novel, *The No-End House*, is a standalone horror story set in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, where a pair of volunteers must navigate nine mysterious rooms in a sinister house. Scheduled for release by Kensington Publishing in July 2025, it’s a chilling tale of survival and escape.

Visit Amazon to get DENISOVANS for a special release-date price now.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F...

Also, MOUNTAIN OF THE DEAD is currently only $0.99 in a limited-time deal.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079KW3N72

Finally, visit Jeremy’s website to receive a free copy of *Black Canyon*, winner of the Lou Allin Memorial Award.
https://www.jeremybatesbooks.com

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was extremely slow up until almost 80% in. The way the synopsis sounded, it would be an action-packed horror story with merfolk causing chaos. This was mostly about the science and Marty trying to redeem himself and then he’s in a relationship triangle, etc. The merfolk had a very small presence until the end, which was fairly intense. However, by then I was so fatigued from the first portion of the book, that I had a lot of trouble staying focused. The writing itself was fine, but the story needed to be broken up with more merfolk throughout. And I really didn’t care for the alternate chapters from different characters points of view. There were so many characters and plotpoints, with a ton of random flashbacks, that the overall flow felt very off. And there were alot of formatting issues throughout, too. Not a bad reading experience, but the marketing felt very misleading, and the end result was just a very ok story.

[Marie]

Well....another one bites the dust....or is it ocean water?

Actually there is not much water involved in this story and yet it is suppose to be about merfolk. Really? Where are they? I finally made it up to about 47% and yet I wasn't finding anything worthy of even my gore suit. I have read a couple of books by this author that were 4 star worthy but this is not one of those books and it is not receiving any stars as I don't give out stars to books I do not finish.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love Jeremy Bates' World's Scariest Legends and Places series, and I was stoked for one about mermaids. These books are always super fun and entertaining, and if you're a nerd like me, you'll love all the facts and information in all of them, too. Along with The Sleep Experiment, The Catacombs, The Suicide Forest and the Dyatlov Pass Incident, I now feel like an expert on mermaids as well.

[Elisabeth Zguta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeremy Bates is a prolific writer of scary stories and gives readers even more than horror...he writes great adventure. "Merfolk" begins with an action-packed scene and zangy characters, then delves in deeper, as the main character's motivation is revealed. Dr. Marty Murdock is on a quest to prove that merfolk exists. His friends and new acquaintances join the treacherous adventure, as Bates reveals a story better than any pirate tale...and so much more. The characters have depth and stories all their own. Seamlessly woven into the story is a great learning experience, as information about Sri Lanka, the Indian Ocean, the science of early man, marine biotechnology, deep-sea diving, and cave diving details about the experience, fill the story with realism and vivid details. Even the conversations draw the reader into the scenes for an experience you'll enjoy. And yes, you will be scared, because these creatures are not what you'd expect. (except, of course, in a Bates story, haha) Great reading, I highly recommend this book.

[Jenna Vee 🌙 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down.

This was my first read by this author and while I did like it, it definitely was a slow read and there wasn’t much mermaids in it until about the last maybe 30 or so pages.

[❀ Crystal ✿ - PEACE ☮ LOVE ♥ BOOKS · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the surface this was a decent book but overall it was pretty wonky, rushed and uneventful. The book really doesn’t get going until around 60% when the characters set off to find and hopefully capture evidence of merfolk. There’s so much unnecessary background information that could work if this were a much longer novel. Once the team believes they have proof and take off, if you blink you may miss their visit entirely. In typical fashion of the author and genre, not everyone survives and they don’t have the most peaceful end either. I was a bit shocked by who was taken out as I really thought they’d be the ones to die 🤷🏼‍♀️ I do like how the author dealt with the topic scientifically but it felt like once they encountered the merfolk, everything was straight forward and no longer fully explained because it was moving along too fast. But also just the fact that he made the merfolk real made me happy as there’s no lame cop out and the epilogue does bring some retribution for the MC especially in the scientific community. The nerd in me is only mad because the story and creature drama aren’t hashed out more. The abrupt ending didn’t quite work for me but having answers and a view into the future helped wrap things up.

[Michael Dawson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book to be a bit slow unlike other Jeremy Bates books it took a while for the story to get going

[Lena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Imagine Friendly Version

I was expecting a bloodbath and got a dull swim. This was less about aquatic adventure than academic redemption. I would have preferred an exploration of aquatic society, a underwater haunted house, a gorrible gorrible toothy ending… but what I got was a body hunt for a teaching position at Oxford.

Boo!

[Cam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this little gem on kindle unlimited!!!! Sirentologists are on the search for the legendary mermaid. What they find isn’t Ariel!

[Brett Mitchell Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was extremely happy with this one. Jeremy Bates work either really works or really doesn't in my experience. This one definitely did. Was it scary? Only for a small portion near the end. But the intrigue and build up was amazing. I genuinely liked all of the characters... Which is never great in a horror book because you are guaranteed to be sad when they get got.

This was really really well researched... To the extent that I am pretty well convinced that merfolk exist now. I don't want to believe, but what can I say? It just makes sense.

Absolutely recommend.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 5 out of 5]

While you don't get as much time until the end with the actual "creature feature exploring", and much of this book is about evolution and marine life, I found the scientific part of it absolutely fascinating and all the characters well fleshed out and was rooting for them all the entire time no matter what they ended up finding. A top-notch mermaid tale that wasn't cheesy and approached the subject with a lot of research.

[Jaclyn McLeroy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-3. (Audible)
Man, I really wanted to like this book since I was such a fan of 'Catacombs'. This was a slow burn, with no burn. More like a bandaid ripped off at the end. When we finally got to 'the good parts' I enjoyed it.

[Boris Bacic · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise is interesting, but I have some problems with this book. The characters are very similar to those in The Sleep Experiment - we have a scientist who seems to be really good at wooing women (multiple at the same time). The supportive characters are disparately goofy compared to the main one, which makes them unlikeable. While the book falls into the category of horror, I would classify it more as thriller, verging on action.
It's not bad to tickle your imagination, though.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happened to the dog?????

This book was mostly a fun quick read that was suspenseful and chilling and then had a satisfying ending... except I have to knock off a star for the cute dog getting introduced, having repeated scenes, and then nothing. Was the dog ok???? Was he rescued from the boat????? This is literally the thing that gave me the most anxiety in this book and it was unresolved.

[Amy Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one pulled me right in and kept me on the edge of my seat especially through the last several chapters. Ending had a twist I wasn't expecting. I had in my mind what was going to happen, and was wrong!

[Terry and dog · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first mermaid story that I have ever read, and so far the best! I loved it. Jeremy Bates has to be one of my favourite authors and I have not been disappointed yet. Look forward to see what he comes up with next.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not horror or edge-of-your-seat anything I'm afraid. Scariest legends? This is a complete misrepresentation of what this book is. It is well written and an enjoyable read but there is nothing scary about it.

[Donna Modafferi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring

I thought this would be a really exciting and scary story. Not so. I scanned it and the ending was ok but everything leading up to it held zero interest

[SUSAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, so I have always loved the thought of being a marine biologist, so this book was fantastic in that it gave some solid information and a relatively plausible reason for some people to be intrigued enough to check out the waters near Sri Lanka for what could provide evidence of merfolk. I liked the layout of the chapters, narrative action alongside descriptions of past footage which I find appealing.

An oddly shaped skull is found that brings renewed interest to the search for a group of charismatic people...

It looks at these human beings honestly and their conversations are refreshingly mature, but also fun-loving. It would be interesting to know how a casting director would describe their personalities (lol).

What begins with excitement, suspicion and hesitation but overwhelming curiosity turns into a savage lesson. And it might not end like you assume, at least it did not for me.

This is probably the only mermaid/merfolk story I have ever read. I am not usually one for reading about cryptids, but I heard mention of this book and decided to give it a go, so thank you Books of Horror fb group!

#merfolk #cryptidhorror #cavediving #marinebiology #srilanka

[David Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really liking this authors work. I read Suicide Forest a few months ago and thought I'd try this as it is something apart from the usual genre.

Detailing a scientists quest to find and prove the existence of the Merfolk, this book describes the highs and lows of what goes into trying to convince others that your gut instinct is actually true. How far would you go to prove the existence of another species, how much ridicule would you take and would you put your life on the line against all odds if you thought you could make people listen?

This book is well written and suggests how evolution could have adapted in a fascinating way that will get you thinking about what could have been. With all of the legends and the pseudo scientific thoughts, this is not totally implausible at all, which adds to the enjoyment.

Not one for people who get claustrophobic, as there are some really atmospheric passages with tight squeezes and panic filled tension. Add to this being chased by strange creatures through the darkness and you get a real feel for being trapped, alone and afraid.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

MERFOLK - 5/5
By Jeremy Bates

I loved this book and I loved this legend!!

I am genuinely convinced that there are merpeople out there, along with the meg and nessie the loch ness monster! Humans have explored more of outer space than we have our oceans - so who is to say that they aren’t there?!

This was a super interesting book and I found it was packed full of information I wasn’t aware of (for example: a sharks heart is behind its gills?!). If you are after a bit of fact mixed in with a lot of fiction - this series is for you!

[Nancy Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author. I think I rated the first book I read by him 4.5 stars. This deserves the same. Again, the book is short but it is packed with information, nonstop action and chills and thrills. Once you start reading, you cannot stop. I would say he is my favorite horror author right now, right up there with Stephen King. What’s interesting about his writing is that he is very knowledgeable about his topic and I learned more about ocean life, diving and of course, merfolk than I ever expected. His characters always have strong personalities and their behavior is unpredictable which leads to the suspense. I think the scariest part about it though is that this book along with the other one I read, The Sleep Experiment, just seemed very realistic, like you could see this happening in real life. While improbable, not impossible. And that is truly scary.

I am so glad there are three other books in this series. They are all separate stories though so you can read them in any order. Definitely good stuff.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bates does a great job of introducing interesting characters with compelling motivations. The story is tight and focused, do not be surprised if you finish this in one sitting. My only minor quibble is an outsized focus on a sexual act that, if removed, would not change the story at all and keep things punchier.

[Scarlet]

This book screamed “alpha male author” and I’m not here for it.

[Bernard Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mythical creatures turn into a real, aquatic nightmare. Thrilling!

[Jessica Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are Merfolk more like Ariel or are they the thing of nightmares? One scientists obsessions takes him and his friends on a harrowing underwater journey to search for the mythical mermaid/mermen. This book was fast paced and had a lot of good plot points. The only issue I had with it was the ending seemed to be rushed and could have added some more intensity when it came to dealing with the creatures. Otherwise it was a good read.

[Julia Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also reviewed on www.curiosityboughtthebook.com

I’m obsessed with mermaids. There you have it. You might’ve already known that, if not.. Well now you do. I’m fascinated with them, and I could even be open to the possibility that they exist.

The protagonist of Merfolk, a man named Dr. Marty Murdock, is convinced that mermaids/merman/merfolk do exist. He has spent a large chunk of his trust found on a research vessel, and after becoming a scientist he’s now cruising around the ocean to find his merfolk.
I am in love with the way mermaids were portrayed in this book. I always figured that they wouldn’t be the loving ladies mythology has made them out to be. No, in this case they’re deadly and dangerous. Of course, it takes about 75% of the book until we finally get to the mermaids, but it was worth the wait.

The story before we meet them is actually pretty good, spiced with some romance and Netflix drama. I mean what else can you want, right?

It’s not a perfect book, but it’s very good. There aren’t that many dark mermaid books around, so in this case I’ll take it!

[Mattias · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Really enjoyed this. Marked as horror but not that much horror to be fair. This book almost makes you believe that merfolk are real and they exist somewhere and they aren't nice. Nice quick read that keeps you wondering after you put down the book about what if...

This book leaves me wanting for more, although I know it won't happen.

Would recommend and so far one of the books I enjoyed the most this year.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly good. I was entertained the whole way, even though the actual mermen didn’t appear until the latter part of the book. The design of the mermen was imaginative. I liked all the characters in the story and felt I learned things too.

[Patricia Gerhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting page turner

I totally enjoyed this book. How many of us would ever think of Merfolk in quite such a horrific way? The story kept me up well into the night. I had to know the ending. It was greatly entertaining!