What do you think?
Rate this book
Dead Exit: A Marty and Bo Thriller
A DEADLY RECKONING UNFOLDS
in book three of Michael Balter's award-winning crime thriller series.
Marty Schott and Bo Bishop are trying to extricate 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 recognizes them instantly. He’s questioned them before. He hasn’t forgotten.
As Marty and Bo dig for answers, they uncover a hidden wire, criminal activity inside their own company, and a killer who isn’t finished. With threats closing in from every side, they realize there's no escaping the consequences of their past.
In Dead Exit, danger isn’t over—it’s waiting for one wrong move.
“Packed with action, Dead Exit unfolds as a sweeping saga of smuggling, corruption, and intrigue inspired by a real-world FBI sting operation."—D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“A double-shot of murder, dark humor, and white-knuckled suspense that works on every level. Dead Exit will wow newcomers and satisfy series die-hards.”—
“Riveting and unrelenting—Dead Exit is the kind of book that lingers. Balter is at the top of his game.” —Andrew Bridgeman, author of the internationally acclaimed Emma Noble FBI series
“High stakes and dire consequences that will keep you reading late into the night.” —Charlotte Morganti, award-winning author of the Gabrieli Mysteries
“Move over Connelly, Paretsky, and Mosley, I have a new favorite mystery thriller writer!"—Warren C. Easley, award-winning author of the Cal Claxton Mysteries
in book three of Michael Balter's award-winning crime thriller series.
Marty Schott and Bo Bishop are trying to extricate 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 recognizes them instantly. He’s questioned them before. He hasn’t forgotten.
As Marty and Bo dig for answers, they uncover a hidden wire, criminal activity inside their own company, and a killer who isn’t finished. With threats closing in from every side, they realize there's no escaping the consequences of their past.
In Dead Exit, danger isn’t over—it’s waiting for one wrong move.
“Packed with action, Dead Exit unfolds as a sweeping saga of smuggling, corruption, and intrigue inspired by a real-world FBI sting operation."—D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“A double-shot of murder, dark humor, and white-knuckled suspense that works on every level. Dead Exit will wow newcomers and satisfy series die-hards.”—
“Riveting and unrelenting—Dead Exit is the kind of book that lingers. Balter is at the top of his game.” —Andrew Bridgeman, author of the internationally acclaimed Emma Noble FBI series
“High stakes and dire consequences that will keep you reading late into the night.” —Charlotte Morganti, award-winning author of the Gabrieli Mysteries
“Move over Connelly, Paretsky, and Mosley, I have a new favorite mystery thriller writer!"—Warren C. Easley, award-winning author of the Cal Claxton Mysteries
286 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2026
About the author
Michael Balter
3 books29 followersMichael Balter is an Amazon best-selling author known for his sharp wit and high-stakes crime fiction. His debut novel, Chasing Money, received multiple honors, including the Best Indie Book Award for Crime Thrillers, gold medals from the Feathered Quill and the Military Writers’ Society of America, the Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal for Crime Fiction, and the 2024 Crime Thriller of the Year Award from BestThrillers.com.
His second novel, The Vatican Deal, won the CIPA EVVY Gold Medal for Thrillers & Suspense and became an Amazon #1 Hot New Release. Dead Exit, the third novel in the Marty and Bo thriller series, will be released in July 2026.
Born in Berlin, Michael grew up in a bombed-out building. When the Berlin Wall went up, his family fled to America. During the Vietnam War, he served as an air traffic controller at Udorn Air Force Base in Thailand. Michael earned a degree in aerospace engineering before joining Intel Corporation in the early days of Silicon Valley. He later became an entrepreneur, launching ventures ranging from a voice-recognition startup to an art company and a private equity firm. A business partner’s kidnapping by a Russian mobster inspired elements of Chasing Money.
Michael lives in Charlevoix, Michigan, and is working on his next novel. Learn more at mbalter.com
His second novel, The Vatican Deal, won the CIPA EVVY Gold Medal for Thrillers & Suspense and became an Amazon #1 Hot New Release. Dead Exit, the third novel in the Marty and Bo thriller series, will be released in July 2026.
Born in Berlin, Michael grew up in a bombed-out building. When the Berlin Wall went up, his family fled to America. During the Vietnam War, he served as an air traffic controller at Udorn Air Force Base in Thailand. Michael earned a degree in aerospace engineering before joining Intel Corporation in the early days of Silicon Valley. He later became an entrepreneur, launching ventures ranging from a voice-recognition startup to an art company and a private equity firm. A business partner’s kidnapping by a Russian mobster inspired elements of Chasing Money.
Michael lives in Charlevoix, Michigan, and is working on his next novel. Learn more at mbalter.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 10, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up for a rather involved thriller. This is book 3 in the series, and I believe that I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the previous books. Marty Schott and Bo Bishop are in the process of extricating their company from a dangerous partnership when they learn that Bo's brother in law has been murdered. The detective investigating the murder remembers them from a previous case(covered in a previous book). Detective Adams suspects the second murder is not a coincidence. Marty and Bo decide to investigate. They discover some worrying circumstances: the murdered b-i-l was wearing a wire, and one of their companies is involved in criminal activity.
Marty and Bo have secrets that could come to light if the investigation digs too deep. They are determined to prevent that, but also don't want to end up in prison or dead.
I can't say more without going into spoiler territory.
There is a satisfactory ending.
Thank You Michael Balter for sending me a signed copy of this book through LibraryThing.
Marty and Bo have secrets that could come to light if the investigation digs too deep. They are determined to prevent that, but also don't want to end up in prison or dead.
I can't say more without going into spoiler territory.
There is a satisfactory ending.
Thank You Michael Balter for sending me a signed copy of this book through LibraryThing.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
If you loved Chasing Money and the Vatican Deal, you'll be relieved to know that Michael Balter brings everything you've loved about the series so far to his novel.
This time, the sharp-tongued business partners are in Portland, Oregon. The current crisis feels more intimate, more destabilizing and ultimately more revealing. The book opens with a 1 a.m. phone call informing Marty that Tadeo Ramírez, the husband of Bo’s sister Laura, has been shot to death outside Shangri-La, a strip club owned by Alex Danilenko.
Marty and Bo, now operating a variety of businesses including a plastics company, a sawmill, a microbrewery and a convenience-store company, rush to the scene. They find Detective Chuck Adams, who remembers them from an earlier murder and carries the air of a man who has no reason to believe trouble ever really left their orbit.
As the investigation promises to identify Tadeo’s killer, Marty and Bo begin uncovering signs of a smuggling operation inside their own company. Where The Vatican Deal had Marty and Bo navigating an outlandish international scheme involving art, the Vatican and the mafia, Dead Exit has them struggling for self-preservation.
But is the series still funny? Hell yes. The book is chock full of memorable one-liners (Marty and Bo “swim in shit and call it soup”). In fact, Marty’s narration remains Balter’s most valuable asset. He’s witty, defensive, observant and always half-aware that his instincts may be making things worse. Bo continues to serve as the steadier counterweight, a more grounded presence whose loyalty to family gives the case immediate emotional force.
The friendship between the two men still does much of the heavy lifting, just as it did in Chasing Money and The Vatican Deal, but here it is tested less by adventurous criminal intrigue than by pressure closing in from every side.In some ways, Dead Exit is a story about systems within families, businesses and crime syndicates. That grounded logistical texture gives the novel a more contemporary and bruising feel than its predecessor. For series fans, the book is a satisfying evolution of Marty and Bo’s character arcs. For new readers, the book offers a strong murder-driven entry point into a thriller series increasingly interested not just in danger, but in consequence.
This time, the sharp-tongued business partners are in Portland, Oregon. The current crisis feels more intimate, more destabilizing and ultimately more revealing. The book opens with a 1 a.m. phone call informing Marty that Tadeo Ramírez, the husband of Bo’s sister Laura, has been shot to death outside Shangri-La, a strip club owned by Alex Danilenko.
Marty and Bo, now operating a variety of businesses including a plastics company, a sawmill, a microbrewery and a convenience-store company, rush to the scene. They find Detective Chuck Adams, who remembers them from an earlier murder and carries the air of a man who has no reason to believe trouble ever really left their orbit.
As the investigation promises to identify Tadeo’s killer, Marty and Bo begin uncovering signs of a smuggling operation inside their own company. Where The Vatican Deal had Marty and Bo navigating an outlandish international scheme involving art, the Vatican and the mafia, Dead Exit has them struggling for self-preservation.
But is the series still funny? Hell yes. The book is chock full of memorable one-liners (Marty and Bo “swim in shit and call it soup”). In fact, Marty’s narration remains Balter’s most valuable asset. He’s witty, defensive, observant and always half-aware that his instincts may be making things worse. Bo continues to serve as the steadier counterweight, a more grounded presence whose loyalty to family gives the case immediate emotional force.
The friendship between the two men still does much of the heavy lifting, just as it did in Chasing Money and The Vatican Deal, but here it is tested less by adventurous criminal intrigue than by pressure closing in from every side.In some ways, Dead Exit is a story about systems within families, businesses and crime syndicates. That grounded logistical texture gives the novel a more contemporary and bruising feel than its predecessor. For series fans, the book is a satisfying evolution of Marty and Bo’s character arcs. For new readers, the book offers a strong murder-driven entry point into a thriller series increasingly interested not just in danger, but in consequence.
July 7, 2026
Dead Exit is a fast-paced crime thriller that delivers suspense, intrigue, and plenty of unexpected twists. Michael Balter throws readers straight into the action as Marty Schott and Bo Bishop find themselves caught between a murder investigation, organized crime, and a dangerous conspiracy that reaches far beyond what they initially suspect.
The story excels at building tension. Every new discovery raises the stakes, from hidden evidence within their own company to a complex network involving cigarette smuggling, counterfeit money, and an FBI operation that is anything but straightforward. Balter keeps the plot moving at a brisk pace, making it difficult to predict who can be trusted or where the next threat will come from.
The partnership between Marty and Bo is one of the novel’s greatest strengths. Their friendship is tested by secrets, conflicting loyalties, and personal mistakes, giving the story an emotional layer that complements the nonstop action. Marty’s complicated relationship with Natalya adds further tension, creating difficult choices that feel believable and consequential.
Balter balances crime, mystery, and character development effectively, while the Portland setting provides a grounded backdrop for the escalating danger. The action scenes are engaging without overwhelming the investigation, and the mystery unfolds in a way that rewards readers who enjoy piecing together clues.
Dead Exit is an entertaining thriller filled with sharp pacing, compelling characters, and enough suspense to keep the pages turning until the very end. Fans of crime fiction, conspiracy thrillers, and stories where every decision carries real consequences will find plenty to enjoy. It’s a satisfying sequel that raises the stakes while standing strongly on its own.
The story excels at building tension. Every new discovery raises the stakes, from hidden evidence within their own company to a complex network involving cigarette smuggling, counterfeit money, and an FBI operation that is anything but straightforward. Balter keeps the plot moving at a brisk pace, making it difficult to predict who can be trusted or where the next threat will come from.
The partnership between Marty and Bo is one of the novel’s greatest strengths. Their friendship is tested by secrets, conflicting loyalties, and personal mistakes, giving the story an emotional layer that complements the nonstop action. Marty’s complicated relationship with Natalya adds further tension, creating difficult choices that feel believable and consequential.
Balter balances crime, mystery, and character development effectively, while the Portland setting provides a grounded backdrop for the escalating danger. The action scenes are engaging without overwhelming the investigation, and the mystery unfolds in a way that rewards readers who enjoy piecing together clues.
Dead Exit is an entertaining thriller filled with sharp pacing, compelling characters, and enough suspense to keep the pages turning until the very end. Fans of crime fiction, conspiracy thrillers, and stories where every decision carries real consequences will find plenty to enjoy. It’s a satisfying sequel that raises the stakes while standing strongly on its own.
July 28, 2026
I picked up Dead Exit expecting a fast-paced crime thriller, but what I got was a hauntingly complex character study wrapped in high-stakes legal, financial, and underworld drama.
Michael Balter writes with precision and authority. The narrative smoothly navigates the intricate layers of a bi-coastal FBI sting operation (Smoking Dragon and Royal Charm), Russian mob extortion, and corporate debt restructuring, making every procedural detail feel chillingly authentic.
At the core of the story is Marty Schott—a protagonist whose moral dilemmas are painfully human. Marty isn't choosing between right and wrong; he is constantly calculating which wrong he can live with to protect his family. Watching his carefully constructed lies unravel through a single, devastating administrative mistake at the eleventh hour is pure narrative heartbreak.
What stood out the most:
Atmospheric Pacing: The transition from intense boardroom negotiations to quiet, emotionally charged domestic moments creates incredible momentum.
Complex Dynamics: The bond between Marty and his partner Bo brings a brilliant layer of dry humor, loyalty, and tragic irony.
The Emotional Core: The final chapter, featuring Marty and his dog Boomer on his last night of freedom, is easily one of the most poignant scenes I've read in a thriller this year.
Knowing that Balter drew inspiration from real 2005 FBI operations and true financial collapses adds a incredible layer of realism to the plot.
If you love gritty, character-driven thrillers with high emotional intelligence—think Raymond Chandler meets modern financial suspense—do yourself a favor and add Dead Exit to your TBR immediately.
Michael Balter writes with precision and authority. The narrative smoothly navigates the intricate layers of a bi-coastal FBI sting operation (Smoking Dragon and Royal Charm), Russian mob extortion, and corporate debt restructuring, making every procedural detail feel chillingly authentic.
At the core of the story is Marty Schott—a protagonist whose moral dilemmas are painfully human. Marty isn't choosing between right and wrong; he is constantly calculating which wrong he can live with to protect his family. Watching his carefully constructed lies unravel through a single, devastating administrative mistake at the eleventh hour is pure narrative heartbreak.
What stood out the most:
Atmospheric Pacing: The transition from intense boardroom negotiations to quiet, emotionally charged domestic moments creates incredible momentum.
Complex Dynamics: The bond between Marty and his partner Bo brings a brilliant layer of dry humor, loyalty, and tragic irony.
The Emotional Core: The final chapter, featuring Marty and his dog Boomer on his last night of freedom, is easily one of the most poignant scenes I've read in a thriller this year.
Knowing that Balter drew inspiration from real 2005 FBI operations and true financial collapses adds a incredible layer of realism to the plot.
If you love gritty, character-driven thrillers with high emotional intelligence—think Raymond Chandler meets modern financial suspense—do yourself a favor and add Dead Exit to your TBR immediately.
August 6, 2026
This book was definitely interesting and fast-paced throughout—it felt like a rollercoaster! The energy never really let up, but because I jumped right into the series here, I felt like I couldn't quite keep my bearings.
Starting with the third book was probably not the best idea. While the author gave enough background information to follow the broad strokes, I still felt like I missed a lot of underlying connections. By the time the final few chapters rolled around, everything felt like a massive lore-dump explaining what had been going on the whole time. It honestly felt like walking into a meeting five minutes before it ends and just doing your absolute best to keep up.
Because of that initial disconnection, I wasn’t a huge fan of Marty. He just came off as annoying to me. He kept making bad decisions, and since I didn't have much of an emotional connection to him from the start, it was hard to root for him. Having his main motivation revolve around hiding a big, terrible secret just made me dislike him even more. By the end of the book, I actually felt a little relieved not to have to deal with him anymore!
All that being said, I think it was still a good, compelling book. It just didn’t grab me enough to make me want to go back and read the first two. From what I can gather about the series arc, though, this seems like a fitting way to close out their journey... I guess. Shrug
On a brighter note, it was really nice that the book managed to squeeze in a good amount of funny moments, even right in the middle of all the chaos!
Starting with the third book was probably not the best idea. While the author gave enough background information to follow the broad strokes, I still felt like I missed a lot of underlying connections. By the time the final few chapters rolled around, everything felt like a massive lore-dump explaining what had been going on the whole time. It honestly felt like walking into a meeting five minutes before it ends and just doing your absolute best to keep up.
Because of that initial disconnection, I wasn’t a huge fan of Marty. He just came off as annoying to me. He kept making bad decisions, and since I didn't have much of an emotional connection to him from the start, it was hard to root for him. Having his main motivation revolve around hiding a big, terrible secret just made me dislike him even more. By the end of the book, I actually felt a little relieved not to have to deal with him anymore!
All that being said, I think it was still a good, compelling book. It just didn’t grab me enough to make me want to go back and read the first two. From what I can gather about the series arc, though, this seems like a fitting way to close out their journey... I guess. Shrug
On a brighter note, it was really nice that the book managed to squeeze in a good amount of funny moments, even right in the middle of all the chaos!
July 12, 2026
I think this book is a prime example of why you don’t start a series in the middle. I enjoyed the plot, I thought it was well written with enough action to keep you interested and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, but I also felt like I was missing a lot of connections because I didn’t read the first two books. Unfortunately, I also felt no emotional connection to any of the characters. The main two seem kinda dumb, by their actions, cowardly at points and blustery loud mouths at others and every time it seems like it was
the wrong way to be. They really didn’t seem to have any redeeming qualities, Bo was basically devoid of personality in this book and Marty seemed to do all the wrong things, like I said before, and his only real motivation was making sure his wife didn’t find out about his affair. He didn’t seem remorseful about It, at points I didn’t even think he wanted to end it, just as long as his wife didn’t find out…pretty lame. Now, were they better in the earlier books and I just missed out on that connection because I started with book 3?
Maybe, but I don’t know. Maybe I’ll eventually check out the first two books in the series, but I’m not in much of a rush to do that. I feel like that sounds harsher than I intended it to…the book really wasn’t that bad….but it is what it is.
the wrong way to be. They really didn’t seem to have any redeeming qualities, Bo was basically devoid of personality in this book and Marty seemed to do all the wrong things, like I said before, and his only real motivation was making sure his wife didn’t find out about his affair. He didn’t seem remorseful about It, at points I didn’t even think he wanted to end it, just as long as his wife didn’t find out…pretty lame. Now, were they better in the earlier books and I just missed out on that connection because I started with book 3?
Maybe, but I don’t know. Maybe I’ll eventually check out the first two books in the series, but I’m not in much of a rush to do that. I feel like that sounds harsher than I intended it to…the book really wasn’t that bad….but it is what it is.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of “Dead Exit.” Wow! What a trip!
Marty and Bo, two of my favorite literary entrepreneurs, have fallen into a deep well of trouble again that sucks them into yet another tangled web of murder and intrigue.
Balter’s talent for cliffhanger chapter endings and surprise plot twists is on vivid display in this tantalizing tale.
I find myself talking to the page more than once, warning, “No, Marty, no. Don’t do it!” Then he does it, and has to dig himself out of a deep pile of sh*t.
If you like to root for the underdogs to succeed against insurmountable odds, this story will more than satisfy that craving.
I recommend this book, but only if you have the fortitude to turn out the lights and force yourself to stop reading at night. Otherwise you will likely still be reading as the sun rises in the morning. It’s that hard to put down!
Balter’s talent for cliffhanger chapter endings and surprise plot twists is on vivid display in this tantalizing tale.
I find myself talking to the page more than once, warning, “No, Marty, no. Don’t do it!” Then he does it, and has to dig himself out of a deep pile of sh*t.
If you like to root for the underdogs to succeed against insurmountable odds, this story will more than satisfy that craving.
I recommend this book, but only if you have the fortitude to turn out the lights and force yourself to stop reading at night. Otherwise you will likely still be reading as the sun rises in the morning. It’s that hard to put down!
August 6, 2026
“Dead Exit” by Michael Balter is a very good follow on novel in his Marty Schott and Bo Bishop series. Marty and Bo are in the process of buying their business back from Dmitry and Natalia, members of a Russian mob. Bo’s brother-in-law is killed outside a strip club owned by Natalia in Portland. The investigating cop remembers Marty and Bo from an unsolved murder in the first book in the series. They try to figure out why Bo’s brother-in-law was killed and why he had a homemade recording device on him at the time of the murder. Dmitry’s accountant tips them to one of the businesses they are trying buy back is probably involved in smuggling based on his evaluation of the books. They start investigating the business and find out about the smuggling. During this investigation in to the murder and smuggling, they come under the suspicion of the FBI. The story then revolves around the smuggling with them trying to complete the purchase and avoid being arrested by Portland Police or the FBI.
August 16, 2026
Dead Exit is the 3rd Marty and Bo thriller and by far the BEST one. Like the other two it is filled with twists, turns, and humor. While trying to get Dmitry and Natalya out of their company, Paladin Holdings, they are advised to look at one of their other companies Corner24. What they discover leaves them speechless and wondering where and who they can turn to.
Like with the first 2 books I couldn't put them down and read them in a day each. But with Dead Exit it had its hold after reading the first 3 sentences. It was so good I read it in half a day and while the ending was good it leaves me hoping that it doesn't end there. We need more Marty and Bo for sure.
Thank you Michael Balter for sending me the books. I love them!
Like with the first 2 books I couldn't put them down and read them in a day each. But with Dead Exit it had its hold after reading the first 3 sentences. It was so good I read it in half a day and while the ending was good it leaves me hoping that it doesn't end there. We need more Marty and Bo for sure.
Thank you Michael Balter for sending me the books. I love them!
Review of advance copy
I definitely hated that ending!! A price to pay, for business decisions and an indiscreet encounter. Abby was too quick and harsh in her lasting permanent choices. Forgive and move forward. " Most" of what Marty did was in the line of business decisions and stress. Was Abby's heart so small and hard that she couldn't give a little to gain more??
And Boomer, will he be lost? Will he understand?
I cried for all the unfairness of Marty's ending.
A gripping action and suspenseful gritty story. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest review.
And Boomer, will he be lost? Will he understand?
I cried for all the unfairness of Marty's ending.
A gripping action and suspenseful gritty story. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest review.
July 10, 2026
Well, I thought the first two books in the series were 5 star gems in the genre. I didn’t think it was possible, but Michael Balter actually wrote a story here that’s even better! I rarely call a book a “page-turner”, but I read the last 200 pages of this book after 10pm last night because I couldn’t wait to finish it. Balter writes American tragedy so well in this book that it rivals anything the great Arthur Miller ever wrote in my opinion. I recommend reading the three books of the series in order for the best impact. The narration was very good on the audiobook as well, so this is a good one to read and listen if you can.
August 23, 2026
This is the third book involving Marty and Bo and their adventures. I read the first one and got to know these two characters. Didn’t read the second one, but this one summarizes what happened in the first two so the reader can see who much trouble these two get into. This time in trying to find out who killed Bo’s brother-in-law, they find out one of their businesses is into smuggling and it is no small deal. They story is fast paced and action packed, kept me reading, but overall, I didn’t care for the two guys and why people keep on getting killed around them.
August 2, 2026
This was a sometimes funny and sometimes sad story. Lots of suspense.
August 11, 2026
Won this kindle copy on Goodreads and I honestly do not know why they sent it. This was not a copy with words, just sort of an outline. What a piece of utter crap. How about an actual book.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews