Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Alex Cross's TRIAL  By  cover art

Alex Cross's TRIAL

By: James Patterson, Richard DiLallo
Narrated by: Dylan Baker
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.83

Buy for $21.83

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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

Featured Article: The Best James Patterson Audiobooks and Series, According to Fans


James Patterson is one of the most prolific contemporary American writers working today—from children's and YA books to thrillers, mysteries, and even romance, it's hard to keep up with such a massive number of best sellers. Whether you’re just discovering James Patterson or you’re an avid, longtime fan of his wide-ranging work, you can't go wrong with any of these excellent listens. Here are a few different entry points into his impressive catalog.

What listeners say about Alex Cross's TRIAL

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    865
  • 4 Stars
    366
  • 3 Stars
    210
  • 2 Stars
    101
  • 1 Stars
    77
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    693
  • 4 Stars
    189
  • 3 Stars
    66
  • 2 Stars
    17
  • 1 Stars
    18
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    644
  • 4 Stars
    181
  • 3 Stars
    92
  • 2 Stars
    37
  • 1 Stars
    27

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

In a word ... miserable

Generally. I'm not given to writing negative reviews, if I don't like a book ... I figure I've already wasted enough of my time ... but this book has driven me to make an exception. I gave up reading Patterson when his writing started feeling more an exercise in prolific banality than creative genius. I really enjoyed his early work and especially the character, Alex Cross. One more chance I thought ... this is Alex Cross. All I can say is I wish I had my ten bucks back, this was miserable. Patterson cares more about the commercial buck than his writng craft. Too bad he sold himself down such a cheap river.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

149 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Keep looking

I hate to leave bad reviews, but it really is that awful. It's a lot like The Magic Treehouse childrens' series, except with extreme violence. Weirdly, the poor narrator reads these harrowing scenes in a chipper, slightly amused voice. There's lot of good audiobooks here, but this is not one of them.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Poor story; Worse narration

I decided to read the book because I enjoy recent historical fiction. I was especially interested in learning about the deep South and how blacks were treated in the early 1900's. I was so disappointed. There was little depth to the book, yet such a deep subject. I thought it was slow and violence just for the sake of violence. The narration was painful. I never felt like the book took place over a hundred years. The narrative had a rather hip, sarcastic tone and absolutely no southern accent even though it was in first person and the character was from Mississippi. Too many chapters. The music at the end of some of the chapters was totally annoying and not necessary. The worst audible book I have ever listened to. I should have gone with my gut and quit an hour into it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Alex Cross??

The title dose not say it all!
Patterson is loosing it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

I Feel Manipulated

If you are considering getting this book in order to experience another great adventure of Alex Cross - forget it. Alex Cross's name is boldly included in the title of this book, but this book is NOT about him - not at all. It's about an ancestor of his. While the story that's the basis for the book is okay, James Patterson and the publisher blatantly manipulates potential readers by including in the book's title the name of a well known and much beloved character - Alex Cross. We deserve better and they should be appropriately criticized.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Misleading

Lawd, lawd, there is nothing more frustrating that listening to a non-southerner try to imitate a Mississippi accent. Worse, when they try to conjure up a Mississippi Negro accent. There is the barest connection to Alex Cross in this story, so I felt mislead that this was advertised as a Cross novel. Also, it is beginning to get on my nerves that Mr Patterson gets so much credit for books he does not solely author. How much of his books are his, and how much of the credit belongs to his co-authors? Is Mr. Patterson incapable of writing a book by himself?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Not an Alex Cross book

If your looking for the next suspense thrilled chapter in Alex Cross's life, keep waiting. This is racial historical folklore disguised as a bedtime story told by Cross about generations past. Nana Momma isn't even a factor. Even family guy retrospects include a tie to current situations as stupid as they are.
This is another "co-author" James Patterson example of putting his name on someone else's work, possibly for the money or to rack up his total publication numbers. If he's giving NEW TALENT a break, he should be much more selective! It would be like Patricia Cornwell narrating a story of Scarpetta's niece Lucy's grandparents courtship with zero connection to current story lines.
How will we know when the next Patterson novel is really he former " Beach House" or "Roses are Red" quality. I'm not buying anymore DUAL Author let downs.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Just as good as I'd hoped.

Many people have given this book low ratings just because it wasn't an "Alex Cross" book. Just reading the synopsis tells you exactly what the book is about and why I wanted to read it. Although I listened to the book, my husband actually read it and we were both enthralled. I think the narrator added so much to my enjoyment that I can't give it anything less than five stars. Anyone who has ever read any history about the South and the KKK knows how very real this book depicts that time. Good job Patterson for reminding us of what should never happen again in this country.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Trial

This book will weave you into the intrigue and webs of deception in the early 19th century. Although, the slaves have been freed, the deep south has alternative plans for the black people and decides they should be eliminated. Excellect read! Warning!! You cannot put it down once you begin.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful