The Organ Broker: A Thriller

The Organ Broker, which was named a finalist for the 2015 Hammett Prize for literary excellence in the field of crime writing, is the story of Jack Trayner--known as New York Jack--an underground black market organ dealer. After years of selling "life," Jack's conscience begins to overcome his resolve for this ghastly business. His desire for redemption is fueled by his new relationships with a woman named Michelle and a young man named Mark.

As a disaffected youth in the late eighties, Jack entered the criminal world, selling coke when he needed money to pay his way through college. Although he later graduated from law school, an opportunity to earn easy money eventually seduced him into the bizarre and illegal black market for organs--a business that some consider horrendous and a small number of others deem to be heroic. The dual nature of this business assuaged Jack's guilt and allowed him to flourish, yet the death of a client makes what he is doing all too real. The Organ Broker serves as Jack's confession and his attempt at redemption as he tries to save one last innocent patient and potential donor, instead of closing his biggest sale ever--one that would require a premeditated murder.

The international black market sale of organs is real and operates at this very moment behind closed hospital doors in many cities all around the world. It is a world that most people are only vaguely aware exists, and few of us know much, if anything, about, until now--in the pages of the confession of New York Jack.

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Stu Strumwasser was born in Queens and raised in Lynbrook, New York. After graduating from Cornell University, he quickly became a successful businessman, working for several firms on Wall Street before founding Snow Beverages and serving as the company’s CEO for six years. He is the cofounder and COO of Tengrade, a social rating tool. Strumwasser is also the drummer and songwriter for indie rock band Channeling Owen. This is his first published novel.