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A Serpent's Tooth: An Ann Kinnear Suspense Novel
When the owners of Lynch and Son Winery start to turn up dead, it seems that Ann Kinnear has stepped into the middle of a family feud turned fatal. Will what she learns provide a satisfying finish or yield a fatal harvest?
★★★★★ "Brilliant, satisfying, suspenseful, and gripping! One of my favorite authors." —Lisa Regan, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Crime Fiction Author
When a body is found at Lynch and Son Winery, no one suspects foul play. But then a second death occurs, and it seems that Ann Kinnear has stepped into the middle of a family feud turned fatal. Can Ann root out the evil or will her plan to move into the winery’s guest house bear deadly fruit?
Spirit senser Ann Kinnear is juggling a long-distance relationship and continuing her search for a place to call home. She thinks she has found the solution to both when she learns that her favorite Chester County, Pennsylvania winery has a guest house for rent.
When the body of the terminally ill head of the winery is found on the grounds, Ann assumes that the torch will pass to the next generation ... but the terms of the will leave a sour taste in the mouth of some family members. Does that explain the patriarch’s daughter’s clandestine trips to a grand but derelict home in Philadelphia, tended by a mysterious man in Victorian garb? Her husband secretly asks Ann’s brother Mike to investigate.
Then a second body is found in a watery grave, and it seems that both deaths may have been murder.
When the family hires Ann to contact the deceased, will what she learns provide a satisfying finish or yield a fatal harvest?
Find out in Book 5 of the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels!
★★★★★ "Brilliant, satisfying, suspenseful, and gripping! One of my favorite authors." —Lisa Regan, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Crime Fiction Author
When a body is found at Lynch and Son Winery, no one suspects foul play. But then a second death occurs, and it seems that Ann Kinnear has stepped into the middle of a family feud turned fatal. Can Ann root out the evil or will her plan to move into the winery’s guest house bear deadly fruit?
Spirit senser Ann Kinnear is juggling a long-distance relationship and continuing her search for a place to call home. She thinks she has found the solution to both when she learns that her favorite Chester County, Pennsylvania winery has a guest house for rent.
When the body of the terminally ill head of the winery is found on the grounds, Ann assumes that the torch will pass to the next generation ... but the terms of the will leave a sour taste in the mouth of some family members. Does that explain the patriarch’s daughter’s clandestine trips to a grand but derelict home in Philadelphia, tended by a mysterious man in Victorian garb? Her husband secretly asks Ann’s brother Mike to investigate.
Then a second body is found in a watery grave, and it seems that both deaths may have been murder.
When the family hires Ann to contact the deceased, will what she learns provide a satisfying finish or yield a fatal harvest?
Find out in Book 5 of the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels!
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 22, 2022
6 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Matty Dalrymple
41 books152 followersMatty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers ROCK PAPER SCISSORS, SNAKES AND LADDERS, and THE IRON RING; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels THE SENSE OF DEATH, THE SENSE OF RECKONING, THE FALCON AND THE OWL, and A FURNACE FOR YOUR FOE; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including CLOSE THESE EYES and WRITE IN WATER. Matty lives with her husband and three dogs in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and enjoys vacationing on Mount Desert Island, Maine, and Sedona, Arizona, and these locations provide the settings for her work. Matty is a member of Sisters in Crime and the Brandywine Valley Writers Group.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 23, 2022
A Serpent's Tooth is the fifth book in Matty Dalrymple's Ann Kinnear suspense series, and seems even better than the previous, thanks to Dalrymple's excellent writing. I was hooked reading the first book, The Sense of Death, and anxiously await each release.
Ann has the ability to see and talk to dead people, her skills seem to become more refined in each book. She and her brother Mike, also her business manager, formed a company, Ann Kinnear Sensing, that helps people who have concerns/ unanswered questions about the death of a relative, friend, business partner...etc. This often puts Ann in precarious situations, and as a reader, once I start a Kinnear book I simply can't put it down. The storylines are suspenseful, compelling, very well developed and fast-paced. I feel as though I know Ann, Mike and Scott, Mike's husband, and I like them. Detective Joe Booth returned in this book; I am beginning to think Ann may have more than just professional respect for him. Might a romance be brewing?
A Serpent's Tooth is a stand-alone novel, however the previous four books are wonderful, and do give the reader additional insights. I highly recommended it and the series, a definite five star read.
Ann has the ability to see and talk to dead people, her skills seem to become more refined in each book. She and her brother Mike, also her business manager, formed a company, Ann Kinnear Sensing, that helps people who have concerns/ unanswered questions about the death of a relative, friend, business partner...etc. This often puts Ann in precarious situations, and as a reader, once I start a Kinnear book I simply can't put it down. The storylines are suspenseful, compelling, very well developed and fast-paced. I feel as though I know Ann, Mike and Scott, Mike's husband, and I like them. Detective Joe Booth returned in this book; I am beginning to think Ann may have more than just professional respect for him. Might a romance be brewing?
A Serpent's Tooth is a stand-alone novel, however the previous four books are wonderful, and do give the reader additional insights. I highly recommended it and the series, a definite five star read.
June 29, 2025
Figuring Out a Dual Murder . . .
Ann Kinnear entered the tasting room at Kennett Square’s Lynch and Son Winery where she met her brother Mike and his husband Scott, as well as Ann’s date Corey Duff. Winemaker Del was behind the bar and greeted everyone. Mike had been Del’s financial planner in the past. Now he was his sister Ann’s business manager for “Ann Kinnear Sensing” where Ann can talk with ghosts. Currently Ann has been staying with her brother, but Del told her the guest house on the winery site will be available in a few days if she wanted to move in.
The Lynch family members have been arriving for a business meeting. A body is found at Lynch and Son Winery, upsetting but nothing suspicious until a second death makes Ann Kinnear think a family feud has turned fatal. Two Wills were written and Niall was going to destroy one or the other depending on whether he got what he wanted or not. Niall Lynch was a difficult man to work with! The most recent Will favored Harkin, who intends to sell the winery when he becomes the owner. Niall had both Wills with him as he walked down that path. When he stopped to rest, he felt a pain and apparently fell backwards onto a rock where Nola found him. Now that he is dead, only one Will exists. But what happened to the second Will? Can Ann figure out who murdered Niall? And when later the body of Harkin Lynch is found dead in the water and the cause of death hasn’t been determined yet, was he perhaps killed first then dumped into the water? With two deaths, this one may have also been murder. Will Ann be able to talk to the other ghost for more information? Will she be able to identify the murderer? Or will she possibly reconsider her plan to move into the winery’s guest house now?
Ann Kinnear entered the tasting room at Kennett Square’s Lynch and Son Winery where she met her brother Mike and his husband Scott, as well as Ann’s date Corey Duff. Winemaker Del was behind the bar and greeted everyone. Mike had been Del’s financial planner in the past. Now he was his sister Ann’s business manager for “Ann Kinnear Sensing” where Ann can talk with ghosts. Currently Ann has been staying with her brother, but Del told her the guest house on the winery site will be available in a few days if she wanted to move in.
The Lynch family members have been arriving for a business meeting. A body is found at Lynch and Son Winery, upsetting but nothing suspicious until a second death makes Ann Kinnear think a family feud has turned fatal. Two Wills were written and Niall was going to destroy one or the other depending on whether he got what he wanted or not. Niall Lynch was a difficult man to work with! The most recent Will favored Harkin, who intends to sell the winery when he becomes the owner. Niall had both Wills with him as he walked down that path. When he stopped to rest, he felt a pain and apparently fell backwards onto a rock where Nola found him. Now that he is dead, only one Will exists. But what happened to the second Will? Can Ann figure out who murdered Niall? And when later the body of Harkin Lynch is found dead in the water and the cause of death hasn’t been determined yet, was he perhaps killed first then dumped into the water? With two deaths, this one may have also been murder. Will Ann be able to talk to the other ghost for more information? Will she be able to identify the murderer? Or will she possibly reconsider her plan to move into the winery’s guest house now?
October 12, 2025
Every time I dive into an Ann Kinnear novel, I know I’m in for an eerie, clever, and completely addictive ride—and A Serpent’s Tooth delivered that in spades. This one had me hooked right from the start with its perfect blend of family drama, supernatural chills, and good old-fashioned suspense.
Ann’s gift as a spirit senser always brings such a unique angle to solving mysteries. Watching her navigate not just murder and betrayal, but also her own search for home and balance in her relationship, made her feel so real and relatable. I loved the winery setting—it gave the story such a rich, atmospheric backdrop, from rolling vineyards to a guest house hiding more secrets than anyone bargained for.
And then there’s the family feud at the heart of it all. The will, the secrets, the mysterious man in Victorian garb, and the tangled loyalties—it felt like every chapter revealed another layer of intrigue. By the time the second body showed up, I was glued to the page, desperate to see how Ann would untangle the web.
What makes Matty Dalrymple’s writing shine is how seamlessly the paranormal threads weave into the mystery. Ann’s sessions with the dead aren’t just spooky—they’re essential, heartbreaking, and often the key to justice. And in this book, the revelations hit hard.
A Serpent’s Tooth is suspenseful, atmospheric, and brilliantly paced, with just enough supernatural edge to keep me peeking over my shoulder. If you love mysteries with heart, haunting whispers from the past, and twists that keep you guessing until the final pour, this one is a must-read.
Ann’s gift as a spirit senser always brings such a unique angle to solving mysteries. Watching her navigate not just murder and betrayal, but also her own search for home and balance in her relationship, made her feel so real and relatable. I loved the winery setting—it gave the story such a rich, atmospheric backdrop, from rolling vineyards to a guest house hiding more secrets than anyone bargained for.
And then there’s the family feud at the heart of it all. The will, the secrets, the mysterious man in Victorian garb, and the tangled loyalties—it felt like every chapter revealed another layer of intrigue. By the time the second body showed up, I was glued to the page, desperate to see how Ann would untangle the web.
What makes Matty Dalrymple’s writing shine is how seamlessly the paranormal threads weave into the mystery. Ann’s sessions with the dead aren’t just spooky—they’re essential, heartbreaking, and often the key to justice. And in this book, the revelations hit hard.
A Serpent’s Tooth is suspenseful, atmospheric, and brilliantly paced, with just enough supernatural edge to keep me peeking over my shoulder. If you love mysteries with heart, haunting whispers from the past, and twists that keep you guessing until the final pour, this one is a must-read.
March 1, 2026
This installment delivers a tightly constructed political thriller that balances high-level intrigue with deeply personal stakes. The plot moves with precision, layering intelligence operations, moral ambiguity, and shifting alliances in a way that feels both plausible and compelling.
What stands out most is the author’s command of detail. The operational elements—surveillance, counterintelligence strategy, and geopolitical maneuvering—are handled with clarity and restraint, never overwhelming the narrative but adding authenticity throughout. The pacing is deliberate yet propulsive, building tension steadily rather than relying on artificial twists.
The characters remain the emotional anchor. Their motivations are credible, and the ethical dilemmas they face give weight to the action. The story does not simplify complex global realities, which lends it a grounded, mature tone that readers of intelligent suspense will appreciate.
This is a thoughtful, well-executed entry that respects both the genre and its audience, offering suspense driven by strategy and consequence rather than spectacle alone.
What stands out most is the author’s command of detail. The operational elements—surveillance, counterintelligence strategy, and geopolitical maneuvering—are handled with clarity and restraint, never overwhelming the narrative but adding authenticity throughout. The pacing is deliberate yet propulsive, building tension steadily rather than relying on artificial twists.
The characters remain the emotional anchor. Their motivations are credible, and the ethical dilemmas they face give weight to the action. The story does not simplify complex global realities, which lends it a grounded, mature tone that readers of intelligent suspense will appreciate.
This is a thoughtful, well-executed entry that respects both the genre and its audience, offering suspense driven by strategy and consequence rather than spectacle alone.
December 7, 2025
This is the 5th in a series of Ann Kinear novels, a spirit senser who is refining the use of her skills more and more, as the series progresses.
What can I say about this book: It has great suspense, an original storyline, interesting characters and to my surprise, a character from book 1 is showing up again…. and maybe there is something hanging in the air? 😌
This series has me hooked! Matty can build up a connection with her characters and readers through words. I hope there will be plenty more Ann Kinnear novels in the future! 😎🥰🥰🥰.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What can I say about this book: It has great suspense, an original storyline, interesting characters and to my surprise, a character from book 1 is showing up again…. and maybe there is something hanging in the air? 😌
This series has me hooked! Matty can build up a connection with her characters and readers through words. I hope there will be plenty more Ann Kinnear novels in the future! 😎🥰🥰🥰.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 22, 2025
this was a strong fifth entry in the Ann Kinnear Suspense series, it had that paranormal thriller element that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of book. The characters had that feel that worked with the world and was engaged with what happened to them. I was invested in the psychic investigator and how it was developed. Matty Dalrymple has a strong writing style and I hope there is more in this series.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 9, 2025
When the owners of the local winery, Lynch and Sons start turning up dead it seems like Ann Kinnear has stepped into something she didn't want to get involved in. Ann is a spirit sensor and after the second body turns up she decides to look into the matter after the family asks her to contact the deceased and see if they can solve the murders.
February 11, 2023
Book 5 in Ann Kinnear series. I don't read many series but I love this one, about a woman who can communicate with the dead. This mystery takes place in family-run winery.
My full review & an audio sample:
https://bookbybook.blogspot.com/2023/...
My full review & an audio sample:
https://bookbybook.blogspot.com/2023/...
May 3, 2025
Ann is a spirit senser. A term I had never heard before this series. Great story. Great characters. Looking forward to the next.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews