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The Mostly Forgotten Spy

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The Mostly Forgotten Spy(Book 1 of Incidental Heroics)

You’d think the perfect spy would be the one you can’t remember. Jenna thought that too before her first mission went off the rails in approximately seventeen different ways.

Jenna possesses a unique she can wipe herself from the minds of everyone on Earth. It’s the ultimate tool for a spy, but it's hard enough to find friends who don't flake out on plans when they remember you even exist.

She joined ASSIST—the world’s most legendary, yet bureaucratically incompetent spy organization—to find a cure. Instead, they sent her on a routine infiltration to a low-level supervillain job fair. But "routine" should not involve a stolen rocket-powered limo, unsecured assault weapons, or nearly being flung into a ditch at 300 mph.

Now, trapped inside a villainous empire, Jenna faces lethal training, a parasitic new sister, ASSIST treating her like a guinea pig, and a memory-wipe resistant new boss who actually likes her (which is the most dangerous part of all.)

In a world where logic is askew and villains are more eccentric than their powers, Jenna may come to wish she'd stayed forgotten.

307 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2026

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David Harkonson

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
Profile Image for Jenni (semi hiatus sadly due to grief).
7,840 reviews131 followers
July 6, 2026
3 stars
The Mostly Forgotten Spy doesn’t just “come in hot.” No. It barges in like a caffeinated raccoon wearing night‑vision goggles, knocks over your emotional support water bottle, and announces that Jenna — sweet, cursed Jenna — is about to have the worst first day on the job in the history of employment. Her ability to wipe herself from the minds of literally everyone on Earth should make her the world’s most elite covert operative, but instead she’s the human equivalent of a glitching NPC who keeps respawning in the wrong hallway with no idea how she got there.

She joins ASSIST, which claims to be a legendary spy organization but actually functions like a government office that’s been running on expired coffee and broken printers since 1983. They send her on a “routine” infiltration mission — and by routine, I mean it immediately devolves into a rocket‑powered limo joyride from hell, unsecured weapons flying like confetti, and Jenna clinging to the upholstery like a woman who has realized she should have stayed home and become a barista.

Then she gets trapped inside a villain empire that feels less like a criminal syndicate and more like a corporate retreat run by homicidal interns who took “team‑building” way too literally. Her coworkers want her dead. Her agency treats her like a disposable science experiment. She accidentally picks up a parasitic sister like she’s collecting cursed Pokémon. And her boss — the one man who can resist her memory wipes — actually likes her, which is obviously the most dangerous thing happening because emotional vulnerability is the real supervillain.

The world is unhinged in the best way, like someone blended Archer, The Office, and a superhero parody, then seasoned it with existential dread and a sprinkle of “girl, you need therapy.” Jenna’s desperate longing to be remembered gives the story a surprisingly sharp emotional edge, even when everything around her is exploding, malfunctioning, or trying to murder her with enthusiasm.

But here’s why it lands at a chaotic, affectionate 3 stars: the tone wobbles like a drunk flamingo, the humour sometimes overshoots into full cartoon territory, and the pacing sprints downhill like it’s late for a meeting. Jenna’s emotional arc occasionally gets swallowed by the nonstop chaos, which is a shame because when it hits, it hits.

Still — it’s fun. It’s weird. It’s messy in a way that feels intentional, like the book is winking at you while juggling knives. And Jenna? She’s the kind of disaster heroine you root for even while yelling at the page, “Sweetheart, PLEASE sit down before something else explodes.”
Profile Image for Letsreadagoodbook.
470 reviews10 followers
August 5, 2026
Pretty amazing book! I loved it so much! Not my normal read! But i was all up in it!! I love a good that will pull me in hold me until the very last page and this book did just that!
Profile Image for Alli.
259 reviews
August 4, 2026
The Mostly Forgotten Spy was such a fun surprise! I really enjoyed the mix of adventure, mystery, and humor, and the story kept me engaged from start to finish. The characters were easy to root for, and I loved uncovering the secrets alongside them. It had just the right amount of action without losing the heart of the story. By the end, I was smiling and wishing there was more. If you enjoy fast-paced adventures with memorable characters and plenty of twists, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a read.
Profile Image for Mike.
Author 44 books210 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 2, 2026
Mostly forgettable.

It's a supers story in a world where about 60% of people have powers of some sort, mainly fairly useless ones. The main character is tasked with infiltrating a supervillain group by what turns out to be a tragicomically inept superhero support organization, but rather than getting one appropriate to her beginner status, she instead gets swept up in events and ends up in a group which is well above her abilities. Or is it? She manages to muddle through, using her ability to make people forget her, along with bluff, good luck, determination and the help of friends she meets along the way.

The prose is often ponderous, as are the attempts at humour, and the humour tends to be dark - casual violence played for laughs. The characters are thin and generic. At times, there's a conceit that it's being written by someone in the setting, but that comes and goes and is eventually no longer mentioned. It does get a couple of good wordplays off.

I had a pre-publication version from Netgalley, which asks me to believe that the "minor typographic errors" in it will be corrected before publication. I didn't spot many typos, apart from inconsistent name spelling, but I did see instances of several common issues - incorrect dialog punctuation, dangling modifiers, unclear pronoun references, "may" in past tense instead of "might," missing past perfect tense, a couple of homonyms - though none in large numbers. I'm skeptical that they'll all be corrected before publication, but I could be wrong. To be clear, this is a lot better than most superhero novels, which for some reason rank alongside LitRPG and steampunk as most likely to have awful copy editing.

I didn't ever come to love it, but I didn't hate it. It was just OK. Someone for whom the humour was a better fit would probably enjoy it more.
225 reviews11 followers
July 31, 2026
3 Stars

Things are not quite going to plan for Jenna, especially when her attempts to infiltrate a low-level villain's organisation, as part of her role as an ASSIST spy, lead her to gain the attention of a high-level supervillain and being taken to their lair. Not only is she having to deal with murderous attempts, villainy and almost criminal stupidity of the villain who has taken her on as a new minion, she also has to deal with the incompetence of ASSIST that continues to reveal itself in leaps and bounds.
Unfortunately, this book was not for me. Don't get me wrong, it's such an interesting and fun premise that is quite original and stand-out. The writing is really good, and there were some moments where I was laughing out loud - it definitely delivers on the dark comedy. The premise is just wacky enough that you really do feel like you're on a wild ride where anything at all could happen.
I just don't think I was in the right headspace for this. Especially when this sounds like something that should be just my cup of tea. I did like the characters who were just as zany and funny as the premise. I thought Jenna was pretty cool and hilarious, especially when she was responding to all the mental things that kept happening to her. It felt very often that she was giving a little nod to the reader, or sharing an incredulous look, and I thought that was pretty cool. I do think I will need to come back to this at a later date and maybe give it another go. Maybe then I might appreciate the story more.
I'd recommend this to anyone who is looking for a wild story of crazy adventure, complete with wacky characters and zany unpredictable moments that will keep you on your toes. Laugh along as you follow Jenna from one unbelievable moment to the next, just trying to do her job and trying to stay alive.
Profile Image for Book.Athlete.
361 reviews6 followers
July 7, 2026

I had so much fun reading The Mostly Forgotten Spy! The premise immediately caught my attention, and it turned out to be a wonderfully entertaining mix of spy adventure, superhero action, and laugh-out-loud humor. The idea of a spy who can erase herself from everyone's memory is both clever and refreshingly original, making this story stand out from the crowd.
Jenna is a fantastic protagonist, and I found myself rooting for her from the very beginning. Her unique abilities, combined with the unpredictable situations she finds herself in, create plenty of excitement, suspense, and genuinely funny moments. I especially enjoyed the balance between the action and the character development, which made the story feel engaging on every level.
David Harkonson has created a quirky world filled with memorable characters, imaginative ideas, and enough twists to keep the pages turning. The humor never overshadows the heart of the story, and I appreciated the themes of friendship, identity, and finding where you belong.
If you're looking for a fresh take on the spy genre with superhero elements, witty dialogue, and an unforgettable heroine, I highly recommend The Mostly Forgotten Spy. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I'm excited to see where the series goes next!
Profile Image for Kerry  carr.
2,102 reviews32 followers
August 3, 2026
This is the first book in the Incidental Heroics series. This is an action packed adventure filled with superhero’s and villains, drama, action and adventure. But it is a story with a twist. You see our superhero gift is the ability to not be remembered. Great for being a spy but not so great for building friendships and connections.
After trying and failing to make connections Jenna joins ASSIST. And that is where the fun really begins when her first simple mission turns out to be anything but simple. When she finds herself deep inside a villains empire she has to struggle to survive but can she escape?

With a sister she didn’t ask for, colleagues who’s training is deadly and a boss who is resistant to her mind clearing skills this is a story that is entertaining as we watch Jenna navigate her way through. How can she be remembered when she has to be unnoticed?

I really enjoyed this book. I was captivated and transported into Jenna’s world. She is an interesting character and I understand how her ability would make it hard for her to connect with people but when she finds someone who her powers don’t affect that becomes even scarier for her. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Angela.
10.5k reviews135 followers
July 2, 2026
3 Stars

The Mostly Forgotten Spy is the first book in the Incidental Heroics series and debut novel by David Harkonson. It proved to be a zany romp through the world of espionage - if the espionage game was run by a hilariously inept bureaucracy, with people who are as flawed as they are interesting.
The story follows a spy, Jenna, whose biggest challenge isn’t dodging bullets or cracking codes, but simply being remembered by the people around her - or is it?
This quirky, satirical-style take on the spy trope, with superheroes vs super villains, politics, action, adventure, drama, the awkwardness of human connection, and the fictional spy agency, ASSIST - made for a bit of a zany ride.
An offbeat spy comedy with heart which is perfect for readers who like their action served with a wink and a punchline.
While the premise was intriguing, and I did enjoy the book for the most part – it was quite wordy at times, and I felt that there was quite a lot of info-dumping which caused the story to lose momentum and pulled me out of the ‘adventure’.
I am interested to see where the series goes from here.
Happy Reading…
Profile Image for Jamie Shimpock.
183 reviews3 followers
July 11, 2026
As I am writing this review, I have a confession to make... somewhere along the way I mostly forgot who the main character was... and what her job was. 🤦‍♀️(joking of course!)

I know, I know. The title was practically waving a giant clue in my face! Then it hit me...

She's a spy.

Suddenly everything made a whole lot more sense. 😂

Once my brain clocked back in, I was completely hooked. This book is packed with suspicious characters, twists, and secret missions. You will want to bust out your own spy kit as you find each clue. Speaking of clues- each one in this story felt like another puzzle piece clicking into place, and I had a blast trying solve the mystery along with... wait, what is her name? Ummmm oh, Jenna! It was fun to try to put together the mystery with her! Solving the mystery is easier said than done when you're reading about spies (especially ones who can wipe you memory line an eraser wipe a chalk board.)


Don't worry... even if you briefly forget who the spy is, (like I almost kind of sort of did...) the story will make sure you never forget the adventure. Check out The Mostly Forgotten Spy for a fantastic adventure!
Profile Image for Santana.
478 reviews10 followers
July 21, 2026
This was a fun, quirky mix of spy adventure, superheroes, and comedy. The premise alone hooked me. A spy who can erase herself from everyone's memory is such a unique idea, and it made for plenty of funny and unpredictable moments.

Jenna was an easy character to root for. She was likable, capable, and constantly found herself in ridiculous situations that kept the story entertaining. I also liked the mix of action, humor, and the found family vibes throughout the book.

The world was creative, with plenty of memorable characters, superhero chaos, and clever ideas. It never took itself too seriously, which made it a fun read.

My biggest issue was the pacing. There were quite a few sections that felt overly detailed, and the information dumps slowed the story down. I also found myself a little confused at times because there was so much going on.

This was an enjoyable, lighthearted superhero spy adventure with a fresh concept and lots of humor. If you're looking for something different that doesn't take itself too seriously, this is worth checking out.
Profile Image for Shannen.
1,249 reviews34 followers
July 23, 2026
Okay, I need more people to be talking about this book. The premise alone had me hooked! What do you mean Jenna is a spy who can literally erase herself from (almost) everyone’s memory?! It’s such a fun and unique idea. One of my favorite things about this book was the pacing. It moved quickly enough to keep me turning the pages, but it never felt so fast that I was confused or struggling to keep up. Jenna was such an easy main character to connect with, and I found myself rooting for her from the very beginning. The whole story just has this quirky, zany energy that somehow makes all the chaos work perfectly. Between the dysfunctional spy agency, the eccentric villains, and all the unexpected twists, I was constantly entertained. If you love fast-paced adventures with plenty of humor, memorable characters, and a little bit of absurdity, I’d definitely recommend adding this one to your TBR. I’ll absolutely be picking up the next book!
198 reviews
July 10, 2026
This book was an interesting one to read. The book starts with learning of a spy who was led to this world to, you guessed it, spy on and infiltrate the super heroes and villains. It was a pretty silly read with characters who are serious about their powers and how they use them, but clever and witty throughout the book. It's an interesting story if you can imagine what spy movies are like on TV - agents being used and pretty much dumped to take care of themselves. Jenna possesses a super power herself that she is using against the heroes and villains to carry out her mission, and it seems to backfire often on her enemy. But as we know, you keep your friends close and your enemies closer. This was a book that had a lot of content within it, and a lot to process but was overall an interesting and fun read!
865 reviews12 followers
July 30, 2026
Jenna has found herself in a bit of a pickle. She is a new spy sent out on her first mission and it should be a piece of cake, right? She thought she was going to be joining a criminal organization at an entry level. Instead she ends up coaxed into being the minion of a big fish. And ASSIST? Well, they aren't the most organized organization out there. While Jenna thought she was joining a throng of spies it turns out she is the only one. There are so many things that could have gone wrong for her but somehow she scraped her way out of situations that should have ended everything. I liked the other characters in this little trio as well, Amy became my favorite. Personally she came off as annoying at times however she was quirky enough that I was able to overlook that part of her character's personality. Although this is not the typical book I would read I found it fun and decently paced.
158 reviews5 followers
Read
July 31, 2026
5 out of 5 Stars

The Mostly Forgotten Spy (Incidental Heroics #1)

by David Harkonson

This is the first book I've ever read by the author. The Mostly Forgotten Spy is the first book in the Incidental Heroics Series. I was hooked because of course who doesn't love a good superhero and supervillain story? You'll have to read the book to get the whole story.

Jenna is sent in to infiltrate a group of supervillains to bring them down. Though she was told to start with a small team, when the bigger fish come into play she wants that. So she goes against the orders, but if it helps then it's best. The quote I chose for her is this: “And now he’s letting her know that her punishment isn’t as permanent as she might have otherwise believed. This guy doesn’t exactly shine under pressure, does he?”
Profile Image for Brandy Jo Rymer.
392 reviews8 followers
August 4, 2026
The Mostly Forgotten Spy was a great sci-fi spy story that had me rolling with laughter at all of the unexpectedness of it all. I did not have any idea what would happen next to our main character, Jenna, but I knew that whatever it may be, she would somehow come out of it a little wittier than she was on the previous page. This was a very entertaining story to read; it had me enthralled with all of the action scenes and shocked at the twists in the storyline from page to page. Through and through, this was a highly entertaining story, and a whole different twist on a spy story, especially when you add in all of the science fiction aspects to it. I look forward to reading more from this author.
@Brandy Rymer
08/2026
309 reviews6 followers
August 6, 2026
I didn’t realize how much fun and entertainment this would be! Highly recommended as a chill, funny read that makes you want to read till the end! Thinking she’s invincible with Jenna’s special ability to erase the memory of herself from the minds of others. ASSIST, a world-renowned organization for spies, is one she joins that will help her to help her find a cure for her ailment, as she thinks. To her surprise, she’s sent instead to a task at the supervillain job fair. In her mind, she can do this, and it will be easy peasy when everything goes wrong. One thing after another goes wrong for Jenna. Saving the good, funny moments for you to enjoy and pick up this book! First time reading this author and first in the series, and I will keep an eye out for the next book!
Profile Image for Bobbi Wagner.
5,327 reviews74 followers
July 1, 2026
This is a satire type gene where the author used humor and details to make the story engaging. One of the other things that stick out is how well written and developed the characters are. This is a story about Jenna and her special ability of being able to wipe the mind of humans. She joins ASSIST to find a cure but when she is sent out on a routine mission, it is anything but. Now she is faced with surviving but will she? The characters are creative and connectable. This is a story that has great growth of the characters as well as the plot. I found this story to be fast paced and one I recommend reading.
Profile Image for Anantha Rusum.
333 reviews9 followers
July 16, 2026
This is a super spy satire sort of a book . Enter a world of spies who possess super hero powers to overcome the villains. Jenna is a spy whose special power is to erase herself and her memories from the mind of people. She joins a spy agency, and tries to use our superpowers against her enemies , but then it seems to backfire all the time .

The book has plenty of adventure , action and humor . Jenna finds herself in the most unpredictable situations , the plot has a lot of twists and turns . It is a lot wordy , but then the adventure pulls you in and manages to hold your attention . Overall, it is a fun read !
559 reviews9 followers
July 23, 2026
The Mostly Forgotten Spy is a fun, lighthearted superhero story. It centres on Jenna who has been tasked with infiltrating a super villain group and, naturally, gets caught up in many shenanigans.

This story will appeal to fans of superheroes who enjoy stories that are funny and satirical. I like the weird and interesting powers some of the characters have, like Jenna's ability to make people forget her (reminds me a bit of Men in Black).

As you'd expect from a superhero story, there's plenty of action in this book. There's also a weird parasite, telepathic gossiping and much more!

The Mostly Forgotten Spy gets four stars from me!
Profile Image for Katie Burgess.
426 reviews
July 29, 2026
This read is a clever and entertaining superhero spy adventure with a wonderfully unique premise. Jenna’s ability to erase herself from everyone’s memories creates all kinds of hilarious and unexpected situations, and I loved seeing how she navigates the challenge of wanting to be useful while also wanting to be remembered. The story has a great mix of action, humour, quirky characters, and heart, making it a really fun read from start to finish. The over-the-top villains and chaotic spy world add plenty of personality, while Jenna’s journey gives the story an emotional core. A creative and enjoyable start to the series that leaves you wanting more.

3,262 reviews38 followers
July 30, 2026
This book is an interesting and unique story that was exciting to read right from the first page. It was such a fun adventure with a character that I truly enjoyed reading about. The concept of being a spy who can wipe people’s mind was so original and refreshing. It meant it was really easy to become engaged with the story and want to read more.
There is so much packed into this book – adventure, superheroes, brilliant banter. The book really caught my attention from the moment I read the description and it easily kept me turning the pages. This was a great story by an author that is new to me.
Profile Image for Kristi McChurin.
300 reviews11 followers
July 29, 2026
The Mostly Forgotten Spy by David Harkonson was funny, chaotic, and just the right amount of ridiculous. Jenna has a superpower that makes people forget she exists, which is great for spying and absolutely terrible for pretty much everything else.
Her first mission goes sideways fast, and from there it’s spies, supervillains, questionable decisions, and plenty of moments that had me laughing and thinking, “Well, that could’ve gone better.”
Fun, quirky, and definitely not your average spy story. I had a great time with this one!
Profile Image for Jennifer Reimer.
553 reviews10 followers
July 31, 2026
This had a very interesting and one of a kind story that i enjoyed reading, it was exciting, fun, adventurous and clever plot that i really enjoyed every page. Jenna just seems like a normal girl but she's got something special, with her superpowers that are unique with wiping your mind, she is out to help get rid of some super-villains. This was filled so some twist and turns, adventure, humor, sci-fi, with a character that I truly enjoyed reading about, and a world that seemed super fun to be in. It was really easy to be engaged with the story and I wanted to read more.
Profile Image for Darian -  Books With A Chance .
502 reviews9 followers
August 5, 2026
I'm going to recommend this book to everybody, the cover screams sci-fi and yes, it is a sci-fi, but I don't know, it was just good. There's adventure, supervillains, some not so great superheroes, secrets, and so much humor. I thought Kari was great and I hope we get to see her again in the next book even if it's only little snippets. I also can't wait to see how things end up with Jenna. I would use this book to introduce the sci-fi genre to someone wanting to try reading them, I think it's great for YA readers as well.
194 reviews10 followers
August 6, 2026
This was a fun, chaotic novel with a really enjoyable storyline. There were a few things that had me a little lost where I couldn't follow exactly what was happening, but for the most part, I enjoyed the characters and the way their entirely different goals came together. If the main characters were a D&D party, I would never in a million years DM for them - but boy was the carnage good to read about! I'll definitely keep an eye out for the sequel. This is the first time reading from this author and was definitely interesting to read. Glad I chose to give this book a chance.
Author 41 books146 followers
August 6, 2026
Jenna is the most forgettable, unforgettable spy ever. She joined Assist and was sent into a situation that caused more issues than solutions. Her friends never remember her, but her "boss" can't forget her after she is pulled into the villain world. I quickly became attached to Jenna and couldn't wait to see what happens to her next, though with her gift she could easily make you forget her. I would never want to her character is so relatable that you can't help but grow attached to her. Highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for K.
660 reviews31 followers
Review of advance copy
June 26, 2026
Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC.

This was a fun, chaotic novel with a really enjoyable storyline. There were a few things that had me a little lost where I couldn't follow exactly what was happening, but for the most part, I enjoyed the characters and the way their entirely different goals came together. If the main characters were a D&D party, I would never in a million years DM for them - but boy was the carnage good to read about! I'll definitely keep an eye out for the sequel.
1,996 reviews22 followers
August 3, 2026
Normally I read romance or romantic suspense but lately I have been stepping out and trying different things. I stepped out of my normal on this one and I have to admit that I am glad that I did. It was a really good book but sometimes I caught myself rereading a section to make sure I didn't miss something important.

if you want to read something well written with interesting cast members check this book out. I think you will like it too
91 reviews2 followers
August 4, 2026
This story was a fun read. Jenna makes the perfect spy considering her gift. So ASSIST sends her on a “routine” mission to infiltrate a villains job fair. Easy Peasy right? Haha wrong! This mission proves to be anything but. Yet Jenna continues to push past every obstacle that pops up for her. From co workers who want her gone, to a boss who’s mind can’t be erased. Jenna faces it all. Will she succeed in her mission? Will her her cover be blown? Read to find out.
Profile Image for Kimberly Howe.
1,277 reviews37 followers
August 4, 2026
This was my first for this author and I am glad I read this!! It is so up my alley with the type of humor portrayed by the author. Jenna has a unique ability to erase her from others minds. Man, to have that ability when you do something epically dumb or embarrassing. Anyway, she gets recruited to be a spy and when she is sent on her first mission to go to a villians job fair lets just say, nothing go to plan. This was such a pleasure to read. I like books that keep me engaged especially from the beginning and this book does that! I am so looking forward to reading more in this series and by this author! I will definitely be recommending to others in my book clubs and circles.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews