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The Summons cover art

The Summons

By: John Grisham
Narrated by: Michael Beck
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Summary

Ray Atlee is a professor of law at the University of Virginia. He's 43, 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, Mississippi. He is known to all as Judge Atlee, a beloved and powerful official who has towered over local law and politics for forty years.

No longer on the bench, the Judge has withdrawn to the Atlee mansion and become a recluse. With the end in sight, Judge Atlee issues a summons for both sons to return home to Clanton, to discuss the details of his estate. It 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, which he prefers now 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.

©2002 Belfry Holdings, Inc. (P)2002 Random House, LLC

Critic reviews

"No one tells a story better than Grisham" ( Evening Standard)

What listeners say about The Summons

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    5 out of 5 stars

You can’t go wrong with John Grisham

It’s very rarely I haven’t enjoyed a book written by John Grisham. TBH I’ve read most of them and I can’t actually remember a book I haven’t enjoyed. I think there was one but I can’t remember what it was! The narrator was good until he tried an English accent but, thankfully, that wasn’t for very long. Grisham tells a good story and the only problem is that I only bought it last night but I’ve finished it already! Can’t stop listening but sad that it’s ended.

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6 people found this helpful

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Excellent

Loved this. Had read & enjoyed Sycamore Road, and loved that this was a sort of follow-on. Highly recommended.

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2 people found this helpful

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Gripping story

Great story. As usual Grisham has you on the edge of your seat. Well read too.

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A disappointing ending

Any additional comments?

The book was good, as expected from Grisham. However, the ending was frustrating, leaving unanswered questions - such as how Ray would manage to avoid prosection. The ending seemed rushed and as though the required word count had been met.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great story

Thoroughly enjoyed the book- John Grisham is always reliable to produce a fast moving tale

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Weak Story!

Having listened to most of the John Grisham’s books in this category, I found this story lacking suspense, you are waiting for something to happen which never does Also the end is disappointing, it just ran out steam.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A decent listen

Not the best Grisham but in no way bad. Kept me intrigued but not gripped.

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  • Overall
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Predictable but ok

Somewhat predictable but ok
Story meandered and then a bit weaker . Expected better having read some of his other books.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Better than expected.

Having read reviews I thought it wouldn’t work. But it did. Good easy listen nice twist.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Ok

Having read most of the authors books I guess I was expecting more, it was ok but a bit predictable

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