Gregg Podolski lives in New Jersey with his wife and two children. When not writing, he works as an executive recruiter for a family-owned staffing firm. He loves Philly sports, the Jersey Shore, and is one of the last people on the planet who still buys CDs. The Recruiter is his first novel. If you don’t like it, that’s cool. Just lie and say you do. Seriously, it will be our little secret.
Connect
Sign up and keep informed of the latest on Gregg Podolski and Blackstone Publishing
Praise for Books
“Wow! What an excellent thriller—gritty noir with hard-boiled, smart-ass humor, but also a deep, empathetic view into a character who should be abhorrent yet is convincingly transformed into a hero the reader is rooting for. A stunning debut thriller with echoes of Raymond Chandler.” —Debbie Burke, author of the award-winning Tawny Lindholm thrillers
“Rick Carter is the ‘creator of monsters’ and I’m here for all of it. Full stop. Podolski’s debut thriller will keep you riveted, and that’s an understatement. But beyond a guy who enlists the services of villains is a story about a person trying desperately to hold on to what is most important: family. A cause you will rally behind while on this spectacular ride.” —Yasmin Angoe, Anthony-nominated author of Her Name Is Knight
“A skillful and page-turning action thriller that does not let up for a second…Podolski nails it.” —First Clue Reviews
“Buckle up! This is one faaaaaast hot rod of a thrill ride.” —Avanti Centrae, internationally bestselling and multi-award-winning author of the VanOps series
“Rick Carter is cunning and capable with a sarcastic wit and hilarious one-liners. It feels like the heir apparent to Nelson DeMille’s John Corey has just burst onto the scene in a big way.” —T. R. Hendricks, author of The Infiltrator
“Podolski creates a rich new world of assassins and underworld in his debut, setting up a sequel with a cliffhanger that will hit you like a full bucket of frozen water…Carter will win your heart and your desire to keep reading more of his stories. I can’t wait to read what troubles Podolski puts him up against next.” —Best Thriller Books
“The Recruiter is both a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat crime thriller and at times a moving character study. Rick Carter is a man who lives at the nexus of different lives. When those lives crash together against his will, we see who the real Rick Carter is, and even he is surprised. A fascinating and sometimes introspective journey into the heart of the underworld; I really enjoyed it.” —S. A. Cosby, bestselling author of Razorblade Tears and All the Sinners Bleed
“Podolski nails it on his first go-round, delivering a page-turner with sharp dialogue and a memorable protagonist. Here’s hoping readers hear more from Rick [Carter] soon.” —Publishers Weekly
“Enough action, killing, twists, and betrayals for a whole season of quality TV.” —Kirkus Reviews
An action-packed debut from Gregg Podolski, The Recruiter is a thrilling and unique adventure through the European underworld.
When bad guys need good help, they call Rick Carter.
He’s a criminal recruiter, searching for contract killers, hackers, gun smugglers, and any other assorted villains-for-hire a European crime boss might need. But, when the family he left behind in New Jersey is caught up in a client’s plot to monopolize the black market, Rick has to save them from two of his own top candidates: deadly assassins known only as Ghost and The Persian.
Fixing his own mess will require a set of skills he doesn’t have—not a problem, as finding qualified help is where he excels. But stepping into action, becoming the hero his family needs, that’s new territory. For a man who’s spent the last ten years being the best at helping the worst, this may be his last chance to do something right.