Award-winning author of Chasing Money  

An Amazon #1 Best Seller and 2024 Crime Thriller of the Year

Coming in July 2026

The Third Marty & Bo Crime Thriller 

Title and cover reveal  –  February 2026. 

Can’t wait for book three? 

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What’s It Like to Write a Novel


Check out my blog, A Thriller Writer’s Journal, for an inside look at writing my first novel, getting it published, and building an award-winning crime thriller series—one book at a time.

A Thriller Writer’s Journal

Upcoming Events

9

March

2026

Charlevoix Lions Club

Book Marketing 
with Suzanne Balter

Noon

Shirley Roloff Center
Charlevoix, Michigan


17

March

2026

Lake Oswego Public Library

Author Talk

7:00 PM

380 A Avenue
Lake Oswego, Oregon


25

April

2026

Pulp & Press Lit Arts Fest

Book Trail
Author Signing

11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Vicksburg, Michigan


Get notified about more upcoming events 

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Book one in the award-winning series

Money, Art, Murder and Mayhem

A missing masterpiece. A deadly threat. A desperate search. Marty and Bo were just trying to keep their struggling startup alive – but now they’ve got a bigger problem – keeping themselves alive.

Now available in Audible & Kindle Unlimited 

Praise for Chasing Money:

Michael Balter’s debut novel, Chasing Money, is a fast-paced thriller that pits two partners in a start-up venture against an angry Russian killer. If Marty and Bo don’t find ten million dollars and a mysterious missing painting in the next week, it’s not just their company that will be dead. 

Gritty descriptions, simmering threats, and a wry sense of humor… Exceptionally clever and compelling. 

D. Donovan, Senior Editor, Midwest Book Review

The DaVinci Code for grownups. Tinged with noir and ringing with authenticity. Don’t miss this impressive debut novel. 

Warren. C. Easley, author of the award-winning Cal Claxton Mysteries

Chasing Money is a rollercoaster of a ride. It’s wildly inventive and incredibly entertaining. 

Charles Cutter, author of the acclaimed Burr Lafayette legal thrillers

Packed with action. A strong voice paired with authentic dialogue… Witty and engaging.

The BookLife Prize

A strong start for a debut author … A simple but satisfying crime novel that will keep readers hooked.

Kirkus Reviews

Grows funnier and more surprising every step of the way. Balter’s gift for pacing and dialogue make this a series to watch.

Publisher’s Weekly

Book Two – Marty Schott and Bo Bishop

Marty and Bo are Back!

From the award-winning author of Chasing Money comes a compelling international crime thriller packed with danger, deception, and betrayal.  

Praise for The Vatican Deal:

“Michael Balter masterfully crafts a high-stakes thriller that plunges readers deep into the shadowy corridors of power, crime, and deception. The Vatican Deal is an electrifying blend of suspense, intrigue, and razor-sharp wit, where the stakes are as monumental as the Vatican’s own secrets.”

– Gary McAvoy, bestselling author of the Vatican Secret Archive Thrillers

We can’t remember the last time we read a mafia thriller that was this fun.

BestThrillers.com

A brilliant mix of danger, deception, and intrigue … with complex characters, unpredictable twists, and high-stakes action

Al Warren, House of Mystery Radio Show

Emotionally compelling, astute in its logic, delightfully unexpected … hard to predict or put down 

D. Donovan, Senior Editor, Midwest Book Review

A fast-paced, action-packed crime thriller that will have readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

The Feathered Quill

The Vatican Deal is a must-read for lovers of gripping high-stakes crime thrillers with a touch of adventure, action, and drama… I loved it.

Keith Mbuya for Readers’ Favorite

An intricate, masterfully crafted plot peppered with twists, authentic detail, and smart dialogue. The Vatican Deal is as fine a thriller as I’ve had the pleasure of reading.

Warren. C. Easley, author of the award-winning Cal Claxton Mysteries

Book Three is coming!

Get the title reveal, cover reveal, and launch news first.  

Subscribed!

Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter! It goes out about once per month. Michael