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    Alex Cross's Trial: (Alex Cross 15)
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    Alex Cross's Trial: (Alex Cross 15)
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    Alex Cross's Trial: (Alex Cross 15)
    Audiobook8 hours

    Alex Cross's Trial: (Alex Cross 15)

    Written by James Patterson

    Narrated by Shawn Andrew and Dylan Baker

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Ben Corbett is a brilliant young lawyer in early-twentieth-century Washington DC. Yet he is a disappointment to his wife and father, who believe he wastes his talents by doing poorly-paid and thankless work helping the poor and downtrodden.

    One day, out of the blue, he receives a private invitation to the White House. President Theodore Roosevelt has personally selected Ben to help him investigate rumours of lynchings and a re-emergence of the outlawed Ku Klux Klan in Ben's own hometown of Eudora, Mississippi. Ben accepts the mission handed to him and is given the name of a man in Eudora who will help him in this covert operation - the man's name is Abraham Cross, great-uncle of Alex.

    As Ben delves into the murky depths of racial hatred that hide beneath the surface of this seemingly sleepy Southern town, people become suspicious of what he is trying to do, and make it very clear to Ben what he is risking if he continues. Ben must decide if he is willing to lose old friends, his family, maybe even his life, for the cause he believes in.

    In his quest to bring about justice for the tortured and tormented black community of Eudora, Ben will have to take on the biggest, most difficult, and most dangerous trial of his life. But can one man fight an entire town, an entire state that is stuck in the past and willing to go to any lengths to halt change and the coming of a future that they desperately fear?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRandom House UK Audio
    Release dateSep 10, 2009
    ISBN9781409062127
    Unavailable
    Alex Cross's Trial: (Alex Cross 15)
    Author

    James Patterson

    James Patterson is the CEO of J. Walter Thompson, an advertising agency in New York. He has written several successful fiction and nonfiction books, including The New York Times best seller The Day America Told the Truth.

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    Reviews for Alex Cross's Trial

    4/5

    308 ratings36 reviews

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    • 4/5
      An excellent read!
    • 3/5
      The war has just ended; Equality is still a foreign concept -- especially in the south. Theodore Roosevelt (the President of the USA) has placed an urgent call to Ben Corbett - a prestigious lawyer - summoning him to The White House. The President instructs Corbett to seek the aid of Abraham Cross in his home town of Mississippi, and together, investigate the outbreak of burning and lynching of minorities. When he does arrive, it doesn't take him long to find Cross whom is being escorted by a beautiful young woman, Moody. Moody is Cross' grand daughter and together they show Corbett the true extent of the hate-filled assaults in a once peaceful town. While it does take Ben Corbett a while to accept the truth, he does finally come to realize just how dire the situation is.

      The first two pages are about Alex Cross and he is not mentioned again in the entire 380 pages. The book is really about lynching in the South in the early 1900s. There aren't any twists and turns in the plot to keep the reader riveted and the conclusion is absolutely non-climatic. A real disappointment. History buffs may really like it. 2.5 stars.
    • 5/5
      Surprise; this book is NOT about Alex Cross being on trial. As a matter of fact he is not even a character.
      Instead the reader is drawn into a world of such horror and deep sadness to think of the cruelty of man to another who doesn't look "just like me".

      Told from the viewpoint of a young child who witnessed a lynching in a town where the KKK is a strong and proud tradition that should not be taken a stand against.
      Sent by the President of the United States to Eudora, Mississippi to ascertain the veracity of the rumors of these events, a young lawyer learns the dark secrets of his hometown and those he grew up with.

      I was captivated by this sadly true story and the incredible courage this lawyer found within himself to make a stand despite the very life threatening risks to himself and those he learned to care so deeply for.
      A new view into a horrid part of our nation's history.

      I highly recommend this book to anyone who seeks truth, enlightenment and a peek into a side of life they may have little personal knowledge of.

      This is a book that WILL move you.

      It is NOT light entertainment.
    • 3/5
      I've read many of the novels in James Patterson's Alex Cross crime series, however; Alex Cross's Trial is a departure from the above suite of novels. Essentially it's a family tale involving a lawyer by the name of Ben Corbett, and a man called Abraham Cross, who happens to be Nana Mama's Uncle. (For those familiar with the Alex Cross series, Nana Mama is Alex's Grandmother). Alex decides to write the story after reading Corbett's journals.Taking place in the early part of the Twentieth Century, President Roosevelt sends Corbett from DC to Eudora Mississippi, his hometown, to find out more about the supposed lynchings that have been reported. Racism is rife, lynchings are commonplace and Corbett must gather information and stay alive despite being quickly labelled a 'nigger lover'.Overall, an exciting departure from the regular series, and a great historical fiction read from the time of the Ku Klux Klan in the South.
    • 4/5
      Don't expect the typical Alex Cross novel. This book has balls.

      It takes place in the deep south in the early part of the 1900s. It is a book about small town racial prejudice and fear. You can feel the atmosphere and sense the tension.
    • 5/5
      Not a typical Alex Cross Novel but a exellent written piece about Cross great grandfather and how he fought against lynchings and the KKK.
    • 4/5
      Alex Cross is a lawyer who works alot of pro bono cases. He realizes that many of his clients are unable to pay in monetary value. He accepts whatever they have at the time. President Roosevelt is in term at this time. He requests Alex's presence at The White House and has a mission for Alex should he choose to accept it. Roosevelt has heard too many racial happenings down South; mainly in the state of Mississippi. He wants someone to do down there and report back to Roosevelt. He has heard of Alex's reputation of accepting pro bono cases and thinks he is picking the correct man for this job. Alex accepts the offer from the President and takes the train to Mississippi the next day. Alex re-acquaints himself with many residents in this town since this is where he grew up. He meets his best friend while they were growing up. He meets his first girlfriend. Most of the people in this town are still living here. They like the way of living. He takes a tour of the city and visits with many friends for a few days and then he gets down to the reason for his coming. He knows the racial tension is oppressive but what he sees and hears is unbelievable. Alex gets himself in trouble when he gets involved in stopping the issue. Patterson's books are great. What a great historial book one can't put down once you start reading it. You will get mad at some of the characters and the occurences that happen. You will like to put the book down, but it's just irresistible to do such a feat.
    • 4/5
      This book's main character is a young white man from MS now living the life of a progressive lawyer in Washington DC. He receives a special task from Ted Roosevelt to go back to his home town and look into the lynchings and other inequalities occurring - something he believes can't be true. He returns to a town that looks the same but is inherently different and to a people who no longer welcome him with open arms as the son of the local Judge, but as the Yankee "nigger-loving" outsider. His secret task takes him down a dangerous path where he not only learns what the life of a black person in that area is like, but also learns that some of his white friends are not who he thought them to be. A great read.
    • 2/5
      This book is no where near as good as other installements in the series. Although the setting was a somewhat good idea, it seems to have sloed down the author's pace. The premise was good, but the book is not enjoyable.
    • 5/5
      This is, without a doubt, the best Paterson novel I've ever read. It made me angry to think that American's could be sold cold and evil, even though I'm well aware of the lynching terror that pervaded the South after the Civil War. I'm not sure if the kudos should go to Paterson or Richard Dilallo as this is far different than Paterson's other novels. It kept me turning the pages, each character was so real, the scenes well drawn and disturbing, the attitudes and hate so clear. Describing the weather, I could feel the sweat dripping off me.
    • 5/5
      A bit different for Patterson. Its a Alex Cross book, buts him telling about his ancestors courageous fight for freedom. A powerful drama & a good thriller, a very important one.
    • 4/5
      I have read many of Patterson's books, and enjoy his easy reading style. I found this to be the best novel that he has written. I am surprised that Patterson chose to tell a Southern story, and a story that did not end with the trial decision anticipated. The story happens in 1906 in a small town in Mississippi and President Theodore Roosevelt has sent a lawyer on a secret mission to explore the tales of lynching of black people. Patterson presents a town torn between humanity dignity and fear of peers in the struggle of racial equality. The story is well told by Patterson.
    • 3/5
      It was a good book with a good story. Kind of John Grishamish. Seems like the Alex Cross was to sell the book because I don't see where it was really necessary.
    • 5/5
      An electrifying story placed in Mississippi in 1906. A fictional tale of the struggle of southern whites to keep the coloreds in their proper place. Though fiction, I fear the story is based on true events. duration 8:53:17
    • 5/5
      ALEX CROSS'S TRIAL by James Patterson & Richard Dilallo is a intriguing thriller set in 1900 Eudora, Mississippi. It has betrayal, racism, lynchings, friendships, trust, prejudices, and bravery. When Ben Corbitt, an attorney from Washington, DC, is sent to his hometown by the president to investigate the alleged lynching and KKK involvement he encounters betrayal, horrible discoveries, new friendships, near death and survival. He also encounters the trust and friendship of Abraham Cross and his granddaughter, Moody. This is a compelling, heartbreaking, fast paced, page turner story. It will pull you into the story and engulf you, you will see the injustice of the time. This is a story of survival of the African American family and the hardships they endure in the South. It is about the trial of some of the KKK that was involved in the death's of three men, and the injustice that occurred with that trial.I would recommend this book. I must warn you it is heartbreaking, but also a part of our history. This book was received for review and details can be found at My Book Addiction and More and Grand Central Publishing.
    • 3/5
      I am a true Patterson fan that found this book enjoyable.This is not the usual Patterson style, however, the book holds your interest and keeps you turing pages.
    • 4/5
      Audiobook............A good piece of historical fiction set in Eudora, Mississippi during Teddy Roosevelt's presidency. The story is told by one of the author's longtime astute detective characters as he writes a piece of family history, about the role of the family in revealing the continuing practice of lynching in the South. Although the lynchings are described in all too vivid detail, the book is well worth reading!
    • 3/5
      I grabbed this from the new releases shelf at my library, because it had Alex Cross' name on it. Over the years I have really enjoyed James Patterson's Alex Cross novels. Now its my fault for not reading the synopsis, but I have to say I was a little disappointed that the book wasn't "really" an Alex Cross novel. I sort of feel that this was a marketing ploy to get Cross fans to buy the novel.That being said, I enjoyed it. It is by no means a great book, but you won't be disappointed. It is your typical easy and fast read by James Patterson. The type of book you want for the beach or your vacation (or in my case a long frickin Go bus ride, during a snow storm).The characters are interesting, if not overly developed, and the plot keeps you hooked. This is a little different than some of his other stuff, but I imagine that has to do with his co-writer on the story. The story is set during the early 1900's in a racially tense small Mississippi town. It is the story of Alex Cross's grandfather and his relationship with a white lawyer who comes to investigate lynchings on behalf of President Roosevelt.I know a lot of people knock James Patterson's novels, but he is a good storyteller, which is far more important to me than if the author is a "great writer"
    • 5/5
      Wow - couldn't put it down from the moment I started reading. Excellent book. Very different from any of the Alex Cross novels and well worth the read. The characters are all very well written and you will be hooked from the first chapter.
    • 1/5
      I knew going into this book that it really had nothing to do with Alex Cross, and I was fine with it. The problem I had with it is that it's what now I call, "typical Patterson". He needs to take control of his writings and not give it to the co-author. Patterson is more interested in pumping out books with his name on them, than putting out quality books. When I see a new "Patterson" book, I keep on telling myself, "this has to be better than the last one." As usual, I was wrong. The story is about Alex's great uncle, Abraham Cross who helps a man, Ben Corbett, who was sent by the President of the United States to look into the lynching of black men and to see if the KKK is still alive and hanging black men in Mississippi. That's pretty much the plot. One of many problems I had is that I expected Abraham to be a central characeter in this book, he's not. At best, he's a secondary character. The main character really is Ben. ***MINOR SPOILER*** There's a court scene, that just goes on and on and on and on. It just takes up so much of the book, that it was a distraction. ***END MINOR SPOILER*** Be smart, and do what I did. Get it at the library. I'd be mad if I paid full price for this book.
    • 5/5
      At last, Patterson has redeemed himself in my eyes. For too long he has cranked out book after book full of fill-in-the-blank story lines. The names and scenery would change, but the story remained the same. It had gotten to the point where I could figure out "who done it" within the first five chapters of any of his books. But this book? This book here? The master storyteller is back!Titled Alex Cross's Trial, don't be fooled. Alex Cross is briefly mentioned in the first two pages, but the story is that of Washington, DC attorney Ben Corbett. Set in the early 1900s, Ben finds himself summoned to the White House by President Theodore Roosevelt. At the president's request, Ben is dispatched to Eudora, Mississippi to investigate the rise in lynchings. A native of Eudora, Ben is familiar with the ways of the south, but isn't prepared for the journey that lies ahead of him. With the assistance of Abraham Cross, Alex's great great uncle, Ben sets out to complete the task at hand. Along the way he discovers that old friends can't be trusted and new friends come from the most unlikely places.At times I had to simply put the book down and take a break because it set my emotions on edge. Patterson and his co-author, Richard Dilallo, do a fine job of capturing the essence of the town's characters, both black and white. There is no sugar coating of the horror of lynching and the era in history that most of mainstream America would like to pretend never existed. This is a definite must read from Patterson for the first time in a long time.
    • 4/5
      This was an atypical James Patterson book. Some of the scenes were quite gruesome but, it was a quick read and a page turner.
    • 4/5
      James Patterson is like many successful authors. He writes a really good book or two, becomes famous, and then pours forth one mediocre (or sometimes just plain bad) book after another. I keep reading them hoping for another one like the really good ones, but it never appears. This is better than the last few of his I have read.It occurs at the turn of the century when the blacks are free in theory but still under the suppression of the whites, particularly deep in Mississippi where this story takes place. A Washington DC lawyer who grew up in Eudora, MS, returns there at the request of the President to quietly investigate the alleged actions of the Klan against the blacks. He finds it is even worse than reported with frequent lynchings for the slightest perceived provocation, or just because they want to do so. He becomes friends with Abraham Cross, an elderly black man, and his family. When Klan action escalates and is directed toward the Cross family, he sets out to help convict those involved. The characters are okay. The plot is okay. The book is not a great book, but it certainly is readable and a little different from his previous stories. It is not a book I would tell a friend they should read, but if you are a Patterson fan, you probably will enjoy it.
    • 4/5
      I am a big fan of James Patterson's Alex Cross series. Alex Cross's Trial, however, is not the typical Alex Cross mystery novel. It is the story of Alex's great uncle Abraham Cross's struggles against the Ku Klux Klan in the early 1900's. A young lawyer named Ben Corbett travels from Washington DC to his hometown of Eudora Mississippi at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt to investigate the almost daily lynchings that have taken place. When Ben returns to his old hometown he reconnects with old friends and also meets the courageous Abraham Cross and his lovely daughter Moody. Ben risks his marriage and family and also has to cope with his less than perfect relationship with his father, who also happens to be a judge.I was skeptical of this book at first, but I became engrossed in the historical aspects of the story and found it an interesting read. The horrific content of these events may be difficult reading at times, but this book illustrates beautifully the courage and perseverence one must have possess in order to fight for justice and one's ideals, however unpopular they may be.
    • 4/5
      Alex Cross's Trial was pretty amazing. Even though this is considered the 15th book in the Alex Cross series, it only fits because Cross "wrote" this book about his relative (Great ^4th Grandfather?) who was pushing for civil rights in 1905. Other than the name Cross on a couple characters and the 'Forward' by Alex Cross, this is a book on one man's fight to stop racial hatred. I've recently been reading a bunch of the Cross novels and I have to say that Trial is a step above the rest. The plot has far fewer and smaller holes than normal and it really makes you feel like you're in Mississippi in the hot explosive summer of 1905. Ben Corbett, a lawyer in Washington D.C., is a white lawyer willing to honestly defend the poor colored folk. He even does quite a bit of Pro bono work. This of course does not make him a rich lawyer by any means, and his wife is getting a little tired of all his long hours and small financial returns. The President (Theodore Roosevelt) calls him to the White House for a special assignment to send Ben back to his home town in Eudora, Mississippi to look into the reports of lynching and the resurgence of the KKK. Since Ben had been one of Roosevelt's Rough Rider's the President trusts him with this mission. Teddy gives Ben the name Abraham Cross, an old black man from the poor quarter and willing to help Ben get the information he'll be looking for. Ben risks his marriage and his life in his attempt to shine the light of truth into the darkest corners of the south.
    • 3/5
      Not really a mystery like James Patterson's other books. This takes place at the turn of the century in Southern Mississippi and involes the racial inbalance at the time in history. It is a very easy read and a piece of history that should be brought forward and discussed.
    • 4/5
      Woah, Mr Patterson. As someone who is reading and enjoying the Alex Cross books in order,I was shocked by this book. A little bit of warning was necessary! This is a book about Alex's great uncle Abraham Cross in the era of the KKK. I think this book needs to be read to understand it fully and this review isnt going to give you much info.I found it too gripping to put down. I often struggle with books around racism. I find them so difficult to read. I think it's because I often put myself into the story too much and its almost like I can feel the pain and suffering that black people went through. This was one of those types of books for me. Although the story is a little farfetched at times, I was still fully immersed and it meant that I had to finish it to know what happens.And thats it,I dont feel like I can write anymore about it.
    • 2/5
      Oh my. I really wish people would stop recommending gruesome stuff to me. I am not the target audience for this. Nor do I think any thriller-reading bigots will learn anything from it. I have no idea who any of these people are except cardboard role-fillers. I found the short chapters to be jarring - like each was a panel or page in a graphic novel? Boy-oh-boy if this is a cut above most supermarket reads, well, let me say I'm glad I don't buy my books there. Sorry.
    • 5/5
      LOVED it! It was gripping, interesting, impossible to put down. Made me ashamed for our past, but so hopeful for the future. Very, very good!!
    • 4/5
      First off, I liked it. It was an entertaining read. I am doubtful that such gross injustice ever was so prevalent and fragrant as depicted here, so you have to suspend belief a bit and go along to get the maximum impact from this fictional novel. Many great novels require the suspension of common sense and belief, but this one is NOT a great novel, although highly readable and somewhat thought provoking. In spite of the negatives. I give it 4 stars for its entertainment value.