The Recommended Reading Path
For the best experience, readers should follow the publication order of the main novels and insert the side novellas where they fit chronologically in the timeline. The core story of Fredrika "Fred" Bimms is a tight, linear trilogy, but the broader universe includes crossover appearances that are highly entertaining for fans of the author's other series.
- Sleeping with the Fishes (2006) — The essential starting point that introduces Fred, her career at the New England Aquarium, and the start of her romantic complications.
- Swimming Without a Net (2007) — The second main novel, taking Fred to the Cayman Islands and expanding the lore of the Undersea Folk.
- "Survivors" in Dead Over Heels (2008) — A companion novella set in the same universe, focusing on a survival-themed television host encountering the supernatural.
- Fish Out of Water (2008) — The third and final novel in the core trilogy, bringing the main love triangle and political conflicts to a head.
- "Undead and Underwater" in Undead and Underwater (2013) — A crossover novella where Fred teams up with Betsy Taylor from the Undead series.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
The core trilogy of Sleeping with the Fishes, Swimming Without a Net, and Fish Out of Water should always be read in order. The main debate lies in where to place the novellas. While "Survivors" was published in the 2008 anthology Dead Over Heels right around the time the third book was released, it is generally considered an optional side story. It does not focus directly on Fred, meaning you can skip it without missing key details of her personal journey.
The crossover novella "Undead and Underwater" (published in 2013 in the anthology of the same name) is best read after you have finished the main trilogy. Since it brings in Betsy Taylor, the protagonist of MaryJanice Davidson's famous Undead series, it also serves as a bridge between the two fictional universes. If you are reading both series, "Undead and Underwater" takes place around Book 11.5 of the Undead timeline.
A Closer Look at the Books
Sleeping with the Fishes (2006)
This novel introduces Fredrika Bimms, a sarcastic marine biologist working at the New England Aquarium. Fred is half-human and half-mermaid, though she prefers to keep her tail hidden and live a quiet life on land. Her peace is disrupted when she is tasked with investigating a patch of toxic seawater. This investigation draws the attention of Artur, a handsome prince of the Undersea Folk, and Thomas, a human marine biologist. Fred finds herself caught in an environmental mystery as well as an unexpected love triangle.
Swimming Without a Net (2007)
In the second installment, Fred is sent to the Cayman Islands. Here, she is forced to interact more closely with her mermaid relatives and navigate the complex, often frustrating politics of the Undersea Folk. The central conflict revolves around whether the merfolk should reveal their existence to humanity. Meanwhile, Fred continues to struggle with her feelings for both the royal Artur and the human Thomas, all while dealing with her eccentric family members.
Fish Out of Water (2008)
The final book in the main trilogy deals with the immediate aftermath of the merfolk's existence being exposed to the human media. Fred is reluctantly thrust into the spotlight as the official spokesperson for the Undersea Folk. At the same time, her estranged father arrives with scheming plans that threaten Prince Artur's crown. Fred must resolve her feelings, settle the political unrest, and figure out where she truly belongs.
The Crossover Stories
Beyond the main novels, the Fred the Mermaid universe expanded through two key anthologies. The first is Dead Over Heels (2008), which includes the novella "Survivors." This story focuses on Con Conlinson, a television host of a survival show who finds himself in over his head. The second is Undead and Underwater (2013), featuring the title crossover story. In this novella, Fred reluctantly teams up with Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor to help a mutual friend in a humorous clash of supernatural cultures.
What to Know Before You Start
Fred is not your typical fairy-tale mermaid. She is grumpy, cynical, hates swimming in cold water, and has hair that appears blue to most humans but reveals a green tint under closer inspection. MaryJanice Davidson uses her signature fast-paced, dialogue-heavy writing style to deliver a story that is more focused on humor and character dynamics than dense high-fantasy worldbuilding. The series also carries a strong environmental message, reflecting Fred's background as a marine biologist who is genuinely concerned about ocean pollution.
For readers looking to collect the physical books, the entire main trilogy was also published in a single omnibus edition titled Underwater Love in 2012. This collection is a convenient way to read the core story from beginning to end without searching for individual paperbacks.