This is the fourth in the collection of Taya Bayliss mysteries for young readers. A weekend spent at the Comino farm turns out to be far more scary than Taya has expected. While planning a joint birthday party, she and her friend, Chris, find some interesting items in the attic, including a carpet python. Snakes are definitely not Taya's favourite creatures. Taya thinks one of the items she has found could prove the innocence of Uncle George Comino who is in jail for theft. Her persistence annoys Chris, but the hint of a mystery is irresistible for Taya. If George did't take the ruby cross, who did? Who is Bryan? Where is the cross now? In the spirit of Enid Blyton's 'Famous Five', Taya and Chris use their quick wits and keen observational skills to put the clues together. Taya has to face one of her greatest fears before this mystery is solved. Could you charm a snake?
About the Author: E. J. (Erica) Gore Erica grew up in Brisbane, Australia, in the 1950/60s. For an inwardly adventurous, but outwardly shy child, reading was a major part of life. Stories such as Enid Blyton's 'Famous Five' adventures fired her imagination and created new worlds for her to explore. Making up stories of her own followed as a natural progression, with Erica holding storytelling sessions for her stuffed toys each evening before bed. Having overcome her shyness by taking drama classes at her mother's insistence, Erica became a primary school teacher. She brought her love of story into the classroom, using narrative as a base for the units of work she planned for her students. Her core belief that stories provide children with a means of engaging with, and forming deeper understanding of, the world around them proved most successful in encouraging learning. When she retired from the classroom, Erica began to write her stories down. 'It was as though the time was right to be writing. The ideas were there and I had to let them escape from my brain and sort themselves out on paper.' Erica's characters are average kids. They do not have any special powers. They do not live in any fantasy worlds. Quick wits and keen observation skills are their weapons. The main character, Taya, is the adventurous little girl that Erica longed to be. She has the adventures that Erica dreamed of having. She is a child who wonders about things and likes to figure out puzzles. She can be a scaredy-cat and she can be amazingly brave. She and her fiend, Chris, are likeable kids with whom young readers can easily identify. Who wouldn't want to be out and about solving mysteries and having adventures? Erica still lives in Brisbane with her husband and their two mischievous dogs.