Death in Mud Lick

At the centre of this investigation is the small town of Kermit, West Virginia, where an astonishing 12 million opioid pain pills were distributed over a mere three years—shocking figures for a community of just 382 people. The tragic death of Debbie Preece’s brother due to an overdose becomes the catalyst for a relentless quest for justice. Preece, resolute in her pursuit, aligns with a dogged lawyer and finds a pivotal ally in journalist Eric Eyre. Together, they embark on a hazardous journey to expose the corporate malfeasance that fuels the opioid crisis.

In the style of gripping investigative dramas like Erin Brockovich and Spotlight, Eyre’s narrative takes the reader through clandestine meetings with whistleblowers, intense legal battles to unveil concealed court documents, and efforts to access guarded DEA pill-shipment data. The relentless pursuit of truth by Eyre and his colleagues at the small but diligent Charleston Gazette-Mail eventually culminates in a Pulitzer Prize, recognizing their valiant efforts to confront some of the largest and most powerful drug companies in the nation.

Death in Mud Lick meticulously tracks the opioid trail, revealing how these substances infiltrated communities, pharmacies, and homes in West Virginia, leading to one of the highest overdose rates in the country. Yet, amidst the sorrow and devastation, Eyre captures the resilience and hope of a community determined to fight back and seek transformative change.

The book is acclaimed as "a product of one reporter's sustained outrage [and] a searing spotlight on the scope and human cost of corruption and negligence," according to The Washington Post. It presents an intimate and urgent portrayal of a national public health crisis, illuminating the shocking patterns of corporate avarice and its enduring repercussions for the people of West Virginia and beyond.

Eric Eyre’s writing not only exposes the brutal realities of the opioid crisis but also champions the spirit of a determined community united in pursuit of justice and reform. This powerful narrative is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of the opioid epidemic and the human stories at its core.