Standing at the Scratch Line

Tremain Family Saga #1

by Guy Johnson

King Tremain, the badass central character of Guy Johnson's Standing at the Scratch Line, was born LeRoi and grew up in the swampy Louisiana bayou during the first part of the 20th century. It is only when he serves overseas during World War I, however, that LeRoi comes to appreciate the majesty of his name. As he should: fighting in the front lines with the "colored" 369th, LeRoi earns the title King. King takes his soldier's stance home with him and throughout his life kills whoever gets in his way, be they Italian mobsters or policemen. Not one for morals or rational contemplation, he lives by the code he relays to his army buddies during the war: "I just got two rules: be courageous and don't take no shit!"

In the course of tracking King's life, Standing at the Scratch Line crosses cities and decades--from New York to New Orleans to Oakland, from the teens to the '40s. King becomes a wealthy man, largely thanks to the opportunities presented by Prohibition. Handsome and strapping, he easily wins the heart of a Louisiana farm girl, Serena, who becomes his wife. Unfortunately, their love doesn't last long--even though the marriage does--because of tragedies involving their sons, for which he blames his wife. In King, Guy Johnson offers a character who responds aggressively to his time and place in history. He is a man of menacing proportions, with a justice system all his own. --Katherine Alberg

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, African American, Family, 20th Century, African American Literature, Book Club

25 pages, Audiobook

First published December 1, 1998

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What a great book! Not at all what I expected. Completely unique, which is kind of a shame. I mean, why hasn't a story like this been told before? A pre-Civil Rights story about an African American male who is not a door mat shouldn't be such a novel concept, but it is. Yes, the fact that he is almost a super-human hero was a bit hard for me to swallow at first. But then I remembered that I have read lots of books with similar off-the-charts, Superman-like male protagonists (spys, assassins, and other James Bond types) - they've just never been Black in the 1920's!

The hero, King Tremain, is not a very layered character, but some of the others are. The star in this respect would have to be Serenna, a wonderfully complex character, one that actresses would fight over should a movie ever be made.

I must also commend author Guy Johnson for his craftsmanship in one particular area that interests me. He does something very rare in telling this story - something that you hardly ever see in books, and never in movies or TV. This book has several instances where the author hints at a potential plot direction, only to ultimately have that direction quietly die out. Note, I am absolutely NOT talking about the heavy handed "Plot Twists" that authors and scriptwriters typically use to intentionally manipulate emotions. No, I am talking about the very mundane way that 'story lines' ebb and flow in real life. We have ideas, aspirations and intentions that evolve over time. Some of them we pursue, and they become reality, others... simply don't. For a million different reasons. Sometimes we get distracted, or lack motivation. Sometimes expected opportunities don't present themselves. Sometimes we just change. Sometimes others do. Sometimes key people disappear from our life unexpectedly. That's just the way life, real life, is. Quietly unpredictable. But you rarely see this depicted in print, and even less so on screen. On TV, if you see a plot direction hinted at, it ALWAYS plays out. Always. If the lead detective just happens to bump into an old college buddy on the way to the courthouse it will ALWAYS have plot implications; nothing is wasted. Now, to be fair, in TV they have an excuse for this, because they have a fixed time constraint, and so don't have time to document all the subtle complexities of real life. However, novelists do not have such a constraint, so I have never understood why they so willingly give in to this laziness, because doing so makes their story predictable in the same way that TV shows usually are.

Well, this author did NOT give in. This book was very UN-predictable, in quiet ways. It had people die. Main characters that you expected things from. Just die. Out of nowhere, off camera. At one point (spoiler) Serenna contemplates a collaboration with the DuMont clan, and I began sweating out the ramifications of that... but... nothing... ever... came of it. False starts. Just like real life. Made me feel like I was actually reading about a REAL LIFE (except maybe for the super-human black hero ;^).

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stumbled upon Guy Johnson and his work while searching for “Pym” by Mat Johnson at my local library. I gave it a shot and was surprised with “Standing at the Scratch Line”. King Tremain is a complex and well layered character that honestly made me want to understand his train of thought and look into his future.

Johnson used a lot of different characters like Serena, Big Ed, and Darwin “The Professor” Morris to give us a view of various characters that were involved in King’s life. Honestly, I ended the novel actually hating Serena who made several bad decisions along the way.

Despite the overuse of rape as a story point and a slight historical hiccups (The Red Ball Express did not exist during WWI but I’m a nerd about things like that.) I liked this book a lot and plan on reading the sequel.

[Nala27 · Rating 5 out of 5]

All males should read this book. Strong, positive and loyal AA male figure.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me thinking about what KING TREMAIN would do in certain situations. He is a simple yet complex man in his relationships with those around him. Family took form as blood relatives, people he trusted and of course his military associates. He was no nonsense and upfront. His knack for taking what he wanted chimed throughout the entire book. However, he was not a selfish man.

Early in the book LeRoi "King" Tremain is sent away from his family for his actions while protecting his family name and joins the Army. He does extremely well in the army and forms a great bond with other members of 369th infantry. While in the service he perfected ways to exact hurt on the enemy and sometimes his fellow serviceman. It's while in the service that he gets the name KING.

Upon returning stateside he goes to NYC and is amazed at what's happening there in the early 1900's. He opens a club with some of his military buddies but eventually goes back down south where he meets his wife Serena.

KING and Serena raise two male children that are nothing at all alike. They are doing quite well and have amassed quite a bit of wealth. However, their lives are to be altered by actions Serena took earlier in their marriage.

This book is difficult to read at times because of the racial insults constant during that time. But suffice it to say that KING did not take NOTHING from NOBODY!!

Long live KING TREMAIN.

[Jenene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not want this book to end!

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite books, this is fabulous . It would make a great movie!

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

King Tremain is a complex character with many layers and dimensions. I admired his strength, appreciated his love of family and honor, his courage was sexy and his dark side was scary but necessary.

The story is exciting, thought provoking and cathartic. Social, psychological, financial and emotional issues are all addressed in this creative story of love, loss, growth and maturity. I can see each of character in this book. From the international scene of World War I to streets of Harlem and from the swamp of New Orleans to sunny San Franciso, the action was captivating. I enjoyed the look into how early black Americans acquired and gained wealth. It was interesting to see the courage it took to take risks just to create a legacy for your family.

The themes of pride, freedom,loyalty, truth, faith, familial bonds, racism, strength and courage are weaved from the beginning to the end. So many stories were told so well and painted the picture of the primary themes. Colorful language, great story and dynamic characters. LOVED IT!!

I can't wait to read Echoes of a Distant Summer.

When is the mini-series coming????

[Terrica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my absolute favorite book!!! I read this book over 10 years ago & it is still my favorite!! King Tremain was a man's man despite being black during an era when being black meant being less than. He didn't take no mess from anyone! No other book has completely enthrallled me and has me wishing for more stories about the main character!!! I would live to see this book made into a movie!

I was so moved by the main character that I kept giving my husband updates while being pregnant with our first son. He liked the character and wanted to name our son King. Now I liked King Tremain but I wasn't a fan of the name. We kicked it around and came up with the name Kingston (which I liked much better). So thanks to Guy Johnson for creating an awesome character, great novel & playing a part in naming our son!

Loved! Loved! Loved this book!!

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book hands down; I have never been so excited about a character in a book before where I visualized that the character was myself. The main character in this book is a strong, wise, fearless, family oriented, loving brother that will not back down from any situation in order to protect the ones he care for and love. Guy Johnson, the author, also drops tid bits of history in this book (i love authors who do that), with the history he weaves in this story it encourages you to go research that history so you can grasp the full meaning of what he's talking about and to expand your knowledge.

[Maceo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best character sagas that I have read in a looooooong time. I highly recommend it.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband and I listened to this as we drove from Colorado toSE Georgia this past week. I love it and my husband enjoyed listening. This’s my fourth listen.

[Roger DeBlanck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guy Johnson has imagined quite a fascinating historical character in LeRoi “King” Tremain, a type of avenger hero, almost Black Panther-like in his invincibility to confront evil. Born in the bayous of Louisiana, we first meet King on a mission with his uncle to take out their white oppressors. With vivid action and description, the outset of the novel bodes well for a riveting narrative. At times, Johnson’s epic adventure maintains its engagement, but too often it bogs down in tedium. We follow King’s hardships from Louisiana through the First World War where he fights both the Germans and the bigotry of white American soldiers. Then after returning home, his exploits continue in New York City where he fights racism and organized crime and corruption. His bildungsroman takes him back down south and then out to Oklahoma and finally to San Francisco. Everywhere he frequents, King encounters injustice that compels him to take action in righting wrongs. Although he does not initiate violence, King is comfortable with inflicting harm with his ferocious ability to overmatch his enemies. What could have been an extraordinary tale of a hero with superhuman-like qualities slows to a pace where the action and adventures become buried amid the verbosity of lengthy dialogue sequences and endless short chapters, many of which don’t serve a viable purpose in propelling the story forward. King is a memorable figure, but the narrative lacks momentum.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four stars rounding up to five because why the heck isn't this book more widely read and respected? It is great popular fiction, a panoramic story of a strong black man with a strong moral compass, living outside the law, building a family, fighting racism and other evils over 3o years of American history in Louisiana, World War I France, New York, Oklahoma, and San Francisco/Oakland. It's well written, well researched, and packed with the satisfactions of a serious adventure story --when King Tremain arrives on the scene, you KNOW the racists and oppressors are going to get their due. Some of the female characters were not as well handled, but the book still has a propulsive energy that pulls you along and gives you a great ride.

[Lee Ahd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book while I was in prison.. https://vocal.media/poets/two-souls-h...

[Cam · Rating 1 out of 5]

convinced mama angelou bought these good reviews because there’s just no way…
grandpa is officially on 3 month probation from picking the family book

[Marcus Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t know Guy Johnson was Maya Angelou’s son.  Until after I read this book.  It was so amazing, I researched the author to find out more about him.  And bam! that explained a lot.

Set in New Orleans in the early 1900’s, LeRoi “King” Tremain is born into an ongoing family feud with the DuMonts.  And as a teenager, King mistakenly kills 2 White deputies during a botched raid on the family forcing King to flee for his safety to Louisiana.

His ensuing adventure develops him into the man he becomes.  From France, fighting in WWI where he experiences the rapid bigotry pitting him against the Germans AND his fellow White soldiers back to America where he battles the mob in Harlem, the KKK in Louisiana and crooked politicians attempting to destroy a Black town in Oklahoma.

All this while desiring to create a family life like the one he fled back in New Orleans.

Excellent character development as King just wants respect from a world that is designed to belittle his every existence as a Black male.  You’ll feel his pain and triumph as humanly possible and root from him to succeed.

[Virginia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy this book at the beginning, but unfortunately the author could not keep my first impression throughout the whole book. The principal problem was that his main character, King, was never truly known by the reader. The author could not make King come alive to me. He was almost like a mythical avenger toward everyone who is evil or has done evil to his people. I never got to know the character, King, I just read about him. Maybe I was supposed to hate King, maybe I was supposed to love King, or maybe I was supposed to pity him. I don't know, the author never created a soul for King. As for the story, it kept on repeating itself. King, strong and very capable of taking care of himself, had others do wrong to him or the people he worked with, or the people he loved, and then those that hurt him died. Usually by his hands and he pretty much got away with it. I usually enjoy when I see the evildoers getting their comeuppance, but it really got a little tiring in the story. Also, there was never any under plot that threatened King. The author had his chance to create these under plots, but missed all opportunities. He did suggest some in the book, but nothing ever came of those. Mostly the author tied up loose ends perfectly, so perfectly he ruined his own book. The only loose end he left in the book was that King never located his firstborn son. Maybe that's supposed to be another book, but I don't think I'm going to read it.

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is jam packed with -- with what? -- adventure? suspense? plot-twists? If it was a movie, it would have a form of "Deliverance" in it, a healthy dose of "Band of Brothers", a smorgasbord of "The Godfather", "Mississippi Burning", and what I would say fits the form, if not the proper setting of a terrific Western, like "Pale Rider". And yet, it ends with a mix of Old Testament Bible and Greek Tragedy. In short, it's not lacking in content. And it does not come across as contrived as it goes through all these machinations. Of course, the fact that it's centered on racially black characters, pretty much takes it off the mainstream reading list, as it would most assuredly have been a massive best-seller otherwise. I have a slight problem with the level of literary skills, but I'm comparing it to some exemplary wordsmiths whose writing styles I prefer. This is not badly written. Actually, my biggest issue with the book is the second most significant character's utter unlikability after first being setup as a potential counterbalance for the raw nature of the main character. But then, I wouldn't tolerate such total lack of personal grace, so maybe it's just me.

[Les · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just exhausting, especially knowing the the events depicted happened all too often and still happen but there are few protagonists like this one that get to live. I lost count of the one dimensional racist ass hats in this and they're only half the story, but read real enough. Familiar and new tropes galore in this one. As for the writing style, quality, plot intricacy, depth of characters and all that - will save it for the book club. Geez. You do want to know what happens...and then it just keeps happening.

[Valarie Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

King Tremaine is a baaaaaaad mother (shut your mouth)! I started the paper version of this very long book back in October 2018 but couldn't find time to finish it. The story was good enough to make me purchase the audio version. I really enjoyed it. The reader, Dion Graham, was excellent. I was surprised by how evil Serena turned out to be. I was waiting for her to redeem herself. I'm not sure I like Guy Johnson's view of women.

[Carolyn Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well-crafted, detailed chronicle of the trials and triumphs of an African American man who walked through the mindfields of domestic and international racism with fearless dignity. I came away with the sense that his courageous story was not an isolated one, but shared by many. This was an awesome read!

[Shannon Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish Mr. Johnson would write more stories. Loved this book.

[Canaan Merchant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, not great writing. Action packed, pretty standard characterization.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

ι ғell ιn love and ι aм ѕтιll ιn love wιтн "ĸιng" тreмaιn. тнιѕ вooĸ waѕ a pleaѕanт ѕυrprιѕe. gυy joнnѕon dιd an aмazιng joв ιn вrιngιng тнιѕ cнaracтer тo lιғe.

[Nding'A Muindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read "Echos of a distant summer" before this one., not a good idea.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different outlook

Loved how this Book gave a different story for black people and black life during a period that it's never explored.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read this novel, I imagined King Tremain as a super hero. This was indeed a saga!!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our book group chose this book because we wanted to read something by the son of Maya Angelou. The author acknowledges his mother's teaching and example. Yet his writing is not like hers. I'm not sure what this genre is called or whether I have ever read anything within it before. The closest I can recall is the Lonesome Dove series by Larry McMurtry. Our main character is a lone gunslinger who learns about family and what it means to him over the years 1916 through 1946.

Some notes about historical, cultural, and biblical references, as well as a prediction for what was in 1998 still in the future:
42 12/28/1917 "One day there'll be a Negro general in the army; maybe even in yo' lifetime." Note that in 1917, Benjamin Oliver Davis Sr. was a major in the National Army; in 1940, he became the first African-American Army General. See also Colin Powell - promoted to 4-star general under George H.W. Bush in 1989.
168-170, 189-193 Good Samaritan story about Sampson Davis, who becomes King's loyal sidekick.
192 deaf woman gives sign language lessons
198 The Crisis, NAACP magazine founded in 1910 by W.E.B. DuBois
305 Bodie Wells, OK - "I'm goin' there 'cause it's a colored town, run by colored folks, and lived in by colored folks." Bodie Wells seems to be a fictional town. Compare Eatonville, FL, the first all-black town to incorporate in the country and the childhood home of Zora Neale Hurston. Note that in 1998 (the year this book was published), there was a black character on the TV show Dawson's Creek named Bodie Wells. He was played by Obi Ndefo, an American of Nigerian heritage, according to Wikipedia.
384 The head porter at the Lafayette Social Club is named Clarence Thomas, which is also the name of the 1991 Supreme Court nominee (ultimately confirmed after some controversy).
466 King says: "Maybe someday there'll even be a colored president."

[Cathy Klein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standing at the Scratch Line was interesting. It was about a young black man, LeRoi "King" Tremain that is basically left to be on his own at a young age so he enters the military and becomes an unsung hero to many as he is able to accurately shoot from a distance and has enough emotional detachment to kill when he deems necessary.

As the book moves along (slowly if you ask me), we follow Tremain through much of his life and see how he builds a dynasty of sorts although in a very mafia-like style. He eventually meets his future wife, Serena, who he falls for because of her similar toughness and mental strength. What he didn't realize is that she would have a jealousy of his past that would cause their whole future heartache.

The two of them have a love/hate relationship that ends up driving them apart and firmly keeping a wedge in their whole family relationship.

It was such a well-written and descriptive book, but I have to say that I was glad to be done with it. I found it also to be very almost depressing and not uplifting in any way. It was almost a hate begets hate book. No one becomes a better person because of their experiences and the family just seems to spiral from one bad fate to the next.

The history is interesing as well as the New Orleans "black magic" aspect, but I don't know that I would have to read the second novel involving King Tremain's grandson.

[Timothy Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing from cover to cover!!!

Review of Standing at the Scratch Line by Guy Johnson

Guy Johnson’s Standing at the Scratch Line is an extremely well-written masterpiece of literature. From start to finish, Johnson crafts a gripping narrative that seamlessly blends historical depth with raw, unfiltered storytelling.

The novel’s greatest strength lies in its character development. The protagonist, King Tremain, is a force of nature—fierce, intelligent, and unrelenting. Johnson masterfully brings King and the supporting cast to life, creating interactions that feel genuine, intense, and deeply impactful. The relationships, conflicts, and shifting alliances throughout the novel are woven with such precision that they immerse the reader completely in the world Johnson has built.

Beyond the characters, the novel’s pacing and storytelling are exceptional. Each chapter unfolds with an intensity that keeps you engaged, and the historical backdrop adds richness to the narrative. The action is relentless, but it never overshadows the emotional weight of the story.

In every aspect, Standing at the Scratch Line is a testament to Johnson’s skill as a writer. It is a novel that lingers in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the final page—powerful, unforgettable, and brilliantly executed.