The Summons: A Novel

All I can say is, John Grisham is just amazing!

I love John Grisham. I do believe I have nearly every book that he has written. Interesting plots and characters!

I have read all of Grisham's novels - even before he was famous. The last two Grisham novels I read were SKIPPING CHRISTMAS and A PAINTED HOUSE. These are not what one would expect from Grisham. Thus, when I purchased THE SUMMONS, I was a bit concerned that it was be in the same genre as the last two novels I read. I was relieved to find that THE SUMMONS is a traditional Grisham novel. It is going to be difficult to write about this novel without spoiling it. I will be careful. Grisham has a rare mastery of the English language. He employs his skill to craft a story of two brothers - polar opposites. One is a successful law professor who is held in high esteem within his academic community, while the other is a chronic addict with all the problems that substance abuse brings. The bothers converge to deal with the death of their father - a man dearly loved by his community and hatred by both sons. Like Grisham's novel THE TESTAMENT, this is a story that focuses on the mystery of a father's last will and testament. Grisham takes his readers on a ride that is filled with intrigue and conniving. I can't say more.Grisham leaves us with an important thought - the right to self-determination. If a legally competent person makes bad decisions, does a family member have the right to deny that person's destiny? In his own way, Grisham's answer this ethical question. As someone who teaches ethics, I will use this novel to illustrate the importance of this critical concept.Although, THE SUMMONS may not be Grisham's best novel, it is a very good story.

It is a good thing we are allowed our own opinions! I have read all of Grisham's books and I thoroughtly enjoyed this one from the first word to the last. I found it very believable and relaxing. Perfect for a cold NE weekend just as Skipping Christmas was perfect for the holiday week.

A reversal of fortune tale in triplicate: Ray Atlee is a professor of law at the University of Virginia, brother to a sometimes-reformed addict and the son of a highly respected but terminally ill Mississippi Judge. Summoned to his ancestral home, Ray enters his father's library expecting the old man to reveal his final wishes. Instead, he finds his father dead on a sofa that is barely concealing over three million dollars in neatly stashed cash. To preserve his father's reputation Ray searches for the origin of the suspect booty and tries to protect his brother from himself. Tempted, threatened, followed and framed, Ray takes to the air, the roads and the waters of the old south. This reader was happy to ride along. A great read.

I have been missing out on a excellent creative writer. I read books more on lines of discovery such as Karl Mark Maddox, as I like to be left with something of value, but Grisham has some real life fact in this book that does give satisfaction. I suppose better said is that Grisham does not become to fantastic or inventive. The writing style is beyond any other author I have come across. What has me intrigued is that this is a story that could become a real story in anyones life. The book is real and I highly recommend it. The story does have finer points but there is nothing so tedious as to confuse or loose the reader, each character and event is introduced leaving a mental imprint that cannot be forgotten as the story unfolds. It does read rather quickly for a near 400 page book, I was able to finish it easily in six hours and I am an average reader. The story has stayed with me all week and at times I catch myself shaking my head with remaining entertainment. If you like this read Maddox, SB 1

After a couple of years (or more) "treading water" with experimentations, John Grisham is back with "The Summons"! It's probably not his best work as our favorites are "The Firm" and "The Testament" but "The Summons" is once again a real (!) Grisham. Excellent character studies and it seems Grisham is good at that. The pacing is a little slow and the plot isn't sophisticated, but it's an enjoyable book to read and refreshing to see Grisham in action again. For a book that has all the elements of international corporate intrigue, excellent characters, exotic locales and fast pacing I highly recommend the high-powered mega thriller THE CONSULTANT by Alec Donzi.