All the Sad Young Savages — Pete Peterson

After his fiancee, Karen, is murdered in a drive-by shooting, Matt Warfield, vows to search out her killer. Despite the tearful pleas of Kacey Cutter, Karen's sister, and the warnings from police, he makes plans to infiltrate the dark, dope-ridden environs of the "hood," declaring, as a ruse, his intent to write on gang life from the viewpoint of the gang's members. Matt meets Tyrel "Slasher" Moss, a vicious dope dealer and killer who takes him to other occupants of the 'hood, all hoping to "be famous" through publication of the writer's efforts. Matt's stance with the Crips gang he interviews crumbles when the true purpose of his investigation is discovered. Matt escapes death in another drive-by, then an unsuspected tie-in with a powerful mob boss and a rogue cop puts both Matt and Kacey in danger. They flee a pair of mob hit men in a harrowing car chase that ends in a fiery crash."