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  • Southern Man

  • A Novel
  • By: Greg Iles
  • Narrated by: Scott Brick
  • Length: 45 hrs and 43 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (268 ratings)

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Southern Man

By: Greg Iles
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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Publisher's summary

"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

What listeners say about Southern Man

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

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.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

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.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

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

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

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.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

I could have done without all of the anti-Trump/MAGA rhetoric.

The story was good, but I could have done without all of the anti-Trump/MAGA rhetoric. I’m disappointed that I preordered and anticipated the release of this book for so long. I will be moving on from this author.

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Good story, TDS

If you like watching the TDS spew on MSNBC and CNN you will love this book! The story is engaging, and would be good without the Limousine Liberal rantings of the author. I have read a lot of Greg Iles books but I am done.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

excellent and exciting story

Iles is an incredible story teller! I like the way he weaves history into the drama. I, myself, am from the South and my family and it's roots have been affected by all these things. While I may view many political aspects differently than some of the characters in this book, I do appreciate having an open window to understand and consider the inside workings and thoughts of different points of view. Bottom Line: this was an extremely thought provoking and entertaining story.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Worth the wait!!

Loved it!! A great finale? Or possibly a prequel to a new series with new/old developing characters. Get well soon Greg Iles

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

stuck 150 years in the past

Too much anti south and politics. I have to say this is the only Iles novel I have not liked, I have read all of them. this was a miss.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Length

OMG ! It is such a huge book! This must be a scrip for a tv series😂

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