The Digger’s in town and it’s New Year’s Eve.

At 9 a.m. in Washington DC’s crowded Dupont Circle metro station, a rather ordinary man carrying a shopping bag containing an automatic weapon opens fire. In a few moments, 23 people are dead and scores are injured. But the worst is yet to come.

Soon after, a note arrives at City Hall. Unless the city pays 20 million dollars, the Digger will continue his killing -- at 4, at 8 and at midnight. The author of the note states that only he can stop the Digger. But the Digger’s brilliant accomplice is shortly thereafter killed in a freak accident -- now who can stop the Digger?

FBI Special Agent Margaret Lukas needs the help of Parker Kincaid. The only real evidence is the note, and Parker, a former agent, is the leading forensic documents examiner in the country. But Parker has left the bureau far behind; he’s into safe investigating now -- like authenticating letters of Thomas Jefferson.

Parker has sole custody of his two young children, and his spiteful and uncaring ex-wife is fighting him for custody. She would be quick to point out the dangers in working again for the FBI. If Parker decides to assist the Bureau, it could jeopardize his custody of his children. But when he learns that some of the victims are innocent children, he decides to help.

Jeffery Deaver had created another masterful thriller that contains his trademark technical details and surprising plot twists. What makes the recent Deaver books so enjoyable is the knowledge gained while reading. The amount of fascinating technical information that Deaver effortlessly imparts is astonishing. In one short, handwritten note, clues are found in the paper, the handwriting and especially in the word usage.

Deaver continues his streak of memorable characters in gentle Parker Kincaid. He is as brilliant in his own field as the star of Deaver’s previous two books, Lincoln Rhyme (who makes a short, rather contrived appearance in The Devil’s Teardrop). Parker’s vulnerability makes him a very sympathetic character. This erudite former agent hates guns and is addicted to word puzzles. The ambitious Margaret Lukas, who has a tragic secret in her past, is an interesting foil for the interested Parker.

For readers bemoaning that Deaver’s latest isn’t another Lincoln Rhyme thriller -- chill out. The Devil’s Teardrop is everything a psychological thriller fan could hope for -- fast paced, compelling and torturously devious. Hands down, Jeffery Deaver is quite simply the best thriller author around.

--Dede Anderson