Nearly breathless from the intensity...
I read a lot of action and thriller books, so this is a genre I'm familiar with. I'd never read anything from Marc Liebman, but the premise seemed intriguing and I'm always on the lookout for fresh new talent, so I was curious to see how he would deliver in "Forgotten". Mr. Liebman is unarguably a very talented and creative writer, but more than that he genuinely impressed me with his thorough world-building and interesting characters and inventiveness on many levels. Great detailing gives this story authenticity on many levels. We genuinely feel transported into thiscomplex, epic tale from the brutal, violent warzones and POW camp, to Julia/Janet's sexy and dangerous 'activities'. And speaking of sex there is plenty here and it is very hot! All too often I read works that feel clearly derivative of other books (especially in erotica), and although I appreciate literary influences (as is felt here as well), when something this original comes along it is a refreshing change of pace from the norm! It wasn't predictable or cliché, and sometimes it was cutthroat and harsh, and othertimes I was nearly breathless from the intensity and violent passion. Othertimes I was chuckling aloud at the witty banter. For such a long book I finished it in less than a week, and went through so many highs and lows, it felt like a rollercoaster. I enjoyed the ending and was actually hoping that this might be the beginning of a series but this appears to standalone novel. Wraps up well and the glossary at the end is handy too. Actually feel like I learned something! I recommend it for adults only as it has graphic language, violence and sex scenes, but they work well with the storyline and do not feel gratuitous.
Leo Gregory, Indie Book Reviews (Five Stars)
An unforgettable story... Forgotten is a masterpiece!A gripping military book,
Forgotten by Marc Liebman is an unforgettable story featuring six men - two Naval Aviators (Randy Pulaski and Jeff Richey) and two Air Force pilots (Karl Kramer and Greg Christiansen who were shot down and known to be captured and two Green Berets - Captain Ashley Smith and First Lieutenant Hank Cho - are thought to have disappeared. All are slaving under one of the top colonels from the People'sArmy of Vietnam, transforming opium to morphine while waiting for the time when their captor would exchange them for a huge ransom. Meanwhile, a woman, whose husband is among the six American soldiers who never returned home, still hopes against all hope that her husband is alive. When news finally gets out, years later, that these men are alive, Janet Pulaski gets worried about her husband, Navy Lieutenant Randy Pulaski, who may be targeted by two men who don't want them alive. One is in the CIA who is afraid that his past misdeeds may be uncovered. The other is a former POW whose traitorous collaboration was witnessed by Pulaksi who wants him court martialed. If found guilty, he will get sent to the hangman.
Marc Liebman has a great gift for both plot and character development. The story begins in the midst of action and the reader can feel the adrenaline. But it's just the beginning and the whole story is punctuated with intense action and powerful scenes. The setting reflects historical and physical places that soldiers, especially those who have served in Vietnam, will be familiar with. Well-written, this is a book from a new author that features such elegant prose and detailed, absorbing descriptions of scenes and characters. Janet Pulaski is a character who won my heart from the start and it was interesting to see how she developed throughout the story.
Forgotten is a masterpiece, a well-written story with great characters and a not-so-easy-to-put-down kind of plot.
Christian Sia, Book FavoritesThere is quite a bit of double-crossand vengeance that color several pages in this fast paced thriller...
In the 1980s there were many action packed movies such as Rambo and Missingin Action as well as various writings concerning Americanprisoners-of-wars that were believed left behind in Vietnam. With Marc Liebman's novel, FORGOTTEN thespectre of POWS left behind is once again back in the public eye. Structured as a kind of double narrative, Liebman'sdeals with six American POWS who were captured in 1970 and spent twelve yearsin captivity. Incidentally, they were never reported as being POWS but rathermissing in action. When the war ended andalthough the Vietnamese claimed to have returned all POWS, there were rumorsthat some had been left behind in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, but nothing hadbeen confirmed. During their captivity, the Americanprisoners were used as slaves by an organization turning raw opium intomorphine that eventually found its way to the USA and elsewhere. The leader ofthe prison camp, a defector from the South Vietnam military to the North,Lieutenant Colonel Pham was aided and abetted by corrupt North Vietnamesemilitary officials as well as some members of the Vietnam government. After the war ended, the leader had hoped toransom off the prisoners to the Americans for considerable sums of moneybelieving that they would consent to pay for their release, failing which theywould be killed. The second tale concerns the wife of oneof the captured naval aviators who becomes an expert and ruthless unemotionalhit woman known as La estrella roja de lamuerte (The red star ofdeath). Apparently, she spent four months in Cuba with the help ofan American militant radical left-wing organization, The Weather Underground,whose goal was to create a clandestine revolutionary party to overthrow theU.S. Government. As she turns to embracing the world of an opportunistcapitalist, she evolves into a free lance gun-for-hire murderer and travels allover the world where she has disposed of people in Chile, Argentina, Italy,England, Australia, Canada as well as the USA. Using several aliases she doesn't care whomshe kills as long as they pay the substantial fees she commands. Her work is referred to her by someone knownas The Broker. She also finds herself attracted to females andbecomes a lesbian involving herself in numerous liaisons. Forgotten isa smartly plotted work of fiction with strong writing, although, if there isone fly in the ointment, it is that it could have been shortened by about 150pages. It will take more than onesitting once the reader picks up the novel, nonetheless, he or she will bewell-rewarded and undoubtedly will not wish to put it down until the last pageof the frenzied ending. There is quite a bit of double-cross and vengeance thatcolor several pages in this fast paced thriller. In addition, readers are treated to vividlyrendered characters and deeply affecting vivid scenes wherein Liebman brings tolife the horrendous conditions and experiences of American who were POWS duringthe Vietnam war. Thrown in is the cowardice of a US aircraft commander who,although had the opportunity, did not come to the rescue of one of the POWSbefore he had been captured. Also mixed into the yarn is a former POW and a CIAoperative who are determined to have the six survivors killed because whattheses POWS know what incriminate the two who had been involved in a deviousplot that would lead to their imprisonment.Norm Goldman, Book PleasuresA great, riveting combination of thrills, suspense,powerful and sexy women, strong men, action and romance...Fast-paced,well written and extremely creative, "Forgotten" by Marc Liebman isan absolute must-read for fans of military action, thriller/suspense, and erotica. This is pretty much the first book thatI've read that has these elements, but they work together (and complement eachother) perfectly. This novel holds itsown with the top-notch writing and plot structure and an exciting, varied castof 'colorful' characters and plenty of intrigue and thrills to go around. There were some times where I felt it couldhave benefited from some editing, as there were frequent places where there wasneedless information, scene repetition, or chit chat. Occasionally things happened that I wonderedif it was crucial for the plot, of just for the sake of titillation (aka 'cheapthrills'). However, I feel Marc Liebmandid a great job of bringing in a unique voice and making the story wholly hisown, and giving it a fresh feel. I certainlydidn't feel like I've read this million times before. In fact, I can't think of anything I'veread like it before. This is definitelya "high stakes, action-packed' thriller because how it is set up, but italso has a softer, more human side that really puts us in the differentcharacters hearts and heads (Janet and Randy) and the others. A great, riveting combination of thrills,suspense, powerful and sexy women, strong men, action and romance... an engrossingstory with and a fun cast to take you along for this very interesting andexciting and dangerous ride. Recommendfor ages 18+ Stephen Beacher, Indie Book Reviews (Four Stars)This book is a page turner full of intrigue, taking the reader inside the dark world of protestors, sex, weapons, violence, big money, drugs, shady characters, covert actions...
Forgotten, a gripping novel with the return of main protagonist playing a cameo role among a new cadre of characters including a badass, coldblooded female assassin. The story line features some captured American soldiers listed as MIA and not returned or listed among the POWS released by the North Vietnamese at the end of the war. Unknown to the higher command of the NVA, their captors forced them to labor in a secret heroin operation, expecting to ransom them later.
At one point, they are reported dead, then it becomes evident they are very much alive and are rescued. However, some government players have denied any and all evidence any Americans were left in Vietnam. These people now know they will lose their jobs and are at risk for prison. Both sides of the issue take out contract on one another's lives. The book is a page turner full of intrigue, taking the reader inside the dark world of protesters, sex, weapons, violence, big money, drugs, shady characters, covert actions and cover-ups. While Liebman ties up some loose ends from his earlier novels, he leaves an opening for more Josh Haman adventures.
John Penny, The Aviator
