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  • The Twelve

  • A Novel
  • Written by: Justin Cronin
  • Narrated by: Scott Brick
  • Length: 26 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (137 ratings)

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The Twelve cover art

The Twelve

Written by: Justin Cronin
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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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

What the critics say

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)

What listeners say about The Twelve

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  • JB
  • 2019-05-07

Skip it

I’m not a fan of the drawling harlequin romance style of narration and writing. Too many cliches in this book as well.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Incredible

Just incredible. Listen now! Five stars all around. One of my fav trilogy’s ever. Magnificent!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great story for a long journey

Part two of this trilogy was a creative and entertaining story. At times suspenseful, to me it was just a good long story that unfolded with several twists. Looking forward to the conclusion of the series with next months credit

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Second book in the trilogy

Good listen, not as good as the first book however the thing to remember is that it is important in the trilogy as a whole. If you’ve listened to the first book it’s important to the development of the characters in the 3rd book. The trilogy in whole if one of the better books I’ve listened to.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

such a great series!!

the story is fantastic, the presenter does a fabulous job...I love this! highly recommended to any sci-fi and/or horror fans

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Loved it !

Interesting stoyline,well developed characters,good balance of intrigue ,action and resolution.Great value when I prurchased as bx set.

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Great 2nd Book

This second installment was just as good as the first. So far, I've loved the two books in this series. Very entertaining!

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Part 2 of an amazing journey!

The passage & The Twelve have overwhelmed my senses and emotions! Part 2 as much as the 1st. Pure genious!!

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