THE NATURAL ORDER by Matthew Aldrich

5 stars

What happens if you could extend your lifetime almost indefinitely, but to do so meant keeping yourself on basically a starvation diet and watching all your friends and family die before you did?

Trillionnaire Paul Whitmore leads a company in 2070 that has developed an innovative protocol involving injections, dietary supplements and a meditative lifestyle that prevents aging, if you stay the course. At 122 years old, Paul’s nearly older than any other living human- and his birthday will be the public unveiling and offering up of advance sales of what will be branded The Method.

Opposing him is a radical group prone to violence calling itself The Natural Order, that wants to stop the Method and what could become an endless class of the ruling wealthy. Out of self-protection Paul has created a Caifornia expansive retreat for himself in the wildnerness, where he lives alone aside from an extensive security force, and relies on an advanced AI for companionship. He goes out only for corporate board meetings and spends most of his time in meditative rituals.

Unable to reach Paul, The Natural Order decides to kidnap his estranged son Max, who himself is in his 80’s, isolated from any family and living in a run-down nursing home. Paul has basically spent his life denying Max’s existence and trying to forget about him as a pathway to love and family that he rejected for his intense ambition. Paul has not seen Max since he was a small child.

A thriller plot erupts, as the Natural Order seeks to get both Max and Paul, and son and father end up spending time together in hiding. The question of whether Paul and Max’s relationship can be repaired and whether immortality is worth it triumphs over the twisted plot, which is considerable and makes you think deeply about the meaning of life.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.