|
Editorial Review Product Description
For the first time since "A Time to Kill", Grisham returns to Ford County, Mississippi - a place rich in colourful characters and dark family secrets.Amazon.com Review
Law professor Ray Atlee and his prodigal brother, Forrest, are summoned home to Clanton, Mississippi, by their ailing father to discuss his will. But when Ray arrives the judge is already dead, and the one-page document dividing his meager estate between the two sons seems crystal clear. What it doesn't mention, however, is the small fortune in cash Ray discovers hidden in the old man's house--$3 million he can't account for and doesn't mention to brother Forrest, either.Ray's efforts to keep his find a secret, figure out where it came from, and hide it from a nameless extortioner, who seems to know more about it than he does, culminate in a denouement with an almost biblical twist. It's a slender plot to hang a thriller on, and in truth it's not John Grisham's best in terms of pacing, dramatic tension, and interesting characters (except for Harry Rex, a country lawyer who was the judge's closest friend and in many ways is the father Ray wishes he'd had. He's so vivid he jumps off the page). But Grisham's legions of fans are likely to enjoy The Summons even if it lacks the power of some of his classic earlier books, like The Firm, The Brethren, and The Testament. --Jane Adams ... Read more Customer Reviews (754) 
a bad brother and a better brother
Ray Atlee, a law professor at the University of Virginia, has just received a summons from this father, a retired judge in Clanton, Mississippi, to discuss the estate.Judge Atlee is dying of cancer and is somewhat estranged from his two sons.Forrest, Ray's brother, is a seemingly incurable drug addict who has spent a lot of his father's money in unsuccessful rehab stints.When Ray arrives at the family home, he finds his father already dead, with an empty morphine pack nearby.Much to his surprise, he also finds boxes of cash totaling about $3 million, which is not mentioned in the will.Judge Atlee gave most of his money away and was not handsomely compensated during his years on the bench.Ray then goes on a quest to hide and protect the cash, even as he tries to find out where it came from and dreams of being able to afford the airplane he lusts after.Someone else knows about the money, though, and is trying to intimidate Ray into giving it up.Ray is a frustrating and flawed character, and I just wanted him to trust someone enough to tell them about the money and not let greed start to dictate his decisions.In a nutshell, that's what the book is ultimately about--trust and greed.Despite the smattering of clues, the ending came as a surprise to me.The Legal Limit is a better thriller, though, also with a bad brother and a better brother.
What?
What the hell? Why all the less than at least 4 star reviews? This book kept me up all night reading it, I read it in only 2 days, as with most Grisham books. I'm not gonna give an extra wordy jackassy review, all I have to say is most Grisham books are 2 day reads and this one is fantastic so I don't get all the low reviews for his books it's total bs.
The Most Boring and the Dumbest Book.
It's time to officially declare John Grisham as a hack writer. The man just simply can't write a decent book anymore. The Summons is not only the most boring but quite the dumbest book I've ever read. The logic of the story is so stupid on many levels that I am unable to comprehend how Grisham got away with the money from selling the books except to rely on his namesake. First of all, if Ray Atlee is able to extract information from a professor on counterfeiting and a security expert of a gambling empire, then he should have learned enough about off-shore banking so he would have flew his little plane to there and park his money there. That...right there...would have ended the story for once and all. Or why don't we do this the simple way...? Buy a Honus Wagner baseball card. Buy a unsealed box of NES Stadium Events. Whatever at all...and just hold on to the collection and wait for the value to rise over the years. Secondly, since Forrest has consumed every substance known to history of drugs for a good thirty years, his brain would have been totally fried. Thus, it's improbable that he would have the capacity to think up of the seemingly clever plot to betray his brother. Third of all, I can't believe that Ray hired a private detective with many assistants, and they were unable to spot the amateurs, who served time in prison, breaking into his apartment. That's just impossible; one break-in is enough to get started on the track. I could go on and on, but what's the point of beating a dead horse? All in all, The Summons is a snoozer.
A QUESTION OF ETHICS
Two thoughts. First, I'm amazed at the spoiler posted on the Amazon webpage for this book, which gives away half the plot. Secondly, if this had been a first novel it would have garnered rave reviews. So why has the fact that it's by John Grisham generated such negativity. It's thoroughly readable, and not for the first time the author poses a question of ethics the resolution of which is long overdue.
Another solid Grisham novel!
John Grisham once again goes to Mississippi to weave a tale of family, greed, and paranoia that is solid from beginning to end.The main character is likeable although a little bland at times.The story had me guessing as to who was behind what.Although there were legal elements in the book it isn't a legal thriller but it was a thriller.One complaint was I wanted more of Clanton, MS.Many times Grisham has transported me to the South and here it was just a locale.Overall, a solid read but not Grisham's best.
... Read more |
