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Book Reviews of The Testament

The Testament
The Testament
Author: John Grisham
ISBN-13: 9780440295730
ISBN-10: 0440295734
Publication Date: 10/1999
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 25

4 stars, based on 25 ratings
Publisher: Bantam Books
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

175 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

scrapbooklady avatar reviewed The Testament on + 472 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
I am an avid reader and not of just one author. John Grisham books are on my booklist but I read just about everyone at one point or another. If I am not engaged by the first few pages in any book I pick up, and held so thoughout the story, I don't waste my time with the rest of the book. "The Testament" grabbed me from the first page and held my interest all the way through to the end. It was a page-turner for me. What I liked about the story was that I developed definite feelings about the characters even though Grisham did not say a lot about them other than their antics and a bit of background here and there. Grishman was very good at creating characters that a reader will either care about or not care for. The other thing I liked was that the story was transformational on various levels and not just for the lead character. Nate O'Riley, the alcoholic, drug addicted, constant rehab dwelling attorney, was a character that I truely appreciated getting to know. I enjoyed watching him as he passed through life-tests that he sometimes failed and sometimes conquered. Even with Rachel Lane, who you did not know much about at all, you got a good depth of her personality through Nate's observations of her. Lastly, the story talks about what a lot of money can do to people, how it corrupts, blinds, and befuddles a sane mind into doing insane things with it. But it also told the reader through more than one character that it's hard to blame people for how they deal with money because of how they were brought to it. It's a very thoughtful read and I would recommend "The Testament" to anyone who enjoys a good read and a good mystery that has a very unpredictable ending.
reviewed The Testament on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
An entertaining read, fun to see how convoluted the human mind becomes when money is in the midst of it all. Mr. Grisham does not let us down with this one; happy reading.
reviewed The Testament on + 103 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
A disgraced corporate attorney, who has come out of rehab for the umpteenth time, is sent to the wilds of Brazil in search of the illegitimate, missionary daughter of a dead millionaire, who has left most of his estate to her. As usual, Grisham's characters are well-formed and complex, and his plot is fast-paced and thrilling. A great read
76kendra avatar reviewed The Testament on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This is my favorite Grisham novel to date! Very similar to his other books, a story line of legalities, but it takes you where Grisham has never led you! Just when you think he is predictable, you'll find yourself on a journey you never thought you'd be on! I HIGHLY recommend this book to all Grisham fans!!!
bugeyes avatar reviewed The Testament on + 19 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is my favorite of all the Grisham books and one of his earliest. The mysterious tycoon dying at the beginning, the greedy family awaiting their share of the fortune, and the story behind the hunt,by the once fallen but now honest lawyer, for the humble unsuspecting heir with all the machinations that the greedy heir wannabees can think of to stop the execution of the decedants final wishes.
There is drama, intrigue, and yes, a moral to the story.
lindalee avatar reviewed The Testament on + 13 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Billionaire\'s children are underserving of his fortune! He sure put them in their place! This was a real page turner... One of Grisham\'s best!
reviewed The Testament on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is my favorite Grisham book to date. I rarely ever read a book twice, but with this one I did. Just a great story of different families, dynamics, struggles and at the end, what really is important in life, the legacy you leave behind.
reviewed The Testament on + 32 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Grisham's The Testament follows ugly family battle over fortune
A billionaire leaves his fortune to an illegitimate daughter rather than to the assorted legit progeny by three wives.
The executor is sent to South America to find the new heiress, who is believed to be working as a missionary in Brazil. (aside: nice work if you can get it)
Meanwhile the late billionaire's adoring family is disputing the terms of the will, arguing that in spite of examination by three psychiatrists, he was not sane at the time he wrote it. They do not wish to actually go to court to contest it, however, which would force them to put questionable evidence and witnesses on the stand.
The relatives settle for a measly fifty million apiece. Meanwhile the self-sacrificing heiress wants nothing to do with the money. She does leave a will, though . . . .
hollita34 avatar reviewed The Testament on + 21 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Grisham interweaves law, religion and hope into this text. It still has some legal stuff and suspense - it is unlike his other books where there is a 'bad guy.' It is a book that makes you look at money and what it does to families, and how it shapes the people it comes into contact with.

It's a great illustration of struggle, greed, hope, and the human spirit.
reviewed The Testament on + 13 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Grisham puts money into perspective in this novel of adventure and greed. It was a fun read.
punkinema avatar reviewed The Testament on + 305 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Great story - really like John Grisham anyway. A has-been attorney ends up learning much about himself and his assignment changes his life.
AZmom875 avatar reviewed The Testament on + 624 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
All his books involve lawyers some you love and some you hate. I liked this lawyer. I loved the travel to the remote area. This book seems softer on the whole Lawyer thing and made the people seem more human. Great ending and a great testament to John Grisham who can write about lawyers in more than one way.
reviewed The Testament on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
a multi million dollar will re written at the literal last minute leads a down and out lawyer into the jungles of south america to find the mysterious benefactor.
reviewed The Testament on + 6 more book reviews
If you like John Grisham, then you know how his stories work. This book fits the mold as easily and works as a great beach/pool read. A lawyer out of rehab is searching for the sole heir of a dying billionaire - with only hours to live, he is rewriting his will knowing that his greedy family will be unhappy.
reviewed The Testament on + 13 more book reviews
"A COMPULSORY PAGE-TURNER"
"ENTERTAINING."
HEART OF DARKNESS
In a plush Virginia office, a rich, angry old man is furiously rewriting his will. With his death just hours away, Troy Phelan wants to send a message to his children, his ex-wives, and his minions, a message that will touch off a vicious legal battle and transform dozens of lives.
Because Troy Phelan's new will names a sole surprise heir to his eleven-billion-dollar fortune: a mysterious woman named Rachel Lane, a missionary living deep in the jungles of Brazil.
Enter the lawyers. Nate O'Riley is fresh out of rehab, a disgraced corporate attorney handpicked for his last job: to find Rachel Lane at any cost. As Phelan's family circles like vultures in D.C., Nate is crashing through the Brazilian jungle, entering a world where money means nothing, where death is just one misstep away, and where a woman-pursued by enemies and friends alike-holds a stunning surprise of her own....
"ABSORBING..THE PAGES FLY BY."
reviewed The Testament on + 35 more book reviews
Very good read; didnt want to put it down.A billionaire shows his children the way to manage money from the grave. The unknown heir gets it all and doesnt want it.
reviewed The Testament on + 11 more book reviews
A great story; well told; holds your attention
reviewed The Testament on + 8 more book reviews
This Grisham book will not disappoint.
reviewed The Testament on + 27 more book reviews
Troy Phelan, a 78-year-old eccentric and the 10th-richest man in America, is about to read his last will and testament, divvying up an estate worth $11 billion. Phelan's three ex-wives, their grasping spawn, a legion of lawyers, several psychiatrists, and a plethora of sound technicians wait breathlessly, all eyes glued to digital monitors as they watch the old man read his verdict. But Phelan shocks everyone with a bizarre, last-gasp attempt to redistribute the spoils, setting in motion a legal morality tale of a contested will, sin, and redemption.

Our hero, Nate O'Riley--a washed-up, alcoholic litigator with two ruined marriages in his wake and the IRS on his tail--is dispatched to the Brazilian wetlands in search of a mysterious heir named in the will. After a harrowing trip upriver to a remote settlement in the Pantanal, he encounters Rachel Lane, a pure-hearted missionary living with an indigenous tribe and carrying out "God's work." Rachel's grave dedication and kindness impress the jaded lawyer, so much that a nasty bout of dengue fever leads him to a vision that could change his life.

Back in the States, the legal proceedings drag on and Grisham has a high time with Phelan's money-hungry descendents, a regrettable bunch who squandered millions, married strippers, got druggy, and befriended the Mob. The youngest son, Ramble, is a multi-pierced, tattoo-covered malcontent with big dreams for his rock band, the Demon Monkeys. Will Nate get straight with Rachel's aid? Do the greedy heirs get theirs? What's the real legacy of a lifetime's work? The Testament is classic Grisham: a down-and-out lawyer, a lot of money, an action-packed pursuit, and the highest issues at stake. It's not just about great characters; it's about the question of what character is.
reviewed The Testament on + 17 more book reviews
An old man has a very short time to live and at the last moment he changes his will. The family is shocked when he leaves everything to a woman they never heard of who is a missionary in Brazil. The estate is worth eleven billion dollars so the family is desparate to protest the will while lawyers travel the deep jungle trying to find her and find out the connection. Great read
reviewed The Testament on + 15 more book reviews
courtroom drama, romance, adventure - what more could you ask for in a book
reviewed The Testament on + 12 more book reviews
A dying tycoon leaves his fortune to a woman in the Amazon jungle. Heirs, lawyers, mystery. The pure of heart come out winners. Great read.
reviewed The Testament on + 16 more book reviews
Very good book. Great story.
reviewed The Testament on + 46 more book reviews
A rich, angry old man rewrites his will on his death bed. Nate O'riley, the attorney is sent looking for the new sole benificarey in the jungles of Brazil. Little does he know she is running from he own enemies and secrets
reviewed The Testament on + 12 more book reviews
Great story. I loved the details, vivid picture of the jungles of Brazil.
KaysCMAlbums avatar reviewed The Testament on + 97 more book reviews
Grisham leads us into the deep jungles of Brazil when an angry old man rewrites his will and leaves everything to a mysterious woman named Rachel Lane. One of Grisham's more touching stories. Will hold your interest.
reviewed The Testament on + 22 more book reviews
"A compulsorey page-turner: --Newsweek
reviewed The Testament on + 28 more book reviews
this was an OK book. if you like court trillers.
reviewed The Testament on + 73 more book reviews
Nice!!!!!!!!!!!
kskrista avatar reviewed The Testament on + 162 more book reviews
Fascinating story of how a man's death and surprising will impacts the lives of his children and a man sent to find the unknown illegitimate daughter. Interestingly, she is the only one NOT impacted by the will even though she's supposed to get everything. She is impacted somewhat by the man sent to find her and, in return, "saves" his life by her faith in God to save him.
reviewed The Testament on + 4 more book reviews
This is a great page turner. Loved it.
mrrob avatar reviewed The Testament on + 83 more book reviews
I've read many of John Grisham's books and enjoyed them all. However, I just could not stay with this one. Dysfunctional families & alcoholics, while I understand is a reality in this world we live in, I really don't like to read about them.
After initially starting to read the story, I put it down and read two others. Finally, after running out of something else to read, I picked it up only to wonder "why am I plodding through this?"
So I decided to offer it here in case someone else wants it!
reviewed The Testament on + 21 more book reviews
great book!
reviewed The Testament on + 5 more book reviews
Grisham at his best
reviewed The Testament on + 96 more book reviews
Once again it is another good read by Grisham. It is hard to think what my will would be like if I get over a million dollars. I cannot see leaving it to a woman in some remote southn american jungle.
reviewed The Testament on + 140 more book reviews
A very good story!
reviewed The Testament on
loved it
reviewed The Testament on + 3 more book reviews
This book is a great read, especially if you enjoy John Grisham. You won't be able to put it down.
reviewed The Testament on
Just another Grisham book
reviewed The Testament on + 30 more book reviews
A dying man changes his will to add a surprise beneficiary, a mysterious woman.
reviewed The Testament on + 90 more book reviews
entertaining page-turner
reviewed The Testament on + 7 more book reviews
I tried really hard to read this one, but I just couldn't finish it.
reviewed The Testament on + 19 more book reviews
This was a great one...intreging plot and a page turner..........
reesecup avatar reviewed The Testament on + 11 more book reviews
about a rich man dying and writing his will and about a surprise heir to his fortune.
reviewed The Testament on + 23 more book reviews
Excellent read, Grisham is a wonderful story teller. Loved the plot.
Robey avatar reviewed The Testament on + 18 more book reviews
This one took me awhile to read. You have to really focus on what you are reading, no distractions. Very interesting. Not a light read, but good story line.
tatumom avatar reviewed The Testament on
My absolute favorite Grisham book. Very unique from the typical lawyer style he usually writes.
reviewed The Testament on + 174 more book reviews
This is one of my favorite Grisham books, and I've read them all. I loved the trip down the river and through the jungle to get to Rachel Lane. It was exciting as well as interesting "travel reading" in this part of the book. His books always hold a twist and this one is no different.
annalovesbooks avatar reviewed The Testament on
ISBN 0440234743 - Troy Phelan is a self-made multi-billionaire who, on the last day of his life, outsmarts everyone around him, sticks it to his 3 ex-wives and six living children by means of a well thought out and executed plan, before he flings himself from the balcony of his building. The book isn't about him.

His 3 ex-wives and their children are, overall, pretty rotten people who have only one reason to be interested in the old man - his money. So when his plan works and they are all left out of his final will, they all lawyer up to do battle for what they believe is due to them. The book isn't about them, either.

Troy's final will leaves everything to his illegitimate and, until now, unheard of daughter. Rachel was the result of an office affair and was given up for adoption when she was born. Years later, Troy made contact, which ended abruptly when Rachel finished college. She is the only one of his children who has turned out reasonably well: she is not interested in money, she has made a career of spreading God's word and she is happy. She is also living in the jungles of Brazil. Oddly, the book isn't about her either.

Sent to find Rachel, Nate is fresh out of rehab - for the fourth time. Behind him are two ex-wives, four neglected children, innumerable affairs, countless malpractice suits (filed by him, not against him!), drugs and alcohol and about 20 years as a lawyer. He's facing problems with the IRS and his return to practice isn't exactly welcomed at the office. This all makes a jaunt in the jungle to find the probably reluctant heiress to the world's largest fortune seem like a perfectly reasonable idea. The book is about him.

Nate's journey, the goal of which is to find Rachel, leads him to find himself and his purpose, just as his life really seems to have slipped too far out of his control for him to recover from. He does find Rachel, of course - and everything about her, from her reaction to her father's will to the life she has chosen and is happy with, makes Nate realize what does (and doesn't) really have value.

One thing bugged me - the back cover says "Nate is crashing through the Brazilian jungle, entering a world where money means nothing, where death is just one misstep away, and where a woman - pursued by enemies and friends alike - holds a stunning surprise of her own..." This is nonsense. Her only secret seems to be that she's Troy Phelan's child, which is revealed in the will on page 27, so that hardly counts as her "stunning surprise". She changed her name from Lane to Porter, and the reason was never really explained, other than to indicate she didn't want Troy to find her again. Maybe that's her "stunning surprise", but since the reason is never brought up... I don't think so. I read the whole book waiting for the stunning surprise and it never materialized.

- AnnaLovesBooks
reviewed The Testament on + 3 more book reviews
Excellent -- I can't believe I had missed a Grisham book!
reviewed The Testament on + 17 more book reviews
As someone familiar with wills I especially enjoyed how this story developed, the characters, romance, adventure. courtroom drama. Excellent book.
reviewed The Testament on + 6 more book reviews
The story of an anthropologist and his wife who look for Bible and historical treasures. A lunatic contacts him and tells him of a find beyond his wildest dreams, but then as he goes to find it from the instructions, the lunatic tries to kill him. Very good
reviewed The Testament on
A fast paced book that is an interesting read. It holds the reader's attention.
zetetic avatar reviewed The Testament on + 15 more book reviews
Having read "The Client" and gotten hooked I've managed to read all of his books and while this one is worth the time is not among his best in my opinion -
reviewed The Testament on + 4 more book reviews
Troy Phelan is a self-made billionaire, one of the richest men in the United States. He is also eccentric, reclusive, confined to a wheelchair, and looking for a way to die. His heirs, to no one's surprise-especially Troy's-are circling like vultures. Nate O'Riley is a high-octane Washington litigator who's lived too hard, too fast, for too long. His second marriage is in shambles, he is emerging from his fourth stay in rehab armed with little more than his fragile sobriety, good intentions, and resilient sense of humor. Returning to the real world is always difficult, but this times it's going to be murder. Rachel Lane is a young woman who chose to give her life to God, who walked away from the modern world with all its strivings and trappings and encumbrances, and went to live and work with a primitive tribe of Indians in the deepest jungles of Brazil. In a story that mixes legal suspense with a remarkable adventure, their lives are forever altered by the startling secret of The Testament.
reviewed The Testament on + 31 more book reviews
This book is not the typical John Grisham novel. I enjoyed this different format so much so, I re-read it. It begins slowly in development but you will enjoy the ending. A truly rewarding read.
reviewed The Testament on + 17 more book reviews
Very good book, like always with John Grisham.
MKSbooklady avatar reviewed The Testament on + 989 more book reviews
More Brazilian jungle than Virginia courtroom in this Grisham. A different sort of story, interesting story about greed, greedy children, wives, lawyers. As usual an interesting 'wait until you see this' Grisham book.
reviewed The Testament on + 8 more book reviews
My very favorite of his books.
reviewed The Testament on + 3 more book reviews
Great story--what would you do with an $11 BILLION inheritance? Probably not what Rachel Lane does!
reviewed The Testament on + 26 more book reviews
One of the best Grisham novels - you'll want to read it in one sitting!
reviewed The Testament on + 24 more book reviews
Absorbing and entertaining!
reviewed The Testament on + 26 more book reviews
Loved this book until the very end. All kinds of twists and turns and many smiles from the reader along the way. Easy to understand plot but still very interesting and keeps you reading. Loved the plot and loved the ending. It's a great read - can't miss with this one.
reviewed The Testament on + 7 more book reviews
A good read. Diferent from Grisham's other novels because of it's overt spirituality.
reviewed The Testament on + 24 more book reviews
HEART
In a plust Virginia office, a rich, angry old man is furiously rewriting his will. With his death just hours away, Troy Phelan wants to send a message to his children, his ex-wives, and his minions, a message that will touch off a vicious legal battle and transfor dozens of lives.
OF
Because Troy Phelan's new will names a sole surprise heir to his eleven-billiondollar fortune: a mysterious woman named Rachel Lane, a missionary living deep in the jungles of Brazil.
DARKNESS
Ender the lawyers. Nate O'Riley in frest out of rehab, a desgraced corporate arrourney handpicked for his last job: to find Rachel Lane at any cost. As Phelan's family circles like cultures in D.C., Nate is crashing through the Brazilian jungle, entering a world where money means nothing, where death is just one misstep away, and where a woman-- pursued by enemies and friends alike-- holds a stunning surprise of her own...
reviewed The Testament on + 3 more book reviews
I became a Grisham fan after being bored one day at my inlaw's beach cottage. They suggested Rainmaker, which was sitting on their shelf. Two weeks later (which is lightning fast for me) i was done with the book. Couldnt put it down. The Testament by Grisham is also a wonderful book. I love reading about different areas of the world and this book was great to read about the Brazilian jungle.
reviewed The Testament on + 19 more book reviews
Excellent read with adventure, twists & turns, unexpected situations. Moves along nicely. Most of the story takes place in the search not the legal areana.
reviewed The Testament on + 36 more book reviews
In my opinion one of John Grisham's better books. Brief review is of an extremely wealthy man whose has spent his life gathering power and wealth around him at the expense of his private life. Having gone through 3 wives and having had several children by these wives all of him despise him and carry heavy baggage and all of them anxious for his death so they can have access to his wealth. But the old gentlemen despises them and true to form screws them all in the end but that is just where the story starts. The estate is the prize and thus let the games begin.
reviewed The Testament on + 18 more book reviews
I loved this book. It was a real page turner. Lots of suspense!
reviewed The Testament on + 10 more book reviews
This story is about a rich, angry old man who's life is coming to an end in a matter of hours, so he writes his will. That's not as easy as it seems. The will includes all of his ex-wives and all of his children, and it soon turns into a legal battle between the man's different families. Who should get the man's 11-billion dollar fortune? Does anyone in one his numerous families' even really love him or do they just want his fortune.

It's a page turner, especially if you have ever dealth with the death of a loved one and have had to deal with the legalities of their will.

Great book!!! The pages fly by.
reviewed The Testament on + 47 more book reviews
Typical Grisham.
reviewed The Testament on + 6 more book reviews
Classic Grisham!
reviewed The Testament on
excellant reading, couldn't put it down.
reviewed The Testament on
very good book!
reviewed The Testament on + 4 more book reviews
A great quick read!
Melissa1959 avatar reviewed The Testament on + 27 more book reviews
A multi-billionaire is fed up with the way his offspring turned out. And he wants to get back at them He writes up a will leaving them a pittance of what he owns and leaves the rest to a woman, a missionary living in the jungles of Brazil. And that's just the beginning of this excellent read.
reviewed The Testament on + 19 more book reviews
Great book. Good author!
reviewed The Testament on + 16 more book reviews
Great book.
reviewed The Testament on + 22 more book reviews
This is probably my favorite Grisham book! I ahve two copies so this one is up for grabs.
tish avatar reviewed The Testament on + 384 more book reviews
not being a Grisham fan i was surprised how much i enjoyed this thriller.it is a very fast read because you just do not know what will happen next
reviewed The Testament on + 130 more book reviews
John Grisham - need I say more?
reviewed The Testament on + 140 more book reviews
I thought this was an excellent book! A page turner.
reviewed The Testament on + 13 more book reviews
Different enough from other Grisham novels; an adventurous read.
icesk8tr avatar reviewed The Testament on + 363 more book reviews
Heart of darkness...

In a plush Virginia office, a rich, angry old man is furiously rewriting his will. With his death just hours away, Troy Phelan wants to send a message to his children, his ex-wives, and his minions, a message that will touch off a vicious legal battle and transform dozens of lives.

Because Troy Phelan's new will names a sole surprise heir to his eleven-billion-dollar fortune: a mysterious woman named Rachel Lane, a missionary living deep in the jungles of Brazil.

Enter the lawyers. Nate O'Riley is fresh out of rehab, a disgraced corporate attorney handpicked for his last job: to find Rachel Lane at any cost. As Phelan's family circles like vultures in D.C., Nate is crashing through the Brazilian jungle, entering a world where money means nothing, where death is just one misstep away, and where a woman--pursued by enemies and friends alike--holds a stunning surprise of her own....
reviewed The Testament on + 588 more book reviews
Typically Grisham....From the back cover:
In a plush Virginia office, a rich, angry old man is furiously rewriting his will. With his death just hours away, Troy Phelan wants to send a message to his children, his ex-wives, and his minions, a message that will touch off a vicious legal battle and transform dozens of lives. Because Troy Phelan's new will names a sole surprise heir to his eleven-billion fortune: a mysterious woman named Rachel lane, a missionary living deep in the jungles of Brazil. Enter the lawyers, Nate O'Riley is fresh out of rehab, a disgraced corporate attorney handpicked for his last job: to find Rachel lane at ant cost. As Phelan's family circles like vultures in D.C., Nate is crashing through the Brazilian jungle, entering a world where money means nothing, where death is just one misstep away, and where a woman-pursued by enemies and friends alike--holds a stunning surprise of her own...
reviewed The Testament on + 4 more book reviews
Easily my favorite Grisham, in spite of a somewhat grisly beginning. A book with unexpected turns. Generally, a good read.
reviewed The Testament on
I am now writing what appears to be the first bad Grisham review online. Havent been able to find one anyway. I just finished The Testament and OH the agony! That must be the biggest joke of a book since ... ever! I am quite frustrated with it, youll have to excuse me.
The way the author preaches and moralizes in his writing is just terrible. I mean seriously mr. Grisham, rule number 1 SHOW DO NOT TELL. I can not beleive this man has ever been published. And by the by: A book is not well-written because you finish it quickly, that just means it lacks substance.

Ahhh ... no frustrations left. Nearly.
doar avatar reviewed The Testament on + 7 more book reviews
LOVED this book!
reviewed The Testament on + 16 more book reviews
Intense from start to finish. The greedy desires and handling of money did not match up to the spirit of two, doing good for humanity. I've read many of John Grisham's books but this by far was the best!
reviewed The Testament on + 2 more book reviews
I haven't read John Grisham is years, and was really surprised how good this one was. The main character is very indearing and the ending was sensible instead of corny as I was expecting. Overall, a great read.
firstladyj avatar reviewed The Testament on + 15 more book reviews
One twist after another...keeps you reading - couldn't wait to get to the ending.
reviewed The Testament on + 4 more book reviews
Real page turner.
scifimom avatar reviewed The Testament on + 48 more book reviews
if you like grisham you will love it!
reviewed The Testament on + 117 more book reviews
Great story, Grisham really goes into detail about the lead character.
reviewed The Testament on + 31 more book reviews
Excellent book! Takes you into the dark life of an alcoholic and how it impacts so many parts of your life. It's so realistic, makes you wonder if Grisham knows about it first hand! I was also really impressed with the underlying Christian principles in some parts and how Grisham used that to show the power of trusting in God's grace and forgiveness. Most authors just lapse into the usual internal all-the-strength-you-need-is-inside-you approach that is parroted by modern humanist counselors (which is absolutely useless). Please forgive the rant, but read the book, you will love it.
reviewed The Testament on + 12 more book reviews
This was my first John Grisham book, and it was so much better than I expected! I didn't think I'd like it, but I ended up really enjoying it. Very well-written and suspensful.
reviewed The Testament on + 43 more book reviews
My absolute favorite from this author, "The Testament" is one that starts out with a bang and then concludes the story with sadness and hope. A very well wrote book that brings you on quite an adventure from a big city to Brazil and back. One I have read over and over!
reviewed The Testament on + 2 more book reviews
I enjoyed this book i read it twice
reviewed The Testament on
A vindictive man prepares his will and causes mayhem. A real thriller in the Grisham style. Engrossing to read.
mwelday avatar reviewed The Testament on + 148 more book reviews
another great by Grisham...this book brings together a self-made billionaire, a Washington lawyer, and a young woman devoted to God...lots of adventure
knittymama avatar reviewed The Testament on + 424 more book reviews
This was my first Grisham book. I enjoyed it very much. It was complex and yet simple. It is a quick read that keeps you turning the pages. The characters are interesting and likeable. I will definitely read another Grisham book after this.
reviewed The Testament on + 81 more book reviews
Very good, typical John Grisham, but I think this was one of his best. I couldn't put it down.
reviewed The Testament on + 60 more book reviews
I just read this one - I really liked it!! It made me want to know what was going to happen next - and the ending wasn't what I expected.
reviewed The Testament on + 100 more book reviews
From Amazon.com:
Troy Phelan, a 78-year-old eccentric and the 10th-richest man in America, is about to read his last will and testament, divvying up an estate worth $11 billion. Phelan's three ex-wives, their grasping spawn, a legion of lawyers, several psychiatrists, and a plethora of sound technicians wait breathlessly, all eyes glued to digital monitors as they watch the old man read his verdict. But Phelan shocks everyone with a bizarre, last-gasp attempt to redistribute the spoils, setting in motion a legal morality tale of a contested will, sin, and redemption.

Our hero, Nate O'Riley--a washed-up, alcoholic litigator with two ruined marriages in his wake and the IRS on his tail--is dispatched to the Brazilian wetlands in search of a mysterious heir named in the will. After a harrowing trip upriver to a remote settlement in the Pantanal, he encounters Rachel Lane, a pure-hearted missionary living with an indigenous tribe and carrying out "God's work." Rachel's grave dedication and kindness impress the jaded lawyer, so much that a nasty bout of dengue fever leads him to a vision that could change his life.

Back in the States, the legal proceedings drag on and Grisham has a high time with Phelan's money-hungry descendents, a regrettable bunch who squandered millions, married strippers, got druggy, and befriended the Mob. The youngest son, Ramble, is a multi-pierced, tattoo-covered malcontent with big dreams for his rock band, the Demon Monkeys. Will Nate get straight with Rachel's aid? Do the greedy heirs get theirs? What's the real legacy of a lifetime's work? The Testament is classic Grisham: a down-and-out lawyer, a lot of money, an action-packed pursuit, and the highest issues at stake. It's not just about great characters; it's about the question of what character is.
reviewed The Testament on + 160 more book reviews
John Grisham will keep you turning the page. Very good story about a high price lawyer who lived too hard, too fast and for too long.
reviewed The Testament on + 9 more book reviews
Grisham does it again ...
reviewed The Testament on + 140 more book reviews
This was a very interesting book by Grisham! I would recommend it.
reviewed The Testament on
Read it right after taking wills and estate in college and it was awesome how the dad thought everything through. Sad ending
reviewed The Testament on + 9 more book reviews
Grisham dos it again ...
reviewed The Testament on + 4 more book reviews
typical Grisham, lawyers, deception, etc. It was o.k. better than some of the other Grisham books I have read
reviewed The Testament on + 1568 more book reviews
Wow! Grisham well deserves his reputation. I couldn't put THE TESTAMENT down, even though I had to get up early the next morning. The blurb tells it all, but it doesn't tell you that you'll be so caught up in the affairs of the protagonist and his friends that you simply must find out what happens next.

-------Heart of darkness...
In a plush Virginia office, a rich, angry old man is furiously rewriting his will. With his death just hours away, Troy Phelan wants to send a message to his children, his ex-wives, and his minions, a message that will touch off a vicious legal battle and transform dozens of lives.
Because Troy Phelan's new will names a sole surprise heir to his eleven-billion-dollar fortune: a mysterious woman named Rachel Lane, a missionary living deep in the jungles of Brazil.
Enter the lawyers. Nate O'Riley is fresh out of rehab, a disgraced corporate attorney handpicked for his last job: to find Rachel Lane at any cost. As Phelan's family circles like vultures in D.C., Nate is crashing through the Brazilian jungle, entering a world where money means nothing, where death is just one misstep away, and where a woman--pursued by enemies and friends alike--holds a stunning surprise of her own....
vwbernie avatar reviewed The Testament on + 157 more book reviews
Great book!! I couldn't put it down.
reviewed The Testament on + 63 more book reviews
Most books I read have dissatisfying endings. This one is a big exception. This one has one of the best endings I've ever read, and getting to the ending made the 500 page story totally worth it. Usually I can't stick with a book this long, I work long hours and have little time and attention for hobbies, but each day I couldn't wait to get to this book to find out what happens next. I found the story and the research that had to have been done really fascinating - an amazing couple of settings, imagine total opposites of a billion dollar legal case set in a courtroom interspersed with a malaria-infested jungle setting in South America. The cast of characters is about 98% completely unlikeable people, yet Grisham manages to humanize them and lead you through their flaws and somehow it all fits perfectly. One of the few perfect books I've ever read. Saints, sinners, innocents, guilties, losers, winners, rich, poor, and in the end redemption and faith and generosity in the middle of the darkest, most vile greed you can picture. This is a perfect book. I wouldn't change a thing, add a thing, or take away anything.
reviewed The Testament on + 107 more book reviews
Uh oh! A very rich old man is dying and changes his will!! The family just can not have that. I mean he left it to a person no one knows. They just will not have that...But then again you never know,,it is a John Grisham book!!!
RaccoonGirl avatar reviewed The Testament on + 97 more book reviews
In a plush Virginia office, a rich, angry old man is furiously rewriting his will. With his death just hours away, Troy Phelan wants to send a message to his children, his ex-wives, and his minions, a message that will touch off a vicious legal battle and transform dozens of lives.

Because Troy Phelans new will names a sole surprise heir to his eleven-billion-dollar fortune: a mysterious woman named Rachel Lane, a missionary living deep in the jungles of Brazil.

Enter the lawyers, Nate ORiley is fresh out of rehab, a disgraced corporate attorney handpicked for his last job: to find Rachel Lane at any cost. As Phelans family circles like vultures in D.C., Nate is crashing through the Brazilian jungle, entering a world where money means nothing, where death is just one misstep away, and where a woman--- pursued by enemies and friends alike--- holds a stunning surprise of her own
hippiechic avatar reviewed The Testament on + 11 more book reviews
I'm not normally a Grisham fan, but I really enjoyed this book.
reviewed The Testament on + 110 more book reviews
I am a big John Grisham fan and I thought that this was a very good book. It is about this very wealthy old man who keeps writing and changing his wills and takes out all the kids and exwives out of the will, so the kids bring in these psychologists to prove that he is uncompitent to change the will. Well they find that there is nothing wrong with him and they declare him competant so he signs the new will that his attorney has prepared for him. Well after everyone leaves the room, he signs a holographic will which is declared to be legal and then just as the family is walking out the door, he get up out of his wheelchair, runs across the room and jumps to his death. Well in the holographic will it leaves everything to an illigitimate daughter that lives in the Brazillian jungle that no one knew about. The hunt now begins for her as she is a missionary. Will she want the money?
reviewed The Testament on + 206 more book reviews
Great Book!
reviewed The Testament on + 3 more book reviews
Excellent Book
reviewed The Testament on + 8 more book reviews
AGain a good Grisham book
reviewed The Testament on + 44 more book reviews
Good adventure & legal thriller
Judyh avatar reviewed The Testament on + 229 more book reviews
A Grisham page-turner, much of it takes place in South America. Interesting plot and setting.
reviewed The Testament on + 13 more book reviews
In a plush Virginia office, a rich, angry old man is furiously rewriting his will. With his death just hours away, Troy Phelan wants to send a message to his children, his ex-wives and his minions, a message that will touch off a vicious legal battle and transform dozens of lives.
Because Troy Phelan's new will names a sole surprise heir to his eleven billion dollar fortune: a mysterious woman named Rachel Lane, a missionary living deep in the jungles of Brazil
Enter the lawyers, Nate O'Riley is a fresh out of rehab, a disgraced corporate attorney handpicked for his last job: to find Rachel Lane at any cost. As Phelan's family circles life vultures in D.C., Nate is crashing through the Brazillian Jungle, entering a world where money means nothing, where death is just one misstep away, and here a woman-pursued by enemies and friends alike-holds a stinning surprise of her own
The Testament
reviewed The Testament on + 12 more book reviews
The story is about a legal firm, searching for a lost relative who has just inherited a great deal of money. The adventure to find the missing heiress, and explain the wishes of the father's will to a spoiled ungrateful family dominate the story line. The attorney who enters the adventure discovers a bit about himself and his errors in life.
Great book !
pantera avatar reviewed The Testament on
This is a really good book. Only took me 3 nights to read!
reviewed The Testament on + 2 more book reviews
This book was a page turner! It's not even the kind of book I typically read, but I can say that I really enjoyed it.
reviewed The Testament on + 4 more book reviews
This book was great. Very griping and I didn't want to put it down.
reviewed The Testament on + 60 more book reviews
I enjoyed this Grisham tale more than some of the others. It takes you on a journey through the jungle and on a journey through a man's life as he battles his demons and finds himself in the midst of it all.
cnmor avatar reviewed The Testament on + 93 more book reviews
This is my favorite Grisham novel. Very different from his others.
reviewed The Testament on + 10 more book reviews
This book is a kind of book that once u start to read it u can not put it down. It is a spell binding book, where u do not know what is going to happen until u continue to read on and turn the pages.
buzzby avatar reviewed The Testament on + 6062 more book reviews
I still say that someone needs to order all the John Grisham books available on PBS and make a giant Ziggarut or Cathedral out in the middle of the desert with them.
reviewed The Testament on + 13 more book reviews
This is not one of Grisham's best legal thrillers, but it is compelling at times. It's a rather interesting take on greed and estate planning and the lack thereof.
reviewed The Testament on + 18 more book reviews
Really good mystery.
reviewed The Testament on + 117 more book reviews
Absorbing, page turner
reviewed The Testament on + 95 more book reviews
good a little different then his previous books
reviewed The Testament on + 84 more book reviews
Loved this story, helps restore one's faith in humanity!
reviewed The Testament on + 7 more book reviews
Excellent book.
freeverse071681 avatar reviewed The Testament on + 609 more book reviews
Troy Phelan is a self-made billionaire, one of the richest men in the United States. He is also eccentric, reclusive, confined to a wheelchair, and looking for a way to die. His heirs, to no one's surprise--especially Troy's--are circling like vultures.

Nate O'Riley is a high-octane Washington litigator who's lived too hard, too fast, for too long. His second marriage in a shambles, and he is emerging from his fourth stay in rehab armed with little more than his fragile sobriety, good intentions, and resilient sense of humor. Returning to the real world is always difficult, but this time it's going to be murder.

Rachel Lane is a young woman who chose to give her life to God, who walked away from the modern world with all its strivings and trappings and encumbrances, and went to live and work with a primitive tribe of Indians in the deepest jungles of Brazil.

In a story that mixes legal suspense with a remarkable adventure, their lives are forever altered by the startling secret of The Testament.
kdjastone avatar reviewed The Testament on + 2 more book reviews
I was amazed at the factual places listed and how the author kept you wanting to read more. I finished this book as fast as I had the time to read it. If you like Grisham and haven't read this one,it is a must read.
reviewed The Testament on + 214 more book reviews
Okay. John Gresham has done it again. Great book! Loved it!
reviewed The Testament on + 29 more book reviews
Enjoy Grisham's books!
reviewed The Testament on + 19 more book reviews
This is my favorite of all Grisham's books. Not only is it set in the usual corporate/legal world, but it takes you to the jungles of South America and the contrasting lifestyle and values of an American missionary woman. It's intriguing, thought provoking, and fun to read.
reviewed The Testament on + 8 more book reviews
Good story, typical Grisham
grannysharon avatar reviewed The Testament on + 25 more book reviews
Grisham at his best, twisting plots and players with all of the money-hungry family snapping at his heels. This was a super read, but what can you say about John Grisham?!!
reviewed The Testament on + 130 more book reviews
this book reminds me how good Grisham is as a author
reviewed The Testament on + 12 more book reviews
I bought a bunch of these books by John Grisham and found out he is NOT the author I was looking for. So I havenot read any of his books in full enough to comment.
mommanick avatar reviewed The Testament on + 10 more book reviews
Quick read, great premise.
TheBookaholic avatar reviewed The Testament on + 45 more book reviews
Grisham has done it again! Fast paced thriller, with twists and turns that only he can bring.
reviewed The Testament on + 367 more book reviews
Troy Phelan, a 78-year-old eccentric and the 10th-richest man in America, is about to read his last will and testament, divvying up an estate worth $11 billion. Phelan's three ex-wives, their grasping spawn, a legion of lawyers, several psychiatrists, and a plethora of sound technicians wait breathlessly, all eyes glued to digital monitors as they watch the old man read his verdict. But Phelan shocks everyone with a bizarre, last-gasp attempt to redistribute the spoils, setting in motion a legal morality tale of a contested will, sin, and redemption.

Our hero, Nate O'Riley--a washed-up, alcoholic litigator with two ruined marriages in his wake and the IRS on his tail--is dispatched to the Brazilian wetlands in search of a mysterious heir named in the will. After a harrowing trip upriver to a remote settlement in the Pantanal, he encounters Rachel Lane, a pure-hearted missionary living with an indigenous tribe and carrying out "God's work." Rachel's grave dedication and kindness impress the jaded lawyer, so much that a nasty bout of dengue fever leads him to a vision that could change his life.

Back in the States, the legal proceedings drag on and Grisham has a high time with Phelan's money-hungry descendents, a regrettable bunch who squandered millions, married strippers, got druggy, and befriended the Mob. The youngest son, Ramble, is a multi-pierced, tattoo-covered malcontent with big dreams for his rock band, the Demon Monkeys. Will Nate get straight with Rachel's aid? Do the greedy heirs get theirs? What's the real legacy of a lifetime's work? The Testament is classic Grisham: a down-and-out lawyer, a lot of money, an action-packed pursuit, and the highest issues at stake. It's not just about great characters; it's about the question of what character is.
reviewed The Testament on + 191 more book reviews
Another Grisham classic.
oceanzebra avatar reviewed The Testament on + 10 more book reviews
a good read, recommend it! Some good twists and turns.
reviewed The Testament on + 5 more book reviews
If enjoy Grisham, you won't be dissapointed
reviewed The Testament on + 16 more book reviews
In a plush Virginia office, a rich, angry old man is furiously rewriting his will. With his death just hours away, Troy Phelan wants to send a message to his children, his ex-wives, and his minions, a message that will touch off a vicious legal battle and transform dozens of lives.
Because Troy Phelan's new will names a sole surprise heir to his eleven-billion-dollar fortune: a mysterious woman named Rachel Lane, a missionary living deep in the jungles of Brazil.
Enter the lawyers. Nate O'Riley is fresh out of rehab, a disgraced corporate attorney handpicked for his last job: to find Rachel Lane at any cost. As Phelan's family circles like vultures in D.C., Nate is crashing through the Brizilian jungle, entering a world where money means nothing, where death is just one misstep away, and where a woman--pursued by enemies and friends alike--holds a stunning surpirse of her own...
Another fantastic John Grisham novel you're sure to love this one!!
reviewed The Testament on + 226 more book reviews
In a plush Virginia office, a rich, angry old man is furioulsy rewriting his will. With his death just hours away, Troy Phelan wants to send a message to his children, his ex-wives, and his minions, a message that will touch off a vicious legal battle and transform dozens of lives.
Because Troy Phelan's new will names a sole surprise heir to his eleven billion dollar fortune: a mysterious woman named Rachel Lane, a missionary living deep in the jungles of Brazil.
Enter the lawyers. Nate O'Riley is fresh out of rehab, a disgraced corporate attorney handipicked for his last job: to find Rachel Lane at any cost. As Phelan's family circles like vultures in D.C., Nate is crashing through the Brazilian jungle, entering a world where money means nothing, where death is just one misstep away, and where a woman--pursued by enemies and friends alike--holds a stunning surprise of her own...
reviewed The Testament on + 237 more book reviews
great read, enjoye it.
reviewed The Testament on + 36 more book reviews
I love Grisham's books, this is a good read
reviewed The Testament on
John Grisham is probably my favorite author. I've read all but one or two of his books, and this is my favorite one of his. He makes me want to go to the Pantanal region of Brazil, only this way, I can travel there safely :)
NYbooks avatar reviewed The Testament on + 100 more book reviews
* * ½*. Legal Thriller. A multi-billionaire leaves his entire fortune to an oblivious heir. From that point, the story separates into two parts: one a journey into Brazil; the other, the legal quagmire resulting from decisions made by said billionaire.

Really, I didn't much care for the traveling story. It didn't move the narrative and I often times skimmed that part without really losing any important part of the story. Midway thru, though, the story does pick up steam until, literally, the last page. Ok book.
reviewed The Testament on + 24 more book reviews
Vintage Grisham. Good beach read.
Zanagy avatar reviewed The Testament on + 3 more book reviews
this is book is about a alcoholic and an exceptional lawyer who is forced into rehab 4 times and loses his family and finances and about to be placed in jail before he sees the ligth. He is given 1 last assignment to find a a missionary "somewhere" in the most remote area of a Brazillian rain forest to inform her that she just inherited the worlds biggest fortune.
reviewed The Testament on + 76 more book reviews
The testament has romance, courtroom drama, adventure, and redemption packed into a readily readable novel!
reviewed The Testament on + 85 more book reviews
Fascinating. I really enjoyed this one.
reviewed The Testament on + 2 more book reviews
typical John Grisham but good book.
reviewed The Testament on + 44 more book reviews
What can you say....a grisham book!
reviewed The Testament on + 13 more book reviews
good book
reviewed The Testament on + 204 more book reviews
I'm not quite sure if I liked this book or not. The storyline was pretty boring and the end is very disappointing. This is not even close to being one of Grisham's good books.
reviewed The Testament on + 28 more book reviews
This is another great John Grisham classic!
reviewed The Testament on + 10 more book reviews
A rich ,angry old man with eleven billion dollars, rewriting his will and only hours to live. With children and exwives the legal battle that this will set off and one big surprise for all.
priscillamylove avatar reviewed The Testament on + 83 more book reviews
In a plush Virginia office, a rich, angry old man is furiously rewitting his will. With his death just hours away, Troy Phelan wants to send a message to his children, his ex-wives and his minions, a message that will touch off a vicious legal battle and transform dozens of lives.

Because Troy Phelan's new will names a sole surprise heir to his 11 billion dollar fortune: a mysterious woman named Rachel Lane, a missionary living deep in the jungles of Brazil.

Enter the lawyers, Nate O'Riley is fresh out of rehab, a disgraced corporate attorney handpicked for his last job: to find Rachel Lane at any cost. As Phelan's family circles like vultures in D.C., Nate is crashing through the Brazilian jungle, entering a world where money means nothing - pursued by enemies and friends alike - holds a stunning surprise of her own....
mamatraub avatar reviewed The Testament on + 151 more book reviews
Not one of Grisham's best but still interesting.
reviewed The Testament on + 6 more book reviews
In a plush office, a rich, angry old man is furiously rewriting his will. With his death just hours away, Troy Phelan wants to send a message to his children, his ex-wives, and his minions, a message that will touch off a vicious legal battle and transform dozens of lives. Because Troy Phelan's new will names a sole surprise heir to his $11 billion fortune: a mysterious woman named Rachel Lane, a missionary living deep in the jungles of Brazil. Enter the lawyers, Nate O'Riley is fresh out of rehab, a disgraced corporate attorney handpicked for his last job: to find Rachel Lane at any cost. As Phelan's family circles like vultlures in DC, Nate is crashing through the Brazilian jungle, entering a world where money means nothing, where death is just one misstep away, and where a woman--pursuded by enemies and friends alike--holds a stunning surprise of her own....
SuperHK avatar reviewed The Testament on + 27 more book reviews
From the back cover: "In a plush Virginia office, a rich, angry old man is furiously rewriting his will. With his death just hours away, Troy Phelan wants to send a message to his children, his ex-wives, and his minions, a message that will touch off a vicious legal battle and transform dozens of lives. Because Troy Phelan's new will names a sole surprise heir to his eleven-billion-dollar fortune: a mysterious woman named Rachel Lane, a missionary living deep in the jungles of Brazil.

Enter the lawyers. Nate O'Riley is fresh out of rehab, a disgraced corporate attorney handpicked for his last job: to find Rachel Lane at any cost. As Phelan's family circles like vultures in D.C., Nate is crashing through the Brazilian jungle, entering a world where money means nothing, where death is just one misstep away, and where a woman--pursued by enemies and friends alike--holds a stunning surprise of her own...."
reviewed The Testament on + 16 more book reviews
book is in great shape! it was a great book, i read it in a few days!
reviewed The Testament on + 41 more book reviews
Loved it.
reviewed The Testament on + 34 more book reviews
Large print edition