Ward Just's novel 'Forgetfulness' navigates the turbulent crosscurrents of personal loss and global politics through the eyes of Thomas Railles, an American artist entangled in the covert affairs of his CIA past. Set amidst the pastoral tranquility of the French Pyrenees, Thomas's life is shattered when his wife, Florette, falls victim to a brutal murder associated with terrorism. As he is drawn back into the world of espionage to confront his wife's killers, Thomas grapples with the moral ambiguities of violence, revenge, and the personal cost of international conflicts. In a journey that synthesizes the War on Terror's impact on individual lives, Thomas faces a defining moment that irrevocably alters his understanding of justice, love, and the past's persistent shadows.