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.