The Mermaid Latitudes

A captivating miniature painting of a mermaid, created using bat's blood, ignites intrigue in the art world when it is found adrift in a bottle with a mysterious coded message. Larry Settlebottom, a sheltered museum curator, embarks on an adventurous quest to uncover the truth behind the artwork, leading him to Mexico and introducing him to modern-day pirates, corrupted oceanographers, and a band of romantic sea gypsies. His journey ultimately brings him to a remote island where art, madness, and death intertwine.