The Test
Non-series
Patricia
Gussin
Oceanview Publishing (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-933515-19-8 (1933515198)
ISBN-13: 978-1-933515-19-9 (9781933515199)
Publication Date: October 2009
List Price: $25.95
Synopsis (from
the publisher): Renowned philanthropist and billionaire Paul Parnell
had reached the pinnacle of monetary success, but not without cost. Had
he put too much emphasis on work and spent too little time with his
family?
Determined to leave something far more valuable than money to his six
children, Paul instructs his lawyers to create an unusual last will and
testament. This unorthodox will, which stipulates that the lion's share
of Paul's two billion dollar estate be given to the heirs who pass "the
test", was Paul's last hope of creating an enduring legacy by inspiring
his children to give back to society and embrace a code of moral values.
The six children -- Rory, Frank, Dan, Monica, Carla and Ashley -- have
only one year to make a difference. But what a difference one year will
make. Before these six very different siblings can complete the test,
they'll be forced to face their personal demons and the incredibly evil
influence that could claim one of their own.
Review:
Captivating in its own way, but not a suspense novel or thriller by any
conventional definition, Patricia Gussin's The Test will likely be the cause
of many lamps burning the midnight oil.
Paul Parnell lived a full life. Head of a major pharmaceutical company,
whose life-saving technology won him a Nobel Prize, he amassed a vast
fortune during his 75 years. Married twice, with both his wives
predeceasing him, he had five children with them ... and a sixth out of
wedlock. With only months to live, and convinced that he had spent too
little time with his children for them to develop a "code of values",
one that includes God, family, community, and profession, he has his
lawyers draw up his will such that they will have one year to pass a
"test", one administered by the executor of his estate, in order to
inherit any of his money. If they fail, their portion will be donated
to the Parnell Foundation. The reactions of the siblings -- Frank, a
U.S. Senator representing Pennsylvania; Dan, palm tree farmer estranged
from the family; Rory, a mother with eight children; Monica Monroe, an
entertainment superstar; Ashley, a medical student; and Carla, a design
school dropout -- vary dramatically depending on their current
circumstances and future plans, and dictate how they go about passing
the "test", if indeed they plan on taking it at all.
Though largely a family saga, a literary soap opera if you will, there
are some sinister elements in the plot of The Test that add an edge to the
story. Not unexpectedly, given some $2 billion is on the table and it
isn't clear how one should go about passing an ill-defined test. As
Frank says at one point, are Number 2 pencils required, or does proof
of good deeds need be submitted? The possibility of one acquiring a
serious quantity of money doesn't necessarily bring out the best in
people.
The story spans an entire year, and setting it during 2001 -- the year
of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and
the Pentagon in Washington DC -- adds an interesting twist to the
actions of the characters. But what really keeps the reader's
attention, and the pages turning late into the night, is the crisp
writing, deft handling of the relationships between the family members
(and there are a lot; it will help to bookmark the family tree page
thoughtfully provided at the beginning), and evolution of the
characters from self-centered individuals with single-minded goals to
ones that, yes, embrace a family "code of values". The ending of The Test might be a little too pat,
but the path there is one worth taking.
Special thanks to Oceanview Publishing for providing a copy of The Test for this review.
Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved
Have you read The Test? How would you rate it?
Non-series novels by this author …
The Test
Oceanview Publishing (Hardcover), October 2009
ISBN-10: 1-933515-19-8 (1933515198)
ISBN-13: 978-1-933515-19-9 (9781933515199)
Omnimystery keywords for The Test ...
Location(s) referenced: Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, New York City, Florida, New Mexico.
