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Gem, Himself, Alone
Alone on the street, Gem joins up with the Rippers gang to escape his old life, burying his past the best he can.
Riker, a vice cop, makes it his business to put Gem behind bars, but he can’t break the alibis Gem has for crimes Riker knows he has committed.
Gem has a special gift for unbreakable alibis.
Riker delves into Gem’s past in a bid to discover his secrets. Can he sort through the tangled threads to lay Gem’s past bare? And if he does, will he be able to put Gem behind bars and see that he is punished for all he has done?
Or can Gem keep his secrets from coming to light and make a new life for himself, one where he is free and able to make his own choices?
Riker, a vice cop, makes it his business to put Gem behind bars, but he can’t break the alibis Gem has for crimes Riker knows he has committed.
Gem has a special gift for unbreakable alibis.
Riker delves into Gem’s past in a bid to discover his secrets. Can he sort through the tangled threads to lay Gem’s past bare? And if he does, will he be able to put Gem behind bars and see that he is punished for all he has done?
Or can Gem keep his secrets from coming to light and make a new life for himself, one where he is free and able to make his own choices?
253 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 19, 2019
5 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
P.D. Workman
230 books503 followersAward-winning Canadian author P.D. Workman has written over a hundred addictive page-turners featuring diverse and divergent sleuths, high-stakes investigations, and stories that linger long after the last page. Her books dive deep into characters’ minds while exploring timely social issues through fast-paced, emotionally charged plots. Readers praise her work for its powerful emotional truth combined with unputdownable suspense.
Shunning sleep, when Workman is not writing, formatting, or marketing, she’s probably running, reading, or spending time with her family.
Check out her catalogue at pdworkman.com to start your next page-turner and sign up for news and special deals.
Shunning sleep, when Workman is not writing, formatting, or marketing, she’s probably running, reading, or spending time with her family.
Check out her catalogue at pdworkman.com to start your next page-turner and sign up for news and special deals.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 25, 2019
Gem, Himself, Alone - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Gem, Himself, Alone - a review by Rosemary Kenny
How can you not sympathise with a young boy, trapped into paedophile-pleasing child sex slavery and crime? That is the poignant secret gradually revealed by vice cop Riker, after Gem, the boy in question comes to the police's attention after fleeing from one sordid and dreadful existence into the midst of a street gang - the Rippers - in a desperate bid to start a new, 'happier' life, yet still a criminal one?
In the midst of people - a facsimile of a family of sorts - he is, as the title says, still alone and therefore having to be self-reliant emotionally and trusting in his 'brothers in arms' of the gang he's no freer than before. Can Riker ferret out the truth of Gem's depraved past and help him see the error of his ways, while seeking a means for the lad to do so? Will Gem agree to abandon the only 'friends' he's ever really had?
Read PD Workman's Gem, Himself, Alone and wonder how you or I could cope if we were ever unfortunate enough to be trapped in the same way - it's surely a modern classic, that will prey on your mind and make you thank your lucky stars for your own life - however humdrum!
Gem, Himself, Alone - a review by Rosemary Kenny
How can you not sympathise with a young boy, trapped into paedophile-pleasing child sex slavery and crime? That is the poignant secret gradually revealed by vice cop Riker, after Gem, the boy in question comes to the police's attention after fleeing from one sordid and dreadful existence into the midst of a street gang - the Rippers - in a desperate bid to start a new, 'happier' life, yet still a criminal one?
In the midst of people - a facsimile of a family of sorts - he is, as the title says, still alone and therefore having to be self-reliant emotionally and trusting in his 'brothers in arms' of the gang he's no freer than before. Can Riker ferret out the truth of Gem's depraved past and help him see the error of his ways, while seeking a means for the lad to do so? Will Gem agree to abandon the only 'friends' he's ever really had?
Read PD Workman's Gem, Himself, Alone and wonder how you or I could cope if we were ever unfortunate enough to be trapped in the same way - it's surely a modern classic, that will prey on your mind and make you thank your lucky stars for your own life - however humdrum!
November 25, 2020
I have read quit a few of Workman's books. This is the 2nd deep one tho'. She has a real handle on some of the terrible things that life hands out. One awful thing is man's inhumanity to man. The worst is man's inhumanity to children.. Ms Workman made it so Gem was a living breathing person. She did a fabulous job bringing him to life and getting him passed all kinds of terrible things.
I would really recommend "Gem, Himself, Alone. It was an awesome book. I think that she must have worked in the medical feild in this life or the last to get such feeling in her work. I have worked with people like in her book and it is heart breaking. I had to syke myself into reading it and I'm glad I did.
Keep up the good wot know.
Cheers my friend
Lynn🇨🇦
I would really recommend "Gem, Himself, Alone. It was an awesome book. I think that she must have worked in the medical feild in this life or the last to get such feeling in her work. I have worked with people like in her book and it is heart breaking. I had to syke myself into reading it and I'm glad I did.
Keep up the good wot know.
Cheers my friend
Lynn🇨🇦
January 5, 2023
Wow, this book was amazing. I loved it, it was very original storytelling. Not just the plot but the way you get perspective of all the characters throughout the book allows you to really get involved in the story. And my God what a sad sad story about Gem, a kid who's had it rough and continued to have it rough through the whole book.
I would read it over and over again if it didn't make me cry so much
I would read it over and over again if it didn't make me cry so much
January 10, 2020
Although listed as YA, I think this could be enjoyed by any age group. Gem has a secret "power" that isn't revealed until well into the story. You're kept guessing if he is other worldly or magical. It's a great story about street kids, trouble they have and the trouble they cause.
July 19, 2019
Alone on the street, Gem joins up with the Rippers gang to escape his old life, burying his past the best he can.
Riker, a vice cop, makes it his business to put Gem behind bars, but he can’t break the alibis Gem has for crimes Riker knows he has committed.
Gem has a special gift for unbreakable alibis.
Riker delves into Gem’s past in a bid to discover his secrets. Can he sort through the tangled threads to lay Gem’s past bare? And if he does, will he be able to put Gem behind bars and see that he is punished for all he has done?
Or can Gem keep his secrets from coming to light and make a new life for himself, one where he is free and able to make his own choices?
This was another brilliant story by the author.
Wonderful characters that are so intriguing that you want to keep reading and find out what makes them tick and what are they hiding.
Love the plot and story line so much. Kept me gripped til the end.
Really enjoyable pschological mystery.
Recommend reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Riker, a vice cop, makes it his business to put Gem behind bars, but he can’t break the alibis Gem has for crimes Riker knows he has committed.
Gem has a special gift for unbreakable alibis.
Riker delves into Gem’s past in a bid to discover his secrets. Can he sort through the tangled threads to lay Gem’s past bare? And if he does, will he be able to put Gem behind bars and see that he is punished for all he has done?
Or can Gem keep his secrets from coming to light and make a new life for himself, one where he is free and able to make his own choices?
This was another brilliant story by the author.
Wonderful characters that are so intriguing that you want to keep reading and find out what makes them tick and what are they hiding.
Love the plot and story line so much. Kept me gripped til the end.
Really enjoyable pschological mystery.
Recommend reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
July 10, 2019
Another great P.D. Workman psycho-thriller!
Gem has a secret. A secret that helped him survive as a child sex slave and while living on the streets and committing crimes. But his gift couldn't save Honey's life and it may not help him survive his initiation to become a member of the Rippers street gang.
The police have never been able to successfully prosecute Gem because his alibis always place him somewhere else when the crimes are committed. Riker is more determined than the other cops and he’ll do whatever it takes to make the charges stick this time, but it’s almost like Gem can walk through walls or be in two places at once.
P.D. Workman has a gift for creating psycho-thrillers. The plots are dark and twisting and the characters are believable and frightening.
Gem has a secret. A secret that helped him survive as a child sex slave and while living on the streets and committing crimes. But his gift couldn't save Honey's life and it may not help him survive his initiation to become a member of the Rippers street gang.
The police have never been able to successfully prosecute Gem because his alibis always place him somewhere else when the crimes are committed. Riker is more determined than the other cops and he’ll do whatever it takes to make the charges stick this time, but it’s almost like Gem can walk through walls or be in two places at once.
P.D. Workman has a gift for creating psycho-thrillers. The plots are dark and twisting and the characters are believable and frightening.
July 28, 2019
Gem, Himself, Alone
I'm not sure why the commas are not shown in the title on Goodreads, but they really need to be there!
Excellent, very twisty story of an abused street kid with a secret. (Thankfully, the abuse, although horrific, is not described in detail.)
There were a few spots that seemed a bit repetitive, although that may have been on purpose. The end of the book seemed a bit abrupt, but it was satisfying nonetheless.
Ms. Workman has a rare talent for portraying characters with abused pasts and/or mental issues with grace and sympathy, and without condescention. I eagerly look forward to her next book.
I'm not sure why the commas are not shown in the title on Goodreads, but they really need to be there!
Excellent, very twisty story of an abused street kid with a secret. (Thankfully, the abuse, although horrific, is not described in detail.)
There were a few spots that seemed a bit repetitive, although that may have been on purpose. The end of the book seemed a bit abrupt, but it was satisfying nonetheless.
Ms. Workman has a rare talent for portraying characters with abused pasts and/or mental issues with grace and sympathy, and without condescention. I eagerly look forward to her next book.
July 8, 2019
Another twisting tale by PD that kept me glued to the pages until the last bit. I can never get enough of these great reads by Ms Workman. As usual they are very well thought out and have you thinking of all you see and hear of going on in today’s news.
This story had me confused for the longest, until I finally figured it out. I loved how she worked the story line. The cast of characters couldn’t have been better. Gem, Bethany,Honey, and all the rest.
If your looking for a book to keep you interested and a writer to keep you coming back for more check out this book and PD Workman!
This story had me confused for the longest, until I finally figured it out. I loved how she worked the story line. The cast of characters couldn’t have been better. Gem, Bethany,Honey, and all the rest.
If your looking for a book to keep you interested and a writer to keep you coming back for more check out this book and PD Workman!
July 12, 2019
This book was excellent, I really enjoyed it. Gem has a secret and he has also been in some very bad situations. A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
October 1, 2019
This book was excellent, I really enjoyed it. Gem has a secret and he has also been in some very bad situations. A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
July 20, 2019
This book is so good. It really keeps you guessing and also gives you a lot to think about. Excellent story.
January 21, 2020
Omg ! Fantastic! This book is HARD! Gritty!
The twist is so shocking and this book continues
to shock, twist and surprise you from start
to finish!. I couldn't put this book down!
The twist is so shocking and this book continues
to shock, twist and surprise you from start
to finish!. I couldn't put this book down!
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February 26, 2024Author gift
November 8, 2019
An intriguing story of Gem who is alone on the streets. He’s trying to escape his old terrible life by joining up with a gang. Unbelievable book.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews