Autumn Leaves Are Falling

by Sarah Lewin

In a town where those with supernatural gifts live alongside ordinary folk, what could go wrong? Preparations for the annual festival are well underway, when a series of incidents threaten to cancel the event. Beth won’t stand by and let some vandals or an incompetent mayor ruin the day. Are the vandals bored teenagers or is something more sinister afoot? Her second sight doesn’t appear to be working. She must figure out how to kick start her abilities, even if that means working with a community she had a bad experience with many years before. Will Beth and her friends solve the mystery before the festival fails?
Fire, destruction of public property, theft and a bovine invasion are bad enough. When Beth finds out about a hidden plan to demolish a row of shops to build a fancy new tourist attraction, she is moved into action. Not everyone is who they appear to be. Who can she trust? Is she really prepared to step up and lead in this situation? Can she forgive the past? There’s less than three weeks to go until festival day.

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2024

About the author

Sarah Lewin was born in Tumut, a small country town in New South Wales, Australia, and now makes her home in outback Queensland. A mother and teacher, she has always loved reading and writing about the world around her, using words to spark children’s imagination and curiosity.
In recent years, Sarah has rediscovered her fascination with magic, fairies, and witches—an enchantment that has found its way into her stories. She published her first children’s book, My Grandma, in 2023, along with her debut witchy novel, Crone Wisdom.
Since then, her creativity has flourished. In 2024 she released four more books, now, in mid-2025, several new titles have been published.
Highlights of her writing career include having stories selected for inclusion in anthologies and winning prizes for her writing in international competitions.
With every story, Sarah continues to weave together curiosity, wonder, and a touch of magic.

Reviews

[Helen Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute and cozy

A cute and cozy fantasy mystery set in small town Australia as the FMC comes into her own. It was a good and easy read.

[Tambi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the enchanting setting of Spirit Town, Beth finds herself back in the place she once called home after the loss of her parents. As the owner and reporter for the town newspaper, she works alongside her good friend and sole employee Lexi. The mysterious vandalism at the cemetery, with tombstones cracked and displaced, pulls Beth into an unexpected alliance with Jon, the new police recruit. Jon's journey of discovering the town's mystical secrets runs parallel to Beth's own struggle with her faltering second sight—a gift that allows her to glimpse past and future events but is now frustratingly unreliable. As the Spirit Town Festival approaches, chaos escalates with the inexplicable disappearance of the town gates, setting Beth on a quest to uncover the truth behind these bizarre occurrences.

Autumn Leaves Are Falling: A Spirit Town Cosy Mystery, Book 1 by Sarah Lewin offers readers a delightful blend of mystery and charm, set against the vibrant backdrop of Spirit Town. Sarah Lewin's narrative adeptly captures the town's rich history and unique characters, painting vivid pictures of beloved spots like the park garden and Evie’s Cafe. The intricately woven mystery keeps readers on their toes, as each new revelation raises more questions than answers. Despite the occasionally wild narrative structure, the story's heart lies in its strong sense of community. The town's diverse population of both gifted and ordinary residents adds depth and intrigue, highlighting the camaraderie and tension that exist within a close-knit society. The lack of clear motives amidst the peculiar events creates a captivating and unpredictable journey, ensuring that readers remain as puzzled and curious as Beth herself.

Sarah Lewin's vivid imagination shines through in Autumn Leaves Are Falling, making this cozy mystery an intriguing read for fans of the genre. Her ability to craft a story filled with enchanting characters and unexpected events is both refreshing and engaging. The narrative's unpredictability, coupled with the author's knack for creating a warm yet mysterious atmosphere, keeps readers invested from start to finish. As Beth navigates the challenges of both her personal life and the perplexing mysteries of Spirit Town, readers are left eager for more adventures. With the next installment, Secret Ghosts and Whispers, Sarah Lewin shows promise of a series that is filled with the charm and mystery of Spirit Town.

Book Rating:
Originality: 5.0/5.0
Plot Structure: 4.25/5.0
Pacing: 4.5/5.0
Dialogue: 4.75/5.0
Personal Enjoyment: 4.25/5.0
Cover Design: 5.0/5.0 (Not averaged in the overall rating.)
Overall Rating: 4.55/5.0 (Rating will be rounded up due to platforms not allowing partial ratings.)

[Ingrid Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely, cozy book, ideal for fall reading.
The pace feels quite relaxed, although several mysterious things happen in a short time.

Beth is a lovely character who is struggling with her supernatural gifts combined with her wish to be 'normal', which is very endearing. The other characters and the surroundings were very well described, which gives this book a real cozy and homey feeling.

Towards the end the story gets a bit more of an acceleration as all the pieces come together and I found I couldn't put it down and wanted to know how it would all end.

I liked reading this book and can't wait to read the second novel in this series.
It is perfect for reading with a cozy blanket, hot cocoa and some candles for atmosphere.

[Bethany L Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this cozy, witchy story there is a small town with incidents occurring before the annual spirit festival. Beth and her friends work together to solve the mystery and save the town while bringing the community together. There was so much to love in this clean,cozy mystery from the more mature cast of characters to the quaint Gilmore Girls vibe of the village. Perfect for a fall read, grab a blanket and a hot beverage and get cozy with this adorable story.

[April Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous Flow to this story which blends and pulls the plotline perfectly. Our main character, Beth, has growth and acceptance that blooms right alongside the village of Spirit Town.  Multiple characters developed so believably, especially Spark, the cutest furball you'd ever want to meet!  World building at its best.  The town becomes a character unto itself. Truly enjoyed this paranormal Cozy Mystery and Highly Recommended to all.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was cute. It reminded me of Halloween Town and Charmed. Except without monsters. A town with people with and without extra abilities or supernatural powers. Coexisting within the town known as Spirit Town. The annual fall festival is drawing near. A series of unfortunate events unfolds. Will the fall festival proceed as planned? Is there a darker element to Spirit Town? Found out in Autumn Leaves Are Falling.

[Sunny Lovestories · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to Spirit town not your normal place and it’s definitely not a place Beth thought she would spend any more time at but upon her parents’ death her hometown calls to her. Wonderfully paced, concise writing, and can I just say how awesome is to have a book character named Beth? A simple name like Beth specially in a paranormal Novel ?? Love it!

[Kathie Poritz -Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Autumn Leaves Are Falling

I enjoyed reading this Spirit Town Cosy Mystery during Halloween although it makes a charming read for any time. It was perfect timing for a well plotted story with endearing characters and setting. The magical influence was delightful. I intend to catch up with all forth coming additions to the series and explore the author's other offerings.

[Wendy Arana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it, it is a cozy, quiet and easy to read book, the plot structure is quite fast and concise.

Totally a recommended read if you like paranormal stories.