Black Rose

Stella LaRosa, Book 1

By: L.T. Ryan, Kristi Belcamino

Narrated by: Veronica Pace

In the heart of San Francisco, a city known for its striking contrasts of beauty and danger, Stella LaRosa plunges into an investigation that will challenge every skill she's honed as a seasoned journalist.

When a gruesome murder disrupts the deceptive calm of the city, Stella finds herself entangled in a web of secrets that spans the globe, reaching into the dark recesses of power, betrayal, and revenge.

Mark Bellamy's life ends in a fog-shrouded alley, his existence erased by a shadowy figure skilled enough to move undetected through the night. His last thoughts, a blend of fear and determination, set the stage for a story that pulls Stella into the murky depths of clandestine operations, where the Headway program—a government initiative shrouded in secrecy—threatens to unravel, exposing a conspiracy that could shake the nation to its core.

As Stella delves deeper, she's forced to confront her own past, a mosaic of assignments in war-torn corners of the world, where the line between right and wrong blurred long ago. With the help of Detective Rob Griffin, a figure from her past with secrets of his own, Stella races against time to peel back layers of deceit, unaware that the truth might demand the ultimate sacrifice.

Black Rose is a thrilling ride through the shadowy streets of San Francisco, down the corridors of power in Washington, D.C., and into the heart of darkness itself. L.T. Ryan and Kristi Belcamino weave a tale of suspense, betrayal, and unexpected alliances, where the search for justice could cost Stella everything she holds dear. In a world where trust is a commodity more valuable than gold, Stella must decide how far she's willing to go to expose the truth—and whether she can survive the consequences.

©2024 L.T. Ryan (P)2024 Liquid Mind Media

Good character

The mafia angle seemed unlikely, interesting but unnecessary. The conspiracy side seemed believable and scary.

Great twists!

Very good story. The only thing I didn’t like was the narrator didn’t show enough emotion in her voice.

Could be better

It would’ve benefited from another round of editing. The reader was not great - mispronouncing common words and too monotone in between sections of dialogue.