“The Forgotten” by David Baldacci – Trouble in Paradise

It seems that David Baldacci has a certain liking for writing stories about super special agents from governmental agencies, as was seen in one of his most prominent works, The Innocent.

In The Forgotten, Baldacci revisits a similar concept, following the work of John Puller, a special agent in the U.S. Army. Right before his aunt died living out her days in the ironically-named town of Paradise, Florida, she sent a letter to Puller in which she suggested that beneath this tranquil resort inhabited by retirees and wealthy old white men lies a great danger.

While the local police have ruled the death to have been a tragic accident, Puller, being a special agent, finds evidence which points him to the contrary. Bit by bit, a Puller pieces together everything he learns and becomes convinced that there is some kind of terrible conspiracy in that little town, and its secrecy is worth killing for.

First off, I’d like to admit that I haven’t got around to reading this book yet, but judging from the premise, and of course, the author, it promises to be a fast-paced mystery thriller about corruption at the highest layers of society.

As a matter of fact, this storyline reminds me of the famous movie Chinatown where Jack Nicholson plays a private detective who investigates a murder through the seedy underworld of Los Angeles, hidden away beneath breathtaking scenery and the comfort of sunlight.

In other words, the truth will be unsettling, and if it won’t entertain you, it will at least leave its mark upon you. Naturally, there are bound to be some clichés here and there, but Baldacci has seldom disappointed when it came to making a seemingly re-hashed story interesting again.

I’d pretty much recommend The Forgotten, as well as Baldacci’s other works for anyone who is simply looking to spend some time being sucked into the world of special agents who (probably) lead much more exciting lives than we do, solving murders and unraveling conspiracies.

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David Baldacci Personal site Certainly one of the more famous authors of the 21st century, David Baldacci was always gearing himself to become a prominent writer, beginning his work at a very young age as a child. He gifted the readers with countless classics and bestsellers such as The Innocent and Absolute Power.