The Testament

By: John Grisham

The Testament is a legal suspense thriller set in the Pantanal in Brazil, and Washington D.C.  When it comes to wills and beneficiaries, this book shows the contrast between which types of benefactors want the money, and which type should get the money.

Plot: A Billionaire, Troy Phelan leaves his vast fortune to an illegitamite duaghter that no one knew he even had, including his lawyer, Josh stafford.  This comes as a shock to his six children by three marriges, all of whom have had their eyes on his money for some time.

Now, Nate O'Reily, a badly recovering alchoholic, on behalf of the firm, must seek out the sole beneficiary, Rachel Lane, who is a missionary lost to them somewhere in the Pantanal in Brazil.

Review:  The book shines as an example of how money, even from the beginning can ruin people, their lives, and everything around them.  One can hope that the very successful author of this novel isn't drawing from his own personal experience when creating the premise of the novel.  In the end, this is a four star book because it is so captivating, but the ending couldn't be any worse!  The drunk gets his life back, the money grubbing children get a great settlement, and the "Mother Theresa" dies.  It seems Mr. Grisham didn't see a lot of justice during his legal career.