Goodbye Morality

by John Eidemak

GOODBYE MORALITY is the novel about a man who takes the road less travelled to rise to unbelievable heights within the criminal world. John Forbes, the main character, comes from a modest background, but has grown up on the Craven Estate in Dorset, where his mother lives and works as a housekeeper. This is a place of strong contrast between being wealthy or poor. Through various criminal enterprises, which inevitably include the use of violence and murder, John builds a considerable fortune. His marriage to Catherine, the daughter of Lord and Lade Craven produces a son, Michael, upon whom John dotes. However, John continues a serious love affair with the artist Mona Hobson whose talent he helps validate by secretly buying up the paintings. Wise enough to know his own limitation, he goes into partnership with John Elgberg, a Dane with a past and his extrovert wife, Andrea, moving the ‘Invisible Company’ to Mallorca. After some years the company financial transaction attracts police attention. When John’s son Michael dies of leukaemia, his marriage falls apart. Devastated, John moves to a remote lavender farm in the South of France, where he is plagued with growing doubts about the life he has created, the death of his son and the shocking decisions he has taken. John is unable to make the break needed even if he finds love with the unimpressionable local woman Cecilia.An unforgettable crime thriller, with characters you will never forget.

Genres: Mystery

428 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 15, 2014

Reviews

[Timothy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I opted not to finish this book. The author spends way too much time trying to describe every detail, jumping back and forth between characters and time frames. None of the characters are like able and you don’t feel like you care about any of them. If there’s a point to the book, it gets lost, and you stop caring.

[Ashok · Rating 2 out of 5]

GOODBYE MORALITY: Not great but grating
Consider the book description in Amazon.com: “How ever” (2 words?), “Wise enough to know his own limitation” (only one limitation?), “After some years the company financial transaction attracts police attention.” (Not "company’s" and "transactions"?) The novel also has the same mediocre standard of English, like sand in a sandwich (coarse, irritating, gritty, unwanted, and other synonyms).
So I found this book to be grating, not great or worth recommending in its present form. (I mean "grating" as in “irritating, annoying, infuriating, rankling, vexatious, irksome, galling, exasperating, maddening, displeasing, jarring, discordant”. The book should be placed behind a grating as in “a framework of parallel or crossed bars".)
But if improved, reduced (from 455 pages to 200 pages or less), refined, polished and unwanted gore removed, it could be a good book. Think of the plot as a good statue hidden in a rough block.
Amazon.com's bio of this Scandinavian author (presumably approved by him) states that he has lived in the UK and France for 40 years, but the same bio has “truthfully unforgettable” (instead of “truly unforgettable”).
In its present avatar, 'Goodbye Morality' is truthfully AND truly forgettable. Mr. John Eidemak, you do need better editors who actually think in English.

[Bert · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are various temptations that tempt men to jeopardize their immortal souls. This book tells the story of John Forbes, a rags to riches saga of a gifted man who put his talents to use by becoming a wealthy master criminal kingpin. Secondary characters abound, and they're fascinating as well. John realizes that his primary goal is power, not money, although both go hand in hand. There's a lot of collateral damage to family, friends, business associates, innocent people, and to society as a whole. Most people aren't psychopaths who carefully craft a plan to succeed at the expense of others and by any means possible. Most don't have the tenacity to make the project their life's work, or the nerves of steel to juggle the risks. A pessimist would say this book is an outline of how to succeed in the criminal underworld. I'd prefer to think of it as a vivid reminder that we have to keep our priorities straight, otherwise there's eventually a terrible price to be paid. Well written, accurately researched, believable. I'll look for other crime fiction by this gifted author.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so . Shelley MA

[Will Decker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was excellent! Unfortunately, the subject matter of high finances isn't one of my favorites and although well written, I was bored. There were so many characters that it was very difficult to keep track of them. I must have been half way through the story before I felt comfortable with all the people. Note: it wasn't until I reached the end of the story, and it was a long story, did I find the list with all the character's names and descriptions. There were many times during the reading of this book that I asked myself why I was reading it and I always came back with the same answer-the writing was excellent. If this author does half as well with another subject matter, I'll definitely read it.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book a lot. Essentially the rise and fall of a criminal kingpin. Kept me involved and interested. I was rooting for the 'bad guys', even though I knew they could not be allowed to get away with it. The writer's style is more like a biography, than a novel, but he kept me wanting to know what comes next. I read the kindle edition, which was free (!) but I must say that the editing was sloppy and incomplete. There were dozens of typos and incorrectly-used words. Nonetheless, a very good book.

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like it but I couldn't continue with the increasing explicit sex scenes that added nothing to the plot. With all the books written this was a stopper for me. I may have finished it otherwise. This book has 97 different characters in it (it has a list in the back). Could you get anymore complex?

[Vivian Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honor among thieves

this is actually a very interesting book. the characters, while criminal, are quite likable. it becomes difficult to not care about them. this book is about what motivates a person to engage in a life of crime, what strengths and weaknesses of character are present, and who loves them?

[R.L. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had trouble enjoying this because very little action takes place for a very long time. I would recommend this for those who are in no hurry to get to the end. There are sex scenes and violence but the plethora of characters left me wondering what, who, why, where? So all in all, I didn't enjoy this read. Sorry.

[Rose Rosell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read.

I enjoyed this book very much... It was confusing at first with the timeline.. As I continued to read though, it made sense... The way it was written out, makes me think this could be a true story... Most like!y not but damn good job by the author..

[Rajuda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliantly told story! Far from a run-of-the mill theme! Keeps you hooked until the last page! Take my word - you wouldn't be disappointed.

[Tony Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Really enjoyed this book, would highly recommend it.
Could easily be a great movie or tv show. I enjoyed it from start to finish.