Where to Start Reading Alice Henderson
If you are new to Alice Henderson's work, the absolute best starting point is A Solitude of Wolverines, the debut novel in her acclaimed Alex Carter thriller series. This series perfectly showcases Henderson's unique style: combining fast-paced, high-stakes suspense with accurate scientific details drawn from her real-life work as a wildlife researcher. It is the ideal entry point for readers who enjoy environmental thrillers in the vein of Nevada Barr or C.J. Box.
For fans of speculative fiction and climate-focused dystopias, starting with Shattered Roads, the first book of the Skyfire Saga, is highly recommended. Below, you will find the complete breakdown of her series, standalone novels, and media tie-in contributions.
The Alex Carter Series: Publication & Reading Order
The Alex Carter series is Henderson's signature work. It follows Alex Carter, a dedicated wildlife biologist who travels to remote and often dangerous locations to study and protect endangered species. While conducting her research, she repeatedly finds herself targeted by human threats, from poachers to corporate conspirators.
The series should be read in publication order, as Alex's personal life and professional reputation evolve from one book to the next. The reading order is as follows:
- A Solitude of Wolverines (2020) – Alex travels to a remote sanctuary in Montana to study wolverines using bioacoustics, only to find herself hunted by a mysterious killer.
- A Blizzard of Polar Bears (2021) – Assigned to study polar bears in the Canadian Arctic, Alex battles harsh environment conditions, climate change realities, and a deadly conspiracy.
- A Ghost of Caribou (2022) – Set in the rugged mountains of Washington state, Alex investigates a sighting of a caribou thought to be extinct in the area, leading her into a conflict between local loggers and environmentalists.
- The Vanishing Kind (2025) – Alex heads to the American Southwest to study the elusive jaguar, uncovering a dangerous plot in the New Mexico wilderness.
- Storm Warning (2026) – Alex travels to Hawaii to study endangered hawksbill sea turtles, finding herself caught in a deadly storm of secrets and sabotage.
The Skyfire Saga
For readers who prefer science fiction, the Skyfire Saga is a cli-fi (climate fiction) trilogy set in a grim, environmentally ruined future. The story follows the protagonist, H124, in a desperate struggle against corporate greed, environmental collapse, and impending cosmic doom.
The trilogy has a strict chronological narrative and must be read in order:
- Shattered Roads (2018)
- Shattered Lands (2018)
- Shattered Skies (2019)
Standalone Novels
Henderson has written two standalone novels that do not require any prior reading. These showcase her range from supernatural horror to cooperative sci-fi adventure:
- Voracious (2009) – A chilling, atavistic thriller following Madeline Keye, a woman who can see glimpses of the past through touch, as she is hunted by a non-human predator in Glacier National Park.
- The Aquatic Bourne (2015) – Co-authored with Phillip Buchanon, this sci-fi thriller follows a marine biologist who discovers a hidden civilization of marine humanoids known as the "Bourne" after a naval test strands them.
Media Tie-in Novels & Contributions
Before launching her original thriller series, Henderson was a prolific media tie-in writer, contributing to major pop culture franchises. It is important to note that while database entries often list the complete series for these franchises, Henderson only wrote specific volumes:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Night Terrors (2005) – This was Book 4 in the interactive "Stake Your Destiny" choose-your-own-adventure gamebook series set during Season 2 of the TV show. Note that other books in this series, such as Colony or The Suicide King, were written by other authors.
- Portal Through Time (2006) – A standalone Buffy novel that sent the Scooby Gang traveling through history to stop a group of vampires. This book won the Scribe Award for Best Novel.
Supernatural
- Supernatural: Fresh Meat (2013) – Set during Season 7 of the television show, this tie-in novel takes Sam and Dean Winchester (alongside Bobby Singer) to the Tahoe National Forest to battle a woodland monster. While databases list dozens of Supernatural novels, this is the only one written by Henderson.
Comic Books & Anthologies
- Creepy Comics #6 (2011) – Henderson wrote the short story "The Wreck" for this horror anthology published by Dark Horse Comics.
- Anthology Contributions – Her short fiction has also appeared in horror and speculative collections, including "Mandible" in Werewolves and Shape Shifters: Encounters with the Beasts Within (2010) and "Residue" in The Mammoth Book of Body Horror (2012).