The debut Novel by Tom Lewellen
When justice fails Gillette Dearth, her life goes awry — and she will not rest until justice served for her son's death.
About the Book
Not One Minute is a story of family, justice, and the quiet courage it takes to keep asking questions when everyone else has stopped. When the death of Lucas Dearth is closed without answers, his mother Gillette refuses to accept it.
What follows is a patient, humane search for the truth — carried not by a hard-boiled detective but by a kind, unassuming hero who simply will not let an unjust minute stand. It is mystery writing in the classic tradition: carefully plotted, deeply human, and told with heart.
Why Read It
Critical Praise
...I can't wait for the next chapter... ...the descriptions of Gillette's loss are vivid and compelling... ...the prison conflict is amazing...
This is a bright and emotionally captivating story about the self-discovery, struggles and resilience that define courage. The novel is meticulously plotted and nicely paced
Not One Minute has the scope of a family saga, following its characters through years of personal struggles and changing circumstances...
The Story
Lucas Dearth is dead.
The case is closed. The file is signed. The city moves on.
His mother, Gillette Dearth, does not.
Because the justice that was promised never came — and the mystery meant to answer for it goes awry.
Not One Minute traces the hour everything went wrong — and the mother who refuses to let the clock stop.
About the Author
Tom earned university degrees in Math and English and studied Creative Writing in graduate school. He recently received an AA in Economics. After college, he worked in technology for 40 years. Since retirement, he has rekindled his early love of writing. For enjoyment, he plays basketball and the piano. He works at the local library to stay active and socially engaged. Reading for enjoyment includes numerous categories of non-fiction, fiction and mystery. In the fall, Tom will take stand-up comedy classes. He has been married for 37 years and has two adult children. Tom is currently finishing edits on a subject near and dear to his heart, finding common ground for our political division. Look for Irreconcilable Differences after the first of the year. For 2028, he is planning a science fiction novel about the First Contact between two cosmic civilizations. The reader gets a chance to see the contact from the alien perspective.
A longtime student of the courtroom and of human nature, Lewellen writes with a quiet patience and a deep respect for ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances. He lives and writes in Arizona.