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Cry Revenge
When a young Black man sees his brother’s dreams shattered, he takes to the streets to start a war. Even if that’s exactly what “the system” expects in this bold action-packed urban thriller from Donald Goines, the OG master of urban lit . . .
It’s not that Curtis Carson is hating on the Latinos in his backyard dice games. He just happens to roll the dice better. But the Latinos don’t see it that way, and when one of their brothers is brutally gunned down in a barroom shoot-out because of Curtis’s dealings with the drug dealer Fat George, it’s Curtis who ends up with a target on his back and his brother who ends up with a wrecked body far from the hoop dreams he once harbored. If things aren’t tragic enough, Curtis is hell-bent on setting things straight. He’s on a deadly path of vengeance that will leave the streets running red with Black and Latino blood . . .
It’s not that Curtis Carson is hating on the Latinos in his backyard dice games. He just happens to roll the dice better. But the Latinos don’t see it that way, and when one of their brothers is brutally gunned down in a barroom shoot-out because of Curtis’s dealings with the drug dealer Fat George, it’s Curtis who ends up with a target on his back and his brother who ends up with a wrecked body far from the hoop dreams he once harbored. If things aren’t tragic enough, Curtis is hell-bent on setting things straight. He’s on a deadly path of vengeance that will leave the streets running red with Black and Latino blood . . .
239 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 1974
10 people are currently reading
586 people want to read
About the author
Donald Goines
30 books758 followersDonald Goines was born in Detroit to a relatively comfortable family - his parents owned a local dry cleaner, and he did not have problems with the law or drugs. Goines attended Catholic elementary school and was expected to go into his family's laundry business. Instead Goines enlisted in the US Air Force, and to get in he had to lie about his age. From 1952 to 1955 he served in the armed forces. During this period he got hooked on heroin. When he returned to Detroit from Japan, he was a heroin addict.
The next 15 years from 1955 Goines spent pimping, robbing, stealing, bootlegging, and running numbers, or doing time. His seven prison sentences totaled 6.5 years. While in jail in the 1960s he first attempted to write Westerns without much success - he loved cowboy movies. A few years later, serving a different sentence at a different prison, he was introduced to the work of Iceberg Slim (Robert Beck). This time Goines wrote his semi-autobiographical novel Whoreson, which appeared in 1972. It was a story about the son of a prostitute who becomes a Detroit ghetto pimp. Also Beck's first book, Pimp: The Story of My Life (1967), was autobiographical. Goines was released in 1970, after which he wrote 16 novels with Holloway House, Iceberg Slim's publisher. Hoping to get rid of surroundings - he was back on smack - he moved with his family to the Los Angeles ghetto of Watts.
All of Goines's books were paperback originals. They sold well but did not receive much critical attention. After two years, he decided to return to Detroit. Goines's death was as harsh as his novels - he and his wife were shot to death on the night of October 21, 1974. According to some sources Goines's death had something to do with a failed drugs deal. The identity of the killers remained unknown, but there were reports of "two white men". Posthumously appeared Inner City Hoodlum (1975), which Goines had finished before his death. The story, set in Los Angeles, was about smack, money, and murder.
The first film version of Goines's books, Crime Partners (2001), was directed by J. Jesses Smith. Never Die Alone (1974), about the life of a drug dealer, was filmed by Ernest R. Dickerson, starring DMX. The violent gangsta movie was labelled as "junk masquerading as art."
During his career as a writer, Goines worked to a strict timetable, writing in the morning, devoting the rest of the day to heroin. His pace was furious, sometimes he produced a book in a month. The stories were usually set in the black inner city, in Los Angeles, New York or Detroit, which then was becoming known as 'motor city'. In Black Gangster (1972) the title character builds a "liberation" movement to cover his planned criminal activities. After this work Goines started to view the social and political turmoil of the ghetto as a battlefield between races.
Under the pseudonym Al C. Clark, Goines created a serial hero, Kenyatta, who was named after the 'father of Kenya', Jomo Kenyatta. The four-book series, beginning with Crime Partners (1974), was published by Holloway House. Kenyatta is the leader of a militant organization which aims at cleaning American ghettos of drugs and prostitution. All white policemen, who patrol the black neighborhoods, also are his enemies. Cry Revenge! (1974) tells of Curtis Carson, who is tall, black, and used to giving orders. He becomes the nightmare of the Chicanos, who have crushed his brother. Death List (1974) brings together Kenyatta, the powerful ganglord, Edward Benson, an intelligent black detective, and Ryan, his chisel-faced white partner, in a war against a secret list of drug pushers. In the fourth book, Kenyatta's Last Hit (1975), the hero is killed in a shootout.
The next 15 years from 1955 Goines spent pimping, robbing, stealing, bootlegging, and running numbers, or doing time. His seven prison sentences totaled 6.5 years. While in jail in the 1960s he first attempted to write Westerns without much success - he loved cowboy movies. A few years later, serving a different sentence at a different prison, he was introduced to the work of Iceberg Slim (Robert Beck). This time Goines wrote his semi-autobiographical novel Whoreson, which appeared in 1972. It was a story about the son of a prostitute who becomes a Detroit ghetto pimp. Also Beck's first book, Pimp: The Story of My Life (1967), was autobiographical. Goines was released in 1970, after which he wrote 16 novels with Holloway House, Iceberg Slim's publisher. Hoping to get rid of surroundings - he was back on smack - he moved with his family to the Los Angeles ghetto of Watts.
All of Goines's books were paperback originals. They sold well but did not receive much critical attention. After two years, he decided to return to Detroit. Goines's death was as harsh as his novels - he and his wife were shot to death on the night of October 21, 1974. According to some sources Goines's death had something to do with a failed drugs deal. The identity of the killers remained unknown, but there were reports of "two white men". Posthumously appeared Inner City Hoodlum (1975), which Goines had finished before his death. The story, set in Los Angeles, was about smack, money, and murder.
The first film version of Goines's books, Crime Partners (2001), was directed by J. Jesses Smith. Never Die Alone (1974), about the life of a drug dealer, was filmed by Ernest R. Dickerson, starring DMX. The violent gangsta movie was labelled as "junk masquerading as art."
During his career as a writer, Goines worked to a strict timetable, writing in the morning, devoting the rest of the day to heroin. His pace was furious, sometimes he produced a book in a month. The stories were usually set in the black inner city, in Los Angeles, New York or Detroit, which then was becoming known as 'motor city'. In Black Gangster (1972) the title character builds a "liberation" movement to cover his planned criminal activities. After this work Goines started to view the social and political turmoil of the ghetto as a battlefield between races.
Under the pseudonym Al C. Clark, Goines created a serial hero, Kenyatta, who was named after the 'father of Kenya', Jomo Kenyatta. The four-book series, beginning with Crime Partners (1974), was published by Holloway House. Kenyatta is the leader of a militant organization which aims at cleaning American ghettos of drugs and prostitution. All white policemen, who patrol the black neighborhoods, also are his enemies. Cry Revenge! (1974) tells of Curtis Carson, who is tall, black, and used to giving orders. He becomes the nightmare of the Chicanos, who have crushed his brother. Death List (1974) brings together Kenyatta, the powerful ganglord, Edward Benson, an intelligent black detective, and Ryan, his chisel-faced white partner, in a war against a secret list of drug pushers. In the fourth book, Kenyatta's Last Hit (1975), the hero is killed in a shootout.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 8, 2024
Maybe my least favourite Goines book so far, but still an effective tale of gang violence and revenge. The end in particular was pretty great
February 11, 2014
Another great read!
Donald Goines is an amazing writer!
Everything he writes is so raw, making me cringe at some points.
Donald Goines is an amazing writer!
Everything he writes is so raw, making me cringe at some points.
November 30, 2010
Ambition. Murder. Revenge. Stupidity. Foolishness. Donald Goines wraps it up so well within 200 - 300 pages of paperback pulp fun.
September 28, 2018
Curtis Carson has made the investment to become the most successful dealer in Clovis NM. But he's betrayed his friend Dan Lewis in the process. Curtis makes his connection through a Mexican dealer who sets him up with the product. Curtis has a thriving business, while Dan falls into addiction. Dan then gets caught in a sting operation by undercover police that ends in the death of a Mexican gang member. Curtis is implicated in the death. Mexican gang members then retaliate by crippling Curtis's innocent brother. Curtis gets a gun and goes after the Mexicans. And from there, events spiral into violence and chaos.
Goines handles the numerous characters in this morality story really well. He wrote these novels quickly (likely a single draft) and they sometimes suffer for lack of editorial polish. Still, this was a compelling story with no heroes. Lot's of great dialog of the period as well, early 1970s.
Goines handles the numerous characters in this morality story really well. He wrote these novels quickly (likely a single draft) and they sometimes suffer for lack of editorial polish. Still, this was a compelling story with no heroes. Lot's of great dialog of the period as well, early 1970s.
March 25, 2025
I was leaning 4 stars until that last chapter and then I had to round it up to 5!
Curtis starts dealing dope and makes a lot of money by offering a more pure product than the competition. Soon, he is in too deep when his brother is hurt and an all-out drug war begins.
Donald Goines really has a way of raw storytelling that makes you feel like you're part of the book. This was my second book by him and certainly won't be my last.
Recommended for those who like gritty stories and don't mind some violence, drugs, and swearing (including slurs).
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Curtis starts dealing dope and makes a lot of money by offering a more pure product than the competition. Soon, he is in too deep when his brother is hurt and an all-out drug war begins.
Donald Goines really has a way of raw storytelling that makes you feel like you're part of the book. This was my second book by him and certainly won't be my last.
Recommended for those who like gritty stories and don't mind some violence, drugs, and swearing (including slurs).
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Read
February 3, 2009i like how this book protrays the likes and dislikes of the blacks and latinos......it is a realistic part of life that needs to be dealt with../
April 10, 2024
It was OK. What's cool to me is to be able to read this in 2024 and notice how much the world has changed from the names of the characters to the technology used back then. The storyline is your typical portrayal of the poor neighborhoods and drug dealing.
June 9, 2017
Wow amazing book this beautiful man took me on an adventure an I definitely explored
July 21, 2011
A rough and tumble bird's eye view of ghetto life. Gangs, dope, pimps, hookers, addicts, criminals ... life is nasty brutish and short. Plenty of violence. The good news is it went fast and the bad guys get what they deserve.
January 23, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
In "Cry Revenge", Donald Goines delivers an intense urban thriller that delves into the harsh realities of street life, and the quest for vengeance when pride and reputation is the most valuable societal commodity.
Deeper issues are also addressed, such as feeding on your own community members, thereby destroying one's own community from within.
This story follows Curtis Carson, a young Black drug dealer whose life is turned upside down when his innocent brother's dreams are shattered due to a violent incident involving a dice game (which Carson was involved in, and of which his brother knew nothing about) which shamed a player of another race, setting off a cultural war.
Curtis, driven by a burning desire for retribution, embarks on a dangerous path that leads him to confront the systemic injustices and racial tensions that plague his community (issues he greedily feeds off of).
Goines masterfully captures the raw emotions and brutal consequences of Curtis's actions, painting a vivid picture of the urban landscape and the struggles faced by those trapped within its grip.
This novel is a powerful exploration of themes such as loyalty, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of justice.
Goines's unflinching portrayal of the characters' lives and the gritty reality of their world makes for a compelling and thought-provoking read.
Highly recommended for fans of gritty urban fiction and anyone interested in stories which tackle social issues with unflinching honesty. Donald Goines's "Cry Revenge" is a testament to his skill as a storyteller and his ability to shine a light on society's hidden underbelly.
In "Cry Revenge", Donald Goines delivers an intense urban thriller that delves into the harsh realities of street life, and the quest for vengeance when pride and reputation is the most valuable societal commodity.
Deeper issues are also addressed, such as feeding on your own community members, thereby destroying one's own community from within.
This story follows Curtis Carson, a young Black drug dealer whose life is turned upside down when his innocent brother's dreams are shattered due to a violent incident involving a dice game (which Carson was involved in, and of which his brother knew nothing about) which shamed a player of another race, setting off a cultural war.
Curtis, driven by a burning desire for retribution, embarks on a dangerous path that leads him to confront the systemic injustices and racial tensions that plague his community (issues he greedily feeds off of).
Goines masterfully captures the raw emotions and brutal consequences of Curtis's actions, painting a vivid picture of the urban landscape and the struggles faced by those trapped within its grip.
This novel is a powerful exploration of themes such as loyalty, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of justice.
Goines's unflinching portrayal of the characters' lives and the gritty reality of their world makes for a compelling and thought-provoking read.
Highly recommended for fans of gritty urban fiction and anyone interested in stories which tackle social issues with unflinching honesty. Donald Goines's "Cry Revenge" is a testament to his skill as a storyteller and his ability to shine a light on society's hidden underbelly.
March 8, 2018
Not one of his best. I think the idea of revenge as a petty and self-destructive motive is layed out fairly well. As in all Goines books the pacing is fast, but this is not 'Dope Fiend' or 'Grief' level drama. The blunt trauma of the events that caused the need for revenge isn't that intense.
Also, the character development that is so intense in his earlier works isn't very well done. Goines does tend to be a little formulaic, but overal I like the formula. This one just doesn't hit the mark.
Also, the character development that is so intense in his earlier works isn't very well done. Goines does tend to be a little formulaic, but overal I like the formula. This one just doesn't hit the mark.
November 11, 2024
This was another great read. I am finding that I am really enjoying the rawness of his writing and the bluntness of the accounts that are given about his life. It is explained in such detail that I can almost imagine myself watching the accounts as a movie vs reading it in a book.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for gifting me this book in exchange for my honest review
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for gifting me this book in exchange for my honest review
March 6, 2025
Typically I am a fan of Donald Goines' writing, but this book fell short. At times I felt some chapters were dragging which is unfortunate because it's already a short book. The ending was also upsetting and lackluster.
October 25, 2025
I loved this book. Great read
November 6, 2016
Pretty brutal. There is a unpolished feel to the writing style that suits it. I'm not saying it's poorly written, it just feels unlike commercial thrillers.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews