In the Spring and Summer of 1951 the country was in the process of recovering and re-inventing itself after the “good war”. But not all wounds had healed and not everyone was ready to move on. To eight year old Kurt Goldman, Oakhurst Drive in Beverly Hills, is an idyllic, dynamic and exciting world of returned veterans, aspiring and established actors, and best of all, his new friend, from up the block, Norma Jean. When events seem to shatter that world forever, he learns, “In this life, it’s the friends you can count on that make all the difference.“ Now, thirty-eight years later, a murder investigation threatens to unravel the secrets of that summer. This engaging and compelling novel of post World War II Los Angeles is funny, lyric, and haunting, but ultimately, an affirmation of the resilience of the human spirit. Berton D. Garey’s confident narrative, vivid characters and richly detailed settings make this both a memorable prequel and sequel to his first novel, Death Dance.