Rating: 
Summary: Not that great
Review: I've liked the other Grisham books I've read, but didn't enjoy this one, and the ending left me flat. I'll be checking the Amazon reviews before reading any other of his works.
Rating:
Summary: Is Mr. Grisham even writing his own books anymore?
Review: The only reason I am even giving it one star is because, for whatever reason, I managed to finish the book. I was tempted to put it aside after many a droning chapter with characters that i could find no redeeming qualities in. I couldn't bring myself to care about Ray, who is pretty much a dud. This book wastes a lot of time getting to any action and I feel like Grisham knows we will buy his books, so why bother making them exciting and intricately plotted as his early works were? In spite of the massively ungood (to be kind)book "The Bretheren," I picked this up and am now disappointed to no longer be able to garauntee myself an exciting read when I pick up one of his books with confidence from a rack without even reading the back or any reviews. I hate having to lose an author from my list of favorites.
Rating: 
Summary: May be one of Grisham's best novels to date
Review: Ray Atlee is summoned back to his childhood home by his ailing father, Judge Reuban Atlee. Judge Atlee is dying of cancer and, presumably, wants to settle his estate with his sons, Ray and Forrest. However, when Ray arrives at the home, he finds his father already dead. The estate doesn't amount to very much. However, as Ray searches the house on his own, he comes upon a large sum of money not accounted for in the will. The cash totals 3.5 million dollars. After the house is broken into and searched, Ray realizes he is not the only one who knows about the money. As he takes the time to decide how he should handle the situation, he becomes more and more threatened by the shadowy presence of his pursuers.
John Grisham, as one of the world's bestselling and best known writers, should set a very high standard for himself. The reason he is so well regarded is much in evidence here. The writing is very strong with a profound sense of place. The characters are well thought out and it is their vivid realism that propels the story along. In a sense, Ray Atlee reminds me of the Dick Francis hero with his strong set of values which must be upheld at any cost. This may be one of John Grisham's best novels in quite some time. However, even at his most mediocre, he is better than the vast majority of writers working today.
Rating: 
Summary: One of his "different" stories and yet more lawyer junk
Review: Different isn't always good with Grisham but here it is. Sure, it's more lawyer junk but isn't that why we read him? You really feel the story's lead character as he searches in this yarn and Grisham takes that character - and us - to a strange place to finish but that's just fine. Don't expect a bombshell ending, the story doesn't need one. Just expect a good story.
Rating:
Summary: In the money!
Review: This book has taken a fair bit of flack by reviewers and I feel that they're being a bit harsh on the author. It's certainly a smaller book than he usually writes and lighter in content but I've given it 4 stars for being a smooth and interesting read...not everything has to be heavy and punchy. Ray Atlee, a professor of law at a southern university, is summoned home by his distatorial father, a prominent judge who was never able to astablish a rapport with his two sons.On finding his father dead on the sofa of his living room, Ray also discovers $3 million in notes, packed into boxes. He decides not to tell his brother Forrest of his find immediately as Forrest is a drug addict who would almost certainly kill himself with drink and drugs.Ray then sets out to discover where the money came from and enters a world of big money with all of its attendant risks.
Rating: 
Summary: Solid book, but I'm sure Grisham can write better.
Review: Since 8th or 9th grade, I¡¯ve been a huge fan of John Grisham and this time it was surely quite fun, but did not leave me with an impressive bang.
This book is about three men, Judge Atlee, who has been in the court for a long time and now ill and senile. To hand his will to his sons, Ray and Forrest, he types up a summon. Ray is the eldest and a Virginia law professor. On the other hand, Forrest does not have a job and have gone to rehab many times for drinking.
First of all, similar to most of Grisham¡¯s books, he uses the 3rd person perspective, and it works quite well. The narrator brings out the character¡¯s emotions and tells what they¡¯re thinking, though in my opinion, it could¡¯ve added a little bit more tension if he used 1st person perspective. The story doesn¡¯t just open up, it firmly builds a background knowledge of Judge, Ray and Forrest¡¯s life, so that we could understand much thoroughly. One of the factors that make Grisham¡¯s book so great is that I could picture it as I read. The confluence of the narration, conversation between characters, reactions and emotions are very realistic and attention grabbing. From the beginning to the climax, Grisham successfully keeps readers interested, by putting in some mysterious events. However, at the end, everything just happens too quickly. The mystery is not solved and he may have thought it could be better to leave it just unsolved, so that readers can ponder upon it. However, I surely could have enjoyed it more if Grisham added some pages to tell me what happened. Overall, this book was not as good as Grisham¡¯s prior pieces, but still, a good and solid writing.
Rating:
Summary: not bad at all
Review: This is the first Grisham novel for me and I was pleased overall. The writing moves at a fast pace but not so swift as to leave out appropriate detail or character development. The plot is fairly simple up front, but Grisham keeps you in suspense wanting to know where a sum of $3 million in a dead judge's study had come from and what that judge's law professor son will do with it. Nice blend of legal themes, gambling, and life in the South (Mississippi and Virginia to be exact) in The Summons. Conclusion might be a little lacking, but it's fitting for the scope of the book. Will definitely be reading other Grisham novels after reading this one.
Rating:
Summary: Just OK....
Review: This book started a little slowly (took me many weeks to get through the first 200 pages)...but then things quickly picked up (similar to "The Firm"). For a Grisham fan, it is a good read. If you are not into Grisham already, pick something else first.
Rating:
Summary: Not his best work
Review: The plot was predictable and Grisham took too many pages to develop a very simple twisted plot. If this book is on your "to read" list....make sure it stays at the bottom.
Rating: 
Summary: not much to it
Review: It started out good, but then dragged and dragged and dragged. I found it very predictable, not something I'd want to read again. This one just doesn't quite hit the mark. For some good Grisham, read Runaway Jury, The Testament or The Chamber. I enjoyed those.
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