Background
Published in 2012, “The Forgotten” by David Baldacci follows Army Special Agent John Puller as he investigates the mysterious death of his aunt in a quiet Florida town. Though her passing was officially ruled accidental, Puller suspects foul play and uncovers a web of corruption, illegal activity, and hidden identities that reach beyond the local community. As he delves deeper, Puller confronts both dangerous adversaries and a conspiracy that threatens national security. The investigation becomes personal, testing his skills as a military investigator and his resolve as a family member seeking justice.
My Thoughts
Another area I have visited and have some familiarity with is the general part of Florida in the book. Baldacci mentions Desin and other areas along the panhandle. The city of Paradise was annexed into Gainesville, Florida in 2022. It is land locked and about 300 miles from where it is placed in the book. (I had to look that up.) This was the first time I saw Baldacci make that error.
Regardless, it was an engaging narrative and I enjoyed the book on the whole. There were a few times the dialogue was overblown and even a little cheesy. There were also some adult scenes that fortunately didn’t get too graphic or last very long.
Recommendation
Good enough to keep reading the series.