Billionaire philanthropist and head of Pharma Labs had regrets. He had not been close to his family. He devoted all of his time and enthusiasm toward his business dealings and did not have time to be a father and husband. As he lay dying of cancer he determined to be a positive influence to his family in death as he never was in life. So Paul Parnell devised an airtight will that demanded each member of the family pass a “test” before receiving hundreds of millions of dollars inheritance. Paul wrote each a personal letter in which he praised the good qualities and outlined how that person needed to improve in order to pass his test. Paul desperately wanted his family to embrace his life’s credo. He placed these four values above all else: God, Family, Community and Profession. The family lawyer would get them all together at the end of a year and make the evaluation of each.
Gussin develops each of the six children in detail. One, a Senator with strong political ambition wants all of the money so that he can run for president of the United States. Another wants to study medicine and work in neonatal care. Another is addicted to heroin and only wants to live day by day from fix to fix. Another is a shy, defeated man living on a small farm raising palm trees far outside the Parnell riches and influence. He wants nothing to do with the family. Another is a rock music star who did not even know that she was Paul’s daughter until recently. She was the result of an early affair.
As each of the six face their demons they begin to feel the family fortune is less and less important and become devoted to each other. Threats and death bring them together in ways they never would have imagined. In the end none of them really want the money but in getting close and not wanting the money they pass the test at year’s end. In the “feel-good” conclusion they all laughingly agree to use their fortune to see if they can get their brother the Senator elected president.
“The Test” is a compelling story, well written and vastly entertaining. I give it a 9 of 10 on the Weaver meter.
