What readers think of The Summons, plus links to write your own review.

The Summons was a decent read. However, I also thought it started slow. In fact, I read the first couple of pages over & over again, throughout the first month having the book before I finally got past that dreadfully boring description of the Chancellor. Suprisingly, it became a real page turner throughout the middle parts of the book. Unfortunately, to me, the ending was a let down. I think the "bad guy" was completely obvious, and any intelligent reader, should pick up on it long before it is revealed. In my opinion, the story did not feel finalized...I like a story to be ended. Grisham is a great writer & storyteller, but really missed the ending on this one. The overall plot was good, and the hunt for Ray's answers was terrific writing...I just wish the ending matched. This Grisham work doesn't hold water to the likes of The Pelican Brief (my personal favorite) or A Time to Kill.

i agree with most of the other comments..it was very good until the ending...it kind of dangled it in front of you for a while and ripped it away at the last second....disappointed in the ending

My least favorite Grisham book. While it kept me interested I thought the ending was weak.

It's strange to say. I couldn't put the book down the whole time I was reading it. I enjoyed hearing the vivid descriptions of the South, and the cat and mouse games, but there was something missing towards the end. What was the message Grisham was going for?that you can't always win and fly planes the rest of your life? It's safe to say that I was pretty disappointed. Why couldn't it have been like the firm!

very very average for john grisham.....

John Grisham novels have ranked anywhere from mediocre ("The Client") to out and out great ("A Time to Kill") and a lot of places in between.

The latest book, "The Summons" is a return to Grisham's roots in the legal thriller, after two books off to try and stretch his artistic wings as it were. And for what it's trying to be "The Summons" delivers--it's a great beach book and a nicely done page-turner. That said, the book comes off as more a greatest hits complitation of early Grisham novels, on the off-chance you somehow missed "The Firm" or "The Pelican Brief" way back when. And that's a shame really because Grisham has some interesting ideas here begging to get out. You've got the usual Grisham hero who is in over his head and trying to figure out what in the name of God is going on, all the while pursued by mysterious forces. There's a big mystery, though it's fairly obvious how it will all be resolved about half-way through the novel. (Indeed, the novels twist ending is not so much of a twist as the feeling of--well, aren't I smart that I figured that out 150 pages before the characters did). The characters are one-dimensional and don't stay with you beyond the page they're on. A lot of the minor character blur together, but honestly, you can keep reading and not miss a thing.

This one is bubble-gum for the brain, pure and simple. It's a fast read and a great one for by the pool, summer reading. But it's not up the best Grisham has done.

Pretty good

Hey, I am 15 years old and I thougth this book <<was awful>>, it took awhile for things to get going then all he did was sneak the money around the whole time talking about how he does it and what is going to happen to him. Therefore, I reccommend the rainmaker or even Runaway jury.