The Goodbye Man – Jeffery Deaver

Say goodbye to your problems
In pursuit of two armed fugitives in the wilderness of Washington State, unique investigator Colter Shaw witnesses a shocking suicide. This leads him to the Foundation – a cult that promises to transform people’s lives. But is there more to it than meets the eye?

Say goodbye to your freedom
Shaw goes undercover to expose the Foundation’s real purpose. Before long he meets the charismatic leader Master Eli, a man who commands terrifying loyalty from his followers.

Say goodbye to your life
Something truly dark is going on beneath the surface of the idyllic community. And as Shaw peels back the layers of truth, he begins to see there is only one way to escape the Foundation … and the price for that freedom might well be your very life.

 

My thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours for the chance to join this tour.  I received text of the book from the publisher.

 

Colfer Shaw is a reward seeker who uses his considerable talents, intellect, athleticism, to undertake investigations or complete tasks which offer financial reward.  He is not a private investigator who takes on clients for payment – Shaw finds the client.

In The Goodbye Man Shaw is on the trail of two young men who have gone on the run after an “incident” at a church. A cross has been burned in the churchyard and also firearms discharged at a staff member. Two men in their early 20’s appear to have been to blame, they are described as Nazi sympathizers and a reward has been offered if they can be found and prosecuted.  Shaw is on hand.

Shaw speaks with the parents of both the suspects and the information he gleans does not fit the profile of Nazi supporters. But he has a lead to follow and sets off into the wilds on the trail of the suspects.

I had anticipated The Goodbye Man being a cat and mouse chase story with Shaw just missing his targets every step of the way. Not so.  He finds them relatively quickly (he is a smart, smart operator). But during the apprehension of the two, one of the young men chooses to jump from a high ridge rather than face justice. During the aftermath of the incident Shaw becomes aware of a group who may have been involved in the man’s life – the Foundation.

They are a select group who take people in to hear the teachings of Master Eli. It is promised if you join the Foundation your life will never be the same again.  Shaw decides to infiltrate the Foundation and get a closer look at how they operate.

No more spoilers in this review other than to confirm the Foundation are best described as a Cult and what Shaw discovers about them is chilling but makes for compulsive reading.

Jeffery Deaver has an amazing track record of penning gripping stories. The Goodbye Man adds to this in fine style. He captures the intensity of Shaw’s determination, the location feels remote and claustrophobic, the members of the Foundation are intense, alarming and Deaver’s description of their devotion and compliance with Master Eli was pitched perfectly.

Hugely engaging page-turner which I thoroughly enjoyed.

 

The Goodbye Man is published by Harper Collins and is available in Hardback, digital and audiobook format.  You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07Y4T316K/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1