• The Summons

  • By: John Grisham
  • Narrated by: Michael Beck
  • Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (2,049 ratings)

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The Summons  By  cover art

The Summons

By: John Grisham
Narrated by: Michael Beck
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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 No longer on the bench, the Judge has withdrawn to the Atlee mansion and become a recluse.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.

What listeners say about The Summons

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Excellent

As usual for John Grisham books it has just enough intrigue and detail to keep your attention.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

good listen

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

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

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.

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

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.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

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

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

what a story

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

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    5 out of 5 stars
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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

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Hated for it to end

Hated for it to end & already looking to see if there is a sequel!

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Totally Entertaining With a Twist!

John Grisham and Michael Beck are just the winning combination in all things audiobook. Great story with a nice twist at the end, and brought to life as only Michael Beck can do. I can hardly listen to a John Grisham novel with anyone else narrating. This is a fantastic listen!

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