Vernon Oickle's Crow Series - Part One

Something wicked and dark has descended on the small town of Liverpool, Nova Scotia. On its weather-beaten surface, it is like most small Maritime towns, but life is not what it seems in this quaint seaside community. Behind the facades of its seemingly ordinary and unassuming residents, are hidden lies, deceptions and secrets―secrets both dark and sinister that protect untold horrors of suffering, pain, and sorrow. The truth, however, is something the locals believe is best left alone but oftentimes, the crows have something different to say about that, sometimes protecting and sometimes handing out their own brand of just. And since they rule the roost, whenever the crows appear, the locals take notice. ―One Crow Sorrow

This is the prologue that begins Vernon Oickle’s fast-paced, suspense series. Steeped in folklore, the series is set on the South Shore of Nova Scotia in the small town of Liverpool. With the ninth book of a thirteen-book series, scheduled to be released in May of this year, I thought I would do a series review in three parts. The first two parts will build up to the third part, a review of his new release, Nine Crows for a Kiss.

One Crow Sorrow

It’s supposed to be a beautiful day on the South Shore today, but Cliff wouldn’t know it, as he cranks his head to look out the passenger side window. He is stunned to see the early morning sun is almost completely blocked out by swarms of the large black birds. As a police officer he is not a big believer in coincidences, but even he has to admit, all the strange and bizarre activity seems to be linked to the crows. How? He doesn’t know, but he sure as hell is going to find out. ―One Crow Sorrow, Page 129

A stranger arrives in the seaside town of Liverpool along with thousands of crows. Shortly after their arrival, a string of unexplained deaths begins to happen, all to one of the well-known and prominent families of Liverpool. Corporal Cliff Graham of the RCMP is called upon to investigate what the connection is between this stranger, the unexplained deaths, and all the crows that have descended on the town.

One Crow Sorrow kept the reader guessing how the final expected outcomes would occur. As a mystery with supernatural elements, Vernon weaves quite a tale, blending superstition seamlessly into a well-plotted story. Add the well-developed and interesting characters, and you quickly become invested in their lives and instantly want to read more about them. This led to frequent enquiries to the author asking when the next book was due out.

Vernon never meant for One Crow Sorrow to become the first in a series. Needing a hook for Two Crows Joy, he had to re-read the first one several times until he found a way in. After that, he made sure to place a hook in each book so that he could easily continue the series.

Two Crows Joy

Hannah Simms, a journalist with the Daily Post, has come to Liverpool to investigate the disappearance of Maggie Collins. The police investigation from eight months prior turned up nothing and Hannah could not accept that she disappeared without a trace. When she arrives, she checks into the same B&B that Maggie had stayed at, the stately historic Haddon House. Lately, she has been having dreams of a young man and woman she does not recognize, and shortly after she arrives, she starts being plagued by terrible headaches.

After her arrival, Corporal Cliff Graham notices that the local crow population starts behaving strangely, like they did eight months before. As Hannah goes around town interviewing the key players in the mystery of Maggie Collins, we get an overview of what happened in the first story from different points of view.

In this story, Vernon has increased the supernatural elements, increasing the suspense and broadening the possibilities of what can happen.

Three Crows a Letter

The crows in Liverpool have been acting crazy for quite a while now. In fact, all of their odd behavior started right around the time that Maggie Collins arrived in town almost two years ago. Kate has tried to convince herself that it is just a coincidence, but every time there was a tragedy in town, the crows were acting weird, as if they were possessed or something. ― Three Crows a Letter, page 63

Vernon Oickle has penned another great mystery. Three Crows a Letter takes place over six days during a heat wave in August, just months after Two Crows Joy finishes.

Amy Bishop, a young movie producer and best friend of newspaper reporter Hannah Simms, who was accidentally killed in Two Crows Joy, has just bought a house and moved to Liverpool. Kate Webster, the lawyer who helps her with the purchase of the house, just happens to be the same lawyer who is defending the RCMP officer, Mike Cahill whose stray bullet killed Hannah Simms just months before. Kate organizes a group of friends to help unpack Amy. While unpacking, Amy finds a strange letter in her cupboards. The next day, a violent murder takes place. What follows is a quick-paced, action-packed story, with its suspense building right alongside a storm that is brewing in the South and heading towards Nova Scotia.

Four Crows a Boy

He whips his head around to see what the dog is looking at and then gasps, his stomach dropping as a familiar dread inches its way through him. Four large crows dart in and out of the trees and land in the yard, each taking position as though surrounding them” … “What do you want?” Oliver asks, backing closer to his truck as he pulls Bear with him, anticipating he may have to make a quick getaway. “I thought we were done with you three years ago. ― Four Crows a Boy, Pages 8-9

Vernon Oickle has written another great thriller! Four Crows a Boy takes place between September and New Year’s Eve, three years after Three Crows a Letter. As with all his books in this series, when the crows gather, strange and sometimes unexplainable things happen. Steeped in old wives’ tales, folklore, and legends, Four Crows a Boy leans toward the fantastical and contains elements that defy logic. It contains several narratives, with everything coming to a head on Christmas Eve, making this book the perfect novel to read over the holidays.

Vernon Oickle was born and raised in Liverpool, Nova Scotia. He attended Lethbridge Community College. Upon his graduation in 1982 with an honours diploma in Journalism, he returned to Liverpool and began his career at the local newspaper, The Advance.

An award-winning journalist and editor, Vernon is the author of 40 books, many of which collect and preserve the heritage and culture of Atlantic Canada. In 2012, Vernon received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, recognizing his contributions to his community, province, and country, and in 2015, he received a Distinguished Alumni Award (Community Leader) from Lethbridge College.

In 2010, he launched a series of novels that get their names from a common Maritime folklore rhyme. One crow sorrow, two crows joy; three crows a letter, four crows a boy; five crows silver, six crows gold; seven crows a secret yet to be told; eight crows for a wish; nine crows for a kiss; ten crows for a time of joyous bliss. Eleven crows for good health; twelve crows for improved wealth; thirteen crows beware, for it’s the devil himself.

One Crow Sorrow:

Publisher: Bryler Publications (January 1 2010)
Paperback: 9″ x 6″
ISBN: 9780986642524

Two Crows Joy:

Publisher: Bryler Publications (January 1 2011)
Paperback: 9″ x 6″
ISBN: 9781927003152

Three Crows a Letter:

Publisher: Bryler Publications (January 1 2012)
Paperback: 9″ x 6″
ISBN: 9781927003343

Four Crows a Boy:

Publisher: Bryler Publications (January 1 2019)
Shipping dimensions: 9″ x 6″
ISBN: 9781927003879

Sue Slade

Sue Slade has a Bachelor of Child Study from Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax. After working with children and adults with special needs, she now has her midlife dream job of working with books. Sue manages an independent, locally owned bookstore, Dartmouth Book Exchange, and is known for planning and executing amazing, engaging book events. Through her charismatic sharing centred around books and community, Sue has created an interactive cornerstone for authors, customers, and book lovers of all ages. Sue is an avid reader, and her reviews cross over many genres. As the East Coast Advocate for The Miramichi Reader, Sue champions Atlantic Canadian literature by featuring the diverse works and unique communities that define her home region.