The Summons

By: John Grisham

Narrated by: Michael Beck

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A father’s sudden death leaves one of his sons holding a dangerous secret in this masterful thriller from “a legal literary legend” (USA Today).

“A pleasure to read . . . a good yarn.”—The Washington Post

A pillar of the community who towered over local law and politics for forty years, Judge Atlee is now a shadow of his former self—a sick, lonely old man who has withdrawn to his sprawling ancestral home in Clanton, Mississippi.

Knowing that the end is near, Judge Atlee has issued a summons for his two sons to return to Clanton to discuss his estate. Ray Atlee is the elder, a Virginia law professor, newly single, still enduring the aftershocks of a surprise divorce. Forrest is Ray’s younger brother, the family’s black sheep.

The summons 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 he now prefers 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 to someone else.

Critic reviews

“The Summons ranks as my absolute favorite in many years [with] an ending too delicious and morally instructive to give away.”—USA Today

“Grisham has grown more comfortable with his voice while expanding its range. In The Summons, he returns in all his Grisham glory. . . . The Summons is more than a . . . return to form; it marks out the rich literary territory Grisham has begun to occupy.”—Los Angeles Times

“There’s much to admire in [Grisham’s] newest thriller, particularly his colorful evocation of a Deep South legal setting . . . and some finely drawn characters.”—Publishers Weekly

“If there’s ever been a literary example of giving the people what they want, The Summons is it.”—Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“The Summons has the hallmarks of old-style Grisham.”—The Plain Dealer

“A swift, no-nonsense story written in a highly effective, uncluttered fashion.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Grisham’s skill in plotting legal dramas that can turn on a dime is as sharp here as in his previous works. The characters in Clanton have the authentic touch of hometown Mississippi, and Grisham’s crisp dialogue moves the story smartly along. . . . The Summons will keep his fans happy and burnish his reputation as a master of the legal suspense thriller.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Another Grisham page-turner.”—The Orlando Sentinel Tribune

2 Aholes and a bag of money

sometimes his twists are annoying..... and put the money in a Fng safety deposit box lol

Third time reading

The best. So captivating!! I’m sure I will read it again one day. One of his best.

Great moral, Best Grisham book

Loved it. Great story, great moral. What would I do iif I were in Raiy's situation?

Surprisingly good

I didn't think an audio book would be as good as reading Grisham but I was wrong. I read half the book and left it on the beach (with my glasses) when rushing to the airport at the end of vacation. A friend let me listen to the last half of her audio book and I really enjoyed it.

One of the best

I thought this was a great story. Had classic Grisham elements and kept my attention throughout.