The Twelve

A Novel

By: Justin Cronin

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 26 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best seller

The end of the world was only the beginning.

In his internationally best-selling and critically acclaimed novel The Passage, Justin Cronin constructed an unforgettable world transformed by a government experiment gone horribly wrong. Now the scope widens and the intensity deepens as the epic story surges forward....

In the present day, as the man-made apocalypse unfolds, three strangers navigate the chaos. Lila, a doctor and an expectant mother, is so shattered by the spread of violence and infection that she continues to plan for her child’s arrival even as society dissolves around her. Kittridge, known to the world as "Last Stand in Denver", has been forced to flee his stronghold and is now on the road, dodging the infected, armed but alone and well aware that a tank of gas will get him only so far. April is a teenager fighting to guide her little brother safely through a landscape of death and ruin. These three will learn that they have not been fully abandoned - and that in connection lies hope, even on the darkest of nights.

One hundred years in the future, Amy and the others fight on for humankind’s salvation...unaware that the rules have changed. The enemy has evolved, and a dark new order has arisen with a vision of the future infinitely more horrifying than man’s extinction. If the Twelve are to fall, one of those united to vanquish them will have to pay the ultimate price.

A heart-stopping thriller rendered with masterful literary skill, The Twelve is a grand and gripping tale of sacrifice and survival.

Look for the entire Passage trilogy:

The Passage
The Twelve
The City of Mirrors

Praise for The Twelve

“[A] literary superthriller.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“An undeniable and compelling epic...a complex narrative of flight and forgiveness, of great suffering and staggering loss, of terrible betrayals and incredible hope.” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

“The Twelve is even better than The Passage.” (The Plain Dealer)

“A compulsive read.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

"Gripping... Cronin [introduces] eerie new elements to his masterful mythology.... Enthralling, emotional and entertaining.” (The San Diego Union-Tribune)

“Fine storytelling.” (Associated Press)

“Cronin is one of those rare authors who works on two different levels, blending elegantly crafted literary fiction with cliff-hanging thrills.” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

©2012 Justin Cronin (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

Named one of the Ten Best Novels of the Year by Time and Library Journal, and one of the Best Books of the Year by The Washington Post, Esquire, U.S. News & World Report, NPR/On Point, and St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Magnificent...Cronin has taken his literary gifts, and he has weaponized them.... The Passage can stand proudly next to Stephen King’s apocalyptic masterpiece The Stand, but a closer match would be Cormac McCarthy’s The Road." (Time)

Simply Superb

Extraordinary storytelling and writing. The author created characters of realistic depth, complete with the fallible human parts to balance the good that you feel them yearning to possess.
The narrator is amazingly gifted as a story teller. The best books can be ruined by a bad reader, but when the best books are read by the best readers, then magic happens.
That's what you'll discover here.

Amazing

What did you love best about The Twelve: A Novel?

I loved how it demonstrated how strong people during times of struggle can gather together as one.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The first created. Because she was just amazing.

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A sense of who the characters really were he brought their personalities on page to life.

Who was the most memorable character of The Twelve: A Novel and why?

The ultimate survivor

And the story keeps developing!

I can't really compare this book to the 1st one as the story develops! The story just keeps getting better and better, and now we get to know the ones that are left. Outstanding character development and after 24 hours, I care about these people and "non-people". This is very far from my preferred genre, but I'm so happy I decided to pick up the first book in this trilogy! And you will too! Give it a chance! It is so NOT what I imagined it would be! This author has a great imagination that would have you thinking and wondering "could this really happen?" Atmosphere was so well developed that I can literally see where the story is taking place.
I can not say enough about the narration, but should just say it is fantastic! Mr Brick can sure tell a story and he does this in a cadence voice that can only make this book better!
I am really debating getting the next and final book NOW, with my last remaining credit and 20 days left before I receive 2 more, or taking a break so the story doesn't end so soon.

Started out slow

I think Scott Brick did an excellent job in narrating The Twelve and the Passage. I had a hard time getting into this book and didn't feel like it kicked in till about the middle, but well worth the read.

so easy to stick with this story

looking forward to seeing the next in this series....thank you for a great cast of characters .

A review of The Passage and The Twelve

If you could sum up The Twelve: A Novel in three words, what would they be?

Captivating, Intriguing, Fresh

What other book might you compare The Twelve: A Novel to and why?

Loved the Passage, part one of this series, so was excited when The Twelve was released. Anxiously awaiting the third installment to this series.Justin Cronin does an excellent job of keeping the reader's interest with a well-thought-out and intriguing storyline. I am not much of a traditional vampire book follower but this series has a fresh and new take on the vampire theme. I also enjoyed The Host by Stephenie Meyer, as it also took on a well used theme (aliens inhabiting other species) but in a novel way. (I am not interested in her Twilight series.)

Have you listened to any of Scott Brick’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to Scott Brick read several of Nelson Demille's books, including The Charm School, The General Daughter, his John Corey series. I thoroughly enjoyed his reading of The Passage and The Twelve.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely, both of the them.

Any additional comments?

If a story about vampires turns you off, this story is not Dracula (which is a great classic), nor Twilight series, nor even the Sookie Stackhouse variety of vampires. This is a new fresh take on the genre. The amount of drama and build up to tense and frightening moments was well written and kept me coming back to listen to what would happen next.
Mr. Cronin wants you to know his characters and his development of them as people doesn't leave you lacking.

I wholeheartedly recommend this series.

Harry Potter for Grownups

Where does The Twelve: A Novel rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of my favorite books. It is complicated, surprising, thought provoking and entertaining. Not far fetched to where you can't see it actually happening. No one is safe. I hated the Twilight books. This one brings the true original terror of the vampire myth to life in present day...what if????

great writing but a shaky story

Brick narrates splendidly and Cronin's command of language remains engaging. The story however feels rushed, picking up in media res on too many threads and then accelerating them together. much time is spent on the central villain, with too little attention given the eponymous twelve. the climactic scene feels sadly contrived, given two novels worth of build-up. Ultimately I'm left looking forward to the final novel but at the same time concerned Cronin spent his best ideas on the first book. if the third is more of the same without a new twist or more serious stakes, it seems like he might run out of steam before the finish.

surviving our brave new world

each one of us wonders if ,having to protect our children , we could pull the trigger....this book raises the question.... could you be the one to step up and save the world...can you do it...would you sacrifice your live for others....could you pull the trigger?

The second was as good as the first!

I love this book; so much so after I get through the third one I am going to listen to it again. It’s such a good story and even though it is about vampires-ish and such, the way the story unfold keeps you captivated. Not to mention the narrator is speaks in a way that you really become so engaged in what is going on. Highly recommend!!!