Gems in the Cracks

by Rowley Jeffrey

Gems in the Cracks is a romantic thriller with mystery suspense and murder. Liz would give her life for her teenage son, who seems to keep plunging deeper into trouble; and we are drawn into their lives by the author's web of emotion. Through their struggles against poverty, racism, social inertia, and the intrigues of the Mafia, the writer exposes the imperfections of our society. Tension rises as mysteries of senseless murders unfold, and the kid seems to stumble blindfolded among the cracks of our society.
Maggie Fitzgerald, a judge, sees a rough gem in this and other troubled youths, and implores us to look closer. But his perils seem insurmountable, and the rising tension is tempered by romance, as it climaxes in a heated murder trial, where it seems that both society and the law are also on trial.
The prosecutor contends that we are being attacked by our youths. "We pamper, spoil and protect them…. We withhold their names and conceal their faces. We nestle them in that impregnable cocoon of juvenescence…And so they hold society hostage with this mandate, this very licence we provide them to break the law."
The defence examines the illogic and injustice, of felony murder, and the responsibility of society in the matter. Are our youths totally lost? Did we give them a maze when they asked for a map? Are they Dr. Spock's young Frankensteins just coming home to roost?

(From Publisher).

Born in St. Patrick, Grenada, Rowley Jeffrey was an English teacher who travelled abroad to further his studies. He is a writer of short stories and poetry, and procured a B.A. in Economics at York University in Toronto, and later an LL.B. at the University of Hertfordshire, in England.
An avid advocate for right and justice, Mr. Jeffrey is troubled by the academic rise in juvenile crimes. He has rendered volunteer community services to youths in several capacities: as a volunteer teacher with Tropicana Community Services in Toronto; as a worker with youth clubs: as President of Scarborough Malvern National Soccer Club: as co-founder of Spice Island Soccer Club, etc.
His first novel, Gems in the Cracks, written in 1999 was inspired by his concern for the plight of youths and his usual efforts to encourage them not to relinquish their goals in life and catch the quickest way. The book examines both sides of the juvenile problem with an insight into causes and effects.
Andrew Grice, Editor at Minerva Press acclaims the novel 'a telling social commentary' in which 'the plight of urban youth is evoked in this harrowing tale', intertwined by a romantic plot. He declares that 'the author is incisive in his social and racial observations, examining causes and effects and looking at the effects of deprivation, conflict, cultural inertia and circumstance'.
Mr. Jeffrey is currently writing his second novel, Who Sinned? An intriguing tale of faith served up in his usual recipe of romance, mystery, and murder.