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Herring Cove Road #2
Still On Herring Cove Road: Hickory, Dickory, Death
The first murder raised eyebrows; the second raised alarms.
Dewey is moving, and he couldn't be more excited; though, he's alone in his enthusiasm. Lisa, his mother, and recently retired Avriel, his next-door neighbor and best buddy, don't share in his excitement regarding the move from their suburban bungalow to a dirty basement level apartment in the lower-class area, where two murders have recently occurred.
This sometimes lighthearted and at other times intense novel follows naive Dewey as he befriends two 'different' streetwise boys, learns the pros and cons of friendship and is then stalked by a killer preying on children.
Please note: Within this continuing story of Avriel and his friends are two short sections (several pages) that may be disturbing to some readers.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Taking place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the series follows the sometimes amusing, sometimes heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking and sometimes terrifying events that follow an introverted old Jewish man’s retirement as he reluctantly befriends a naive and lonely boy, his struggling single mother, and lastly, a boy streetwise beyond his years.
Volume 1) On Herring Cove Road: Mr. Rosen and His 43Lb Anxiety
Volume 2) Still on Herring Cove Road: Hickory, Dickory, Death
Volume 3) Off Herring Cove Road: The Problem Being Blue
Volume 4) Before Herring Cove Road: Ruth Goldman and the Nincompoop
Dewey is moving, and he couldn't be more excited; though, he's alone in his enthusiasm. Lisa, his mother, and recently retired Avriel, his next-door neighbor and best buddy, don't share in his excitement regarding the move from their suburban bungalow to a dirty basement level apartment in the lower-class area, where two murders have recently occurred.
This sometimes lighthearted and at other times intense novel follows naive Dewey as he befriends two 'different' streetwise boys, learns the pros and cons of friendship and is then stalked by a killer preying on children.
Please note: Within this continuing story of Avriel and his friends are two short sections (several pages) that may be disturbing to some readers.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Taking place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the series follows the sometimes amusing, sometimes heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking and sometimes terrifying events that follow an introverted old Jewish man’s retirement as he reluctantly befriends a naive and lonely boy, his struggling single mother, and lastly, a boy streetwise beyond his years.
Volume 1) On Herring Cove Road: Mr. Rosen and His 43Lb Anxiety
Volume 2) Still on Herring Cove Road: Hickory, Dickory, Death
Volume 3) Off Herring Cove Road: The Problem Being Blue
Volume 4) Before Herring Cove Road: Ruth Goldman and the Nincompoop
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2014
341 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Michael Kroft
11 books80 followersMichael Kroft is a Nova Scotian Haligonian and writes fun, easy-to-read character-driven novels about the relationships between complex and mostly lovable characters that are as important to the story as the plot itself. Having completed his first four-book series, Herring Cove Road, where each novel in the unique series is not like the others, he's now working on his next series, The Lovelys' Family Tree.
Michael Kroft's Current Works:
The Four-Volume Not-So-Nuclear Family Saga Series, Herring Cove Road:
●On Herring Cove Road: Mr. Rosen and His 43Lb Anxiety
●Still on Herring Cove Road: Hickory, Dickory, Death
●Off Herring Cove Road: The Problem Being Blue
●Before Herring Cove Road: Ruth Goldman and the Nincompoop
The Family Saga Series, The Lovelys' Family Tree:
●Indentured Bonds: The First Generation, Circa 1715
Michael Kroft's website: michaelkroft.com
Michael Kroft's Twitter: @michaelkroft
Michael Kroft's Current Works:
The Four-Volume Not-So-Nuclear Family Saga Series, Herring Cove Road:
●On Herring Cove Road: Mr. Rosen and His 43Lb Anxiety
●Still on Herring Cove Road: Hickory, Dickory, Death
●Off Herring Cove Road: The Problem Being Blue
●Before Herring Cove Road: Ruth Goldman and the Nincompoop
The Family Saga Series, The Lovelys' Family Tree:
●Indentured Bonds: The First Generation, Circa 1715
Michael Kroft's website: michaelkroft.com
Michael Kroft's Twitter: @michaelkroft
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 19, 2019
Still on Herring Cove Road: Hickory, Dickory, Death is the second installment in the Herring Cove Road series. This book is a little darker than book one but still a enjoyable read due to its rich and well-developed characters and relationships. This book centers on Dewey, who begins to go by his full name Dwight.
Lisa can no longer afford her home next door to Av so she and Dwight move to another neighborhood. Av is heartbroken but finds he spends almost as much time with them at the new place as he had when they were next door. It is a mutually satisfying relationship — Lisa/Dewey need Av and Av needs Lisa/Dewey. This new neighborhood is less safe than Herring Cove Road and Dwight befriends two boys who, compared to him, are much rougher around the edges. A murder has taken place near the new apartment, which sends Av into worry mode big time.
Lisa can no longer afford her home next door to Av so she and Dwight move to another neighborhood. Av is heartbroken but finds he spends almost as much time with them at the new place as he had when they were next door. It is a mutually satisfying relationship — Lisa/Dewey need Av and Av needs Lisa/Dewey. This new neighborhood is less safe than Herring Cove Road and Dwight befriends two boys who, compared to him, are much rougher around the edges. A murder has taken place near the new apartment, which sends Av into worry mode big time.
November 8, 2015
This is the second book in this series. The first is Mr. Jew and the Goy Boy. You can read my review here.
When I started this story I felt like I was reading about old friends. The characters just pull you in. My favorite one is Avrial. He has a lesser part in this story. This one is more about Dewey.
This almost reads like two different novels. The first part of the story is more of a coming of age tale about Dewey. Then it turns into a suspense saga with some pretty disturbing events. It definitely keeps you entertained and turning the pages!
I enjoyed this tale, not as much as I did the first novel. There were places that the dialogue was a little stiff, especially between Dewey and his friends. But other than that, this is a really good second installment. Cannot wait for the next book!
I received this novel from the author for a honest review.
When I started this story I felt like I was reading about old friends. The characters just pull you in. My favorite one is Avrial. He has a lesser part in this story. This one is more about Dewey.
This almost reads like two different novels. The first part of the story is more of a coming of age tale about Dewey. Then it turns into a suspense saga with some pretty disturbing events. It definitely keeps you entertained and turning the pages!
I enjoyed this tale, not as much as I did the first novel. There were places that the dialogue was a little stiff, especially between Dewey and his friends. But other than that, this is a really good second installment. Cannot wait for the next book!
I received this novel from the author for a honest review.
January 28, 2015
Still On Herring Cove Road
By
Michael Kroft
Just how is life lived one the other side of the freeway? You know, in those low income apartments filled with one parent households and elderly personages on pensions that don’t quite meet the end of the month? Those of us who live on the tree lined streets of single family homes with two car garages and two income households seem to see life through a different set of glasses. Life seems to go along at a little different pace, until we suddenly find ourselves forced into circumstances from being that middle-ish income family to the single income, one parent household with a budget stretched so tight it seems like lace curtains.
Then along comes the aging next door neighbor who has suddenly found himself alone in a big empty house after many years of sharing it with the love of his life….not only does he have a big empty space to knock around in, there is a big empty space in his heart, just as he has retired with no one to share it. And life brings these two families together…just what mysteries and trouble can an elderly man and a young boy get in to? Plenty.
Still On Herring Cove Road, the second of the two books in the series picks up the story of Av (Avriel) and his young friend Dewey and his pretty and young widowed mother. After discovering that she can no longer hold on to the house that she and her husband had owned before his death, she moves her and her son to some low income apartments near where she works. Avriel has a vested interest in the family by this time and still finds he is over at their new apartment any time that Dewey is home, as he continues to supply Lisa with the much needed no cost childcare. Truly, Lisa and Dewey are supplying Av with the much needed family that he needs and longs for, as he and his wife never had a family.
Just before Lisa and Dewey move, a murdered child is found in their area of the city, and not too far from where they are moving. The mystery winding through the novel is about the continued string of murders that are happening just a little too close to where Lisa and Dewey are living on Herring Cove Road. Michael Kroft does a masterful job of maintaining the interest in the mystery, even though the incidence of the murders are well spaced throughout the book. Having grown up on sleuth novels, I love being able to figure out early on “whodunit”, then spend the rest of the book watching the author spin the tale with the “who”, “what”, “where”, and “how”. Michael brought this one out of the woodwork and out of left field. But then, aren’t most child predators someone who we least suspect?
But once again, I loved the story within the story. I loved the story of the elderly, lonely neighbor who was loved as much by a young boy and his busy single mom for who he was, the “grandfather” figure. I loved the story of the lonely retired man who saw a sad and over stretched mom and a very sad little boy who needed his love and the bond that grew and developed. This second story was a wonderful statement of what our society so often does out of necessity in this date and time, and that is to create nuclear family units to take care of emotional and familial needs when our genetic family is no longer there or the distance is so great that they cannot help us with day-to-day living needs.
Hidden between the pages was the story of a young boy having to get on in a new world and environment to which he has never been exposed. A place where life is a little rougher, the kids a little more ragged around the edges. And just when you wonder if mom has fed him to the dogs or if Av will be able to watch him from a distance, along comes a friend who is a little rougher, a little ragged around the edges, and has a good heart of gold buried down there somewhere. In all, it is a story about love and caring and love winning out in the end.
I will be interested in seeing where Michael goes with his writing from here. There is potential depth to his work. I will definitely give this a good Four Stars.
By
Michael Kroft
Just how is life lived one the other side of the freeway? You know, in those low income apartments filled with one parent households and elderly personages on pensions that don’t quite meet the end of the month? Those of us who live on the tree lined streets of single family homes with two car garages and two income households seem to see life through a different set of glasses. Life seems to go along at a little different pace, until we suddenly find ourselves forced into circumstances from being that middle-ish income family to the single income, one parent household with a budget stretched so tight it seems like lace curtains.
Then along comes the aging next door neighbor who has suddenly found himself alone in a big empty house after many years of sharing it with the love of his life….not only does he have a big empty space to knock around in, there is a big empty space in his heart, just as he has retired with no one to share it. And life brings these two families together…just what mysteries and trouble can an elderly man and a young boy get in to? Plenty.
Still On Herring Cove Road, the second of the two books in the series picks up the story of Av (Avriel) and his young friend Dewey and his pretty and young widowed mother. After discovering that she can no longer hold on to the house that she and her husband had owned before his death, she moves her and her son to some low income apartments near where she works. Avriel has a vested interest in the family by this time and still finds he is over at their new apartment any time that Dewey is home, as he continues to supply Lisa with the much needed no cost childcare. Truly, Lisa and Dewey are supplying Av with the much needed family that he needs and longs for, as he and his wife never had a family.
Just before Lisa and Dewey move, a murdered child is found in their area of the city, and not too far from where they are moving. The mystery winding through the novel is about the continued string of murders that are happening just a little too close to where Lisa and Dewey are living on Herring Cove Road. Michael Kroft does a masterful job of maintaining the interest in the mystery, even though the incidence of the murders are well spaced throughout the book. Having grown up on sleuth novels, I love being able to figure out early on “whodunit”, then spend the rest of the book watching the author spin the tale with the “who”, “what”, “where”, and “how”. Michael brought this one out of the woodwork and out of left field. But then, aren’t most child predators someone who we least suspect?
But once again, I loved the story within the story. I loved the story of the elderly, lonely neighbor who was loved as much by a young boy and his busy single mom for who he was, the “grandfather” figure. I loved the story of the lonely retired man who saw a sad and over stretched mom and a very sad little boy who needed his love and the bond that grew and developed. This second story was a wonderful statement of what our society so often does out of necessity in this date and time, and that is to create nuclear family units to take care of emotional and familial needs when our genetic family is no longer there or the distance is so great that they cannot help us with day-to-day living needs.
Hidden between the pages was the story of a young boy having to get on in a new world and environment to which he has never been exposed. A place where life is a little rougher, the kids a little more ragged around the edges. And just when you wonder if mom has fed him to the dogs or if Av will be able to watch him from a distance, along comes a friend who is a little rougher, a little ragged around the edges, and has a good heart of gold buried down there somewhere. In all, it is a story about love and caring and love winning out in the end.
I will be interested in seeing where Michael goes with his writing from here. There is potential depth to his work. I will definitely give this a good Four Stars.
December 14, 2014
A wonderful tale by Michael Kroft of growing up poor in a rough part of Halifax. I fell is love with the main characters, Dwight or Dewey, Mr. Avriel Rosen or Av, Blue (an old soul in a little boy's body) and the shy Stevie.
We get to know the neighbors and the in and outs of been a child in the early 70's. While we watch the boys come to terms with the changes in the world, the grown ups in the story are worried by a "Kid-Killer" in their mist.
The author weaves the reader into the daily lives of those that live in an apartment building and all the time Avriel is trying to protect and provide for his adopted family.
Like Stephen King, Michael Kroft plays with a parent;s darkest fears ... and he doesn't stop there. I didn't see the ending coming.
Beautifully written with believable characters.
We get to know the neighbors and the in and outs of been a child in the early 70's. While we watch the boys come to terms with the changes in the world, the grown ups in the story are worried by a "Kid-Killer" in their mist.
The author weaves the reader into the daily lives of those that live in an apartment building and all the time Avriel is trying to protect and provide for his adopted family.
Like Stephen King, Michael Kroft plays with a parent;s darkest fears ... and he doesn't stop there. I didn't see the ending coming.
Beautifully written with believable characters.
February 17, 2018
I enjoyed the first book in this series so much that I quickly bought the second one and started it right away. There was a murder in the first one, but it was not solved until the next one, and was only a small part of the story. I was very disappointed. The delightful characters of the first book are surrounded by a serial killer or killers; the torture murder of a child (rather graphically described) and a lot of other unpleasant stuff I did not want to deal with. The author created great characters, only to ruin them with a distasteful story. I will not be reading the third book in the series.
July 23, 2023
3.5 stars. The 2nd book of the series continues with the elderly Jewish man Avriel and his friendship with the widowed neighbor Lisa and her son. Lisa’s financial needs force her to sell her home and move to an apt. complex in a less desired part of town. Dewey (now going by his given name of Dwight) is ecstatic to make new friends in this neighborhood, but the story turns dark as there are a number of unsolved child murders in the area. The author does a good job of creating interesting characters and the growing relationship between friends, but I didn’t enjoy this book as much as his first.
April 10, 2015
Still on Herring Cove Road - Hickory Dickory Death by Michael Kroft.
This continues the story of the relationship between Av, Lisa and Dewie in the same evocative and sensitive way, with real and beautifully-depicted new characters, and is a joy to read. It gets darker as the mystery of the child murders unfolds, and in places is heartbreaking, but it kept me guessing to the end. I highly recommend the Herring Cove Road novels.https://www.amazon.com/review/create-...#
This continues the story of the relationship between Av, Lisa and Dewie in the same evocative and sensitive way, with real and beautifully-depicted new characters, and is a joy to read. It gets darker as the mystery of the child murders unfolds, and in places is heartbreaking, but it kept me guessing to the end. I highly recommend the Herring Cove Road novels.https://www.amazon.com/review/create-...#
May 12, 2017
Volume two Herring Cove Road
I love this series by Michael Kroft. His characters are rich and well developed. The story is both heartwarming and well thought out. I will continue this fulfilling series with great anticipation.
I love this series by Michael Kroft. His characters are rich and well developed. The story is both heartwarming and well thought out. I will continue this fulfilling series with great anticipation.
February 18, 2018
This is the second book of the trilogy. I have read all three books. I loved how the author entertwined family, friendship, love and a murder mystery. Very easy, delightful reads. I am reading another of the author’s books: Before Herring Cove Road. ENJOY!
August 23, 2018
This second book was less fanciful than the first. It included the murder of children which added not only sadness but disgust. There was also a few loose ends that were unresolved. I liked the ending, but it was unrealistic.
August 8, 2017
The boy and his mother move to an apartment in a seedy area. Children are being killed and nobody knows who is doing it. Drug dealing is going on here.
August 17, 2018
Awful
Children being abused. Terrible plot. Quit reading after the graphic murder scene of the main character. Why write such awful things?
Children being abused. Terrible plot. Quit reading after the graphic murder scene of the main character. Why write such awful things?
August 20, 2018
Excellent in every way. Besides it's a good read for real.
May 28, 2020
Second in Herring Cove Road series, this book picks up almost exactly where the last book left off and I love that! Sometimes they fast forward 10 years and I want to say 'wait up!' yet this book was like returning to an old friend. I love the Kroft's characters in these books and their relationships with one another.
My original purpose in reading this series is to learn more about Halifax, a town my mother and I will be visiting in a future vacation. Not as many tidbits about the town as in the first novel except there is this reference: "When Dewey broke the silence by asking why there was mostly forest on the right, Avriel told him a creek called the MacIntosh Runs traveled on that side just behind the trees." which hints at a trail we might choose to visit should we wish.
Some of the topics in this book are a bit "icky" yet Kroft did a nice job of portraying things through the children's eyes. There was a cute section where Dewey was trying to figure out what it meant to go to first base. "Perhaps it did not matter where the kiss went, but it had to be with a girl, for sure with a girl, otherwise Dewey would have gotten to first base with his mother, and that just did not seem right." ha ha
Some 1970s references as before which is always fun, including Pop Shoppe soda. Good times. Then becoming blood brothers, which is something I thought was gross then and we would never do these days.
Quite a few times the kids got the words wrong which made for some added "cute" humor: "Frank once told me that guys with long hair don’t like rules, don’t likes status quotes and don’t follow ‘em."
Moving on to the next one in the series! A nice light easy ready but not boring or predictable.
My original purpose in reading this series is to learn more about Halifax, a town my mother and I will be visiting in a future vacation. Not as many tidbits about the town as in the first novel except there is this reference: "When Dewey broke the silence by asking why there was mostly forest on the right, Avriel told him a creek called the MacIntosh Runs traveled on that side just behind the trees." which hints at a trail we might choose to visit should we wish.
Some of the topics in this book are a bit "icky" yet Kroft did a nice job of portraying things through the children's eyes. There was a cute section where Dewey was trying to figure out what it meant to go to first base. "Perhaps it did not matter where the kiss went, but it had to be with a girl, for sure with a girl, otherwise Dewey would have gotten to first base with his mother, and that just did not seem right." ha ha
Some 1970s references as before which is always fun, including Pop Shoppe soda. Good times. Then becoming blood brothers, which is something I thought was gross then and we would never do these days.
Quite a few times the kids got the words wrong which made for some added "cute" humor: "Frank once told me that guys with long hair don’t like rules, don’t likes status quotes and don’t follow ‘em."
Moving on to the next one in the series! A nice light easy ready but not boring or predictable.
August 11, 2023
This was the second in the Herring Cove series. I gave the first 4 stars, but it was really 4+ stars. I loved the characters in the first so much that i immediately ordered the second one and began reading. This one was definitely not as good. It's probably really 3.5 stars. In this one, there was much less emphasis on my favorite character, Av Rosen, and more on the boy and a his new friends. The problem with that is that Kroft is not as strong in writing kid characters. The new friend was just not believable to me- for a tough kid he was just way too mature and kind and patient with Dewey- more like a parent than a tween.
Despite that, the book kept me reading and I'll be reading the third installment, I'm sure. Just not right away
Despite that, the book kept me reading and I'll be reading the third installment, I'm sure. Just not right away
December 31, 2023
I loved the first book, so started this without even paying attention to the title which gave a huge clue that this book is much darker than the first.
I still love the characters and am giving it 3.5 stars. The last page combined with the title of the next book hooked me again. I will definitely read it.
I still love the characters and am giving it 3.5 stars. The last page combined with the title of the next book hooked me again. I will definitely read it.
July 11, 2024
2.8. Totally different than the first book in many ways, even the characters seem different. And it was filled with almost nothing but bad things happening and a lot of darkness, including a serial killer of children (and from their POV, even during killings). Some good (more of these characters), but a lot of no-thanks here.
February 10, 2019
Interesting twist
A surprise to me
I continue to enjoy the characters and the storyline
A surprise to me
I continue to enjoy the characters and the storyline
February 12, 2019
Another easy read for this snowy cold winter where hibernation sounds good!
March 25, 2019
The second book in the series takes a darker turn.
July 8, 2019
Fun read.
I truly came to enjoy his books. This one had a bit of a mystery to it. And you Never guess who the criminal is until the very end.
I truly came to enjoy his books. This one had a bit of a mystery to it. And you Never guess who the criminal is until the very end.
September 8, 2019
The 1st was way better
The book is OK. Nothing long to read. But if someone is looking for something light. Nice reading though. Waiting for the next.
The book is OK. Nothing long to read. But if someone is looking for something light. Nice reading though. Waiting for the next.
May 30, 2020
This installment of Herring Cove Road is not my favorite. The characters are familiar but and endearing but the story is dark.
August 30, 2020
Engaging and relaxing
I throughtfully enjoyed following each character as the story developed. I found it hard to put down my tablet as it is a good escape from reality.
I throughtfully enjoyed following each character as the story developed. I found it hard to put down my tablet as it is a good escape from reality.
December 2, 2022
My second Herring Cove Road. Child abuse, murder, and the importance of friendship. Children being murdered (and worse).
January 22, 2023
I enjoyed the 1st book more.
July 23, 2023
I was not prepared for how dark this continuation of the Herring Cove Road characters story became.
November 24, 2023
LOVED IT!!!! On to book 3!
June 20, 2023
Enjoying this series of books by Michael Kroft! Endearing characters. Nice to read a male author for a change!
April 2, 2024
7/10
A good continuation of the first book. Though it was very hard as a mother to read about young boys drinking, smoking and getting themselves into scary situations.
A good continuation of the first book. Though it was very hard as a mother to read about young boys drinking, smoking and getting themselves into scary situations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews