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)

Solid middle book in a planned trilogy

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

Solid middle book. Does a great job of filling back story and setting up the final chapter in the trilogy. However, some of the characters are weak and poorly written

Who was your favorite character and why?

Peter because he seems to the most human and the voice of conscious and reason in the story

Which scene was your favorite?

The scenes where Peter meets up with Tifte

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

Alicia as she is so noble and yet so human

Bloodthirsty for more!

Easy to listen to an even do its a long book I long for more!

Looking forward to hearing the next book!

Slow starting

The Twelve starts out slow and somewhat confusing. However it quickly picks up speed and engages you. Stick with it and hold on.

Engaging!

Any additional comments?

This book was a great follow-on to the first. I am excited to get my hands on Book 3. Kudos to the Author, Juston Cronin, and narrator Scott Brick. I hope Scott will be narrating the third book. He does a fantastic job!

loved it!!! would read again thanks to the author

loved it would read again the movie does no just is. thanks to the author and the actor who read it aloud for us. it was spectacular.

Fantastic journey!

Emotion evoking as you travel through this complex, yet clearly narrated, journey of joy and sadness.

Binge worthy

I love the writing and the narration was incredible. This book has taken me through the full gambit of emotions. I will start the next one immediately.

Excellent!

I would give this book and its sequel a six star rating if I could! I can't wait for book three to come out.

Good follow up

As with the first this one develops the story an characters quite well. I mm myself looking for any moment to listen

Different exciteing Whats next

What made the experience of listening to The Twelve: A Novel the most enjoyable?

It started off quite interesting and got more so as the book went on.
Always wondering what is next.

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

The length of the book and time periods make it hard to compare this with any other book.
Quite unique.

Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favorite?

Amy--who was she really.
Kept you thinking.
Didn't find out till the end

If you could rename The Twelve: A Novel, what would you call it?

Hard to rename this novel. What it is, it is.

Any additional comments?

Naration can make or break a book. This was in my opinion one of the best narrations I have listend to.
Very good book!