Why didn’t I read this sooner?? I loved it. I loved the mix of old folklore/rituals, (giving off The Wicker Man vibes), with a locked door mystery, that I didn’t expect. The language is beautiful with perfect descriptions that added to the creepy, unnerving atmosphere from the moment they arrived at the train station. I adored Audrey. Funny, sarcastic and very relatable. I loved the parallel between her past and present and how the trauma of her youth added to the tension, fear and anxiety she felt. I also loved the delicious array of characters we meet. Each with their own personality and agenda which made me question their words and/or actions. I was kept guessing until the very end and, although I was suspicious I wasn’t completely right.

I really enjoyed this cosy-ish locked room murder mystery, which I found to be quite cleverly crafted, although I do get quite tired of all these depictions of country villages as being full of oddballs stuck in the past... However despite that, it was an atmospheric tale that kept my attention from start to finish, and I enjoyed it all in one day. With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Part crime, part mystery, part Wicker Man, this book is a variety of genres all in one. "The Serpent Dance" by Sofia Slater doesn't appear to be everyone's cup of tea but I found it an enjoyable read. Reminded me of "Lair of the White Worm" - a bit sinister and a bit ham at the same time. Some of the storylines were a bit complicated (still not sure who Noah is meant to be related to) but whiled away a few hours pleasantly.

Isolated village; weird locals; strange midsummer rituals; wicker animals sacrificed to the river god. Classic Gothic novel? Not in this instance! When Noah arranges a weekend away to celebrate their first year as a couple, Audrey imagines a romantic trip to Paris. Unfortunately, Noah has booked an Airbnb in an all-glass house, outside a tiny village in Cornwall, sandwiched between the estuary of a river and a dense forest. Her disappointment is compounded by the fact that she hates the countryside, and a traumatic childhood means she can’t cope with dark and lonely places. Not the most propitious start to the holiday. How could Noah have failed to notice these features of her personality? And then, to cap it all, it turns out that the owner of the property will be in residence, so bang goes any chance of the romantic ambience. The owner is actually a well-known TV presenter of historical documentaries, and Noah appears to have fallen under her spell. Could still be a modern Gothic tale, except that next morning a body is found and we are suddenly in a standard locked room murder-mystery. That switch could be a clever literary device, if the subsequent investigation is complex, twisty, with a bit of tension. However, it isn’t really any of these things. None of the characters appear to be very deep, starting with Audrey and Noah who never feel like they were a couple. For example, she is a sketch artist and illustrator while he runs a Gallery and is just about to open an exhibition centred on drawings on paper, but they seem to have had no collaborative activity to such an extent that she was unaware that this was the nature of the exhibition. The plot is not very complicated, and it lacks pacing. It is quite well written and an easy read, if you want something which isn’t very demanding, but I can’t see it as more than 2.5 (rounded to 3). I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

Audrey & Noah are coming up to their first year of dating anniversary. Noah has arranged a surprise trip. Audrey has hopes it will be Paris. Instead they are on a train to Cornwall. For city girl Audrey, this is a great disappointment! They arrive at the destination & after so taxi mix ups arrive. The village is quaint with wicker sculptures everywhere. She finds out that at midsummer they will be burnt in a huge bonfire & gifts given to the river to protect them. The Air B & B. is an amazing house but it comes as a surprise that the hostess is staying put! In the morning the hostess is found dead in a locked room & things get odder & odder. This was a strange read. I was engaged enough to finish it but it was a bit of a struggle. I didn't really connect with any of the characters. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.