The Hunted
Brian Haig
464 pp. Grand Central Publishing. $7.99
Pub. Date: 8/12/2009
ISBN-13: 978-0446195607
Imagine being rich. Really rich. Stinking rich, bordering on being filthy. Life is wonderful, you have power, money, and you cut quite the figure with the ladies; a real life Jimmy Stewart. You hobnob with high level government officials, and they listen to you, valuing your opinion, and your checkbook even more. As the kids today say, you've got juice. Both orange and apple. With a splash of grape.
Then one day, someone steals everything from you: your money, your reputation, your power. The cool new toaster you bought at Costco. The juice is loose, and everything's gone, Ocean's Eleven style. But this isn't a lighthearted romp, and you aren't Andy Garcia, no matter how many Cuban cigars you puff. But if stealing all that wasn't enough, the thieves want one last thing: your life.
Since you are attached to being alive (and averse to being dead), you do the rational thing, you flee. With or without an accompanying little girl scream is up to you. But these thieves don't pack up their stolen ball and go home easily. They play harder than a medical student plays the board game Operation; they hate to lose. Especially since they don't want to lose all their new stuff. Your stuff. So they make flight hard, like an obstacle course. But without the padded pylons. And with your ass on the line.
You struggle to leave the country, to go some place you'll be safe, and free. Freedom calls to you, long distance, like a squawking Bald Eagle with 3G. And suddenly, you make it, to freedom, to a hot and passionate kiss with Lady Liberty. You even get some tongue action. And that's when you get screwed. And not in a good way. Because Lady Liberty is one fickle girl.
Loosely based on the incredible life story of Alex Konanykhin, The Hunted by Brian Haig is a smoothly executed thriller, a fascinating portrayal of both the Russian and American political machines. It is a harrowing journey filled with unbelievable, oh-my-God moments. And more frightening than any horror movie. Or an episode of the Biggest Loser, with a bag of Cheetos on your lap.
Main characters Alex and Elena are beautiful rendered, the strength of their relationship shines through in the face of nearly insurmountable tribulations; their love a beacon in the darkness, a lighthouse in the realm of evil, a squirt of Febreze at a Flatulence Convention. Haig puts his characters in increasingly volatile situations, like a game of pile on where the scrum becomes deeper and deeper, the potential violence ratcheting up. Which means the reader cannot help rooting for the protagonists, turning pages to see if Alex and Elena can extricate themselves from their current cliffhanger. Every potential failure causing you to read one more chapter.
Haig's insider knowledge of American political circles lends a great credibility to The Hunted. The novel feels real, because the politics and treachery feel real. For those with a jaded view of government, The Hunted will only deepen it. And for those who think their government can't do anything wrong, Haig's thriller will open their eyes.
Evocatively written and characterized, Brian Haig's The Hunted should be lauded for being more than a typical black and white thriller. Fantastic political intrigue and an incredibly nuanced story make this one a winner.
Final Grade: 8 out of 10
