Undead and Underwater

If you're thinking that Undead and Underwater (#280) is just another book about zombies having mortgage problems, you'd be wrong.  Zombies are hardly mentioned at all in Mary Janice Davidson's latest collection of three novellas: vampires, mermaids, werewolves and a new superhero character are the subjects here.

Betsey Taylor, Queen of the Undead, appears in two of the stories.  (Always good to know what's on Betsey's A List of shoes!)  In one she teams up with Dr. Fredericka Bimm ("I don't WANT to be Queen of the Undersea Folk!!") to foil a dastardly plot to rid the world of mermaids.  Some of the action takes place in one of my favorite spots, the New England Aquarium (NEA).  Doing my student teaching there back in the '70s was one of the best jobs of my life and all the kudos Ms. Davidson gives the NEA are richly deserved.  By all means go there if you're ever in Boston.  Just don't expect to see any naked beauties swimming in the main Ocean tank.  That's actually frowned upon.  The crankiest mermaid on earth makes a great sparring partner with Queen Betsey, and you'll enjoy their repartee. ( It's not recommended that you consume food or drink while reading these stories lest you choke on crumbs from laughing, or expel liquid from your nose.)

In the other novella, she plays a minor role as Lara assumes the leadership of the Wyndham Werewolves on Cape Cod from her retiring Pack father, Michael.  Someone's bound to challenge Lara, but that's not all that happens in this tale set in the not-so-distant future.  Gotta love her brother Sean!

The third story introduces reluctant superhero Hailey Derry, the It Girl.  Of course, I couldn't help but read Halle Berry every time I read Hailey's name, so that's exactly how I pictured her, although she does have a unique physical characteristic which I will leave you to discover on your own.  The other problem I had with her alter ego was picturing her as Clara Bow, the silent screen star and original "It Girl".  And no, I'm not actually THAT old!  Hailey could be a lot of fun.  I hope she makes another appearance in the future.

Paranormal equals pleasure in Ms. Davidson's amusing books.  A great way to spend a couple of hours!