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)

great story

just as good as the first.
is a very well layered book for a post apocalyptic vampire story.

The Twelve

I enjoyed the first book in this trilogy more than I did the second. I finished the book, and I will download the third, because I am invested in the story. But I found The Twelve a bit hard to follow. The book is so long, and there are so many characters and timelines, I found myself forgetting who people were if they hadn't been mentioned in a while.

With that said, the story is good. Just make sure you're paying attention. This isn't really the kind of story you want to listen to while you're multitasking. You'll miss something important!

A Mind Blowing Novel

This is the second time I’ve finished this book (first time listening to it). I absolutely love it. Mr Cronin plays with time and story lines and my review can’t do it justice. I will say, it’s difficult to keep up sometimes, but i love it all.

I wish it wasn't Trebek narrating, though...

I love this trilogy. I love it so much. I hate that it's read by Alex Trebek. Wrong voice, guys, come on.

Gret follow up book to The Passage

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

Oftentimes a trilogy book visits the same characters over and over. I loved that we did that in this book but were also introduced to new characters. It allowed for a wider visualization of the world in which they were all living in.

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

In some ways it reminded me of The Stand. Not in the horror genre but in that you were seeing how day to day lives were affected by a catastrophe that was/is beyond ones control and the strength required to master it.

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

Great narrator! His voice is easy to listen to and had great syntax, energy, and heart.

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

Searching

Any additional comments?

Great read! It is a long book but carried its own weight throughout. Personally I love the long books as you truly get your moneys worth in hours. I was never bored and it definitely did not drag on. It was over before I knew it...in a good way. I will move on to book three as soon as possible.

Perfect book for listening

I tried to read the first in this trilogy years ago- but it started off slow and was long so didn't get into it- with audio you can listen while doing other things and now I'm hooked- starting book 3 right away

FanFreakinTastic!!

The story, narrator and pace were topnotch! I can't wait to read the final book in this trilogy.

Wonderful!

Just like the rest of this series the story, narration and characters were strong. This is one of my favorite series, and I'm sure I will listen to it again.

Can't wait for the next

I have read and listen to these books and I just want to start over and listen again, the only thing I'm disappointed with is how long it takes him to write these books! And I sure hope Scott Brick is the narrator he is just awesome, I wish I could have him permanently narrate my whole life in my head😆

Great continuation

This is another very long book, but so worth the time. I grew so attached to his characters, and completely immersed in this crazy new world, I didn't want the story to end. Great narration, again. As in the first book, I found myself sometimes wondering "what does this have to do with anything?" only to realize hours (chapters) later that it was indeed important. Just fantastic. Can't wait for #3!