The Birth of a Killer: Stella Knox Lark Files

by Mary Stone

A wedding should mark a new beginning. This one could destroy it all.

FBI Special Agent Stacy Lark arrives in Las Vegas ready to celebrate. The Nashville team is being honored for its latest case, her philanthropist father is delivering the award, and Stella Knox and Hagen Yates have decided to turn the trip into an impromptu wedding.

Before they can exchange their vows, a woman pulls a gun.

The attack isn’t random. She chose this wedding. She knows Stacy’s family. And whatever brought her to Las Vegas began long before anyone stepped inside the chapel.

As the celebration becomes a standoff, Stacy must uncover what the woman wants before the night ends in blood. But every question draws her deeper into a secret someone has kept buried for years, and every answer places someone she loves closer to death.

In a room built for promises, Stacy is about to discover how much damage one broken vow can cause.

The Birth of a Killer is the gripping bridge novella that connects the bestselling Stella Knox series to the new Lark Files season by bestselling author Mary Stone. Join the Nashville team in Las Vegas, where the past has arrived to collect a deadly debt.

139 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2026

About the author

To download my FREE BOOK, click here: https://authormarystone.com/free-book...

Nestled in the tranquil Blue Ridge Mountains of East Tennessee, Mary Stone has transformed her peaceful home, once bustling with her sons, into a creative haven. As her family grew, so did her writing career, evolving from childhood fears to a deep understanding of real-life villains. Her stories, centered around strong, unconventional heroines, weave themes of courage and intrigue.

Mary's journey from a solitary writer to establishing her own publishing house marks a significant evolution, showcasing her commitment to the literary world. Through her writing and publishing endeavors, she continues to captivate and inspire, honoring her lifelong fascination with the mysterious and the courageous.

Reviews

[Ludmila Husek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dark and Fascinating Addition to the Stella Knox Series with the question of what can turn a person into a killer. I love Stella, she is intelligent, determined, courageous, and willing to follow the evidence into uncomfortable places, carrying her own history and personal questions. Mary did a good job of slowly revealing pieces of the puzzle, that made me wonder, who could be trusted, to understand the killer, fear, the choices. This is another suspenseful and disturbing mystery with the psychological edge, that kept me guessing until the end.

[DianaRaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

"THE BIRTH OF A KILLER" is the sixteenth book in Mary Stone's Stella Knox Series. It also kicks off the new "Lark Files" series. Ms. Stone always delivers a chilling thriller with a twisted plot. As usual, it's another page-turner full of suspense and surprises.

FBI Special Agent Stacy Lark and her Nashville team are in Las Vegas to be honored for their latest successful case, and her father is presenting the award. Stella and Hagen Yates also decide to make the trip an impromptu wedding, with the ceremony to follow the award presentation. But before Stella and Hagen can say "I do," the wedding officiant pulls a gun on the wedding party.

This attack isn't random. The wedding was chosen for maximum revenge. Stacy's family is the primary target, and whatever the reason, it started long before anyone even stepped into the chapel.

They need to figure out what the woman wants before the night ends in blood. But every question uncovers a secret that has been buried for years, and someone gets closer to death.

I got an early copy of this book from the author, and this is my honest review.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific story

This book was a bit different from the previous stories in this series. I'll be honest, I thought that this series was completed (which is marked by the author in current books), so I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a second season, or if the author decided to add more to the original series? Either way, it was a terrific story with a more personal aspect. It states that it's to be continued, so I guess we'll get to see more of these great characters. Can't wait.
I would definitely recommend this book, series, and outstanding author.

[johanna kolb · Rating 5 out of 5]

the gang is in Las Vegas to receive a commendation for their work solving the food poisoning case. everything is fine until a woman seeking to avenge her daughter goes after a team members father, John Lark. .Stacy Larks mother arranges a wedding ceremony for Hagan and Stella after his surprise proposal and this is where the woman decides to retaliate. she takes the team hostage and truth starts coming to light.

[Robin E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received ARC


How NOT to have a wedding!

Can a wedding be planned & pulled off in just 24 hours? In Las Vegas it can! Especially if you have a world class planner, great friends and a plethora of available funds! What can’t be done is having it without the complications of a deranged mother.

I’m not going to give any more clues; you’ll just have to read Birth of a Killer yourself!

[Sue Sandifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stella’s back! Hagen has finally decided to propose to Stella while they are attending an awards dinner in Las Vegas. Nothing goes as planned, but she does say “yes”! Since in Vegas they decide to get hitched right then and there. The wedding ceremony gets a touch off kilter when the legal authorization is to be done. This story has lots of moving parts and is exciting.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stella is back along with Hagan and the team. This time in Las Vegas. But do they or don't they get married? What a ride this story line was. Obviously once started you couldn't put the book down. The tension was there for everyone to read, this time it involves Stacey and her family. Once again the team works together in a very difficult situation in a chapel in Vegas. Another great read.

[MsRoman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Birth of a Killer: Stella Knox Lark Files (Stella Knox FBI Mystery Series) Book 16 of 16: Stella Knox FBI Mystery Series By: Mary Stone. Stella Knox and Hagen Yates and Stacy Lark will take you on an adventure which had me shaking my head and rereading. This is a phenomenal read ..

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Mary Stone, for bringing Stella Knox back and what a way to do it. This is a book you do not want to put down until you reach the end. A real page turner that will not disappoint. Looking forward to future series and see what happens next.

[Bonita Barbick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome Stacy Lark to the Stella and Hagen show. You are going to love it here! Once again Mary Stone has created a winner of a story. From an awards banquet to a wedding surprise the tension is high throughout. The writing talent of Mary Stone makes this a book you cannot put down. Loved it!

[Carol Kraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book as an ARC reader.
The Nashville Team is in Las Vagas to celebrate and receive an award for solving their last case. Everything is going great until a woman decides to get vengeance against Stacy's father for ruining her daughter'slife.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A-Page Turner

A fast paced heart breaking action packed story. Great characters in a Las Vegas setting. Ms Stone certainly knows how to keep an audience engaged. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Barbara Kaake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a awesome story about Stella,Stacy and Hagen and why this woman is after Stacy’s father and what is the reason she is after him and finally finding out the reason with lots of suspense and action. Thank you for this excellent story.

[KATHLEEN CORTE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Birth of a killer this would be great for you and it was a great stand below

This book was a great read and a great standalone. I enjoy reading the plot and some plots that went with it and I loved the way they described the wedding dresses in such a detail. Really enjoyed it.

[Leon W. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a real book!

Only 126 pages ??????
Action, yes. Page turner, yes. But just a short novella at best.
If you can read this for free, fine. But if you pay for it you will be cheated

[Diane D. Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. So much action so fast. From an award presentation to a proposal to a wedding it never stopped moving. The whole FBI Nashville squad was present in Las Vegas.

[Lori garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This plot is really good and the characters are very well written. This series is so worth reading. Can't wait for the next book in this series.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

HELD MY INTEREST I finished in one afternoon. I could not put the book down.

[Sammye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sixteenth book in the Stella Knox FBI Mystery series. The plot was well written and engaging. Lots of mystery and suspense. A gripping series addition