The Angel Deception

Joe Mason #6

by David Leadbeater

The gripping new action thriller novel from the million-copy bestselling author of the Matt Drake seriesEx-MI5 operative Joe Mason is on a mission to stop a ruthless satanic group from obtaining a treasure of unimaginable the legendary Hellfire. If the cult succeeds, they will become more powerful than any government – unleashing chaos and destruction worldwide.

Mason and his team must race against time, deciphering clues from relics scattered across Europe. From Scotland’s eerie mausoleums to Milan’s hidden crypts, Florence’s shadowy alleys, Berlin’s sinister underbelly, and even the Vatican’s most secretive corridors, Mason must navigate the continent to find the Hellfire first. If he doesn’t, all hell will break loose.

Can Mason and his team stop the satanists before it's too late, or will the world fall under the shadow of the Hellfire?

Genres: Action, Thriller

333 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 2, 2025

About the author

International bestselling author of twenty one thrillers, thirteen in the Matt Drake Action/Adventure series, also The Disavowed and Alicia Myles series'. All available for the Amazon Kindle.

Website - www.davidleadbeater.com

Reader of multiple genres. Husband. Father of two beautiful girls, aged 5 and 7. Joss Whedon fan.

Reviews

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: The Angel Deception by David Leadbeater

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently finished The Angel Deception by David Leadbeater, and it’s a thrilling ride from start to finish. Leadbeater brings us another fast-paced action thriller that keeps you hooked.

The story follows ex-MI5 operative Joe Mason, who’s on a high-stakes mission to stop a dangerous satanic cult bent on acquiring the legendary Hellfire—a treasure said to grant unimaginable power. If the cult succeeds, they could unleash chaos and devastation on a global scale, making them more powerful than any government. Mason and his team race across Europe, chasing down cryptic clues hidden in eerie mausoleums in Scotland, secret crypts in Milan, shadowy alleys in Florence, Berlin's darker corners, and even the most guarded halls of the Vatican. The tension ramps up as they try to find the Hellfire before it falls into the wrong hands.

What really stood out to me was how well Leadbeater combines historical mystery with modern espionage, making every location feel atmospheric and alive. The pacing is relentless, with plenty of action-packed moments that keep the adrenaline flowing.

Also, I have to mention the cover—it’s absolutely striking and fits the vibe of the series perfectly. Each book in this series feels like a fresh adventure, and I genuinely enjoy every installment. The characters are well-drawn and engaging; you really root for Mason and his team as they navigate danger at every turn.

If you’re into action thrillers with a bit of supernatural intrigue and a strong cast, The Angel Deception is definitely worth picking up. I’m giving it 4 stars because while it’s an exciting and entertaining read, I’d love to see even deeper character development in future books. Still, it’s a fantastic addition to Leadbeater’s work and a great way to spend an afternoon.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[Vicuña · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don’t think I’ve read anything by David Leadbeater until this and it’s a bit of a mixed bag. I like thrillers and this has all the right ingredients for a fast paced story. There’s a cult intent on acquiring their ultimate goal, hellfire. This would enable world domination. Needless to say, the authorities aren’t going to let this happen and there’s a mayhem caper around the world as various leads are followed.

I enjoyed the settings around Europe. Well depicted with a strong sense of place, particularly the Vatican scenes with their secret tunnels. I’m fascinated by the machinations of the church and their strong links to secret societies from the Freemasons to Mafia and more. My issue with this book is the writing which I found incredibly irritating. It’s padded and there are some horrible similes and poor English…’his eyes rolled over the…’ I ended up spending more time looking for the howlers and lost the pace of the plot and action. Good idea but I didn’t enjoy it overall.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 7 of the Joe Mason series and the former MI5 agent and his team fast paced action continues. Still recovering from their previous adventure the team are persuaded by Sally to help locate a group of Satanists led by a psychopath called Moloch. Moloch believes that if he can obtain a number of historic relics he can then summon Satan!

Briefly, Joe, along with his team of 4, follow a set of clues whilst being pursued by a murderous gang working for Moloch. So begins a dash across some of the most iconic locations in the UK and Europe. With time running out can the team succeed in stopping the madman before, literally, all hell breaks loose!

The cult is suitably dark and scary. The places visited were amazing and well described and the plot good. If you love a high octane thriller with cross country chases and plenty of violence you will enjoy this. An entertaining and fast paced, easy read adventure story.

[Charlie Morris (Read, Watch & Drink Coffee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't often like thrillers that are more action-heavy and that centre on gangs and criminal activity (that don't involve a serial killer, at least). But this Joe Mason series has admittedly had me hooked from the first book!

It's like a combination of Jack Reacher with The Da Vinci Code, filled with mystery, action, cryptic clues, and fantastic characters. As we follow the cat-and-mouse chase through more vivid locations in the UK and Europe with the team on the hunt for a cult leader, there's plenty of high-octane action, as the chemistry between the main group of characters keeps it constantly entertaining.

Admittedly, it's not my favourite in the series, but it's another fast-paced and solid thriller that you'll race through.

[Peppercold · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with this book, not because of the writing; if you're a fan of Joe Mason, then this follows the same structure and layout. This review is for the topic/content in the book. This is centered around satanic themes, with multiple passages dedicated to torture and other things like black masses and other satanic-oriented rituals. I struggled to read these passages and found myself skipping sections where the author was overly descriptive. I share this so you're aware of the content focus and can make that decision. Since I'm trying to hit my yearly reading goal, I worked through the book but skipped ahead at many points. You'll be able to decide for yourself whether this is something you can work through or would prefer to pass, knowing that some of the material may be unsettling.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable book, which I happily read so long as nobody disturbed me.
I have read most in this series, and the other ones by this author. This one was not quite a five star for me, as I did feel that the team were a bit slow to realise things at times, and there was some repetition. I felt that it could have been edited a bit tighter.
However, I do look forward to the next book, as there is a character which I really enjoy ( who kicks ass!).

[Jessica Huntley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always enjoy these books however somehow I've missed like 3 of them 🤣🤣 This was an easier to follow plot than usual. It's fast paced, lots of action, lots of travelling from one country to the other at the speed of light and lots of evil mastermind stuff.
Enjoyable. If slightly crazy. I feel a lot of detail is missing but then again, these are short action thrillers where it's bam bam bam and done. Mason doesn't really feel like a main character anymore though...

[Doug Yonce · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story provided lots of action and read like a superhero movie screenplay. A quick read, the story would benefit from a little more depth in its characters- definitely a plot-driven story. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Former MI-5 and now archaeological and historical relic guardian, Joe and the gang are back in fine form. They're up against a team of Satanists, who long for the downfall of civilisation as we know it. The influential bankers, politicians and so on who make up their ranks can make life difficult for a lot of people and interfere in the teams investigation. That is if it they don't get dead in the meantime!

Joe, Sally and the rest of the team are the best found family group of colleagues. They know each others strengths and weaknesses and how much pressure they can survive. Moloch is a completely reprehensible villain and one that has no redemption arc thankfully!

The action whips across the UK, including here in Scotland, and mainland Europe at a breakneck speed. I loved trying to untangle the web of lies, deceit and conspiracies to get to the truth. There is a bit of a cliffhanger to now to wait for book #7!

[Neville Townsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fast paced Joe Mason thriller. A race across the UK and Europe to try and stop a satanist group led by Moloch. Though I enjoyed the book I felt it a bit repetitive in the action scenes. I loved the other books in the series and hopefully the next will be a 5 star. Thanks to Avon books and Netgalley for this review ARC.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It did take me a while to remind myself of most of the characters from the previous books although you really could read this as a standalone book. The storyline equally took me a bit to get into more because of the dark side of it but eventually it all started to make sense over what they were up to and that then made the book a lot more exciting and grippier to read.

[carl clause · Rating 5 out of 5]

CC1

'This was another exciting adventure for Mason and comp. wasn't a paid assignment, 2nd did it to save the world from extremists and the Devil. Mason .didn't always get the clues but figured out in the end. 10 stars plus!!!! Thanks, Carl Clause

[Frank Cleenders · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is ok, but always the same story...

[michelle Simons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast paced thriller which has dark undertones. I loved the historic sites visited and learnt new things about them. I liked how the team bonded and how a satanic group was brought down. Really atmospheric.