Southern Man

A Novel

By: Greg Iles

Narrated by: Scott Brick

"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.

©2022 Greg Iles (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Author has extreme white guilt and extreme TDS.

This author used to be one of the good ones. But this story was so ingrained with racism that was not relevant to the timeframe it was written it. The amount of times that social media “like” were mentioned, the fact that the civil war was essentially the plot even though it happened so long ago. And then the flaming liberalism that came out of the authors’s pores on the paper was quite ridiculous and very inaccurate. It was taking place in 2023, but only one recent president contuned to mentioned over and over again and that was Trump. Never a mention of Biden. And I don’t remember the Penn Cage books ever mentioning “real “ people. Just a complete shit show of a book. White guilt and TDS just mess people up. Don’t take politics personally and write normal.

Terrible way to end the Penn Cage saga

I did not like any aspect of this book. It was by far the longest rant to which i have ever subjected myself. I have always loved the Penn Cage character but he was forever ruined for me. The sudden discovery that Penn inherited a trace of black blood through his mother's bloodline seemed to totally open his eyes to the black man's plight. Totally unbelievable for a white man raised with all the privileges.

My last Greg Iles book….

I’ve always enjoyed Greg Iles, and I thoroughly enjoyed the Natchez Burning trilogy. Mr. Iles is a talented writer, and as a native Mississippian, I have always appreciated the references to our state that make the books enjoyable to read.

The use of all the political rhetoric gave me a similar feeling to comedians who cuss too much in routines in which it isn’t needed to be funny. I really didn’t care what his political affiliation or religious beliefs were, but he simply could not help himself in sharing his views. The story was decent, and I love the Penn Cage character, but I’m done with Mr. Iles.

Big disappointment.

Jumped the Shark

I've been a fan of Greg Iles for many years. I've read all his books, but this one was waaay too long. 45 hours is a lot! It was also pretty farfetched. While I appreciate all the anti Trump content, I did find the book hard to finish.

Excellent book!

This was my favorite book, and I have read all Isles books. I loved the subject and content.

Amazing addition to the Penn Cage series!

So many details I this complex addition to this series. Greg isles never fails! The story and performance was amazing!

Wow!!

The most gripping and thought provoking book I've listened to in a long time.
I was worried it would be too long, that I wouldn't be able to stick with it, not sure how that long a book could keep me, but I have come to the end now, and I am sad that tomorrow I won't be able to go back for more.
Maybe some day there'll be a new story of the lives of these people I've come to know and care about.

FINALLY!!!

It seems like we have waited FOREVER to find out how life has been going for the Cage Saga. As always. it has been a whirlwind, tornado, hurricane, and tsunami...ALL WRAPPED IN 1!!! So much action and plot twist throughout that I almost couldn't keep up!! Exciting and thrilling, along with emotional moments that had me all in my feels! I would still like to know more about the future, but this one sure did scratch the itch! So glad my fellow Mississippian added to the Penn Cage Series! I may have to add the series to my TBR again list!!

Eye Opening

Could something like this really happen? In this day and age, the answer is yes and that is very scary. Yes, this was very long but never boring. I found myself anxious for my walks to see what would happen next. Even though there was quite a bit of history, it still seemed relevant and eye opening to the different perspectives of those around us. I highly recommend the listen as the narrator is perfect for the part of Penn Cage.

Great Story - Overdramatic Voice Actor

I love Greg Iles work and this book is great. I love how it ties up the Penn novels with Cemetery Road. While his narration of Cemetery Road was outstanding, I find the narration of Scott Brick in Southern Man to be over dramatic and grating. Imagine a reading by William Shatner on meth. It is really too much really and it distracts from the story. Brick's voice for the protagonist (main narrator) is so over the top - really the worst. He needs to chill a little. He makes the main character sound angry and ready to jump out of his skin at any moment.

The story has rich characters and an interesting way of looking at Southern social issues from the perspectives of different white elites. I would say the Ilse needs to read up on Black bear behavior. He clearly doesn't know what he is talking about. They are almost always docile - not Grizzlies (brown bears).

I hope Mr Ilse lives to write another one and wish him well in his health battles.