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The Testament
  

The Testament (Leather Bound)

by John Grisham (Author)
3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,053 customer reviews)

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5 used from CDN$ 11.63

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Product Description

From Amazon.com

Troy Phelan, a 78-year-old eccentric and the 10th-richest man in America, is about to read his last will and testament, divvying up an estate worth $11 billion. Phelan's three ex-wives, their grasping spawn, a legion of lawyers, several psychiatrists, and a plethora of sound technicians wait breathlessly, all eyes glued to digital monitors as they watch the old man read his verdict. But Phelan shocks everyone with a bizarre, last-gasp attempt to redistribute the spoils, setting in motion a legal morality tale of a contested will, sin, and redemption.

Our hero, Nate O'Riley--a washed-up, alcoholic litigator with two ruined marriages in his wake and the IRS on his tail--is dispatched to the Brazilian wetlands in search of a mysterious heir named in the will. After a harrowing trip upriver to a remote settlement in the Pantanal, he encounters Rachel Lane, a pure-hearted missionary living with an indigenous tribe and carrying out "God's work." Rachel's grave dedication and kindness impress the jaded lawyer, so much that a nasty bout of dengue fever leads him to a vision that could change his life.

Back in the States, the legal proceedings drag on and Grisham has a high time with Phelan's money-hungry descendents, a regrettable bunch who squandered millions, married strippers, got druggy, and befriended the Mob. The youngest son, Ramble, is a multi-pierced, tattoo-covered malcontent with big dreams for his rock band, the Demon Monkeys. Will Nate get straight with Rachel's aid? Do the greedy heirs get theirs? What's the real legacy of a lifetime's work? The Testament is classic Grisham: a down-and-out lawyer, a lot of money, an action-packed pursuit, and the highest issues at stake. It's not just about great characters; it's about the question of what character is. --Rebekah Warren --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.



From Publishers Weekly

A traditional gangbuster Grisham opening?in which an aged billionaire outfoxes his greedy heirs by signing a bombshell will, then jumps to his death?gives little clue how this seductive tale will develop. The novel also features the usual attorney hero and legal action, but Grisham confounds expectations by sweeping readers into adventure in the Brazilian wetlands and, more urgently, into a man's search for spiritual renewal. Nate O'Riley, 48, is a drunk. He's also a top D.C. attorney who, winding up his fourth rehab stint in 10 years, is asked by his firm to find one Rachel Lane. The illegitimate daughter to whom the firm's client, tycoon Troy Phelan, has left his entire $11 billion fortune, Rachel is a missionary-physician tending Indians somewhere in Brazil's Pantanal region. Nate's experiences there prove nightmarish, including fierce storms, a plane crash, dangerous animals, hunger and, finally, dengue fever, which nearly kills him. But as Grisham crosscuts from Brazil to D.C. and the sleazy machinations of Phelan's other children and their lawyers to negate Phelan's will, readers will wonder which is the real jungle; never has Grisham revealed so nakedly his contempt for the legal profession. What Grisham holds dear is made clear in his unforgettable portrait of Rachel, whose serenity and integrity stun Nate, while inspiring him to forsake forever his lust for booze, power and money and to turn toward God. The message (which isn't entirely new to Grisham; see The Street Lawyer) and the storytelling that conveys it aren't subtle, but Grisham's smart use of the suspense novel to explore questions of being and faith puts him squarely in the footsteps of Dickens and Graham Greene. Sincere, exciting and tinged with wonder, this novel is going to sell like an angel, and deservedly so. Agent, David Gernert. 2.8 million first printing. (On-sale date: Feb. 1)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Customer Reviews

1,053 Reviews
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3 star:
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Average Customer Review
3.6 out of 5 stars (1,053 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars A Nutty Billionaire, Hapless Heirs, Greedy Lawyers, a Brazilian Search for Livingstone, and Redemption, Jun 21 2008
This review is from: The Testament (Audio CD)
Troy Phelan, worth $11 billion, loves his business and hates his ex-wives and children. Rumored to be suffering from terminal cancer, Phelan calls the family together to sign a new will. The heirs cooperate by providing psychiatrists to observe and verify that Phelan is in his right mind. That's the apparent game plan, but Phelan has a second and more shocking one. Thus opens The Testament.

Probate law isn't very exciting, and John Grisham decides to dress it up with a cast of characters that are almost parodies of parodies, so much so that they didn't resonate with me. As a result, the "exciting" beginning bored me.

The bulk of the story eventually shifts to recovering alcoholic and drug addict, attorney Nate O'Riley, who is sent straight from rehab to Brazil to find a missing heir, Rachel Lane, who is a medical missionary to the indigenous people there. His journey is harrowing and tests his limited strength to the limits. But the journey also is a beginning of his personal redemption through receiving Salvation for the Lord, Jesus Christ. As soon as the redemption part of the story begins, the book vastly improves. Without that element, I would have rated this as a one- or two-star effort.

It's unusual for a secular writer to put a major Christian theme in a popular work of fiction. I applaud Mr. Grisham for doing so.

I enjoyed the reading by Frank Muller which added a lot of emotional depth to the book that would be missed by simply reading The Testament.

May God bless you, Mr. Grisham!
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4.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, Sep 14 2009
By Dark Chocolate (Quebec, QC Canada) - See all my reviews
That book was hard to put down and, as a consequence, dishes and laundry were piling up over the weekend. I strongly recommend cleaning the house thoroughly before opening the first page.

The story is really good, and John Grisham really lets us "see" the characters of his book. The Testament was my first experience with Grisham's writing, but other books soon followed, and gave me the opportunity to discover his rich writing style and documented research.

Great book for a cocooning weekend!
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5.0 out of 5 stars A Testament to Great Writing, Sep 17 2008
This is in my opinion the best John Grisham book there is. All of his books can keep a reader interested, but weaker ones like King of Torts and The Brethern don't make the reader care. The Testament you really care. It's a rollercoaster ride, so get on board!
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Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars A Nutty Billionaire, Hapless Heirs, Greedy Lawyers, a Brazilian Search for Livingstone, and Redemption
Troy Phelan, worth $11 billion, loves his business and hates his ex-wives and children. Rumored to be suffering from terminal cancer, Phelan calls the family together to sign a... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Professor Donald Mitchell

4.0 out of 5 stars Not typical Grisham
This is a great book. Sure it's got the Grisham legalize happening, but he balances it well with panoramic adventure and sacrificial living. Perfect summer reading. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Gary & Dawn

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Book!
This was my first John Grisham book and I certainly enjoyed it.
In this book one of the ten richest men in the country(Troy Phelan) has a ceremony to read his last will and... Read more
Published on Jul 2 2004 by Melvin Hunt

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad at all!
I've felt that Grisham has been in the midst of a literary downslide for the past several years. The Testament, however, was an interesting and refreshing change of pace for the... Read more
Published on Jun 30 2004 by Tigerbait!

4.0 out of 5 stars NOT WHAT I EXPECTED!
...it was a good read. I was expecting something a little more thrilling, a little more intense and exciting. But the slower pace of this book still kept my attention. Read more
Published on Jun 28 2004 by Tom Arnold

5.0 out of 5 stars Master storyteller
Grisham has literally before our eyes turned into a master storyteller with his book, THE TESTAMENT. Read more
Published on Jun 28 2004

2.0 out of 5 stars Obsess Much?
John Grisham has written a novel with almost no sympathetic characters. There's a huge amount of money to be divided up by an eccentric billionaire... Read more
Published on Jun 22 2004 by Moonlight Graham

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong Recommendation...If You Like Law Novels
This is another great lawyer-story from Grisham. It takes many twists and turns with a good cast of characters, eventually ending with something that was a suprise to me. Read more
Published on Jun 17 2004 by nathangreenberg

3.0 out of 5 stars Grishams latest focuses on jungle rather than courtroom
Like clockwork, John Grisham churns out at least one novel a year, as he has for the past eight years. Read more
Published on Jun 16 2004 by Kate Westrich

4.0 out of 5 stars Pleasant Read
To start with, I take issue to annmason1, who wrote the review "Hogie Sandwhich". She obviously has trouble with Grisham and his stories... Read more
Published on May 26 2004 by D. Brickeen

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