I love a well-researched, scientifically plausible creature features and Merfolk delivers. The story is a bit of a slow burn as we get to know the characters and learn about the main character's theories about the possibility of merfolk being real. I found all the theory fascinating. Things really begin to pop off in the last 20% or so of the book, and I felt it was worth the wait. Merfolk was my first Jeremy Bates book and I'll definitely be reading more of his work. 4 stars