Books by Michael Balter
Michael’s debut novel, Chasing Money, is a fast-paced thriller set in the kind of startup that doesn’t make the cover of Inc. magazine. It’s not high-tech, it’s not highly successful, and when an investor pitch meeting ends in murder, it’s going to take all that Marty and Bo have just to stay alive.
Winner – 2023 Best Indie Book Award – Crime Thriller!
“A tense and captivating thriller”
Chasing Money
Most investor pitch meetings don’t end in murder, but Marty and Bo haven’t had a lot of luck lately. They were just trying to keep their startup alive – but now they’ve got a bigger problem – keeping themselves alive. The Russian mob is after them, and if they 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.
Marty and Bo were desperate for money when Nico Scava offered to partner with them. He had money, connections in the art world, and a creative idea, but maybe they should have asked more questions. Now Nico’s been murdered, and they’re on the hook for whatever scheme he was running. They don’t dare reveal their ignorance because that would make them dispensable. They’ll have to figure it out themselves.
Their frantic chase will lead them from a cabin in the Oregon woods to a Portland strip club, from an aging artist to a bogus baron, and deep into the history of a missing masterpiece that someone is willing to kill to obtain. As the bodies pile up, Marty and Bo will have some tough choices to make about how far they’ll go to protect their families, their company, and themselves.
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Advance Reviews – Chasing Money
A gritty, heart-pounding thriller that grabs you from the first page and won’t let you get away!
Chasing Money is a rollercoaster of a ride. It’s wildly inventive and incredibly entertaining. A thriller with a flawed lead character, Chasing Money had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put it down.”
In Chasing Money, Michael Balter treats his readers to a smart, tightly woven tale of greed, deception, and treachery in the worlds of art forgery and high finance. Tinged with noir and ringing with authenticity, his story teems with sharply etched characters and jolting plot twists. Don’t miss this impressive debut novel!
In Chasing Money, entrepreneur Marty Schott and his partner Bo only want to save their sinking start-up but are suddenly thrust into a grueling battle to protect their lives and family from violent unknown investors. With crisp dialogue and tightly packed scenes, Michael Balter tells an intense and nearly tragic tale with splashes of dark humor, an intriguing supporting cast, and a real-life art mystery. Balter comes out strong with his first novel.
Michael Balter has crafted a page-turning crime novel that creates a feeling of dread as the characters are drawn deeper and deeper into a dangerous environment. Reminiscent of the works of Eric Ambler or Elmore Leonard, Chasing Money follows two unsuspecting businessmen who end up in a game of cat and mouse with mobsters and their psychopathic enforcer. Each chapter takes these hapless men into a progressively more deadly game that they don’t understand until the very end. It is a fantastic first novel.
In Chasing Money, Martin Schott and Bo Bishop, a pair of struggling entrepreneurs with a history of failed ventures, team up with the wayward son of a famous artist to attract investors with his father’s art. It’s working until they run afoul of a deranged Russian hitman who believes they’re part of a scheme to cheat his client out of millions and a long-lost masterpiece. Balter’s acerbic wit, clear writing style, and extensive knowledge of art history make this a captivating read that you won’t want to put down. Enjoy the thrilling ride of Chasing Money!
5-Star Review – Reader’s Favorite
“Chasing Money is an impressive debut novel by a gifted author.”
Contact Michael
Michael welcomes inquiries from publishers and agents, as well as friends and eager readers