This is a great book and different from his other books. I enjoyed the history behind the writing. I hope he will develop these characters into a new series b

When Brent Walker returns to his Georgia hometown to join Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company as its new assistant general counsel, he has no idea about the sinister system the company's owners have in place to control costs. After a mysterious list is discovered, Brent begins to realize that all is not what it seems in the town of Concord, Georgia - and that both his life and the lives of his family and friends are at risk.

The List is a fast-paced, smart thriller and a quick read. The plot will keep you guessing about what comes next, and the ending is quite satisfying.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read The List by Steve Berry. First of all, WOW!! The List is amazing! It's a story that grabs you right from the first chapter and does not let go. The plot is so tight and tense but so very believable, especially in today's climate. The characters are brilliantly developed and whether they're good or bad, they're just so human. Steve Berry is one of my all time favorite authors and this book proves why. Seriously, once you start this book you won't want to put it down. This is a story not to be missed.

A gripping tale of corporate corruption and deadly intrigue, The List delivers an electrifying suspense novel in the same vein as The Firm. The story follows a middle-aged lawyer who returns to his hometown to work for the local paper company, hoping to right the wrongs of his past. However, what begins as an attempt at redemption quickly spirals into a dangerous game of deception and murder.
As he reconnects with an old flame, he and her father unwittingly uncover a sinister plot in which company executives resort to lethal measures to balance the budget. With each revelation, the tension escalates, creating a relentless undercurrent of unease. The stakes grow higher as the powerful figures behind the scheme realize someone is closing in on their deadly secret.
The novel reaches its thrilling climax on a stormy Georgia night, where dark truths come to light and justice—or vengeance—finds its final mark. With a fast-paced narrative and an atmosphere thick with suspense, The List keeps readers on edge from start to finish

Excellent standalone novel set in a Southern company town. The Board of Directors of the paper mill have a creative approach to maintaining the viability of their self-funded health and retirement program. When a beneficiary become too expensive, he is simply “prioritized’ — put on “The List” and eliminated by a special department of the company. When one of the partners begins to greet their actions and a new lawyer I brought in, things get interesting. A list is discovered, deaths accelerate, and the action ramps up.

The List is a gripping stand-alone suspense novel by Steve Berry that takes readers deep into the heart of a small Georgia town, where the local paper mill isn’t just the largest employer—it’s the lifeblood of the community. But beneath the surface of this seemingly quiet town lies a dark and deadly secret. The story follows lifelong friends Hank and Brent. Hank, the steadfast president of the Electricians’ Union, is a pillar of the working class—handling grievances, navigating contract negotiations, and advocating for his members. Brent, once a small-town lawyer turned big-city success, returns home to serve as legal counsel for the mill. As they reconnect, the two men uncover a chilling truth: the company’s ruthless cost-cutting strategy includes murder. What begins as a routine return to their roots soon becomes a dangerous unraveling of corruption and conspiracy.
Berry masterfully blends friendship, loyalty, and moral conflict into a fast-paced thriller that will keep readers turning pages late into the night.

Superb suspense.
Brent Walker returns home, after two years, to work as asst counsel for Southern Republic, the company that just about runs
everything in town as well as across much of the state of Georgia.
But what he finds there sends him. on an investigative search to find out what is really going on with the company and
its 3 millionaire directors, and why so many of the recent deaths of retirees and compensation claim employees all seem related in the same way.
A really great read with nonstop intrigue.
Berry has a real winner here.
Great movie making fodder.

I've read a lot of Steve Berry's novels (the majority of the Cotton Malone series, as well as the Amber Room, and I would rank this in the middle of my favorites. While not as suspenseful as The Templar Legacy or The Alexandria Link, I enjoyed the story more than The Lincoln Myth or The Omega Factor. As always, it was well-written with developed characters but I felt at time I lost track of who was whom. Overall, enjoyable.

This is a compelling, thought provoking, well crafted and very well organized suspense novel. Unlike anything
I recall reading, Inwas running to keep u0 as Brent Walker landed in some sticky wickets that caused me a great
seal of emotional energy from beginning to end.‘a it is true that for this Paper company, like many large companies.
there are some fixed costs for which you can estimate and plan, and develop programs to assist with keeping
employees healthy and accident rates lowered. One certainly cannot use the methods tried here, and we all
know it, and for good reason. The Author gives the reader lots to think about on a lot of fronts, from our concerns
of privacy on many fronts, from simple things like cellular phone security to medical information and records.
But we are not likely to worry about being placed on the special LIST being used by our bad guys~the company
bad guys…
The name chosen for the greed driven cost savings plan in spot on~ and the criminal masterminds are
on the way to losing their ill gotten gains that has cost the town so much grief and loss.
To say I enjoyed the book would be stretching the bounds of the concept. This book is mesmerizing and
I could not put it down without encouragement from my family ~ to have dinner, to get to bed…
Each return found me more than captivated by the story, right up to the conclusion.
My thanks to Grand. Central Publishing via NetGalley for the download copy of this book for review purposes.

Steve Berry’s The List is a high-stakes legal thriller with small-town secrets and corporate corruption at its core. With gripping suspense, morally complex characters, and a sinister mystery that unravels piece by piece, this is Berry at his most electrifying. Fast-paced and smartly written!

You will completely forget about Cotton Malone when you read Steve Berry’s latest novel The List. This absorbing book relates the lengths that people go to for monetary rewards. The reader is immediately thrust into the world of corporate greed, computer hacking, workers’ compensation cases, union negotiations, murder and romantic entanglements. The writing is superb and, at times, you might find yourself shouting out to certain characters not to do something. This book is highly recommended to all who enjoy this genre and I thank NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and, of course, Steve Berry for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

Thanks to Steve Berry, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unlike many of Steve Berry’s books, this one takes place close to home – in a small rural Georgia town that has a paper plant. But as we’ve come to expect from Steve Berry, there is a deadly conspiracy that our hero, Brent Walker, is thrust into.

This is a well written, fast paced book. As is the case with other Steve Berry books, the story is filled with details that really put you in that small town and the paper plant. The characters are believable, and their actions reflect that, which I appreciate.

Overall, a good, quick read with an interesting story. Recommended.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for inviting me to read and review this book.

I have read many of Steve Berry's other books, including the Cotton Malone series. This current book is a stand-alone which, according to the author's note at the end of the book, was actually written some years ago but shelved.

Other reviewers have provided synopses, and I won't repeat their efforts here. I also will not describe the central plot line, although others have done so. I will only say that having worked my entire adult life as a paper pusher in the healthcare sector, I was not actually shocked at this plot line when it was introduced. And I could understand just how something similar might be a temptation to not-entirely-scrupulous business executives.

All in all, a good read, albeit rather tense, such that I had to take breaks between chapters.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Shocking dozens of murders of individuals on a "Priority list" which will end up costing the company where they work too much 🤑 money.

The premise, while not wholly unique IS disturbingly immoral, and just too readily imaginable in the United States right now...

This is one of the author's early offerings "dusted off" and the problem with this story is one which is all too common - there are NO heroes in this story, there is not even ONE person your average human being will find at all relatable in this novel.

What are you left with? A story with selfish psychopaths who have no moral limitations, which for me is not escapism in today's political climate, it is what I am reading to attempt to escape FROM.

Brent Walker was hired by Southern Republic as a replacement for the person who committed suicide. Brent's father had worked for the company but he had died in a tragic accident. Death is becoming familiar in this small Georgia town.

Southern Republic is a paper company headed by 3 men who control every aspect of the company. They pay decently, give sick leave and even provide health insurance and retirement. But with email and digital news, there is less of a paper demand. The company is going downhill so they've gotta find ways to cut costs. Easy peasy. Just kill the folks whose medical costs are rising. They even have a paid employee to take care of the killings.
But one of the three controllers, Chris Bozin, is deathly ill with cancer and even he is put on the kill list. But he redeems himself by changing his will and leaving incriminating evidence behind for Brent to find.
I'll tell ya - I scanned the last 40 pages - my heart rate was high (gee, it's just a book - what's wrong with me?) because I wanted to see how this game was going to settle.
I won't tell ya - you've gotta read the book to find out. Meanwhile, I've got to go lie down and relax....

I just read the best thriller! Steve Berry has a winner with his latest book, The List. Pick this one up this summer!

I always enjoy Steve Berry’s books and The List is no exception. Thrilling, fast paced, and intriguing, the book has the Southern lawyer story vibes solidly locked into place. The List has a great concept with the company owners managing costs in a very different way. Easy and exciting to read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

As expected a terrific thriller. Steve Berry does not disappoint. The premise is unusual and the novel builds to a clever end. Enjoyed reading.. well written but just not much suspense. A predictable result was a letdown.

4 out of 5 stars – A Fast-Paced Thriller With Classic Berry Style

Steve Berry delivers yet again with The List—a quick, gripping read that blends suspense, historical intrigue, and high-stakes action in a way only he can. The story moves at a brisk pace, pulling you in from the start and keeping the tension high throughout. The plot is tightly woven and cleverly constructed, with just enough twists to keep you guessing without feeling overdone.

What really stood out to me was how Berry managed to pack so much intensity into such a short format. His trademark mix of history and fiction works well here, even in a shorter narrative. That said, I wish there had been a bit more room for character development—it feels like there was potential to dig deeper into the protagonist’s backstory and motivations.

Still, The List is a satisfying, quick read that’s perfect for fans of Berry or anyone looking for a smart, thrilling escape. Definitely recommend it—it just left me wanting a little more.