The Fixer: The Notorious Life of a Front-Page Bail Bondsman

Avid crime-show enthusiasts are likely familiar with the figure of the bail bondsman—a third party who helps clients get out of jail while ensuring they make all their appointed court dates. Judelson, one of New York’s most prominent bondsmen, pulls back the curtain to reveal the backroom machinations, last-minute deals, and occasional manhunts that go along with the job in this page-turner. After he discovered a distant relative was one of New York’s premier bondsmen, Judelson was able to establish a foothold in the close-knit industry and found himself working with clients ranging from mobsters to rappers. Tales of close calls and paranoia, as well as tips on surviving prison (“don’t trust a prison phone,” “hire a prison coach”) carry the book, but Judelson’s anecdotes of how his career has impacted his family (“all three of my kids would be born during a major organized crime case”) add another layer of depth. As he closes with a lamentation on how the trade is losing the long-held brotherhood and camaraderie among bondsmen, attorneys, and judges due to technology and spreadsheets, it becomes clear that this may be a last glimpse at one of the country’s most unique professions. Agent: Jay Mandel, William Morris Endeavor. (June)