Recipient o f the Literary Titan Gold Award A Reader's Favorite Five Star Award! If you love urban fantasy and are looking for a great mermaid novel, look no further! When, Lorenzo, the Venetian boat captain, led Dr. Manque to the isolated pier just down the canal from the Rialto Bridge, the American couldn't help but wonder what his friend had in store for him. Little did he know, a dead fish would be the catalyst for a thrilling adventure that would test his beliefs and put his quiet retirement at risk. Why did his friend need him to see this? It was just a dead fish, after all. But as Dr. Manque knelt down and felt the scales, something didn't add up. Scale, scale, scale, scale, skin. This was no ordinary fish. And just like that, his peaceful life as a recluse was in serious jeopardy. But what creature could have both scales and skin? As a man of science, he couldn't help but dismiss the idea of a mermaid. But as he delved deeper into the mystery, he began to question his own beliefs. Could it be? Could it really be? Dr. Manque is faced with a thrilling and impossible possibility. A mermaid? No, no, no! But what else could explain it? Dive into the unknown with Dr. Manque as he uncovers the truth behind this mythical creature and risks everything in the process. Fans of adventure and the supernatural won't want to miss out on this gripping tale. Now Available on Audible! An American semi-retired dentist, Dr. Ulysses Manque is looking after his sister-in-law Amelia's house under repair in Venice, Italy. A local water bus captain, Lorenzo, asks Dr. Manque to examine the corpse of a fish-like creature cut in two and without a head. To his astonishment, Dr. Manque discovers that the creature not only has scales but also skin. Dr. Manque finally gets the police officers' attention after reporting a shark attack. He returns to the canal, where the creature was found, and hears a strange splash. The officials visit Dr. Manque and ask him to avoid talking about a shark attack in the lagoon. Then, one of them mentions mermaids. Dr. Manque begins exploring the issue and even makes ritualistic offerings in memory of the alleged mermaid. Is it his imagination when he sees a hand snatching a ring out of his fingers and taking it underwater? And who is the mysterious girl Dr. Manque found by the water one foggy night? A Sea Tail by Marvin Brauer is a compelling read for fans of urban fantasy, paranormal fiction, and magical realism. In A Sea Tail, Marvin Brauer explores various possible human reactions to something otherworldly that comes from folklore or fairy tales. The author guides us through one of the most charming and mysterious European cities: Venice. Brauer does a tremendous job of capturing and conveying the unique ambiance of Venice. We discover this beautiful city along with Dr. Manque. Ulysses Manque is a character full of surprises. Reserved and preferring the company of pigeons over interactions with people, Dr. Manque is touched by the death of the unusual creature, and his unexpected inner metamorphosis begins. Brauer crafts complex secondary characters, like the self-confident Amelia or the kind and romantic Praznash, a shopkeeper from Bangladesh who believes in mermaids. I like Dr. Manque's significant first name. Brauer's descriptive writing style reminds me of classic literary works. In addition to its many intriguing and dramatic twists, A Sea Tail is a heartwarming story of empathy, acceptance, and understanding. Nino Lobiladze, Reader's Favorite. 5 STARS Marvin Brauer's A Sea Tail is a curious blend of mystery, folklore, and personal transformation, set against the backdrop of Venice. The novel follows Dr. Ulysses Manque, a quasi-retired dentist who drifts into the city almost by accident and finds himself tangled in a story that begins with a strange fishtail in a canal and stretches into whispers of mermaids, secret investigations, and an undercurrent of myth that refuses to stay submerged. What begins as a chance discovery soon grows into a meditation on belief, longing, and the strange ways the extraordinary can seep into ordinary lives. I loved the setting. Venice felt alive, not just in its architecture and canals but in the way small habits, daily walks, and quiet encounters stitched together the fabric of the story. The pacing at times wandered, and that worked for this book. Sometimes I was completely drawn in by the odd charm of Dr. Manque, his pigeons, his suits, and his obsessive rituals. Other times, I found myself wishing the narrative would push harder, dig faster into the mystery instead of lingering so long on side details. Still, that slow build did give the novel a thick and intriguing atmosphere. The ideas at play here really stuck with me. I didn't expect to be caught up in questions about myth and belief, about what happens when someone lets the fantastic leak into their daily routines. The mermaid, whether real or imagined, becomes a mirror for