The varied expanse of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is as magnificent as it is hazardous. In the extreme weather conditions that reign throughout the park during the winter months, Brannon Callahan finds her work far more complicated - and in need of steady prayers - to see everyone through safely. As a search-and-rescue pilot, Brannon faces the forces of nature, the dangers that the park holds, and the misfortunes of those she is rescuing. However, nothing compares to the evil that will soon eclipse the beauty of the mountains.

A record-breaking blizzard strikes the region just as FBI Agent Roark is sent on a mission to bring a priority witness a life-saving organ donation. When his helicopter is shot down, the seriousness of the mission and the case it’s related to hits home. Not only has the helicopter been downed; the use of deadly force is being employed to prevent the mission's successful completion.

Search-and-rescue is hot on the trail of the FBI helicopter whose mayday alerts them to a disaster, but not to the real threats—looming large and deadly—when they set down to aid the victims of the crash. A rain of gunfire claims many lives, leaving the survivors of the two helicopters with a treacherous trek before them: over severe terrain and being pursued by murderers.

In the heat of all this death and drama, a child-trafficking ring condemns more and more innocents to a life of hell few can imagine. Their sordid empire teeters on the brink of a precipice: either they will prevail against their would-be foes or they will fall. With so much attention turned to the obvious threats, two young victims escape, holding all the keys needed to eliminate the trafficking ring permanently.

Brannon and Roark have their work cut out for them amid blazing firefights and an increasing death toll. The unrelenting blizzard only makes things more difficult. Learning to depend on each other and the good intentions of God may be the only way good will triumph over evil.

Author Robin Caroll brings a genuinely good plot filled with suspense, intrigue and bone-chilling bad guys to Deliver Us from Evil. A subplot to this busy tale is the potential romance between Brannon and Roark, but traumatic life experiences and faith-related differences between them may finish the relationship before it starts. This subplot begins to overpower the primary plot as the novel reaches two-thirds mark. From that point on, it feels more like a flower is being plucked petal by petal: I love this non-believer, I won’t love this non-believer, I love this non-believer…

Deliver Us from Evil is an average read with some above-average parts. Books from author Colleen Coble are pretty in tune with the flavor and speed of Caroll’s work. This latest is an enjoyable read to pass time but not something to rave about. With a pending future book segueing from a primary character in Deliver Us from Evil, Robin Caroll’s hand at creating plots, intense settings and good characters will find continued time and room to grow.