Lies Beneath    by Anne Greenwood Brown Order:  USA  Can Delacorte, 2012 (2012) Hardcover, CD, e-Book Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Ricki Marking-Camuto Mermaid stories seem to come in two varieties: there are the singing, friendly, Disney-esque types and then there are the bloodthristy mankillers. Is it possible for one to be a mix of the two? This is a question that Anne Greenwood Brown explores in her debut YA Paranormal, Lies Beneath. Calder's three older sisters are the vicious, killing mermaids of legend, but Calder has never felt comfortable with that aspect of merlife and tries to distance himself from his sisters whenever possible. However, every spring his blood calls him back to the place where he was made, Lake Superior. This year, he is there on a mission: to avenge his mother's death by killing the son of the man who reneged on his promise. He agrees to his sisters' plan to get close to one of the two Hanson girls, and in that way, become close to their father. What he does not count on is actually falling for his target, Lily, who lets Calder see that things do not have to be as they have always been. The mythology and folklore that Brown bases her mermaids on makes for exciting reading and adds a depth that is not always found in the genre. Some of this, though – such as the explanation of Calder's age – comes a little late in the story, which can be a tad confusing. However, the story is really about Calder's growth into becoming his own man (or merman) and his complicated (and thus totally realistic) relationship with Lily. Calder and Lily's relationship is a very interesting and engaging one as they are both very strong characters, and this really helps move the story along. Lies Beneath is a wonderful choice if you are looking for something a little different in the YA Paranormal genre. Anne Greenwood Brown shows great imagination that will surely get stronger with each subsequent novel. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews