I had read all 6 Greg Isles’ prior Cage novels of this series when #7, the last one (supposedly), was released. It took me a couple weeks, but I finally caved to reading the 950-pages racist and extremely violent narrative which Isles put together.  And, in addition, when Scott Brick reads something it goes over the top because Brick could read a phone book into a thriller.  But even though I considered quitting several times and didn’t always pay strict attention, I finished.  – There is something compelling about it and I’d followed some of these characters for 6 books – (many die).

Southern Man
By Greg Isles 
2024 / 45h 43m
Rating: C / political thriller 
7th of Penn Cage series) 

This is 950-pages turned into 45+ hours of extreme racist politics and gore in a small Mississippi town with deep roots.  The violence had gone on since way prior to the Civil War and that didn’t stop it. 

I only checked out a few people and events, but it looked like Isles did at least some research and then added interracial relationships and heritage along with military weapons and strategies knowledge.   

The other reviewers were right – the average rating would be about a 3 but there are a LOT of 1s (bad) and 5s (greats) with not nearly so many 3s and 4s. I guess you either love it or hate it.  I’m giving it a 3 but that’s because imo, there are glimmers of what could have been a much better novel and I did finish it so that says something.