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)

Awesome Follow Up

I loved it! I can't wait to finish the trilogy. Loved the characters growth. great narration.

Better than the first

More engaging story compared to the 1st in the series. More action is always an improvement.

awesome twists

great story, depth of characters and intertwining paths. even better then the first book. justin Cronin wrote a beautiful apocalyptic story with emotion and love

Amazing book!

First review I have ever written, and I am an avid reader and audio book listener. I can’t say enough about the storyline, the depth of character development, and the incredible audio production. The Twelve, I believe, is a much better all-around book than The Passage. Can’t wait for the 3rd installment.

Excellent!

The story continues, develops, moved on, testing at my emotions from beginning to end! Wonderful

another great one

loved it listen to it again in preparation for city of mirrors. the second book has a great continuity

Amazing!

It can get slow in parts but stick it out! It's so worth it! All of the side stories are in there for a reason and he ties up everything so beautifully I cried.

I love this book!

I just finished this book for the 2nd time. I read it the first time and decided to listen to the audiobook again before I read the 3rd book I the series. I remember thinking these 2 books are probably in my top 5 of all time. I enjoy fantasy and paranormal genre and have read tons of it. This storyline is totally different than anything I have read before.

narration is fantastic.

story excellent....easier to listen to than read. narration is wonderful...really brought the story to life.

Amazing!

I'm so excited to listen to the third book in the series! Scott Brick did a wonderful job!