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Home > Books > Fiction > Thriller Books > T Thriller Books > The Testament - John Grisham

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for The Testament - John Grisham

Rating Summary based on 27 reviews

  • 5 Stars
    		18
  • 4 Stars
    		7
  • 3 Stars
    		1
  • 2 Stars
    		1
  • 1 Star
    		0

Detailed rating

  • Characters
  • How does it compare to other works by the same author?
  • How does it compare to similar books?
  • Readability
  • Story
  		• 4.3
  		• 3.7
  		• 3.9
  		• 4.5
  		• 4.3

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Previous page Next page Page 1 of 3 | 1 to 10 out of 27 Review(s)
  • 75 of 75 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of shewhosmiles

    shewhosmiles

    4 Stars Lusting For Money 29/11/2002
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Interesting, well written adventure/courtroom story

    Disadvantages Disadvantages No sex

    Eighty-year-old Troy Phelan jumps out of his wheelchair, practically runs across the room out onto the terrace and dives from the top floor of his 14 storey building to his death. The sick, sad, lonely self made multi billionaire knew that he wanted to die, knew that his family wouldn't mourn him much and wanted to cause them as much grief as he could by setting the scene for the last act of his life. A short time before his death Troy who was one of the richest men in the USA was examined by 3 notable psychiatrists and pronounced sound in mind. Then he signed a 90 page professionally prepared ... more
  • 55 of 55 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Andy.mack

    Level 8 Andy.mack

    Member since 29/08/2002

    Reviews written: 905

    5 Stars The Last Will And Testament 10/11/2003
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages A throughly enjoyable read with a decent original storyline

    Disadvantages Disadvantages May take too long to get going for some people.

    To continue on the theme of John Grisham books comes the next one I found on my shelf as I work through all the old Books I’ve read. In fact looking at my bookcase there are more books by him in there than any other author, which I suppose really shows the kind of effect The Brethren had on my reading habits. The Testament is another of my favourite books by Grisham. As far as I’m aware before we go any further, this is one of the few yet to be turned into a film. As a former Lawyer Grisham bases most of his books on this field and although at first this probably doesn’t ... more
  • 12 of 12 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of pauljm

    pauljm

    4 Stars Testing the Testament 31/07/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages A fast moving storyline holds your attention...

    Disadvantages Disadvantages ...despite the shallow characters and implausibility

    The Testament, another hefty best-seller from John Grisham. Just how well does it stack up against his other novels? The Plot ~~~~~~~~ Ageing billionaire businessman Troy Phelan, tiring of life, draws up a new will before committing suicide. The hopes of his six children and three ex-wives are confounded by the surprise naming of a previously unsuspected illegitimate daughter as the major beneficiary. The bequest is complicated by the fact that no one knows the whereabouts of the daughter who is thought to be serving as a missionary somewhere in Brazil. The story develops on two strands; the ... more
  • 14 of 14 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of james.bridgeman

    james.bridgeman

    5 Stars His most sensitive novel to date 14/04/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Objective tone, excellent characterisation, Grisham's characteristic page-turning suspense.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Won't be to everyone's taste: this is not The Firm, nor does it pretend to be

    Grisham added to his legal thriller oeuvre with this at times subdued, at times fantastical novel, which always assures that you will not rest until you have reached its satisfying climax. The book opens from the first person perspective of Mr. Troy Phelan, self-made tycoon and octogenarian, worth approximately $11.5 billion. Troy is a very unhappy, bitter old man, with several ex-wives and six wastrels as his legitimate children. He has made the decision that he would prefer not to remain on earth, and has resolved to end it by leaping from the top of his Virginia business tower, 100 floors ... more
  • 3 of 4 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Emperor

    Emperor

    5 Stars "The Testament" shows that John Grisham is Christian. 19/09/2000
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages very interesting, Christian contents

    Disadvantages Disadvantages you are hardly able to stop reading...

    I liked to read Grisham's stories for some years. And I knew he was a Christian writer but I never saw this in his stories. Now he wrote a new book. But let me summarize it first: It opens with the startling suicide of Troy Phelan, one of the world's richest men, a multi-billionaire, immediately after convening a meeting of his many ex-wives and children to discuss his will. The presumptive heirs are a greedy, despicable lot who have run through the millions he gave them in divorce settlements and coming-of-age handovers, and fully expect that although they've all been on bad terms with their ... more
  • 6 of 6 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of LukeCroll

    LukeCroll

    4 Stars A great novel marred by a disappointing ending 01/04/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Full of travel information!

    Disadvantages Disadvantages It builds up to what is ultimately a disappointing ending

    John Grisham is back once again with his tenth novel to date and this one is a bit different to usual. Troy Phelan is a self-made billionaire but he’s confined to a wheelchair and wants to die. He writes a will in front of all his heirs, being declared of sound mind and body but then promptly commits suicide. It is quickly announced that there is another will, where all his money is left to Rachel Lane, a missionary, working with primitive Indians in the jungles of Brazil. The race is on to find her and sort out what is going on. When I started this, I was expecting pages upon pages of ... more
  • 9 of 9 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Dawson

    Dawson

    4 Stars The Testament. Thats a will.... 08/06/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Original, well written, easy to pick up.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Not a masterpiece like some of his others

    I believe this is one of John Grisham's most recent books. I have only read a couple of John Grisham books, but this is definitely the best yet. The Story This book is about a billionaire called Troy Phelan. He is old, has acquired a fortune of $11 billion, and has a large, alienated family. He is a bit of a womaniser, and this is reflected in the number of ex-wives. He is bitter and depressed and believes the money is the root of all his problems. He also despises his children and ex-wives. All of them are total losers, and have wasted the $5 million he gave them on their 21st birthdays ... more
  • 1 of 1 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of sitch

    sitch

    5 Stars A real surprise 13/08/2000
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages You will not be able to put book down once started.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages You will not be able to put book down once started.

    I have never really liked the "American best seller" as those I have read tend to be quite unimaginative and formulaic. Therefore I had never read a John Grisham book before having the preconceived idea that they would be in the same vein. On being recommended it by a friend I was really surprised by the quality of the writing and the fact that it really was the sort of book that kept you guessing and through really "caring" for the main characters Rachel Lane and Nate O'Riley. Without giving too much away it has a really unexpected ending - although it did leave me a little disappointed that ... more
  • 10 of 11 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of PaulSingh

    PaulSingh

    5 Stars Compelling legal blockbuster 28/04/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Compulsive reading, good character development

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Ending could be improved

    This is only the second Grisham novel I have read but it confirms my impression of him after reading the Street lawyer. I have really enjoyed both novels which are compelling reads. I love books like this where you feel you just have to keep turning the pages and stay up late as you want to find out what happens next Grisham sticks to familiar territory of American lawyers but weaves an intriguing plat and builds up the key characters brilliantly. The story starts with Troy Phelan, an eccentric wheelchair bound billionaire who is looking for a way to die. The other key characters are a Nate ... more
  • 2 of 2 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Rodarama

    Rodarama

    4 Stars The Testament 09/09/2000
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages upbeat and occasionally amusing

    Disadvantages Disadvantages none

    I really enjoyed this book. Well, I actually like them all but this one (his most recent) really stood out, I think it’s because his writing style seemed to be a little different to how it usually is. In short, it’s funnier. I mean, it’s still unmistakably him, but he occasionally seems to be delving into the realms of observational comedy at times. But this is a little beside the point. The point is, if you love Grisham’s work then you’ll love this book (even if you’ve never read anything of his you ought to (he’s the man when it comes to this kind of fiction)). Basically, quite early on in ... more
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