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In the Shadows: True Stories of High-Stakes Negotiations to Free Americans Captured Abroad
Brittney Griner, Danny Fenster, Otto Warmbier, Trevor Reed, Paul Whelan, Kenneth Bae…When an American citizen is unjustly imprisoned overseas, that’s when Mickey Bergman’s phone starts to ring.
Who else are their desperate loved ones supposed to call? Mickey and his tight team of savvy negotiators at the Richardson Center for Global Engagement are the go-to rescuers of last resort, carrying on the high-stakes, round-the-world mission of master negotiator Bill Richardson. Mickey and his team do what U.S. government officials are often unable or unwilling to sit down with America’s toughest adversaries and find creative ways to bring our people home.
That's life In the Shadows.
This is the heart-pounding story of these urgent negotiations, what it’s like to climb inside the minds of some of the world’s most notorious strongmen, where the clear divisions between good and evil are replaced by a thousand shades of gray.
The hard work is done far from the glare of media publicity. The negotiations don’t follow traditional diplomatic rules. As innocent Americans sit behind bars in hellhole foreign prisons, Mickey and his colleagues stop at nothing to get our people home. And these cases almost never go as smoothly as they should, as the independent negotiators navigate between U.S. government officials and some of the world’s most headstrong leaders. And as soon as one American is freed, Mickey is off on another dicey mission to Moscow, Caracas, Naypyidaw, Pyongyang, or some other complex foreign capital. These painstaking campaigns require creative thinking, hardball pressure tactics, excruciating patience, and a genuine sense of compassion for the anxious families whose lives are thrown into turmoil when a loved one is imprisoned abroad.
In Mickey Bergman's own words, In the Shadows tells the hidden story of these high-drama rescue campaigns. The crafty negotiating strategies. The strong-willed foreign leaders. The emotional rollercoaster of being responsible for innocent American lives. The exhilaration when another American is released from a foreign prison—and the terrible letdown when a promising effort hits another maddening roadblock. Mickey recounts his unique relationship with his mentor, the late, great Richardson, the former governor of New Mexico, ambassador to the United Nations and legendary negotiator. He shares the wrenching closeness he develops with the desperate families he serves, who often have nowhere else to turn. He offers a detailed account of his one-on-one interactions with Washington’s top power players, both Democrats and Republicans, and some of the world’s most isolated and misunderstood heads of state.
For readers who want the full, searing story of these life-or-death rescue missions and the fascinating people behind them, it’s all In the Shadows. As Mickey Bergman and New York Times bestselling author Ellis Henican make clear on every page, international diplomacy isn’t just for government officials anymore.
Who else are their desperate loved ones supposed to call? Mickey and his tight team of savvy negotiators at the Richardson Center for Global Engagement are the go-to rescuers of last resort, carrying on the high-stakes, round-the-world mission of master negotiator Bill Richardson. Mickey and his team do what U.S. government officials are often unable or unwilling to sit down with America’s toughest adversaries and find creative ways to bring our people home.
That's life In the Shadows.
This is the heart-pounding story of these urgent negotiations, what it’s like to climb inside the minds of some of the world’s most notorious strongmen, where the clear divisions between good and evil are replaced by a thousand shades of gray.
The hard work is done far from the glare of media publicity. The negotiations don’t follow traditional diplomatic rules. As innocent Americans sit behind bars in hellhole foreign prisons, Mickey and his colleagues stop at nothing to get our people home. And these cases almost never go as smoothly as they should, as the independent negotiators navigate between U.S. government officials and some of the world’s most headstrong leaders. And as soon as one American is freed, Mickey is off on another dicey mission to Moscow, Caracas, Naypyidaw, Pyongyang, or some other complex foreign capital. These painstaking campaigns require creative thinking, hardball pressure tactics, excruciating patience, and a genuine sense of compassion for the anxious families whose lives are thrown into turmoil when a loved one is imprisoned abroad.
In Mickey Bergman's own words, In the Shadows tells the hidden story of these high-drama rescue campaigns. The crafty negotiating strategies. The strong-willed foreign leaders. The emotional rollercoaster of being responsible for innocent American lives. The exhilaration when another American is released from a foreign prison—and the terrible letdown when a promising effort hits another maddening roadblock. Mickey recounts his unique relationship with his mentor, the late, great Richardson, the former governor of New Mexico, ambassador to the United Nations and legendary negotiator. He shares the wrenching closeness he develops with the desperate families he serves, who often have nowhere else to turn. He offers a detailed account of his one-on-one interactions with Washington’s top power players, both Democrats and Republicans, and some of the world’s most isolated and misunderstood heads of state.
For readers who want the full, searing story of these life-or-death rescue missions and the fascinating people behind them, it’s all In the Shadows. As Mickey Bergman and New York Times bestselling author Ellis Henican make clear on every page, international diplomacy isn’t just for government officials anymore.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published June 4, 2024
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June 28, 2024
✨B O O K • R E V I E W✨
In the Shadows // Available Now
#ad I received a gifted copy of this book - many thanks to @centerstreetbooks #partner
We’ve heard her story. Brittney Griner, the WNBA star who was imprisoned in Russia for nine months. But we haven’t heard about the man behind her release; who worked tirelessly to bring her home, negotiating her release.
If you were to find yourself in a situation similar to Griner’s you’d want Mickey Bergman and his team fighting for you. Yet, these hero’s often go unnoticed. Their hard work and dedication isn’t a story you often hear about. Until now.
In the Shadows, quite literally and the perfect title for this book, is the story behind the story. Told in an unflinching and engaging way this book draws you in. It draws you so far in you won’t be able to find your way out and honestly don’t want to.
Along with Mickey’s life - which is quite interesting - we get to hear about the negotiations, the highs and the lows that come with the territory. It reads like a thriller that you can’t put down.
This book will take you around the world, giving you a glimpse behind the curtain of what it means to be a negotiator. When others lives are literally in your hands. What does it take to not lose it all?
This was a fun and engaging read that I highly recommend reading. While there were many great chapters in this book the one I found most compelling was when Covid hit and the world went into lockdown. How do you properly negotiate over zoom?
You’ll have to read this book to find out what that experience was like for Mickey. Also inside this book, you’ll find real life pictures which I enjoyed seeing. They connected me to the story in my mind and gave me a broader understanding of this book and Mickey’s life.
#InTheShadows #CenterStreetPub #BrittneyGriner #negotiations #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #readmorebooks #alwaysreading #bookhoarder #bookstack #reads book #bookworms #bookrecommendation #bookaesthetic #bookshelves #readabook #readmore #suspense #books #bookworm
In the Shadows // Available Now
#ad I received a gifted copy of this book - many thanks to @centerstreetbooks #partner
We’ve heard her story. Brittney Griner, the WNBA star who was imprisoned in Russia for nine months. But we haven’t heard about the man behind her release; who worked tirelessly to bring her home, negotiating her release.
If you were to find yourself in a situation similar to Griner’s you’d want Mickey Bergman and his team fighting for you. Yet, these hero’s often go unnoticed. Their hard work and dedication isn’t a story you often hear about. Until now.
In the Shadows, quite literally and the perfect title for this book, is the story behind the story. Told in an unflinching and engaging way this book draws you in. It draws you so far in you won’t be able to find your way out and honestly don’t want to.
Along with Mickey’s life - which is quite interesting - we get to hear about the negotiations, the highs and the lows that come with the territory. It reads like a thriller that you can’t put down.
This book will take you around the world, giving you a glimpse behind the curtain of what it means to be a negotiator. When others lives are literally in your hands. What does it take to not lose it all?
This was a fun and engaging read that I highly recommend reading. While there were many great chapters in this book the one I found most compelling was when Covid hit and the world went into lockdown. How do you properly negotiate over zoom?
You’ll have to read this book to find out what that experience was like for Mickey. Also inside this book, you’ll find real life pictures which I enjoyed seeing. They connected me to the story in my mind and gave me a broader understanding of this book and Mickey’s life.
#InTheShadows #CenterStreetPub #BrittneyGriner #negotiations #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #readmorebooks #alwaysreading #bookhoarder #bookstack #reads book #bookworms #bookrecommendation #bookaesthetic #bookshelves #readabook #readmore #suspense #books #bookworm
August 31, 2024
A fascinating behind the scenes of negotiations to free Americans who are being held in international prisons. Mickey's work on negotiations began in January 2007 and the book details cases he worked on up to and including Brittney Griner's release from Russia in December 2023.
Paul Whelan's name is a constant presence in this book, as the Richardson Center for Global Engagement (now called Global Reach) worked tirelessly to release him 4 different times, until he was finally released just this month (August 2024) after being imprisoned since 2018.
I recognized some of the cases mentioned: Kenneth Bae (North Korea, 2012-2014); Otto Warmbier (North Korea, 2016-2017); Trevor Reed (Russia, 2019-2022). There were others mentioned that were not familiar to me: Wa Lone and Kyaw Son Oo (Myanmar, 2017-2019); Xiyue Wang (Iran, 2016-2019); Michael White (2018-2020); Danny Fenster (Myanmar, 2021); Aye Moe (Myanmar, 2020-2021); six oil executives, two former Army Green Berets, and an LA public defender (Venezuela, 2017-2023).
"...this world of ours, when you really got to know it, was far more complicated than it seemed at first. It wasn't so much a place of good and evil or right and wrong. Wherever you looked, the world presented itself in many shades of gray."
"...we proved once again something that was becoming a theme of mine: that engaged individuals could plan an important role in helping to confront some of the largest challenges in the world."
"In football, everyone focuses on the last two yards as the player carriers the ball over the goal line. That's when the cheers are the loudest. But in fact, that's not where most of the real work gets done. The real work is delivering the ball to the two-yard line... so someone has the chance to carry it into the end zone."
Paul Whelan's name is a constant presence in this book, as the Richardson Center for Global Engagement (now called Global Reach) worked tirelessly to release him 4 different times, until he was finally released just this month (August 2024) after being imprisoned since 2018.
I recognized some of the cases mentioned: Kenneth Bae (North Korea, 2012-2014); Otto Warmbier (North Korea, 2016-2017); Trevor Reed (Russia, 2019-2022). There were others mentioned that were not familiar to me: Wa Lone and Kyaw Son Oo (Myanmar, 2017-2019); Xiyue Wang (Iran, 2016-2019); Michael White (2018-2020); Danny Fenster (Myanmar, 2021); Aye Moe (Myanmar, 2020-2021); six oil executives, two former Army Green Berets, and an LA public defender (Venezuela, 2017-2023).
"...this world of ours, when you really got to know it, was far more complicated than it seemed at first. It wasn't so much a place of good and evil or right and wrong. Wherever you looked, the world presented itself in many shades of gray."
"...we proved once again something that was becoming a theme of mine: that engaged individuals could plan an important role in helping to confront some of the largest challenges in the world."
"In football, everyone focuses on the last two yards as the player carriers the ball over the goal line. That's when the cheers are the loudest. But in fact, that's not where most of the real work gets done. The real work is delivering the ball to the two-yard line... so someone has the chance to carry it into the end zone."
June 21, 2024
I really enjoyed the "behind-the-scenes" perspective offered in "In the Shadows". The book provides a fascinating glimpse into the nuanced conversations and delicate negotiations between political figureheads, shedding light on the often unseen efforts that shape global diplomacy.
As someone who contemplates the inevitable heat death of the universe and the transient nature of things, this book evokes a slight sense of nihilistic dread. It’s sad to see how lives can be so profoundly disrupted or even destroyed due to miscommunications or political misalignments, knowing that, ultimately, everything we struggle for will fade into cosmic insignificance.
Nevertheless, "In the Shadows" was a great read. It’s encouraging to know that despite the transient nature of our existence, there are dedicated individuals tirelessly working to navigate and mitigate these complex international issues. This book underscores the importance of their efforts, even as we reflect on the broader, existential questions.
As someone who contemplates the inevitable heat death of the universe and the transient nature of things, this book evokes a slight sense of nihilistic dread. It’s sad to see how lives can be so profoundly disrupted or even destroyed due to miscommunications or political misalignments, knowing that, ultimately, everything we struggle for will fade into cosmic insignificance.
Nevertheless, "In the Shadows" was a great read. It’s encouraging to know that despite the transient nature of our existence, there are dedicated individuals tirelessly working to navigate and mitigate these complex international issues. This book underscores the importance of their efforts, even as we reflect on the broader, existential questions.
June 24, 2024
3.75 stars
This is an interesting and detailed account of negotiations to free American citizens who were detained in other countries. It is a lot of information to take in, so I found myself reading slower than I usually do. The authors personal history and experience were a bit long winded in part one.
This isn’t a topic I knew a lot about and enjoyed the opportunity to learn more. I liked the addition of the high profile cases.
Thank you to Center Street for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
This is an interesting and detailed account of negotiations to free American citizens who were detained in other countries. It is a lot of information to take in, so I found myself reading slower than I usually do. The authors personal history and experience were a bit long winded in part one.
This isn’t a topic I knew a lot about and enjoyed the opportunity to learn more. I liked the addition of the high profile cases.
Thank you to Center Street for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
July 9, 2024
After reading Brittney Griner's book Coming Home, I had the opportunity to learn more about the team of negotiators who helped to bring her home in Mickey Bergman's book In the Shadows.
"Diplomacy isn't just for government officals anymore. This is 'fringe diplomacy.'" His team does things that are unrestrained by governmental rules and regulations.
Bergman's backstory as an Israeli soldier is fascinating and action packed with flying bullets, illustrating the beginning of his leadership journey.
The book reads like a Tom Clancy novel, but it's real life. Real lives in danger. Lots of ping-ponging negotiation action, nail biting at times when you think of the high stakes. We get behind the scene details. Sometimes the deals with the various international leaders are as simple as a trade for wheelchairs for children. Simple, but when politics are involved it gets hairy.
The particulars behind the Dennis Rodman/Kim Jong Un (Korea's Supreme Leader)/Otto Warmbier deal were precarius. If only Dennis had checked his emails, things might have turned out differently. Bergman's extensive research shows us the inner workings of hostage negotiations. Takes a deep look at foreign countries' cultural beliefs. Examining world events from their point of view (for example, what we call the Korean War is called the American War by Koreans), and using that information to determine their next possible move.
It's a master-class in negotiations. EMPATHY is key we learn, as Bergman learns, we watch him soar on his first solo mission lead in Korea. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE is a critical skill and he has it in spades. Always one step ahead of his opponents. There are heartbreaking setbacks. Twenty-two year-old Otto Warmbier's coma and death once he was returned home, undoubtedly stay on Bergman's mind. It's surprising how a small thing can turn a mission from a success to a failure. The hard truth is that not every mission to return hostages is a success. It seems like more fail than succeed. Diane Folsy's story is immensely tragic. I remember the 2012 beheading of her photojournalist son in Syria. He was the first American killed by the Islamic State of Iraq.
Again, it reads like a thriller! The back and forth of the deals kept me on pins and needles. Waiting for something to go wrong. Intrique, excitement and dissappointment when a long worked on plan falls through and the prisoner/hostage has to spend more years locked away from family, friends and home.
Even though I knew Danny Fenster and Aye Moe would be released, my heart beat faster as I read. You're never sure if something might go wrong and the captors change their minds. "She is free!" OMG! I read that line over and over.
"The VERY difficult, we will do right away. The impossible will take us a little time." goes one of Bergman's favorite Air Force slogans. It's what he and his team and international allies do every single day. He says, "...in more than seventeen years in the dirty trenches of fringe diplomacy, I have learned that I never really know which of the multiple efforts was the one that made the difference."
"extraction missions" are seriously missions impossible. Riveting and true. The awful truth is, "There is always another strongman somewhere, ready to snatch an innocent American."
The book is very good, with a hopeful ending. It's sad that we need them, but good that we, the United States, have them.
"Diplomacy isn't just for government officals anymore. This is 'fringe diplomacy.'" His team does things that are unrestrained by governmental rules and regulations.
Bergman's backstory as an Israeli soldier is fascinating and action packed with flying bullets, illustrating the beginning of his leadership journey.
The book reads like a Tom Clancy novel, but it's real life. Real lives in danger. Lots of ping-ponging negotiation action, nail biting at times when you think of the high stakes. We get behind the scene details. Sometimes the deals with the various international leaders are as simple as a trade for wheelchairs for children. Simple, but when politics are involved it gets hairy.
The particulars behind the Dennis Rodman/Kim Jong Un (Korea's Supreme Leader)/Otto Warmbier deal were precarius. If only Dennis had checked his emails, things might have turned out differently. Bergman's extensive research shows us the inner workings of hostage negotiations. Takes a deep look at foreign countries' cultural beliefs. Examining world events from their point of view (for example, what we call the Korean War is called the American War by Koreans), and using that information to determine their next possible move.
It's a master-class in negotiations. EMPATHY is key we learn, as Bergman learns, we watch him soar on his first solo mission lead in Korea. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE is a critical skill and he has it in spades. Always one step ahead of his opponents. There are heartbreaking setbacks. Twenty-two year-old Otto Warmbier's coma and death once he was returned home, undoubtedly stay on Bergman's mind. It's surprising how a small thing can turn a mission from a success to a failure. The hard truth is that not every mission to return hostages is a success. It seems like more fail than succeed. Diane Folsy's story is immensely tragic. I remember the 2012 beheading of her photojournalist son in Syria. He was the first American killed by the Islamic State of Iraq.
Again, it reads like a thriller! The back and forth of the deals kept me on pins and needles. Waiting for something to go wrong. Intrique, excitement and dissappointment when a long worked on plan falls through and the prisoner/hostage has to spend more years locked away from family, friends and home.
Even though I knew Danny Fenster and Aye Moe would be released, my heart beat faster as I read. You're never sure if something might go wrong and the captors change their minds. "She is free!" OMG! I read that line over and over.
"The VERY difficult, we will do right away. The impossible will take us a little time." goes one of Bergman's favorite Air Force slogans. It's what he and his team and international allies do every single day. He says, "...in more than seventeen years in the dirty trenches of fringe diplomacy, I have learned that I never really know which of the multiple efforts was the one that made the difference."
"extraction missions" are seriously missions impossible. Riveting and true. The awful truth is, "There is always another strongman somewhere, ready to snatch an innocent American."
The book is very good, with a hopeful ending. It's sad that we need them, but good that we, the United States, have them.
January 6, 2025
My first book of 2025, I could hardly put In the Shadows down. I especially enjoyed Bergman's exploration of emotional intelligence and how it can be used to understand the decision-making of some of the world's most complex leaders and regimes. Sympathy and empathy are too different concepts and his ability to put himself in different leader's shoes and think about political, economic, and diplomatic issues in a historical context to better understand their decision-making process is incredible.
I also appreciated Bergman and his colleague and mentor the late Governor Bill Richardson's use of fringe diplomacy to creatively circumvent the obstacles posed by the political and diplomatic stakes of dealing with countries like Russia, North Korea, Iran, Myanmar, and Venezuela. Bergman's background is fascinating - his identity as an Israeli-American, his career in the Israeli Defense Forces, the loss of his friend during a mission in Lebanon, helping his wife cope with severe depression, all contribute to a keen emotional intelligence.
I also found it interesting how the Richardson Center had to traverse different White House Administrations - each one having it's own approach and policies and also adjust their strategy in response to events like the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine and 2019 Pandemic.
As for the Prisoner Swaps - I was left wondering about Paul Whelan, who wouldn't be released until August 2024. I was frustrated that he was left and that Trevor Reed and Brittney Griner were brought home first. I am grateful that American's were brought home, but the trade of Griner for Viktor Bout (aka the Merchant of Death) seems to me to set a precedent for and emboldens authoritarian leaders around the world to grab American citizens unjustly so that they can use them as pons. For example, Venezuela seems to have taken cue that this is ok and that Americans can be used as bargaining chips.
In conclusion, I recommend this book to anyone that likes thrillers, history, politics, and psychology. The book reminded me a lot of another favorite book of mine, Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice, by Bill Browder.
I also appreciated Bergman and his colleague and mentor the late Governor Bill Richardson's use of fringe diplomacy to creatively circumvent the obstacles posed by the political and diplomatic stakes of dealing with countries like Russia, North Korea, Iran, Myanmar, and Venezuela. Bergman's background is fascinating - his identity as an Israeli-American, his career in the Israeli Defense Forces, the loss of his friend during a mission in Lebanon, helping his wife cope with severe depression, all contribute to a keen emotional intelligence.
I also found it interesting how the Richardson Center had to traverse different White House Administrations - each one having it's own approach and policies and also adjust their strategy in response to events like the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine and 2019 Pandemic.
As for the Prisoner Swaps - I was left wondering about Paul Whelan, who wouldn't be released until August 2024. I was frustrated that he was left and that Trevor Reed and Brittney Griner were brought home first. I am grateful that American's were brought home, but the trade of Griner for Viktor Bout (aka the Merchant of Death) seems to me to set a precedent for and emboldens authoritarian leaders around the world to grab American citizens unjustly so that they can use them as pons. For example, Venezuela seems to have taken cue that this is ok and that Americans can be used as bargaining chips.
In conclusion, I recommend this book to anyone that likes thrillers, history, politics, and psychology. The book reminded me a lot of another favorite book of mine, Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice, by Bill Browder.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2025
This is probably the best book I will read this year. Brittney Griner is an American professional basketball player. I love to watch womens sports and I think Griner is a great player. Unfortunately, American sportswomen are not paid enough to live on so many pro female basketball players go overseas to play for real money. Griner did. And unfortunately for her, she had a "marajuana vape" in her luggage, prescribed by her physician for pain. The Russians arrested her, tried her and put her in prison for many years. Many of us protested. Mickey Bergman, who worked for Governor Bill Richardson, worked secretly to get her released. Governor Richardson worked to free many prisoners in other countries. Bergman worked for him for a long time and now directs the Richardson for Global Engagement Center, a nongovernmental nonprofit organization that works for the release of political prisoners worldwide.
Mickey's stories in the book are amazing, often negotating releases without government authority. Most of the work is sub-rosa, who do you know, who can talk to some government official - many governments, inclucing my own, do not want the negotations public so Mickey and his sources start swapping messages. I never knew such talks existed. I was so naive about how these things are done. This book is a masterpiece. Read it if you are interested in world politics, in undercover negotations, in how the world really works. At times, the situations are heartbreaking and at times, they are amazing. I read about how rude and self-centered one of my former heros has become. This is the underbelly of political workings. And it is a book not to be missed.
Mickey's stories in the book are amazing, often negotating releases without government authority. Most of the work is sub-rosa, who do you know, who can talk to some government official - many governments, inclucing my own, do not want the negotations public so Mickey and his sources start swapping messages. I never knew such talks existed. I was so naive about how these things are done. This book is a masterpiece. Read it if you are interested in world politics, in undercover negotations, in how the world really works. At times, the situations are heartbreaking and at times, they are amazing. I read about how rude and self-centered one of my former heros has become. This is the underbelly of political workings. And it is a book not to be missed.
April 28, 2024
-This was a fabulous title that I got to review from Netgalley. Mickey's stories about American hostages being rescued through non- governmental attempts-what he calls a "fringe diplomacy" - is absolutely riveting.
The different real life stories is the book are almost like thriller fiction tales.. Its mindblowing to know that these are from real attempts. I am also glad that Mickey starts off the book with his background and reasons for getting into this line of work. It helps us understand the context-especially of his Israeli roots and the political situation
in that region.
I believe this book is a treasure trove for students of geopolitics and negotiations. such great examples of how politics plays roles in peoples' lives and how even the best laid plans do not work just because of political will, or lack of.
Mickey's emotional situation is also brought out well - where he has to deal with many setbacks ever after well laid plans-but he controls his anger & also the way he feels part of the families that unjustly suffer in situations of hostage- gives a very human connect to the whole narrative. Also guv ‘s leadership style is worth learning from.
I highly recommend this book!!
The different real life stories is the book are almost like thriller fiction tales.. Its mindblowing to know that these are from real attempts. I am also glad that Mickey starts off the book with his background and reasons for getting into this line of work. It helps us understand the context-especially of his Israeli roots and the political situation
in that region.
I believe this book is a treasure trove for students of geopolitics and negotiations. such great examples of how politics plays roles in peoples' lives and how even the best laid plans do not work just because of political will, or lack of.
Mickey's emotional situation is also brought out well - where he has to deal with many setbacks ever after well laid plans-but he controls his anger & also the way he feels part of the families that unjustly suffer in situations of hostage- gives a very human connect to the whole narrative. Also guv ‘s leadership style is worth learning from.
I highly recommend this book!!
August 2, 2024
"In the Shadows" is Mickey Bergman's memoir of his time working with Bill Richardson on shadow diplomacy projects--acting as private parties, attempting to find a way to secure the release of prisoners abroad.
What's good: Bergman's story is genuinely fascinating. He explains in detail just how careful one must be in these negotiations, and how every move, every gesture, is thought out in the meetings. (Even down to messaging in the press!) He shows a different angle to diplomacy, one beyond the traditional government job.
What's iffier: Bergman's writing is competent but doesn't set a new standard of literary power in memoirs. That's fine, as this isn't the goal of the book--but an FYI. In addition, because he focuses tightly on what he knows, this isn't a space for extended discussion of various cases (like Otto Warmbier) where we might want to know more than just how negotiations for freedom worked, or didn't.
With gratitude to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
What's good: Bergman's story is genuinely fascinating. He explains in detail just how careful one must be in these negotiations, and how every move, every gesture, is thought out in the meetings. (Even down to messaging in the press!) He shows a different angle to diplomacy, one beyond the traditional government job.
What's iffier: Bergman's writing is competent but doesn't set a new standard of literary power in memoirs. That's fine, as this isn't the goal of the book--but an FYI. In addition, because he focuses tightly on what he knows, this isn't a space for extended discussion of various cases (like Otto Warmbier) where we might want to know more than just how negotiations for freedom worked, or didn't.
With gratitude to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 4, 2025
I read this some time last year, but apparently forgot to write a review. I really enjoyed this book.
This guy Mickey Bergman works with foreign governments who imprison people. He tries to negotiate deals to get people released. He often works with US citizens, including Brittany Griner(?). He is part of a non-profit organization, with no government affiliation. This works to his advantage, generally.
Since he doesn't represent any government, he can go back and forth with negotiations, but doesn't have the ultimate power to make a deal. He doesn't accept payment from families for his work and he's been very successful in several prison negotiation deals.
It was an inspiring book and it made me want to get involved. He has a sister organization that also helps the families who have a loved one imprisoned somewhere. It was a really fascinating, unique book. I enjoyed reading it.
This guy Mickey Bergman works with foreign governments who imprison people. He tries to negotiate deals to get people released. He often works with US citizens, including Brittany Griner(?). He is part of a non-profit organization, with no government affiliation. This works to his advantage, generally.
Since he doesn't represent any government, he can go back and forth with negotiations, but doesn't have the ultimate power to make a deal. He doesn't accept payment from families for his work and he's been very successful in several prison negotiation deals.
It was an inspiring book and it made me want to get involved. He has a sister organization that also helps the families who have a loved one imprisoned somewhere. It was a really fascinating, unique book. I enjoyed reading it.
July 23, 2024
(I was gifted a copy of this book from Center Street)
This was a very interesting read, especially after completing Brittney Griner’s Coming Home. There is so much that is happening behind the scenes that we aren’t privy to. But this gives us a little peek behind the curtain. “Fringe diplomacy”, as Mickey likes to call it, is quite interesting in the fact that folks are dedicated to these causes but aren’t officially acting on behalf of the government. But I know there are many family members, loved ones and previously/currently incarcerated people who are very thankful for all they do.
I like that he tells his background story. However,
I found the occasional inserts of his personal life at home to be misplaced in the flow of the story. And it never really gave a complete picture or used it as an anchor to continue to ground the story in any way.
This was a very interesting read, especially after completing Brittney Griner’s Coming Home. There is so much that is happening behind the scenes that we aren’t privy to. But this gives us a little peek behind the curtain. “Fringe diplomacy”, as Mickey likes to call it, is quite interesting in the fact that folks are dedicated to these causes but aren’t officially acting on behalf of the government. But I know there are many family members, loved ones and previously/currently incarcerated people who are very thankful for all they do.
I like that he tells his background story. However,
I found the occasional inserts of his personal life at home to be misplaced in the flow of the story. And it never really gave a complete picture or used it as an anchor to continue to ground the story in any way.
September 6, 2024
This is one of those books that almost makes interesting subject matter kind of dull. I should have read the book description better in order to understand that Bergman's experience in this area comes primarily from working for controversial former Governor Bill Richardson. While he worked on many interesting cases, I don't 100% feel that these are his stories to tell, and I'm a little conflicted on that. To the author's credit, a lot of this book took place during the Trump and Biden administrations, so it's certainly more current than a lot of non-fiction books. One final downside for me was his focus on the Britney Griner case... as someone who was not at all interested in or fascinated by that case, I felt there was some undue focus on that case simply because it's a name people recognize.
June 18, 2024
This is an incredibly well written, thoughtful account of a side of international diplomacy I’ve never considered before now. I was absolutely riveted by Bergman’s firsthand accounts of the sorts of negotiations and compromises that go into bringing Americans home, especially the multifaceted deals that extend beyond prisoner swaps - I’d never heard about those angles before but they make a lot of sense.
Even though my career couldn’t be further from fringe diplomacy, this book taught me a lot about how to relate to and communicate empathetically with people who are different than I am, and it’s led me to a lot of independent research digging deeper on the cases it addressed.
Even though my career couldn’t be further from fringe diplomacy, this book taught me a lot about how to relate to and communicate empathetically with people who are different than I am, and it’s led me to a lot of independent research digging deeper on the cases it addressed.
July 15, 2024
Enlightening
So much I never knew. A fascinating look behind the scenes of all the work done through non-official channels to free hostages. While the book focused on hostages, there was lots on the author growing up in Israel and his military service. A few stories here actually gave me insight as to what it means when I hear on the news that a consortium or group is negotiating a cease-fire between two warring nations. Now I get it. Also, lots of insights on Russia. I appreciated the way the author framed his thinking around emotional intelligence. Recommended.
I listened to the Audible audiobook.
So much I never knew. A fascinating look behind the scenes of all the work done through non-official channels to free hostages. While the book focused on hostages, there was lots on the author growing up in Israel and his military service. A few stories here actually gave me insight as to what it means when I hear on the news that a consortium or group is negotiating a cease-fire between two warring nations. Now I get it. Also, lots of insights on Russia. I appreciated the way the author framed his thinking around emotional intelligence. Recommended.
I listened to the Audible audiobook.
July 17, 2024
Hostage negotiator Mickey Bergman recounts high stakes efforts to free Americans held abroad in hostile parts of Africa, South America, Russia and other troubled parts of the world. As part of a fringe diplomacy team led by former senator and US ambassador Bill Richardson, Bergman was instrumental in the release of journalists, aid workers and celebrities, including Brittney Griner. One of the saddest stories in the collection is how close this team came to getting Otto Warmbier freed by North Korea during the Obama administration. Efforts fell apart when Obama appointed a new ambassador to North Korea that was despised by North Korean leaders.
October 8, 2024
After listening to Mickey Bergman describe his high-octane career as a negotiator on a podcast, I knew I had to read his book. What a wild life! Bergman, alongside former Gov. Bill Richardson, is one of the go-to "fringe diplomats" who works in a non-governmental capacity to bring American political prisoners home. Bergman covers his first-hand experiences here with the cases involving Brittney Griner, Otto Warmbier, Kenneth Bae, Danny Fenster, and more. Each negotiation feels like a gripping action set-piece... of Bergman getting in and out of countries, without explicit permission, while knowing he can be jailed at any moment. A true thrill ride for the modern political age.
August 9, 2024
It was a very interesting read, and I really enjoyed learning what takes place behind the scenes in these types of negotiations called fringe diplomacy. Very insightful. They work for the families not the US government yet have interactions with the government. There were a lot of names and details. The beginning spent too much time talking about the author’s personal life story. I appreciate the passion these men have and the organizations they created to help families. They don’t charge the families anything and they are often putting themselves in very dangerous situations.
July 11, 2024
Transparency note: I received a copy of this book by center street books. They have not paid me for an ad and this is my honest opinion: incredible. I can’t believe all of this information was able to be so succinctly told and digested. Mickey sounds like an incredible human being. Learning more about fringe diplomacy, given our world today, is highly recommended. I want to read more….! Thanks Mickey - your story is powerfully inspiring.
January 12, 2025
Interesting stories weighed down by not the best writing. The author does important work though falls on the "this is so important and I'm also so Interesting" side of the fine line he needs to walk. Worth a read if only to help understand a little more about the mysterious "Whys" behind some government and political actions.
February 13, 2025
Dude is like a real-life superhero, and what he has been able to accomplish is WILD. It's not too deep, and it's pretty much mostly happy endings (unsurprisingly), which makes it seem really cinematic but also somehow less real, even though it's non-fiction. I wanted more uncertainty - I wanted to reality of it, instead of the gloss.
June 16, 2024
A non- fiction account from an American of the behind the scenes diplomacy and negotiation that can occur between governments for American hostages. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
July 11, 2024
An interesting and important topic in our increasingly dangerous world but much of this book was a bit too self-congratulatory for my liking. The chapter on the negotiations to release of Brittany Griner was engaging. Otherwise, I confess that I was a bit disappointed.
July 31, 2024
This book reads like a movie script. Mickey lays it all out there — the harrowing aspects of negotiating hostage releases, the impact on his family. His emotional intelligence shines through from the words on the page.
June 16, 2024
Absolutely riveting. The stories are gripping and well told. It manages to be completely bad ass and full of heart and empathy. Highly recommend!
June 23, 2024
Just couldn't get into it.
June 27, 2024
A fascinating account of how the real work is done by very smart people — and not the government!!
July 8, 2024
Wow, I had no idea.
Once again the truth is not what we’re told. Our current and past president chose against opportunities to bring Americans home. I can’t help but wonder how many returnees would still be held overseas without these heros doing “fringe deplomacy. Thank you.
Once again the truth is not what we’re told. Our current and past president chose against opportunities to bring Americans home. I can’t help but wonder how many returnees would still be held overseas without these heros doing “fringe deplomacy. Thank you.
July 13, 2024
Fascinating. How a non-governmental group goes about trying to get Americans released from unjust detentions.
August 19, 2024
I stayed fully engaged in this book all the way through. What frustrating and necessary work to do.
August 23, 2024
Super interesting behind the scenes
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