Gather Together in My Name: A Novel

by Tracy Price-Thompson

From the nationally bestselling and Hurston/Wright award-winning author Tracy Price-Thompson comes a heartbreaking story of loyalty and love that goes beyond the ultimate sacrifice.

Coming of age in the heart of crime-ridden Brooklyn, Shyne Blackwood is one in a set of triplets born into poverty and great tragedy. While his brothers are raised to seek a life of promise, Shyne's path veers early on. A street-seasoned hustler, he becomes known as a liar, a thief, and ultimately, a killer.

Personifying many of the negative stereotypes attributed to black men, Shyne is accused and convicted of the brutal murder of a child, and an entire city demands vengeance as he's sent to death row in a cold New York state prison.

On the eve of Shyne's execution, five people travel to Quincy Correctional Facility to witness the event. As the clock counts down to midnight, and while everyone has long since abandoned Shyne to his fate, a secret at the heart of this unthinkable crime remains to be discovered. It is a secret that will test the bonds of family, the strength of one man's character, and the redemptive power of a love worth dying for.

Genres: Urban, Crime

241 pages, Paperback

First published May 20, 2008

About the author

Tracy Price-Thompson is the national bestselling author of the novels, Black Coffee, Chocolate Sangria, A Woman's Worth, Knockin' Boots, and Gather Together in My Name. Tracy is a highly decorated Desert Storm veteran who graduated from the Army's Infantry Officer Candidate School after more than ten years as an enlisted soldier. A Brooklyn, New York, native who has traveled extensively and lived in amazing places around the world, Tracy is a retired Army Engineer officer and Ralph Bunche graduate Fellow who holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a master's degree in Social Work.

Tracy is also the co-editor of the anthologies Other People's Skin and Proverbs for the People and composes professional literary reviews based on established elements of writing for several print sources.

Tracy lives in Hawaii with her wonderfully supportive husband and several of their six bright, beautiful, incredible children.

Reviews

[Camille]

Wow, this book gives me a modern day Native Son.

[Mona Grant-Holmes]

I loved this book. The story grabbed me from the beginning and did not let go until the end. Three brothers-Ezekiel, Gabriel, and Isiah-Shadow, Shug, and Shyne-triplets. Della, their mother LOVES their father, Bo. Bo's dies during their birth is a tragedy that marks them for the rest of their lives. Della finds it hard to let go of Bo and transfers that love to Shadow. When Shadow dies, that love is transferred to Shug. Since Della believes that Shyne is responsible for Bo's death, he has nothing coming. This is reinforced with Shadow's death as well. In spite of Della's feelings, Shug and Shyne have a very strong bond. Shug goes to college; Shyne goes to jail many times, but they remain close. When Shyne is accused and convicted of murdering his former girlfriend, Terrie, and brutally raping her four-year-old daughter, Arielle, he accepts his fate. Is blood thicker than water? Is the bond formed in the womb unbreakable? This novel explores family, love, and loyalty.

[Jess Sweitzer]

I found the writer's technique to be intriguing and really enjoyed the storyline. It also made me think about the criminal system a bit.

[Michael Davidson]

This book is a page turner, i could not put it down. I had to find out what was next.
I truly loved this beek. Great writer

[Latonya Muse]

Very good read, kept my interest from the very beginning, definitely a page turner.

[Lee]

This book stay with my for a long time. If I remember correctly, this was the first book that made me cry.

[Raquon Haynes]

I didn't expect the ending at all. Great twist.

[Michelle Chavis]

Wow! Just Wow. This was a great story!!

[Iisha]

A set of triplets were born to Della and Bo Blackwood. The birth should've solidified the love between them; however, the entrance of the last baby changed the tide for everyone, leaving Bo dead and Della in a miserable state of hatred. Shug, Shadow and Shyne Blackwood, though born to the same mother, knew her very differently. Shug and Shadow knew her as a loving, caring mother. Shyne, on the other hand, knew the cold disdain of a woman who refused to even acknowledge him as her child, preferring to allow someone else to care for him.

Despite their upbringing, the three boys formed a bond that was unbreakable by their mother. The untimely death of Shadow, at age six, was the only breach the boys knew. If possible, Shadow's death made Shug and Shyne even closer. With the encouragement of his mother, Shug went on to become a successful lawyer with a burgeoning political career. Lacking similar encouragement from his mother, Shyne took to the streets for his education and life. One night, a white woman and her three-year-old daughter are brutally murdered in New York. DNA evidence connects Shyne to the crimes and, as a result, he is arrested, convicted and sentenced to death. The only problem, Shyne didn't do it and he isn't ratting out the one who did. Giving up his rights to the appeals process, the execution is moved up hurriedly. On the night of the execution, all the witnesses gather for his final breath. Will he get a reprieve?

In Tracy Price-Thompson's GATHER TOGETHER IN MY NAME, she gives readers a very sensitive and intuitive look at how far one will go in the name of loyalty and love. This is particularly so when the street code of honor and respect dictates that you lay down your life for your brother. A black man falsely accused on death row feverishly navigating the appeals system seems like a common thing to hear about these days. The author took this premise to another level and begged the question if the accused willingly accepted the punishment for the crime knowing full well he was innocent.

[Maicie]

Too predictable.

Shyne and Shug, twin brothers, are both raised in the ghetto. Shug has pulled himself out of poverty and is on the path to a great political career. Shyne is convicted of the rape and brutal murder of a white woman and her three year old daughter. As Shyne's execution date approaches family secrets are brought to the surface.

This could have been a great story. The first 3/4's of the book describes in great detail all the characters. I was more interested in an in-depth look at the brother's relationship.

[Monica]

The book comes together in the end (it gets good then). The 1st 3/4 is focused on breaking down the characters to give you a picture of who everyone is and establish a plot for the book (and how everyone relates to the plot).

[Julie]

I'll count as read... read most last night at the library. Very gritty and crude, but a good tale

[Tawnee]

Great Read
I don’t usually write reviews but this was the best book I’ve read in a long time. If your wondering if you should read this book YES YES YES YES. Della Shug and Shyne will have you mad from the beginning to end.

[Sylvia]

This story was incredible. I like that the author showed that maternal love isn't always true. The favoritism was off the chain. This was a dangerous example of how a parent is too toxic to rear children.

[Robyn]

Powerful story. A must-read for any young adult.

[Kira Bryant]

Just Wow

It had a lot of twist and turns. The mother just floored me, I could not believe her. A really good book but truly a sad ending.

[Stephanie Everett]

This is the first book I’ve ever read in 1 day! It was definitely a page turner with a twist I did not see coming!

[Kei]

This book was excellent! It was heartbreaking and definitely one that is NOT forgettable. I have read this book twice, and that is rare for me. My heart felt out to Shyne because he never had a chance in life. As a mother, you are supposed to protect your young by any means necessary, but his mom did the complete opposite. She had no love for him, only hate. Ultimately, this is what brought him down. I promise you that this book does not disappoint!

[Dorothea]

I finally finished reading 'Gather Together In My Name'. I applaud how Tracy Price-Thompson touched on Capital Punishment, Child Abuse, Drug Addiction, and Racial Profiling. Her writing style is unique. The end took me by surprise though.

[K.T. Archer]

This book had received mixed reviews and I was a little apprehensive about it but I enjoyed it. Yes, parts of it were predictable but most of it was surprising and suspenseful. I would recommend it if you like crime/mystery.

[Maeceon]

This book was a great read. I could hardly put it down and was full of surprising tugs on your conscience. The only reason this did not get 4.5 or higher from me was the fact that I was able to predict the ending rather early on in the story.

[Karen]

I enjoyed this book. The beginning was a little shocking but the book was written very good and had you thinking about how the author could think of all of the things in this book. It was very intensive in some parts and some parts had you wondering about the mother's demeanor.

[Gloria Stewart]

I couldn't put this book down and have recommended it to several people. Tracy Price-Thompson is a great author.

[Damika]

The power of love never ceases to amaze me.

[Anita]

I am a fan!

[Delonya]

5 Star Read!

[Linda]

Amazing book...

[KaTrina]

Now this is a great book. This is a must read it is filled with secrets and betrayal.

[Felicia G. Trevino]

OH MY GOD!!! Wonderful...amazing!!!! A must read...today!!!

[Jackie]

Good book. Very deep situations/topics. Vividly points out that things are not always what they seem & you definately can't judge a book by it's cover.