Books

The Serpent Dance

Sofia Slater

‘The Wicker Man meets Rebecca, with darkly beautiful surroundings and mysterious, brooding locals – this is the perfect summer holiday read’ Fiona Leitch, bestselling author of the Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker cozy crime series

‘Intriguing contemporary whodunnit … profoundly unsettling’ Crime Fiction Lover

‘The Gothic environment, at times evocative of some of the tales of Daphne du Maurier, is powerfully etched’ Crime Time

IN THE HEART OF CORNWALL, A MURDEROUS MIDSUMMER BEGINS …

At midsummer the Cornish villagers of Trevennick dance around bonfires and make offerings to the river. It’s not the sort of thing that appeals to Audrey Delaney, who is very much a city mouse. But when her (sort of) boyfriend Noah whisks her away on a surprise trip to the West Country, she’s determined to do the best she can to enjoy herself, if that’s what it takes to remove the question mark from their relationship.

Then their first night ends in tragedy, and Audrey finds herself embroiled in a police enquiry and unsure who to trust. She’ll have to untangle the mysteries of this insular community quickly, though, because people are dying fast.

THE RIVER WILL HAVE ITS DUE …

READERS WHO JOINED THE DANCE

‘I loved the mix of old folklore/rituals, (giving off The Wicker Man vibes), with a locked door mystery, that I didn’t expect … phenomenal’
‘One of my favourite books of the summer … really excellent’
‘Perfect midsummer read’
‘This book had me quickly turning the pages, eager to know what might happen next’
‘I was instantly hooked … Add this to your TBR!’
’An atmospheric tale that kept my attention from start to finish’

Hardback

ISBN: 9781800750500

Published: June 6, 2024

Paperback

ISBN: 9781800752573

Published: June 5, 2025

Ebook

ISBN: 9781800752566

Published: June 6, 2024

Category:
Fiction

Reviews for The Serpent Dance

‘The Wicker Man meets Rebecca, with darkly beautiful surroundings and mysterious, brooding locals – this is the perfect summer holiday read, although it might unnerve you if you’re spending it in deepest, darkest Cornwall… I thoroughly enjoyed it!’ – Fiona Leitch, bestselling author of the Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker cozy crime series

‘Like the famed serpent dance itself, Sofia Slater’s story writhes its way to its climatic conclusion. Beguiling, well-written, with keen characterisation and moments of quiet humour, I recommend’ – Karen Taylor, author of Fairest Creatures

‘Intriguing contemporary whodunnit … author Slater creates a profoundly unsettling atmosphere … mix of past and present, culture and calamity is quite charming‘ – Crime Fiction Lover

‘Steeped in the traditions of Cornwall … a novel with snippets of festivals and traditions, with tension and romance thrown in’ – The Book Trail

‘The Gothic environment, at times evocative of some of the tales of Daphne du Maurier, is powerfully etched … A curious blend of romance and crime, folk horror and John Dickson Carr-like meticulous mystery and sleuthing makes for a hybrid novel with much to enjoy’ – Crime Time

Praise for Auld Acquaintance

A strongly atmospheric book, with echoes of the conventions of the past, back beyond Christie … Very well constructed, set, peopled and written’ – Jeremy Black, The Critic

‘Creepy and claustrophobic, it never loses its spell’ – Geoffrey Wansell, Daily Mail

‘Pretty much the perfect modern murder mystery’ Ellery Lloyd, author of The Club

‘A tense, moody and terrifically atmospheric book, with a vice-like grip’ – SJ Watson

‘Filled with deadly dancing around Cornish mid-summer bonfires’ – The Bookseller

Author

Sofia Slater

Sofia Slater was raised in the American West, and lived in France, Scotland and Oxford before settling in London. She holds degrees in philosophy and languages from Smith College and UCL. As well as writing fiction, she translates from French and Spanish. Auld Acquaintance is her debut novel.