Note: This copy of The List was provided by NetGalley.

I initially picked up this book to serve as nothing more than a palate cleanser from the urban fantasy train I’ve been riding for a while. This was my first Steve Berry novel which is surprising since he occupies the same space as other noteworthy authors such as Michael Crichton, Douglas Preston, Tom Clancy etc. Just like the other authors in this space, Steve Berry did not disappoint with this book.

The book follows Brent Walker as he returns to his hometown after a self-imposed exile of 10 years following his wife’s passing. An attorney by profession, Brent comes back to work for the Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company as its assistant general counsel. This company has done a lot for his hometown in terms of jobs and an injection of wealth into the wellbeing of the society. In years past, Brent used to be on the opposing side of large corporations, helping his friend, father-figure, and mayor Hank Reed, in fighting for the rights of the unions. This new role has Brent joining the dark side, but why was he hired? Was it because of his past connection to the opposition? Whatever the reason, Brent just wants to forget the past and take care of his mom while living his life. Things take a turn when Hank stumbles upon a list of numbers on the paper company servers and turns to Brent to see if he could decipher them. What follows is one hell of a book involving murders, corporate cover-ups, and a slow burn suspense that creeps up on you.

The book starts slow and for a while I was a little confused at to what exactly was going on. Slowly but surely more information is provided and very quickly we can see a part of the bigger picture. This book slowly reels you in, and once caught, there’s no going back. I couldn’t get to sleep once shit hit the fan. I just needed to find out how everything ends. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster, but a fairly realistic one with none of the over-the-top flamboyance one usually expects in a suspense-thriller nowadays. Despite the relatively slow pace for the majority of the book, I quite enjoyed it, and the audiobook narrator adds a certain level of gravitas that adds to the writing. I can see myself reading this on a plane and enjoying myself. Definitely recommended.

Links:

• Goodreads: The List – Steve Berry