Deliver Us from Evil (A Shaw Series)

Normally I like Baldacci, but there was nothing about this book that I could find positive. The plot seemed to meander all over the place. At times I wasn't even sure who were the good guys and who were the bad. I've never read a Baldacci book that I didn't like-- until now. There also seemed to be a lot of "plot" that really didn't have anything to do with the overall progression of the story. Major disappointment from someone who formerly would have picked a book for the simple reason that Baldacci wrote it.

I am a huge David Baldacci fan. I have read every one of his books. Gotta say, I was highly disappointed in "True Blue" (his book that came out late last year). I was a bit leary of "Deliver us from Evil" I was afraid Baldacci had lost it, much like I consider John Grisham to have lost it (no matter his success). Sometimes an author just becomes stale and you have to move on. I am extremely glad to say Baldacci is back. "Deliver us from evil" is great!!! Fun, fun read. I had to slug through True Blue, but polished this one off in 2 days. I now have the sadness I always have after having read a great book. I've got to wait 9-12 months for his next one. I liked "The Whole Truth" and the characters but this book really cements them as a true franchise. I love the new additions. Shaw has much more depth in this book and has really grown on me. I was so disappointed when the Camel Club came to an end. It was such a great concept and I really enjoyed that set of characters. However, Baldacci now has a younger, hipper version of the Camel Club which can go on for many years. I hope he gives this group of characters a long run. Great effort and I can't wait for the next installment.

Shaw belongs to an agency that ignores legal limitations when it comes to capturing those who threaten the free world. His latest project is billionaire Evan Waller who makes his money kidnapping third world teens and selling them in the Western markets. However, he is widening his capitalist operations with the sale of nuclear weapons to Islamic Fundamentalists. Shaw and his team are to prevent the sales by eliminating the beast and his customers. Fahir Kuchen killed and ordered massacred thousands in Kiev to keep the survivors in line and not give Moscow any problems. When the Soviet Union collapsed, he escaped making a new future for himself. Reggie Campion works for an elite group that hunts down mass murderers. She and her unit are in Provence to make a hit on Waller whom she believes is Kuchen; Shaw is shocked after the two groups cross paths and hunt their respective villain.. Shaw persuades Reggie they need to unite before the hunted become the hunter as Kuchen has someone inside working for him and whether he is Waller or not, Evan is a deadly predator. Many of the protagonists possess ulterior motives so that double crossing teammates and the other squad seem a way of life. This is the key element in the return of Shaw (see The Whole Truth) that makes Deliver Us From Evil a fascinating thriller. Shaw remains an enigma who is perfect for the jobs he undertakes in contrast with Reggie who has a secret agenda that makes her seem more human yet not detached enough to be his equal in the cold deadly field. David Baldacci is at his best with this exciting suspense thriller. Harriet Klausner

Evan Waller is evil personified. A former war criminal responsible for the deaths of thousands under the communist regime, he now earns a living as a sex trafficker. Intel suggests that Waller has terrorist ties and is looking to enter into a new venture that could kill millions more worldwide. The mysterious agent/operative known as "Shaw" has been tasked with capturing Waller to bring him in for interrogation. As he closes in on the enemy he discovers another covert group that wants Waller dead. Both sides must find a way to work together because Evan Waller is proving to be far more dangerous than they anticipated. David Baldacci consistently churns out high quality thrillers that raise the bar for other writers in the genre. Deliver Us from Evil continues that trend in grand fashion giving us not only a tightly knit plot, but some well crafted characters that really carry this story. We've met Shaw in Baldacci's previous release, The Whole Truth, and his character is just as mysterious and even more engaging. The star of the show is easily Reggie Campion, a beautiful, yet tough covert agent who goes head to head with Shaw. Their scenes are easily the best written with some clever dialog and some fun back and forth that Baldacci somehow manages to seamlessly weave into the story. Never fear, there are some great action sequences and just the right amount of suspense. Indeed, Shaw is a force to be reckoned with and it never gets old as he finds new and inventive ways to take down the bad guys. Even Waller is the perfect villain: on one hand the kind of man you love to hate; on the other, a smooth talker that draws you in with his charm and intelligence, despite the harsh reality of the monster he truly is. At its core this is a story of good versus evil and the sacrifice that must be made for good to win. Baldacci brings all the elements together to bring his fans another top notch thriller, and easily one of his best. I hope more novels with Shaw and Reggie are planned for the future, because fans will be demanding it after this superb offering.