The Testament (1999) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

show spoilers

Summary edit see section history

Characters edit see section history

• Troy Phelan: An eccentric, reclusive and ruthless billionaire businessman who dies at the start of the novel. He signs a Testament before he dies which is at the core of the novel. Various parties strive to get their share of his estate.
• Josh Stafford: Troy Phelan's lawyer and confidante.
• Rachel Lane Porter: A missionary in Brazil. She is an illegitimate daughter of Troy Phelan and the main beneficiary in Troy's Testament. However, she doesn't want to be found. Much of the novel involves the search for her.
• Nate O'Riley: A lawyer dispatched to locate Rachel Lane. He has a troubled past and is a recovering alcoholic.
• Malcolm Snead: Troy Phelan's butler / gofer / assistant. A party who expects to do well from the will.
• Lillian Phelan: Troy Phelan's first ex-wife. Mother of Troy Junior (TJ), Rex, Libbigail and Mary Ross.
• Troy Junior: Troy Junior, Troy Phelan's oldest son.
• Rex Phelan: Troy Phelan's second son. Married to a stripper called Amber. He is represented legally by Hark Gettys.
• Libbigail Phelan Jeter: Troy Phelan's oldest daughter. Her partner is called Spike. She is legally represented by Wally Bright.
• Mary Ross Phelan Jackman: Troy Phelan's second daughter. She is legally represented by a lawyer called Grit.
• Janie: Troy Phelan's second ex-wife. Mother of Geena.
• Geena Phelan Strong: Troy Phelan's third daughter. She is married to Cody and legally represented by Madame Longhorn.
• Tira: Troy Phelan's third ex-wife. Mother of Ramble.
• Ramble Phelan: Troy Phellan's third son. Only 14, he is legally represented by a lawyer called Yancy.
• F. Parr Wycliff: The judge handling the case.
• Sergio: Nate's therapist.
• Valdir Ruiz: A Brazilian lawyer hired to help locate a wealthy beneficiary.
• Jevy Cardozo: The local guide hired for Nate in Brazil.

Quotes edit see section history

• “At every point in history, whether crucial or insignificant, when the interests of native Brazilians conflicted with those of white people, the Indians had lost.You lose for five hundred years, and you expect little from life. The biggest problem facing some modern-day tribes was the suicide of its young people.”

• “You're part of a culture where everything's measured by money. It's a religion.”

  Rachel Lane

• “We pass my office and I nod at Nicolette, my latest secretary, a darling young thing I’m quite fond of. Given some time, she might become number four.”

• “Since I am supposed to appear sane, I must make eye contact. They expect me to be somewhat loony, but I’m about to eat them for lunch.”

• Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers

• The first family is Lillian and her brood—four of my offspring born to a woman who rarely let me touch her.

  Highlighted by 23 Kindle customers

• Dear God, Forgive me of my sins, and help me to forgive those who have sinned against me.”

  Highlighted by 22 Kindle customers

• Addicts know no shame. You disgrace yourself so many times you become immune to it.

  Highlighted by 17 Kindle customers

• From the frigidity of Lillian, I ran to the steamy passion of Janie, a beautiful young thing hired as a secretary in Accounting but promoted rapidly when I decided I needed her on business trips.

  Highlighted by 17 Kindle customers

• I married Tira when I was sixty-four. She was twenty-three and pregnant by me with a little monster she named Ramble, for some reason that was never clear to me. Ramble is now fourteen, and already has one arrest for shoplifting and one arrest for possession of marijuana.

  Highlighted by 17 Kindle customers

• “Give me strength to overcome temptations, and addictions, and the trials ahead.”

  Highlighted by 16 Kindle customers

• Rocky, the younger, was killed in a sports car with two of his buddies, in a wreck that cost me six million to settle out of court.

  Highlighted by 16 Kindle customers

• Her oldest is now forty-seven, Troy Junior, a worthless idiot who is cursed with my name. As a boy he adopted the nickname of TJ, and still prefers it to Troy. Of the six children gathered here now, TJ is the dumbest, though it’s close. He was tossed from college when he was nineteen for selling drugs.

  Highlighted by 14 Kindle customers

• Lillian’s first daughter, my oldest, is Libbigail, a child I loved desperately until she left for college and forgot about me. Then she married an African and I erased her name from my wills. Mary Ross was the last child born to Lillian. She’s married to a doctor who aspires to be super-rich, but they are heavily in debt.

  Highlighted by 10 Kindle customers

• A TIME TO KILL THE FIRM THE PELICAN BRIEF THE CLIENT THE CHAMBER THE RAINMAKER THE RUNAWAY JURY THE PARTNER THE STREET LAWYER THE TESTAMENT THE BRETHREN

  Highlighted by 8 Kindle customers

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Washington DC: Much of the legal action takes place in Washington.
• Corumbá, Brazil: Corumbá is the city in which Nate is based whilst searching for Rachel
• The Pantanal, Brazil: This is the watery district in which Rachel is ministering to indigenous tribes.

Organizations edit see section history

• MountainCom: Add a description of this organization.

First Sentence edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. John Grisham (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: PS3557.R5355 T47 1999
• Dewey: 813.54

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Add a note to help parents select a book for a child.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Mystery & Thrillers › Authors, A-Z › ( G ) › Grisham, John
• Books › Mystery & Thrillers › Thrillers › Suspense
• Books › Mystery & Thrillers › Thrillers › Legal
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Contemporary

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• John Grisham: Author's website

More Books Like This edit see section history