Books by Michael Balter
The Marty and Bo Thriller Series
Award-winning crime thrillers featuring sharp dialogue, dark humor, and high-stakes intrigue—where friendship, money, and survival collide.
Book One: Chasing Money
A missing masterpiece. A deadly threat. A desperate search.
Marty Schott and Bo Bishop are fighting to keep their struggling startup alive when a mysterious investor offers them a lifeline. Hours later, their business partner is murdered—and Marty and Bo are suddenly caught in the crosshairs of the Russian mob.
With only days to come up with ten million dollars and track down a vanished painting tied to a decades-old art mystery, the pressure mounts fast. As bodies pile up and the clock runs out, Marty and Bo are forced to confront just how far they’ll go to protect their families, their company, and each other.
Chasing Money is a fast-paced, award-winning crime thriller that launches the Marty & Bo series with grit, wit, and relentless momentum.
Available in paperback and hardcover via your favorite local bookstore, as well as on Kindle and Audible. Free to read on Kindle Unlimited.
Book Two: The Vatican Deal
An international crime thriller where nothing—and no one—is what they seem.
Marty Schott and Bo Bishop travel to Italy to close a lucrative business deal involving a historic sculpture foundry and a coveted Vatican licensing agreement. But when their alluring partner disappears, the deal turns deadly.
Pulled into a dangerous web of deception, Marty and Bo find themselves trapped between the Naples Mafia, the Vatican Bank, and the ruthless Russian Vory. As betrayals mount and loyalties fracture, they must uncover the truth behind the Vatican deal—or die trying.
Set against the vivid backdrop of Rome and Naples, The Vatican Deal raises the stakes with international intrigue, razor-sharp dialogue, and twists that hit hard and fast.
Available in paperback and hardcover via your favorite local bookstore, as well as on Kindle and Audible. Free to read on Kindle Unlimited.
Coming July 2026: Dead Exit
A deadly reckoning unfolds in the next Marty & Bo thriller.
Marty Schott and Bo Bishop are trying to untangle themselves from a dangerous partnership when a midnight phone call shatters their plans. Bo’s brother-in-law has been murdered—and the detective on the scene knows them well. He’s questioned them before, and he hasn’t forgotten the case.
As Marty and Bo dig for answers, they uncover a hidden wire, criminal activity inside one of their own companies, and a killer who isn’t finished. With pressure mounting from both the police and the criminal underworld, escape becomes a perilous illusion.
In Dead Exit, the danger isn’t over—it’s waiting for them to make one wrong move.
Be the first to read Dead Exit
Sign up for early access to book three of the Marty and Bo thriller series, plus occasional behind-the-scenes notes from the series, discounts, events, and more!
Praise for the Marty & Bo Thriller Series
Grows funnier and more surprising every step of the way. Balter’s gift for pacing and dialogue make this a series to watch. “
Gritty descriptions, simmering threats, and a wry sense of humor contribute to a countdown to disaster. Exceptionally clever and compelling.”
A strong voice paired with authentic dialogue… Packed with action.”
A brilliant mix of danger, deception, and intrigue. “
Fast-paced, action-packed … Balter excels at combining danger and treachery.”
We can’t remember the last time we read a mafia thriller that was this fun.”
Where to buy
The Marty and Bo Thriller Series is available wherever fine books are sold.
Get the inside scoop!
Sign up to receive a monthly newsletter with the stories behind Michael’s books, as well as upcoming events and book news.