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The Forgotten Room

Review

The Forgotten Room

Fresh off his unique adventures in DEEP STORM, TERMINAL FREEZE and THE THIRD GATE, Professor Jeremy Logan is at it again. He calls himself an “enigmalogist,” probably the only self-proclaimed individual with that title in the world. His focus is the exploration of the weird and unexplained.

In THE FORGOTTEN ROOM, Logan may be facing the most dangerous case of his career.  While spending time in Scotland where he was asked to once and for all confirm or deny the existence of the infamous Loch Ness Monster, Logan is informed of a situation at the location of his former employer, Lux, in Newport, Rhode Island.

"THE FORGOTTEN ROOM contains equal elements of mystery, thriller and scientific adventure, and Jeremy Logan is a more than competent protagonist."

Lux is essentially a professional think tank located along the Atlantic Coast in Newport at the site of a converted ancient monastery. Like many old buildings, the Lux site holds secrets and has unchartered rooms and corridors not used for ages. Logan is contacted by Lux's director, Gregory Olafson, who immediately proceeds to make him watch a video captured by one of their security cameras.

In the footage, Dr. Willard Strachey is seen decapitating himself inside an old and very heavy window frame in one of Lux's many rooms. Logan is asked to investigate why a happy, popular and well-adjusted man of science like Strachey would be driven to take his life in such a manner. His behavior had been erratic in the weeks leading up to his suicide, which included his assault of a female colleague.

Logan is not a criminal investigator and recognizes his involvement is due to something far more sinister being behind this senseless death. It turns out Strachey had found a hidden room deep within the recesses of Lux. This room, which appears to be an old laboratory of some sort, was the location of a decades-old experiment named Project Sin. Logan also has strong empath abilities and hears reckless and alarming music whenever he is in this room --- the choppy and violent arpeggios assaulting his senses. His investigation turns up a handful of other Lux employees who admit to everything from experiencing strange smells to voices telling them to kill themselves.

The key is to find out what this bizarre project located in the forgotten room was all about.  The ominous West Wing is now off limits during the investigation, yet Logan constantly feels the presence of others whenever he goes there. At first pass, it seems the experiments in this room had something to do with conjuring the dead and/or creating spirits from thin air. Further examination begins to reveal something far more deadly --- a potential weapon that could cause limitless damage in the wrong hands.

THE FORGOTTEN ROOM contains equal elements of mystery, thriller and scientific adventure, and Jeremy Logan is a more than competent protagonist. Lincoln Child is best known for his numerous bestselling novels with writing partner Douglas Preston. This latest solo effort takes a similar formula and will greatly appeal to readers of all of Child's work.

Reviewed by Ray Palen on May 15, 2015

The Forgotten Room
by Lincoln Child

  • Publication Date: May 31, 2016
  • Genres: Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Anchor
  • ISBN-10: 0307473759
  • ISBN-13: 9780307473752