Book reviews by D.G. Kaye

Sunday Book Review – Red Notice by Bill Browder #Political #Thriller

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Sunday Book Review

Book reviews by D.G. Kaye

Welcome back to my Sunday Book Reviews. Today’s review is on one of the most fascinating books I’ve read in a long time. Red Notice by escaped hedge fund manager Bill Browder with an autobiographical accounting of his time in the mid 90s when he first became a capitalist in Russia in the times when the Soviet Union broke from communism and there was money to be made there, leading to the time when the Putin Regime took over and how they thieved money from many corporations and citizens in the blink of an eye. Browder went from the gravy train to fleeing for his life and shares his real life accounting of what he witnessed and endured in those times leading him to become a human activist and fighting all the way to Washington to establish the Magnitsky Act – named after Sergei Magnitsky, Browder’s tax lawyer and friend who was ultimately tortured and killed by the Russians. This book is categorized as an autobiographical/nonfiction, political thriller and I will attest to the fact that it is riveting and kept me glued til the very end.

 

Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man’s Fight for Justice by [Browder, Bill]

#Recommended to Get This Book on Amazon! Almost 3000 – 5 Star Reviews!

 

Blurb:

New York Times bestseller

THE BOOK THAT EXPLAINS WHY RUSSIANS WANTED TO MEET WITH THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN

“Part John Grisham-like thriller, part business and political memoir.” —The New York Times

“[Red Notice] does for investing in Russia and the former Soviet Union what Liar’s Poker did for our understanding of Salomon Brothers, Wall Street, and the mortgage-backed securities business in the 1980s. Browder’s business saga meshes well with the story of corruption and murder in Vladimir Putin’s Russia, making Red Notice an early candidate for any list of the year’s best books” (Fortune).

This is a story about an accidental activist. Bill Browder started out his adult life as the Wall Street maverick whose instincts led him to Russia just after the breakup of the Soviet Union, where he made his fortune.

Along the way he exposed corruption, and when he did, he barely escaped with his life. His Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky wasn’t so lucky: he ended up in jail, where he was tortured to death. That changed Browder forever. He saw the murderous heart of the Putin regime and has spent the last half decade on a campaign to expose it. Because of that, he became Putin’s number one enemy, especially after Browder succeeded in having a law passed in the United States—The Magnitsky Act—that punishes a list of Russians implicated in the lawyer’s murder. Putin famously retaliated with a law that bans Americans from adopting Russian orphans.

A financial caper, a crime thriller, and a political crusade, Red Notice is the story of one man taking on overpowering odds to change the world, and also the story of how, without intending to, he found meaning in his life.

 

My 5 Star Plus Review:

A riveting accounting in this autobiographical, political thriller from hedge fund capitalist Bill Browder on his journey to creating Hermitage Capital in Russia while Yeltsin was still reigning into the fall of communism in the 90s and the rise of greed and evil with the installation of the Putin regime.

Browder holds nothing back with his descriptions of Russia and how and what people did to survive in hard times as well as why the Russians are so secretive. While Browder pursued his business in growing his company he found himself in ever-growing shady conditions and often scary and uncomfortable situations and surroundings – often not knowing who he could trust. But he had an uncanny and relentless ability to continue to follow the money to get to the truth when he began pursuing his mission to find out how 230 million dollars was stolen from Russian citizen taxpayers and into Putin’s hands – ultimately leading to risking his own life.

Browder opens up about the corruption, torture and inhumanity that reigns in Putin’s Russia. And if you read this book you will get an eye-opening understanding of just how corrupt the Russian government is as well as their abilities to steal from other countries. If you’re on the fence about Russia’s capabilities – read this book! My words of advice for the doubters – Wake up America!

Browder’s tax lawyer and friend, Sergei Magnitsky was taken in by Russian police on trumped up charges (good word) and ultimately tortured to death and this became “the most well known documented human rights case to come out of Russia in 35 years.” Browder couldn’t save Magnitsky, but never tired of trying to get his story noticed by the press, which led to him finally getting US senators to condemn and pass a bill, The Magnitsky Act, on corrupt Russians who were part of stealing 230 million dollars – 60 officials and doctors who conspired to take Magnitsky’s life.

The Magnitsky Act: “Anyone involved in false arrest, torture, or death of Sergei Magnitsky, or the crimes uncovered would be publicly named, banned from entry to the U.S., and have their U.S. assets frozen”, eventually added to that act were many more names of criminals.

In retaliation, Putin put out a ban on Americans from adopting Russian children.

From capitalist manager to human activist, Bill Browder’s story will make it difficult to put this book down to the very last page.

 

What is the purpose of an INTERPOL Red Notice?

A Red Notice is a request to locate and provisionally arrest an individual pending extradition. It is issued by the General Secretariat at the request of a member country or an international tribunal based on a valid national arrest warrant. It is not an international arrest warrant.

Bill Browder may be flagged by Red Notice with Interpol, but I would hope that no democratic country in the world would enforce such extradition on him. . . D.G. Kaye

 

Links of Interest:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Browder

http://www.businessinsider.com/fusion-gps-trump-russia-dossier-bill-browder-2018-1

https://www.gq.com/story/bill-browder-putin-enemy-number-1

http://www.businessinsider.com/bill-browder-kremlin-likely-ordered-assassination-of-sergei-skripal-2018-3

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bill-browder-my-life-being-vladimir-putinsnumber-one-enemy-p3t3rhv6c

 

36 thoughts on “Sunday Book Review – Red Notice by Bill Browder #Political #Thriller”

  3. Debby, my lovely, I will order this. Thank you so much for highlighting Bill’s work and his book. ❤ xXx

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  4. I ordered the actual book immediately. You know me, I prefer to hold it in my hands and also, I can then pass it on to my Mum. Huge hugs, grins and sparkly stuff flowing to you my lovely and Gordon. ❤ xxX ❤

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    1. Wow, glad to know I got your curiosity Jane. I will be interested in hearing your thoughts too after you read. And of course, I bought the paperback as well. A great book to pass around! Hugs flowing back to you from icy, snowy and blowy Toronto, Canada LOL ❤ xoxo

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  6. Hi Debby – it’s the first book I’ve read at the book club … don’t expect they’ll better this one. I used to work in this scenario in England way back when and Maxwell’s children were my age – three at school with me … where he lived. I can’t say much more … because it’s vague – but the feelings one experienced in dealing with Eastern Europe before Putin was difficult … it is I agree an excellent book … and I’m so glad it’s being picked up – and thus opening people’s eyes. Excellent – cheers Hilary

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  8. I’m frequently amazed at how US politics resembles fictional political thrillers (even though it’s non-fiction!) Murder, spies, collusion, plots, traitors, espionage, deception, cowardice… the whole shebang! And it’s real. This book sounds great, Debby. Thanks for the review.

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  9. Great review, Deb. I know your eyes were glued to the pages. Reading your review reminded me of my days with Amnesty International. One would hope that in this day and age there would be no need for such an organization, but Putin belies that hope. It used to be that going public with incriminating information acted as a safety net. Not so with Putin. Yet I remain hopeful that a new day will dawn and light will fill the world ❤

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    1. Thanks Tina. Absolutely a new day will dawn. And in order for that to happen people like Browder fighting for humanity, along with all other organizations will prevail! ❤

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  11. Thanks, Debby for the recommendation. It’s important to get first-hand information and if it makes for great reading, even better. Let’s hope it gets the attention it deserves and it can help change things. All the best.

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  12. What a fabulous review, Debby. It sounds like a great book. I’ve already ordered a copy for Hub’s birthday in a couple of weeks. I think he’ll enjoy it and he can tell me all about it. 🙂 Thank you.

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    1. Happy to recommend Norah. I’ve bought that book for gifts as well. If your hubby is interested in world politics, specifically Russia, he will be as absorbed into that book as every other reviewer and reader. Let me know what he thinks! 🙂

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  13. What a timely book. I have to admit that I was a bit surprised to see that you were reviewing a political thriller but in reading your review I can see why. Sounds like a book I’d like to read as well.:)

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    1. Yes Carol, it’s a political thriller alright. but it’s nonfiction, and that’s right up my alley. The subject matter is also about something I follow obsessively, American politics. Besides, what affects them trickles down to Canada in many ways. 🙂 ❤

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    1. So glad to pique your interest with my review Lis. I have the paperback. While reading it on vacation at the pool, I discovered 3 other people reading the same book. Made for some stimulating conversation. 🙂 x

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