This and other reviews at Hooked on Books 
 I am nothing if not determined. And in this particular instance I am determined to find the mermaid book that works for me. It has to be out there. I loved the Little Mermaid - both the original and the Disney version. I even sang "Part of Your World" for my audition for Annie way back in Middle School. 
 Lies Beneath, started out as strong contender. I love Anne Greenwood Brown's take on mermaid. First that they live in Lake Superior (that's partially in Canada! Canadian-ish mermaids!) and that they're monsters. Like pull you down and drown you, then laugh about it later monsters. It still gives me the shivers, to think of such horrible, yet beautiful, creatures living in the dark waters of the Great Lakes. And these mermaids really do live up to their creepy description. Anne did a fantastic job, especially when it came to Calder's sisters, of driving the particular characteristic home. 
 I also really enjoyed the premise of their conflict with the Hancocks. It seemed just like something out of an old fairy tale (man sacrificing his first born and what not). And I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how/when they were going to catch this poor unsuspecting man. Does that make me a little twisted? I may be a little twisted. But still it made for a really compelling plot. 
 The only point where this book started to lose me, was when it came to Lily. Initially I really liked her, quirky, smart, marched to the beat of her own drum. She was a girl after my own heart. But then she began to lose her common sense a little a lot when it came to Calder, and I began a little disillusioned with her. She was so willingly to put herself in harm's way, and at times her head was a little too far up in the clouds. Ugh and the dressing up like Tennyson's Lady of Shalott? Too much. But on the other hand, this made me really anxious to read the next book, Deep Betrayal, as it is told from her point-of-view, and I'm hoping she represents herself as more intelligent and self reliant, than Calder makes her out to be. 
 Overall, this was a fairly interesting book, it hooked me at the beginning and kept me interested until the end. I was a little turned off by the female character (I can't help it - I want strong, amazing female characters) and the love story but I wouldn't completely dismiss it for those reasons. Unfortunately, however, this means I'm still searching for my ideal mermaid novel. 
 Final recommendation: Recommended for those who are enjoying the mermaid trend and for those who like their supernatural creatures a little on the dark side.