I’m excited to share that The Vatican Deal: A Marty & Bo Thriller is officially out today—May 15, 2025!
This is the second book in my six-part thriller series following the award-winning Chasing Money, which earned six literary honors, including BestThrillers.com’s 2024 Crime Thriller of the Year. With The Vatican Deal, I bring readers back into the unpredictable world of Marty Schott and Bo Bishop—two ordinary guys who keep finding themselves in extraordinary danger.
A High-Stakes Thriller Set in Rome and Naples
In this latest installment, Marty and Bo travel to Italy to acquire a historic sculpture foundry and close a high-profile licensing deal with the Vatican. Backed by their enigmatic partner Natalya and a powerful Russian oligarch, the venture seems promising—until the deal entangles them with the Vatican Bank, a shadowy financier, and one of Italy’s deadliest Mafia factions.
What begins as a business trip quickly escalates into a life-or-death race through the back alleys of Naples and the gilded halls of the Vatican. Loyalties shift, secrets emerge, and a shocking kidnapping forces Marty and Bo to confront a web of deception that may be too complex to escape.
“Packed with cat-and-mouse games … everything readers could want in a thriller”
— D. Donahue, Sr. Editor, Midwest Book Review
Fiction Inspired by Real Events
Like Chasing Money, The Vatican Deal is rooted in real-life experience. In 2004, I was a partner in an art company bidding on the Chiurazzi Foundry in Naples. That same year I negotiated a licensing deal with the Vatican Library. While in Rome, I sat near Luciano Pavarotti at a papal concert and later joined a post-concert reception at the Palazzo dei Convertendi—where Raphael died in 1520. Those experiences inspired the novel’s setting and tone.
But every thriller needs a threat. As I revisited that year in history, I was struck by the violent Mafia war unfolding across Italy—more than 160 people were killed in brutal clashes between rival Camorra gangs. I began to wonder: what if my fictional characters found themselves entangled in this real conflict? What if their Vatican deal collided with organized crime?
The result is a story where fact and fiction intertwine—where the fine art of diplomacy meets the blunt force of criminal power.
“Michael Balter masterfully crafts a high-stakes thriller that plunges readers deep into the shadowy corridors of power, crime, and deception.”
— Gary McAvoy, author of the Vatican Secret Archive Thrillers
Bringing Italy to Life
Readers have said that The Vatican Deal captures the intricate details of Italy’s history and culture. That’s thanks to a mix of firsthand experience and meticulous research. I retraced the characters’ steps from the Hotel Michelangelo to St. Peter’s Square, researched which sculptures sit atop the Basilica, and even confirmed which flowers would bloom on a Roman breakfast table in spring. I wanted every scene to feel grounded, cinematic, and real.
“A brilliant mix of danger, deception, and intrigue … with complex characters, unpredictable twists, and high-stakes action.”
— Al Warren, House of Mystery Radio Show
A Note to New Readers
If you’re just discovering the Marty & Bo series, welcome! I write thrillers that blend international intrigue, dark humor, real-world history, and unpredictable plot twists. Whether you’re diving into The Vatican Deal first or starting with Chasing Money, I hope you enjoy the ride.
As a relatively new author, your reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, and other sites make a huge difference—and I truly appreciate every one.
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Where to Buy
The Vatican Deal: A Marty & Bo Thriller
301 pages | Mission Point Press
Hardcover: ISBN 978-1-965278-45-1 ($29.95)
Softcover: ISBN 978-1-965278-44-4 ($17.99)
Now available at:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Bookshop.org
- Independent bookstores everywhere
Thank you for reading—and stay tuned. Book 3 is already in the works.
—Michael