In "Dreamland," Sam Quinones masterfully unravels a modern American nightmare, tracing the sinister spread of black tar heroin from the lush sugar cane fields of Mexico to the unsuspecting small towns and suburbs of the United States. With a journalist's keen eye for detail and the narrative drive of a seasoned novelist, Quinones reveals the astonishing story of how young, ambitious Mexican farmers, independent of the massive drug cartels, devised a groundbreaking distribution system to deliver their potent and deadly product directly into the hands of American consumers. This gripping tale of ambition, addiction, and the dark underbelly of the American dream weaves together the lives of the Mexican suppliers and their American counterparts, creating a complex tapestry that lays bare the devastating consequences of the opioid epidemic. At the heart of this narrative is a chilling examination of American capitalism gone awry, epitomized by the parallel rise of Purdue Pharma's OxyContin. Quinones draws a direct line between the aggressive marketing of this highly addictive prescription painkiller and the surge in heroin use, as thousands of Americans, once hooked on expensive legal opioids, turned to a cheaper and more accessible high. Through the eyes of addicts, dealers, law enforcement, and families torn apart by addiction, "Dreamland" offers an unprecedented look into the causes and effects of one of the most pressing public health crises of our time, challenging readers to confront the uncomfortable realities of a tragedy unfolding in the heartland of America.