"Dopefiend" was Donald Goines' debut novel based on his life to that point. After writing the book, he paid his sister 10 cents per page to proofread before sending it off to a publisher.
Dopefiend is a gripping, raw and almost sickening narrative depicting two young adults and their darkness in a world of drugs, mostly heroin. The story digs deep into what an addict faces and the world he lives in, almost allowing the reader to understand what life as a dope fiend is like.
In "Whoreson," Goines takes his readers on a wild ride through the world of prostitution within in the ghetto. By the young age of 16, Goines himself was a ruthless, cold-blooded pimp. His writing is gritty, no-nonsense street talk that depicts the struggles and hell of an inner city life.
The main character, named Whoreson, was born by a prostitute and through his story the readers finds that sadly he was given no other option in life but to serve as a pimp. This is the story of Whoreson changing from a boy to a man.
Prince, the hero in "Black Gangster," was born from Goines' experiences on the street as a pimp, small-time drug dealer and armed robber. Prince's story revolves around black organized crime and how a young gang lord turns into a powerful, full-fledged Detroit city mobster. Essentially, "Black Gangster" is the story of the rise of Prince's empire.
"Street Players" is a story of one man's world which is under control one minute and crumbling the next. Earl is a successful pimp, but he's not just any ordinary fast-talking hustler. He is depicted as a real man with real vulnerabilities that readers don't normally get to see in a character of this type. Earl's street life comes to life through Goines' straight-forward, no-sugar-coating narration of the rise and fall of a street player.
Sandra is the black girl lost in this book. She was born to a mother who favored her love of alcohol over the care of her own child. Having grown up in an unstable and unhealthy household, Sandra found comfort in a boy who understood what she had been through, Chink. "Black Girl Lost" is the roller coaster ride of Sandra and Chink, from drug busts to rape, and even murder.
"White Man's Justice, Black Man's Grief" is the story of Chester, an African-American man in prison. Goines vividly details the workings within the justice system and what happens to men in prison. It chronicles life in prison from the overcrowding to the filthy living conditions and the violence to the homosexual acts. Having experienced life in prison himself --- which is where he first began writing --- Goines gives the reader a look through his eyes at the life of incarcerated men.
Never Die Alone is the novel based on the diary of Paul Pawlowski, a street gangster who lived a tough life of cheating, drugs, and crime. Set against the backdrop of crime-ridden New York, Goines tells the story of life as a gangster and how after all is said and done, no matter who you are and what kind of life you've lived, no one wants to die alone.
Swamp Man, also known as George, is an African American man in Mississippi. He continually watches a couple of white guys rape his sister one or two times per week for a couple of years while he slowly and carefully plots his revenge. Goines tells a heart-wrenching and severely disturbing story that may leave the average reader drained and hopeless with an ending far short of a fairytale.
"Daddy Cool" is Donald Goines' fantasy of Shakespearean-like revenge. The story features a professional hit man whose only daughter is wrongfully led into a life of prostitution which sends his life into a full-blown turmoil he has never felt before. Does he stay loyal to his ways? Or does he change to make a better life for his daughter? As usual, Goines doesn't take the easy way out but instead shows a beautifully tragic and heartbreaking story of street struggles and inner conflict.
"Crime Partners," "Death List," and "Cry Revenge" are a few of the many novels written by Donald Goines under the pen name of Al C. Clark. Due to the way his previous books were seen, Goines figured it would be safer for him to write as someone else. Even after changing his name, Goines' protection came too late. After penning several novels under his alias, it was presumed his writing gave too true a look into inner cities and life on the streets including profiles of real people who didn't want to the character in a book. It was these assumptions which may have led to Donald Goines' murder, ending his life and his writing.