Attorney Robert Whitlow's debut novel The List is sure to draw comparisons to John Grisham. Whitlow's protagonist, Renny Jacobson, is a young attorney busy billing hours in an unsatisfying law career. When his wealthy but stingy father dies, he dreams of living an independently wealthy life off his inheritance. The inheritance turns out to be less than, and much more than, Renny bargained for.
In the mid-19th century, a group of aristocratic southerners, including Renny's ancestor, figured a way to hide assets away and protect their families' wealth in the face of the coming war. Now, generations later, Renny learns he will take his father's place on The List. Upon his introduction to the group, he quickly learns that The List isn't only about family wealth, but that it is surrounded by power and mystery.
Whitlow tells an suspenseful story, but more than the story of The List this is a story of Renny's pilgrimage as a Christian. He is surrounded by Christians who pray for him and who teach him to pray. Whitlow portrays the power of spiritual warfare as Renny has dreams that guide him and as he learns the power of trusting God--and the consequences of not doing so. Renny's experiences with spiritual warfare are outside of my experience, and, I suspect most Christians would say the same. But what Whitlow describes is certainly believable, based on stories I have read and heard from other Christians.
Whitlow writes believable, likable characters, if a little unoriginal, but the story is fun. I enjoyed Renny's experience of moving toward belief, and the budding romance with another descendant of The List group. He gives a good reminder that prayer matters and that God listens.
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