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The Hunted by Brian Haig
Преди няколко години получих интересно писмо на моя уебсайт. Руски емигрант твърдеше, че преживяното от него може да се превърне в основа за вълнуващ роман, и предлагаше да ми разкаже своето приключение. Истинските Алекс и Елена Конанихини ме вдъхновиха за тази книга и се превърнаха в неин емоционален двигател. Брайън Хейг През 1987 г. блестящият студент по физика Алекс Коневич е изключен от Московския университет заради частна предприемаческа дейност. През 1991 г. той вече притежава 300 милиона. Алекс се хвърля в икономическия хаос на разпадащия се Съветски съюз и създава бизнес империя с невероятната си находчивост и... с помощта на Елцин, чиято президентска кампания спонсорира. Но когато шестима негови служители са убити в един ден, той наема бившия заместник-директор на КГБ Сергей Голицин за шеф на охраната си. Колкото и съобразителен да е Алекс в бизнеса си, той не успява да предвиди заговора между Голицин и мафията да присвоят богатството му, да го уличат в ограбване на собствената му банка и да го убият. Отвлечен, пребит и заставен да прехвърли авоарите си на поръчителя на похищението му, Алекс успява да избяга в Съединените щати заедно със съпругата си. Но вместо да получи там убежище, самият директор на ФБР го използва като пионка в отношенията си с руснаците и Алекс попада в затвора. Ала руската мафия ще го стигне и там. Виртуозът на съспенса Брайън Хейг, наречен още „Джон Гришам във военна униформа”, превръща истинската история на един руски олигарх във вълнуващ трилър.
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First published July 25, 2009
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About the author
Brian Haig
30 books401 followersBrian Haig is the son of former US Secretary of State Alexander Haig and has been born and bred in the American military.Since retiring from duty and has been a special advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and now runs a large Helicopter company.
Series:
* Sean Drummond
Series:
* Sean Drummond
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
July 9, 2021
Unputdownable!
April 30, 2023
Пореден отличен трилър от Брайън Хейг, този път по действителен случай.
Алекс Коневич е от вълната първи руски новобогаташи, натрупал със свои сили голямо богатство в годините на разпада на империята на злото.
Но да имаш пари в Русия винаги е било опасно и той попада под прицела на зли, неумолими и безскрупулни врагове, готови на всякакви мерзости и престъпления, само и само да докопат милионите му!
Следва жестока борба за оцеляване, в която всички прийоми са позволени.
P.S. Хейг правилно е разчел овладяването на властта в Русия от бившите КГБ-исти и неумолимия залез на крехката руска демокрация.
Отчел е и, че колкото и да се пънат, американците не разбират никак руснаците и твърде често се оставят да бъдат измамени и дори използвани от тях. Пресен пример е намесата им в полза на избора на оранжевото мекотело, което заема поста президент на САЩ. Срам!
Алекс Коневич е от вълната първи руски новобогаташи, натрупал със свои сили голямо богатство в годините на разпада на империята на злото.
Но да имаш пари в Русия винаги е било опасно и той попада под прицела на зли, неумолими и безскрупулни врагове, готови на всякакви мерзости и престъпления, само и само да докопат милионите му!
Следва жестока борба за оцеляване, в която всички прийоми са позволени.
P.S. Хейг правилно е разчел овладяването на властта в Русия от бившите КГБ-исти и неумолимия залез на крехката руска демокрация.
Отчел е и, че колкото и да се пънат, американците не разбират никак руснаците и твърде често се оставят да бъдат измамени и дори използвани от тях. Пресен пример е намесата им в полза на избора на оранжевото мекотело, което заема поста президент на САЩ. Срам!
June 19, 2016
"The Hunted' was my second book by Brian Haig having read Secret Sanctions and I liked his writing style and i also like some of the characters he wrote about like agent Olga from chapter one
whom specialty is referred to as 'Honey Pot' operations i:e luring of victims into the sack for entrapments or the value of their pillow talk,Olga had never been turned down not once.
Though a true life story the narrative was never boring. Alex and Elena were something else and I love both characters,The writer's description of an African visiting president left much to be desired.Great read anyway!
whom specialty is referred to as 'Honey Pot' operations i:e luring of victims into the sack for entrapments or the value of their pillow talk,Olga had never been turned down not once.
Though a true life story the narrative was never boring. Alex and Elena were something else and I love both characters,The writer's description of an African visiting president left much to be desired.Great read anyway!
September 10, 2016
First things first: This book took a really long time to get started. For the first hundred pages or so, I felt like I was in the middle of a history lesson, just being filled in on background information on both the situation in Russia and on Alex himself. I will be the first to admit the history lesson is sorely needed, and I'm exactly the type of reader who necessitates it. For better or for worse, I know very little about the situation in Russia in the early '90s. I was a kid at the time, and not exactly up on my world politics. That I haven't learned more about it since then is my own fault, and the major reason for the long explanatory passages near the beginning of the book. The issue is, though, that they are very long, and it took about half the book before I felt like things were finally starting to happen. Is there a happy medium to be had here, where the background information I need to follow the political story is given without such a slow start? I honestly can't say. I can say, though, that were it not for the sake of reviewing, I would never have finished the book. Sometime during the first half of the book, I would have given up on the thing.
Once the plot finally picks up, it turns into an interesting tale, but never gets away from telling me what's going on instead of showing me. Significant plot points were often summarized for me, or emotions would be given to me as a flat statement rather than displayed in voice or body language. As a result, although I found the twisty politics interesting, there was always a disconnect which prevented my relating to any of the characters the way I'd like to. Certainly there was no immersion into the world of the novel.
It's clear Haig is very fond of Alex and Elena, and the two of them never come across as anything but heroic. The banter between the two of them and the depictions of their marriage, even in the middle of everything they went through are wonderful and warm, and by far my favourite parts of the book.
Sadly, a number of other characters are randomly dropped from the book after having been introduced as significant secondary players. In fact, some of what I considered the most interesting characters just disappear with no resolution, which means turning the last page leaves me thinking "...but what happened to so-and-so?" I WILL NEVER KNOW.
Even more tragic, every character who is not white is portrayed as a gang member, with the exception of a single black courtroom judge. Granted, most of the major players are Russian, and the white folks have more than their fair share of villains, but when "blacks and spanish" translates to "violent petty thugs" every single time they're mentioned, we have a problem. A serious one.
The prose is often awkward and unnatural, spelling things out for the reader far more than necessary and often repeating itself. Take a look:
Sure, the passage is out of context, but when the entire book is written like this, well, I think it gives you a pretty good idea of what the writing is like. There are some good ideas in there, but the awkward use of language is barring them from really getting free.
Which is actually a pretty good analogy for the book. Some fun ideas, but with the stop-and-start pacing and the constant summarizing of important plot points, those ideas got obscured pretty quickly for me.
What really struck me as interesting is that The Hunted is based on a true story. Which, uh, has already been told in non-fiction books, including one written by Alex Konanykhin himself, as a memoir entitled Defiance. Which leads me to wonder... why fictionalize a true story that's already been told? I might as well just pick up the memoir and hear the tale straight from the source, you know?
Once the plot finally picks up, it turns into an interesting tale, but never gets away from telling me what's going on instead of showing me. Significant plot points were often summarized for me, or emotions would be given to me as a flat statement rather than displayed in voice or body language. As a result, although I found the twisty politics interesting, there was always a disconnect which prevented my relating to any of the characters the way I'd like to. Certainly there was no immersion into the world of the novel.
It's clear Haig is very fond of Alex and Elena, and the two of them never come across as anything but heroic. The banter between the two of them and the depictions of their marriage, even in the middle of everything they went through are wonderful and warm, and by far my favourite parts of the book.
Sadly, a number of other characters are randomly dropped from the book after having been introduced as significant secondary players. In fact, some of what I considered the most interesting characters just disappear with no resolution, which means turning the last page leaves me thinking "...but what happened to so-and-so?" I WILL NEVER KNOW.
Even more tragic, every character who is not white is portrayed as a gang member, with the exception of a single black courtroom judge. Granted, most of the major players are Russian, and the white folks have more than their fair share of villains, but when "blacks and spanish" translates to "violent petty thugs" every single time they're mentioned, we have a problem. A serious one.
The prose is often awkward and unnatural, spelling things out for the reader far more than necessary and often repeating itself. Take a look:
"Barely paying attention, he now was looking over her shoulder at a man who had just swaggered through the entrance. Six leggy women of identical height and approximate weight and anorexic build were hanging off his arms, all with their hair died [sic] bright red, all dressed in identical red evening gowns. He thought at first he was seeing double, or triple, and it was time to cut back on the hooch. What a glorious time to be ridiculously rich and Russian."
Sure, the passage is out of context, but when the entire book is written like this, well, I think it gives you a pretty good idea of what the writing is like. There are some good ideas in there, but the awkward use of language is barring them from really getting free.
Which is actually a pretty good analogy for the book. Some fun ideas, but with the stop-and-start pacing and the constant summarizing of important plot points, those ideas got obscured pretty quickly for me.
What really struck me as interesting is that The Hunted is based on a true story. Which, uh, has already been told in non-fiction books, including one written by Alex Konanykhin himself, as a memoir entitled Defiance. Which leads me to wonder... why fictionalize a true story that's already been told? I might as well just pick up the memoir and hear the tale straight from the source, you know?
December 19, 2009
This is a complex international thriller. It takes place in the early 1990s, amid the chaotic capitalism and corruption of the "new" Russia after the failure of the Soviet system.
Alex is a very successful young Russian capitalist who provides extensive financial backing for Boris Yeltsin's rise to power. Former KGB goons are very unhappy about this. They want a return to the old ways, when the KGB had unlimited power. They torture Alex and then frame him for the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars, which actually goes into their own accounts. After this, Alex is supposed to die with the blame on his head so the real thieves can enjoy all that money. But he and his wife keep thwarting the plans of the various factions trying to destroy them.
After Alex and his wife escape to America, a lot of international logrolling ensues--all of it nefarious. At times it seemed to me that the author was a little over the top in his portrayal of the bad guys--both Russian and American. But then I read the Author's Note. The book is based on a real Russian couple who lived an even worse version of this story!
Alex is a very successful young Russian capitalist who provides extensive financial backing for Boris Yeltsin's rise to power. Former KGB goons are very unhappy about this. They want a return to the old ways, when the KGB had unlimited power. They torture Alex and then frame him for the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars, which actually goes into their own accounts. After this, Alex is supposed to die with the blame on his head so the real thieves can enjoy all that money. But he and his wife keep thwarting the plans of the various factions trying to destroy them.
After Alex and his wife escape to America, a lot of international logrolling ensues--all of it nefarious. At times it seemed to me that the author was a little over the top in his portrayal of the bad guys--both Russian and American. But then I read the Author's Note. The book is based on a real Russian couple who lived an even worse version of this story!
May 13, 2013
Haig moves away from his usual sarcastic wit and instills in the reader some much needed history lessons about the end of the Cold War and collapse of the Soviet Union. Those who want something shallow and simplistic ought to look elsewhere, as Haig pushes in deep and tells a story that is purported to have reality woven into its fictional plot. Telling the story of a young man who seeks to light the capitalist flame as the world around him crumbles to the in-depth destruction the Communists try to bring to him for betraying the Motherland, Haig tells a great tale and uses some of his great descriptors to bring the story to life. While there are some very loose military aspects, one who did not know they were reading a Haig novel would be hard pressed to identify it. When listening to Scott Brick bring the audiobook to life, one wonders if this is a Steve Berry or Brad Meltzer tale, complete with utter depravity for the main character, which leaves the reader unable not to hope he can overcome this plight. Haig’s attention to detail and winding story keeps the reader interested at all turns, especially as both the Russian and American governments seek to destroy the life of a man whose only desire is to live a free and prosperous life.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way Haig laid out the story, with a fact-filled opening portion, especially from the Soviet side of the fence. Some whine about this, though they are surely the ones who want all the action and none of the teachable moments. The book can be dense, though not boring. It wades through some very interesting an intricate details in the early post-Cold War years, both in the United States and Russia, examining how new capitalist freedoms are swallowed and accepted in Russia. A true gem of a book by Haig, who usually focuses on the military and JAG.
Kudos, Mr. Haig. A great branch out from your normal fare. I cannot wait to see what you and Vince Flynn have cooked up for us, your adoring fans!
I thoroughly enjoyed the way Haig laid out the story, with a fact-filled opening portion, especially from the Soviet side of the fence. Some whine about this, though they are surely the ones who want all the action and none of the teachable moments. The book can be dense, though not boring. It wades through some very interesting an intricate details in the early post-Cold War years, both in the United States and Russia, examining how new capitalist freedoms are swallowed and accepted in Russia. A true gem of a book by Haig, who usually focuses on the military and JAG.
Kudos, Mr. Haig. A great branch out from your normal fare. I cannot wait to see what you and Vince Flynn have cooked up for us, your adoring fans!
May 7, 2013
This book, with its extraordinarily well-written plot, is beyond a page-turner; more the category of something that embeds you into a hypnotic trance to continue reading to the conclusion.
It's described as a work of fiction, but based on a true story which occurred just after the fall of the Soviet Union. The main character is Alex, a young Russian financial markets wizard. His superior talent earns him millions & an affluent lifestyle while in Russia. However greedy members of the now-defunct KGB & Russian Mafia scheme to take it all from him & are successful in accomplishing this by kidnapping & brutally torturing him into signing over his fortune. Before they can kill him, he escapes to the U.S.
The Kremlin conspires with the narcissistic head of the F.B.I. in the U.S. to make him a wanted criminal, saying he withdrew all the depositors' funds in a bank which he had in Russia & fled. The head of the F.B.I. sees an opportunity to make a deal, requesting many additional agents be allowed to be placed in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow in exchange for shipping the prisoner back to Russia. They find him & set up an immigration hearing, accused of falsifying information to gain a U.S. visa.
But in the interim, he's transferred from one prison to another, set up to encounter cellmates comprised of the worst of the worst criminal dregs. Both gov'ts. hope he begs to go back to Russia on his own. The hearing finally takes place, with a shocking climax.
It's described as a work of fiction, but based on a true story which occurred just after the fall of the Soviet Union. The main character is Alex, a young Russian financial markets wizard. His superior talent earns him millions & an affluent lifestyle while in Russia. However greedy members of the now-defunct KGB & Russian Mafia scheme to take it all from him & are successful in accomplishing this by kidnapping & brutally torturing him into signing over his fortune. Before they can kill him, he escapes to the U.S.
The Kremlin conspires with the narcissistic head of the F.B.I. in the U.S. to make him a wanted criminal, saying he withdrew all the depositors' funds in a bank which he had in Russia & fled. The head of the F.B.I. sees an opportunity to make a deal, requesting many additional agents be allowed to be placed in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow in exchange for shipping the prisoner back to Russia. They find him & set up an immigration hearing, accused of falsifying information to gain a U.S. visa.
But in the interim, he's transferred from one prison to another, set up to encounter cellmates comprised of the worst of the worst criminal dregs. Both gov'ts. hope he begs to go back to Russia on his own. The hearing finally takes place, with a shocking climax.
September 14, 2021
In 1987, Alex Konevitch was thrown out of MoscowUniversity for "indulging his entrepreneurial spirit." But by 1991, he was worth $300 million. On track to become Russia's wealthiest man, he makes one critical mistake: he hires the former deputy director of the KGB to handle his corporate security. And then his world begins to fall apart. Kidnapped, beaten, and forced to relinquish his business and his fortune, Alex and his wife escape to the United States, only to be accused by his own government of stealing millions from his business. With a mob contract out on his life and the FBI hot on his trail, Alex is a desperate man without a country-facing the ultimate sacrifice for the chance to build a new life for himself and his family.
good Story, was hard to finish. Not Haigs best work
good Story, was hard to finish. Not Haigs best work
August 28, 2019
A very interesting story and I really enjoyed it
August 10, 2020
I've read quite a few of his books & really enjoyed them, but this one just lost me. His writing style is somewhat bloated, but that's always been carried by the characters before. Smart-mouthed Sean Drummond does it well & he's a character I could really get, but I just don't have any empathy for the main character in this one. The bad guys are too bad & it's just boring me, so DNF.
The narration was good, though. Scott Brick again.
The narration was good, though. Scott Brick again.
September 17, 2021
An exciting read. As an American, I can say that most of my fellow citizens don't really understand how corrupt the USA immigration process is. They turn moral fables to cartoons, always believe ads over history, and continue t "drink the kool-aid" **ref: Jonestown
August 18, 2025
J'avais été agréablement surpris par le premier livre de l'auteur, sanction secrète. J'ai acquis traqués me disant que la surprise ne se répéterait pas. Erreur. Traqués est encore meilleur. Bien que ce soit une oeuvre de fiction, elle est basée sur l'histoire abracadabrante Alex Konanykhin, alias Alex konevich.
April 18, 2025
Let me preface this with I'm a fan of Brian Haig's Sean Drummond series, but this book is all over the place. Legal thriller? KGB thriller? Geopolitical piece? It wants to be all of them but ends up being none and a very confused book. One bad things happen upon another to our protagonist, up until 80% of the book. Dear lord, it reads like a Mexican telenovela. It’s repetitive too: issues already narrated earlier, repeated later for dialogues. I’m glad it’s over.
May 14, 2012
In the 1980s, most of the spy/thriller novels pitted the U.S. versus the USSR. Now, many thrillers that I read deal with the Middle East, which makes sense given this genre often reflects geopolitical realities. As a result, I was looking forward to reading something different; a novel that takes place in post-Communist Russia.
Overall, this book was good, although I expected it to be better. Despite the interesting plot and sufficient KGB and Russian mob involvement to satisfy my taste for thrillers of yore, the characters came off flat, making it difficult to care about any of them.
The book started off strong, lagged in the middle, and then picked up toward the end. The ending seemed rushed, however, as if the author wanted to hurry up and finish the book.
I did not realize that The Hunted was based on a true story and would have preferred to know that beforehand. It would have made some of the unbelievable sections of the book—believable.
Overall, this book was good, although I expected it to be better. Despite the interesting plot and sufficient KGB and Russian mob involvement to satisfy my taste for thrillers of yore, the characters came off flat, making it difficult to care about any of them.
The book started off strong, lagged in the middle, and then picked up toward the end. The ending seemed rushed, however, as if the author wanted to hurry up and finish the book.
I did not realize that The Hunted was based on a true story and would have preferred to know that beforehand. It would have made some of the unbelievable sections of the book—believable.
August 5, 2009
This is a fictionalized account of an event that really occurred - so none of the flippant sarcasm of Haig's past works of fiction. However, the characters, both the named public officials and the names-changed-to-protect-the-not-so-innocent, are well drawn and interesting. 22-year-old Alex and Elena, experience the terror of becoming political pawns to the thugs and crooks of the ex-KGB in the former Soviet Union. Their problems are exacerbated by the political desires of the head of the FBI. And what did these two "kids" do? Alex embraced capitalism when the Soviet empire crumbled and became a very wealthy young man, very quickly. And Elena fell in love and married Mr. Successful. Unfortunately, ex-KGB agents looked at people who embraced capitalism as traitors to the communist system. Really scary!
January 5, 2012
Holy crap -- this book is amazing. If you like thrillers, you need to read this one, mostly because it's based on a true story and it's absolutely unbelievable. That this really happened to someone (more or less -- I'm sure there was some poetic license here) is amazing. Russia during the Cold War is a truly frightening thought. Loved it. Glad to be an American, but there's a little shame with that, too. People suck.
September 23, 2011
Alex and his wife are Russian millionaires. Former KGB agents and the Russian mafia rob them of their wealth and attempt to kill them. When the couple fless to America, the FBI cooperates with the corupt Russians and attempt to deport them. A good legal thriller.
June 22, 2020
I thought I had read all books by Brian Haig but, somehow I had missed this one. It turned out to be a great, entertaining read and I recommend it. I was surprised to learn in the author’s remarks that it was based on a true story!
February 7, 2013
While it’s difficult to feel much compassion for the Russian capitalist victim, the conclusion nearly saves this too long novel by justice served. 4 of 10 stars
November 17, 2019
A true roller coaster of a book with more ups than downs! From the first page till the last I lapped this up. Based on a true story, though I suspect with a lot of dramatic bits added.
This thriller with the emphasis on Thriller is the shocking story of one man caught between the new Russia and the old, and between his own terrifying past and an uncertain future.
As the old Soviet Union fell apart, Alex was ideally positioned to take advantage of Russia's new capitalist culture. Twenty years later he is on track to become Russia's wealthiest man, then he makes one critical mistake: he hires the former deputy director of the KGB to handle his corporate security. And then his world starts to fall apart.
After his new employee arrives on the scene, Alex is kidnapped, beaten, and forced to relinquish his business and his fortune. He and his wife flee to the United States, only to be declared the new Russia's Number One most wanted criminal for allegedly stealing millions from his own business, and the Russian Mafiya takes a contract out on his life. Even the FBI wants to bring him and his wife into custody: so they can return him to Russia. A man on the run without a country to call his own, Alex must escape the combined forces of two governments, as he fights to earn the chance to build a new life for himself and his family in America.
I've read some other reviews of this novel say they had no empathy for the main characters, Alex and Elena Konevitch. Is this maybe purely because they were Russian? Had they been a pair of rich kids from Silicon valley I suspect their reviews may have been different, No Matter.
Yes I had a couple of crumbles, The difference between **** & *****. One being that I could not get away with a Colonel in the KGB referring to his subordinates on several occasions as "Twits"
Another would be the smuggling of mobile/cell phones into American Jails in the early 1990's. Where Mobiles that widely avilable in American jails in the early 1990's? And despite what the author says they were not as small as they are nowadays, The size of the aerial for starters!
But that is really just nit picking. What we have here is a great read, that fairly Thundered off the pages. My First Brian Haig read won't be my last.
This thriller with the emphasis on Thriller is the shocking story of one man caught between the new Russia and the old, and between his own terrifying past and an uncertain future.
As the old Soviet Union fell apart, Alex was ideally positioned to take advantage of Russia's new capitalist culture. Twenty years later he is on track to become Russia's wealthiest man, then he makes one critical mistake: he hires the former deputy director of the KGB to handle his corporate security. And then his world starts to fall apart.
After his new employee arrives on the scene, Alex is kidnapped, beaten, and forced to relinquish his business and his fortune. He and his wife flee to the United States, only to be declared the new Russia's Number One most wanted criminal for allegedly stealing millions from his own business, and the Russian Mafiya takes a contract out on his life. Even the FBI wants to bring him and his wife into custody: so they can return him to Russia. A man on the run without a country to call his own, Alex must escape the combined forces of two governments, as he fights to earn the chance to build a new life for himself and his family in America.
I've read some other reviews of this novel say they had no empathy for the main characters, Alex and Elena Konevitch. Is this maybe purely because they were Russian? Had they been a pair of rich kids from Silicon valley I suspect their reviews may have been different, No Matter.
Yes I had a couple of crumbles, The difference between **** & *****. One being that I could not get away with a Colonel in the KGB referring to his subordinates on several occasions as "Twits"
Another would be the smuggling of mobile/cell phones into American Jails in the early 1990's. Where Mobiles that widely avilable in American jails in the early 1990's? And despite what the author says they were not as small as they are nowadays, The size of the aerial for starters!
But that is really just nit picking. What we have here is a great read, that fairly Thundered off the pages. My First Brian Haig read won't be my last.
April 16, 2021
This is the second book by Brian Haig I've read. This one is based on a true story about the Soviet KGB. Alex Konevitch and his wife Elena who find themselves trapped between loyalty and survival. It is a thriller, and moves along at a good pace. Haig writes with quite a bit of detail, especially during some torture scenes where he leaves nothing to the imagination. The squeamish are duly warned! Alex is brilliant in escaping his frame-up by relocating to America. He, of course, is located through unethical shenanigans of the FBI/KGB. It was hard to know who was who. People who appeared to be allies of Alex end up betraying them, often times to save their own skin. There are many characters and I should have started a list to keep them all straight. But, I enjoyed this book very much. Four stars due to the overly graphic scene descriptions.
July 6, 2025
A truly fascinating read, the first five star book I’ve read in almost 3 three months. Deeply poignant, beautifully written and a literary masterpiece through and through. A remarkably sad story and it gets even forlornly knowing that this was based on a true life story, it was enough reading this in a fictional context but knowing that real people had to go through such gross injustice and egregious treatment was so much to bear, I foght to keep my emotions in check for most of this book fr, a book that’s almost like a facsimile of “Red Notice” two books based on the totalitarian kleptocracy that is Modern Russia which I felt my eyes burning to while reading, they got a few tears out of me I won’t even lie.
May 10, 2020
4 1/2***** Despite an abundance of "wordiness", The Hunted is an intriguing novel chocked full with suspense. It presents a bird's-eye view of Russia following the fall of Communism...a Russia taken over by murderous thugs who attempt to become capitalists. It is the story of a young Russian and his wife, who have become billionaires and the challenges they face from Russians who want what they have. From Russia to Germany to former Soviet countries to the United States the scenes change, each bringing danger to this couple.
In the US, there is a judicial hearing and a federal trial, both of which keep the reader on the edge of his seat.
A most enjoyable read.
In the US, there is a judicial hearing and a federal trial, both of which keep the reader on the edge of his seat.
A most enjoyable read.
February 20, 2024
Brian Haig has authored a total of nine outstanding books. Regrettably, he hasn't produced any more since his last publication in 2015, leaving devoted fans bereft. This particular book diverges from his series featuring Sean Drummond, the cocky Army lawyer, and instead offers a narrative brimming with twists and unexpected developments.
While it falls within the legal genre, it seamlessly incorporates elements of conspiracy and political intrigue.
Having read the book in 2024, it was disheartening to realize that the corruption within the FBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ) depicted in the narrative still persists today
While it falls within the legal genre, it seamlessly incorporates elements of conspiracy and political intrigue.
Having read the book in 2024, it was disheartening to realize that the corruption within the FBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ) depicted in the narrative still persists today
August 2, 2021
This is an utterly fascinating book, all the more so because it is based on a true story of Alex and Elena Konanykhin. The writing sometimes skipped a bit askew, but it always came back to center. I honestly felt some anxiety at times for this couple and what they went through. Kudos to Brian Haig for bringing the story to life in such a captivating way, and obviously to Alex and Elena for what they endured. This was my first book by Brian Haig, and I could not be more pleased that I took the chance.
October 21, 2024
A fable
Like all good fairy tales this novel had me wringing my hands with worry, hoping for some relief. It’s clever and at the same time, nearly impossible. Or is it? Now, in this election year we are told all sorts of terrible things about the candidates, the news media also contributing its two cents. Overwhelming “facts” abound. The bad guys in this fable may resemble the Marx Brothers in one of their most chaotic moments but they are based on some very real monsters. Be on guard!
Like all good fairy tales this novel had me wringing my hands with worry, hoping for some relief. It’s clever and at the same time, nearly impossible. Or is it? Now, in this election year we are told all sorts of terrible things about the candidates, the news media also contributing its two cents. Overwhelming “facts” abound. The bad guys in this fable may resemble the Marx Brothers in one of their most chaotic moments but they are based on some very real monsters. Be on guard!
May 26, 2025
Riveting
In today’s political climate where our Allies are shunned and large tariffs enacted while the executive branch huddles and sides with dictators like Putin and no new tariffs are placed on Russia, this book reminds who are our enemies and how precariously our democracy rests today. Our forefathers set up our government as 3 branches as a check and balance for the sake of our republic. I only hope that no members of the Russian equivalent of our FBI are ever allowed near or invited inside the Bureau. This book is chilling in today’s political climate.
In today’s political climate where our Allies are shunned and large tariffs enacted while the executive branch huddles and sides with dictators like Putin and no new tariffs are placed on Russia, this book reminds who are our enemies and how precariously our democracy rests today. Our forefathers set up our government as 3 branches as a check and balance for the sake of our republic. I only hope that no members of the Russian equivalent of our FBI are ever allowed near or invited inside the Bureau. This book is chilling in today’s political climate.
May 24, 2018
I could only get about 1/3 of the way through this one. As a genre piece I suppose it's serviceable, but there's nothing about the story that stands out. The heroes are too close to perfect and the villains aren't smart enough to pose a real threat. Haig's prose is blunt and obvious--far too much exposition. It reminded me of James Patterson and John Grisham, who's writing lacks the detail of reality.
June 2, 2018
A fast moving story of a persecuted couple, supposedly inspired by the travails of an actual Russian couple. The good guys are extra smart and good; the bad guys extra dumb and bad. Still an interesting story.
February 27, 2019
This novel about Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations involving both US and Russian agencies is apparently based on some true life experiences of a Russian couple? I was amazed by the arbitrage financier's skill in escaping many impossible mission encounters!
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