What do you think?
Rate this book
Finding Lien
Lien, an innocent village girl in Vietnam, is missing. Her father, Ngoc, is desperate and with help from a young Australian volunteer overcomes his years of reluctance and writes a letter to his father, a retired American army officer.
Ngoc's letter shocks Peter Trutch. Torn between his sense of honor toward this unknown son and his contentedly pleasant life in Seattle with his devoted wife Catherine, he hurls himself into his past and back to a country and memories that he had left behind forty years earlier.
Lien is sold to a brothel in Cambodia and, in his frantic search for her, Trutch confronts not only his past but a seedy, corrupt world where bad cops, pimps and the destitute, clash with courageous international prevention workers and a few honest officials.
Along with Trutch, the reader will be outraged at the worldwide plague of sex trafficking.
Ngoc's letter shocks Peter Trutch. Torn between his sense of honor toward this unknown son and his contentedly pleasant life in Seattle with his devoted wife Catherine, he hurls himself into his past and back to a country and memories that he had left behind forty years earlier.
Lien is sold to a brothel in Cambodia and, in his frantic search for her, Trutch confronts not only his past but a seedy, corrupt world where bad cops, pimps and the destitute, clash with courageous international prevention workers and a few honest officials.
Along with Trutch, the reader will be outraged at the worldwide plague of sex trafficking.
ebook
Published May 12, 2016
130 people are currently reading
378 people want to read
About the author
R. Bruce Logan
5 books19 followersR.Bruce Logan has written three books since retiring from two careers; the first as a career US Army Officer and the latter as a management consultant. His first book, a memoir, Back to Vietnam: Tours of the Heart, published in 2013, was written with his wife Elaine Head. Finding Lien was his debut novel. As the Lotus Blooms will be released September 20th, 2018
The inspiration for his writing stems from the time Logan and his wife have spent in SE Asia as volunteers and his earlier experiences as a young officer in Vietnam serving two tours during the war.
Raising awareness of and funding for the social issues that plague the people of his chosen second home in Vietnam, occupy much of Logan’s time on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.
The inspiration for his writing stems from the time Logan and his wife have spent in SE Asia as volunteers and his earlier experiences as a young officer in Vietnam serving two tours during the war.
Raising awareness of and funding for the social issues that plague the people of his chosen second home in Vietnam, occupy much of Logan’s time on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 26, 2016
After finding his American father, Ngoc's daughter is missing. It was found out that the grandmother's brother sold her into the sex slave trade.
The story is filled with great suspense while they are trying to find Lien, Pete Trutch's granddaughter.
The author is familiar with Vietnam, serving there during the U.S. conflict.
A book written with so much emotion .
I received this Free book from Goodreads first reads.
The story is filled with great suspense while they are trying to find Lien, Pete Trutch's granddaughter.
The author is familiar with Vietnam, serving there during the U.S. conflict.
A book written with so much emotion .
I received this Free book from Goodreads first reads.
June 18, 2016
Human trafficking is a difficult topic to tackle, let alone when it involves children so I was a bit apprehensive when I started this book and not sure whether I could read it or not. Well, I did, and once I got over my apprehension it was difficult to put down. I found that the topic was handled in a way that kept me with Lien through her terrible journey without overwhelming me. By surrounding the scenes that Lien experiences once she has been abducted with the scenes of the other characters - Trutch, Catherine, Capitan Minh and even the traffickers themselves, the horrors of what Lien was experiencing were delivered in segments, giving the reader a small break in between. You never forget about her and what is at the heart of this book but you are engaged as a reader to see it through. Trutch seemed a bit stiff at times and it took awhile for him to turn into a likeable protagonist for me but overall, the characters were well written and they kept drawing me in to the story. The tempo of the book also picked up after the first couple of chapters and the fast pace of the plot resulted in a clever and powerful treatment of a difficult subject matter.
October 3, 2016
A powerful novel.
A novel that pries open blinded eyes and crashes cymbals beside plugged ears.
A novel of unbearable sorrow but infused with hope.
Although a work of fiction, it lays bare the very reality of child slavery and prostitution.
I received this book from Goodreads.
A novel that pries open blinded eyes and crashes cymbals beside plugged ears.
A novel of unbearable sorrow but infused with hope.
Although a work of fiction, it lays bare the very reality of child slavery and prostitution.
I received this book from Goodreads.
March 22, 2017
Wow what a heart-filled, terror-gripping story. The thing that hurts my soul is that the story maybe fiction, but the events that occur are very much true. It just kills my spirit to know that there are children out there being exploited, raped, abused, and murdered for money and sex. These innocent girls and boys youth and livelihood stripped away by those who are suppose to love and protect them. These children pay the ultimate sacrifice to their humanity for the sins of their parents and loved ones. Ngoc being biracial had to be such a disheartening life with people who hate because of the make of his DNA. To know you're neglected, and literally abused because of who your parents are. No child should have to feel less of a person no matter race, color,creed,or culture. Children are the purest until they're learned to be otherwise. This story had somewhat of a good ending, yet it still has a nasty taste left on my conscious because it's real epidemic's and still ongoing.
May 14, 2016
Bruce Logan has written a suspenseful, action-packed story with good narrative pace. There are no wasted words, just clear, concise writing, with strong, well-defined characters.
Because Logan and his wife, Elaine, spend winters in Vietnam, I felt I was given an accurate picture of the life and society of this nation. We have all heard of child prostitution, but this novel brings home its devastating effects.
Because Logan and his wife, Elaine, spend winters in Vietnam, I felt I was given an accurate picture of the life and society of this nation. We have all heard of child prostitution, but this novel brings home its devastating effects.
January 1, 2022
Finding Lien is a disturbing fictional account of a corrupt system in Vietnam where young girls are forced into the sex trade. Pete Trutch is a Vietnam Vet who is proud of his own integrity and truthfulness, but he begins questioning himself when some of the truths about his time in Vietnam come back to haunt him. Finding Lien is written by the first-time author are Bruce Logan.
Pete Trutch returns home one afternoon to find an international letter from a person claiming to be a contact for the son Pete never knew he had in Vietnam. Pete’s son is appealing to him to come to Vietnam and look for his daughter Lien (Pete’s granddaughter) who has gone missing. Pete is in conflict because he now has to confess a 40-year-old affair to his wife before he can go to Vietnam and look for Lien. The story flashes to Vietnam where a 13-year-old girl Lien lives with her disabled father and her grandmother. Her grandmother takes a stroke and her father ends up in the hospital with his mother. Because of financial burden they are persuaded by an uncle that Lien must go into Saigon to look for work. This work turns out to be in a seedy part of a village where Lien is forced into the sex trade and disappears. In the story we learn a lot about what happens to young girls who are forced into the sex trade and how they become addicted to drugs. Often, they disappear and never return to their family. This story is about how a naïve grandfather goes to Vietnam looking for his granddaughter and discovers a world worse than anything he can ever imagine.
The story takes on special meaning because you are made to care about the young woman who naïvely walks into a situation where she thinks she’s going to help her family and it turns into a disaster. The story takes you through a number of different scenarios of different girls who end up there for different reasons. It is a compelling story because you are exposed to a number of different factions in Vietnam. There is the extreme poverty, the corruption in the police force, the pervasiveness of the drug and sex trade and the very young people who are forced to become part of it all. These all come together in a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I believe story will move people to action. The village where in the story takes place is real and has apparently been cleaned up. The author appeals to people that these things are happening and asks people to do what they can to help funding and looking into these corrupt agencies.
I recommend this story to people who like fast-paced, action-oriented stories. This story is well written, so I give it a 4 on 5. I want to thank Black Rose Writing for providing me with a digital copy of this book. I give this review voluntarily.
Pete Trutch returns home one afternoon to find an international letter from a person claiming to be a contact for the son Pete never knew he had in Vietnam. Pete’s son is appealing to him to come to Vietnam and look for his daughter Lien (Pete’s granddaughter) who has gone missing. Pete is in conflict because he now has to confess a 40-year-old affair to his wife before he can go to Vietnam and look for Lien. The story flashes to Vietnam where a 13-year-old girl Lien lives with her disabled father and her grandmother. Her grandmother takes a stroke and her father ends up in the hospital with his mother. Because of financial burden they are persuaded by an uncle that Lien must go into Saigon to look for work. This work turns out to be in a seedy part of a village where Lien is forced into the sex trade and disappears. In the story we learn a lot about what happens to young girls who are forced into the sex trade and how they become addicted to drugs. Often, they disappear and never return to their family. This story is about how a naïve grandfather goes to Vietnam looking for his granddaughter and discovers a world worse than anything he can ever imagine.
The story takes on special meaning because you are made to care about the young woman who naïvely walks into a situation where she thinks she’s going to help her family and it turns into a disaster. The story takes you through a number of different scenarios of different girls who end up there for different reasons. It is a compelling story because you are exposed to a number of different factions in Vietnam. There is the extreme poverty, the corruption in the police force, the pervasiveness of the drug and sex trade and the very young people who are forced to become part of it all. These all come together in a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I believe story will move people to action. The village where in the story takes place is real and has apparently been cleaned up. The author appeals to people that these things are happening and asks people to do what they can to help funding and looking into these corrupt agencies.
I recommend this story to people who like fast-paced, action-oriented stories. This story is well written, so I give it a 4 on 5. I want to thank Black Rose Writing for providing me with a digital copy of this book. I give this review voluntarily.
May 2, 2018
A sudden shocking revelation compels a retired U.S. Army officer to return to Vietnam to deal with the consequences of a brief, long-forgotten liaison with a young Vietnamese woman back when he was a young soldier during the war over forty years ago. This fast-paced story takes the reader down into the dark world of the Southeast Asian child sex-trafficking trade and is full of twists, turns, heart-gripping and heart-stopping moments and vibrant, realistic characters and settings. It is a realistic story that juxtaposes human evil, depravity and corruption with human goodness, courage and love. Once you pick up “Finding Lien” you won’t be able to put it down, and once you’ve finished you won’t be able to stop thinking about it.
June 30, 2017
Wow, I really enjoyed this novel. The author has a way of describing scenes so that the reader is transported right there. But it's not just the scenes that are clear, it's his description of the characters that comes through loud and clear, without robbing the reader of her or his own impressions of what a specific character might look like.
The action in this novel did not lag. I wanted to find out what happened next and was not satisfied to put the book down until such scenes had played out.
Bruce's love of and familiarity with Vietnam and the surrounding areas give the reader confidence that what they're seeing through his descriptions are right on the money. Delightful.
The action in this novel did not lag. I wanted to find out what happened next and was not satisfied to put the book down until such scenes had played out.
Bruce's love of and familiarity with Vietnam and the surrounding areas give the reader confidence that what they're seeing through his descriptions are right on the money. Delightful.
April 17, 2018
A profound indictment of child trafficking and sexual abuse in Vietnam and Cambodia. While the plot line holds the reader's attention, the core subject is so perverse it makes for digesting the story while holding back the bile in your throat. Left with an abiding sense of the need to rid the world of the scum that sustains such deplorable practices, but also the hopelessness of achieving that end from abroad. The book is a brave undertaking and worth reading if you have a strong stomach.
November 1, 2023
Trafficking children to pedophiles
This is a very good book that dealt with the trafficking of children for sex. It shows the corruption of the government, police officials, politicians, religious personnel and the citizens of a country who do not appreciate or esteem their children. Children are seen and used as an expendable monetary commodity.
This is a very good book that dealt with the trafficking of children for sex. It shows the corruption of the government, police officials, politicians, religious personnel and the citizens of a country who do not appreciate or esteem their children. Children are seen and used as an expendable monetary commodity.
February 22, 2017
I enjoyed this book very much. it was about subject I knew little about. Bruce Logan has researched the subject of child sex trafficking in SE Asia and tells a story in a way that one might think is true. The end will have you longing for a sequel.
February 12, 2020
Highly recommend !
This is an important issue and not easy to read about but necessary throughout the world for more people to become aware that trafficking is a worldwide issue. This book is very well done and yes I've cried often while reading it
This is an important issue and not easy to read about but necessary throughout the world for more people to become aware that trafficking is a worldwide issue. This book is very well done and yes I've cried often while reading it
October 31, 2020
Very good read. Although fictional story line, based on the tragic facts of child trafficking in Viet Nam. At times, heart wrenching, it is sadly informative regarding this enormous business in SE Asia.
February 7, 2021
A fictional story about child sex trafficing
This is one of those books that you just can't put down. Even though it is fiction, it reads like a memoir. I am a voracious non-fiction reader, but Finding Lien is one of the best books I have ever read.
This is one of those books that you just can't put down. Even though it is fiction, it reads like a memoir. I am a voracious non-fiction reader, but Finding Lien is one of the best books I have ever read.
April 11, 2021
Finding Lein
I fully enjoyed the book. Trafficking is of special I interest to me due to my work. What did not thrill was the several remarks about the hero ogling women throughout the story as normal. Disappointing.
I fully enjoyed the book. Trafficking is of special I interest to me due to my work. What did not thrill was the several remarks about the hero ogling women throughout the story as normal. Disappointing.
February 27, 2022
Review
This was such a great story. I'm old enough to remember the Vietnam War and all about the child sex trafficking. I could never imagine going through what Lien did and still coming out a survivor.
This was such a great story. I'm old enough to remember the Vietnam War and all about the child sex trafficking. I could never imagine going through what Lien did and still coming out a survivor.
March 14, 2022
Interesting story
If this srory is based on truth...how sad, yet despicable. It's one thing to know oristatutio6exits, but trafficking young girls like this...terrible. Catherine is a saint. Truth is a motivated saint too to have rescued his grandaughter
If this srory is based on truth...how sad, yet despicable. It's one thing to know oristatutio6exits, but trafficking young girls like this...terrible. Catherine is a saint. Truth is a motivated saint too to have rescued his grandaughter
April 27, 2022
A Heart-Tugging Page-Tyrner!
Seldom are writers able to create this level of attention-holding, action-packed fiction novel with this much sensitivity to real world horrors! Sadly, the heart-breaking stories of child trafficking continue in southeast Asia today.
Seldom are writers able to create this level of attention-holding, action-packed fiction novel with this much sensitivity to real world horrors! Sadly, the heart-breaking stories of child trafficking continue in southeast Asia today.
February 28, 2018
I was very disturbed by this book
I have this book five stars because I couldn't put it down. It was also very disturbing to me. I can't imagine. Such a horrible place.
I have this book five stars because I couldn't put it down. It was also very disturbing to me. I can't imagine. Such a horrible place.
January 1, 2020
Hard to put down.
Well written easy to feel the horrors the girls experienced without degrading description. Very believable story. Recommend to any serious reader.
Well written easy to feel the horrors the girls experienced without degrading description. Very believable story. Recommend to any serious reader.
August 9, 2020
Fast paced
I really enjoyed this book. I learned a lot about sex trafficking in Asia. Once I started reading it was hard to put down.
I really enjoyed this book. I learned a lot about sex trafficking in Asia. Once I started reading it was hard to put down.
October 27, 2020
Interesting
The story was engaging and revealed much about the culture including child trafficking. I didn't like the author using JESUS as a curse.
The story was engaging and revealed much about the culture including child trafficking. I didn't like the author using JESUS as a curse.
July 17, 2021
Goood
March 11, 2022
wonderful book
This book had a story that grabbed me and didn’t let go. I was really interested in the story even though child sex trafficking was a sad thing to read about.
This book had a story that grabbed me and didn’t let go. I was really interested in the story even though child sex trafficking was a sad thing to read about.
November 10, 2024
I couldn't put it down. The story captivates you. You want to read to find out what is going to happen next. Heart wrenching. You feel for the victims.
Read
November 13, 2024So many twists and turns! Kept me on the edge of my feet wondering what would happen next and how the story would end.
February 10, 2017
Beyond the great writing and meticulous attention to detail, the reality of this story is painfully gripping. I was unable to able to escape from the hauntingly beautiful, heartbreakingly sad truth. Bruce Logan is not afraid to confront. I had no choice but to see and feel things that have been hidden too long and should not be forgotten.
May 30, 2016
"Finding Lien" may read like a steamy adventure story, but brings to the reader a real and more horrifying human depravity of kidnapping, child trafficking and slavery for the purposes of prostitution. Bruce weaves a well written fictional account of Lien, a young Vietnamese girl, using his extensive knowledge and research of asian culture and this inhuman practice. The story could easily have been written as a non-fictional documentary, but is more powerful in story form in attracting more readers.
January 22, 2017
A heart breaking story of child abuse at its finest. A look into the difference of culture and right and wrong. Have plenty of tissue handy.
I won this book free on the Good reads giveaways.
I won this book free on the Good reads giveaways.
January 23, 2017
"Finding Lien"
A powerful novel of child abuse. This could easily be a non-fiction story as it is happening now in many countries.
I received my copy of this book through Goodreads
A powerful novel of child abuse. This could easily be a non-fiction story as it is happening now in many countries.
I received my copy of this book through Goodreads
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews