The Written World of Ross Gallen
The Written Word of
Ross Gallen
Welcome. Thank you for visiting my website.
All days are good days. Some days are better than others.
I am a novelist and storyteller and lifelong litigation attorney exploring the intricate intersections of memory, place, and the human spirit.
From years of observation and a deep-seated passion for literary craftsmanship, I invite readers into worlds that are emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating. My writing philosophy is rooted in the artisanal—each sentence carefully weighted, each character breathed into life with purpose and empathy. I am dedicated to weaving tales that linger long after the final page is turned.
Religious extremism in Iran has disrupted individual security. The Mullahs and the IRGC threaten western civilization. Preaching “Death to America” is not acceptable free speech. We are the inheritors of the Magna Carta and through our Constitution uphold the dignity of the individual. Extremist Iranian Muslim elements would destroy our values and leave us to the capricious conduct of religious fanatics.
When I constructed this website, I looked at other models and thought that they lacked authenticity because they were too slick or too parsed. I questioned whether they were created by AI merely to entice readers without containing any real transparency.
My colleagues questioned why I would pursue writing of novels when my career as a litigation attorney was full. My explanation was simply that while prosecuting and defending a plethora of criminal and civil cases, I was privileged to look through the window of many individuals' minds and explore the reasons for their behavior. I was driven by the urge to record what I observed. I wanted to record the good and the bad and put their thoughts into real characters who could be appreciated by readers, allowing each reader to arrive at his or her own conclusions.
In my professional life, I have seen good and evil as well as brutality. I believe words can be used to present a transparent reality. When there is transparency without deception, it is difficult to perpetrate evil conduct. Truth isn't requested, it is demanded! Deception lurks around every corner.
About the Author
I was born in New York and raised in California.
Growing up during the turbulent Soviet–U.S. nuclear era, I became deeply aware of the stark absence of civil liberties within the Soviet hegemony. That awareness shaped me early on and instilled a lifelong belief that the Constitution is all that stands between ordinary Americans and arbitrary government power.
My writing journey began as an Op-Ed contributor to my high school newspaper, where I first discovered the power of words to challenge ideas and provoke thought.
I later graduated from the University of Redlands, simultaneous earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. After a brief time in graduate school at the University of California, I pursued law at California Western School of Law, where I earned my Juris Doctor degree.
I am a member of the State Bar of California and the State Bar of Texas. As a Deputy District Attorney, I had the privilege of arguing the landmark case of In re Kay before the Supreme Court of California.
I refined my courtroom skills as a Deputy Public Defender, representing clients charged with capital murder and other serious felonies, before becoming a managing partner in a civil litigation firm.
Over the years, I served as a Judge Pro Tem of the Orange County Superior Court and have been recognized in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Pre-eminent Lawyers in America.
Today, I devote my time to writing fiction and continuing the practice of law—two professions that, in different ways, allow me to explore justice, human nature, and the enduring importance of Constitutional freedoms.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Well Written, Complex Thriller
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2026
Format: Kindle Verified Purchase
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp plans to distribute cocaine and heroin in the United States. By doing so, they will hurt America, while simultaneously financing additional schemes. The IRGC has a defector in their midst, though, and he sends proof of the drug
syndicate’s existence on a disk to a US Federal Court Judge. When the IRGC finds out about it, they will stop at nothing to recover the evidence. They murder the judge, which tips off Jake Mandel, an attorney and the judge’s best friend.
Enter Wally Ovasi, an eighteen-year-old whose father was born in Iran before fleeing to America. Wally learns about his roots and becomes a tool of the IRGC. Now, he is pitted against Mandel, the attorney who wants justice for his murdered friend. As the tension rises and the stakes grow larger, these two become involved in a deadly game of cat and mouse. This thriller is certain to draw in readers with its elaborate situations and memorable characters.
Steven Finkelstein
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2026
Format: Kindle Verified Purchase
I finished Betrayed and honestly, it didn’t feel like a typical spy book to me. It’s not super fast or full of action every second. It’s slower and more serious, like it wants you to really think about what’s happening. Sometimes it even made me feel a bit uncomfortable because it feels too real.
The idea of using drugs as a way to destroy a society from the inside was shocking. That part hit me because it reminded me of real life. I’ve seen how addiction can slowly affect people around a community, like everything looks normal at first, but little by little things start to change, families get affected, and it becomes something really hard to control. So reading that in the book didn’t feel like fiction, it felt close to reality.
Eric Rodriguez
5.0 out of 5 stars When Loyalty Is Broken.
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2026
Format: Kindle Verified Purchase
This book by Ross Gallen offers a story full of tension and unexpected twists that takes us on a journey to explore the consequences of trust being broken at the worst possible moment.
Throughout the story, the characters are drawn into a web of deceit, secrets, and difficult decisions that will test their values and their ability to distinguish between allies and enemies. Gallen creates an atmosphere of suspense, where the key pieces of the puzzle are revealed one by one in each chapter.
I believe this is an ideal novel for those who enjoy intense stories and complex characters. I recommend this novel because it keeps the reader engaged from start to finish and leaves the reader reflecting on loyalty and the consequences of our actions.
Patty Cas
Book reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect thriller
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2026
Format: Kindle Verified Purchase
It’s a thriller that feels more real than expected, with a story that mixes conspiracies, drugs, and difficult decisions. It’s not constant action, but instead builds tension little by little, which makes it more unsettling. At times the plot feels a bit overloaded, but it still keeps you engaged. What stands out most is how it shows the impact of certain actions on society. It leaves you with an uncomfortable feeling, but also makes you reflect
Jorge Sánchez Parra
5.0 out of 5 stars Fast-paced but a bit uneven
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2026
Format: Kindle Verified Purchase
I picked this up because i like thrillers, and it definitely moves fast. There’s a lot happening with the plot, which kept me turning pages, but at times it felt a bit all over the place. Some characters were more interesting than others, especially the lawyer. It’s not perfect, but if you just want something intense and easy to get through, it works.
Jovanna R
5.0 out of 5 stars FATAL BETRAYAL
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2026
Format: Kindle Verified Purchase
*Betrayed* is a spy thriller in which the main character, Jake Mandel—a solitary lawyer—is unwittingly drawn into an Iranian conspiracy when his friend, a federal judge, is murdered over a disk exposing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) drug trafficking operations in the United States. The disk is sent to the judge by a defected Iranian spy. The IRGC discovers this grave betrayal of their country and attempts to recover the disk without regard for the consequences; they murder the judge and, suspecting that Jake Mandel—as the judge’s best friend—might have the disk, they also try to kill him, turning his life into a true odyssey. In my opinion, it’s a well-crafted plot that makes us reflect on the consequences of betrayal and just how far human evil can go. I recommend reading it because it’s gripping from start to finish.
Sussan