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 No longer on the bench, the Judge has withdrawn to the Atlee mansion and become a recluse.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.

The Summons

What can I say...John is a great writer. His books draw you in and keep you there.

Riviting

Love this audio book. Loved the way its tied into Sycamore Row. Can't wait to find the next connection. Audible review 20th sweepstakes entry

Better each time.

This story is better each time I hear it. Beck's southern accent makes each character stronger and interesting.

I LOVE this narrator!

It's another John Grisham book so that says a lot already for his fans. What makes his books more enjoyable to read is to listen to the Audible versions read by Michael Beck! I'm not sure is he is from the south, but growing up in Alabama you can usually hear a fake southern accent right away. His is pretty spot on and he even had a variety of voices for all of the characters, which IMO makes the story come alive. I've been on A John Grisham kick lately so this is my third M. Beck narrated in a row. I wish I could have him read every single book I read from here on out.
On to the story.....it definitely wasn't the legal thriller most of his books usually are but it is about Judge Atlee from his Clanton, MS books so some of the characters you will know from previous books. I liked getting to know a side of Judge Atlee that was never discussed in A Time To Kill, which helped explain why he filed as he did and more background, and meeting his sons, Ray and Forrest. I would recommend this to any suspense and thriller fans. If you haven't read any of Grishams books yet I would suggest at least starting with ATTK first. It introduces quiet a few people with a little more than this one since it's focused on the Antlee's. I have it five stars because it really is an overall great book, it's definitely a great performance, and I like all of his stories. My next to finish is The Client. So far I've looked it just as much, just wish it had an Audible version.

Hooked until the end!

Suspenseful and entertaining! Kept me guessing until the end. Love Beck as the narrator…he makes the book come to life!

It tastes like Grisham

Great read (listen)! Another great legal mystery with dysfunctional familial relationships. Grisham weaves a great story and ends with an open ending.

the subterfuge between the brothers. The mass tort corruption. The naivetae if the law professor. Dysfunctional old families.

see above. How cold and dysfunctional can a family be? my God. Absolutely no love or fondness there. Harry Rex is irasable

audioworm31

I really enjoyed this book as with all of Grisham's books. It wasn't as good as The Bretheren but well worth listening to. Grisham keeps you hooked on his stories from the beginning.

Not his greatest, but pretty darn good

I listen to my audiobooks while I go for my walks in the early morning hours. This was one of the books, that made me stop looking for oncoming cars. The dialogue is good, though not great. If you have listened to other Grisham books you will notice the characters sound just like the ones from other books, since they were done by the same narrator. The ending is not all that predictable, but it is actually quite good. I wouldn't recommend this as your first Grisham book, like I would the "the King of Torts", but it's well worth listening to.

Good Stuff!

I loved this one! Kept me thinking until the end.