The Summons

By: John Grisham

Narrated by: Michael Beck

Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's 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 40 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 No longer on the bench, the Judge has withdrawn to the Atlee mansion and become a recluse.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, Inc., Random House Audio, a Division of Random House, Inc.

just ok

i love this author but found the story a little boring. worth listening too if you are out of books but if not put this on the back burner

Excellent book. Another hit by Gresham.

good good good book book book I really really love it. I loved this very good book.

Not his best, but still enjoyable

This book is not John Grisham's best, I did not get into the characters as much as with The Client, The Pelican Brief, or A Time to Kill (which I regard as his finest work). Still, the plot development was easy to follow, and the narrator does a good job of taking on the various characters. And, it has a surprise ending that kept me going until the last 30 minutes.

Great book -- even better narrator

Michael Beck did a wonderful job of bringing the story to life. I've been a big fan of John Grisham for many years, and I believe this is one of his best works to date.

good listen

Once again Grisham does not disappoint. I really enjoyed the book and beck is a top notch reader

Outstanding Narrator - Excellent Story

First of all the narrator makes this book so much more enjoyable. The plot was great, but when read with such emotional and emphasis it makes a great book an outstanding book.
As always, John produced another winner.
This is a must listen to book.

How Many Lawyers....?

Clanton, MS and the old judge dies. The tale unwinds and we read on. The narrator/reader has a southern accent which adds to the enjoyment. There is a sheriff, a ham and egg southern lawyer, a rich tort lawyer, and our hero, a U of Va law professor. There's a lawyer joke in there somewhere--how many lawyers does it take....? I enjoyed the read/listen and will continue with Grisham.

slow and boring, I knew who did it. Disappointing

dont waste your time, real struggle to finish this. The ending was no twist, tou knew who did it way before wasting an extra 3 hours

what a story

great story. got me hooked to the last word. i will definitely recommend to friends.

I loved this book.....it kept my interest.....

great book.....lesson learned.....I'm not giving anything away....I always end a John Grisham book with a moral lesson