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  • Along Came a Spider (25th Anniversary Edition)

  • Written by: James Patterson
  • Narrated by: Taye Diggs
  • Length: 11 hrs and 1 min
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (272 ratings)

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Along Came a Spider (25th Anniversary Edition) cover art

Along Came a Spider (25th Anniversary Edition)

Written by: James Patterson
Narrated by: Taye Diggs
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Publisher's Summary

Discover the classic thriller that launched the number-one detective series of the past 25 years, now one of PBS's "100 Great American Reads".

Alex Cross is a homicide detective with a PhD in psychology. He works and lives in the ghettos of D. C. and looks like Muhammad Ali in his prime. He's a tough guy from a tough part of town who wears Harris Tweed jackets and likes to relax by banging out Gershwin tunes on his baby grand piano. But he also has two adorable kids of his own, and they are his own special vulnerabilities.

Jezzie Flanagan is the first woman ever to hold the highly sensitive job as supervisor of the Secret Service in Washington. Blond, mysterious, and seductive, she's got an outer shell that's as tough as it is beautiful. She rides her black BMW motorcycle at speeds of no less than 100 mph. What is she running from? What is her secret?

Alex Cross and Jezzie Flanagan are about to have a forbidden love affair - at the worst possible time for both of them. Because Gary Soneji, who wants to commit the "crime of the century," is playing at the top of his game. Soneji has outsmarted the FBI, the Secret Service, and the police. Who will be his next victim?

Gary Soneji is every parent's worst nightmare. He has become Alex Cross's nightmare. And now, listener, he's about to become yours.

©1993, 2018 James Patterson (P)2018 Hachette Audio

What the critics say

"Patterson's storytelling talent is in top form in this grisly escapist yarn." (Library Journal)

"Brilliantly terrifying! So exciting that I had to stay up all night to finish it! Packed with white-knuckle twists." (Daily Mail)

"An incredibly suspenseful read with a one-of-a-kind villain who is as terrifying as he is intriguing." (Clive Cussler)

What listeners say about Along Came a Spider (25th Anniversary Edition)

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Maybe just not my type of book?

I struggled to get through this book... not quite sure if it was the narration which was mediocre (not the worst I've ever heard, but definitely didn't do the book justice, in my opinion) or if it was the story itself (found it quite copy and disorganized at times). Thinking I'm going to read the book hard copy before I make my final decision on 'Along Came A Spider'.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Robotic narration

I enjoy James Patterson which is why I chose this book, but I almost had to stop listening because of the terrible, robotic, unimaginative narration. By far the worst of all the books I’ve listened to!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Which one was the spider?

I've read a lot of his books and this one definitely doesn't disappoint...give it a try it is a great book written by a very gifted writer that will keep you on the edge of your seat and has a very surprising ending !!!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

good

nice one .. interesting and must listen best way to listen to good music. .

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Robotic narration did not do the book justice

The storyline is interesting and engaging, which was the thing that stopped me from quiting on this book. the narrator sounded like a robot. All the characters have the exact same voice and none of their personalities came through at all. At times I was confused who is talking, or whether something is the narrative, a character's inner thoughts or speech.
if you can find this book narrated by someone else, I'd stay away from this version.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars

Narrator makes it impossible to listen

I've tried multiple times to listen to this book and I just can't deal with the narrator. I think he's the worst I've heard but I've been privileged with them. He doesn't tell the story, he reads it. Every character, every situation, same monotone droll. A character is said to do a Nixon impression and he reads it straight. Sorry. I cant judge the story

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Bad narration

I thoroughly enjoyed the writing, but the narration was awful. The character voice differentiation was almost nul, and the narrator mixed up what voices he had created. It was as if a grade school child had been reading a text for the first time for a teacher in front of the class. Not impressed.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Taye Diggs was great as the narrator.

I read the book 20 years ago, but listening to Diggs read it to me was so much better!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

just ok

I love James Patterson's Alex Cross series. My reason for fewer stars is that I couldn't find the narrator's voice intriguing. He just seemed monotone to me. This is the first audio book I've not enjoyed.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Starts off well enough but gets boring AF half way through

Starts off well enough but gets boring AF half way through. Decided not to finish it

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