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One Crow Sorrow
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 seaside community. Behind the facades of its seemingly ordinary townfolk, are hidden lies, deceptions and secrets―secrets both dark and sinister that protect untold horrors of human suffering and pain.
The truth, however, is something the locals believe is best left alone…that is until an unexpected stranger arrives one damp March morning along with thousands of crows that blanket the town in a sea of darkness.
One by one, members of an affluent family are targeted as the large ebony birds and the mysterious stranger go about their mission.
The truth, however, is something the locals believe is best left alone…that is until an unexpected stranger arrives one damp March morning along with thousands of crows that blanket the town in a sea of darkness.
One by one, members of an affluent family are targeted as the large ebony birds and the mysterious stranger go about their mission.
Paperback
First published October 30, 2010
2 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Vernon Oickle
43 books13 followersVernon Oickle lives in Liverpool, Nova Scotia. He studied journalism in Lethbridge, Alberta and upon his graduation in 1982, he returned to his hometown to begin his newspaper career. Since then, Vernon has won many regional, national and international awards for writing and photography. In 2012, he won the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors’ Golden Quill Award for best editorial writing, becoming only the third Canadian and the first Nova Scotian to win this honour since it was first presented in 1961.
Today, he is the editor of the nationally award-winning newspaper, The Lunenburg County Progress Bulletin in Bridgewater. Since October 1995 he has been writing the popular and award winning column, The Editor’s Diary. Helping to shape and influence public opinion on a wide range of topics that over time, his writing increasingly touches a populist nerve by airing topics important to his readers.
In addition to being an award winning journalist and editor, Vernon is the author of 18 books, many of which collect and preserve the heritage and culture of Atlantic Canada. In 2010 he launched a series of novels that get their names from a Maritime folklore rhyme about seven crows.
Today, he is the editor of the nationally award-winning newspaper, The Lunenburg County Progress Bulletin in Bridgewater. Since October 1995 he has been writing the popular and award winning column, The Editor’s Diary. Helping to shape and influence public opinion on a wide range of topics that over time, his writing increasingly touches a populist nerve by airing topics important to his readers.
In addition to being an award winning journalist and editor, Vernon is the author of 18 books, many of which collect and preserve the heritage and culture of Atlantic Canada. In 2010 he launched a series of novels that get their names from a Maritime folklore rhyme about seven crows.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 4, 2017
Vernon Oickle has written a series of books that take place in the small maritime town of Liverpool, located on Nova Scotia’s South Shore. This first book was originally intended to be a stand-alone volume, but Oikle eventually used it as the starting point for a series, using lines from an old childhood verse about crows for his titles.
The stories in these volumes are mysteries with elements of the supernatural connected to the arrival of crows in the town. In each story the role of the crows is different, sometimes they are more a part of the background while at other times they initiate or cause events. But they are a constant presence in all the books and create a continuous thread, tying all the stories together.
In this first book, Oickle introduces the readers to some of the people in town, several of who come from families that have lived in Liverpool for years. Like all families, they have secrets from their past they have kept hidden from their neighbours .
One of the most wealthy and influential families in Liverpool are the Goodwins. They are dominated by Gerald Goodwin, a powerful man who recently had a stroke and is now paralyzed on his right side. He has difficulty speaking, but still maintains an iron like grip on his businesses and his sons. Although physically frail, he still has an ominous and intimidating presence and his sons fear his displeasure. Gerald is not a man with a tolerance for failure and his children never seem able to meet all his expectations.
Josh is the youngest of his three sons. He has a different mother than the other Goodwin children, keeps a low profile and runs the family owned bar. Josh is honest, fair and well liked in town, a man very different from his brothers or his father. Lance and Maxwell, the two older brothers, take after their father.
Lance is the middle son, a heartless and ruthless tyrant who runs most of the family’s businesses and is feared in the community. Always determined to get what he wants, he is selfish and always puts the dollar before anything else. Few in this small town like him and most just tolerate him. When Lance gets into trouble in his business or personal life, he relies on his older brother Max for help.
Maxwell is a local politician who has spearheaded a number of community projects and been successful at obtaining provincial grants to support them. People in town appreciate the work he has done for their small rural community and happily support him. Max has big dreams and looks forward to an even bigger role in provincial politics. He is tired of constantly cleaning up Lance’s business messes and the gambling debts he recklessly leaves in his wake. He tries to distance himself from his brother, concerned about his reputation and how Lance’s messy problems will affect his future.
Both brothers s are married and have children, but their adulterous activities are well known in town.
Missy was the Goodwin’s only daughter. She fell in love with a mechanic, a man who did not meet the Goodwin’s standards of a suitable husband. They demanded she break off the relationship and when she refused they threw her out of the house. A few weeks later her car was found in the parking lot by the river and she was missing. No one knows what happened and many felt she had drowned, but her body was never found. Her mother committed suicide four years later.
The Websters are another influential family in town. The father has recently died and his daughter Catherine, a successful lawyer and her brother Charlie, a physician at the local hospital are trying to decide what to do with the large house. Kate’s lover is Samantha Henderson who runs a small store that has been in her family for several years. But small stores are not doing well these days and her business is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Lance Goodwin pays Samantha frequent visits, offering her money to buy the business, but Samantha refuses to sell.
Kate and Samantha’s relationship may be alluded to behind closed doors, but is not acknowledged in public. We are also introduced to Oliver Lewis, Charlie’s best friend. The two men have known each other since childhood, have a long and cherished friendship and are fast friends. Oliver is a well-respected carpenter and contractor and works for many of the families in Liverpool.
Corporal Cliff Graham is a heavy man who works in the RCMP detachment in town. After his five year old son Brian was killed by a drunk driver, his marriage to wife Julie fell apart and she moved with their remaining two children to Vancouver. Cliff misses his family, is stressed by his job and doesn’t take good care of himself. He knows he should be on a diet and exercising, but has not yet worked up the energy or the inclination to get on a program and stick to it.
Young Mike Cahill is a constable at the same detachment and works with Cliff. He has little experience and is still learning the ropes, but is anxious to do well and establish a career for himself.
As the story begins, the residents of Liverpool notice thousands of crows that have suddenly arrived in town covering it with a sense of foreboding. These dark black birds are not unusual and often perched on the telephone wires, in the trees or roof tops, or gathered at various spots in town. They usually stayed a few days and then quickly moved on. This time however, they seem to be gathering in increasing numbers. People are on edge, thinking they may be a bad omen.
As the crows gather, Maggie Collins, a young woman in her twenties arrives at the bus station in town. She notices the crows and feels a strong connection to them, giving her comfort and making her feel confident and strong. Maggie has brought one small suitcase with her and says she has no immediate plans, but would like to stay a while in Liverpool. She begins to look for work and finds it at Lance’s car dealership. She also finds a friend in Samantha Henderson.
Soon afterwards, Lance and Max Goodwin each receive a mysterious envelope with a Liverpool postmark but no return address. The outside of the envelope is clearly marked, “Personal and Private”. Inside, included with a single black feather is a single sheet of paper with the words “one crow sorrow” written in congealed blood. The two brothers are stunned and have no idea what this means. Both know they have enemies, but they have no idea who sent this ominous message.
As events unfold, more notes appear and the crows always seem to be present in the area at the most strategic moments. The town’s residents become increasingly agitated, beginning to sense there is worse to come.
This is a good solid mystery with interesting characters. However, the novel is seriously marred by poor editing with several spelling and grammatical mistakes that annoy and distract the reader. I will continue on to the next volume, “Two Crows Joy” because I enjoyed the description of the town and its residents as well as the mystery. But I hope the editing improves.
The stories in these volumes are mysteries with elements of the supernatural connected to the arrival of crows in the town. In each story the role of the crows is different, sometimes they are more a part of the background while at other times they initiate or cause events. But they are a constant presence in all the books and create a continuous thread, tying all the stories together.
In this first book, Oickle introduces the readers to some of the people in town, several of who come from families that have lived in Liverpool for years. Like all families, they have secrets from their past they have kept hidden from their neighbours .
One of the most wealthy and influential families in Liverpool are the Goodwins. They are dominated by Gerald Goodwin, a powerful man who recently had a stroke and is now paralyzed on his right side. He has difficulty speaking, but still maintains an iron like grip on his businesses and his sons. Although physically frail, he still has an ominous and intimidating presence and his sons fear his displeasure. Gerald is not a man with a tolerance for failure and his children never seem able to meet all his expectations.
Josh is the youngest of his three sons. He has a different mother than the other Goodwin children, keeps a low profile and runs the family owned bar. Josh is honest, fair and well liked in town, a man very different from his brothers or his father. Lance and Maxwell, the two older brothers, take after their father.
Lance is the middle son, a heartless and ruthless tyrant who runs most of the family’s businesses and is feared in the community. Always determined to get what he wants, he is selfish and always puts the dollar before anything else. Few in this small town like him and most just tolerate him. When Lance gets into trouble in his business or personal life, he relies on his older brother Max for help.
Maxwell is a local politician who has spearheaded a number of community projects and been successful at obtaining provincial grants to support them. People in town appreciate the work he has done for their small rural community and happily support him. Max has big dreams and looks forward to an even bigger role in provincial politics. He is tired of constantly cleaning up Lance’s business messes and the gambling debts he recklessly leaves in his wake. He tries to distance himself from his brother, concerned about his reputation and how Lance’s messy problems will affect his future.
Both brothers s are married and have children, but their adulterous activities are well known in town.
Missy was the Goodwin’s only daughter. She fell in love with a mechanic, a man who did not meet the Goodwin’s standards of a suitable husband. They demanded she break off the relationship and when she refused they threw her out of the house. A few weeks later her car was found in the parking lot by the river and she was missing. No one knows what happened and many felt she had drowned, but her body was never found. Her mother committed suicide four years later.
The Websters are another influential family in town. The father has recently died and his daughter Catherine, a successful lawyer and her brother Charlie, a physician at the local hospital are trying to decide what to do with the large house. Kate’s lover is Samantha Henderson who runs a small store that has been in her family for several years. But small stores are not doing well these days and her business is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Lance Goodwin pays Samantha frequent visits, offering her money to buy the business, but Samantha refuses to sell.
Kate and Samantha’s relationship may be alluded to behind closed doors, but is not acknowledged in public. We are also introduced to Oliver Lewis, Charlie’s best friend. The two men have known each other since childhood, have a long and cherished friendship and are fast friends. Oliver is a well-respected carpenter and contractor and works for many of the families in Liverpool.
Corporal Cliff Graham is a heavy man who works in the RCMP detachment in town. After his five year old son Brian was killed by a drunk driver, his marriage to wife Julie fell apart and she moved with their remaining two children to Vancouver. Cliff misses his family, is stressed by his job and doesn’t take good care of himself. He knows he should be on a diet and exercising, but has not yet worked up the energy or the inclination to get on a program and stick to it.
Young Mike Cahill is a constable at the same detachment and works with Cliff. He has little experience and is still learning the ropes, but is anxious to do well and establish a career for himself.
As the story begins, the residents of Liverpool notice thousands of crows that have suddenly arrived in town covering it with a sense of foreboding. These dark black birds are not unusual and often perched on the telephone wires, in the trees or roof tops, or gathered at various spots in town. They usually stayed a few days and then quickly moved on. This time however, they seem to be gathering in increasing numbers. People are on edge, thinking they may be a bad omen.
As the crows gather, Maggie Collins, a young woman in her twenties arrives at the bus station in town. She notices the crows and feels a strong connection to them, giving her comfort and making her feel confident and strong. Maggie has brought one small suitcase with her and says she has no immediate plans, but would like to stay a while in Liverpool. She begins to look for work and finds it at Lance’s car dealership. She also finds a friend in Samantha Henderson.
Soon afterwards, Lance and Max Goodwin each receive a mysterious envelope with a Liverpool postmark but no return address. The outside of the envelope is clearly marked, “Personal and Private”. Inside, included with a single black feather is a single sheet of paper with the words “one crow sorrow” written in congealed blood. The two brothers are stunned and have no idea what this means. Both know they have enemies, but they have no idea who sent this ominous message.
As events unfold, more notes appear and the crows always seem to be present in the area at the most strategic moments. The town’s residents become increasingly agitated, beginning to sense there is worse to come.
This is a good solid mystery with interesting characters. However, the novel is seriously marred by poor editing with several spelling and grammatical mistakes that annoy and distract the reader. I will continue on to the next volume, “Two Crows Joy” because I enjoyed the description of the town and its residents as well as the mystery. But I hope the editing improves.
April 3, 2024
Crow-of the family ‘Corvidae’-A few fun facts: 1. Crows can recognize human faces, 2. They talk about you to other crows, 3. They remember what you did…
RCMP Corporal Cliff Graham leans back in his green swivel chair. The early morning phone call tells him things are different today. The people of Liverpool are hysterical and Cliff knows, as he takes call after call, this is going to be one hell of a day. Crows, the callers are reporting. Thousands of crows have come to roost near the common grounds down by the post office.
One Crow Sorrow by Vernon Oickle-Is the first book in a series set in the small town of Liverpool, NS. A mystery involving a prominent family with dark secrets and a stranger who seemingly arrives on the same day as thousands of crows descend upon the town. When a string of unexplained deaths begins to happen, all to one well-known family of Liverpool, Corporal Cliff Graham must piece together what connection this stranger and the thousands of crows that have descended on Liverpool means.
This book has it all, great characters, murder, mystery and a bit of folklore. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. 4.5 stars
RCMP Corporal Cliff Graham leans back in his green swivel chair. The early morning phone call tells him things are different today. The people of Liverpool are hysterical and Cliff knows, as he takes call after call, this is going to be one hell of a day. Crows, the callers are reporting. Thousands of crows have come to roost near the common grounds down by the post office.
One Crow Sorrow by Vernon Oickle-Is the first book in a series set in the small town of Liverpool, NS. A mystery involving a prominent family with dark secrets and a stranger who seemingly arrives on the same day as thousands of crows descend upon the town. When a string of unexplained deaths begins to happen, all to one well-known family of Liverpool, Corporal Cliff Graham must piece together what connection this stranger and the thousands of crows that have descended on Liverpool means.
This book has it all, great characters, murder, mystery and a bit of folklore. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. 4.5 stars
April 12, 2024
This was eerie and thrilling . It has murder , superstition , history and a seaside town. A page turning perfect accompaniment to a dark rainy day . I wasn’t aware it’s a series so I’m looking forward to reading the rest . I’m now invested in the characters and of course the crows !
April 8, 2024
Vernon Oickle has just released the eighth book in his "crow" series (EIGHT CROWS FOR A WISH) and I am haunting my "snail mail" box waiting to get my copy from Moose House Publications!
In anticipation of this book I pulled out my copy of - ONE CROW SORROW (the first book in the series) and was reminded how much I enjoyed getting to know Vernon's characters. Paragraphs and sentences I had marked with post it tabs were still in the book!
ONE CROW SORROW is atmospheric to say the least. Imagine a small, seaside town blanketed by thousands of crows and I am sure you will understand the atmosphere the author has created.
"Mom used to become hysterical when she saw a lone crow. She'd always say 'One crow sorrow, two crows joy' every time she saw one. She believed the only way to combat the power of the crow was to recite that phrase. If you did that, it would break the curse."
What you find in the pages of this book is deception and secrets, dark and sinister, that protect untold horrors of suffering and pain.
Vernon's research into "the old ways" of superstitions and beliefs is expertly woven into the dialogue that takes place between characters.
"It's a bunch of superstitions and old wives' tales if you ask me, but Nanny was a big believer in these things, the old ways. If she were alive right now she'd be freaking out about all these crows hanging around town. She'd say they were a warning." "Birds have a special power to foretell death."
The story is dramatic and intense and while reading I always felt like I knew what had to happen next, but was surprised by how skillfully and entertainingly the author got there.
A "dark and stormy" night read. Looking at my post-it tabs I was transported right back to my nights of reading in 2015.
In anticipation of this book I pulled out my copy of - ONE CROW SORROW (the first book in the series) and was reminded how much I enjoyed getting to know Vernon's characters. Paragraphs and sentences I had marked with post it tabs were still in the book!
ONE CROW SORROW is atmospheric to say the least. Imagine a small, seaside town blanketed by thousands of crows and I am sure you will understand the atmosphere the author has created.
"Mom used to become hysterical when she saw a lone crow. She'd always say 'One crow sorrow, two crows joy' every time she saw one. She believed the only way to combat the power of the crow was to recite that phrase. If you did that, it would break the curse."
What you find in the pages of this book is deception and secrets, dark and sinister, that protect untold horrors of suffering and pain.
Vernon's research into "the old ways" of superstitions and beliefs is expertly woven into the dialogue that takes place between characters.
"It's a bunch of superstitions and old wives' tales if you ask me, but Nanny was a big believer in these things, the old ways. If she were alive right now she'd be freaking out about all these crows hanging around town. She'd say they were a warning." "Birds have a special power to foretell death."
The story is dramatic and intense and while reading I always felt like I knew what had to happen next, but was surprised by how skillfully and entertainingly the author got there.
A "dark and stormy" night read. Looking at my post-it tabs I was transported right back to my nights of reading in 2015.
January 29, 2024
I was very lucky in my visit to Nova Scotia. I read three different books from local authors and they were all very good. This one is a bit mysterious so I won't give away the plot, but there is a series of 7 books. I am travelling tomorrow, so I am going to try and get an e copy of the next book in the series.
May 21, 2025
DNF just over 50% so it counts towards my goal.
I truely have this a try and was hoping for something good from a local author but it just wasn't for me. People don't interact this way even in small towns, it's not well written and there's a lot of mistakes within the book. It should have been edited better.
I truely have this a try and was hoping for something good from a local author but it just wasn't for me. People don't interact this way even in small towns, it's not well written and there's a lot of mistakes within the book. It should have been edited better.
January 14, 2019
Vernon Oickle is a local NS writer. This is the first of his books that I've read. Impressive, enticing and dynamically intense. I like this book and shall search for more of his work.
December 4, 2023
A great introduction to Vernon's Crow series. I can't wait to start number 2!
June 12, 2022
Re read preparing for 6th book coming
April 30, 2025
“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.” Pg 129
One Crow Sorrow is the first in a series of books by Vernon Oickle, with the titles originating from an old Nursery Rhyme. Set in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, 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 I look forward to reading more of these South Shore mysteries.
One Crow Sorrow is the first in a series of books by Vernon Oickle, with the titles originating from an old Nursery Rhyme. Set in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, 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 I look forward to reading more of these South Shore mysteries.
January 19, 2015
Actual rating 3.5 stars. Would have been 4 except for the lack of editing which jarred me out of the story a few times.
His is actually quite a page turner, because you can *almost* see what's coming but you can't figure out how the story is going to get there.
It's a quick read but not exactly an enjoyable one as it's filled with deaths and perversions.
Interesting to see Liverpool represented in fiction like this, and to read fiction from someone I know as a newspaper guy. I'll read the others in the series to see how it continues!
His is actually quite a page turner, because you can *almost* see what's coming but you can't figure out how the story is going to get there.
It's a quick read but not exactly an enjoyable one as it's filled with deaths and perversions.
Interesting to see Liverpool represented in fiction like this, and to read fiction from someone I know as a newspaper guy. I'll read the others in the series to see how it continues!
September 5, 2014
The book actually caught my attention at the beginning and then it slowed down to a crawl but it picked-up again towards the end. I am however curious to read the second novel in the series.
Although the book is well-written there were lots of typos!
Although the book is well-written there were lots of typos!
January 24, 2015
Was intrigued by the story. The writing is dubious and plodding.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews