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Integrity, Optimism, and Empathy
Odyssey Moscow is a riveting and brutally honest memoir that chronicles your harrowing arrest and imprisonment in Russia following a business dispute gone dangerously political. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Writing Odyssey Moscow was cathartic. After living through such an intense and surreal ordeal—being unjustly arrested, imprisoned, and isolated—I needed to make sense of what happened, both for myself and for those closest to me. It became especially important to me that my children, when they’re older, could read this and understand the values I tried to live by: integrity, optimism, and empathy, even under impossible circumstances. It was also my way of honoring the people who helped me survive—my family, my friends, and the men of Cell 604. Their decency and courage in the darkest of times deserve to be remembered.
How did you balance the need to be honest and authentic with the need to protect your privacy and that of others in your memoir?
I wanted to be candid and transparent, because I felt a responsibility to tell the truth—not just about what happened to me, but about the broader system that enabled it. At the same time, I was deeply aware of the risks others faced. In some cases, I deliberately anonymized details, not to obscure the truth, but to protect individuals who didn’t choose to be part of this story. Honesty and concern for the safety of others had to go hand in hand.
What was the most challenging part of writing your memoir, and what was the most rewarding?
The hardest part was reliving it. Each chapter forced me back into the fear, confusion, and emotional strain of those months. There were times I considered putting the project aside entirely. But what kept me going was the encouragement I received from those I trust—especially my wife, Julia, who not only supported me throughout my imprisonment, but later helped shape the book with wisdom and clarity. The most rewarding part? Without a doubt, it’s knowing that this story might offer others courage. If someone going through a crisis reads Odyssey Moscow and finds even a sliver of hope, or a reason to stay true to their values, then it’s all been worth it.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
If there’s one thing I hope people take away, it’s that even while Russia’s regime and justice system should be condemned, we should have sympathy and admiration for average Russian people. They are the main victims of that system. The courage and resilience of my cellmates was inspiring, but the courage of other Russians who stood up for me and helped me to obtain freedom is also something for which I’m deeply grateful.
Author Website
Odyssey Moscow: One American’s Journey from Russia Optimist to Prisoner of the State
Michael Calvey’s Odyssey Moscow is a riveting and brutally honest memoir that chronicles his harrowing arrest and imprisonment in Russia following a business dispute gone dangerously political. Framed around his 2019 detention on charges of fraud, Calvey recounts the Kafkaesque nightmare of navigating the Russian criminal justice system with gripping detail and a surprising amount of grace. Part prison diary, part corporate thriller, and part philosophical reflection, the book explores power, corruption, and survival with uncommon vulnerability.
Calvey doesn’t hide behind business-speak or self-pity. From the first pages, where he’s ripped from his Moscow apartment by FSB agents, his voice is calm but charged with disbelief and raw emotion. I found myself holding my breath as he described his first night in a cramped cell, trying to keep it together while one cellmate shows off his biceps and the other does endless push-ups. The contrast between Calvey’s former life—Loro Piana shirt, Harvard degree—and the grimness of Matrosskaya Tishina is jarring, and he never once lets us forget how surreal and dehumanizing that shift is.
The book’s real power, though, comes from the way Calvey makes space for others. He doesn’t just tell his story; he lets in the lives of Sasha, Ildar, Dmitry, and others—cellmates, guards, lawyers—each rendered with empathy, even humor. I found myself unexpectedly moved by his relationship with Sasha, a streetwise repeat offender who gifts him molasses cookies and prison wisdom. Even when he’s describing psychological warfare—like the endless sirens and the lights that never shut off—Calvey never descends into bitterness. There’s real introspection here. He wonders what it means to have championed Russia for decades, only to be betrayed by the very system he believed in.
Still, there are moments that made me fume. The scene in the courtroom where the Vostochny Bank security chief films Calvey, giggling as if it were a show, is infuriating. Even more galling is how the Russian court system appears as a hollow formality—the “glass cage,” the parade of character witnesses, the judge who seems moved but ultimately rubber-stamps the FSB’s orders. Yet Calvey keeps his cool. He channels his rage into logic, into planning, into fighting back—not with violence, but with integrity and relentless clarity. That was inspiring.
In the end, Odyssey Moscow isn’t just about one man’s legal battle—it’s about holding onto your values when everything around you crumbles. Calvey never pretends to be perfect. He admits to fear, to pain, to moments of despair. But he also shows us resilience in the most literal sense. I finished the book feeling humbled, a little shaken, but also strangely hopeful. This book is for anyone who enjoys true stories about endurance, justice, and moral courage.
Pages: 291 | ASIN : B0DY5PR2ZM
You are Imperfectly Perfect
Blast Radius: Shrapnel, shards and scars from the lies I lived shares with readers your story of living a lie and slowly uncovering the truth and discovering the depth of betrayal from those around you and how you rebuilt your life. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I remember it like it was yesterday. In 2011, I was sitting on the porch of what used to be my grandparents’ home, and I was sad, more than sad. I was a volcano of emotion. As the tears began to come out the sadness turned to anger like I had never felt before. It was at that moment that I knew that I couldn’t sit by. I knew that I had to stop what I was going through from happening to at least one other person, and I was going to start by telling my story. That feeling stayed with me until I finally built up the courage to put pen to paper in the summer of ’22, and it’s what fuels what I will continue to do today. I have gone from wanting to stop it from happening to one person to it being my mission to create a positive change in people, and eventually, the world.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
- Just about every day in the news, we hear about someone being financially taken advantage of. What is not talked about, however, is the all-encompassing emotional turmoil that leads to being able to be manipulated, falling for such deception, and what happens after. I needed to share that.
- What emotional turmoil looks like . . . behind our masks
- What can happen to /because of you and what you can come back from
- Sometimes the worst things that are happening can turn out to be the best things to happen
- Help others discover that they are enough and realize that they are worthy of everything good in life.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
By far, when I pled guilty.
When my book went to initial revision, I was at about 37,000 words. Then someone judged me based on my background – from over 12 years prior, even though I was upfront with him about it, even though I told him about the book. At that point, my gloves came off. The book went to over 90,000 words.
I reconciled with a great many things during that jump in word count, but that one section, when I pled guilty, that’s the piece I consistently break down on. That’s the moment that encompasses all the sadness, pain, and rage I have ever felt. Whenever I focus on that moment, it’s like I’m in that courtroom all over again and I feel for the person I was.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?
That you are imperfectly perfect just the way you are, so trust YOU above all others.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Words spoken by the man she loved and trusted her whole life.
Moments later, Ally would face a new reality that “blew up” her life forever.
In the summer of 2009, her high school sweetheart and husband was sentenced to prison and the truth upon which her very existence was built began to shatter.
And that was just the beginning…
Each day she would discover a new lie, a new revelation of betrayal; a new challenge. Each day the obstacles grew larger.
She had trusted those around her and did things without question.
As repayment for that loyalty and trust, she would soon be standing, legs shoulder-width apart, frantic and scared, while a U.S. Probation Officer tethered the now single mother to her home for the next 6 months.
Blast Radius is a real-life story of how a life built on deception brought profound consequences engulfing not only Ally, but her children, her family, friends, and so many more. It is the story of how trying to be the perfect wife, daughter, and friend makes you ignore your internal turmoil and blinds you to the deception, abuse, and fraud surrounding you. It is a story about persevering and putting the pieces of your life back together when life throws you curveballs – even your own family is trying to stop you.
Experience the journey from deception to discovery and the scars that remain.
Blast Radius: Shrapnel, shards and scars from the lies I lived
Blast Radius, by Ally Brown, is an evocative coming-of-age story with a wonderfully nostalgic backdrop, taking readers to the vibrant world of 1985. The tale centers on Ally Graham, a high school senior, as she encounters the alluring Doyle Dumas. Their senior year becomes a canvas of deepening connections, painting a rich, heartwarming romance. Yet, the fabric of their love is stretched taut when Doyle opts to join the ROTC, casting a shadow of uncertainty on their shared future. Through trials and tribulations, the narrative poignantly delves into the resilience of love amidst adversity.
Brown’s ability to craft a world that is both vivid and relatable evident in the opening pages. Readers are treated to an authentic portrayal of young love, the intricacies of family bonds, and the looming unpredictability of what lies ahead. The decision of Doyle to enroll in the ROTC serves as a pivotal point, introducing a layer of tension and emphasizing the themes of sacrifice and commitment inherent in love and service.
The prose is rich with vivid descriptions, immersing readers into the characters’ world, making them privy to their most intimate emotions. The dialogues, in particular, are a highlight — they flow naturally, revealing the depths of the characters’ souls, their fears, hopes, and desires. The author keeps readers on their toes, intertwining conflicts and posing questions, such as the enigma surrounding Doyle’s confession.
Brown’s writing resonates on an emotional spectrum, oscillating from moments of light-hearted humor to intense concern and deep affection. The characters are fleshed out with remarkable emotional depth, making it easy for readers to empathize with them. The portrayal of family dynamics, especially the unwavering support from Ally’s kin, enriches the story, lending it an additional touch of authenticity.
Blast Radius, by Ally Brown, is more than just a romance novel; it is a testament to love’s enduring spirit, the anguish of betrayal, and the indomitable nature of the human spirit. With captivating character development and an engrossing narrative arc, this novel is bound to pull at readers’ heartstrings, leaving an indelible mark of warmth and nostalgia long after the last page is turned.
Pages: 337 | ASIN : B0CBKZN74D
LITERARY TITAN 