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The Natural Order: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 27 Oct 26Win a free print copy of this book!
21 days and 14:54:16
100 copies available
U.S. only
From an acclaimed screenwriter comes a provocative, propulsive debut novel about a billionaire tech visionary who creates a method to stop aging, putting him in the crosshairs of an extremist group and forcing a tense reunion with his estranged son, who is dying of old age.
Paul Whitmore, the world’s wealthiest man, begins each day on his secluded Marin, California, estate with a guided meditation, an hour of exercise, and a proprietary nutritional shake. These are the first three steps in a strict, monastic protocol known as the Method—a protocol which arrests the aging process. Paul is 122 years old, yet he appears no older than fifty; he has unlocked the secret to eternal life and is ready to bring his breakthrough to market. The world is poised to enter a post-aging future.
But not everyone wants Paul to succeed, and his enemies are prepared to use violence to keep the Method from launching. Alone in his private Xanadu, Paul is well-insulated from the steady stream of death threats. But when a new threat emerges that targets Paul’s estranged son, Max, he is forced to take action. Max is eighty-five years old, living in a nursing home, and has not spoken to his father since he was a child. As far as he’s concerned, Paul Whitmore can rot in hell. Paul brings Max to his compound to protect him, but the real test soon becomes can he care for his son? Is it ever too late to be a father? Is it ever too late to be a son? Unfortunately, the answers to these questions require time—and time is suddenly in short supply. The men who have threatened his son are coming for them both, and the gates surrounding his compound are less secure than he realizes.
A page-turner with unusual depth and substance, The Natural Order grapples with issues of technology, mortality, and the true value of time.
Paul Whitmore, the world’s wealthiest man, begins each day on his secluded Marin, California, estate with a guided meditation, an hour of exercise, and a proprietary nutritional shake. These are the first three steps in a strict, monastic protocol known as the Method—a protocol which arrests the aging process. Paul is 122 years old, yet he appears no older than fifty; he has unlocked the secret to eternal life and is ready to bring his breakthrough to market. The world is poised to enter a post-aging future.
But not everyone wants Paul to succeed, and his enemies are prepared to use violence to keep the Method from launching. Alone in his private Xanadu, Paul is well-insulated from the steady stream of death threats. But when a new threat emerges that targets Paul’s estranged son, Max, he is forced to take action. Max is eighty-five years old, living in a nursing home, and has not spoken to his father since he was a child. As far as he’s concerned, Paul Whitmore can rot in hell. Paul brings Max to his compound to protect him, but the real test soon becomes can he care for his son? Is it ever too late to be a father? Is it ever too late to be a son? Unfortunately, the answers to these questions require time—and time is suddenly in short supply. The men who have threatened his son are coming for them both, and the gates surrounding his compound are less secure than he realizes.
A page-turner with unusual depth and substance, The Natural Order grapples with issues of technology, mortality, and the true value of time.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 27, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 20, 2026
I was kindly sent an arc copy of this book through NetGalley.
I really like how this is set in a not too far distant future and seeing how that could potentially look like.
I will say that this was a little bit of a slow burner to start off with. A lot of world building, science and philosophy which was a little difficult to wrap my head around but after we pass that, that’s when things start rolling and you connect to the characters and by the end I felt for every character.
I really like how this is set in a not too far distant future and seeing how that could potentially look like.
I will say that this was a little bit of a slow burner to start off with. A lot of world building, science and philosophy which was a little difficult to wrap my head around but after we pass that, that’s when things start rolling and you connect to the characters and by the end I felt for every character.
May 21, 2026
This was an amazing debut had a Blake Crouch Nicholas Binge feel and kept you engaged and the story flowing. I will definitely read anything else put out. Thanks to Atria for the advanced copy of this amazing book. 4.75 rounded up
April 3, 2026
Thank you Atria books and Net galley for the ARC of this book!
4/5 ⭐️’s
I really enjoyed this one! Set in the future, we are following trillionare Paul Whitmore, whom is soon to be crowned the oldest living human at over 120 years old. He has perfected a way to essentially become immortal, called The Method, and it is soon going to be available to the public. Although there are many supporters in favor of The Method, there is one group in particular that is opposed to the idea and will do anything at any cost to preventing it’s rollout.
Really great, realistic (i could totally see this happening), scifi novel that kept me guessing what was going to happen next. Highly recommend and super excited to see more from this author!
4/5 ⭐️’s
I really enjoyed this one! Set in the future, we are following trillionare Paul Whitmore, whom is soon to be crowned the oldest living human at over 120 years old. He has perfected a way to essentially become immortal, called The Method, and it is soon going to be available to the public. Although there are many supporters in favor of The Method, there is one group in particular that is opposed to the idea and will do anything at any cost to preventing it’s rollout.
Really great, realistic (i could totally see this happening), scifi novel that kept me guessing what was going to happen next. Highly recommend and super excited to see more from this author!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating 4.5
The Natural Order feels engineered for the current cultural moment in time. We have a billionaires quests for immortality, the ethical instability of biotech, collapsing faith between generations, and the unsettling possibility that longer lives may only deepen human emptiness. The premise lands with immediate force. A society standing on the brink of curing aging no longer feels like distant science fiction, but an unnervingly plausible near future shaped by longevity startups and tech elites already trying to live forever.
The pacing is sharp and cinematic, which makes sense given Aldrich’s screenwriting background. The novel moves quickly while still making room for larger ideas about power, mortality, and whether living forever would actually make people happier. What separates The Natural Order from more familiar dystopian stories is that immortality is never treated as a true fantasy fulfilled. Instead, it feels isolating and deeply unsettling. The novel argues that without death, people may lose their sense of urgency, purpose, and emotional growth.
Some elements do feel familiar at times. The billionaire-tech criticism and dystopian themes have been explored before, and a few supporting characters are not as fully developed as the central emotional arc. Still, the emotional core gives the story real weight. In the end, The Natural Order is less concerned with conquering death than with understanding what gives life meaning in the first place.
Overall, The Natural Order is an intelligent and emotionally grounded science-fiction novel that feels strikingly relevant to the current cultural moment. While some of its dystopian ideas and tech-world critiques are familiar, the strength of the premise, the cinematic pacing, and the deeper emotional questions about mortality and meaning elevate it beyond a standard biotech thriller. Rather than celebrating immortality, the novel treats it as something potentially hollow and destabilizing, giving the story a lingering emotional weight long after it ends.
The Natural Order feels engineered for the current cultural moment in time. We have a billionaires quests for immortality, the ethical instability of biotech, collapsing faith between generations, and the unsettling possibility that longer lives may only deepen human emptiness. The premise lands with immediate force. A society standing on the brink of curing aging no longer feels like distant science fiction, but an unnervingly plausible near future shaped by longevity startups and tech elites already trying to live forever.
The pacing is sharp and cinematic, which makes sense given Aldrich’s screenwriting background. The novel moves quickly while still making room for larger ideas about power, mortality, and whether living forever would actually make people happier. What separates The Natural Order from more familiar dystopian stories is that immortality is never treated as a true fantasy fulfilled. Instead, it feels isolating and deeply unsettling. The novel argues that without death, people may lose their sense of urgency, purpose, and emotional growth.
Some elements do feel familiar at times. The billionaire-tech criticism and dystopian themes have been explored before, and a few supporting characters are not as fully developed as the central emotional arc. Still, the emotional core gives the story real weight. In the end, The Natural Order is less concerned with conquering death than with understanding what gives life meaning in the first place.
Overall, The Natural Order is an intelligent and emotionally grounded science-fiction novel that feels strikingly relevant to the current cultural moment. While some of its dystopian ideas and tech-world critiques are familiar, the strength of the premise, the cinematic pacing, and the deeper emotional questions about mortality and meaning elevate it beyond a standard biotech thriller. Rather than celebrating immortality, the novel treats it as something potentially hollow and destabilizing, giving the story a lingering emotional weight long after it ends.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Natural Order by Matthew Aldrich
Paul Whitmore is the wealthiest man in the world, is 122 years old but looks and acts 50 years old, and lives a very structured routine barricaded in his Marin, California, estate, surrounded by his security, with his only companion a futuristic AI. The year is 2070 and nothing much is going to change at the moment, other than Paul soon passing up the last longest living person's record of living (alas, she is dead now, though). But, there are people after Paul, after his company, after those who want to use the product that keeps him so healthy and long living, and those people are willing to destroy everyone and everything to destroy Paul and all he represents.
This book was very disturbing for me. I don't have a desire to live forever, to live in a world where one must continue NOT retiring forever because one has to make the money to afford to keep living forever. For me, this story represents a kind of drudgery for those who are not wealthy. The coveted product Paul and his company will be releasing in the future will be available to the wealthy, those who live luxurious lives as a way of life. But what will perpetual life look like for the ordinary person who will be looking at working full time into their hundreds?
Now, Paul's estranged, normally aging, eighty something year old son has been targeted and the domestic, and otherwise, terrorists will kill anyone who gets in their way to destroy that which they do not want happening. The descriptions later in the book of what happens to people who use Paul's product are appalling and I don't want to live in that kind of world even though I know that things like that happen elsewhere for other reasons. There will always be people destroying other people and that sounds like a living nightmare to me.
We find a lot to think about here. How some characters lives go full circle as can happen to anyone who lives a very long time. How we come into the world with the absolute requirement for others to tend to our every need and then there comes a time when the aged find themselves in the same situation if they live that long. We see fathers recognizing and facing their faults and weaknesses and wanting to make amends in the only and best ways that they can do so. This story does not win me over to the side of wanting to live well into my hundreds, not that such a thing is in my grasp. If that particular opportunity was presented to me, at this point, I'd say "no thank you". For all the futuristic aspect of this story, it also has a huge heart.
Expected publication October 27, 2026
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC
Paul Whitmore is the wealthiest man in the world, is 122 years old but looks and acts 50 years old, and lives a very structured routine barricaded in his Marin, California, estate, surrounded by his security, with his only companion a futuristic AI. The year is 2070 and nothing much is going to change at the moment, other than Paul soon passing up the last longest living person's record of living (alas, she is dead now, though). But, there are people after Paul, after his company, after those who want to use the product that keeps him so healthy and long living, and those people are willing to destroy everyone and everything to destroy Paul and all he represents.
This book was very disturbing for me. I don't have a desire to live forever, to live in a world where one must continue NOT retiring forever because one has to make the money to afford to keep living forever. For me, this story represents a kind of drudgery for those who are not wealthy. The coveted product Paul and his company will be releasing in the future will be available to the wealthy, those who live luxurious lives as a way of life. But what will perpetual life look like for the ordinary person who will be looking at working full time into their hundreds?
Now, Paul's estranged, normally aging, eighty something year old son has been targeted and the domestic, and otherwise, terrorists will kill anyone who gets in their way to destroy that which they do not want happening. The descriptions later in the book of what happens to people who use Paul's product are appalling and I don't want to live in that kind of world even though I know that things like that happen elsewhere for other reasons. There will always be people destroying other people and that sounds like a living nightmare to me.
We find a lot to think about here. How some characters lives go full circle as can happen to anyone who lives a very long time. How we come into the world with the absolute requirement for others to tend to our every need and then there comes a time when the aged find themselves in the same situation if they live that long. We see fathers recognizing and facing their faults and weaknesses and wanting to make amends in the only and best ways that they can do so. This story does not win me over to the side of wanting to live well into my hundreds, not that such a thing is in my grasp. If that particular opportunity was presented to me, at this point, I'd say "no thank you". For all the futuristic aspect of this story, it also has a huge heart.
Expected publication October 27, 2026
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Natural Order receives 5 stars from me. Wow, what a brilliant book. I’ve literally just finished it and have tears in my eyes.
I was immediately drawn to this book because of the premise, as it sounded so different, and I was very pleased to receive this ARC from NetGalley. The novel asks the question: if you could live forever, would you want to? It also explores how society might react and the consequences that would follow. Alongside this, the book examines the meaning and importance of family, as well as themes of love, grief, morality, and identity.
I was consistently engaged throughout and thought the pacing was spot on. I became emotionally invested in all of the characters and ended up reading this in just two days. The writing was brilliant and I genuinely didn’t want to skip a single word.
This is one of those books that I think will stay with me for quite a while. The ending was fabulous and brought tears to my eyes. Thought-provoking, emotional, and beautifully written, I cannot recommend this book enough.
I was immediately drawn to this book because of the premise, as it sounded so different, and I was very pleased to receive this ARC from NetGalley. The novel asks the question: if you could live forever, would you want to? It also explores how society might react and the consequences that would follow. Alongside this, the book examines the meaning and importance of family, as well as themes of love, grief, morality, and identity.
I was consistently engaged throughout and thought the pacing was spot on. I became emotionally invested in all of the characters and ended up reading this in just two days. The writing was brilliant and I genuinely didn’t want to skip a single word.
This is one of those books that I think will stay with me for quite a while. The ending was fabulous and brought tears to my eyes. Thought-provoking, emotional, and beautifully written, I cannot recommend this book enough.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. This was a story plot that goes outside the box. Not your normal thriller. The year is 2070, Paul Whitmore is a man that lives a very monastic life. He and his scientists have devolped a routine that extends human life. It stops aging in its tracks, Paul Whitmore is a 122 years old, but only looks fifty. A vigilante terrorist group called the Natural Order is trying to get the better of Paul Whitmore and stop his anti aging products before it goes to market. They have found out that Whitmore has an 87 year old son, and they keep trying to kidnap him and harm him to get to Paul Whitmore. Paul brings his son Max to his highly secured compound to protect him. There are a lot of side stories that help lead up to the current plot. The book is a very well written book and very entertaining. There is a mind blowing ending to this book. You don't want to miss it. I highly recommend this book. 👌
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Natural Order” a debut by Matthew Aldrich is an intelligent and emotional science fiction novel that feels relevant to our current cultural moment. The novel follows the world’s wealthiest man who has unlocked the secret to eternal life, bring his breakthrough discovery to the world market. He has left all worldly possessions behind including people, and on the cusp of becoming the oldest man in history, a fringe group has found his estranged 80 year old son and is threatening both of their lives. In an effort to protect him, the son is forcibly brought to the father’s compound where themes of…is it ever too late to repair the relationship between father and son are addressed with true intimacy and sensitivity.
This novel is much more than a typical bio-tech thriller, it’s an intriguing story about love, loss and the importance of understanding what is truly important in your life.
Thank you NetGalley and Altria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This novel is much more than a typical bio-tech thriller, it’s an intriguing story about love, loss and the importance of understanding what is truly important in your life.
Thank you NetGalley and Altria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for an eARC of The Natural Order by Matthew Aldrich. The Natural Order was a very breezy yet taut sci-fi thriller about the cost of immortality. The novel follows CEO Paul Whitmore, who has been using his company's product, the method, to stop the aging process. On the cusp of becoming the oldest individual to have lived and the release of the method, Paul has to reckon with his past by way of his son. I was glued to the page and easily soaked in what I was reading; the primary reason besides the unique premise was the character of Paul. As Paul has to come to terms with the son he left behind and all he sacrificed to get to this point, the character becomes completely engrossing. If you love thrillers with a sci-fi bent you need to read The Natural Order upon release.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Paul Whitmore is a VERY wealthy man, and he is almost 112 years old! He made his fortune and now he is ready to bring his longevity process (The Method) to the public. But there are others who want to stop him.
This is essentially a mystery that involves activists, threats, kidnapping, and more, but there is also a strong political/philosophical message about money, power, and whether people should extend life indefinitely. I could not put this book down, but ultimately I was a bit disappointed. Something was missing. The only really captivating character was the nurse/caretaker. I found the ending predicable and less than satisfying. It would certainly make a great "book club" book since there is so much worthy of discussion, but I think it could have been so much more. OK, but not great.
This is essentially a mystery that involves activists, threats, kidnapping, and more, but there is also a strong political/philosophical message about money, power, and whether people should extend life indefinitely. I could not put this book down, but ultimately I was a bit disappointed. Something was missing. The only really captivating character was the nurse/caretaker. I found the ending predicable and less than satisfying. It would certainly make a great "book club" book since there is so much worthy of discussion, but I think it could have been so much more. OK, but not great.
May 11, 2026
Such an amazing and thoughtful read. It’s the story of a trillionaire businessman who essentially discovers the cure for aging, and embarks on a quest to be the longest living person ever (while also heading a company set to launch this cure for a hefty price tag); his enemies attempt to stop him by threatening the life of his estranged son. It’s set in a not-too-distant future that feels all too plausible, and explores a lot of very relevant themes (AI, income inequality, environment) in a cautionary but not heavy handed way. Beyond that, it really focuses on life, relationships, and the choices we make along the way. Throw in a little good action and gunfire… a little bit of something for everyone. 5⭐️
June 4, 2026
I found this book compulsively readable. It works as science fiction, with excellent world-building of the relatively near future (2070s I believe). The concept of slowing down or stopping the ageing process is well developed and believable. It also works well as a thriller, with the main characters on the run from a militant, cult-like group opposed to everything the main characters represent. But where this novel really shines is in the exploration of the consequences of eternal life on the individual and on the family and friends he must leave behind to realize his dream. This book is fast-paced, cinematic in scope and description, and most of all deeply moving. Thanks to Atria Books for this Goodreads giveaway.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
DRC from Edelweiss and Atria Books / Simon & Schuster
An interesting story about life expectancy and family. Set in the future, Paul Whitmore heads a company that created a nutritional plan that extends your life. Called “The Method” it is a series of steps you take to stop aging. But the Method is controversial and there is a group out there who like to see Paul dead. There he lives alone on huge, seclude property with staff and security. He works remotely and only goes into the public domain once a year. When the group targets Paul’s son, he knows he must take steps to protect him. Will Max remain in hiding with Paul? Can Paul’s security stop the group from hurting them? Is there something else going on in Paul’s business that makes his security questionable? If you could live a longer life, how would you spend it and with whom?
An interesting story about life expectancy and family. Set in the future, Paul Whitmore heads a company that created a nutritional plan that extends your life. Called “The Method” it is a series of steps you take to stop aging. But the Method is controversial and there is a group out there who like to see Paul dead. There he lives alone on huge, seclude property with staff and security. He works remotely and only goes into the public domain once a year. When the group targets Paul’s son, he knows he must take steps to protect him. Will Max remain in hiding with Paul? Can Paul’s security stop the group from hurting them? Is there something else going on in Paul’s business that makes his security questionable? If you could live a longer life, how would you spend it and with whom?
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Really really enjoyed this book!!! The characters are rich and easy to connect with. The storyline is really well done and it holds your attention and interest!! I can’t say enough about this book and I recommend it to everyone!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fun fast paced
The natural order to life and death is that parents die before their children however tech billionaire Paul has hacked the key to aging and is now approaching 122 years of age. If he reaches this milestone he will be the world’s oldest ever living human. Unfortunately he lost contact with his own son as a small boy and has been unable to give this treatment to his son has aged naturally and he is now in his late 80s.. The natural order has been changed. naturally not everybody thinks Living forever is a good idea and there are factions in the community that is determined to prevent this technique being available to the whole population. These fractions use terrorist tactics to get their message across. There are some tents scenes during the novel when the main character comes under attack
This novel is fast paced right f from the beginning it’s fun and entertaining
It’s is a fun fast past paced read more of a thriller than my normal reading choice. I’d picked it up on net Galley UK because of the science-fiction element to it.
Personal I enjoy books with more characters development. The characters in this novel are somewhat two dimensional and because of this I found I liked this novel but didn’t love it. I would recommend the novel to those who like fast thrillers with added sci-fi elements.
The author is a known screenwriter and this is clear throughout the novel which is highly Visual and will clearly make a fabulous feature film
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. In return for an honest review The book is published in the UK on 26th of October 2026 by Malcolm Joseph Penguin random house
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and my book blog bionicSarahsbooks.wordpress.com. After publication it will also appear on Amazon and Waterstones online
The natural order to life and death is that parents die before their children however tech billionaire Paul has hacked the key to aging and is now approaching 122 years of age. If he reaches this milestone he will be the world’s oldest ever living human. Unfortunately he lost contact with his own son as a small boy and has been unable to give this treatment to his son has aged naturally and he is now in his late 80s.. The natural order has been changed. naturally not everybody thinks Living forever is a good idea and there are factions in the community that is determined to prevent this technique being available to the whole population. These fractions use terrorist tactics to get their message across. There are some tents scenes during the novel when the main character comes under attack
This novel is fast paced right f from the beginning it’s fun and entertaining
It’s is a fun fast past paced read more of a thriller than my normal reading choice. I’d picked it up on net Galley UK because of the science-fiction element to it.
Personal I enjoy books with more characters development. The characters in this novel are somewhat two dimensional and because of this I found I liked this novel but didn’t love it. I would recommend the novel to those who like fast thrillers with added sci-fi elements.
The author is a known screenwriter and this is clear throughout the novel which is highly Visual and will clearly make a fabulous feature film
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. In return for an honest review The book is published in the UK on 26th of October 2026 by Malcolm Joseph Penguin random house
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and my book blog bionicSarahsbooks.wordpress.com. After publication it will also appear on Amazon and Waterstones online
May 24, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Atria for the ARC!
I expected a good story—but I wasn’t expecting it to hit this hard.
The premise is a wild, elevated sci-fi setup: a tech billionaire cracks the code to halting the aging process. He’s over 120 years old but looks 50. Naturally, there are extremist groups who want to stop him from releasing this tech to the world. On paper, it sounds like your classic, fast-paced Hollywood thriller (which makes sense, given his background).
But what actually hooked me wasn't just the sci-fi tech or the threat of violence—it was the emotional core of the book.
Without giving anything away, the billionaire has an estranged son who is literally dying of old age in a nursing home while his dad stays forever young. When safety concerns force them back into the same room, the book transitions from a slick thriller into this incredibly deep, heartbreaking look at family, regret, and what time actually means when you have too much of it.
It's a genuine page-turner that moves incredibly fast, but it leaves you with a lot of big questions about mortality and what we owe the people we love. If you like smart sci-fi that has actual heart and doesn't just rely on lasers and explosions, absolutely pick this up. It’s a ride.
I expected a good story—but I wasn’t expecting it to hit this hard.
The premise is a wild, elevated sci-fi setup: a tech billionaire cracks the code to halting the aging process. He’s over 120 years old but looks 50. Naturally, there are extremist groups who want to stop him from releasing this tech to the world. On paper, it sounds like your classic, fast-paced Hollywood thriller (which makes sense, given his background).
But what actually hooked me wasn't just the sci-fi tech or the threat of violence—it was the emotional core of the book.
Without giving anything away, the billionaire has an estranged son who is literally dying of old age in a nursing home while his dad stays forever young. When safety concerns force them back into the same room, the book transitions from a slick thriller into this incredibly deep, heartbreaking look at family, regret, and what time actually means when you have too much of it.
It's a genuine page-turner that moves incredibly fast, but it leaves you with a lot of big questions about mortality and what we owe the people we love. If you like smart sci-fi that has actual heart and doesn't just rely on lasers and explosions, absolutely pick this up. It’s a ride.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews