Lassiter/Martinez Case Files

Series · 4 books · 2015-2022

By Joseph Badal

Books in series

Borderline

2015

Barbara Lassiter and Susan Martinez, two New Mexico homicide detectives, are assigned to investigate the murder of a wealthy Albuquerque socialite. They soon discover that the victim, a narcissistic borderline personality, played a lifetime game of destroying people’s lives. As a result, the list of suspects in her murder is extensive. The detectives find themselves enmeshed in a helix of possible perpetrators with opportunity, means, and motive—and soon question giving their best efforts to solve the case the more they learn about the victim’s hideous past. Their job gets tougher when the victim’s psychiatrist is murdered and DVDs turn up that show the doctor had serial sexual relationships with a large number of his female patients, including the murder victim. “Borderline” presents a fascinating cast of characters, including two heroic female detective-protagonists and a diabolical villain; a rollercoaster ride of suspense; and an ending that will surprise and shock the reader.

Dark Angel

2017

“Relentless from start to finish. Badal just gets better and better.” —David Morrell, New York Times Bestselling Author of “Murder As a Fine Art” In “Dark Angel,” the second in the Lassiter/Martinez Case Files series, Detectives Barbara Lassiter and Susan Martinez pick up where they left off in “Borderline.” Assigned to a murder case, they discover that their suspect is much more than a one-off killer. In fact, the murderer appears to be a vigilante hell-bent on taking revenge against career criminals who the criminal justice system has failed to punish. But Lassiter and Martinez are soon caught up in the middle of an FBI investigation of a monstrous home invasion gang that has murdered dozens of innocent victims across the United States. When they discover a link between their vigilante killer and the home invasion crew, they come into conflict with powerful men in the FBI who are motivated more by career self-preservation than by bringing justice to innocent victims. Award-Winning and best-selling author Joseph Badal presents another intricate, tension-filled mystery that puts readers on the edge of their seats from the first page to the last, and will have them demanding more Lassiter/Martinez stories. “Great characters, action and plotting. ‘Dark Angel’ is a real winner!” —Paul Kemprecos, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of “The Minoan Cipher”

Natural Causes

2019

Homicide detective partners Barbara Lassiter and Susan Martinez return in this third edition of the Lassiter/Martinez Case Files series. Called in to investigate a mysterious death in a retirement center, Lassiter and Martinez find themselves entangled in a case that might very well involve multiple murders committed by a psychopathic killer. The deeper they get into their investigation, the more complex and dangerous the case becomes, threatening the lives of the detectives and their loved ones. Political and bureaucratic machinations within the detectives' department and the involvement of organized crime only make their jobs more difficult. Award-Winning, Amazon #1 Best-Selling author Joseph Badal offers up another suspenseful, unputdownable tale, with twists and turns that will put and keep the reader on a roller coaster ride of drama, action, and emotion from the first to the last page.

Everything to Lose

2022

Everything to Lose pits New Mexico homicide detectives Barbara Lassiter and Susan Martinez against a duo of mass murderers terrorizing Albuquerque, New Mexico…and then their arch-nemesis, Lisa French, targets the detectives for murder. In this 4th book in his Lassiter/Martinez Case Files series, award-winning and Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author Joseph Badal brings back his female detectives as they investigate a series of murders in the Albuquerque area. Inspired by actual events, Everything to Lose is an edge-of-the-seat thriller built on a foundation of characters from previous books in the series, including Lisa French, a psychopathic murderer in her own right. This take-your-breath-away story will put you on a thrill ride of tension, misdirection, and surprise within the backdrop of New Mexico’s majestic landscape and unique culture. Barbara Lassiter and Susan Martinez, savvy ladies with real life personas, are the best female detective duo since Cagney & Lacey. They will have you begging for more of their exploits.

Author

Joseph Badal

Author · 12 books

"Joe Badal has had a varied and successful career. After 6 years as a decorated commissioned Army officer, having served in Vietnam and Greece, he had a long banking and finance career. He has had 16 suspense novels published: 4 stand-alones (The Pythagorean Solution, Shell Game, Ultimate Betrayal, and Payback); 6 books in the Danforth Saga (Evil Deeds, Terror Cell, The Nostradamus Secret,The Lone Wolf Agenda, Death Ship, and Sins of the Fathers); 3 books in the Lassiter/Martinez Case Files (Borderline, Dark Angel, and Natural Causes); and 3 books in the Curtis Chronicles (The Motive, Obsessed, and Justice). He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author and has received numerous awards, including being recognized as "One of The 50 Best Writers You Should Be Reading." He is a two-time winner of the Tony Hillerman Award for Best Fiction Book of the Year, and has received multiple Gold Medals from the Military Writers Society of America. His books have received Finalist honors in the International Book Awards contest and in the Eric Hoffer Awards. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in International Finance and Business Administration, is a graduate of the Stanford University Law School's Director College, and of the Defense Language Institute, West Coast. Joe has also written dozens of articles that have been published in a variety of business magazines and trade journals, and is a frequent speaker at business and writers’ events. His blog, Everyday Heroes, highlights individuals just like you who are confronted with a challenge and rise to the occasion."