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The Summons

By John Grisham

(84)

| Mass Market Paperback | 9780440241072

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Book Description

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 Now the judge is a shadow of his former self, a sick, lonely old man who has withdrawn to his sprawling ancestral home.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 Continue

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 Now the judge is a shadow of his former self, a sick, lonely old man who has withdrawn to his sprawling ancestral home.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.

Critics

  • TheBookHaven.net - The Summons - John Grisham

    Click the pic to buy the book. Support this site! Get all your books by clicking on this Amazon link. The Summons marks John Grisham's return to the wonderful world of law after a brief nostalgic stint in A Painted House . The summons in question is ... (read full critics)

    thebookhaven published on Fri, 10 Sep 2010

  • The Summons

    The Summons marks John Grisham's return to the wonderful world of law after a brief nostalgic stint in A Painted House . The summons in question is not a legal document. The honorable and terminally ill Judge Reuben Atlee asked his semi-estranged son ... (read full critics)

    thebookhaven published on Thu, 2 Sep 2010

2 Reviews

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  • After a while you think the author will run out of gas. Well it's not the case with Grisham. Still, it's not his best.

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    jelabino said on Aug 11, 2010 | Add your feedback

  • Small town America

    Grisham returns to writing about lawyers and courts with this book. The story revolves around Ray Atlee who is a lecturer at a law college. His old father is a former councellor and very famous in his town. Now in his last days he sends a summons to his two sons Ray and Forrest. Forrest is a gone ca ... (continue)

    Grisham returns to writing about lawyers and courts with this book. The story revolves around Ray Atlee who is a lecturer at a law college. His old father is a former councellor and very famous in his town. Now in his last days he sends a summons to his two sons Ray and Forrest. Forrest is a gone case who is always either on drugs or in a detoxification centre. When the sons turn up they find their father dead. And soon Ray discovers 3 million dollars in the house! The rest of the story is how he tries to find the source of the money and escapes the goons trying to get it.

    As in many of his books Grisham sets up a great opening for the book. After the first few pages I just couldn't put it down and finished the book. Most of the story is set in small town America, and Grisham's writing reminded me of R K Narayan's Malgudi stories. But, the plot in this book is a little lame and is a letdown if you've read Grisham's other books. But, I liked it for the scenes and experiences of small town America presented.

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    Ashwin Nanjappa said on Jun 26, 2007 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

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9780440241072 Mass Market Paperback $7.99 $7.19 bn.com
$7.99 $6.99 The Book Depository
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