The evil in the title of David Baldacci's latest thriller is no mere exaggeration. Evan Waller is a wealthy Canadian businessman who seems perfectly legitimate on the surface, but his business is selling whatever brings in top dollar, even if it is selling teen girls into prostitution.

His next prospective venture concerns selling nuclear material to terrorists, bringing him to the attention of operative Shaw (just Shaw) and the unofficial international intelligence agency he works for. He has one shot at getting at the heavily guarded Waller when he is on holiday in France.

But Shaw isn't the only one eager to find Waller. Also on his trail is Reggie Campion and her partners, who are part of a secret vigilante group intent on grabbing war criminals who have slipped under the law.

Waller is really Fedir Kuchin, a Ukrainian and former officer in the secret police that reported to the Soviet KGB. In his position, he was responsible for the deaths of thousands.

While Shaw's mission is to capture Waller so he can be interrogated, Reggie's is to mete out a much more permanent sentence.

Shaw, who was introduced in Mr. Baldacci's "The Whole Truth," is a complex character, trying to reconcile himself to his job even when he doesn't agree with it.

Reggie is the typical strong Baldacci heroine, carrying baggage from a painful past while justifying her role as judge, jury and executioner.

The two cross paths in France, become suspicious of each other's hidden motives and try to carry out their missions while fighting their own attraction.

With their skills, training and gut instincts, Reggie and Shaw are smart, but the charming Waller is no sitting duck. He has limitless resources and contacts to make anyone pay for crossing him.

Mr. Baldacci has trod this genre's road many times but somehow manages to find something fresh to give readers.

The plot speeds along and, true to Mr. Baldacci's form, there are surprises along the way. His fans won't be disappointed here. He has delivered what he's promised.

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