Dead of Summer

Alexa Williams #2

by Sherry Knowlton

In a tale of suspense that travels from Southcentral Pennsylvania to Africa to the iconic Woodstock Festival of 1969, Dead of Summer embroils Alexa Williams in the dangerous world of sex trafficking.

With help from friends, family, and her yoga practice, Alexa Williams is finally starting to recover from last autumn’s trauma of finding a dead body and the violence that ensued. The young attorney can’t believe that her summer has begun with the discovery of another body. This time, the dead woman was famous for her worldwide campaign against sex trafficking. The murder hits close to home: the late activist was a friend and mentor to Alexa’s best friend, Melissa.

While the town mourns, Alexa stumbles into a burglary at Melissa’s home, barely escaping serious harm. A client asks for help in convincing the police that her foster child is not a runaway, and Alexa learns that other local girls have gone missing. Drawn into the fight to save lost and exploited children, Alexa discovers a community of child activists. A local philanthropist wants Alexa to join his foster care empire. A sexy social worker and a hip college professor want a more personal connection with Alexa, but she is also drawn to the police detective leading the murder investigation.

Searching for answers, Alexa becomes entangled in a web of deception and danger that puts both her heart and her life at risk. By the time she discovers that the key to the present lies in the halcyon days of peace and music, it may be too late.

278 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 22, 2015

About the author

Sherry 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.

Reviews

[Tina Plengsri · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story that takes you from Pennsylvania through Asia & Africa

Sherry grabs your attention from the first two pages and doesn't let go. I loved the main character, having gotten to know & love her from Sherry first book, Dead of Autumn. This story finds Alexa adjusting & getting back to her normal routine with her friends, family & her beloved dog Scout, when tragedy strikes again. I won't spoil it for y'all, but hold on tight for a trip of a lifetime! The exotic locations alone make this book a good read. I devoured it in one day & can't wait for Alexa's next adventure.

[Marisol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liken reading Dead of Summer to making soup. You add a little bit of this and a little bit of that and when it all comes together it is simply delightful and enjoyable. At first you're wondering how it's all going to fit together, but let it simmer and meld and it comes out fantastic! Thoroughly enjoyable read!

[KarenMichelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I received a copy in return for an honest review. Not bad, some parts were very predictable. The ending was a bit wtf but enjoyable. I'm going to go back and read the earlier books.

[Jelaina Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second Alexa Williams novel was a vast improvement on the first, however I still found myself snorting in disbelief at points. After a near fatal encounter with her raving bigot of an ex-boyfriend, Alexa still can't catch a break when she goes to visit a friend and activist/philanthropist only to find the friend dead in her home. Again the author chooses to juxtapose a secondary story, this time about Woodstock, and events unfold in a groovy progression, culminating in the discovery of a trafficking ring. While I feel this may or may not be a far-fetched idea, I do congratulate the author on taking a volitile and delicate topic like human trafficking and illuminating the fact that it can happen pretty much anywhere... including a little town, a quiet village, like Carlisle. I enjoyed this novel, the suspense, the sensationalism, and the throwback to the age of sex, drugs, and rock n' roll. This novel flowed much better than Dead of Autumn and I felt that the plot was coheisively thought out and thorough.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexa Williams - attorney, Scout - dog;
Friends, Melissa, photographer, (arrested in Washington at protest) and Jim and Haley and Blair;
Anti-sex-trafficking bill;
Tyrell Jenkins - Foster kids (hot);
Richard Townes, Cecily's brother, Maria Santiago, her assistant;
**Jack Nash - board member $$, Runs Children of Light, his wife, Vivienne;
**Quinn Hutton IV, Dickinson professor, English;
"As It Should Be",
Roungnapar Rathanapimarn (Pa), Breaking Dawn, Third level of heaven, Somchart - father;
Side Story: Woodstock: Sukie, Robbie, Ben, JJ, Cheryl, Nina Phila, Eskimo (Alexa's mom, Jack Nash and Quinn Hutton, III were part of the group), Greta Shapiro, Willow, killed at Woodstock;
John Taylor - Trooper;
Reese - Africa;
Alexa and her mother were shot at while leaving the Children of Light mansion gala, rescued by John;
Alexa went to dinner with Quinn, who then tied her up to make her a sacrifice.
**Ralph Price MURDERED Cecily;
**Quinn Hutton III, father;
Greta Shapiro, 14, Willow;
Meg Wilson, died;
Reese goes to Africa -

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, I'm really loving this series of books by Sherry Knowlton and not just because they take place close to where I live. Each book I read is better than last.

Dead of Summer is full of romance, adventure, sex trafficking, and a bit of history. Basically something for everyone.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading all the mysteries in this series and ( out of order), and I am beginning to tire of the predictable characters and plots. I have one more to go, and then I am finished.

[Benna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexa is BACK! Spikey, soft-hearted, brainy but not always self-aware, she finds that suffering is just a degree or two away from even the most ordinary people and places.

The darkness in this new novel by Pennsylvania writer Sherry Knowles sneaks up a bit more subtly than in her premier Dead of August - but once again principle and personal sentiment take our protagonist stumbling to a dangerous edge: sex trafficking isn't the sort of trouble the Woodstock generation expected to deal with; Africa proves to be riskier to a well-meaning Rust Belt do-gooder than Alexa could have imagined. Nothing is simple it seems - certainly not good and evil.

Once again, current affairs barge in on Alexa as she tries to be both good and happy. Betrayal in love and politics is not so remote as most of us hope. This new thriller shows us how quickly we can tumble from the comfort of love and good intentions into pain and fear that much of the rest of the world takes for granted. Solutions? Good luck!

I was reminded of post-war novels like Greene's and earlier ones like Sayers's, in which the thrill of solving a puzzle also requires the reader to consider what it means to be a good person.

Need a visit from a complicated friend? Pull up a glass of wine and this novel - good company. An author to keep track of.

[Devera Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chases with shots fired, kidnappings, sex trafficking, a visit to Africa, flashbacks to the original Woodstock, and complicated relationships, make for another exciting and entertaining murder mystery from Sherry Knowlton.

[Donna Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Received book in exchange for my review*

A tremendously groovy read!

[Danielle Mootz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining read. I definitely want to go back and read the first book in the series. I love a suspense novel with female leads and Knowlton delivered it.

[fanboyriot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely an entertaining read. The suspence was great, but a few parts of the plot seemed predictable, it might be because this is a re-read so I don't know. Still a good mystery book though.