Melanie Vargas is a hardworking, hotshot federal prosecutor in New York City with a rising career in the law and a marriage that's on the rocks. Having caught her husband cheating, she's struggling to work things out, if only for her baby daughter's sake.
On an innocent evening stroll with her child, Melanie stumbles across a horrifying crime scene. A wealthy former prosecutor from her office has been tortured and murdered, his luxurious town house set ablaze to destroy evidence of the crime. It's the kind of high-profile case that can make her name, and Melanie wants in. Needs in. But what she doesn't realize is that this opportunity will bring her dangerously close to a hard-to-resist FBI agent who may have secrets of his own -- and even closer to a dark, sadistic killer who seems to be one step ahead of her every inch of the way.
The story of a young prosecutor's wild race against the clock to solve a brutal high-society murder before the killer finds her, Most Wanted is the stunning, sexy, and spellbinding debut novel that has already garnered rave reviews from today's masters of suspense.

Most Wanted: A Novel of Suspense

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Martinez, Michele

Mystery

William Morrow

A betrayed wife and dedicated mother suddenly forced to raise her six-month-old daughter alone, Melanie Vargas is also an ambitious, hard-working professional who has had to bite and claw for recognition in the federal prosecutor's office. Then, while strolling with her baby girl on a steamy New York night, Melanie stumbles onto the kind of high-profile case that could make a career: the burning townhouse of a wealthy former prosecutor, its owner's tortured, murdered corpse smoldering within. Melanie Vargas wants this chance -- she needs it -- and she'll do whatever it takes to get it.
But a headline-grabbing opportunity of a lifetime could cost Melanie more than she ever imagined, as it pulls her closer to a dangerous affair with a secretive, enigmatic FBI agent -- and closer still to a sadistic human monster moving expertly through the city's darkest shadows.

Most Wanted (A Melanie Vargas Mystery)

Literature & Fiction

United States

HarperTorch

Michele Martinez, author of the critically acclaimed Most Wanted, which USA Today called "a breakout," brings back savvy, sexy federal prosecutor Melanie Vargas in a new case that pits her against a very clever, very scary killer
In a glittering penthouse high above Park Avenue, two beautiful teenagers, students at an exclusive Manhattan girls' school, lie dead under suspicious circumstances. Feeling pressure from the top to solve the high-profile case fast, Melanie breaks all the rules and goes undercover. Teamed with Dan O'Reilly, a hard-to-resist FBI agent with a talent for making her pulse race, Melanie embarks on a wild chase from the rarefied world of New York's elite private schools to the darkest recesses of the city's nightlife. And, ultimately, into a fight for her life against a devious killer who has no intention of getting caught.

The Finishing School: A Novel of Suspense

In a glittering penthouse high above Park Avenue, two beautiful teenagers, students at an exclusive Manhattan girls' school, lie dead under suspicious circumstances. Feeling pressure from the top to solve the high-profile case fast, Melanie breaks all the rules and goes undercover. Teamed with Dan O'Reilly, a hard-to-resist FBI agent with a talent for making her pulse race, Melanie embarks on a wild chase from the rarefied world of New York's elite private schools to the darkest recesses of the city's nightlife. And, ultimately, into a fight for her life against a devious killer who has no intention of getting caught.

The Finishing School

Harper

Melanie Vargas is a hardworking, hotshot federal prosecutor in New York City with a rising career in the law and a marriage that's on the rocks. Having caught her husband cheating, she's struggling to work things out, if only for her baby daughter's sake.
On an innocent evening stroll with her child, Melanie stumbles across a horrifying crime scene. A wealthy former prosecutor from her office has been tortured and murdered, his luxurious town house set ablaze to destroy evidence of the crime. It's the kind of high-profile case that can make her name, and Melanie wants in. Needs in. But what she doesn't realize is that this opportunity will bring her dangerously close to a hard-to-resist FBI agent who may have secrets of his own -- and even closer to a dark, sadistic killer who seems to be one step ahead of her every inch of the way.
The story of a young prosecutor's wild race against the clock to solve a brutal high-society murder before the killer finds her, Most Wanted is the stunning, sexy, and spellbinding debut novel that has already garnered rave reviews from today's masters of suspense.
Performed by Anne Twomey

Most Wanted CD

Genre Fiction

HarperAudio

In a glittering penthouse high above Park Avenue, two beautiful teenagers, students at an exclusive Manhattan girls' school, lie dead under suspicious circumstances. Feeling pressure from the top to solve the high-profile case fast, federal prosecutor Melanie Vargas breaks all the rules and goes undercover. Teamed with Dan O'Reilly, a hard-to-resist FBI agent with a talent for making her pulse race, Melanie embarks on a wild chase from the rarefied world of New York's elite private schools to the darkest recesses of the city's nightlife. And, ultimately, into a fight for her life against a devious killer who has no intention of getting caught.

The Finishing School CD

Television reporter Suzanne Shepard was a ruthless celebrity scandalmonger with a roster of high-profile enemies. But which one left her mutilated, lifeless body in the dark recesses of New York's Central Park? Federal prosecutor Melanie Vargas needs to find out. 
Was it the sinister Park Avenue plastic surgeon with a secret past? Or the trendy personal trainer selling recreational drugs to his rich clients? Or the ambitious city power broker who also happens to be the father of one of Melanie's best friends? Sifting through the scandals that fueled the dead reporter's career is what keeps Melanie from obsessing about her own intense affair with sexy FBI agent Dan O'Reilly. 
But there's more at risk than Melanie's heart. She's been receiving chilling e-mails from an anonymous "admirer" who knows way too much about the murder—and about Melanie's every move. If Melanie doesn't find the killer soon, it will be her own death that makes headlines.

Cover-up

Beautiful and ruthless television reporter Suzanne Shepard made her name by airing brutal celebrity gossip and earned a roster of high-profile enemies in the process. But her own murder was more than a scandal . . . it was a horror show.
At first glance, the mutilated corpse lying still in the Manhattan rain bears all the earmarks of a random sex slaying. But federal prosecutor Melanie Vargas knows that too many people wanted Suzanne Shepard dead for her murder to have been a coincidence.
Sifting through the scandals that fueled the dead reporter's career keeps Melanie from obsessing about her own intense affair with sexy FBI agent Dan O'Reilly. But Melanie's own murder may be the next one to make headlines, now that blood-chilling e-mails are arriving from an anonymous "admirer" who knows far too much about the Shepard slaying . . . and about Melanie's every move.

Cover-up: A Novel of Suspense (Melanie Vargas)

About to take a controversial rap star to trial for a past crime, Melanie Vargas receives an important piece of information from his lawyer. In full confidence, on the steps of New York City's federal courthouse, he tells her that his client may have had ties to a wanted fugitive. Moments later, a powerful car bomb blows the man to pieces, with Melanie only steps away. 
As shocking as the murder is, it has other repercussions for Melanie. Her relationship with the victim wasn't strictly professional. While recovering from her breakup with FBI agent Dan O'Reilly, she had become attracted to the charismatic lawyer. But after his death she realizes that she knew very little about him—including the fact that he was married.
Determined to find the killer, Melanie enters a dangerous world of subterfuge and double-crosses, going as far as the glittering lights of Vegas to discover the truth. But the more she digs, the more she finds troubling about her friend. Several people had the motive to end his life.
Meanwhile, the rapper's defense has been taken over by the slickest shark in the business, a man of questionable morals who may have had previous unlawful dealings with his client. But the outcome of the case isn't the only thing on the line. As the sole witness to the murder, Melanie is in danger of losing her own life. And it isn't long before she realizes that she can't trust anybody, not even those closest to her.

Notorious

Just moments after a confidential discussion on the courthouse steps with federal prosecutor Melanie Vargas, the lawyer for a notorious rap star is blown to pieces. Melanie heard the man's last words . . . Melanie witnessed his death . . . Melanie saw the face of his killer.On the eve of a murder trial, the lawyer for a famous rapper reveals that his client wants to sing for real—to turn state's evidence and give up a much bigger fish. Then a car bomb rips the lawyer apart. Though Melanie's relationship with the murdered man had once been more than professional, she realizes she knew very little about him. Now determined to hunt down his killer, she's entering a dangerous world of terror, subterfuge, and double-cross, and heading deeper into harm's way than she's ever been. Because Melanie Vargas was the sole witness to a heinous and horrible crime with wide and frightening implications . . . and she cannot be allowed to live.

Notorious (A Melanie Vargas Mystery)

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Martinez, Michele. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Martinez, Michele