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The Summons

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The Summons

By: John Grisham
Narrated by: Michael Beck
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About this listen

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 forty 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No longer on the bench, the Judge has withdrawn to the Atlee mansion and become a recluse.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, LLC Suspense Thriller & Suspense Law Thriller Fiction Crime

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Critic reviews

"No one tells a story better than Grisham" ( Evening Standard)
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Having listened to most of the John Grisham’s books in this category, I found this story lacking suspense, you are waiting for something to happen which never does Also the end is disappointing, it just ran out steam.

Weak Story!

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Great story. As usual Grisham has you on the edge of your seat. Well read too.

Gripping story

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Would you consider the audio edition of The Summons to be better than the print version?

Good plot, interesting twists and wonderfully rich characters. Grisham's insight into character development is exceptional, another Graham Greene.

Which character – as performed by Michael Beck – was your favourite?

The deceased's brother.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Death - the great healer

Grisham nails it again

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Narrator excellent as always. However I found the story rather dull. Certainly not one of his best books.

Not Grisham’s best

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Not the best Grisham but in no way bad. Kept me intrigued but not gripped.

A decent listen

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Somewhat predictable but ok
Story meandered and then a bit weaker . Expected better having read some of his other books.

Predictable but ok

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I used to be able to rate a book without having to leave a review. I can do this from the website, why not from the android app?

Why can't I rate from the app?

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It’s very rarely I haven’t enjoyed a book written by John Grisham. TBH I’ve read most of them and I can’t actually remember a book I haven’t enjoyed. I think there was one but I can’t remember what it was! The narrator was good until he tried an English accent but, thankfully, that wasn’t for very long. Grisham tells a good story and the only problem is that I only bought it last night but I’ve finished it already! Can’t stop listening but sad that it’s ended.

You can’t go wrong with John Grisham

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Having read most of the authors books I guess I was expecting more, it was ok but a bit predictable

Ok

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I thoroughly enjoyed this audio book.It is the first John Grisham book and I will certainly look for more .Very cinamagraphic. Also really enjoyed narators performance. Only slight criticism was English accent at the end which varied between several very different dialects. Having said that, did not detract from an otherwise excellent performance.I was sorry when book ended.

Really enjoyable listen!

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