A spooky and darkly comic adventure set in Cornwall – Famous Five with a twist.

Orla thought she was in for a relaxing family holiday, but when she finds a mysterious glowing necklace in the woods, it turns out there is a slight possibility she may have uncovered an ancient curse. After meeting a coven of old ladies, it becomes clear that Orla's arrival in Poldevel is no longer a coincidence. She's the only one who can solve this mystery, and she’ll need help from the only other member of the family with good instincts – Dave the dog.

"“It was a real treat to get lost in this sprawling adventure full of magic, pirates, witches and a most heroic Jack Russell. Orla and the Serpent’s Curse is packed full of adventure, mystery, humour and thrills… All shot through with lots of wonderful witchy magic - this is rich storytelling sure to appeal to fans of Catherine Doyle’s magical Storm Keepers series or Robin Stevens’ brilliant mysteries.”" - James Nicol

"“A rollicking adventure of witches and pellers and pirates and betrayal all set in a vividly painted Cornwall rich with language and landscape. Brilliant to see an historical novel with a contemporary setting, that incorporates folklore, history, mystery, adventure and family – and with the biggest hearted dog ever – the utterly selfless – Dave.”" - Fleur Hitchcock

"Orla and the Serpent’s Curse, by the first-time children’s author CJ Haslam, is a welcome breath of fresh air [...] We pause to admire every view – but the action whips on, resulting in a wonderfully suspenseful debut that will lift the spirits of any child cooped up at home." - The Telegraph

"This is a beautifully written tale of an adventurous and unstoppable young girl and her pet dog." - Parent Talk

"Set in Cornwall, this darkly comic adventure starts innocently with twelve-year-old Orla and her family on holiday. However things rapidly take a spooky turn when she discovers a glowing necklace in some woods and soon she’s embroiled with witches, pirates and a mysterious curse that only Orla, with the help of her trusty dog Dave, can break. Think Famous Five with a twist" - The Good Web Guide