Red Notice is a true story of high finance, murder and one man’s fight for justice. Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev was the wealthiest man in Russia – until he met Bill Browder. A young, idealistic investment banker, Browder was determined to bring democracy to post-Soviet Russia. He made friends with Russian dissidents like Boris Berezovsky and media magnate Alexander Lebedev, and became convinced that capitalism would take root in his home country. In 1998 he founded Hermitage Capital Management, the largest foreign investment fund ever upstaged in Russia. Everything changed when Vladimir Putin came to power; private enterprise was outlawed, state assets were stolen by corrupt bureaucrats and gangsters loyal to Putin went into business for themselvess.Browder tried unsuccessfully to reason with the new regime but found himself blacklisted as an “extremist.” His employees were harassed or arrested; his offices raided; false charges levelled against him personally (including tax evasion) amounting eventually to $230 million (£145 million). Desperate measures called for desperate responses: so began a gruelling decade-long battle against overwhelming odds waged from London by Browder and his small team of lawyers working pro bono – featuring some of the most extraordinary courtroom battles in British legal history.
For who is this book for ?
This book is for people who are interested in money and finance, as well as murder mysteries. It provides an inside look at Russian politics and the origins of Vladimir Putin’s power.
Pros :
- Browder’s resolve in the face of hopeless odds is admirable.
- The book provides an inside look at Russian politics and business during the 1990s and 2000s.
- Browder doesn’t shy away from providing detail, which makes for a fascinating read.
Cons :
- The author may be biased
- The book may be poorly written
- The events in the book may not be true
Learn more about the author
Bill Browder is the grandson of Earl Browder, the former leader of the American Communist Party. He grew up in Chicago and received a BA from Stanford University in 1989. In 1996 he graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA. After investment banking stints at Salomon Brothers and Lehman Brothers, he set up his own firm, Hermitage Capital Management LLC, which became one of biggest foreign investors in Russia prior to Vladimir Putin’s rise to power. Following legal expropriation of his company and imprisonment or death of many colleagues, Bill has lived as a fugitive outside Russia since 2005 seeking justice for himself and others persecuted by the Putin regime.
Reader Reviews
“A real life thriller”
“This is a fantastic book. Gripping, moving and well written.”
“This is the best book I’ve read in years. Gripping, provocative and Bill Browder’s heroism shines through on every page.”
“A remarkable story”
