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Destroying Angel: The Secret War
Destroying The Secret WarAn explosive and shockingly dark thriller,
Destroying Angel
is a pulse-pounding race into a world of faith, fanaticism, and ruthless vengeance.
Angelo “the Operator” Barnes—an elite, ex-Special Forces contractor—lives in a world of violence and precision, a world away from the Mormon faith he left behind. But when he receives a call from the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City, his world shatters.
His family is dead. His missionary brother, Rockwell, along with his mother and stepfather, have been brutally executed in a Rio de Janeiro favela.
Angelo flies to Rio, not to mourn, but to hunt. He finds himself in a holy war where nothing is as it seems. What he uncovers is not random violence, but a terrifying cover-up that links corrupt church officials, a ruthless BOPE police captain, and a brutal favela kingpin.
All of them are protecting a fanatical faction hidden within the Church and a grotesque, unholy operation running out of a fortified stronghold known as Casa Forte.
With no one to trust and free from any rule of law, Angelo must infiltrate this world of faith and fanaticism the only way he knows by going undercover. Donning the white shirt, tie, and name tag, he poses as Elder Rockwell, applying the ruthless lessons of his past to his brother’s sacred world. To avenge his family, he must become the Destroying Angel and dismantle the entire rotten conspiracy, one body at a time.
Perfect for fans of Jack Carr's The Terminal List and the secret-society intrigue of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code .
Early praise for Avenging AngelWhat are early readers saying?
"A visceral, gut-wrenching plunge into the dark heart of a conspiracy... I was glued to every word.”
“A heart-pounding thrill ride... The fight choreography... blending raw violence with ironic symbolism left me stunned.”
“It’s like watching a buddy-cop movie, but with higher stakes and real emotion.”
"A blistering, apocalyptic climax... a wild ride that had my heart racing and my jaw on the floor."
"Compelling and comprehensible, even for an outsider. The story isn’t just set within a faith-driven world; it interrogates and reclaims what faith should be."
"More than a thriller—it’s emotionally resonant, tightly woven, and powerfully layered."
Angelo “the Operator” Barnes—an elite, ex-Special Forces contractor—lives in a world of violence and precision, a world away from the Mormon faith he left behind. But when he receives a call from the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City, his world shatters.
His family is dead. His missionary brother, Rockwell, along with his mother and stepfather, have been brutally executed in a Rio de Janeiro favela.
Angelo flies to Rio, not to mourn, but to hunt. He finds himself in a holy war where nothing is as it seems. What he uncovers is not random violence, but a terrifying cover-up that links corrupt church officials, a ruthless BOPE police captain, and a brutal favela kingpin.
All of them are protecting a fanatical faction hidden within the Church and a grotesque, unholy operation running out of a fortified stronghold known as Casa Forte.
With no one to trust and free from any rule of law, Angelo must infiltrate this world of faith and fanaticism the only way he knows by going undercover. Donning the white shirt, tie, and name tag, he poses as Elder Rockwell, applying the ruthless lessons of his past to his brother’s sacred world. To avenge his family, he must become the Destroying Angel and dismantle the entire rotten conspiracy, one body at a time.
Perfect for fans of Jack Carr's The Terminal List and the secret-society intrigue of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code .
Early praise for Avenging AngelWhat are early readers saying?
"A visceral, gut-wrenching plunge into the dark heart of a conspiracy... I was glued to every word.”
“A heart-pounding thrill ride... The fight choreography... blending raw violence with ironic symbolism left me stunned.”
“It’s like watching a buddy-cop movie, but with higher stakes and real emotion.”
"A blistering, apocalyptic climax... a wild ride that had my heart racing and my jaw on the floor."
"Compelling and comprehensible, even for an outsider. The story isn’t just set within a faith-driven world; it interrogates and reclaims what faith should be."
"More than a thriller—it’s emotionally resonant, tightly woven, and powerfully layered."
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2026
About the author
Brigham Stone
1 book27 followersFrom the Temple to Tarantino:
Brigham Stone is the kind of author who can quote both the Book of Mormon and Pulp Fiction in the same breath—and enjoy every word.
Raised in the heart of Salt Lake City, he checked all the boxes of a devout Mormon life: graduating Seminary, serving an honorable two-year mission, meeting his wife in Provo, and marrying in the Temple. But beneath the white shirt and tie beat the heart of a kid raised on the explosive, irreverent films of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, the sharp-witted dialogue of Kevin Smith, and the biting satire of South Park. He strived to be the best Mormon he could be, all while nurturing a darker, more twisted sense of humor.
Today, Brigham proudly calls Utah County—the Mormon capital of the world—his home. He identifies as a "broken-shelf" Post-Mormon, a term that will resonate with anyone who has navigated the complex journey of a faith crisis. He cherishes his cultural heritage, the memories of his mission, and the community he loves, but cannot reconcile the dogma and history of the institution that shaped him.
This paradox is the forge for his fiction.
Writing is Brigham’s way of colliding two worlds: the rich mythology and unique culture of Mormonism with the high-octane, action-packed thrillers he adores. His novels are not anti-Mormon tracts or historical documents; they are completely fictional explorations of "what if?" They are a space for the true believer, the Ex-Mo, and the curious onlooker to share a thrilling story.
If you’re a fan of the cultural dissection in Under the Banner of Heaven, the irreverence of The Book of Mormon Musical, or the "secret lives" of modern Mormonism, you've found your next read. Welcome to the fray.
Brigham Stone is the kind of author who can quote both the Book of Mormon and Pulp Fiction in the same breath—and enjoy every word.
Raised in the heart of Salt Lake City, he checked all the boxes of a devout Mormon life: graduating Seminary, serving an honorable two-year mission, meeting his wife in Provo, and marrying in the Temple. But beneath the white shirt and tie beat the heart of a kid raised on the explosive, irreverent films of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, the sharp-witted dialogue of Kevin Smith, and the biting satire of South Park. He strived to be the best Mormon he could be, all while nurturing a darker, more twisted sense of humor.
Today, Brigham proudly calls Utah County—the Mormon capital of the world—his home. He identifies as a "broken-shelf" Post-Mormon, a term that will resonate with anyone who has navigated the complex journey of a faith crisis. He cherishes his cultural heritage, the memories of his mission, and the community he loves, but cannot reconcile the dogma and history of the institution that shaped him.
This paradox is the forge for his fiction.
Writing is Brigham’s way of colliding two worlds: the rich mythology and unique culture of Mormonism with the high-octane, action-packed thrillers he adores. His novels are not anti-Mormon tracts or historical documents; they are completely fictional explorations of "what if?" They are a space for the true believer, the Ex-Mo, and the curious onlooker to share a thrilling story.
If you’re a fan of the cultural dissection in Under the Banner of Heaven, the irreverence of The Book of Mormon Musical, or the "secret lives" of modern Mormonism, you've found your next read. Welcome to the fray.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 24, 2026
I won a copy of this through a Goodreads Giveaway and I am glad that I did. This is not necessarily a book that I would normally read but it was very well written. I enjoyed the relationship between Angelo and Shawn, along with Shawn's lighthearted banter, and the fast moving plot. I would not necessarily call the ending a cliffhanger but it does definitely leave the door open for a second book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
An ex-mormon pretends to be a missionary to find out what happened to his brother and uncovers conspiracies hidden deep within Brazil and the LDS church. Great work of Dystopian Mormon Fiction.
June 9, 2026
Wow
New to this genre. My heart rate was elevated. couldn't read fast enough to get to the end. The reason for the title is revealed in the story.
New to this genre. My heart rate was elevated. couldn't read fast enough to get to the end. The reason for the title is revealed in the story.
July 13, 2026
I received a copy of this ebook through a Goodreads giveaway!
I enjoyed the unique combination of subject matter (Mormons and corruption and lots of violence through the guise of a quest for vengeance), and I stayed engaged and interested throughout the book. I deeply disliked all of the characters, which imo means the author did a great job at presenting them in all their flawed glory. I love books with characters I hate, as that means they’re well-written enough that I became emotionally invested in my feelings against the “protagonists” (so, that’s a compliment to the author!).
As for the nitpicking: at times, it felt like the descriptions of characters or scenes got a bit repetitive. I was not a fan of the third person omniscient narrative, as it sometimes rapidly switched between multiple characters’ perspectives within a single page, which made it a bit difficult to keep up. The final fight scene felt very drawn out, and I found myself wanting to just skim it because I was tired of the violence (this was a surprisingly violent book in general, which I personally did not enjoy, but to each their own! No stars removed for the level of violence, it’s just the other minor issues). Finally, the ending felt a bit rushed, and I felt it needed more closure.
Overall, I’m glad I read this book, and would definitely recommend it to folks who enjoy action-packed tales of corruption and vengeance!
I enjoyed the unique combination of subject matter (Mormons and corruption and lots of violence through the guise of a quest for vengeance), and I stayed engaged and interested throughout the book. I deeply disliked all of the characters, which imo means the author did a great job at presenting them in all their flawed glory. I love books with characters I hate, as that means they’re well-written enough that I became emotionally invested in my feelings against the “protagonists” (so, that’s a compliment to the author!).
As for the nitpicking: at times, it felt like the descriptions of characters or scenes got a bit repetitive. I was not a fan of the third person omniscient narrative, as it sometimes rapidly switched between multiple characters’ perspectives within a single page, which made it a bit difficult to keep up. The final fight scene felt very drawn out, and I found myself wanting to just skim it because I was tired of the violence (this was a surprisingly violent book in general, which I personally did not enjoy, but to each their own! No stars removed for the level of violence, it’s just the other minor issues). Finally, the ending felt a bit rushed, and I felt it needed more closure.
Overall, I’m glad I read this book, and would definitely recommend it to folks who enjoy action-packed tales of corruption and vengeance!
May 10, 2026
Destroying Angel: The Secret War is an intense and gripping thriller that delivers nonstop action, deep conspiracy, and powerful emotional stakes. Brigham Stone crafts a fast-paced story filled with danger, betrayal, and high-level suspense, keeping readers engaged from beginning to end. Angelo Barnes is a compelling protagonist whose personal mission for justice adds both heart and intensity to the explosive narrative. Blending military action with mystery and dark secrets, this novel offers a thrilling reading experience for fans of action-packed suspense and complex conspiracies.
August 5, 2026
A dark, religious conspiracy thriller The MC, who sought to avenge his brother’s death, uncovers way more than his killer. Interesting story that read well. However, I could have done without the silly, almost immature banter between the characters. It just seems off
July 3, 2026
💯💯💯💯💯
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2026
This was a Goodreads giveaway book. It is very high action with lots of death and destruction.
It was interesting but it seemed a little like a method to push the Mormon religion.
It was interesting but it seemed a little like a method to push the Mormon religion.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews