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)

Fantastic!

Absolutely reccommend this book/trilogy! The narration is just as outstanding as the story. Really enjoyed!

Picking up right where it left off

Book two of three, what can I say? I think this book frustrated me more than the first! The beginning is a little out there but it all comes together as the book progresses. If you read the first book, I know no matter what, you'll read the final two. Too much time invested. I do want to say, Peter is hands down the stupidest character I have ever read. How can someone be as stupid as he is?

Would make a good summer listen

Found the book to be very entertaining but felt like the plot-lines were forced to meet, not very organic.

It was a long wait

I've been looking forward to this book for a very long time, perhaps too long. My expectations were sky high. I'm glad that I re-read The Passage before I started this one, although there was enough of a recap of The Passage at the beginning that people who have not read The Passage will still enjoy the book. Personally, I was just a little disappointed. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but this one just didn’t grab me like the first one did. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that there was only one narrator this time, or that this was a substantially shorted book. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to the third installment.

Almost as good as The Passage

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

On my Top 5-list.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Twelve: A Novel?

There are so many, and I do not want to give any spoilers.

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

I have listened to The Passage, Book 1and Book 2 is almost as good. I simply loved to be back in the world of all these wonderful characters.

If you could take any character from The Twelve: A Novel out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I would choose Brad Wolgast. He sounds like a person to trust and one who cares.

Any additional comments?

I almost can't wait for Book 3!

Excellent Book!

Totally engrossing and hard to put down! Enjoyed this one as much or more than the first!

A great read and a great follow up

A great read and a great follow up to The Passage. The story was technically sound and very interesting. Narration was great.

Even better than the first

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I already did!

Any additional comments?

I found this sequel to be even more interesting and layered with depth than the first installation. Looking forward to the finale!

Typical Second book in a Trilogy, Leaves the Story

Would you consider the audio edition of The Twelve: A Novel to be better than the print version?

Somewhat. This narrator is very good and I enjoy listening to him.

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

I listened to The Passage and another book by him. He is very good.

Any additional comments?

This book leaves the story hanging a bit, but that is to be expected of the second in a trilogy. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and I didn't realize there was a list of characters in the back of the book, which might have been handy. The climax of the book is confusing and what actually happens is somewhat unclear. I am hoping the third book explains it all. I can't wait for the third to come out.

Another great book in the series.

Non stop entertainment. Nice blend of action and great story telling. A very creative take on the classic vampire tales.