I planned a casual listen. Baldacci planned a hostage situation.
I picked up The Forgotten by David Baldacci as my latest “commute listen,” fully expecting it to live its entire life in my car speakers like most audiobooks do. You know the type ... perfectly enjoyable, but once you turn off the ignition, so does your interest. That did not happen here.
This is the second book in the John Puller series, and somewhere along the way, Baldacci pulled a fast one on me. I started out invested in the case; it’s twisty and tense. But without making a big show of it, he quietly built a character I trusted, like Jack Reacher, but still in the service.
John Puller is that guy. The steady, grounded, morally solid kind of character you want on your side when things go sideways. What really worked for me is that his decisions aren’t always about what’s legal. They’re about what’s right. And when those two things don’t line up? Puller makes the call anyway. No drama, no speeches, just…does the job.
And then Baldacci layered in the twist. I had a pretty good handle on most of the villains (which always makes me feel slightly smug), but the involvement of dirty cops I did not see coming. That shift raises the stakes in a way that hits harder, because now it’s not just about stopping bad people; it’s about figuring out who you can even trust.
Now let’s talk audiobook, because this one deserves it.
There are two narrators (one male, one female) and it makes a huge difference. No confusion, no “who is this again?” moments. Add in some subtle background effects, and suddenly you’re not just listening, you’re right there in the tension with them. It’s immersive, which is exactly how I like it. I didn’t stop even when I got home.
I kept listening. Through dinner. Through the evening while I decided to repot some plants. Through that little voice that said, “You could finish this tomorrow like a reasonable person.” I ignored that voice completely and listened to the last three hours straight through. That almost never happens for me.
So yes, this is a five-star novel. Not just because the story is strong (it is), or because the twist landed (it did), or even because Puller is now firmly in my “favorite characters” category (he is). It’s five stars because it broke out of its designated “commute only” box and took over my evening. And I’m not even mad about it.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve already borrowed book three… and I’m suddenly hoping for traffic.
