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Needles
A prosecutor fights a drug trafficker ― and his own heroin addiction ― in this thriller from a Dashiell Hammett Prize– and Arthur Ellis Award–winning author “Deverell has a narrative style so lean that scenes and characters seem to explode on the page. He makes the evil of his plot breathtaking and his surprises like shattering glass.” ― Philadelphia Bulletin “Spell-binding, first-rate.” ― Buffalo News Lawyer Foster Cobb’s objective is to bring down the mysterious Dr. Au, responsible for the drugs that flow through Vancouver. But under the pressure of a disintegrating career and marriage, Cobb himself has taken up a long-abandoned heroin habit. With a racing plot and dramatic twists, Needles plunges into a seedy 1970s underworld of crooked cops, Asian drug lords, and tense courtroom scenes. A winner of the Seal First Novel Award, it’s a riveting tale of crime and justice with “surprises like shattering glass,” from an author who has sold over a million copies ( Philadelphia Bulletin ).
350 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1979
12 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
William Deverell
62 books68 followersWilliam Deverell was born in 1937 in Regina, Saskatchewan. He put himself through law school by working as a journalist for the Canadian Press, Vancouver Sun, and Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Deverell served as counsel for over a thousand criminal cases and is a founding director and former president of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. He created the television series, Street Legal, and has written screenplays and radio plays. Deverell lives on Pender Island, British Columbia.
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
* 1998 – Trial of Passion – Winner
* 2006 – April Fool – Winner
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
* 1998 – Trial of Passion – Winner
* 2006 – April Fool – Winner
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 4, 2018
William Deverell has a knack for dazzling fans with his unique writing style, tackling the Canadian legal system as only he appears able to do. Drawing on decades of experience, Deverell’s fiction has a great flavour of truth that cannot be discounted by the attentive reader. Here is his debut novel, which first appeared in 1979 and won some significant awards. Drug addicts in Vancouver have long been trying to find the ‘next new hit’ to awaken them to the glories of that lasting high. When a cartel based in Hong Kong sends a senior member to Canada’s West Coast, they hope to open a shipping line to bring White Lady heroin to the streets and find a large and hungry clientele. Leading the cartel’s Canadian network is one Au P’eng Wei, nicknamed ‘Dr. Au’, who brings a ruthless nature to the drug trade as he seeks to make copious amounts of money. Those who cross Dr. Au are sure the face the consequences of his medical training, as one Jim Fat learned the hard way. When Fat’s body is discovered, Au is fingered as the likely suspect, though it is hard to get anyone to speak out against him. Scrambling to prosecute, Vancouver’s senior Crown attorney turns to Foster Cobb, whose legal abilities seem somewhat questionable. Cobb is not only an attorney whose shingle is rusting, but he has a heroin addiction all his own, chasing it down dark hallways just to stay level. As Cobb begins to cobble together a prosecution, he discovers that Dr. Au is not one who will be easily convicted. With a wife who has all but checked out of the marriage and a second-chair who wants into his legal briefs—we’re not talking about arguments to the judge, here—Cobb must risk it all to find justice while trying to slay his own closet full of dragons as well. Deverell delivers a powerful story embedded in his complex writing style. Those who are fans of the author will likely find something worthwhile here, though I caution the reader new to Deverell’s work to begin with something a bit more grounded before making a decision.
Many will know that I discovered William Deverell when binge reading his Canadian legal series last spring/summer, where I was able to meet the sensational Arthur Beauchamp. From there, I agreed to branch out and see just how great Deverell could be with his one-off novels. Some I found to be well grounded in legal arguments and societal norms of the day, while others appeared to miss their mark. This novel finds itself somewhere in the middle, as I could see a great deal of legal potential, though some of the periphery writing was not as crisp as I would have liked. I attribute at least some of this to Deverell’s early writing, which I have come to discover is a lot harder to digest with ease (though it all seems to have won many literary awards). Foster Cobb proves to be an interesting character, much like the early Beauchamp, who struggles with addiction and a marriage that is hanging by a thread. However, Cobb seems quite lacklustre in his legal workings and therefore his character does not compensate for the addiction that looms over him. I had hoped for a sensational courtroom display—a la Arthur Beauchamp—to balance the novel out, but it failed to materialize and the story dragged for me. While I love a good courtroom drama, Deverell served up something more tepid. Surely I am biased from all my reading of his past work, so I suppose I must take that into account. The other characters proved less than persuasive for me as well, offering up placeholders for the narrative in a legal thriller that lacked the thrill. Crooked cops, scared cartel members, a wife who is unplugged and close to useless... all names that crossed the page and proved to be stumbling blocks as I sought to finish the read in a timely manner. The story could have been sensational, though it lacked many of the elements that I hoped to find. This was Deverell’s debut novel and, admittedly, penned before many of the books to which I am comparing this work. I have seen Deverell hone his skills and so I will give this one its due and not harp on it any longer.
Kudos, Mr. Deverell, for another interesting piece. It is sometimes hard for a reader to go back and not judge more recent (read: refined) works against it. The premise was there and yet the delivery needed something else.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Many will know that I discovered William Deverell when binge reading his Canadian legal series last spring/summer, where I was able to meet the sensational Arthur Beauchamp. From there, I agreed to branch out and see just how great Deverell could be with his one-off novels. Some I found to be well grounded in legal arguments and societal norms of the day, while others appeared to miss their mark. This novel finds itself somewhere in the middle, as I could see a great deal of legal potential, though some of the periphery writing was not as crisp as I would have liked. I attribute at least some of this to Deverell’s early writing, which I have come to discover is a lot harder to digest with ease (though it all seems to have won many literary awards). Foster Cobb proves to be an interesting character, much like the early Beauchamp, who struggles with addiction and a marriage that is hanging by a thread. However, Cobb seems quite lacklustre in his legal workings and therefore his character does not compensate for the addiction that looms over him. I had hoped for a sensational courtroom display—a la Arthur Beauchamp—to balance the novel out, but it failed to materialize and the story dragged for me. While I love a good courtroom drama, Deverell served up something more tepid. Surely I am biased from all my reading of his past work, so I suppose I must take that into account. The other characters proved less than persuasive for me as well, offering up placeholders for the narrative in a legal thriller that lacked the thrill. Crooked cops, scared cartel members, a wife who is unplugged and close to useless... all names that crossed the page and proved to be stumbling blocks as I sought to finish the read in a timely manner. The story could have been sensational, though it lacked many of the elements that I hoped to find. This was Deverell’s debut novel and, admittedly, penned before many of the books to which I am comparing this work. I have seen Deverell hone his skills and so I will give this one its due and not harp on it any longer.
Kudos, Mr. Deverell, for another interesting piece. It is sometimes hard for a reader to go back and not judge more recent (read: refined) works against it. The premise was there and yet the delivery needed something else.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
June 26, 2025
A totally compelling read. Absolutely loved it.
February 21, 2013
This is a review of the audiobook version of Needles. This is the first book that William Deverell published, and it has just been re-released in audio format on audible.com.
I’ve been meaning to try a Deverell book for a couple of years. I’m always on the lookout for new Canadian authors to try, and Deverell was highly recommended by a good friend. I decided to give “Needles” a try, and I am extremely happy that I did. I will be picking up more of his books.
“Needles” is a legal thriller that takes place in Vancouver, British Columbia. Foster Cobb is a former prosecutor, trying to start up his own law firm. In his youth he overcame heroin addiction, put himself through law school, passed the bar, became a successful prosecutor and married the ski-instructor daughter of a high profile lawyer. Now, with his marriage failing, and without enough clients to sustain his practice, he again finds himself turning to, and once again becoming addicted to heroin.
His best friend, currently chief prosecutor, throws a case his way: prosecuting Dr. Au, well known as the head of the Chinese drug trade in Vancouver, but someone that the government has never been able to convict. Witnesses tend to recant their stories, or disappear, whenever Au is brought to trial. Cobb needs the money, and takes the job.
“Needles” is a story that takes place in the courtrooms and back alleys of Vancouver. It is well written (I was very surprised to find it was Deverell’s first novel), fast paced and action filled. It’s full of plot twists and has its share of gritty back-room violence, corruption and action. The characters feel real; Cobb knows that he shouldn’t be on heroin, but you can feel his helplessness to the addiction, and his guilt/relief when he takes a hit.
Overall this was a great book. I’d highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys legal-thrillers.
The audiobook was read by Steve and Maggie Scherf, and they did an amazing job. I listen to audiobooks in the car, and the narrators made it so easy to keep track of what characters were speaking. It was quite amazing to listen to the different characters in their distinctive voices. In many audiobooks it is quite obvious that there is one person reading, with very slight differences in tone to indicate different characters. In this book it was difficult to believe that all the characters were coming from these two narrators; the voice was very different, and very believable in terms of the character being portrayed.
Five stars for the book.
Five stars for the narration.
I’ve been meaning to try a Deverell book for a couple of years. I’m always on the lookout for new Canadian authors to try, and Deverell was highly recommended by a good friend. I decided to give “Needles” a try, and I am extremely happy that I did. I will be picking up more of his books.
“Needles” is a legal thriller that takes place in Vancouver, British Columbia. Foster Cobb is a former prosecutor, trying to start up his own law firm. In his youth he overcame heroin addiction, put himself through law school, passed the bar, became a successful prosecutor and married the ski-instructor daughter of a high profile lawyer. Now, with his marriage failing, and without enough clients to sustain his practice, he again finds himself turning to, and once again becoming addicted to heroin.
His best friend, currently chief prosecutor, throws a case his way: prosecuting Dr. Au, well known as the head of the Chinese drug trade in Vancouver, but someone that the government has never been able to convict. Witnesses tend to recant their stories, or disappear, whenever Au is brought to trial. Cobb needs the money, and takes the job.
“Needles” is a story that takes place in the courtrooms and back alleys of Vancouver. It is well written (I was very surprised to find it was Deverell’s first novel), fast paced and action filled. It’s full of plot twists and has its share of gritty back-room violence, corruption and action. The characters feel real; Cobb knows that he shouldn’t be on heroin, but you can feel his helplessness to the addiction, and his guilt/relief when he takes a hit.
Overall this was a great book. I’d highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys legal-thrillers.
The audiobook was read by Steve and Maggie Scherf, and they did an amazing job. I listen to audiobooks in the car, and the narrators made it so easy to keep track of what characters were speaking. It was quite amazing to listen to the different characters in their distinctive voices. In many audiobooks it is quite obvious that there is one person reading, with very slight differences in tone to indicate different characters. In this book it was difficult to believe that all the characters were coming from these two narrators; the voice was very different, and very believable in terms of the character being portrayed.
Five stars for the book.
Five stars for the narration.
June 23, 2017
Needles, by William Deverell
Audiobook review by Trish Bricker
Needles in audio format is an auditory and literary treasure. I mark it as such for its masterful compilation of acerbic and witty narration, clean, quick and gripping storyline, and subtle yet enhancing sound effects such as gun shots and train whistles. The story artfully winds its main characters together in a web of drugs and violence. Each of these factors put me, as the listener, right in the middle of the grimy 1970’s era Canadian province.
Needles is a 70’s era mystery/thriller book set in an Asian province of Canada. Pitted in a cat and mouse chase involving drugs, sex, and some unique asian alternative medicine are Dr. Au, drug dealer; Foster Cobb, the prosecuter himself addicted to heroin; and PI Everett Cutlipp, branching both worlds of the drug trafficking and policing. Dr. Au, narrated authentically by Steve Scherf, is a cunning, powerful Asian doctor-healer who seems to get away with murder and drug trade with no effort. Foster Cobb is also narrated by Steve Scherf and Mr. Scherf seamlessly voices Cobb as a weak yet symphathic hard-working flawed man. Mr. Scherf again colors the story voicing Everett Cutliff so well that I can almost picture his unkempt, overweight self and sleazy appearance.
Audiobook review by Trish Bricker
Needles in audio format is an auditory and literary treasure. I mark it as such for its masterful compilation of acerbic and witty narration, clean, quick and gripping storyline, and subtle yet enhancing sound effects such as gun shots and train whistles. The story artfully winds its main characters together in a web of drugs and violence. Each of these factors put me, as the listener, right in the middle of the grimy 1970’s era Canadian province.
Needles is a 70’s era mystery/thriller book set in an Asian province of Canada. Pitted in a cat and mouse chase involving drugs, sex, and some unique asian alternative medicine are Dr. Au, drug dealer; Foster Cobb, the prosecuter himself addicted to heroin; and PI Everett Cutlipp, branching both worlds of the drug trafficking and policing. Dr. Au, narrated authentically by Steve Scherf, is a cunning, powerful Asian doctor-healer who seems to get away with murder and drug trade with no effort. Foster Cobb is also narrated by Steve Scherf and Mr. Scherf seamlessly voices Cobb as a weak yet symphathic hard-working flawed man. Mr. Scherf again colors the story voicing Everett Cutliff so well that I can almost picture his unkempt, overweight self and sleazy appearance.
June 25, 2024
Picked this up thinking it would be some tacky "loose cannon cop/007" paperback. But it actually surprised me. Had some interesting twists and turns. And it's pretty progressive for something written in the 70s when it came to the women in this book. Nothing like today, but still better than helpless doeyed damsels like in other books I've read from the era.
June 8, 2019
The author's first book published back in 1979, this was a bit dated and over the top but very entertaining with gritty street crime scenes and courtroom drama.
August 8, 2024
I first read this book 30 + years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it this second time around as much as I did the first time. 👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👍
May 18, 2016
Needles by William Deverell Narrated by Steve Scherf, Maggie Scherf
I received this from the Narrator/Producer Steve Scherf for a fair and honest review.
Without looking at the original publication date of this book I could tell it was from the 70’s it definitely has a 70’s Noir feel to it. This is a good courtroom drama (and much more) with a very flawed, heroin addicted lawyer as our main character Foster Cobb. There is a lot going on in this book and it all centers around Cobb who has been trying to put away Dr. Au who is a scary twisted man and is going to make sure he doesn’t go to prison no matter who he has to intimidate, kill or make disappear, including Cobb.
As I said this book has a 70’s vibe going on, and in some ways reminded me of Ed McBain’s writing, very dark and gritty and life ain’t easy especially when your strung out on heroin and fighting for your life as the person you are prosecuting is trying to kill you and you have more troubles than just those. Even though this describes Cobb you still can’t help but root for him even if he is strung out and not always a good guy you still want him to survive.
I would probably read more by this author as the writing is good. If you like gritty crime/lawyer books I’d give this one a try.
This is a performance audiobook all female characters done by a female and all male by a male, also there is a lot of music and a lot of background noises ie: gunshots, crowd noises and such. When I see more than one narrator I always assume that it will be a certain character per narrator but this one is done differently with all female by Maggie Scherf and all male by Steve Scherf which is different so is taking me a little to get used to. Also there is a lot of music that could really just not be there, I know this is an annoyance for a lot of people. Also traffic sounds were very unnecessary. However Steve Scherf has an impressive arsenal of different voices and dialects so not sure why the female narrator was added he is great at so many different voices that I am so curious if he isn’t comfortable doing female voices? Is he bad at them? Which, I honestly can’t imagine because all his different voices are pretty darn impressive. I am also not sure what I think of Maggie’s voice I don’t know if it’s her voice I don’t like or the format of the audiobook, when the female voice pops in it kind of takes me out of the story and am really confused as to why it was added in the first place.
3 Stars-book
4 stars-Steve Scherf’s narration
So 3 1/2 Overall
I received this from the Narrator/Producer Steve Scherf for a fair and honest review.
Without looking at the original publication date of this book I could tell it was from the 70’s it definitely has a 70’s Noir feel to it. This is a good courtroom drama (and much more) with a very flawed, heroin addicted lawyer as our main character Foster Cobb. There is a lot going on in this book and it all centers around Cobb who has been trying to put away Dr. Au who is a scary twisted man and is going to make sure he doesn’t go to prison no matter who he has to intimidate, kill or make disappear, including Cobb.
As I said this book has a 70’s vibe going on, and in some ways reminded me of Ed McBain’s writing, very dark and gritty and life ain’t easy especially when your strung out on heroin and fighting for your life as the person you are prosecuting is trying to kill you and you have more troubles than just those. Even though this describes Cobb you still can’t help but root for him even if he is strung out and not always a good guy you still want him to survive.
I would probably read more by this author as the writing is good. If you like gritty crime/lawyer books I’d give this one a try.
This is a performance audiobook all female characters done by a female and all male by a male, also there is a lot of music and a lot of background noises ie: gunshots, crowd noises and such. When I see more than one narrator I always assume that it will be a certain character per narrator but this one is done differently with all female by Maggie Scherf and all male by Steve Scherf which is different so is taking me a little to get used to. Also there is a lot of music that could really just not be there, I know this is an annoyance for a lot of people. Also traffic sounds were very unnecessary. However Steve Scherf has an impressive arsenal of different voices and dialects so not sure why the female narrator was added he is great at so many different voices that I am so curious if he isn’t comfortable doing female voices? Is he bad at them? Which, I honestly can’t imagine because all his different voices are pretty darn impressive. I am also not sure what I think of Maggie’s voice I don’t know if it’s her voice I don’t like or the format of the audiobook, when the female voice pops in it kind of takes me out of the story and am really confused as to why it was added in the first place.
3 Stars-book
4 stars-Steve Scherf’s narration
So 3 1/2 Overall
April 15, 2020
I've seen this book around for most of my life, and have very much enjoyed some of Deverell's more recent work, but I just picked up my own copy this week. What a book! Deverell does the literary equivalent of chewing up the scenery in this crime/cop/courtroom thriller, set in the dark and grit of the Asian-Vancouver heroin business scene in the late seventies. The protagonist is a heroin-addicted former Crown whose first file is to act as Special Prosecutor in a case involving some pretty serious organized crime dudes. The opening scene of graphic torture almost hurt as it reeled me with the precisely-wielded instruments of "Dr." Pang Au. Five stars for being one of the best in this genre.
Want to read
April 24, 2019Synopsis: Vancouver lawyer Foster Cobb prosecutes Dr. Au, the West Coast's primary drug trafficker. But Cobb himself has taken up heroin again.
February 9, 2025
So boring. Half way through and I quit. Disappointing after reading Trial of Passion and $12 for a kindle download :-((
November 10, 2009
Quick read with a few twists and turns and a fun ending.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews