Murder by Serpents — Barbara Graham

Venomous Intent

When a gunshot wound nearly takes his life, Chicago cop Tony Abernathy and his wife, Theo, move their family home to Silersville, Tennessee. Theo opens a quilt shop and Tony becomes the new sheriff, where the worst he has to deal with are drunk-and-disorderlies. That is, until an itinerant preacher is found dead in his car, handcuffed to the steering wheel, with poisonous snakes slithering around his body.

The cause of death appears to be snakebite, but Tony isn't sure, especially when he uncovers the victim's criminal record. The ex-con was somehow involved with Miss Ruby, who owns the café his car was parked behind. Then scattered body parts start turning up, and it's not clear if the two cases are linked. Only one thing is certain -- this quiet town has become a very dangerous place, and it's up to Tony and Theo to find out who's behind these grisly murders…before the killer strikes again.