When Serpents Sleep

Returning to her hometown was never part of Beatrice Walker's plan. But for her daughter Ruby's sake, she's willing to face the whispers, the memories, and the shadows that still linger in the corners of a community ruled by Judge Shaw.

Ten years ago, Beatrice escaped this place after a party ended in tragedy. Now, as she settles back into life with her grandmother and reconnects with Ruby's father, she discovers that time hasn't healed the town's wounds-it's only allowed them to fester beneath a carefully maintained surface.

When Beatrice takes a job at a local tattoo shop run by the enigmatic Ames Porter, she's drawn into a dangerous web of secrets. The elegant serpentine designs Ames creates aren't just art-they're marks of ownership in a system Beatrice is only beginning to understand. A system that uses fear as currency and children as collateral.

As Ruby's fourth birthday approaches, Beatrice finds herself torn between protecting her daughter and uncovering the truth about the town's missing children. But in a place where even love can be weaponized, choosing the wrong ally could cost her everything.

Some dreams are worth chasing. Some secrets are worth keeping. And some snakes are worth waking.