This book is about four individuals who pursued the American Dream. In this searing novel, two young hoods, Harry and Tyrone, and a girlfriend fantasize about scoring a pound of uncut heroin and getting rich. But their heroin habit gets the better of them, consumes them and destroys their dreams and Harry's mother's addiction to diet pills lands her in a state mental hospital.

The setting is a working class neighbourhood of New York in the 1950s. Amongst the characters are prostitute Tralala, her brutal pimp Vinnie, an effeminate homosexual and a corrupt union official.