Destroying Angel (Paperback)

"…In his first novel, Utah writer Charles M. Larson may have written a crime thriller featuring the Mormon culture that crosses over to a broader audience.

In the best traditions of John Grisham and Dan Brown, Destroying Angel is a ripping good yarn with fully drawn characters, a classic crime thriller plot and expertly written dialogue. I marveled at the degree to which Larson shows an appreciation of his subject by the care he takes to give his characters and his story depth and complexity… Larson is a scrupulous researcher… [lending] authenticity to the book [which] makes for fun reading… taken purely as a crime thriller, it succeeds on nearly every level. Particularly as it begins to accelerate toward the climax, the story's twists and turns are fun to follow and provide a satisfying payoff.

Unlike the media's coverage of polygamy, Mormon culture and history, Larson's treatment is nuanced and complex, exhibiting a clear appreciation for Utah's past and present that few writers could.

Larson could have presented a caricature of this culture, but instead chose to go well beyond the surface to provide a sophisticated picture that rings true. This isn't "Big Love" rendered to print—instead Larson takes great care to humanize his characters… Weaving factual historical references within a fictional story line that alternates between the 19^th century and modern day, Destroying Angel has an authentic feel that provides a sense of realism without sacrificing plot.

It's not for the squeamish—it has a considerable body count and it doesn't exactly have a Hollywood ending. To some, this will be its charm.

As the news media inevitably provide superficial coverage of Warren Jeffs, El Dorado and similar stories, Larson's book contributes to the understanding of the unique Utah human landscape in ways that a non-fiction book couldn't begin to touch."

—Roger Plothow is the Editor of the Idaho Falls Post Register