The Heroin Factor [Hardcover]

James McEachin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1999

A black Los Angeles police detective fights his two biggest problems himself and his addiction.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Though it starts off with a couple of hoary old clich?s, McEachin's offbeat but never off-kilter thriller eschews conventional action-suspense resolutions. There's a "no love lost" subplot between cranky L.A. narcotics lieutenant Wyatt McKnight and equally crusty Chief Herman Ault, who assigns McKnight to investigate the murder of fellow officer Verneau LeCoultre, a drug addict who's found shot to death after apparently being mauled by a dog. A "new partner" subplot blooms when Ault teams McKnight with a German policeman visiting L.A. to observe U.S. police methods. The two detectives quickly discover that LeCoultre's girlfriend, Angie, worked as a distributor for eccentric Leslie Van Horn, a British woman who suffers from a psychotic disorder and makes pure heroin from poppies grown on her own farm to distribute to the homeless. While locating Van Horn is relatively easy, the arrest is anything but. There are disastrous complications for McKnight's search, including violent bouts with a madwoman, a near-fatal gunshot wound, amnesia and a year of medical leave for recuperation before McKnight can track Van Horn to Bath, England. There he meets her deranged and dangerous family, and the showdown is a grisly one. McEachin's (Farewell to the Mockingbirds) third novel is not so much a mystery-thriller as an unusual, nearly unresolvable case history. As a result, the climax hinges not on the apprehension of a killer, but a search for answers, and ultimately a mutual redemption between cop and criminal, who share more than just a crime between them. It's not the story one might expect from the first few pages, but McEachin's strange twists make it a palpable, addictive one. (July)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Detective Wyatt McKnight, a lieutenant in the narcotics division of the LAPD, is called in to investigate the murder of Sergeant Verneau B. LeCoultre, a fellow officer and McKnight's personal nemesis. LeCoultre is also a worthless alcoholic, possibly a drug addict, who was found shot to death in a car with a gift-wrapped package of pure uncut heroin. McKnight wonders why a black narcotics detective is asked to investigate the murder of a man who had shown racist disdain toward black officers. But his captain's threats and the carrot of a preretirement promotion for McKnight give him ample incentive. He also meets Lady Leslie Van Horn, who called police after LeCoultre's car spun off the road. McKnight learns that her involvement is anything but coincidental. Despite their divergent personalities and backgrounds, they share souls tortured by heroin trading and addiction. This is a compelling novel with a lead character who is more three-dimensional than the typical black hero often presented to counter negative images of black men. Vernon Ford

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 340 pages
• Publisher: Rharl Publishing Group; 1St Edition edition (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096566614X
• ISBN-13: 978-0965666145
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,644,774 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Mystery Noir, August 30, 2002

By 

Jo D. Wright "aimepurple" (Berkeley, California USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Heroin Factor (Hardcover)

The Heroin Factor James McEachin
In the Company of My Sistahs - Jo D Wright [e-mail]

I read it a few years ago. I gritty mystery. The novel is well
written. I almost got lost in the plots and sub-plots , the drugs, who doing the drugs but I could not put it down. It is mystery noir!. The characters were really well developed but not really likable. It was a good read. Now that I know Mr. McEachin is a writer, I will read his others.

4.0 out of 5 stars McEachin does it again..., May 4, 2001

By 

notyouraveragedame (Appleton, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Heroin Factor (Hardcover)

James McEachin earned my heartfelt admiration with his first novel, Tell Me a Tale, and has continued to impress me with each of his successive books. The Heroin Factor, though completely different than his previous novels, still exudes the descriptive scenes, twisting plot, and strong, opinionated, and ultimately human characters that have always made his books such wonderful reads.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars refreshing every time you turn the page, August 30, 2000

By 

enka arnold (forrest hills, ny United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Heroin Factor (Hardcover)

james mceachin is the eptiome of a soldier, actor, and author, evolved in that order. with each new novel he brings forth the diversity that only a skilled artist, such as he, can do. that's clearly a survival technique whether in the trenches, the lime-light, or under the pressures of a publishing company. i have only recieved this book recently but it's a page turning experience from the inception. the characters are clearly concise and the evolution of the story as intriguing as "the case of the century" as it unfolds. i continue to anticipate where mceachin will take my spirit as we travel through l.a. on this "don't judge a book by its cover" journey. kudos again!!!