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The Vatican Deal: A Marty and Bo Thriller

By: Michael Balter
Publisher: Mission Point Press
Publication Date: May 15, 2025
ISBN: 978-1-965278444
Reviewed by: Lily Andrews
Review Date: March 3, 2025

The intriguing international criminal thriller The Vatican Deal: A Marty and Bo Thriller by Michael Balter centers on a dubious multi-million-dollar Vatican agreement with unexpected hazards.

In what seems to be the most significant investment they will ever make, two wealthy entrepreneurs, Bo and Marty, intend to buy the second-oldest foundry in Rome, Italy. The foundry, established in 1870, is the world's premier factory for casting and recreating classic three-dimensional art. Museums such as the Vatican, Louvre, and Uffizi commissioned the foundry to manufacture exact replicas of their most valuable statues as insurance against vandalism, earthquakes, war, or fire. It also made replicas for several of the most affluent families in history, such as the Windsors, the Romanovs, the Rockefellers, the Vanderbilts, the Carnegies, and the Gettys, as its collection expanded to over 1000 molds. Bo and Marty could legitimately reproduce all of the artwork in the Vatican Library if they purchased it.

With all of the important decisions and agreements completed, their journey to Rome is expected to be brief. Among their partners are Natalya and Dmitry, the sixth-richest oligarch in Russia, who initially assisted in reviving their failing company. They immediately discover, however, that purchasing the foundry is a risky decision after an individual is severely injured in an accident that undoubtedly intended to kill one of them. Details of an intangible presence- a pervasive and undeniable force- dubbed the 'il sistema' emerge, and next thing they know, their rooms are vandalized. They are also left with a message that reads, "Go home or die." With threats coming from all sides, the question remains whether they will relinquish the acquisition or fight on.

This narrative is set against a very detailed historical backdrop, and the subject of the church's quest for religion and reward provides early clues as to the plot's course. A number of shocking developments drastically change the storyline, such as the foundry acquisition, which is shown to be a sophisticated and deliberate operation, covertly carried out by one unwitting character while other parties appear with quite conflicting interests. The author has created an unusual circumstance in which the characters are stuck between threats against purchasing the aforementioned asset and threats if they do not acquire it. Until much later in the narrative, the path they choose is unknown, which keeps the readers on edge about what the characters should do.

The elements of treachery in this story will make the reader cringe with each new development. Balter breaks down typical mystery barriers by fusing imagination and reality. His closing remarks offer a compelling backdrop that reveals the inclusion of real persons, as well as his business-related activities in Rome that served as the inspiration for the novel. These Italian experiences, which he characterizes as "fertile ground for many fantastic novels over the years," have not let his audience down in this one.

Quill says: The Vatican Deal: A Marty and Bo Thriller is a fast-paced, action-packed crime thriller that will have its readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. Balter excels at combining danger and treachery with unexpected developments throughout, ultimately culminating in an explosive finale.

For more information on The Vatican Deal: A Marty and Bo Thriller, please visit the author’s website at: www.mbalter.com.

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