Along Came a Spider Audiobook By James Patterson cover art

Along Came a Spider

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Along Came a Spider

By: James Patterson
Narrated by: Taye Diggs
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Discover the classic thriller that launched the #1 detective series and is the inspiration for the original series Cross on Prime Video!

Alex Cross is a homicide detective with a Ph.D. in psychology. He works and lives in Southeast 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, 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, he's about to become yours.

©1993, 2018 James Patterson (P)2018 Hachette Audio Mystery Police Procedurals Series Essentials Thriller & Suspense

Critic reviews

"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)

Featured Article: The top 100 series of all time


The feeling of discovering that your favorite new listen is actually the start of a series is euphoric. That you can immediately hit play and re-enter a beloved new world, or love story, or era from history is a gift to the devoted listener. But how to pick just 100 of these unique and immersive listening journeys? We defined a series as having a minimum of three books, and—after some debate—we decided the titles had to be anchored in fiction. From YA to horror to historical fiction, from fresh voices to seminal tales, hours of discovery await.

Featured Article The top 100 series of all time
Gripping Thriller • Unexpected Plot Twists • Engaging Storyline • Compelling Protagonist • Complex Characters
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The story itself is a great introduction to Alex Cross and the series. Unfortunately, the reader is boring.

A single voice (no real variation for characters), and an arbitrary cadence in many places. Kinda sounds like I expect I do when I read to others -- competent, but not at all professional. I ain't no actor... and unfortunately neither is the Taye Diggs. This could have been much more engaging with a better reader.

Boring Reader For a Great Story

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This is book is really good as an audio production, just as were the printed copy, and even the film. I really liked Taye Diggs' narration...at first. About halfway through the book, it seemed as if he were simply reading it. But, it could have just been me, and it didn't stop me from finishing it.

Well Produced

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loved this, definitely didn't end as I thought hood surprise, moving along to book 2

Excellent storyline

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Got hooked almost immediately. Very vivid and relatable. Loved the performance. Nicely done. Already got another one of his books to listen to.

Great book 👍🏽

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When I saw that Taye Diggs was narrating this book, I was excited. Unfortunately, he barely uses his acting skills so it just sounds like a mediocre average person reading a book. Thanks fully the story is good which let me ignore Taye’s boring voice.

Expected more from Taye Diggs

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This is an amazing story but the narrator is terrible. it is difficult to know who is speaking because he doesn't change his tone or voice in anyway. I hope James Patterson has better narrators for his other books because I love his books.

Great Story Line

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I know the characters and many of the books, but I had not read the first. it engaged from the beginning. I like Taye Diggs and his career, but the reading was not very good. No offense but it sounded as if he had just learned to read and did not have the rhythm and inflections that would come with experience. There were some painfull chapters, but also times where it was just fine. I read the reviews prior, but I really wanted to hear the book. Lastly, I love the author and many idiosyncrasies of the 'black' experiences are spot on, but I have never ever heard black men call each other 'sugar'. My southern experience is from AL and TN so perhaps that is a NC thing. Great book.

it was fine

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I loved it. Watched the movie each time it shows on TV & Cable. Love

Along Came a Spider

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Story was fantastic. It’s a classic. Still holds up. Narrator wasn’t dynamic when it came to portraying multiple characters. Merely monotone.

Great Thriller. Boring Narration.

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I like Taye Diggs as an actor, but a narrator he is not. Distracts from the story.

Narration is awful

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