A review by wyabook234
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe

challenging dark informative sad medium-paced

5.0

Pattrick Radden Keef provides an intriguing introspect into how the product of a single dynasty can cause so much irreparable damage throughout North America in the Empire of Pain. This impairment is placed at the mid-point of telling this dynasty's harmful legacy as he also brings an insight into Sackler's entrance into the pharmaceutical industry and their later dysfunctionality as a family that operates inside and outside of being a business. A business that Keef makes a case against, based on their negligence and impact that what they are doing is considered a "crime" and he is successful in communicating and winning this case if he was ever in a courtroom. This case isn't built upon the accounts of the Sacklers as the family has already conveyed displeasure about being made the villains in the story; which is a portrayal that could be justified. However, Keef's research is based on interviews with related persons, resurfaced communications, and the inclusion of other documents responsible for an engaging three-act structure with a beginning, middle, and end. An end that was heroically led by Nan Goldin and Maura Healy to get what could be considered satisfactory for resolving the opioid crisis as the court dealings are still active. 

Keef's book is a very detailed and impressive novel concerning corruption and the pain left in the wake. 
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