Once Judge Atlee was a powerful figure in Clanton, Mississippi--a pillar of the community who towered over local law and politics for forty years. Now the judge is a shadow of his former self, a sick, lonely old man who has withdrawn to his sprawling ancestral home. Knowing the end is near, Judge Atlee has issued a summons for his two sons to return to Clanton to discuss his estate. Ray Atlee is the eldest, a Virginia law professor, newly single and still enduring the aftershocks of a surpr... (show more)
Once Judge Atlee was a powerful figure in Clanton, Mississippi--a pillar of the community who towered over local law and politics for forty years. Now the judge is a shadow of his former self, a sick, lonely old man who has withdrawn to his sprawling ancestral home. Knowing the end is near, Judge Atlee has issued a summons for his two sons to return to Clanton to discuss his estate. Ray Atlee is the eldest, a Virginia law professor, newly single and still enduring the aftershocks of a surprise divorce. Forrest is Ray’s younger brother, who redefines the notion of a family’s black sheep.
The summons is typed by the judge himself, on his handsome old stationery, and gives the date and time for Ray and Forrest to appear in his study. Ray reluctantly heads south to his hometown, to the place where he grew up and now prefers to avoid. But the family meeting does not take place. The judge dies too soon, and in doing so leaves behind a shocking secret known only to Ray.
And perhaps someone else.
From the Paperback edition. (show less)
Photo Gallery
I really enjoyed this novel! Once the mysterious $3 million was found, and eldest son Ray kept it a secret while trying to figure out where it cam... (show more)
I really enjoyed this novel! Once the mysterious $3 million was found, and eldest son Ray kept it a secret while trying to figure out where it came from, the story unfolded in unexpected ways leading to a very unexpected conclusion! I couldn't put it down during the last few chapters! (show less)
I read this in the summer, having bought it in desperation at an Austrian book store on the way home from Kosovo. I quite like Grisham's books nor... (show more)
I read this in the summer, having bought it in desperation at an Austrian book store on the way home from Kosovo. I quite like Grisham's books normally, although I don't expect classic literature. This, however, was short, badly written, poorly characterised, and illogical. Truly awful. (show less)
I had The Summons tucked away at home for an occasion when I needed something light and easy to read. I've always been a fan of John Grisham, but I don't like to read all of his books at once, because most of them are all so similar. He's a good "stand-by" author though, and The Summons didn't disappoint.
The book, like many of Grisham's others, is set in Clanton, Miss. The story centers on the sons of Judge Reuben Atlee, a retired judge who is dying and sends a summons to his bo... (show more)
I had The Summons tucked away at home for an occasion when I needed something light and easy to read. I've always been a fan of John Grisham, but I don't like to read all of his books at once, because most of them are all so similar. He's a good "stand-by" author though, and The Summons didn't disappoint.
The book, like many of Grisham's others, is set in Clanton, Miss. The story centers on the sons of Judge Reuben Atlee, a retired judge who is dying and sends a summons to his boys for the reading of his will. Ray is a law professor. Forrest is the black sheep, a drug addict and alcoholic who is always in and out of rehab.
Ray returns home to discuss his father's estate and finds the judge dead, and also finds several boxes of cash amounting to $3 million. He spends most of the book trying to figure out where the money came from and running someone who knows he has the dough. It was very entertaining without demanding much thought from the reader.
The thing I enjoy most about Grisham's books is that he really captures small town life when he writes about Clanton. There is always at least one character who reminds me of some colorful person that I actually know, and this time it was Judge Atlee's longtime secretary/girlfriend, Claudia. I was also glad that Harry Rex Vonner made an appearance, as he is one of Grisham's funniest characters - and one of my favorites. (show less)
Already read
A decent read. I didn't see the ending coming, sothat was a nice surprise.
I like the way Grisham books are very descriptive and you can always picture the surroundings - whether its the run down isolated family home or the view from the aeroplane that the main charcter is flying. It gave you a view into small town life where everybody knows each others business - or at least they think they do.
The leagl terminology wasn't as present as much as it is in other Grisham books, so it didn'... (show more)
A decent read. I didn't see the ending coming, sothat was a nice surprise.
I like the way Grisham books are very descriptive and you can always picture the surroundings - whether its the run down isolated family home or the view from the aeroplane that the main charcter is flying. It gave you a view into small town life where everybody knows each others business - or at least they think they do.
The leagl terminology wasn't as present as much as it is in other Grisham books, so it didn't get too complicated.
There is a moral in the read - don't think you always know the best treatment for someone who has life problems, and that a large sum of money will change your way of thinking - no matter how much you plan on doing the right thing.
Not his best book, but an enjoyable read none the less. (show less)
Already read
Please log in to join the conversation
One of the lesser Grisham books, in my opinion. In the book, I enjoyed re-visiting the town of Clanton, MS. Grisham seems to romanticize that little town in every one of his books based there......and he did no different here.
The ending was unpredictable and the story line had twists and turns that were written in the usual suspenseful Grisham manner. Quite a decent book!
This book has been added to these lists:
LivingSocial.com is a social discovery and cataloging network that allows people to review and share their favorite movies, books, games, music, restaurants and beer
Lägg till bokmärke
