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The Summons
The Summons
Author: John Grisham
— Ray Atlee is a professor of law at the University of Virginia. He's forty-three, newly single, and still enduring the aftershocks of a surprise divorce. He has a younger brother, Forrest, who redefines the notion of a family's black sheep. — And he has a father, a very sick old man who lives alone in the ancestral home in Clanton, Miss...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780385503822
ISBN-10: 0385503822
Publication Date: 2/5/2002
Pages: 354
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 322

3.8 stars, based on 322 ratings
Publisher: Doubleday
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed The Summons on + 12 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
It's John Grisham. One of my favorites.
reviewed The Summons on + 81 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
A great story from Grisham. I was surprised and sad about the end.
reviewed The Summons on
Helpful Score: 2
Great book - John Grisham is one of my favorite authors.
reviewed The Summons on + 19 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Typical Grisham, probably not in the league of "The Juror" ot "The Last Juror" but a good read nonetheless.
reviewed The Summons on + 111 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Once Judge Atlee was a powerful figure in Clatton, Mississipi--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 Now the judge is a shadow of his former self, a sick, lonely old man who has withdrawn to his sprawling ancestral home.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 eldes 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.

Great book, a mystery until the last few pages
Read All 161 Book Reviews of "The Summons"

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MKSbooklady avatar reviewed The Summons on + 937 more book reviews
Another good Grisham, this one will keep you guessing until the end. A good story of a family, their lies and their secrets. Blood is thicker than water, right?
chesse avatar reviewed The Summons on + 129 more book reviews
The end left me hanging.
reviewed The Summons on
I'm a big Grisham fan but I found the ending of this book to be horrible. It was so anticlimactic and disappointing. The storyline leading up to the end was ok but not his best work, I think he definitely is a better author than this book conveys.
reviewed The Summons on + 16 more book reviews
Very good. I read all night, couldn't put it down.
reviewed The Summons on + 2 more book reviews
John Grisham never seems to disappoint and this book is no exception. A great story that keeps you wanting to read to know who dunnit! I typically like a little romance in a story but this book didn't need that.
reviewed The Summons on
Excellent Read
reviewed The Summons on + 191 more book reviews
Very good story, Grisham at his best
reviewed The Summons on + 10 more book reviews
I love twists in endings! This book was pretty darn good and if you are a fan of Grisham you should definitely give it a read!
drdetroyt avatar reviewed The Summons on
Good read.
reviewed The Summons on + 3 more book reviews
Very good book for a bible study group. Concise, thought provoking.

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