Fell flat. Even tried the audiobook in the hopes hearing someone would help me get through it. Just didn’t feel like a Berry book at all.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a preview copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fans of Steve Berry are familiar with his spy thrillers, whether they star Cotton Malone, Luke Daniels or one off characters. However, "The List" is an entrance into a new genre, the legal thriller. The author was an attorney prior to becoming a successful author and this book is a polishing of an unpublished book he wrote many years ago and put aside - and we are the better for it.

The novel features an Atlanta based attorney, Brent Walker, returning to his small town roots in Concord, GA to take care of his ailing mother after the passing of his dad. He goes to work for Southern Republic as assistant general counsel, a local paper that has invested heavily in the town and is its primary employer and benefactor.

Brent has a long time friend at Southern, Hank, that is one of the union heads of the company. One evening while having a romantic liaison snoop thorough the company's computers to get an edge in upcoming labor negotiations, he comes across "The List." This is a list of numbers and other information that he does not understand. Hank shares the list with Brent. However, Brent is reluctant to betray the trust of his new employers despite his long friendship with Hank.

Brent's conundrum turns out to be the least of their concerns. Southern has been successful in an industry that has struggled in the U.S. It turns out the list provides information on Southern's unorthodox - and lethal - system of controlling insurance costs. The owners of the company find out that Hank has found the list and pull out all stops to track them down and put an end to them - permanently.

It is a well paced story and the reader doesn't have to worry about getting bogged down in legalese to enjoy it. The Book is not without its flaws. There is a love story that doesn't really drive the plot forward - it would work well without it. One wonders if it was inserted in order to grow the story to novel length.

Overall, 4 stars and a recommended read.

Could this happen in real life? Absolutely!

Southern Republic is a paper mill in Concord, GA run by 3 partners. They invested when the business was on a downturn, and have since amassed huge profits and other businesses around Concord, pretty much turning it into an old-fashioned company town. While workers don't pay the company for housing, food, etc., the partners have bought up these businesses, so in theory, the money comes back to them.

But that isn't enough greed for the partners. They devised a plan to "prioritize" workers who are experiencing high medical bills, which come right out of the self-funded account (not a healthcare insurance firm). To save money, prioritized workers and retirees met an untimely death and the company benefits by not having to cover expenses any longer. Simple, until its not.

I enjoyed this book. It moved fast and I thought the concept was different, though not unbelievable in today's culture of corporate greed.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

This is my first Steve Berry, and I understand it is quite different than his usual, being a book that he wrote 14 years ago and finally decided to update and publish. The format was interesting, as at first you don't really know what is going on. There is a sort of countdown and the story is told by many different characters, several of them cold blooded killers, some corporate types, others union workers, and some lawyers. Yes a big cast of interacting players.
The book was VERY suspenseful and I had no idea where he was going and how it was going to end.
It is scary and plausible and quite imaginative. The ending was quite thrilling.
I couldn't put this book down because I wondered how he was going to bring all the stories together. If you like suspense and a story that could come from today's headlines, this is a book for you!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. This is my honest opinion.

I am a huge fan of Steve Berry and have read all of his books so I was thrilled to receive this ARC.
The List is a stand alone thriller that is unique for Steve Berry as it isn't his usual genre.
The story opens with Brent Walker returning to Concord, GA after a 10 year hiatus. With Brent's father dying unexpectedly a couple years ago and his mother's health now failing, he accepts a position as the assistant general counsel for Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company, the biggest employer in the area, helping the city thrive with generous investments into their employees.
The story is layered and slowly unveils why Brent left, his relationships with the various people in Concord, including a union leader at
Southern Republic, an old flame and the 3 owners of Southern Republic. The owners have a "list" that they use for cost containment that is terrible to terrible to contemplate. One of those owners, Christopher Bozin, decides that he no longer wants to continue with the business model and wants things to change, pulling in Brent to help him, escalating the danger around them.
The storyline evolves over 20 days, which is cleverly done and while it opens with a bang, slows down a bit, and seemed to reveal a good portion of the mystery early. Then about a quarter of the way in, the plot escalates, building in suspenseful fashion, has unexpected plot twists and a satisfying ending. The characters are believable, the storyline intriguing and thought provoking. The authors note gives an interesting context to the book, having started it in his early years, tucked it away, brought it out intermittently and completed it in 2025. To me it made sense with some of the older reference's and pacing.
I highly recommend this suspenseful thriller that is both engaging and enjoyable and will leave you thinking about the storyline after.
A huge note of appreciation to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Steve Berry for the opportunity to read this ARC, it was a privilege and a pleasure. All opinions expressed are my own.

The title of this book is very appropriate and the plot enveloped everything you want in a thriller. It has a wide variety of characters from the rich and powerful to the average working class. The setting at a paper mill was original and richly described. I enjoyed the smaller towns, lakes and topography in a part of Georgia I knew nothing about. There were lots of things I learned about the processing plant and the story was filled with history. There’s suspense, mystery and some tense situations, one that was almost too elaborate to believe. There are friendships, romantic dilemmas, love and loss. There’s a good bit of legal maneuvering and union negotiations. I held my breath and shuddered with fear through several scenes. I’ve never read this author before but he’s on my watchlist now.
I’d like to thank one of my favorite publishers, Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Book Group (via NetGalley) for providing an Advance Reader Copy of “The List” by Steve Berry. These are always my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation. Publication expected 07/22/2025.

Thank you Steve Berry, Grand Central Publishing ( @grandcentralpub ), and NetGalley ( @netgalley ) for allowing me to read The List (out now).

A stand alone novel by Steve Berry, The List is a fast paced, inside story of corporate greed.

Brent Walker is back in his hometown, working as a lawyer for the local paper mill. Unknowingly he and union president (also friend), Hank, find out a secret about the owners of the mill. A secret that two of the owners will do anything to keep hidden.

I was flying through the chapters trying to reach the end. I think I was holding my breath all the way until the last page. Another excellent book from Steve Berry!

#TheList #NetGalley #SteveBerry #GrandCentralPublishing

A standalone thriller by the author of the excellent Cotton Malone series. When Brent Walker accepts a position as the General Counsel for Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company, it's a homecoming long in the making. He's come back to his hometown, Concord, Georgia, to help take care of his Mother, the fancy job is a plus. It's not long before Brent discovers his new job has some strings attached. The Company is the major employer in the town. Even with a soft economy, the Company has managed to remain profitable. Their system.....? Top secret, known only to three men. Brent is brought into the secret, now he has to decide how to stop the system. That is the back story. Steve Berry builds his plots around the rich history of the areas and the characters involved. He makes you see this community as you see the people, smell the dust, and hear the traffic. You walk the streets as Brent chases the information he needs to prove his case. Berry's books are an experience. You'll be able to recall them long after you finish the books. I read his books every chance I get and recommend them at every opportunity.

This novel presents a mystery wrapped up in a web of lies, deceit and subterfuge by most of the characters. When Brent returns to the small town to work as the corporate attorney for a paper factory, he has no idea that he is opening himself up to danger from every direction. Small town mixes with big company and corporate greed leading to an unexpected way to increase the profit margin. This book held me enthralled by all of the characters and the different parts they played in the company business and how they got wrapped up in danger themselves. I cannot say that I related to any of the characters although they were believable, just not my kind of people. I did like Chris, an older executive of the company and apparently the only one with a conscience, although he may hae developed it too late to really help anyone else. The plot was fast paced, with chapters divided by days and each chapter subdivided by hours. Just the organization of the book kept me reading and involved in the story. This book is a compelling story, part mystery, part legal thriller, and all twisted together into a story that held me captive. This is the first book that I have read by Steve Berry, but I will definitely look for others after the wild ride that this novel took me on!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

TOP 20 Audiobooks of 2025! Scott Brick is fantastic.

Bestselling author Steve Berry pulls out an older manuscript in which fans will be forever grateful with this latest Southern crime legal thriller, THE LIST.

Full of mystery, intrigue, and murder, fans of John Grisham, David Baldacci, Scott Turow, and Greg Iles will savor this well-written suspense.

What is the shocking secret behind THE LIST?

Prepare to be drawn into a world of suspense and mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

About...

Berry hooks readers from the first line with a murder about to take place. From here, it is non-stop action and suspense.

Attorney Brent Walker is hired as assistant general counsel for the Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company, where his longtime friend Hank Reed is a union official.

Walker had previously lived in the area and left his ten-year job in Atlanta to return home to Concord, a small town in Georgia, due to his mother’s illness.

Brent has been through some tragic events with his ex-wife and his dad gone. The paper mill is a large company that supports the town, but what Walker soon discovers is mind-blowing. Secrets that put him in danger.

Hank and Brent will be working on negotiating labor contracts with the union. However, they are in the dark regarding the motives of the three company owners.

They have devised a program called the Priority program to cut costs and have professionals in place to eliminate their list of employees or retirees who are costing the company money. They must die, but it must appear to look natural. MURDER.

Of the three, Christopher Bozin is dying and, of course, wants to repent and expose his partners to Walker and Reed.

There is a cryptic code with a list that is suspicious. Brent discovers it and wants to learn more, worried that there could be legal implications. What he finds will shock him and could turn Southern Republic on its head.

As with any whistleblower case, you must gather information, conduct thorough investigations, and obtain inside information before anyone knows you are on to them. Get ready for some shocking revelations that will keep you guessing until the end.

How far will they go to keep these dark, deadly secrets?

My thoughts...

What a riveting page turner!

Steve Berry knocks THE LIST out of the park! The story is told from two years earlier, the present, and a countdown from 20 days to one year later. This unique narrative structure adds an extra layer of suspense to this engrossing legal crime thriller, keeping you hooked until the finale.

Atmospheric and intense, Berry knows his way around the legal aspects, and his time working with papermills and negotiations in coastal Georgia makes THE LIST almost like an Erin Brockovich realistic story with MURDER.

An absorbing and entertaining read! Fans and new readers alike will enjoy the Author's Note, where he shares with readers how THE LIST came to fruition and the inspiration behind the story. This personal touch adds another dimension to the book, and we all thank you, Steve, for sharing this with us.

If you are fans of John Grisham's older Southern legal thrillers, THE LIST is a must-summer read Southern noir classic for your bookshelf.

THE LIST is prime for the big or small screen and an ideal pick for book clubs. Its thought-provoking themes and engaging plot make it a perfect choice for lively book club discussions. I would love to see more books like this in the future.

Audiobook...

STELLAR! I had the honor of reading the e-book and listening to the audiobook narrated by a favorite, Scott Brick (on fire), which delivered a stellar performance! Scott was the perfect voice, elevating the story with superb characterization, energy, accents, consistency, intensity, pacing, and emotional depth that will surely captivate legal crime thriller fans and audiophiles—making it a TOP audiobook of 2025.

Recs...

THE LIST is for fans of the author and those who enjoy well-written Southern, crime, and legal thrillers. Fans of John Grisham, Scott Turow, David Baldacci, and Greg Iles (all favorites) will delight.

Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing an advanced reading and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. I also purchased the hardcover for my home library (a classic).

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: July 22, 2025
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In a departure from his Cotton Malone series, Steve Berry offers a suspenseful thriller set in a quaint Georgia town that is dominated by a pulp and paper company. What started as a solution to rid the owners of a troublesome union leader evolved into a method to control costs and increase the owners’ wealth. Brent Walker was a successful lawyer who left the community ten years earlier when his wife committed suicide. After his father’s death, he returned as assistant counsel for the company, handling compensation claims. It has given him an opportunity to renew his friendship with Hank Reed, head of one of the company’s unions. As Hank prepares for union negotiations he comes across a hidden file labeled Priorities that provides a list of numbers. With Brent’s help they discover the significance of the numbers. It is a list of former employees who have developed health problems that would lead to excessive medical expenses. Using assassins who work as security guards, Priorities are made to look like deaths by natural causes. By discovering the list, Brent and Hank have now become Priorities.

Brent was brought back to the company by one of the three partners who is facing his own mortality. Even though he was involved in selecting the victims, it is time to set things right and he feels that Brent is the person to do it. Still struggling with the guilt over his wife’s death, he has re-connected with Hank’s daughter Ashley, who he has always had feelings for. Now he and Hank must stay ahead of professional killers while protecting their loved ones. In a story of family, close friendships and corporate greed, Berry keeps the tension mounting to the final chase that will keep you turning pages to the end. I would like to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing this book.

My thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group for the ARC of "The List" in exchange for an honest review.

Maybe not the fastest paced of thrillers but I found myself immersed and invested in the lives of expertly detailed characters and the richly imagined setting a small 'company' town in the heart of the Georgia forests.

And the overwhelming evil conspiracy that's befallen this town is simply mind boggling and scary to behold.

Caught up in these terrible murderous events is lawyer Brent Walker, a former Atlanta prosecutor returning to his home town to serve as assistant General Counsel to the company for whom almost everybody in Concord works for = Southern Republic Pulp and Paper. Still shaken by the tragic end of his already failed marriage, Brent must now also look after his ailing mother. And, he knows he'll encounter his long time love Ashley Reed and his old friend (and Ashley's dad) Hank Reed, a tough, canny Union rep and negotiator on behalf of Southern Republic's factory work force.

It isn't long before Brent and Hank stumble upon the company's most shocking secret, something that has led to decades of deaths among some of Southern Republic's retirees. The revelations of what's been going on now puts them and everyone they care about and love in terrible danger.........and getting the truth about before they're all permanently silenced dials up the suspense to maximum levels.

Steve Berry creates a vivid, expansive portrait of the town, its history, residents and the extent to which Southern Republic and its corporate masters control every element of its life and fortunes. Everyone here, both the people you ache for and root for and the ones you despise are deeply drawn with nuance.

It's always a pleasure to dive into a book that functions more than just a thrill machine, one that surrounds you with a unique place and a solid drama you want to see through to the very end.. 'The List' has it all, so that's an automatic 5 stars for me.

Steve Berry’s The List is an enthralling masterpiece that masterfully intertwines a gripping murder mystery with the complexities of second-chance romance, all set against the backdrop of a charming small town brimming with secrets.

From the first page, Berry captivates readers with a plot that pulses with suspense and intrigue. The murder mystery is meticulously crafted, keeping you on the edge of your seat as twists and revelations unfold seamlessly. The pacing is impeccable, with every chapter leaving you eager to uncover the next layer of the story.

Amidst the dark undertones of crime and deception, Berry beautifully weaves a poignant tale of love rekindled. The second-chance romance is authentic and heartfelt, adding emotional depth to the narrative without overshadowing the central mystery. The characters are richly developed, their motivations and vulnerabilities making them both relatable and compelling.

The family dynamics in The List are profound, exploring themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the enduring quest for absolution. Berry’s portrayal of small-town life adds an atmospheric charm, where every neighbor harbors a secret and the past is never truly buried.

In conclusion, The List is a must-read for fans of murder mysteries and emotionally charged dramas. Steve Berry’s masterful storytelling ensures that this novel is both a thrilling page-turner and a touching exploration of human resilience and redemption.

Berry tells us that this story percolated for many years before it was fit for public consumption. In those years this storyline has been written, televised, bandied around and is completely believable. I had trouble hearing Steve Berry’s voice in this - but I was able to hear those listed in the publisher’s notes including David Baldacci, John Grisham and Harlan Coben. Despite the segue in style and content, this is a compelling story which asks many questions. The answers provided are ugly, disheartening and that is on the positive side.

Containing more despicable characters than can be counted, the action is intense, the corruption palpable. The Good Boy Syndrome is alive and well and engaged in the most despicable game of cat and mouse. Management, union bosses, the rank and file all have their say but does any of it mean anything. It appears that the deck is stacked and the cards already played. The ending is heart pounding and somewhat unsatisfying.

Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for a copy.

The List is a new thriller by Steve Berry. It is with new characters and a new setting, which adds to the excitement. I also like how it is hard to tell who is on what side.

Brent Walker grew up and started his adult career in Concord, Georgia. After his wife’s death he left and moved to the city and restarted his life. However, he has returned after his father’s death as his mother’s health was declining. He has taken a job at Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company as the assistant to the general counselor. The same place most everyone in town (including his dad) works(ed).

With moving back, Brent has reconnected with his old friends including Hank Reed. He was the head of the union and “found” a list linked to Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company that is unusual. Hank with help from Brent worked to figure out what the list is for. Meanwhile Brent had found out that one of the owners sought him out to hire him for the company without any explanation.

The book includes spying, stalking, misdirection, creepy characters, and murders. The story line resembles writings by John Grisham, but is all Steve Berry writing. I found I liked the main character of Brent Walker. I really wanted him to discover what the list was about and to take down the guilty parties. The List by Steve Berry was a good read.

This story is chock full of suspense, betrayal, greed, secrets, love, loyalty, and friendship. Generally, I tend to prefer stories with a little more action, but there was so much going on in this story that I found myself turning the pages to see what would happen next. There's also the thought in the back of my mind questioning whether something like this could actually happen. After all, they say the truth is stranger than fiction.

I enjoyed that there were multiple storylines and the feeling that we were right there along with Brent as the story unfolded. There were quite a few characters but not so many as to be difficult to keep track of. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series and have read some of his other books as well. This book is a stand alone novel that he originally began over fifteen years ago. He acknowledges the popularity of “The Firm” was a big part of the inspiration for this book. Brent Walker returns to his small hometown of Concord, Georgia. He has spent the last ten years in Atlanta as a prosecutor. But now he has been hired as general counsel for the Pulp and Paper Company that employs much of the town. Three partners have run the company, battled unions and have their own system for containing costs. It seems that people with expensive pensions often have accidents or die unexpectedly.

This is very much a small town lawyer trying to put the pieces together to stop a corrupt firm. I liked Brent and how he works. And I appreciate his teaming up with Hank Reed, the head of the electrical union. I was a little disappointed that there are no strong women characters. But even Cotton Malone solves mysteries without Cassiopeia sometimes. While I cared about the mystery I was not on the edge of my seat like I often am with Berry’s writing. (3.5 Stars)

Returning home after ten years, Brent Walker is wondering if it was the right move. He will now be working as a lawyer for the Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company. This is the same company his father had worked at for years, and didn't want Brent to fall into the same trap of company owning you and your life. The company was bought many years ago by three men who bought it from the children of the owner who passed and they wanted out from under the nagging costs. Over the years the three men, Christopher Bozin, Hamilton Lee and Larry Hughes, all shared in the decisions of everything in the running, and in doing had all become very wealthy and bought up most of the town of Concord along with lots of other investments. But they had also found a rather interesting way of dealing with the extreme costs of providing good employee benefits, especially those of retired or those with medical conditions for themselves or their families. They started a list and hired a man to oversee the non-accidental deaths of those former employees. When Bozin finds he is dying, he decides he is tired of the other two always going against his wishes and decides to take steps to ensure that they do not get away with it and profit from his eventual death. And to do that, he takes steps to leave evidence with Brent, even tho Brent has no idea until after Bozin is dead. Then all kinds of hell comes to the forefront.

After ten years, Brent Walker is returning home to Concord, hired by Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company as its assistant general counsel. Two years ago, his father passed away, and now he wants to be close by to take care of his ailing mother. For decades, Southern Republic has invested heavily in Concord, creating a thriving community where its employees live, work, and retire. However, 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.

This started out as a bit of a slow burn, but once i got into it, I couldn't put it down. It turned into a hig-stakes thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat, waiting to see which side was going to win. Brent Walker discovers a list with a string of numbers on it, and when he cracks the code, he realizes they are social security numbers of employees from the company... and most of the people on that list are dead. The company has been killing off retirees or disabled employees that are costing the company "too much money" in medical bills, so in order to cut costs, they kill the employee. Considering the current climate, I could see something similar happen if things don't change drastically. Being someone who is disabled, this definitely hit home. This book is perfect for fans of John Grisham.

The List by Steve Berry is a tightly written, fast-moving story that plays with the boundaries between truth and conspiracy in a way that keeps the tension high from beginning to end. Berry knows how to hook readers with a smart, layered concept and plenty of well-timed twists.

The pacing is quick, the plot is lean, and every chapter pushes you forward. It’s the kind of story that feels grounded in real-world questions but still delivers that high-stakes, page-turning energy. The writing is crisp, and the structure keeps things focused—ideal for readers who like their thrillers smart and efficient.

Fans of Berry’s work or anyone looking for a tightly controlled suspense story will find The List a satisfying, quick read that delivers exactly what it promises.









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