The Jig's Back Door: The Adventures of Sneath and Clutter, #1

By D. A. Kelly

Two goblins, a snarky treasure map and a quest for a lost gem.

Sounds straightforward enough. But Sneath and Clutter aren't your usual goblins, and the map has plans of its own.

Join the brothers on their hilarious adventure, as they bumble through caves, almost drown in an icy lake and are chased by nasty, magical villains. And all for the love of gold and jewels.

• Language: English
• Publisher: D. A. Kelly
• Release date: Oct 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393003441

D. A. Kelly

D. A. Kelly is a writer and delighter in all things magic. Her stories are relentless, spellbinding mysteries stuffed full of quirky characters, wicked humour and delicious murder. She is writing the first book in her Arabella Black cosy paranormal mystery series, Brooms Away. If you like more magic with your murders then watch out for her upcoming novels. 

Book preview

The Jig’s Back Door

A Sneath and Clutter Adventure

D. A. Kelly

‘ARE YOU CERTAIN WE’RE heading the right way?’ Sneath peered into the darkness. He waved his flaming torch back and forth, illuminating the cave walls. The roof was a jungle of tangled tree roots and low-hanging rock. Not a gem to be seen. Not a vein of gold gleamed in the torchlight. This treasure hunting was harder than he had planned. ‘What’s the map say?’

‘Stupid thing is sulking,’ Clutter said.

‘Of all the maps in the world.’ Sneath cuffed Clutter’s pointy green ear. ‘You had to steal that one.’

‘Of all the goblins in the world, you had to be my brother.’

‘Elder brother. Which makes me boss.’

‘Then you hold the map.’ Clutter thrust the ragged scroll into Sneath’s chest. ‘See if she likes you any better.’

‘PMS,’ Sneath said. ‘Prissy Map Syndrome, that’s what she’s got.’

He unfurled the ancient vellum. The sketched landscape had changed since he’d last looked at it. There were no more forests and mountains dotted with towns. Now tunnels, underground streams and caverns sprawled across the map. Trouble was, when he tried to focus on a particular area, it faded and shimmered making it impossible to follow. He tried peering out of the corner of his eye, but the map was smarter than that. All it did was flash the words, You are uglier than an ogre sucking a wasp!

Forcing a smile, Sneath turned to Clutter and said, ‘You just got to know how to talk to females.’

The map snorted, the sound emanating from the scorched vellum despite it having no mouth. ‘Because you have so much experience.’

‘If you weren’t a scrap of old calf skin, you’d know what a terrific love-maker I am.’

‘Thank the Mother Sky for small mercies,’ the map said. ‘And stop calling me The Map! I do have a name, you know.’

‘Lemon-puss?’