The Last Will And Testament (The Testament - John Grisham)

Member Name: Andy.mack

Product:	The Testament - John Grisham
Date:	11/11/03 (1069 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A throughly enjoyable read with a decent original storyline

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 sound appealing he somehow manages to bring it to live and turn it into a gripping read. He pulls on his own knowledge of law and criminal proceedings in such a way that it makes it interesting to read and simple to understand. And although the majority of his characters are lawyers or legal students this shouldn?t put you off.

When the 10th Richest man in America, Troy Phelan decides at 80 years old that rather than continue suffering he needs to end his life. He gets out of his wheel chair and throws himself off the balcony from the 14th storey of his company Head quarters. Leaving behind a number of possible heirs to his fortune, who are all rather happy their father is dead and they can get their hands on the cash.

With his 6 kids desperate to get their hands on the money that they?re father had assigned to them in his will all gather to find out that after the psychiatrists had found him of sound mind to sign his will, he almost immediately ripped it up with his lawyer still there and hand signed a hand written revocation of the original will and left everything to his illegitimate daughter Rachel Lane, just moments before he plummeted to his death.

It?s then down to his lawyer Josh Stafford to find out who this Rachel Lane is and inform her of her fathers death and what he wishes to do with his vast fortune. The only clue to where she may be was a note sayin
g she was in Brazil working for a small tribe as their village doctor as part of her missionary work. So Josh dispatches Nate O?Riley to Brazil to try and find her, but Nate has his own problems, as he is currently in a drying out clinic trying to beat his drinking problem.

Of course his kids really aren?t happy about this and despite a clause saying he will pay off all their debts, which there are a lot of, if they don?t contest the will they decide to push ahead anyway. So having forfeited their right to any money, will they be successful in contesting the will? Can Nate find Rachel in amongst the Brazilian rainforest? Well I wont be telling you why not read it and it?ll all fall into place.

Like all of his early books this one had me hooked from the first word. I read almost 200 pages of this on an afternoon, when I was actually suppose to be going out I got that much into it. As I?ve mentioned on previous ops the basics of Law I was taught at College bored me but the way Grisham writes makes it simple for everyone using Key phrases and sayings but in ways that are very simple to follow. This helps to make the book a much easier read.

Now the majority of the book focuses on Nate and his struggle against booze whilst he tries to find Rachel. He seems a very odd character but his plight into the forest really grips you from the start. Before the book really gets going you get a lot of background and general information on Nate, which makes you feel a little for him at times. Like with Darby in The Pelican Brief, Grisham builds up his characters well.

The original, multi-millionaire character Troy Phelan makes you feel sorry for him even after his death and this is all down to the way Grisham writes. The further into the book, the worse Troy?s family gets and you can almost understand by the end why he rewrote his will and left them all out of it. Again this is all down to Grisham?s writing skills and his ability to bring charact
ers to life.

To be honest the book is almost flawless with little to bring it down at all. Although the length of time it takes to find Rachel may be too long for some I found it to be just about right. The usual addictiveness of a Grisham Novel is there as I mentioned and once you read that closing paragraph you feel content that your desire for a good story has been fulfilled.

If you fancy buying this then it?s available from all your high street bookshops for £6.99 or from Amazon for £5.59.

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