The Greed Beneath the Empire, Vol. 1
By Lamar and Liana Golden, Indie authors (2024)
Genre: Fiction – Action/Suspense
Pages (print): 81
Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“Sometimes, the only way forward is to let it fall apart and start over.”
Kimber: Speaking of “sometimes…” You know I love everyone, right? But sometimes – like once in a blue pork chop – I come across a book dude or dudette that I simply can’t stand. They’re like, Yuck! And double yuck with Meow Mix on the side. I want to bite them. But Mom says “no.” Silly Mom.
Anyway, Victor Clayton is that kind of yuck-meister. I’ll let Mom fill you in on The Green Beneath the Empire, Vol. 1. Take it away, Mom!
The Plot
That “only way forward” stuff is sound advice from an old friend. But self-made billionaire Victor Clayton isn’t one to let common sense get in the way of his thirst for power and control. Of everything. And everyone. You see, Victor Clayton is an investment genius whose financial acumen has catapulted him “from a modest background to the apex of Wall Street.” His firm, Clayton Holdings, manages billion$ in government contracts, international investment and private funds for “the world’s most powerful figures” in this gritty and gripping novella.
But Victor Clayton isn’t exactly squeaky clean. And he’s certainly not Father Christmas. Dubbing the ruthless investor “ethically challenged” is an understatement. Truth is, Victor Clayton makes Ebenezer Scrooge look like a piker. He also makes The Wolf of Wall Street’s Jordan Belfort look like a choir boy. In fact, Victor has lied, cheated, and stolen his way to the top. He’s basically a greedy schmuck with a humungous bank account and tons of clout. And with contracts deep in the military-industrial complex, Victor knows the government will allow him to continue his schemes because they know they can’t afford not to.
Victor Clayton is untouchable.
Or is he?
Backstory
We first meet Victor Clayton when he’s “just another kid from a lower-middle class family in the suburbs of Chicago.” Dad’s a mechanic. Mom’s a public school English teacher. But Victor is determined to do better. Way better. He soon becomes a self-taught Wall Street whiz kid.
He proceeds to cheat and manipulate the system while exploiting and undermining others on his race to the top. He’s a cut-throat user who leaves a trail of human detritus in his wake. After landing a plumb job at a heady financial firm, Victor is noted for his “meteoric rise.” But no one questions his methods.
Kimber: Told ya he’s a yuck-meister.
Victor soon jumps ship and opens his own investment firm, Clayton Holdings. Ten years into running the firm, Victor isn’t just an investment banker. He’s a king maker. Then he gets word that the Department of Defense is looking into his offshore accounts. Lesser mortals might get nervous. But not Victor. Because he owns pretty much everything. And everyone. He calls in favors and gets the investigation shut down. But Victor’s paranoia grows. His empire is vast. But because it’s built on a foundation of lies, fraud, and manipulation, his empire is also fragile.
With the threat of his empire being dismantled “brick by brick” unless he submits to government oversight, Victor agrees to operating under government watch and playing by their rules. But Victor’s played their game for decades. He knows every move on the board. He also knows that no one – not journalists, not politicians and not even government agencies – has the will to stop him.
The Cost
But Victor’s success comes at a high price. His wife bails. His two children want nothing to do with him. His family’s gone. His allies are retreating. When national security is at risk due to Clayton malfeasance, his empire starts to crumble. Smelling treason in the water, sharks start circling Clayton Holdings.
A Wake Up Call?
Meanwhile, Victor is starting to wonder. For years he’s believed that power is enough – that influence and wealth can insulate him from the consequences of his actions. But he’s about to get a wake-up call. So Victor comes up with a plan to take the heat off himself and his empire. And then… Oh, wait. You’ll have to read the book yourself to find out what happens next.
The first volume in the Empire series, The Greed Beneath packs a wallop. Clocking in at under one hundred pages, it’s a lightning-fast read that’s part cautionary tale and part potential redemption story. Smart and sharp, this novella is Dickensian in its scope as it looks at what happens when you have everything you ever wanted but wind up with nothing at all. It’s a taut and tightly written tome that’ll reel you in from chapter one and not let go until the final page.
Note that Chapter 10, The Weight of the Past, revisits portions of Victor’s past. It feels like, been there. Done that. Can we move on? It also kinda derails the train a bit. But it gets back on track in the next chapter.
Not Everyone’s Cup
Dark and complex, this book isn’t gonna be everyone’s cup of sunshine. But if you enjoy gritty woulda/coulda/shoulda stories with a side of suspense and a thick slice of wheeling and dealing, you’ll enjoy The Greed Beneath the Empire. It’ll make you think. Bonus points: It ends on a cliffhanger. The door is left open for a sequel. So kindly keep your shirt on, Cream Puff.
Pages & Paws 