TLC Book Tours – Immoral Origins by Lee Matthew Goldberg

Happy Wednesday!

Thanks to the author and TLC Book Tours for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review

IMMORAL ORIGINS – Lee Matthew Goldberg (Released June 14th, 2022)

Book Description:

A PULSE-POUNDING THRILLER THAT ASKS HOW FAR WE’RE WILLING TO SHED OUR MORALS IN ORDER TO HELP THE ONES WE LOVE.

It’s 1978 in New York City, and disco is prominent. As are mobsters, gritty streets, needle parks and graffiti-stained subways.

Jake Barnum lives in Hell’s Kitchen. He’s a petty thief selling hot coats with his buddy Maggs to make ends meet and help his sick kid brother. At a Halloween party downtown, he meets a woman with a Marilyn Monroe mask who works for an organization called The Desire Card-an underground operation promising its exclusive clients “Any Wish Fulfilled for the Right Price.”

As Jake becomes taken with its leader, a pseudo father and sociopath at heart, he starts stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. In other words…himself. But as he dives deeper in with the Card, begins falling love with Marilyn, and sees the money rolling in, clients’ wishes start becoming more and more suspect-some leading to murder.

The first book in the Desire Card series, Immoral Origins follows those indebted to this sinister organization-where the ultimate price is the cost of one’s soul.

My Thoughts: 3.5/5 stars

Well, this was certainly a unique and memorable start to a new series. IMMORAL ORIGINS is the first book in the new Desire Card series and I think that there is a lot of potential for this can go. I loved the concept and getting to know the characters – both masked and unmasked. The Desire Card is an underground organization that promises to fulfill any wish for it’s clients, but of course, at the right price. Let your imagination run wild with the possibilities. Jake Barnum meets a woman in a Marilyn Monroe mask that leads him into this world and he immediately becomes taken with the leader.

I enjoyed the multiple POVs but couldn’t stand some parts with Marilyn, I loved the action and the noir feel to the book, but that ending is what brought down my solid 4 star rating. I’m not a fan of the ending, and based on other reviews I’m not the only one. However, that doesn’t mean I won’t be looking for book two in the series. It’s a concept I love and the characters in their celebrity masks committing the crimes adds a nice little touch to it that other books don’t have. The glimpse of duality in the characters behind the masks was interesting and I did get invested in the book. The ending though, can’t really say much without spoiling things, but it didn’t feel like it fit with the rest of what I had read. Again, highly recommend and will continue the series, and 3.5 stars is still an incredibly positive rating!