Disappointing write-by-numbers suspense novel. Forgettable two-dimensional characters, cookie-cutter dialogues and the inevitable hunter-turns-hunted ending.

A generic story that runs along straight rails, the destination visible from miles away.

The blurb lists several major awards won by the author.

Maybe I was unlucky to pick one of her less inspired efforts. ( )

Amazon received

From the age of six, Sheldon Woods is sexually abused by his mother Rhona. Aged twelve, he fathers her son and later kills the boy to prevent her abusing him. Woods’ childhood trauma turns him into a serial abuser and killer of young boys. An FBI crime thriller set in the State of Maryland. ( )

Stand alone thriller from Mariah Stewart featuring FBI Agent Portia Cahill. Portia is charged with finding the body of another victim of child killer Sheldon Woods. When fresh remains are found, Portia and lawyer Jack Cannon know they have a copycat on their hands. An engrossing read. ( )

I have read most of Mariah Stewart's books. Forgotten is an out of series book, but was as engrossing as any of her other books.

In Forgotten, psychopath Sheldon Woods has kidnapped a number of boys - what adds to the grisly scene is that nobody is exactly sure how many and where there body lies and this situation will set the scene for this extremely dark, exciting and disturbing novel. Stewart manages to create a tension filled storyline - and it is obvious that she has based her Sheldon Woods character on a combination of real life psychos!!!! Woods is a very well created character, spooky and disgusting and he was the central plot for me, because of this character - the novel worked.
The interaction between James Cannon, who was the initial attorney who represented Woods, and the FBI Agent, Portia Cahill was well drawn and they worked well together.

Stewart always manages to write extremely broody novels. With her apt and vivid descriptions, you could almost feel yourself talking with Woods - practically wanting to beg him to tell you where the bodies are buried and at the same time, you wanted to run away from him AND kill him with your bare hands. This novel is fairly descriptive ( )