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Alex Cross's TRIAL Kindle Edition

by James Patterson (Author), Richard DiLallo (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 7,294 ratings
Written in the fearless voice of Detective Alex Cross, Alex Cross's Trial is a #1 New York Times bestseller of murder, love, and above all, bravery.

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 granddaughter, 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 courage in the face of prejudice and terror.
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  1. Book 15 of 33
    Alex Cross
  2. Print length
    514 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Little, Brown and Company
  5. Publication date
    August 11, 2009
  6. File size
    1.4 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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4.6 out of 5 stars 14,010
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fans of Patterson's serial-killer hunting detective, Alex Cross, expecting another cat-and-mouse thriller based on this book's title, will find Cross's appearance limited to a two-page preface in which the fictional character explains why he's written a book called Trial. Abraham Cross, a relative who lived in Eudora, Miss., at the beginning of the 20th century, helps liberal lawyer Ben Corbett to expose the truth about a wave of lynchings near that town, an assignment undertaken at the request of Corbett's friend, President Theodore Roosevelt. When Corbett arrives in Eudora, where he was born and raised, he receives a frosty reception from many unhappy with his record of representing African-Americans accused of murder, including a cold shoulder from his father, a judge. Soon, Corbett finds evidence that racism is alive and well, and that brutal murders of blacks, often for the most trivial of reasons, are endemic. Some may be disappointed that Abraham plays a relatively minor role, given the jacket line that "the Cross family had more than one hero."
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002L4EXKQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown and Company; 1st edition (August 11, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 11, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 514 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 7,294 ratings

About the author

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James Patterson

James Patterson

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James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton. He has told the story of his own life in ‘James Patterson by James Patterson’ and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
7,294 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book an excellent read with a riveting story and typical Patterson-style writing. The historical detail receives positive feedback, with one customer noting its realistic portrayal of lynching, and customers appreciate the well-developed characters and quick pacing. While many consider it part of the Alex Cross series, some note it's not related to the series. The book evokes mixed emotions, with customers describing it as disturbing and sad.

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229 customers mention "Readability"229 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and an excellent read.

"I loved this book. To be honest with James Patterson being around so long , I am definitely late to the party...." Read more

"...The book was an excellent read but am sorry someone has not exposed the North and their problems just as vividly...." Read more

"This book was very good but completely NOT part of the Alex Cross series!?..." Read more

"...a chance to sell their work with his name, and usually, his books are a great reads...." Read more

210 customers mention "Story quality"167 positive43 negative

Customers enjoy the story of the book, finding it riveting and exciting, with one customer noting how it opened their eyes to past struggles.

"...As a black man, the reason this book resonated with me was because it felt real and did not have an unrealistic ending to it ...." Read more

"A riveting story that reminds us of a past that both defined our Nation and taught us the lessons of our sins. Unforgettable. Beautifully told." Read more

"Excellent story of the confrontations of black versus white people in the South after the Civil war...." Read more

"I am almost through with the book on CD - I find it so easy to actually finish a book by listening in the car...." Read more

84 customers mention "Writing quality"72 positive12 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its typical Patterson style and realistic portrayal of events.

"...Unforgettable. Beautifully told." Read more

"...Love the style in which this author writes and have never been disappointed in any of the Cross series books!!!" Read more

"...An excellent writing by this author that is written fairly and accurately." Read more

"...That being said, I found this a very readable novel...." Read more

35 customers mention "Pacing"31 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing, noting its great tempo and quick read, with one customer mentioning it picks up in the second half.

"Arrive promptly and in excellent condition." Read more

"...I feel it doesn't matter what race you are, this story will keep you riveted to your seat...." Read more

"...It kept me on the edge of my seat and I read it in one afternoon. It is definitely the better buy of the books I purchased recently...." Read more

"...characters are well drawn and the story so compelling that I read the book very quickly as I never wanted to put it down...." Read more

33 customers mention "Historical detail"33 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the historical detail in the book, with one customer noting its realistic portrayal of the time period and another highlighting its comprehensive coverage of lynching history.

"...Full of action and adventures and characters so strong and real that one can easily relate to...." Read more

"...books, I found this one to be entertaining as well as giving the history of the Cross family. Informative and still “can’t put it down” reading...." Read more

"...And it had a lot of southern history. History is great." Read more

"...But he did stay inside his usual "box" in the way that this was an action packed, page turning novel...." Read more

20 customers mention "Character development"20 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly the well-developed Alex Cross character, with one customer noting how the characters weave a vivid story of the times.

"...I thought it flowed well and the characters were okay...." Read more

"...I thought Mr. Patterson created WONDERFUL characters, as usual, and that the story didn't skip a beat...." Read more

"...content and the reader does a nice job of depicting emotion and different characters...." Read more

"...Full of action and adventures and characters so strong and real that one can easily relate to...." Read more

36 customers mention "Alex cross story"25 positive11 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about whether this book is part of the Alex Cross series, with some considering it a wonderful addition to the series while others note it has nothing to do with Alex Cross.

"...Getting the background for Alex Cross was great. I loved it." Read more

"Another excellent book in Patterson’s Alex Cross series! I’ve read so many, I can no longer determine which I’ve read and which I have not...." Read more

"This book was very good but completely NOT part of the Alex Cross series!?..." Read more

"...This one is very good. It goes back in time with the Cross story and makes it come to life...." Read more

23 customers mention "Sadness"11 positive12 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's emotional content, with some finding it disturbing and sad, while others appreciate its honest portrayal of race relations.

"...it wasn't a true "Alex Cross" novel - but what I found was a somber and insightful account of race relations in the South at the turn of the..." Read more

"...I know of in the Chicago area when I lived there. The lynching, killing and awful treatment of the Blacks was brought to light in this book to..." Read more

"...It was also a sad and emotional story that most people can relate to because, unfortunately, prejudice people are everywhere...." Read more

"...read, but only because the writing was so compelling and the topic so wrenching that it made me uncomfortable...." Read more

Freedom for All
5 out of 5 stars
Freedom for All
Alex Cross’s Trial is a story set in the year 1906 in Eudora, Mississippi. Ben Corbett, a white Washington, DC lawyer and friend of President Theodore Roosevelt, is commissioned to go back to his hometown of Eudora and look into the lynching mobs that have taken over this area of the country. Patterson tells the story in an all-absorbing, brilliant style. The reader can feel every emotion and action that takes place. Sadly, we are still being tormented by powerfully evil individuals who lie, betray and persecute innocent, well-meaning lives. James Patterson’s Trial is a novel relevant for past, present and future generations.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Coach L
    5.0 out of 5 stars From a black man
    Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this book. To be honest with James Patterson being around so long , I am definitely late to the party. I recently discovered Alex Cross having reading 15 books so far. As a black man, the reason this book resonated with me was because it felt real and did not have an unrealistic ending to it . This by far is my favorite James Patterson book although I now feel like I’m cheating on Alex Cross. Thank you JP.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • cyndia keesey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Pleased with purchase. Would order again.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Arrive promptly and in excellent condition.
    Helpful
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  • Patricia Y. Jones
    4.0 out of 5 stars Trial
    Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    Being from the South (but not Mississippi), I certainly know about the horrows this book spoke of. It was an absolute truth (but I do not feel that I am personally responsible for any of the terrible things that happened). Slavery was a part of the South that should not have happened but did. The one thing that is never talked about is that it happened in the North and Africa also. Maybe not exactly, but I saw some of the recent worse discrimination I know of in the Chicago area when I lived there.
    The lynching, killing and awful treatment of the Blacks was brought to light in this book to anyone in this day and age that had not been exposed to this part of the South. There again, I have heard of Blacks who went North only to come back to the South and wanted to stay as a "slave" of their master as they were treated better than they were in the North. The North was cold and it was hard to get work, find a place to live, and be treated like a "real person". There are many stories of the South that are proclaimed to be only a Southern occurance - like moonshine also - that were not just a Southern problem. The book was an excellent read but am sorry someone has not exposed the North and their problems just as vividly. The treatment of the immigrants (Irish, Jews, etc.) is just not as exploited.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • sheila
    5.0 out of 5 stars Painful to this very day
    Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    From 1906 to 2025 and probably on, this sad truth is that this type of hatred and racism will always be found here in the US. It shows how ugly people still today prefer to carry on this racial sickness. There are however, those out there Black, White, Brown who still work hard to change the hatred, maybe one day before God decides there no help for us and starts over with animals, that maybe we will get ourselves together to survive as one people.
    Helpful
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  • Alaska cruise purchase
    5.0 out of 5 stars love reading these bookd
    Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    like his books
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  • dtk
    5.0 out of 5 stars potent
    Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A riveting story that reminds us of a past that both defined our Nation and taught us the lessons of our sins. Unforgettable. Beautifully told.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Rita Norek
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not part of the cross series
    Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This book was very good but completely NOT part of the Alex Cross series!? Says next on list but is all about the horrible mistreatment of black people in the South in Teddy Roosevelts time.
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  • Daniel Kinney
    4.0 out of 5 stars interesting story
    Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I suppose it’s a story based on possible fact. I expected a more prominent role of the Cross family. It was more of a Corbett story than a Cross story.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Ragunandha Hari
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good One, But it is not an Alex Cross ...
    Reviewed in India on March 31, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Good One, But it is not an Alex Cross Novel.
    This is based on black community problems in 1906 US.
    Report
  • Pat
    5.0 out of 5 stars Like other James Patterson books - well written!
    Reviewed in Canada on September 25, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This one takes on a different slant in the Alex Cross series as it involves Alex writing about one of his ancestors. It is a difficult read due to the extreme violence involved, more so than the other books I read in this series. But, unfortunately, it is true to life and even more so in today's world. I highly recommend reading this book.
    Report
  • Gemma Richardson
    5.0 out of 5 stars incredible read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    An incredible dive into history with Alex Cross, these book never fail to delight me and keep me reading till the end
    Report
  • Mary Hacio
    5.0 out of 5 stars all I can say is WOW!
    Reviewed in Australia on February 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this lesson in US history disguised as an Alex Cross book - marvellous!
    Would not have missed it!
    Report
  • venmar
    5.0 out of 5 stars ottimo
    Reviewed in Italy on December 12, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    .
    Report

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