Down and Out on Murder Mile

by Tony O'Neill

After exhausting their resources in the slums of Los Angeles, a junkie and his wife settle in London's "murder mile," the city's most violent and criminally corrupt section. Persevering past failed treatments, persistent temptation, urban ennui, and his wife's ruinous death wish, the nameless narrator fights to reclaim his life.

In prose that could peel paint from a car, Tony O'Neill re-creates the painfully comic, often tragic days of a recovering heroin addict.

Genres: Fiction, Drugs

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 2008

About the author

Before he wrote the novel DIGGING THE VEIN Tony O'Neill was a professional musician, playing with bands and artists as diverse as Kenickie, Marc Almond, P.J. Proby and The Brian Jonestown Massacre. His autobiographical debut novel, published in 2006, was a thinly veiled account of his years as a musician and heroin addict, and became a cult hit when it was published in the US and Canada in by Contemporary Press. Praised by the likes of beat legend John Giorno and "Bruno Dante"-author Dan Fante, DIGGING THE VEIN was seized upon by the British press as being a key work in what they dubbed "The Off-Beat Generation." This loose collection of writers and poets -whose collective youth, talent and disregard for the literary establishment was quickly earning them praise and scorn in equal measure - published frequently in cult lit journals like 3am magazine, and cited the DIY ethic of punk as well as cult literary figures like Alexander Trocchi and James Fogle as being their inspirations. The phrase "Here's a laptop, here's a spellcheck, now go write a book!" was jokingly adopted as their slogan. Like much of what the off-beats did, it seemed a move calculated to annoy the literary establishment.

The Guardian article about the Off-Beats "Surfing the New Literary Wave" caused a controversy in 2006 when it claimed O'Neill as a figurehead for the burgeoning scene. It also characterized O'Neill as someone who had "taken the phrase rock'n'roll poet to its furthest edge," while associating him with a style of writing dubbed "Brutalism." For his own part O'Neill claimed not to care about literary movements and had no desire to be associated with other writers. In an interview with 3am Magazine he said that he was drawn to writing "because it's a solitary activity." He went on to decry "those Brooklyn writers who hang out together all the time drinking soy lattes and arguing about what Miranda July's best book is."

"Surfing the New Literary Wave" was the first place that many readers heard about O'Neill and fellow authors like Tom McCarthy, Ben Myers, Adelle Stripe, Heidi James, Paul Ewen, Laura Hird, Lee Rourke and Noah Cicero. Most of those mentioned in the piece were just starting out in their careers, but would soon go on to write some of the most interesting non-mainstream books of the last 10 years.

SEIZURE WET DREAMS, a collection of short stories and poems was released by Social Disease in 2006. It was followed by a volume of poetry, SONGS FROM THE SHOOTING GALLERY [Burning Shore Press, 2007], a collection that avant-garde legend Dennis Cooper described as "precise and beautiful yet [...] imperiled by the damage in its own world." These three small-press books won O'Neill a rabid fan base, seduced by his gritty tales of junkies, hookers and perilous lives lived on the margins of society. When reviewing these early books, many critics drew comparisons between O'Neill's writing and the work of Dan Fante, Jerry Stahl, Charles Bukowski and Irvine Welsh.

He made the jump to mainstream publishing in 2008 when DOWN AND OUT ON MURDER MILE, his second novel, was released by Harper Perennial. Winning praise from the likes of Jerry Stahl, Sebastian Horsley and James Frey DOWN AND OUT was seen by critics as a big leap forward in terms of style and scope. O'Neill once claimed it was - along with SHOOTING GALLERY - the most personal of his books.

His career in Europe took off around this time with the release of the French-language collection NOTRE DAME DU VIDE (13e Note Press). Since then O'Neill has retained a strong following in France and Germany, where each of his books have been translated to great acclaim. However it was with the release of SICK CITY in 2010 [Harper Perennial] that Tony O'Neill finally seemed in danger of earning mainstream acceptance in the US. This pitch-dark thriller managed to juggle it's page turner ambitions with a satirical heart that took aim squarely at the recovery industry and Hollywood's worship

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tony O'Neill has gifted us with an amazing book filled with evocative prose. The story is so well told that you really get a keen sense for the narrator's experiences. It is, to be honest, a book about drug addiction, going down a path of self-destruction, trying to kick it through methadone clinics, and such. There's no sugarcoating on this. The narrator tells it like it is. And, before you say, what do we need another book about a fringe musician and his heroin addiction for, you should read it and hear this narrator's voice and the human experience he writes about even though it's a part of the human experience few would ever want to experience.

The book opens with: "The first time I met Susan she overdosed on a combination of Valium and Ecstasy at a friend’s birthday party at a Motel 6 on Hollywood Boulevard. My friends Sal, RP, and I dragged her blue face down to the 5: 00 A.M. Hollywood streets below, and the filthy predawn drizzle on her face somehow brought her round." What a great opening! And then just a few sentences later: ""I married her six months later. I had one broken marriage, one broken musical career, and a burgeoning heroin habit to contend with. I had nowhere I wanted to be, and neither did she. Without a strong pull in any other direction we decided to go down together." It draws you in right from the first page and doesn't let go of you till the end.

This one is dirty, gritty, realistic, and real worth reading.

[Marvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tony O'Neill has painted a relentlessly grim picture of addiction in his clearly auto-biographical novel Down and Out on Murder Mile. Yet he does it with such a acid drenched wit that keeps the reader laughing amongst the car wreck. The writer's characters are neither likable or unlikeable. They are simply realistic. As wrong or destructive their decisions become, you can accept it as being one of those real-life decisions people make. This novel is not in any ways a fun read but O'Neill has a way with words that keeps you enthralled. Drug addict memoirs have always been popular for some reason. Maybe we want to see people being more miserable than we are. But this novel is one of the better ones and one of the few is which I felt the narrator wasn't bragging. He just wanted you to know how it is with the scary parts, the emotional parts and even the boring parts blending in a real-life scenario.

[Ryan Leone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tony is the man. He has never let me down. Easily one of the greatest and most prolific writers of the last decade, he consistently puts out quality work.

Down and Out on Murder Mile is the roman a clef sequel to Digging the Vein. It focuses on his move from Los Angeles to the slums of London. The only thing he brings with him is his shot out wife and a crippeling drug habit. The novel is bleak, it definitely lacks the innocense of Digging the Vein.

I'm a recovering heroin addict and as lame as it sounds, one of the most exciting parts of my addiction was hitting the streets of a new city. I shot dope all over the country: Boston, Florida, New Mexico, San Franciscio, LA, etc. My life was so dull as a junkie that I actually thought it was interesting to experience drug cultures in new cities. I finally cleaned up but I always said if I did relapse I'd want to go on a run in Europe. That's what I really loved about this book. I got to vicariously experience the European run through Tony's writing.

As always, everything was spot on. I've been in de facto, codependent, sexless relationships with drug-aged women. I've had to jump through the bureaucratic hoops of the Mehadone program ( 180 mg for three years, worst kick of my life), having to boost CDs, freaking girls out when they walked in on me slamming dope, prodding around in the painful wrist when almost every other vein collapses, and finally meeting a special girl that makes me want to actually try every single day.

Tony is real. His writing is real. If you've been there you'll find solace in the fact that someone actually remembers all of it. And if you haven't, you might find some understanding of what it's like to live in a self-imposed hell.

[Olav Nilsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you're up to your neck in shit, there's nothing you can do but sing...

[McKayla Thibodeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because it shows you the mindset of someone struggling addiction and the lengths they will go to. Story wise it wasn’t amazing. No great plot of twists but overall a good read. Educational in a way.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read by Tony O'Neill, he is a fantastic author. "Down & Out on Murder Mile" seems to be an autobiography. The story starts off in the slums of Los Angeles where the two main characters of the book, a married couple, are running out of options. They are chronic drug addicts and money is scarce, so they move to Murder Mile in the UK.

The narrator remains nameless for the whole book, his wife's name is Susan. She is a few years older then him, sadly years of drug abuse hasn't been kind to her looks. Throughout the book we see the couple battle with their addiction. They try rehab, but fail. The narrator works different jobs and even turns to crime to support their habits. Every day seem like a battle to survive and feed their addiction.

Even though the main character is a bit of a hopeless case I couldn't help but like him. I was rooting for him the whole way through, but this couple just can't seem to catch a break. Their lives are totally chaotic, everything that can go wrong on them, does go wrong. Anytime it seems like things could possibly go right for them something happens to mess it all up.

This is quite a dark book, but the author still manages to add in some humor. I love this authors style of writing, I felt I was right there in the middle of things with the characters. I know it sounds really cheesy, but I could really feel the characters despair. This book is really well written.

I read "Sick City" by Tony O'Neill just before I read this book. That is how impressed I was with this author. "Sick City" is also a brilliant book. I would highly recommend both books. I intend to read more books by this author. I found author Tony O'Neill through another equally as good author by the name of Shane Levene.

[Tosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can a book about Heroin addiction be charming? Well, for me at least, this book is charmng. Tony O'Neill doesn't overplay the tragedy or the highs/lows of Heroin use. What he does show is that being a junkie is like having a job from hell. One has to work so hard in getting high!

Also the novel (memoir?) takes place in Los Angeles and London, and he uses the two cities quite well as part of the narrative. Also the fact O'Neill comes from the music world of sorts (toured and played with Marc Almond) is interesting, A really quick read, and in many ways another book to put in the 'London, Soho" category on my book shelf. Very good!

[Shawn Buckle · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I purchase books in-store, I always grab a cheapo from the discount section. I do all the things we're not supposed to do when book hunting - I judge it by its cover and require it's under $5. The majority of the time I strike out, because, essentially, the book is in the cheap seats for a reason. I went down swinging on three straight strikes with this book. It was cliched, obvious, amateur and all-around dull. I didn't care about our protagonist and I was supposed to. I didn't want him to get the hot, rock n roll girl in the club, but he did for a while - she was too smart, attractive and put together to fall for a drugged-out wanna-be with more baggage than an airport.

[Corinne Horne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read a book in a long time that so honestly tells a story of addiction and recovery like this one does. I was intrigued with the faceless, nameless narrator; his relationship with his wife replaced intimacy with drugs, creating a curiously asexual drug-induced marriage. But as curious as the relationship was, his recovery was even more so.

This book, overall, was a very engrossing read and worth every minute I spent reading it. It is a great read for anyone interested in the reality of drug use and the truth of why some people use.

[Tani Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me biting all my nails to a pulp in an airport, ignoring phone calls, late to the board the plane because I could peel myself away. It was absolutely devastating and fantastic. One of my favorite books of ALL TIME. The author is just a magician.

[Lavinia Ludlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astounding. Naturally.

[Hosho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intravenous, transgressive prose at it's best. If, like me, you've never had the strength of character to develop a decent drug habit, then live vicariously through O'Niell's terrific books!

[Cathelijne Beijn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rauw en lekker goor. De ranzige geur van een junkieleven dampt van de pagina’s. Ontdekte de auteur dit boek per toeval en ben benieuwd naar de rest.

[Chanaka · Rating 3 out of 5]

This guy kept me reading at pace all the way to the end. It was a compelling and grim at times. However, more than any other book I've read, and I think it must have been intentional, I found myself thinking what a dickhead the protagonist was. Not so much that he had a drug problem and was self-destructive. I didn't like the way he characterised his wife, who had a similar problem, as disgusting and I think projected all his worst characteristics on to her. Then the new woman he meets, whom he associates with recovery and health, he completely idolises. He (spoiler) bangs her and is suddenly the greatest lover of all time. Like maybe his wife was a wreck because he treated her awfully and contributed to the situation. But to be fair to the guy, he wasn't trying to portray a likeable decent person and he was obviously trying to provoke, which he did.

[Paul Hackley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yikes! Scary! This is a warning to anyone who wants to try these drugs! Don't do it! I hope the author is clean. Gripping read. Brutal. My review: this book slapped my face and heart and it still hurts.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is published as a novel but I honestly think it’s more of an autobiography. I felt like I was “hanging out” with him and his wife as he described their life as addicts. Powerful and honest story.

[Stargazer618 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is an autobiography about a heroin/cocain addicts life. It was an easy read, but I couldn't stand the main character. I only finished it to see if he got his life together. I don't plan on reading another book from this author.

[Tiffany Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not something i would normally pick up but the cover and shape of the book grabbed me. Very well written. I enjoyed it.

[xavier morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s Tony O’Neill

If you don’t know find out the dude is a beast. Read anything & everything he’s wrote and or assisted in writing. You’ll never be let down.

[Laura Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read! Cant put it down.

[Ani Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the voice. The tone. The structure. The pace. I would love to have Tony O'neill sit on my couch and tell me stories and shoot up and read poetry and listen to music. But some of that same feeling let me down. It left a sour, metallic taste in the mouth. Namely (and I can't believe I'm about to say this, misogyny in literature apologist number one) treatment of the female characters was one-dimensional. The junkie life stuff is probably only shocking/interesting to those who haven't been. And the hip references like mentioning rock stars he meets, etc I find lame. Also, the content, the thrust of the story itself, this idea of love as redemption I just don't buy. Maybe all that says nothing about the book and everything about me, but hey it's my review. I still think it's a fun read and I'd still fuck Tony any day. Far as reading though, I might just stick to his poetry.

[Jennifer Sciolino-Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not nearly as good as Sick City. This is a straight-up firsthand look at heroin addiction and the bleak tunnels in which junkies live. If this is your first novel of its kind, you'll find it honest and horrifying in a peek-through-your-fingers kind of way. If it's not, you'll realize quickly that it's been done better by others and there should be more to a novel than just shock value meant to awe the tourists.
This is a junkie's diary. O'Neill generally does a great job, but this isn't his best work.

[HillbillyMystic · Rating 3 out of 5]

After all the praise and reviews for the great prose I guess I just expected to be blown away. That's always the dilemma. I read reviews hoping to find that next great piece and then the hype makes my expectations grow way out of proportion to the actual work. There's also the danger of a poor review or a review revealing too much of the plot and then I won't read the piece to begin with. Of course this may be like the post-apocalypse genre before it and I may have just read my fill of the junky genre already.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

While reading this book I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and I think that was the point. The dry humour makes you understand the desperation of the author, but at the same time you just can't feel sorry for him. It's a really good read if you want to understand how drugs work, but, at the same time the message is clear "Kids, don't do drugs".
All in all, a fun, light and quite informative read.
Would suggest.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

well, tony really did it this time. after Digging the Vein, you think you've seen the complexities of this addiction. along comes Down and Out to steer you deeper into the maze. this time, beautifully, there's no dead end.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't believe how fast I read this. A well written book about addiction. It seemed to cover it in the middle -- not too cool or glamourous, while not getting to the complete horror of it. I liked his tone. I might check out something else by him.

[catechism · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, that's it, junkies are boring. I can deal with a chapter or two about shithole apartments and calcified veins and the unending heroin routine, but a whole book, no matter how well-written and compelling, just gets tired.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heartbreaking memoir about being a junkie in LA and London. The book ends on a high note, however, so you finish it thinking "Wow, I can't believe he survived, but I'm glad he did!"

I honestly can't tell if this is all fiction, or part memoir, part fiction.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drugs. Sex. Rock 'n roll. They seem predictable. But the all-time lows into depression and the endless road towards recovery were not. Not an entirely life-changing plot line for a reader but a respectable story and perspective into a dangerous lifestyle. A commendable work.

[Letitia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good junkie story and Down and Out on Murder Mile certainly didn't disappoint.
A bit bleak at times, but what story about a heroin addict isn't?
I really enjoyed this book and will be seeking out more from this author.