Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
David Hagberg's best book, August 8, 2009
David Hagberg's best book-5+ stars
David Hagberg is a good writer of suspense thrillers and without a doubt Burned is his best book to date. Based loosely on the true life ordeal of Yvonne Bornstein who was kidnapped in Russia by Islamic terrorist and held for ransom, Mr. Hagberg writes a compelling thriller pulling out all the stops. He links the Russian Mafia, Islamist terrorists, the Russia Internal Affairs (police), Russian Special Forces (Spetsnaz) and the American FBI in an all out hunt for the kidnapped American woman-Patti Monroe. He breaks the fast paced novel down into an intense 11 day search. During those tension filled 11 days Patti Monroe is forced to suffer maximum brutality at the hands of the kidnappers. Death and pain is her constant companion. The Russian police and American FBI finally join forces to successfully located where the kidnappers have Mrs. Monroe held. But still the story evolves into a dramatic conclusions of twists and turns. Well done Mr. Hagberg. Good, tight, realistic story of Russian brutality in a world where life is cheap and living is an ordeal of maximum endurance.
Very good character development. Each character literally comes alive as the story evolves. It was interesting to see how Mrs. Monroe coped with her dreadful situation. I also enjoyed how Mr. Hagberg developed the inner workings of the Russian police department. Unlike America, they are given much freer rein to deal with criminals and corruption. The working together of the Russian police and American FBI was also interesting.
A brutal, graphically violent novel. Strong language. All germane to the story and well done. No gratuitous sex. All in all a tough, gritty story of what it would be like to be kidnapped by violent men in Russia.
Strong recommend. This book will get your attention and hold it all the way through. A real page turner-I read it in 2 ½ nights. Good for that next long trans-Pacific or trans-Atlantic flight. This is David Hagberg at his absolute best.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
fast-paced thriller, June 11, 2009
When their Russian business deal appears to be falling part, Americans Patti and David Monroe fly to Moscow to resolve the dispute. They are greeted by their Russian partners with a gun fired point blank into David's head and Patti is abducted; they calmly inform her to cooperate or join her spouse.
The Russians take her outside Moscow demanding $20 million for her release; failure to deliver will result in her execution. As the FBI works closely with the Russian MVD, they begin to uncover an even more insidious scheme as the kidnappers-murderers plan to use the money to buy nukes for their Al Qaeda associates to bring a worse 9/11 to America.
The back cover explains BURNED is "inspired by the true story of Yvonne Bornstein" who along with her husband were kidnapped in Russia in the 1992 for "Eleven Days in Hell". The story line is fast-paced from the moment their hosts murder David and never slows down. Although the metamorphosis of Patti from middle class businesswoman to super warrior seems unlikely, fans will relish this stirring thriller as the Russians are known for hunting down kidnappers at the cost of the life of the abducted.
Harriet Klausner
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Scary Scenario!, August 30, 2009
David and Patti Monroe have traveled to Moscow to salvage a messed up business deal. David has married Patti who
comes from a wealthy Boston family. David's business ventures have resulted in disastrous consequences causing
them to be on the verge of financial disaster. Once again David has made a horrible investment choice. He is to
meet with the Russian businessmen to save losing a fortune. When they leave the airport they are taken out to
the countryside. David is shot in the back of the head. Patti is taken hostage and held at a house in a city in
Russia. To her horror she finds out that her captors are affiliatef with Chechan terrorists who have strong ties
to al-Quaeda. Her hostages want $20 million dollars. They are going to use the funds to slip a nuclear device in the United States. The Moscow police and the FBI are on the case. Both immediately start jockeying for who has
jurisdiction in the case. In the meantime Patti is beaten,starved and raped by her captors. Meanwhile the law
enforcement agencies are searching desperately for Patti. The FBI even calls upon their vast crime fighting resources to aid in the search. The ransom demands also prove to be tedius. There is also a surprise ending in the book. This is a very good book. I would definitely cancel vacation plans to Russia.
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