Limbo Lodge by Joan Aiken was published in 1999 and it’s part of her Dido Twite series, coming after The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, but I don’t think it’s really necessary to read this series in strict order.

Dido had been about to sail for the Port of London when the ship’s captain had been ordered to find Lord Herodsfoot and pick him up too. So they had to sail to the island of Aratu also known as the Island of Pearl Snakes. As they approach the island all of the cockroaches abandon ship as they’re the snakes’ favourite food.and they can smell them on the island.

Lord Herodsfoot has already left the island, bound for New Guinea and Australia, he’s searching for a game called Fish, Prawn, King Crab – it’s what he does.

As they try to track him down they get involved with all sorts of witchcraft, gods and natives who abandon girl babies. It’s a good read.