Berry delivers a suspense novel of corporate corruption in a small Georgia town. A fast-paced story, the right amount of tension and complex characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #TheList

The List by Steve Berry is a very exciting read taking place in a small town in Georgia. Brent Walker decided to return home to take care of his ill mother. He had been practicing law in Atlanta a few hours away.
He takes a job and the towns biggest employer , The paper mill. Things start to happen that are very disturbing and Brent learns of a secret list that puts himself and his family in danger. His late fathers best friend Hank Reid also is involved in the suspense as is his daughter Ashley who is Brents love interest.
Steve Berry does not disappoint in this latest thriller

The suspenseful novel by Steve Berry, The List, follows Brent Walker, an attorney caring for his Alzheimer’s-stricken mother in a small Georgia town. He and his friend Hank, the union boss, uncover a hidden secret in a list. This well-written and fast-paced book features believable characters and an intriguing plot. Highly recommend.

Thank you, Grand Central Publishing for providing the copy of The List by Steve Berry. I loved the premise of this book and what they were doing was diabolical! While I loved parts of this book, other parts dragged so I wish it had kept the same pace as the prologue and the same intrigue of the crazy things that went on. Readers who enjoy books that may have elements of reality and a complicated main character will love this book. 3 stars

I was issued this book by NetGalley for my unbiased opinion.

Having read a couple of other offerings from Steve Berry I was looking forward to this book. I wasn't disappointed.

It was a well paced and written story. The basic theme comes down to greed, which is certainly believable today.

I will look forward to more from Mr. Berry.

Excellent book! One of the best thriller-type books I've read this year. The plot itself was so ingenuous- I guess it helps when the three owners own the entire town and can manipulate and view employee records. Very tightly plotted, action packed, and great twists. I haven't read many of Mr Berry's books, but I sure will now.

Comments- In the chapter, Day Nineteen, the poor sap's name is Wyler. Many subsequent references to him as Tyler.

The second comment is geographical. I was confused about how the Savannah River could overlook South Carolina when talking about a mill in south central Georgia. I looked up maps several times to see if I could coordinate myself, but was still confused. For example in chapter Day Two, the mill is described as "occupied a picturesque bend on the Savannah River three miles east of Concord, with South Carolina in view o the opposite bank". In Day Twelve, "more majestic Savannah River formed the eastern boundary of the county and Georgia." Maybe I'm geographically challenged, bu this didn't make sense if trying to place the scene in "real time".

Finally, I appreciated the education on Georgia's role in the Revolutionary War.. Missed that in history class. Anyway, I would suggest that the Walkers, whose family was portrayed as fleeing Germany in 1734 and being directly related to Brent Walker's father, couldn't be "Salzburgers". Salzburg is in Austria.

I truly loved this book and will recommend it to my friends. Thanks for the roller coaster ride, and for having the ability to tell you my concerns.

This book centers around Brent, a lawyer who left years ago, who returns to work in his hometown at the papermill and Hank, one of his best friends, who is the union president at the same mill.

Hank uncovers a list of numbers and uncovering the mystery of what those numbers represent leads them down a dangerous path. Without going into detail, the reason for the list and results will leave you speechless! To say this book was intense would be an understatement and not give the book the justice it deserves.

There is also a second chance romance interwoven in the book that gives a break between some of the mystery, with a surprise thrown in there also.

The author stated he wrote this book, but shelved it for years before he pulled it off the shelf and it was finally published and I'm so glad he did. This was my first book by this author and I highly recommend reading it!

Thanks to the author, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

After a ten-year self-imposed exile, Brent Walker is returning home to Concord, a quaint town in central Georgia nestled close to the Savannah River. Two years ago, his father died, and now Brent, hired by Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company as its assistant general counsel, is returning to care for his ailing mother.

For decades, Southern Republic has invested heavily in Concord, creating a thriving community where its employees live, work, and retire. But the genteel sheen of this quiet town is deceiving, and when a list of cryptic code surfaces, Brent starts to see the cracks.

Southern Republic’s success is based largely on a highly unorthodox and deadly system to control costs, known only to the three owners of the company. Now, one of them, Christopher Bozin, has had a change of heart. Brent’s return to Concord, a move Bozin personally orchestrated, provides his conscience with a chance at redemption. So a plan is set into motion, one that will not only criminally implicate Bozin’s two partners, but also place Brent Walker square in the crosshairs of men who want him dead—with only one course left available.

Steve Berry is the author of the Cotton Malone series of history-based thrillers, This departure, actually first written years ago, is a welcome surprise. This reader loved every page, For all thriller and mystery fans. Highly rec0mmended. #TheList #NetGalley #SaltMarshAuthorSeries

I won’t lie, this is my first Steve Berry book, but it absolutely will not be my last!

For decades Southern Republic has invested heavily in Concord, building a paper mill and creating a thriving community, one where its employees live, work, and retire. Unlike countless other mills that have closed Southern Republic survived, becoming a model for the paper industry. But Southern Republic’s success is based largely on something called the Priority program, a highly unorthodox way to secretly control costs, one that provides a huge edge over its competition. Only the three owners of the company are aware of the program’s existence, but one of them, Christopher Bozin, has had a change of heart. Brent’s return to Concord, a move Bozin personally orchestrated, provides a chance at redemption that Bozin desperately wants before cancer takes his life. So a plan is set into motion—one that will not only criminally implicate Bozin’s two partners—it will also place Brent Walker right in the crosshairs of men who want him dead.

I had so much fun reading this book! A bit of a slow start, but a necessary one to understand the history of the company and why Brent left town. Once the story picks up though, it does not stop! A compelling story with well developed characters will have you rushing through this book to find out how this will all play out! I will absolutely be recommending this book.

I was swept into the deceptive calm of small-town Georgia in "The List," experiencing Steve Berry's pivot into legal thriller territory. Following Brent Walker's return to his hometown, I felt the growing unease as he stumbles upon a deadly corporate conspiracy hidden behind Southern Republic's perfect company-town facade.

Berry masterfully builds tension around a cryptic list that kept me turning pages. While some plot twists were predictable, Berry compensates with engaging characters, high-stakes action and mounting suspense that drives the story forward to a satisfying conclusion.

What fascinated me most was discovering this novel sat dormant for 30 years before being resurrected and refined sitting COVID to find its way to readers—explaining its nostalgic early Grisham-esque atmosphere. For anyone craving a compelling corporate conspiracy with deadly stakes, "The List" delivers an absorbing journey into darkness hiding beneath small-town charm.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

A big thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

When Brent Walker returns to his hometown in Georgia, he takes on the job of Associate Counsel for Southern Republican Pulp and Paper. When Brent is given a list of numbers, he comes across a diabolical conspiracy that the company has kept secret for decades. In order to protect himself and his family, he must work quick to reveal the truth.

This book starts out slow but picks up the pace about halfway through. I found it intriguing and engrossing, but maybe a little far-fetched at times.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced reader copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4+ stars

I enjoyed the latest Steve Berry non-Cotton Malone thriller (I did catch an easter egg to a German castle that Cotton visited). Brent Walker came back to his small town in Georgia to work for the largest local employer, Southern Republic Pulp and Paper as its assistant general counsel. Southern Republic has been keeping its costs under control in a very unusual manner. Take the time to read the author's note at the end.

What a suspenseful book! I kept trying to guess the ending and was happy to see that it was one of the best scenarios imaginable. I was especially captivated by the story, because it is set in the part of Georgia where I live. In fact, the paper mill was based on the one that used to be right here in our town.

4.25 Stars 🌟

This was a pleasant surprise for me. As much as I truly want to start Mr. Berry's Cotton Malone series, I just sometimes feel that I'm too far behind to even start. Which is a totally crazy thought because I am completely invested in about 15 other series that are AT LEST 25 books in. But, yet I hesitate. Okay, that's a me problem....moving on....

This is a standalone book and in the Author's note at the end, we learn that this was one of the first manuscripts that he ever wrote, but he put it in a drawer and only took it out every couple of years to work on it. That's kind of cool.

The plot on this is crazy. Without giving out too much information, there is a company- a paper mill plant - in a small town in Georgia that basically keeps the town alive. Most of the inhabitants of the town have worked for the plant for most of their lives. There are also a couple of subplots that run tangentially - like the story of Brent Walker and his life, and Hank Reid and the happenings in his life. But the story REALLY revolves around the "creative" way the three owners have been keeping their labor/pension/medical costs low over the last 30 years.

The storyline takes place over 20 days and Mr. Berry does a fantastic job of building and building the tension until we get to the final climax. It was a doozy, and I could feel my heartbeat increasing dramatically as the events unfolded.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This book will be out for publication on July 22, 2025.

When he receives a job offer at the paper mill, Brent returns to his hometown and begins his job as assistant general counsel. The paper mill has been in business for decades, keeping the community of Concord alive, with generous pay, health benefits and pensions for its workers. But the company has been using a unique way to control costs, and when Brent stumbles upon the secret, lives are in danger. The List has a unique plot that grabs your attention in this suspenseful, Grisham-esque story that doesn’t disappoint. This is a breezy read, uncomplicated and straightforward, with flawed characters all around, and a morally ambiguous big business as the backdrop. Lots to like about this one, definitely recommended. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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This could be the case of right book, wrong time for me. So many different points of view, the drawn out descriptions of the company representatives that are ending the lives of former workers who in order to help the bottom line which is essentially fattening the pockets of the CEO’s. I grew tired of the story and hoped it would start developing some wins for the “good guys” but I felt it moved to slowly in that direction.
DNF.

Steve Berry has written another blockbuster thriller! The plot will keep the reader engaged from the first to the last page. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would highly recommend this thriller to everyone.

Wow! I loved this! I couldn’t put it down and read during every free second I could spare. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I’ll be honest, when I requested this book, it had little to do with the description on the back and more to do with the name on the front. Steve Berry knows how to write a page-turning adventure that’s packed with interesting characters and rich history—so imagine my surprise when this slow-burning contemporary thriller landed on my Kindle.

The List feels different from Berry’s usual work, but it is no less enjoyable for the departure. The story follows Brent Walker, a clever and capable attorney who leaves the Atlanta DA’s office to return to his small Georgia hometown, where he plans to care for his ailing mother and make a fresh start. As the story slowly unfolds, Brent wrestles with the past he tried to escape a decade earlier while adjusting to his new role as assistant general counsel for the town’s main employer and benefactor, Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company. Brent soon learns that while the company’s roots run deep in the community, so do its teeth, and it’s not long before he finds himself facing monsters far more terrifying than the ghosts he left behind 10 years ago.

Told over the course of 20 days, the story’s progress is marked by time stamps which helps ratchet up the tension. I do think this feature might be better suited to physical reading than Kindle (I lost my place several times swiping back to find a time mark), but it’s a fun pacing device nonetheless.

There was more head-hopping than I usually like (at least 8 or 9 POVs), and at times, it felt like Berry let his foot off the gas, causing the story to lull. But overall, I found this to be a really enjoyable—and thought-provoking—read. The secret driving the company’s actions was horrifying on its own, but even more chilling in the context of today’s “profits-over-people” culture, where it didn’t take much (if any) suspension of disbelief for me to buy in.

If you’re looking for a summer thriller whose premise sticks with you long after the beach chair’s been folded up, this is it. Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is not what I was expecting from Steve Berry, especially after his long running Cotton Malone series. If anything, this felt like earlier career John Grisham novel. It was a much slower burn, but eventually got going towards the end culminating in a cozy mystery/thriller. Overall I liked the book, it was written well, characters fairly developed, but ultimately it was was the slower paced novel and the cozy aspect that I think prevented it from being 5 starts. I think overall readers will enjoy this if they like Steve’s other books or are a fan of early John Grisham.