The Con and the FBI Agent

Retired FBI agent Nadolski debuts with a fascinating account of how he worked with Tony Romano, a criminal informant, to foil what would have been “one of the biggest armed robberies of the twentieth century.” …. Nadolski does a fine job dramatizing the high-stakes operation while evoking the camaraderie and humor shared by cops. This is a must for anyone who has ever wondered how the FBI puts together cases using informants. * Publishers Weekly * In this memoir, Nadolski, a longtime FBI agent, describes how he collaborated with Anthony Romano, a former convict, to prevent a major robbery. After Nadolski chronicles his career, he discusses how he first met Romano. Serving time in prison, Romano contacted the FBI with a tip regarding stolen historical books. Later, Romano became more formally involved with the FBI, agreeing to wear a wire and put himself at significant risk to help prevent a major robbery of an armored car depot in Massachusetts. Colorful details of Nadolski’s career capture the excitement of FBI work… Nadolski offers an in-depth perspective on what it’s like for a law enforcement agent to work with a mole, and the highly detailed writing reveals a great deal about the steps the FBI takes to monitor, stop, and prosecute offenders. An insider perspective on law enforcement that may appeal to readers who are particularly interested in the life FBI. * Library Journal * The relationship between David Nadolski and Tony Romano not only led to the recovery of stolen treasures and brought down a notoriously violent criminal gang, it also stands as a testament to the power of redemption. This is an unforgettable true crime story. -- Anthony Amore, best-selling author of Stealing Rembrandts and The Woman Who Stole Vermeer An engrossing, exciting read, the kind of complex tale of good guys and bad, of the human condition, that could only be written by someone who was in the mix and knows the characters and the terrain of which he writes. Be prepared to stay up late. -- Steve Horn, New York Times bestselling author of In Her Defense When the cast of characters is a rogues' gallery, the reader needs a reliable narrator. They have that and more in author Dave Nadolski, whose long career with the FBI makes this astonishing account of beating assorted ne'er-do-wells and conmen at their own game read like something out of Dennis Lehane's imagination. Except it's all the more gripping and impossible to put down for being true. -- Kelly Horan, deputy editor of Ideas at The Boston Globe and co-author of Devotion & Defiance