- Hardcover: 448 pages
- Publisher: Century; First edition (4 Feb 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0712678263
- ISBN-13: 978-0712678261
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.8 x 4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (132 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 404,945 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Testament
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
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 offspring, a legion of lawyers, several psychiatrists and a plethora of sound technicians wait breathlessly. However, the magnate 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.
Nate O'Riley--a washed-up, alcoholic lawyer with two ruined marriages in his wake and the taxman on his tail--is dispatched to the Brazilian wetlands in search of a mysterious heir named in the will. After a harrowing trip upriver, 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 so 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 stripers, 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
Review
"A compulsory page-turner."--"Newsweek"
"Grisham includes his trademark legal wrangling, zippy plot and engaging minor characters. . . . His hordes of fans won't be disappointed."--"USA Today
"
"Absorbing . . . The pages fly by."--"Chicago Tribune"
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""Entertaining."--"The New York Times Book Review"
--This text refers to the
Paperback
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In THE TESTAMENT, we have an obscenely wealthy businessman committing suicide after devising the perfect plan to vengefully deprive a flock of vulture-like heirs from inheriting his $11 billion estate. Rather, he leaves it all to an illegitimate daughter working as a missionary to the Indians in the remote outback of Brazil. Our hero, Nate, is a burned-out lawyer just out of alcohol rehab sent to find the will's sole beneficiary. Even though she doesn't want the money, he returns to the States to defend her interests against those of the money-desperate ex-heirs and their just-as-greedy lawyers, probably the largest school of razor-toothed sharks ever encountered in a single volume.
Suffice it to say that Nate is one of the most appealing characters conjured by Grisham in a long time. By the end of the book, he finds professional, spiritual and emotional redemption stemming from his surprisingly brief encounter with Rachel, the elusive missionary daughter, and a somewhat longer bout with dengue fever. That, in itself, makes this story worth reading. The fact that the truly avaricious get their just desserts is frosting on the cake. A delicious read!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a good book & classic Grisham, but not his best (which is still "The Rainmaker" as far as I'm concerned). The difference here is that it's refreshing to see the main character - Nate - removed from the usual seedy surroundings of the law, and sent to deepest, darkest South America to find the mysterious heir to an $11bn fortune. A recovering alcoholic and drug addict fresh from his 4th stay in rehab, Grisham concentrates on exploring the reasons for Nate's habitual self-abuse and his struggles with getting - and staying - clean just one last time. Even so, I felt this darker side could have been delved into much more. His South American adventures make gripping and sometimes amusing stuff, but the downside is that you also have to put up with is "reawakened spirituality", a plot twist which after a while becomes thin and tries your patience. The final chapters where Nate is deposing the ghastly Phelan tribe bring us sharply back to what Grisham is best at - courtroom drama. The story has as poignant ending which peters out somewhat, but don't let this put you off. Still worth the effort.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was 14 and had gotten totally bored of all the Point Horror series, and the Christopher Pikes... I was about to leave Cape Town International on a 11 and a half hour journey to Spain and so decided i had to have something to read! Something clicked in my head and i thought of a book i had seen lying on the my friends bedside table, a book called The Firm, by John Grisham.. But, they didnt have that one and so recommended The Testament, which i dissapointedly accepted. Well, i cant tell you how happy i am i bought that book... I have never read something so excellent, thrilling, edgy, and capturing in my life... I mean the beginnig sentence had me crasped to the book for 6 hours of the flight... For anyone, this book is possibly one of the best ever...Trust me, you'll be happy you decided to buy it!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
enjoyable
i enjoyed this book. I liked the lead protagonist engaging ,and found the story realistic and believable ,even though events were out of the ordinary. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. D. G. A. Debono
Dissappointing
Grisham can do much better than this! The best part of this book were the adventures of Nate in the jungles of Mato Grosso du Sul. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ghospo
My first and only read by the great John Grisham
I tired to read 'The Firm' having seen the movie, but didn't get into it.
Sorry John. maybe the movie spoiled it for me? Read more
Sorry John. maybe the movie spoiled it for me? Read more
Published 6 months ago by Simon Palmer
Home run
Book starts off great. Lots of conflict and surprises. A cast that deserves to suffer. Down and out lawyer. Redemption theme. Home run. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Roger Weston
Brilliant plot excellent twist
This is typical Grisham. We find ourselves in a legal tangle with an unknown fate awaiting us. Despite appearances the final act is quite surpising. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mr. Jeffrey Kershaw
couldnt put the book down!
The 1st book iv read by this author and was such a good read, could not wait to read the next chapter. Great from start to finish. Already bought another john grisham book!
Published 12 months ago by njtaylor
As good as the others
Reread this recently and it was still as good as I remember. Fantastic Grisham plotting, face-paced, believable characters. Worth the money!
Published 17 months ago by LondonBookWorm
Grisham's wings stretch well
Grisham stretches his wings slightly with this novel, in which a rich old man writes an unusual will and leaves his lawyers to sort its execution. Read more
Published 19 months ago by J. R. Johnson-Rollings
A bore
The Testament falls somewhat short of Grisham's high capabilities. I would describe this book as more of an adventure story than a legal thriller. Read more
Published 19 months ago by J. Marshall
the best
Hi all
What i can say about John Grisham .For me hi is very good because my first language is georgian and english is not best in me . Read more
What i can say about John Grisham .For me hi is very good because my first language is georgian and english is not best in me . Read more
Published 20 months ago by David Magradze
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