3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Illuminating, insightful, and thrilling all at the same time, November 20, 2004
This review is from: Love and The Power (Paperback)
Love and the Power is a beautifully written novel that takes us into the world of a criminal mastermind and his network of aides, accomplices, and victims. John Eidemak has an intimate knowledge of the world of corporate finance, and this knowledge forms a solid foundation upon which Eidemak builds an insightful and truly exceptional story of greed and its consequences.
John Forbes grew up in the shadows of Cerne Estate, where his mother worked as a housekeeper following the death of John's father and the family's resulting financial struggles. Young John dedicated himself to acquiring wealth and power, dreaming of the day when he could buy Cerne Estate and marry the young Lady Carven. At fifteen, he steals an antique handgun and learns that crime seemingly does pay; thus begins his life of crime. John Forbes is no common criminal, however. During a period of imprisonment at age 24, Forbes puts together his master plan for the future. The trafficking of hash into England establishes a monetary foundation for his efforts, but Forbes concentrates on the takeover and exploitation of different companies - oftentimes looting them of their assets and then leaving some other poor dopes holding the empty bag - in almost no time at all, Forbes has put together an invisible yet gigantic network of holdings. He surrounds himself with men and women capable of carrying out his orders, ascertaining timely financial moves, deeply burying Forbes' as well as their own involvement in the criminal enterprise, and dealing with uncooperative parties who pose a danger to the Company.
To some degree, Love and the Power is actually the story of three men. Alongside John Forbes, we also follow the lives of Erick Elgberg, one of Forbes' most trusted associates, and Paul Dockett, the victimized scapegoat of one of Forbes' many deals. Elgberg makes for an interesting contrast with his boss; both are extremely intelligent, power-hungry, unscrupulous men who come together via different directions in life, but Elgberg proves unwilling to take the sort of extreme actions Forbes sometimes insists upon in order to protect himself and the Company. Paul Dockett is in many ways the lynchpin of the story; this previously honest bank manager was exploited by representatives of the Company and left to take the fall for his elusive associates. The Company used their influence to make his time in prison as palatable as possible and even took care of his wife while he was imprisoned, but any loyalty Dockett still feels to the men responsible for his downfall is threatened when he learns the extent of his wife's involvement with them.
As the novel progresses, we learn the stories of these three key men and watch as their lives eventually touch and become entwined with one another. Eidemak's writing boasts an impressive degree of insight into the lives of these characters; they may be cold, ruthless criminals on the outside, but each of these men is very human indeed - particularly John Forbes, whose personal problems make him an extraordinarily human character. Forbes definitely has a heart, one which can easily be broken by marital problems and, most poignantly, by the illness of his beloved son. It is hard not to like John Forbes, especially when he begins to long for a life of legitimacy and self-respect. Elgberg does not display the pathos or emotional depth of Forbes, but he is a striking character I had trouble figuring out to my satisfaction. Dockett comes to define the role of victim, and he develops into a character obsessed with outrage and revenge against those who had ruined his life. Minor characters are drawn with great care and realism, as well, each one adding a source of richness and depth to an altogether impressive novel.
Don't worry if you are unfamiliar with the nuances of corporate takeovers, business fraud, and similarly sundry issues of illegality committed on a large commercial scale, as Eidemak's elucidation of Forbes' grand schemes is just as impressive as his delineation and development of his vivid characters. Love and the Power proves to be an unqualified success whichever way you choose to look at it. A basic understanding of Forbes' business life is necessary in order to come to terms with the man he becomes in his private life. The two halves can be hard to reconcile into one man, yet this is often true of even the most notorious of criminals. Forbes makes for a truly fascinating character study.
One inevitably must wonder how a book such as this will end; in far too many cases, wonderful reads have been ruined by disappointing conclusions. Love and the Power, I am happy to say, features an ending more than worthy of the literary magic that has come before it. I for one was surprised and quite taken away by the climactic few moments of the story; thus, while I have now put the completed book down, I know I will carry this novel around with me - inside my head - for some time to come.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Behind the Scenes of a Criminal Empire, October 14, 2004
This review is from: Love and The Power (Paperback)
Author John Eidemak describes a world of love, greed, wealth and crime that few people ever know in his latest novel Love and the Power. This engaging novel goes behind the scenes of "legitimate" businesses to men and women who build their fortunes unscrupulously.
Having grown up in poverty John Forbes vowed to take control of his destiny and sought out a rewarding future. Forbes' potential career was very different from that of his school friends who were: serving their country in the Army, becoming a barrister and joining the Estate Office where his late father worked. He would devote his life to becoming rich. Forbes began his life as a thief at a young age when he lifted an antique gun during a school fieldtrip. His self-taught, successful career skyrockets when a man purchases his entire loot and helps him find profitable targets.
Despite his precautions, John lands in prison at age 24. He uses the time spent to mastermind a new career as a legitimate businessman. Choosing business partners from the inmates around him, John plays upon their fear, greed and loyalty to build a multi-national "Invisible Company". But when the only thing that matters is gaining wealth and power, values and relationships are compromised.
Love and the Power follows the lives of career thieves and regular families in a world where intelligent criminals connect with multi-national companies. Deception is the way of life and the key to survival is knowing who to trust.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Power,Power,Power, September 25, 2004
This review is from: Love and The Power (Paperback)
reading a Book about the Highs&Lows of Being Greedy&Ruthless oh that always makes for a Great read&this Book is no different. John Eidemak brings a Must have read on the Rise&Fall of a Cat that lived high on the Hog&when he fell He fell hard as well. takes you all through His Journey. timeless Book.
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