Never Die Alone is rumored to have been the book that got Goines and his wife murdered for telling a real life event and not changing enough details where people couldn't figure out who was who. After reading it, and realizing this is the only book of this style and format he ever wrote, I can see that.

The main protagonist is King David, the worst piece of shit that ever walked the face of the earth. He's a low level heroin dealer, and after too much carelessness, leaves NY for LA to get a change of scenery. Soon as he's there he's doing the most to fuck people over so he can get a piece of the heroin action out there - including passing his products off for something they're not. When he gets his business and money straight, he meets a square that's got her head on her shoulders and falls in love. But she's a party girl that eventually shows her true colors. That sends him spiraling down the same path that made him leave NY and go back home to face the consequences of his demons he left behind.

The book has three different main stories going on, all of which connect to King David. And it's not for the faint of heart. This one isn't as gruesome as White Man's Justice, Black Man's Grief, but it has it's WTF moments that will have you rooting he gets his just desserts.

Read this one because it's the last of the great Goines books.

( )