The Summons by John Grisham
Charity: The RSPCA is the leading UK animal welfare charity. We specialise in rescue, animal welfare and preventing animal cruelty. rspca.org.uk
Price: 50p
Book Blurb: Ray Atlee is a professor of law at the university of Virginia who is forty-three and newly single. He has a father, a very sick old man who lives alone in his ancestral home in Clanton, Mississippi; a beloved and powerful official who has towered over local law and politics for many years and is now a recluse. // With the end in sight, Judge Atlee issues a summons to Ray to return to Clanton, to discuss the details of his estate. // Ray reluctantly heads south. But the 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.
Expectation: A more adventurous book. Probably involving criminals and death.
Reality: *Slight Spoiler Alert* The blurb is fulfilled within the first few chapters, and the 'shocking secret' is more mysterious than shocking. Follows the movements of Ray with everything from his perspective. Good rate of character development, and there are a lot of interesting characters. Unsurprisingly the story revolves around money and a race around America as Ray tries to identify its source whilst being followed by a very elusive person. All is revealed by the end, with the ending reflecting on the power money has over people. There is a surprising lack of violence and death, which I appreciated.
Overall Rating
It was a struggle 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Gripping page
to make it turner
Twist Scale:
Knew the beginning, As twisty as the
middle and end 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 bendy wendy road
from the first line
An adventure, but not a particularly twisty one. However the ending is a surprise.
Tear-jerker Scale:
As dry as a house 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Cried an ocean
throughout
No emotional connection with the character established.
And so ends the review for book 2. This time I went for a more well known author, but a charity shop staple. Following feedback I have changed the title, but still welcome any other suggestions!
Coming up: Paupers Gold by Margaret Dickinson
For those interested in my life, I've just finished my first full week as a real-life engineer! Everyone's very friendly, but it's a bit daunting thinking that this is my life indefinitely. I'm looking forward to the summer when all the daylight hours won't be spent in an office! I've not really had much chance to explore Newcastle, but did today by means of charity shopping (hence the new book) Unfortunately I missed the beautiful sunshine of the morning and got caught in a massive downpour... trying to browse clothes whilst dripping wet is an interesting experience.
No emotional connection with the character established.
***
And so ends the review for book 2. This time I went for a more well known author, but a charity shop staple. Following feedback I have changed the title, but still welcome any other suggestions!
Coming up: Paupers Gold by Margaret Dickinson
For those interested in my life, I've just finished my first full week as a real-life engineer! Everyone's very friendly, but it's a bit daunting thinking that this is my life indefinitely. I'm looking forward to the summer when all the daylight hours won't be spent in an office! I've not really had much chance to explore Newcastle, but did today by means of charity shopping (hence the new book) Unfortunately I missed the beautiful sunshine of the morning and got caught in a massive downpour... trying to browse clothes whilst dripping wet is an interesting experience.
