Summary
The Summons is a gripping legal thriller by acclaimed author John Grisham, first published in 2002. Set in the fictional Ford County, Mississippi, the novel explores themes of family tension, moral dilemmas, and the gray areas of legality and ethics. The story focuses on Ray Atlee, a law professor at the University of Virginia who discovers a mysterious fortune after his father's death. While its exploration of complex family dynamics and ethical quandaries mark a departure from Grisham’s emphasis on courtroom drama, its setting in Ford County connects The Summons to several other works by the author, creating a rich, interconnected fictional world.
Plot
Ray Atlee, a 43-year-old law professor at the University of Virginia, receives a summons from his ailing father, Judge Atlee, to return to their family home in Clanton, Mississippi. The Judge, once a powerful figure in local law and politics, has become a recluse in his final days. Reeling from a recent divorce, Ray reluctantly makes the journey back to his hometown, a place he'd rather avoid.
Upon arriving at the Atlee mansion, Ray discovers that his father has passed away before their scheduled meeting. In a shocking turn of events, Ray finds more than three million dollars in cash hidden in the house. There’s no mention of this money in the Judge's will, and Ray is certain his father could not have accumulated such a fortune through legal means.
Conflicted about what to do, Ray decides to take the money without reporting it as part of the estate, knowing that taxes would claim most of it if he did. However, he soon realizes he's not the only one who knows about the secret stash. Ray finds himself being followed and becomes increasingly paranoid about who else might be aware of the money.
As Ray investigates the source of the mysterious cash and tries to uncover the identity of his pursuer, he embarks on a journey that takes him through casinos and into meetings with prominent southern lawyers. Eventually, he discovers that his younger brother Forrest, the family's black sheep, is behind it all. The novel concludes with a confrontation between the brothers at a drug rehabilitation facility, where Forrest promises to contact Ray again in a year's time.
Themes
Family conflict and dysfunction
Moral dilemmas and ethical choices
The nature of greed and temptation
Secrets and their consequences
Legacy and inheritance
The complexities of law and justice
Personal growth and self-discovery
Setting
The Summons is set in the early 2000s. The story unfolds primarily in the American South, with a focus on the fictional town of Clanton, Mississippi. This small-town setting, nestled in the heart of Ford County, serves as a backdrop for the unraveling of family secrets and legal intrigue.
While much of the action takes place in Clanton, the story extends to other locations. The protagonist, Ray Atlee, begins his journey in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he works as a law professor at the University of Virginia. As the plot develops, Ray's investigation leads him to various locales, including casinos and meetings with prominent southern lawyers, broadening the geographical scope of the novel.
At the center of the story is the Atlee mansion, an ancestral home that holds both memories and mysteries. This grand old house, where Judge Atlee lived as a recluse in his final days, becomes a symbol of the family's complex history and the secrets that lie buried within its walls. The contrast between the sleepy Southern town and the high-stakes drama unfolding within it adds tension and depth to the novel's setting.
Characters
Ray Atlee: The protagonist. A 43-year-old law professor at the University of Virginia, recently divorced, Ray reluctantly returns to his hometown of Clanton, Mississippi, after receiving a summons from his dying father. He discovers a large sum of unexplained money after his father's death, which sets off the novel’s main conflict.
Judge Reuben V. Atlee: Ray's father. A former powerful judge in Clanton, he summons his sons home before passing away, leaving behind a mysterious fortune. The Judge's past and the source of the money become central to the plot.
Forrest Atlee: Ray's younger brother, described as the family's black sheep. Forrest struggles with drug addiction and becomes a key figure in the mystery surrounding the money.
Harry Rex Vonner: A local lawyer in Clanton and friend of the Atlee family. He assists Ray in his investigation and provides insight into the town's history.
Claudia: Ray's ex-wife, who appears briefly in the novel. Her presence adds to Ray's personal struggles as he deals with the aftermath of their divorce.
Quick facts
The Summons, published in 2002, is John’s Grisham’s 12th novel.
The book is set in fictional Ford County, Mississippi, which appears in several other Grisham novels.
Unlike many of Grisham's works, The Summons focuses more on family drama than courtroom scenes.
The main character, Ray Atlee, is a law professor at the University of Virginia.
The novel explores themes of moral dilemmas and the ethics of handling unexplained money.
The Summons spent five weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
The book's plot revolves around a mysterious three million dollar fortune discovered by Ray.
Grisham drew inspiration from his own experiences as a lawyer in the South for the setting and characters.
The novel deviates from Grisham's typical legal thriller format by incorporating elements of mystery.
The Summons was praised for its exploration of complex family relationships and internal conflicts.
About the Author
John Grisham (1955-) is one of the most successful and prolific authors of legal thrillers in modern literature. A native of Arkansas, Grisham practiced law for about a decade and served in the Mississippi House of Representatives before launching his writing career. His breakthrough novel, The Firm, became a massive bestseller in 1991 and launched his streak of having one of the top 10 bestselling novels nearly every year for the next two decades.
Over his career, Grisham has written nearly 50 books that have sold over 300 million copies worldwide. While best known for his legal thrillers, he has also written in other genres, including sports fiction, comedy, and young adult novels. Many of Grisham's books have been adapted into popular films, including The Firm, The Pelican Brief, and A Time to Kill. His writing often explores issues related to the criminal justice system and racial tensions.
Beyond his literary success, Grisham remains active in legal and social causes. He serves on the board of directors for the Innocence Project and Centurion Ministries, organizations dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted individuals. Grisham has used his platform to advocate against capital punishment and excessive incarceration rates in the United States. He has also supported various political and charitable causes over the years. Grisham splits his time between homes in Virginia, Florida, and North Carolina.
