"An excellent new book on Russia''s private militaries . Lechner''s book is particularly good at focusing on the way Wagner became embroiled in foreign wars after the conflict in eastern Ukraine died down . Death Is Our Business provides powerful descriptions of the lives that were upended by the mercenary deployments." -- Nicolas Niarchos, New York Times "Deeply researched . admirable . One hopes that Lechner and others continue to tell the stories of people and countries that the Western media shamefully neglects, even when the Russian bogeyman doesn''t dominate the headlines." -- The Washington Post "A rare, vivid portrait of the mercenary group . itself a feat .

a fine account of Russia''s new private mercenary forces, and deserves a place on the bookshelves not just of military buffs but of diplomats and aid workers in Africa." -- Colin Freeman, The Telegraph "Gripping and superbly researched, featuring interviews with dozens of Wagner members. It''s remarkable to consider that the couple of hundred years hiatus on mercenary armies is now over, that nation states won''t be the only entities fielding military firms in the decades to come. This is one of those non-fiction books that gives this spy novelist ideas. It''s full of great material." -- David McCloskey, Daily Mail "Lechner, an independent journalist who is fluent in Russian and at ease in combat zones, has succeeded more than any other Western reporter in gaining access to Wagner''s killers and societal castoffs. [hemembers. It''s remarkable to consider that the couple of hundred years hiatus on mercenary armies is now over, that nation states won''t be the only entities fielding military firms in the decades to come.

This is one of those non-fiction books that gives this spy novelist ideas. It''s full of great material." -- David McCloskey, Daily Mail "Lechner, an independent journalist who is fluent in Russian and at ease in combat zones, has succeeded more than any other Western reporter in gaining access to Wagner''s killers and societal castoffs. [hemembers. It''s remarkable to consider that the couple of hundred years hiatus on mercenary armies is now over, that nation states won''t be the only entities fielding military firms in the decades to come. This is one of those non-fiction books that gives this spy novelist ideas. It''s full of great material." -- David McCloskey, Daily Mail "Lechner, an independent journalist who is fluent in Russian and at ease in combat zones, has succeeded more than any other Western reporter in gaining access to Wagner''s killers and societal castoffs.

[hemembers. It''s remarkable to consider that the couple of hundred years hiatus on mercenary armies is now over, that nation states won''t be the only entities fielding military firms in the decades to come. This is one of those non-fiction books that gives this spy novelist ideas. It''s full of great material." -- David McCloskey, Daily Mail "Lechner, an independent journalist who is fluent in Russian and at ease in combat zones, has succeeded more than any other Western reporter in gaining access to Wagner''s killers and societal castoffs. [hean any other Western reporter in gaining access to Wagner''s killers and societal castoffs. [he] weaves a brisk account of the group''s rise and fall with stories of his travels in Wagner''s main theaters of operation: Central Africa and eastern Ukraine." -- Joshua Hammer, New York Review of Books "In this in-depth, beautifully written chronicle and analysis of atrocities, massacres, war crimes, and theft on a scale scarcely to be believed, Lechner illuminates Prigozhin''s Wagner PMC, drawing on his extensive interviews with members, and its trail of devastation across Ukraine, Syria, and Africa.

He also delves deeply into the history of Russia, the rise of Vladimir Putin and Prigozhin, and the lesser and greater conflicts across much of the globe . An invaluable look at a very dark dimension in geopolitical affairs." -- Booklist "Excellent. Death Is Our Business widens the frame to the global phenomenon of mercenary warfare, portraying the Wagner Group as the product of ''structural forces shaping our violent century'' and reminding us that thousands of men all over the world are ''willing to go to war for a paycheck.''" -- Amy Knight, The Times Literary Supplement (UK) "An unusually sensitive piece of war correspondence. Lechner argues convincingly that Wagner represents a new kind of warfare, one that emerged with the rise of globalization and mass privatization. Lechner''s excellent Death Is Our Business chronicles Prigozhin''s spectacular rise and fall." -- Lily Lynch, Jacobin "Thugocracies fall in and out of fashion, but Death Is Our Business suggests that the market for private armies is so rich right now that, much like drug cartels, it will soon become lucrative enough for smoother, subtler iterations of Prigozhin and Utkin to ooze into the global economy.

Hopefully, someone of Lechner''s skill and bravery will be there to watch it." -- Washington Independent Review of Books "[Ahe world are ''willing to go to war for a paycheck.''" -- Amy Knight, The Times Literary Supplement (UK) "An unusually sensitive piece of war correspondence. Lechner argues convincingly that Wagner represents a new kind of warfare, one that emerged with the rise of globalization and mass privatization. Lechner''s excellent Death Is Our Business chronicles Prigozhin''s spectacular rise and fall." -- Lily Lynch, Jacobin "Thugocracies fall in and out of fashion, but Death Is Our Business suggests that the market for private armies is so rich right now that, much like drug cartels, it will soon become lucrative enough for smoother, subtler iterations of Prigozhin and Utkin to ooze into the global economy. Hopefully, someone of Lechner''s skill and bravery will be there to watch it." -- Washington Independent Review of Books "[Ahe world are ''willing to go to war for a paycheck.

''" -- Amy Knight, The Times Literary Supplement (UK) "An unusually sensitive piece of war correspondence. Lechner argues convincingly that Wagner represents a new kind of warfare, one that emerged with the rise of globalization and mass privatization. Lechner''s excellent Death Is Our Business chronicles Prigozhin''s spectacular rise and fall." -- Lily Lynch, Jacobin "Thugocracies fall in and out of fashion, but Death Is Our Business suggests that the market for private armies is so rich right now that, much like drug cartels, it will soon become lucrative enough for smoother, subtler iterations of Prigozhin and Utkin to ooze into the global economy. Hopefully, someone of Lechner''s skill and bravery will be there to watch it." -- Washington Independent Review of Books "[Ahe world are ''willing to go to war for a paycheck.''" -- Amy Knight, The Times Literary Supplement (UK) "An unusually sensitive piece of war correspondence. Lechner argues convincingly that Wagner represents a new kind of warfare, one that emerged with the rise of globalization and mass privatization.

Lechner''s excellent Death Is Our Business chronicles Prigozhin''s spectacular rise and fall." -- Lily Lynch, Jacobin "Thugocracies fall in and out of fashion, but Death Is Our Business suggests that the market for private armies is so rich right now that, much like drug cartels, it will soon become lucrative enough for smoother, subtler iterations of Prigozhin and Utkin to ooze into the global economy. Hopefully, someone of Lechner''s skill and bravery will be there to watch it." -- Washington Independent Review of Books "[Ave piece of war correspondence. Lechner argues convincingly that Wagner represents a new kind of warfare, one that emerged with the rise of globalization and mass privatization. Lechner''s excellent Death Is Our Business chronicles Prigozhin''s spectacular rise and fall." -- Lily Lynch, Jacobin "Thugocracies fall in and out of fashion, but Death Is Our Business suggests that the market for private armies is so rich right now that, much like drug cartels, it will soon become lucrative enough for smoother, subtler iterations of Prigozhin and Utkin to ooze into the global economy. Hopefully, someone of Lechner''s skill and bravery will be there to watch it.

" -- Washington Independent Review of Books "[A] brilliant, deeply researched book by the indefatigable John Lechner, who has spent years traveling where few dare to go." -- Clarissa Ward "A close look at the late Yevgeny Prigozhin - Vladimir Putin''s close confidante-turned-suspiciously killed rebel - and his soldiers for hire, known as the Wagner Group." -- New York Post, Best New Books to Read This Week "An intense, no holds barred journey through the history of the most notorious Private Military Companies in the world.Lechner was literally kidnapped, and held captive for two days, while doing research for this work; his fearlessness is palpable on the pages of this book. This text is required reading for anyone interested in the Wagner chapter of the Ukrainian War and the mercenary warlord who led his men through Hell." -- Soldier of Fortune Magazine "John Lechner is an amazingly bold reporter who has been to the key places where the Wagner Group fought, interviewing members, veterans, and victims to deliver a shrewd, granular sense of how Russian mercenary forces operate." -- Adam Hochschild,.