The book The Test by Patricia Gussin was a intriguing idea that was poorly conceived. The Test is a story of the patriarch of the Parnell family, the vastly wealthy Peter Parnell‘s, last dying wish for his successors. This wish  is to not to make the same mistakes he did,  focusing on business and wealth instead of what really matters. So enters “The Test.”

The problem with this book is not the premise itself, but the introduction of so many characters within the first two chapters. By giving us an in-depth ancestral chart Gussin tries to make the introduction of these main characters easier on the reader. What happens however is that we are left with more confusion and the inability to connect with any one person.

Throughout the story, we are made to follow the Parnell family as they each traverse their own personal “Test“ that has been personally crafted by Peter before his death. Each lesson is to be administered over the course of a year to find out if his heirs are worthy of such a vast amount of money.

The story moved, however you find yourself needing to retreat back to the family tree to keep each character and where they belonged straight. By having so many main characters, each having their own personal journey, one has to relearn who the person is before you read what they are doing.

The idea of The Test was ingenious, a wealthy father, in his last hours of life realizing what is truly important;  tries to pass on wisdom he never could  while alive.  The Test was a great idea, with a grand moral lesson and a feel good ending. But with this many characters that you never are able to fully connect with, it falls flat in the end.

 

Reviewed on 04/08/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Andrea Asay

 Paul Parnell is a billionaire who has just died.  He made his money but near the end of his life he began to think about if it was too late for his grown children to learn life lessons.  So he devised a test – if they wanted their money they could have it.  After a year.  If they pass the test.

The problem?  None of the children even deal with each other.  They don’t really like each other.  And there’s a surprise sixth child.  That goes over as well as one would expect.  Some children want the money, others want nothing to do with it, and maybe one misses Paul Parnell.

Rory is a wifely type looked down upon by her siblings because she is a child of one of Paul’s ex-wives and not of blood.  Frank is a senator whose only goal is his political future.  Dan is the black sheep, wanting nothing to do with the family name or the family money.  Monica is the surprise sixth child, a famous singer whose parentage was known only to Paul.  Carla is a model with a more than serious drug problem.  And Ashley is the child who was still at home.  Working on her medical degree and doting on Paul.

What will they learn?  What secrets lie in wait to be discovered?  Who will crack?  Will they pass the test?

I loved, loved, LOVED this book.  I found some of the characters extremely unlikeable but after the introduction of the test I raced through the book to find out what happened. There were surprising agendas, unforeseen plot twists, betrayals, and even death.  Sometimes I was shocked, sometimes appalled, and sometimes just amused.  You will truly follow the pages of this book to learn what the children are up to.  In the process they will discover what they are truly made of.  And in the end, we find out who passed the test.  And who may not have.

Reviewed on 01/21/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Bethany Showell

When Paul Parnell died, he left behind a fortune in the billions, adult children by three different mothers, and a number of grandchildren and in-laws.  Prior to his death, Paul realized that one of the regrets of his life was not being active and available in the lives of his children.  His trusted lawyer is instructed to create an iron-clad will that requires his 6 surviving children to examine their lifestyles, morals, and values, and make decisions on what is important to each.  The final disposition of family fortune will depend on the decisions made by the children over the next year.

The family dynamics are interesting and somewhat convulted here, much like they are in any family of step children, half siblings, etc.  It's interesting to watch the interplay between the sons and daughters, and the way they view themselves and each other.   The author uses recent political and international events to weave throughout the story, adding an additional level of realism.  The novel chronicles the next year in the family, and marks numerous ups, downs, sadness and happy events. 

In some cases, there is almost too much going on, and I found myself having to backtrack once or twice, just to check out familial relationships.  In a novel with this many characters, plot twists and subplots, that's to be expected.  Some of the twists the book used were easy to see coming, some were not.  It definitely held my interest thoughout.

If you enjoy suspense and family intrigue, you will enjoy this book.  I plan to read more of this author's work in the future.

Reviewed on 10/25/2009 by ReviewTheBook.com Member LAURI COATES

Billionaire Paul Parnell was a typical tycoon. He spent all his time making money any way he could and it was only in his last days that he realized the cost to him and his family. His six children had little or no relationship with each other, and most expected his money to always be there. So before he died he devised a test to try to bring his family back together and teach them the life lessons he failed to teach them when he had the chance. The only way they could claim their inheritance was to pass this test within a year.

Even though the book is advertised as being about “The Test” and the synopsis is mostly about the test, the book only starts out being about the test and quickly looses that thread to become a murder mystery as someone targets the family members and the year counts down. Frank is the matriarch son and as such wants control of all the money. Dan is the rebel who left the family years ago. Ashley and Carla are the youngest sisters of Paul’s second wife Vivian. Rory is Vivian’s daughter. And then there is Monica.

I found this to be an enjoyable easy read with a somewhat predictable story line. The book had quite a few story lines going at once that seemed a little disconnected or unnecessary, and the ending never did completely explain the outcome of the test to my satisfaction, but overall I would recommend the book.

Reviewed on 10/18/2009 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Rebecca Cox