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Alexa Williams #1
Dead of Autumn
The Alexa Williams novel that started it all.
An ethereal blonde sprawled by a mountain stream.
Three young girls on a blanket in the woods.
Decades separate the discovery of these dead bodies, but the lesson they offer is the same. Evil can lurk much closer than you'd ever imagine.
Alexa Williams is a successful lawyer, volunteers weekly at a women’s clinic, and has a sexy weekend boyfriend—not to mention an endearing best friend in her giant English mastiff, Scout. But one autumn day, when Scout takes off into the Pennsylvania woods, Alexa discovers a nightmare she’d never imagined. From that fateful day, Alexa becomes entangled in a murder mystery—one that she tries to unravel by linking it to experiences and symbols in her own life.
Dewilla Noakes, a child of the Depression, has recently lost her mother. Her father, packs up the girls—and their attractive cousin, Winnie—and hits the road to look for a job on the east coast. Along the way, money becomes tighter, food becomes scarcer, and relationships become strained. Dewilla’s father fears he’s failing his daughters. Running out of options, he begins to consider the unthinkable to end the misery he’s brought upon his family …
Alexa soon finds herself amidst violence aimed at the clinic where she volunteers, brought on by pro-life extremists. In a bizarre turn of events, she’s almost raped, ambushed by religious zealots who wish to convert her, then taken by surprise as another romance enters her life. Plus, she seems to be seeing quite a lot of the local law enforcement these days.
No matter what else happens in her life, Alexa can’t shake feeling some sort of connection to the mysterious murder victim. She thinks back to the stories she heard as a child, about the Babes in the Woods, who were murdered close to where the victim’s body was found, wondering if that might be why she draws the connection. But when the murderer strikes again, Alexa must rely on her knowledge of local history and terrain in order to save her own life.
DEAD of AUTUMN ties together the struggles faced by females, young and old, past and present, and the degrees of power they embrace to combat their situations.
An ethereal blonde sprawled by a mountain stream.
Three young girls on a blanket in the woods.
Decades separate the discovery of these dead bodies, but the lesson they offer is the same. Evil can lurk much closer than you'd ever imagine.
Alexa Williams is a successful lawyer, volunteers weekly at a women’s clinic, and has a sexy weekend boyfriend—not to mention an endearing best friend in her giant English mastiff, Scout. But one autumn day, when Scout takes off into the Pennsylvania woods, Alexa discovers a nightmare she’d never imagined. From that fateful day, Alexa becomes entangled in a murder mystery—one that she tries to unravel by linking it to experiences and symbols in her own life.
Dewilla Noakes, a child of the Depression, has recently lost her mother. Her father, packs up the girls—and their attractive cousin, Winnie—and hits the road to look for a job on the east coast. Along the way, money becomes tighter, food becomes scarcer, and relationships become strained. Dewilla’s father fears he’s failing his daughters. Running out of options, he begins to consider the unthinkable to end the misery he’s brought upon his family …
Alexa soon finds herself amidst violence aimed at the clinic where she volunteers, brought on by pro-life extremists. In a bizarre turn of events, she’s almost raped, ambushed by religious zealots who wish to convert her, then taken by surprise as another romance enters her life. Plus, she seems to be seeing quite a lot of the local law enforcement these days.
No matter what else happens in her life, Alexa can’t shake feeling some sort of connection to the mysterious murder victim. She thinks back to the stories she heard as a child, about the Babes in the Woods, who were murdered close to where the victim’s body was found, wondering if that might be why she draws the connection. But when the murderer strikes again, Alexa must rely on her knowledge of local history and terrain in order to save her own life.
DEAD of AUTUMN ties together the struggles faced by females, young and old, past and present, and the degrees of power they embrace to combat their situations.
- GenresThriller
286 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2014
35 people are currently reading
426 people want to read
About the author
Sherry Knowlton
14 books72 followersSherry Knowlton is the award-winning author of the Alexa Williams suspense novels, including Dead of Autumn, Dead of Spring, Dead of Summer, Dead of Winter, and Dead on the Delta, a two-volume travel memoir, Beyond the Sunset, and co-author of American Roulette and Fatal Introductions.
Her lifelong passion for books started as a child when she would sneak a flashlight to bed so she could read beneath the covers. All the local librarians knew her by name.
Now retired from executive positions in government and the health insurance industry, Sherry is “rewriting retirement” by turning her passion for writing into a new career. She draws on her professional background and worldwide travel experiences as inspiration for her writing.
Sherry and her husband Mike began their journey together in the days of peace and music when they traversed the country in a hippie van. Embracing the travel experience, they continue to explore far-flung places around the globe. These stories and more are recounted in her two-part travel memoir Beyond the Sunset.
When she’s not on the road, Sherry lives in the mountains of Southcentral Pennsylvania, where her Alexa Williams suspense series is set.
Learn more at SherryKnowlton.com.
Her lifelong passion for books started as a child when she would sneak a flashlight to bed so she could read beneath the covers. All the local librarians knew her by name.
Now retired from executive positions in government and the health insurance industry, Sherry is “rewriting retirement” by turning her passion for writing into a new career. She draws on her professional background and worldwide travel experiences as inspiration for her writing.
Sherry and her husband Mike began their journey together in the days of peace and music when they traversed the country in a hippie van. Embracing the travel experience, they continue to explore far-flung places around the globe. These stories and more are recounted in her two-part travel memoir Beyond the Sunset.
When she’s not on the road, Sherry lives in the mountains of Southcentral Pennsylvania, where her Alexa Williams suspense series is set.
Learn more at SherryKnowlton.com.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 10, 2015
What an excellent story. It is so full of plots that will be of interest to many readers. There is a lot of action and the characters were great.
January 25, 2017
3.5 STARS
I was torn on giving this three or four stars, so I'll settle on 3.5. The story itself was really good, I'm always a little hesitant when there are hardly any reviews, but I'm glad I took a chance on this one.
I did have a few issues with the story, probably another go around with an editor could smooth them out. There are quite a few awkward transitions, one minute Alexa is at work, the next she's with her friends. Maybe it's just the Kindle formatting, but some better spacing with the transitions or even a few ### to make it seem less jarring. There were also times when Alexa was thinking to herself when it would seem like the narrative had shifted from third person to first person. Putting the thoughts in italics would help. Also, some of the conversations became a little bit like a lecture, especially when Alexa was explaining her viewpoint. A viewpoint that I am in total agreement with, but it felt at times like she was talking at someone rather than to someone.
Alexa was a great heroine, a smart lawyer who volunteers weekly at a women's clinic that also provides abortions. She finds a dead body while hiking with her dog in the woods and her life is thrown into turmoil. There are some angry religious zealot types that protest at the clinic, then worse things keep happening. There's some romance along the way, but that's not really a major part of the book. The end of the book gets pretty intense and I found myself not wanting to put it down.
There are also a few chapters devoted to the Babes in the Woods, apparently a real thing that happened during the Great Depression. They don't really have anything to do with the story, but I'm glad they were included, I found it interesting.
I was torn on giving this three or four stars, so I'll settle on 3.5. The story itself was really good, I'm always a little hesitant when there are hardly any reviews, but I'm glad I took a chance on this one.
I did have a few issues with the story, probably another go around with an editor could smooth them out. There are quite a few awkward transitions, one minute Alexa is at work, the next she's with her friends. Maybe it's just the Kindle formatting, but some better spacing with the transitions or even a few ### to make it seem less jarring. There were also times when Alexa was thinking to herself when it would seem like the narrative had shifted from third person to first person. Putting the thoughts in italics would help. Also, some of the conversations became a little bit like a lecture, especially when Alexa was explaining her viewpoint. A viewpoint that I am in total agreement with, but it felt at times like she was talking at someone rather than to someone.
Alexa was a great heroine, a smart lawyer who volunteers weekly at a women's clinic that also provides abortions. She finds a dead body while hiking with her dog in the woods and her life is thrown into turmoil. There are some angry religious zealot types that protest at the clinic, then worse things keep happening. There's some romance along the way, but that's not really a major part of the book. The end of the book gets pretty intense and I found myself not wanting to put it down.
There are also a few chapters devoted to the Babes in the Woods, apparently a real thing that happened during the Great Depression. They don't really have anything to do with the story, but I'm glad they were included, I found it interesting.
March 6, 2015
This is a page-turner of a thriller, set both in present day rural Pennsylvania, and in the same town in the 1930s.
It's very dark, weaving together the past and the present, with violence and poverty and sexuality all interwoven. This is the writer's first published novel, and it is very promising - and sort of troubling to read, with the danger to women and children so vivid.
Alexa, a new York lawyer, tries to find peace and comfort in rural Pennsylvania, but finds that she has landed in a town known for the tragic and mysterious deaths of three young sisters during the depression. The dark side of village life reminds the reader of the early American writers that saw the forest as a dangerous place for body and soul.
Check out the Noakes family to which The Babes in the Woods memorial is dedicated to - you'll never drive through PA quite so cheerfully ever again.
September 26, 2019
I hesitate to give this book 3 stars. As a Carlisle Native, I enjoy supporting local authors. However, I had a few problems with this book.
First - While I felt as though Alexa is someone I could become friends with, I felt as though the author used her character as a way to saddle readers with politically charged opinions on women's health, as well as giving her a psychopathic bigot of a boyfriend; complete with an arsenal of weapons... I hear the banjos sounding now in Adams and Perry counties. While I enjoyed the main character's zest and zeal, I found the undertones a bit too prominent for what I thought was going to be a light, albeit creepy read set in my hometown.
Second - Remember that psychopathic bigot? Religious fanatic? Reverting back to the dark ages where women should be barefoot and pregnant? Me man, you woman, you no speak ugh ugh *beats on chest and brandishes a gun* Yea... that wasn't realistic for me. Call me naive, but I find it difficult to believe that there are a sect of religious zealots camping out in the mountains of south central Pennsylvania. I've met individuals who are strong in their convictions, and right, wrong, or indifferent, those individuals are entitled to his/her opinions... But given that I don't see sleepy little Carlisle a hotbed of righteously indignant fanatics, I became more dubious and derisive the longer I read on.
Third - (and last on my list of criticisms) - The tale of the 3 babes. If you're from the Carlisle or surrounding area, you have most likely driven past, at one time in your life, the placard commemorating the 3 young girls found dead in the woods of Michaux park. In November of 1934, the girls, their father, and their young female cousin were traveling cross-country. For whatever reason, and the theories are numerous, it is speculated the father killed the 3 girls, fled with his niece, then turned a gun on his niece, and himself at a train station in Blair county. It is important to understand this nugget of the area's seedy history as I speculate the author, who explains, and indeed creates flashbacks to the murdered family in her story, attempts to create a parallel between the three murdered girls of 1934 and the recent string of murders in the novel. However... I never truly felt that this effort tied together in a cohesive book. It felt too forced, again as if the author attempted to force the story upon us, rather than just let the book play out.
Closing thoughts - While I found some of the author's story to be egregious affronts to my own opinions throughout the book, I genuinely liked Alexa, and enjoyed the fictional shops, wishing quite selfishly that they truly existed. As a native, I enjoyed reading about the real places that I grew up knowing and loving, seeing them memorialized in a book. I admired the concept and plot the author took great pains to create, however, I do not feel that for me, it came together or drew me in, despite the horrific first few chapters! Overall, I am glad I read it, and will continue to read her novels, so long as they are set in my little corner of the world.
First - While I felt as though Alexa is someone I could become friends with, I felt as though the author used her character as a way to saddle readers with politically charged opinions on women's health, as well as giving her a psychopathic bigot of a boyfriend; complete with an arsenal of weapons... I hear the banjos sounding now in Adams and Perry counties. While I enjoyed the main character's zest and zeal, I found the undertones a bit too prominent for what I thought was going to be a light, albeit creepy read set in my hometown.
Second - Remember that psychopathic bigot? Religious fanatic? Reverting back to the dark ages where women should be barefoot and pregnant? Me man, you woman, you no speak ugh ugh *beats on chest and brandishes a gun* Yea... that wasn't realistic for me. Call me naive, but I find it difficult to believe that there are a sect of religious zealots camping out in the mountains of south central Pennsylvania. I've met individuals who are strong in their convictions, and right, wrong, or indifferent, those individuals are entitled to his/her opinions... But given that I don't see sleepy little Carlisle a hotbed of righteously indignant fanatics, I became more dubious and derisive the longer I read on.
Third - (and last on my list of criticisms) - The tale of the 3 babes. If you're from the Carlisle or surrounding area, you have most likely driven past, at one time in your life, the placard commemorating the 3 young girls found dead in the woods of Michaux park. In November of 1934, the girls, their father, and their young female cousin were traveling cross-country. For whatever reason, and the theories are numerous, it is speculated the father killed the 3 girls, fled with his niece, then turned a gun on his niece, and himself at a train station in Blair county. It is important to understand this nugget of the area's seedy history as I speculate the author, who explains, and indeed creates flashbacks to the murdered family in her story, attempts to create a parallel between the three murdered girls of 1934 and the recent string of murders in the novel. However... I never truly felt that this effort tied together in a cohesive book. It felt too forced, again as if the author attempted to force the story upon us, rather than just let the book play out.
Closing thoughts - While I found some of the author's story to be egregious affronts to my own opinions throughout the book, I genuinely liked Alexa, and enjoyed the fictional shops, wishing quite selfishly that they truly existed. As a native, I enjoyed reading about the real places that I grew up knowing and loving, seeing them memorialized in a book. I admired the concept and plot the author took great pains to create, however, I do not feel that for me, it came together or drew me in, despite the horrific first few chapters! Overall, I am glad I read it, and will continue to read her novels, so long as they are set in my little corner of the world.
February 19, 2017
I really did like this book. Towards the climax it did have me on the edge of my chair and my heart racing. At first I couldn't get with the back and forth of the two stories but eventually after reading the premise of the book I understood. I thought I knew who the culprit was of the murder but each time I guessed I was wrong. Even toward the end of the book I was wrong. Some issues I had with the author was the Babes story for one. The author kept interjecting the Babes story throughout the book which at times were random. Also before the actual Babes story ended in the present story the character Alexa tells Reese what happened to them as well as their father. Even though readers know this the author continues on interjecting the story throughout the book. The Babes story goes on to explain what happened to two of the children not all (I guess we have to go on what was told earlier in the story by Alexa) and it doesn't continue you the dialogue of how the dad and Winifred eventually killed themselves and wife if they were rid of the kids. Another issue I had was the author going back in forth from first or third person narrative and I couldn't figure out if she was talking to herself or someone else. That made me go back and read some lines again. Also I felt like if this was a movie this would have definitely been a lifetime movie because it did go back and forth from her being at home then the next second she was on a date or at work. Didn't transition all too well. Other than that the book had a fairly good story line.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2025
#1 Alexa Williams
She finds a young woman dead after she stopped to give her dog, Scout a run.
Trooper Taylor, Corporal Branche with State Police Crimes Investigation Unit and Reese Michaels, DCNR; Pine /grove Furnace State Park;
Grandmother: Three Pines Nursing Home
Williams, Williams and O'Donnell civil law firm in Carlisle;
Graham, her brother; Norris and Susan Williams, her parents;
Pat O'Donnell, Brian, Melinda, Becky, Jennifer, co-workers;
Haley and Melissa, two best friends;
Caleb, boy-friend;
In conjunction with this story was the Babes in the Woods story from the 1930's, when 3 young girls were found dead in the woods near her cabin.
Alexa worked at a family planning clinic, Barb, Tanisha,
Joel, Daniel & Gabriel - Caleb's friends, Elizabeth Nelson, Beth broke up with Gabriel (MURDERED, because she had an abortion), the body, Alexa found; Leah, Georgia;
Fundamentalist Church, Kingdom Lodge, radical members, Rev Brown; also training militia;
Shooting of Dr Crowe and murder of Emily Crowe who also worked at the clinic;
Alexa hid in an old underground railroad tunnel from the men after her.
She finds a young woman dead after she stopped to give her dog, Scout a run.
Trooper Taylor, Corporal Branche with State Police Crimes Investigation Unit and Reese Michaels, DCNR; Pine /grove Furnace State Park;
Grandmother: Three Pines Nursing Home
Williams, Williams and O'Donnell civil law firm in Carlisle;
Graham, her brother; Norris and Susan Williams, her parents;
Pat O'Donnell, Brian, Melinda, Becky, Jennifer, co-workers;
Haley and Melissa, two best friends;
Caleb, boy-friend;
In conjunction with this story was the Babes in the Woods story from the 1930's, when 3 young girls were found dead in the woods near her cabin.
Alexa worked at a family planning clinic, Barb, Tanisha,
Joel, Daniel & Gabriel - Caleb's friends, Elizabeth Nelson, Beth broke up with Gabriel (MURDERED, because she had an abortion), the body, Alexa found; Leah, Georgia;
Fundamentalist Church, Kingdom Lodge, radical members, Rev Brown; also training militia;
Shooting of Dr Crowe and murder of Emily Crowe who also worked at the clinic;
Alexa hid in an old underground railroad tunnel from the men after her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2020
Murderous Christain zealots wreak havoc in rural Pennsylvania. Alexa is a lawyer who left NYC to work in her family's law firm. She also volunteers are a women's health center which has become the target of anti-abortion protesters. While letting her mastiff out for a potty break she happens upon the body of a dead woman. She also meets a hunky forest ranger who makes her question her casual relationship with a handsome businessman. Interwoven is the story of three little girls who were presumably murdered by their father during the depression.
This book didn't gibe for me. Too much tell and not enough show. The writing is clunky and there are too many contrived circumstances. The book would have been better without the political rants. The story of the little girls had really nothing to do with the contemporary tale and it made no sense. It actually was more interesting than the Alexa plot but the connection was merely that she knew about the so-called babes in the woods. Not especially interesting or believable.
This book didn't gibe for me. Too much tell and not enough show. The writing is clunky and there are too many contrived circumstances. The book would have been better without the political rants. The story of the little girls had really nothing to do with the contemporary tale and it made no sense. It actually was more interesting than the Alexa plot but the connection was merely that she knew about the so-called babes in the woods. Not especially interesting or believable.
March 25, 2017
The author was able to bring the characters and settings alive through her words. I really like that the lead character, Alexa, is smart and accomplished but she still makes mistakes - she’s not perfect. She has a great big dog and you can tell she loves him a lot. You get a real feeling for the rural setting. The action takes place not too far from Gettysburg so there’s lots of information about the area, the history of the underground railroad, the civil war, the battle of Gettysburg etc.
The mystery is fascinating and kept me guessing right to the end. The book also flashes back to a very touching mystery about three little girls from the 1930’s who died in the same area. I really liked this book. By page five I was pulled into the world of these characters and only stopped to eat, sleep and check out my facebook page. I finished it in one weekend and I’m on my way to pick up the second book in the series.
The mystery is fascinating and kept me guessing right to the end. The book also flashes back to a very touching mystery about three little girls from the 1930’s who died in the same area. I really liked this book. By page five I was pulled into the world of these characters and only stopped to eat, sleep and check out my facebook page. I finished it in one weekend and I’m on my way to pick up the second book in the series.
August 31, 2025
This was actually a decent book. I enjoyed the references to the areas in Pennsylvania that I’m familiar with, so that was an added bonus. You may wonder why only two stars? I’ve come across a few books that have typos or a grammatical errors here and there in the past. But this book seems like it was never edited! There was no way to count the amount of grammatical errors in this short (under 300 page book)! It was just shocking and personally disturbs the flow of reading and my view of the parties that created this book. This may have been the editors fault, but as an author I’d be mortified to have my book turn out in this way. Just as a demonstration I’d grade it C- for a term paper having zero to do with content.
October 16, 2024
After accidently reading the 3rd book in this series first, I decided to read the rest in order. Dead of Autumn is the book book in the four book series.
I love it! I live in south central Pennsylvania so it's a treat to read books written by a local author that take place in the local area. I've been to many of the locations mentioned in the book which really drew me into the plots.
Sherry Knowlton knows how to write a good mystery for sure and her characters are believable and relatable. Can't wait to read the next book.
I love it! I live in south central Pennsylvania so it's a treat to read books written by a local author that take place in the local area. I've been to many of the locations mentioned in the book which really drew me into the plots.
Sherry Knowlton knows how to write a good mystery for sure and her characters are believable and relatable. Can't wait to read the next book.
January 15, 2026
3.5 Pretty cool that this book takes place in Carlisle, PA - where I live! There's much mention of streets, locales, and public lands that I know of quite well, with a few that I don't....so that was really fun. The story was okay, though incredibly predictable, the protagonist is feisty but somewhat dull-witted at times, and there were a few ways that the reader read that didn't appeal to me 100%. But I enjoyed it for the locale. There are others to follow, so I'm hoping some of my problems with the story will smooth out as the stories continue.
January 27, 2017
Interesting Theme
I was surprised that this book had a pro-choice theme. There where also some steamy sex scenes and a few curse words. If this bothers you, don't read the book. The actual mystery was interesting. Alexa did not seem consistently aware of the danger she was in and missed a few obvious signs. There were a few minor proofreading misses. I have no earthly idea why the Babes in the Woods side story was included.
I was surprised that this book had a pro-choice theme. There where also some steamy sex scenes and a few curse words. If this bothers you, don't read the book. The actual mystery was interesting. Alexa did not seem consistently aware of the danger she was in and missed a few obvious signs. There were a few minor proofreading misses. I have no earthly idea why the Babes in the Woods side story was included.
December 15, 2020
Engaging read—can’t wait for my next adventure with Alexa!
I grew up in south central Pennsylvania, so reading Dead of Autumn felt like going home and being amongst friends, and Alexa is just the kind of gal I’d hang out with! She walks her talk—even under duress—showing an impressive level of integrity and kind-hearted ness. I’m so happy I purchased the four book package and can’t wait tuck into another of Sherry Knowlton’s missives next weekend!
I grew up in south central Pennsylvania, so reading Dead of Autumn felt like going home and being amongst friends, and Alexa is just the kind of gal I’d hang out with! She walks her talk—even under duress—showing an impressive level of integrity and kind-hearted ness. I’m so happy I purchased the four book package and can’t wait tuck into another of Sherry Knowlton’s missives next weekend!
January 29, 2017
Nicely done.
Too much drama and suspense to call it a love story, but there are no dull moments in this gripping story of a young woman's shocking discovery that her boyfriend is part of a group of religious zealots who are bent on destruction of the abortion clinic she does volunteer work for.
Too much drama and suspense to call it a love story, but there are no dull moments in this gripping story of a young woman's shocking discovery that her boyfriend is part of a group of religious zealots who are bent on destruction of the abortion clinic she does volunteer work for.
April 11, 2020
At first I found the writing a bit cheesy and amateur but as the story progressed I found it wasn’t as predictable as I assumed. The last 50 pages had my heart racing. I’d say the writing style was a 2-3, but the story was a 3-4 star. It’s also by a local author so it was eery to read a Alt right murder mystery using names and places from my hometown- this made it harder to like the book
December 16, 2021
I did not have high expectations starting this book. Having now finished it, that was very unfair of me. The beginning was a little groan-worthy, but certainly picked up as the book went on, and the last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat.
August 28, 2023
Wow! What a good book and it took place in my neck of the woods! I wasn't expecting to hear or read about violence at an abortion clinic but in today's world it happens more then is known. I like the mystery aspect and how the Babes in the Woods story was intertwined!
March 9, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat while reading it. I met Sherry on a cruise along with her husband and that's how I found out about this book series. Now to move on to the next one!
July 10, 2019
Solid first book from this author. Some of the issues covered did not appeal to me in reading for pleasure. Still I might consider more books from this series.
March 23, 2021
I really delved into this book, and it held my attention.
August 3, 2023
Good book. It takes place in Carlisle PA, which is home for me. A good book with a little bit of history thrown in. Looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
August 21, 2025
Wow. Just poor writing. I didn't find the conversations believable or relatable. The plot has merit, but just poorly executed.
July 3, 2016
A well-constructed mystery with an accidental sleuth who is more closely connected to the murder than she realizes. Alexa Williams is a strong, likable female protagonist: a young lawyer who has returned to her family's practice in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, after an exhausting stint in New York City and a broken heart. She is content with the slower pace of life in Carlisle, which gives her time to volunteer one afternoon a week at a local women's clinic and enjoy a casual romance with handsome local gun store owner, Caleb Browne. But her illusion of safety and security is shattered when she and her pet Mastiff, Scout, find a young woman's body in a state forest not far from her home. The death bears an eerie similarity to a famous depression-era killing of three young girls by their desperate father, which took place in almost the same location.
Through the investigation, Alexa makes friends with Reese Michaels, a park ranger who was one of the first responders. But a cloud over his past and some troubling circumstantial evidence cause Alexa to keep Reese at arm's length, and to suspect he may be somehow connected with the unidentified murder victim.
Then her relationship with Caleb sours. More interested in a serious commitment than Alexa is, Caleb invites her to meet his family and friends at the Kingdom Lodge in Perry County. She discovers that Caleb's fundamentalist upbringing and right-wing extremist views are incompatible with her worldview, and especially with her support of a woman's right to choose. Although Alexa hopes for a swift, clean break-up, it doesn't go smoothly.
While the murder investigation stalls, the clinic where Alexa does her volunteer work becomes a target of anti-abortion violence by hypocrites who justify killing adults to advance their "pro-life" agenda. The story turns from mystery to thriller as Alexa must call upon every skill and instinct to fight for survival.
Sherry Knowlton does a great job of capturing the rural setting, the fall colors, and the chilling approach of winter, giving this first novel a fine sense of place. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the "season" series.
Through the investigation, Alexa makes friends with Reese Michaels, a park ranger who was one of the first responders. But a cloud over his past and some troubling circumstantial evidence cause Alexa to keep Reese at arm's length, and to suspect he may be somehow connected with the unidentified murder victim.
Then her relationship with Caleb sours. More interested in a serious commitment than Alexa is, Caleb invites her to meet his family and friends at the Kingdom Lodge in Perry County. She discovers that Caleb's fundamentalist upbringing and right-wing extremist views are incompatible with her worldview, and especially with her support of a woman's right to choose. Although Alexa hopes for a swift, clean break-up, it doesn't go smoothly.
While the murder investigation stalls, the clinic where Alexa does her volunteer work becomes a target of anti-abortion violence by hypocrites who justify killing adults to advance their "pro-life" agenda. The story turns from mystery to thriller as Alexa must call upon every skill and instinct to fight for survival.
Sherry Knowlton does a great job of capturing the rural setting, the fall colors, and the chilling approach of winter, giving this first novel a fine sense of place. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the "season" series.
November 3, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
Read For:
✓ Plot Twist
✓ Good Dog
✓ Pro-Choice
✓ Autumn Setting
✓ Religious Bigotry
˗ˏˋ ★ REVIEW ★ ˎˊ˗
The autumn vibes were great and having lived in Pennsylvania my whole life it really had a chilling atmosphere. Never truly knowing a person and their dangerous beliefs all in the name of “religion” at least until it’s one of their own. There are topics in this book that deal with current issues in America and it showed the problematic parts of pro-lifers who are so pro-life they start killing people over it… This book was twisted and suspenseful and had a plot that had good twists that came together so well by the end of it. The characters were well written and of course, the dog was super sweet. I’m so happy with how this book ended.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
Angst Level: 💧💧💧
POV: Third Person
Release Date: 22 July 2025
⚠️ Content Warnings:
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
September 16, 2016
A really good book. I got involved right away. Alexa is a young lawyer who left a prestigious New York law farm to return home and work in a family practice with her father and brother in rural central Pennsylvania. Early on, she discovers the dead body of a young girl in a forest preserve while on a hike with her English Mastiff dog, Scout. It takes several weeks to determine the identity of the victim. During that time, because of her involvement, she is harassed and threatened. Alexa does volunteer work at a planned parenthood facility which adds to the suspense.
February 22, 2019
Dead of Autumn is packed with local PA lore, as Alexa lives in Michaux forest near the Appalachian trail and the spot where the famous Babes in the the Woods' bodies were discovered years ago. The author interweaves information and stories related to that historic event and current events concerning and of concern to women. A family planning clinic, religious zealots and pro-life extremists factor into the mystery surrounding her discovery of the body of a recently murdered young woman near the Babes' final resting place. A thoroughly enjoyable debut mystery!
January 19, 2016
Fast paced, great plotting, good history thrown in.
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