Southern Man

A Novel

By: Greg Iles

Narrated by: Scott Brick

“Greg Iles is one of America’s great storytellers. –Stephen King, #1 New York Times bestselling author

?""A first-rate political thriller.""–John Grisham, #1 New York Times bestselling author

The hugely anticipated new Penn Cage novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Natchez Burning trilogy and Cemetery Road, about a man—and a town—rocked by anarchy and tragedy, but unbowed in the fight to save those they love

Fifteen years after the events of the Natchez Burning trilogy, Penn Cage is alone. Nearly all his loved ones are dead, his old allies gone, and he carries a mortal secret that separates him from the world. But Penn’s exile comes to an end when a brawl at a Mississippi rap festival triggers a bloody mass shooting—one that nearly takes the life of his daughter Annie.

As the stunned cities of Natchez and Bienville reel, antebellum plantation homes continue to burn and the deadly attacks are claimed by a Black radical group as historic acts of justice. Panic sweeps through the tourist communities, driving them inexorably toward a race war.

But what might have been only a regional sideshow of the 2024 Presidential election explodes into national prominence, thanks to the stunning ascent of Robert E. Lee White, a Southern war hero who seizes the public imagination as a third-party candidate. Dubbed “the Tik-Tok Man,” and funded by an eccentric Mississippi billionaire, Bobby White rides the glory of his Special Forces record to an unprecedented run at the White House—one unseen since the campaign of H. Ross Perot.

To triumph over the national party machines, Bobby evolves a plan of unimaginable daring. One fateful autumn weekend, with White set to declare his candidacy in all fifty states, the forces polarizing America line up against one another: Black vs. white, states vs. the federal government, democracy vs. Fascism. Teaming with his fearless daughter (now a civil rights lawyer) and a former Black Panther who spent most of his life in Parchman Prison, Penn tears into Bobby White’s pursuit of the Presidency and ultimately risks a second Civil War to try to expose its motivation to the world, before the America of our Constitution slides into the abyss.

In Southern Man, Greg Iles returns to the riveting style and historic depth that made the Natchez Burning trilogy a searing masterpiece and hurls the narrative fifteen years forward into our current moment—where America itself teeters on the brink of anarchy.

Long,complex and emotionally complex

The book was almost ruined by Scott Brick’s performance. Overwrought, stilted, and oddly paced-his performance was terrible.

There is a lot going on in this book which is taken from the headlines of our times. In the middle of it all we find Penn Cage-a liberal in the heart of a southern city being taken over by demagogues and racists. Our friend Penn is at a crossroads-facing personal problems as well as problems involving issues over which he has little control.

I read that Iles had wanted to release this as a trilogy and I think his original intention was correct. At 45 plus hours it keeps your attention but is exhausting due to the nature of the subject.

I love Greg Iles and his wonderful characters. If I’m not mistaken Dick Hill was the reader for his first novel. I hope he finds someone other than Brick for the next one.

Penn Cage is boring for the first time

I think the book was just too long. I didn’t care about anyone at all. I have read all of his books to date and loved every one of them. Read them multiple times and never got tired of them. This was a watered down version of his usual tight and exciting plots. I’m going to try and finish it but I can’t promise I’ll make it.

Good but not as good as Natchez Burning trilogy

Enjoyed the book, Did have to look past authors political agenda/views in spots but otherwise it was a great story.

fast paced

Iles storytelling is engaging and he tackles contemporary issues thoughtfully I will re listen to earlier books

Great Characters and situations that I can pair in reality !

I have read most of his books and followed his Characters and situations that take involvement in the South, and Essentially in Louisiana and Mississippi! I seem to always side with the hero and his family ! I have lived with his characters both, good and bad for at least 20 years so my dear author