The List

By: Steve Berry

Narrated by: Scott Brick

In the vein of David Baldacci, John Grisham, and Harlan Coben—this is Steve Berry like you’ve never read him before.

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.

Find and reveal the shocking secret of the list.

Find and reveal the shocking secret of the list.

The epilogue by Mr. Berry.

I live in a former paper mill town, the very same Mr. Berry refers to in the epilogue.epilog. Still I prefer his Cotton Malone books.

An interesting divergence from my favorites

It seems that heros and villains are a part of our American psychic. An American backdrop a nod to the past and a case study in the human condition. Often times I listen to stories and think I wouldn't do that or that sound like the completely wrong thing to do! Then I have to remember my moves wants or desires stops the characters development, the stories ultimate goal to wrap you up, take you away. This was Book was hard for me to get into but knowing Mr. Berry's talent in Spinning a yarn I had to push through. Im glad I did you will be too!

The writing.

Scampering. Puppies plod, lambs and goats gambo and bounce, kittens scamper. Even little girls scamper but grown men DO NOT scamper! This bothered me throughout the book. Even listening to the wonderful tones of Scott Brick couldn't get scamper out of my mind. What else was the book about? Sorry Steve Berry.

Very possible.

The story line was very interesting. One of the largest employers in my hometown built paper making systems, so I enjoyed the description of the process of making paper. The story was plausible, not one of those stories that are so impossible as to be laughable.
I didn’t like the reader. His voice was grating. I usually enjoy the story more because of the reader, but not in this case.

Interesting look at a now defunct operation

I like the way he built the characters so that you knew some of their backstory. The killings were awful because of the reason that they were done, even though in the minds of the leadership they were justified. Overall, a good story.