Deliver Us from Evil [Hardcover]

David Baldacci (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 20, 2010

David Baldacci-the #1 bestselling author of The Whole Truth and First Family-returns with his most surprising, heart-stopping, and timely thriller to date . . .

DELIVER US FROM EVIL

Evan Waller is a monster. He has built a fortune from his willingness to buy and sell anything . . . and anyone. In search of new opportunities, Waller has just begun a new business venture: one that could lead to millions of deaths all over the globe.

On Waller's trail is Shaw, the mysterious operative from The Whole Truth, who must prevent Waller from closing his latest deal. Shaw's one chance to bring him down will come in the most unlikely of places: a serene, bucolic village in Provence.

But Waller's depravity and ruthlessness go deeper than Shaw knows. And now, there is someone else pursuing Waller in Provence-Reggie Campion, an agent for a secret vigilante group headquartered in a musty old English estate-and she has an agenda of her own.

Hunting the same man and unaware of each other's mission, Shaw and Reggie will be caught in a deadly duel of nerve and wits. Hitchcockian in its intimate buildup of suspense and filled with the remarkable characters, breathtaking plot turns, and blockbuster finale that are David Baldacci's hallmarks, DELIVER US FROM EVIL will be one of the most gripping thrillers of the year.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bestseller Baldacci's sequel to The Whole Truth (2008) lacks the creative plotting and masterful handling of suspense that marked his earlier thrillers. Evan Waller, outwardly a respectable Canadian businessman but secretly a human trafficker who sells children into prostitution, has expanded into arranging nuclear weapons deals with Islamic fundamentalists. Shaw, the lead of The Whole Truth, sets out to stop Evan, as does Regina Reggie Campion, a British femme fatale, who works for a clandestine group that tracks down and executes war criminals. Reggie and Shaw, both of whom intend to make their move while Evan is on vacation in Provence, cross paths while maintaining their cover stories. Shaw becomes attracted to Reggie, even as he fears that Evan, who's in fact a sadistic Ukrainian who served the Soviets, will abduct her. Crucial developments come across as contrived rather than clever. The ultimate resolution will surprise few. (Apr.)
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From Booklist

Ostensibly, Baldacci’s latest is another novel (after The Whole Truth, 2008) about Shaw, the enigmatic agent working for an enigmatic organization. But it feels a lot more like the launch of a brand-new series, as though Baldacci is using a familiar character, Shaw, to segue to a new series lead: Regina “Reggie” Campion, a beautiful and deadly woman who works for an even-more-enigmatic group dedicated to ridding the world of evil. Both Shaw and Reggie are after the same man, Evan Waller, although each of them is unaware of it. To Shaw, Waller is a dealer in black-market nuclear materials; to Reggie, he’s the former Fedir Kuchin, a Ukrainian mass murderer. Reggie and Shaw both arrive in Provence, where Waller/Kuchin is vacationing. This is a very clever novel, and full marks go to Baldacci for pulling off an especially difficult type of story—one in which neither of the central characters knows entirely what’s going on, while the reader is omniscient. It’s a lot of fun watching the two scope each other out, trying to determine whether the other is a threat (even as their mutual attraction grows). We become intensely involved in the story, wishing we could step inside the book and clue its two protagonists into what’s going on. The only problem—for fans of Shaw, anyway—is that, in Reggie, Baldacci has created such an interesting and engaging character that he might have made Shaw redundant. --David Pitt

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; First Edition edition (April 20, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446564087
• ISBN-13: 978-0446564083
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (295 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #270,965 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Baldacci made a big splash on the literary scene with the publication of his first novel, Absolute Power, in 1996. A major motion picture adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 26 novels, all of which have been national and international bestsellers. His novels have been translated into more than 45 languages and sold in more than 80 countries; over 110 million copies are in print worldwide. David has also published three children's books. He has received numerous accolades for his writing; most recently, he was inducted into the 2011 International Crime Writing Hall of Fame and received the 2012 Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award.

A lifelong Virginian, David was born in Richmond in 1960. He received his Bachelor's degree in political science from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1982 and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1986, after which he practiced law for nine years in Washington, D.C.

While David is involved with several philanthropic organizations, his greatest efforts are dedicated to his family's Wish You Well Foundation®. Established by David and his wife, Michelle, the Wish You Well Foundation supports family and adult literacy in the United States by fostering and promoting the development and expansion of new and existing literacy and educational programs. In 2008 the Foundation partnered with Feeding America to launch Feeding Body & Mind, a program to address the connection between literacy, poverty and hunger. Through Feeding Body & Mind, nearly 1 million new and used books have been collected and distributed through area food banks. David explains, "With this program, people go home with food, which they need to live, as well as with books, which they need to change their lives."

David and his family live in Northern Virginia.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#5 Overall (See top 100 authors)

#3 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers

#3 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers

#4 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction

#5 in Books > Literature & Fiction

#12 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary

#3 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers

#3 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers

#4 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction

#5 in Books > Literature & Fiction

#12 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

142 of 154 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars (4.5 Stars) Good vs. Evil Personified April 20, 2010

By Tucker Andersen VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Review of DELIVER US FROM EVIL - David Baldacci

WARNING - This story contains several extremely detailed scenes of torture and violence. It is not for the squeamish or individuals with a weak stomach or vivid imagination. They are not so frequent that I was unable to finish the book, and they are essential to the story so that it is difficult to skip them and fully comprehend the horror that is the basis of the narrative. However, if I had not been a fan of Baldacci and had not thoroughly enjoyed THE WHOLE TRUTH, the earlier novel in which the mysterious Shaw and his controller Frank were introduced, I might have chosen not to finish the story since I am not a fan of the type of gruesome scenes scattered throughout this book.

The focus of this story is the battle between good and evil. If the prospective reader has not read THE WHOLE TRUTH, I recommend that be read first to get the detailed backstory of Shaw; in addition, one of the key incidents in that book which changed Shaw's life irrevocably is an integral part of this story and thus reading this book would destroy much of the emotional impact of that story if read later. Shaw and Frank develop a plan to capture Evan Waller, a totally immoral Canadian businessman who is both a trafficker in human beings and has a new sideline of selling nuclear material to terrorists. They plan to neutralize his omnipresent bodyguards and kidnap him while he is on a rare holiday in Provence. Meanwhile, a parallel operation is planned by a secret unofficial rogue vigilante group operating out of England who hunt down and execute unapprehended war criminals, and which knows that Waller is actually a deep cover identity for a Ukranian war criminal who faked his own death and disappeared decades ago. This group includes several members with various talents; however, the point person for this op will be Regina "Reggie" Campion, a young woman of steely determination the reason for which is only gradually revealed. Of course, the plans and motives of each operative are unknown to the other. Thus, there are three intertwined stories within the one novel. First, the backstory of Reggie and her team and their attempt to capture and execute Waller in a certain prescribed manner which will make him aware of the reason for his death while maintaining the invisibility of their organization. Second, the parallel efforts of Shaw and his group to capture Waller and achieve their goal of diverting the nuclear material and neutralizing the terrorists' plan. Third, and equally intriguing, the gradual realization on the part of both Shaw and Reggie that the carefully constructed covers of each are just that and that they both have some relationship to Waller's activities and how they attempt to carefully work around each other despite a mutual attraction.

I thought that the storyline was very well constructed, and while there were a few unbelievable coincidences even given the latitude I allow an author, they were minor and did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. Waller was truly evil personified, and his actions throughout were consistent with that portrait. The term sociopath hardly does him justice. The toll that Shaw's career has exacted on his life was notched up even further, Baldacci's implicitly sympathetic portrait of Shaw's plight is a window into the lives of many undercover operatives. The events in Reggie's life are both the definition of "tragedy" and a tribute to the ability of the human spirit to not only survive but also cope. And there is a thought provoking implicit and at some points explicit undercurrent to the story involving the examination of the morality of the tactics employed by such organizations and individuals in the pursuit of such objectives as justice or the elimination of terrorist attacks.

After much debate with myself I decided to rate this book five stars because I enjoyed the story despite the violence and thought that the plot was very clever. The author created enough tension that I was anxious to finish it for several reasons. First, I wanted to discover who lived and died, since the ending of THE WHOLE TRUTH was definitely bittersweet, with not all the `good guys" surviving and even those who did psychologically damaged. I assumed that the bad guy would eventually get his "just desserts", but assumed that not all would end well for Shaw's and Reggie's teams. Second, I was anxious to discover if Katie James reappeared and if so if a relationship developed between she and Shaw in light of the introduction of Reggie Campion. Third, I was interested in whether Baldacci could create and sustain the supposed tension implicit in the incomplete knowledge of both Shaw and Reggie regarding the motives and plans of the other team, while the reader was omniscient in that regard although not with regard to author's handling of the eventual outcome of the story. My satisfaction with regard to all three points is the reason for my high rating and why I anxiously await an inevitable sequel, while wondering what direction it will take and who the central characters will be. If you want a well written traditional thriller with action filled suspenseful twists and turns and you don't mind gruesome violence, I recommend reading THE WHOLE TRUTH and then DELIVER US FROM EVIL. But beware - in order to bring the evil Waller to justice, the "good guys" will experience significant physical and psychological collateral damage.

Tucker Andersen 4/20/2010

86 of 97 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Just a review of the story & a surprising discovery April 25, 2010

By J. Lee TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

I'm not a Kindle owner, so I'm not involved in the price issue that makes up so many of the reviews currently. So, this is mostly just my thoughts on the story.

I did, however. read parts of this on a Sony eReader, and was surprised to find that the ebook has extras - like an alternative ending not found in the printed book. After the review of the story, I've added my thoughts separately on these.

Short Summary: Woman who's a part of a group of international vigilantes goes after people like ex-Nazi's and KGB agents who have slaughtered masses. Her path crosses super-secret spy agent Shaw's as he goes after the same guy for a different reason. Will they get him? Or will he get them? And, will Shaw get the girl in the end?

Here's the ups and downs of it to me:
1. Fast-paced international plot and action:
As always, Baldacci keeps the plot and action just zinging along - and this time on a globe-trotting trip through Europe the U.S., and a trip down world history memory lane. That along with his ability to keep the twists and turns coming,kept me turning the pages.

2. Interesting, occassionally over-the-top cast of characters:
Reggie is a highlight, as the dedicated hard-core vigilante with a heart. She's a nice match-up for Shaw. The evil guys are really evil, and enjoy wallowing in their evilness. For me, this went over the top sometimes, creating bad guy caricatures. It seems torture scenes and violence were thrown in, just to be sure we get that head evil guy is REALLY, REALLY evil.

3. I really had to force myself to suspend disbelief on this one:
Half-way through the book, I realized the complicated plot the vigilantes use to trap the bad guy vs. other options is just ridiculous. On top of that, the characters just keep making such unbelievable and dramatically stupid choices (like all of them riding into a known set-up by the REALLY EVIL guy with no back up plan). It became a bit frustrating. Add on a big over-the-top EVIL, EVIL GUY with GOOD GUYS against incredible odds ending, and it really brought the whole thing down a bit for me. This has been a problem for me lately w/ his books. If you've thought his last couple were great, you'll enjoy this one more than I did.

4. Not really a stand alone book:
Do you remember the story from The Whole Truth? Who Anna is and what happened? Who Katie is and what happened betweeen her and Shaw? I read it and could only vaguely remember - and you probably need more than that to get full enjoyment of this one.

The Enriched ebook: The ebook version is for people who want a behind-the-scenes look at how a book is written. It has pictures of the actual places Baldacci used for characters homes and settings, an alternative ending, hand written outline, first draft manuscript pages, etc. It even has web links to some of the art showings and other things discussed in the book (that my ereader can't access). Still, I loved this! It's like the Directors cut of a DVD.

Bottom Line: An entertaining, fast-paced action thriller with some over-the-top characters, implausible action and references to a book I couldn't remember well - that brought it down to just an above average thriller, and less than I want from Baldacci. Still, for a light read on the beach or an airplane ride - it'll keep the pages turning and make the time fly. And, if you loved his last one -you'll love this one.

57 of 65 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps his worst - for Patterson fans May 29, 2010

By Scott J. Teichman

Format:Hardcover

Baldacci is usually an interesting read so this was a complete and total disappointment. There are plot holes, completely cartoonish characters, lousy dialogue, and the book takes entirely too long to set up the action. The most glaring plot hole might be the fact that there is a mole inside Reggie's "Shadow Organization". This is brought up numerous times before being dropped without identifying said mole. Probably setting up a sequel that I will most certainly not read.
Baldacci has been gradually going downhill since his outstanding early novels. Unfortunately the speed of his descent seems to be picking up as he has started to churn out a couple of books a year. Memo to David - take your time go back to releasing one book a year rather than a couple of lousy reads.
The spy game does not seem to be Baldacci's area of expertise, one wonders if there was any research done here at all. If you want to read a spy novel try Daniel Silva or Vince Flynn. If you want action try Lee Child.
A final complaint with Baldacci is his Pattersonesque two and three page chapters. Absolute Power his first book has twenty nine chapters. Deliver Us From Evil has over one hundred chapters. Three pages is not a chapter - it makes the book incredibly choppy. My guess is that the publishers wanted four hundred pages so the easy way to get there is to have a ton of blank space every third page when each "chapter" ends. Maybe Baldacci wants to be the next James Patterson and release as much junk a year as he can but if he wants to write books that you remember more than five minutes after you finish them, then he needs to take a hard look at what direction his writing and editing have taken.