Alex Cross's TRIAL

By: James Patterson, Richard DiLallo

Narrated by: Dylan Baker

Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

From his grandmother, Alex Cross has heard the story of his great uncle Abraham and his struggles for survival in the era of the Ku Klux Klan. Now, Alex passes the family tale along to his own children in a novel he's written - a novel called Trial.

As a lawyer in turn-of-the-century Washington, D.C., Ben Corbett represents the toughest cases. Fighting against oppression and racism, he risks his family and his life in the process. When President Roosevelt asks Ben to return to his home town to investigate rumors of the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan there, he cannot refuse.

When he arrives in Eudora, Mississippi, Ben meets the wise Abraham Cross and his beautiful daughter, Moody. Ben enlists their help, and the two Crosses introduce him to the hidden side of the idyllic Southern town. Lynchings have become commonplace and residents of the town's black quarter live in constant fear. Ben aims to break the reign of terror - but the truth of who is really behind it could break his heart.

Written in the fearless voice of Detective Alex Cross, Alex Cross's Trial is a gripping story of murder, love, and, above all, bravery.

Solve another case with Alex Cross.

©2009 James Patterson (P)2009 Hachette

A new approach

This book was different than the other Alex Cross books, which I could never get into. This one was unique in its setting and approach. I loved it!

Great change up.

I didn't enjoy the last book in this series so this was a needed change up. Great story!

Did not like this

Could not even finish it. Not what I expected from Patterson. Would not recommend this.

Alex Cross's Trail

I thought this book was AWESOME, it kept me waiting to find out what happened next and I could hardly get away from it. The time and the place puts you right there so you can almost feel what each person is feeling. It really makes you stop and think Have we really changed?

unexpectedly good

I didn't think I would like this departure from the normal Alex Cross series but I really did enjoy both the story and the performance

Great book!

I really thought it was a great book. Very exciting, well thought, time of adventure was well placed!

Trying to decide

Not being a James Patterson reader, I had no expectations other than from the reviews and a positive recommendation from my aunt. I had no trouble staying with the book til the end; it was good enough to keep me interested while I knit.

I, like others, wasn't impressed with the quality of the reader's southern or black accents. I also found the sound effects mildly irritating...such as the background noise during the raid on Abraham's house in the quarters, and the swelling choir preceding Abraham's demise. This narrator definitely did not enhance my listening experience, but it wasn't enough to make me stop.

I just don't know if I can buy the story. Not at all because I doubt these events could have happened; rather I think Patterson and his co-author's writing lacked an authentic enough voice to sell it.

I may try a regular Alex Cross mystery at some point; but I will do so without any illusions about the quality of the writing. I gave this one three stars for effort because I appreciate his tackling such a difficult topic but if we could use 1/2 stars I would only give it 2 1/2 for results.

Ignorance and prejudice

Having grown up in the south during the civil rights movement I have seen and witnessed a great deal of segregation. For a college class I had an assignment where I had to interview an important member of our community. The man I interverviewed was named Vance and he told me as a child he witnessed three black men hanging from a tree in the black section of the town. The sheriff informed Vance they would remain there as a lesson to the other black's in the community not to step out of line.
I felt this book was one of Patterson greatest stories he has told. I felt as if I was an insider watching as the events unfolded before my eyes.
It is unfortunate many people haven't learned from the past. There are plenty of people in our society today whose ignorance is so strong and the
viewpointds are so narrow they hinder our society.
Ignorance is so rampant in our society it will be the downfall of the United States.

Very good!

This was an excellent story, although at times a bit hard to listen to (graphic violence).

Gripping

The words paint a gruesome picture of a shameful time in our nation's history. I understand some people's disappointment that this was not the typical Alex Cross novel, but I think some critics judge the book harshly because of the subject matter. It's ugly. It's brutal. It's painful to think about. But lynchings like the ones Patterson and Dilallo write about really happened, and it's good to have a reminder every now and then. We should not forget our history -- not the good and not the bad.