Paradox

Cash & Colcord #2

by Douglas Preston, Aletheia Preston, Stephanie Németh-Parker (Narrator)

The new powerhouse team of Douglas Preston & Aletheia Preston are joining together to "enter the world" of the New York Times bestselling Extinction.

One of the holiest relics in Christendom, inexplicably defaced…

A paranoid old prospector, ritualistically murdered…

A controversial exobiologist, tortured and dismembered…

When a reclusive man is found dead under grisly circumstances in the Colorado wilderness, CBI Agent Frankie Cash and Eagle County Sheriff Jim Colcord, whom we met in the New York Times bestseller, Extinction, team up again on their most enigmatic and dangerous case yet. Their investigation uncovers a trail of bizarre killings, baffling money transfers, and a fanatical secret society.

And all the while, the resurrected Neanderthals, who vanished into the Colorado mountains, seem to be biding their time for something…spectacular.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Science Fiction, Action, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller

13 pages, Audible Audio

Expected publication April 21, 2026

About the author

Douglas Preston was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1956, and grew up in the deadly boring suburb of Wellesley. Following a distinguished career at a private nursery school--he was almost immediately expelled--he attended public schools and the Cambridge School of Weston. Notable events in his early life included the loss of a fingertip at the age of three to a bicycle; the loss of his two front teeth to his brother Richard's fist; and various broken bones, also incurred in dust-ups with Richard. (Richard went on to write The Hot Zone and The Cobra Event, which tells you all you need to know about what it was like to grow up with him as a brother.)

As they grew up, Doug, Richard, and their little brother David roamed the quiet suburbs of Wellesley, terrorizing the natives with home-made rockets and incendiary devices mail-ordered from the backs of comic books or concocted from chemistry sets. With a friend they once attempted to fly a rocket into Wellesley Square; the rocket malfunctioned and nearly killed a man mowing his lawn. They were local celebrities, often appearing in the "Police Notes" section of The Wellesley Townsman. It is a miracle they survived childhood intact.

After unaccountably being rejected by Stanford University (a pox on it), Preston attended Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he studied mathematics, biology, physics, anthropology, chemistry, geology, and astronomy before settling down to English literature. After graduating, Preston began his career at the American Museum of Natural History in New York as an editor, writer, and eventually manager of publications. (Preston also taught writing at Princeton University and was managing editor of Curator.) His eight-year stint at the Museum resulted in the non-fiction book, Dinosaurs in the Attic, edited by a rising young star at St. Martin's Press, a polymath by the name of Lincoln Child. During this period, Preston gave Child a midnight tour of the museum, and in the darkened Hall of Late Dinosaurs, under a looming T. Rex, Child turned to Preston and said: "This would make the perfect setting for a thriller!" That thriller would, of course, be Relic.

In 1986, Douglas Preston piled everything he owned into the back of a Subaru and moved from New York City to Santa Fe to write full time, following the advice of S. J. Perelman that "the dubious privilege of a freelance writer is he's given the freedom to starve anywhere." After the requisite period of penury, Preston achieved a small success with the publication of Cities of Gold, a non-fiction book about Coronado's search for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola. To research the book, Preston and a friend retraced on horseback 1,000 miles of Coronado's route across Arizona and New Mexico, packing their supplies and sleeping under the stars--nearly killing themselves in the process. Since then he has published several more non-fiction books on the history of the American Southwest, Talking to the Ground and The Royal Road, as well as a novel entitled Jennie. In the early 1990s Preston and Child teamed up to write suspense novels; Relic was the first, followed by several others, including Riptide and Thunderhead. Relic was released as a motion picture by Paramount in 1997. Other films are under development at Hollywood studios. Preston and Child live 500 miles apart and write their books together via telephone, fax, and the Internet.

Preston and his brother Richard are currently producing a television miniseries for ABC and Mandalay Entertainment, to be aired in the spring of 2000, if all goes well, which in Hollywood is rarely the case.

Preston continues a magazine writing career by contributing regularly to The New Yorker magazine. He has also written for National Geographic, Natural History, Smithsonisan, Harper's,and Travel & Leisure,among others.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/dougla...

Reviews

[Grandma Susan]

DNF’d at 4%. Profanity including the Lord’s name in Vain.

[Twainy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this sequel to Extinction so much more. You can read it as a stand alone but why would you, they’re both great.

The story follows Agent Frankie Cash & Sheriff Jim Colcord as they investigate ritualistic murders, secret societies & an ancient artifact.

This felt very Micheal Crichtonesque. I just watched Jurassic Park, this could be very cinematic! The characters get fleshed out which drew me in.

There’s such a grisly moment early on that I was hooked! Great horror, sci-fi, police procedural …

I loved that there’s prehistoric moments, religious zealots, forensic science, exobiology, Neanderthals plotting the end of humanity, a Vatican agent, holy relic, everything leading back to the multiple MDK, alongside a police procedural-like investigation all against the back drop of the Colorado Rockies.

I love a return to the supernatural!

On the edge of my seat! Listened to it strait thru, good choice of narrators, now I need to sleep ….

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley! I loved this sequel!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is the second book that features Agent Frankie Cash of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Sheriff James Colcord of Eagle County, Colorado.



Cash and Colcord first worked together in Extinction, when they investigated the disappearance of honeymooners from the Erebus Resort in the Colorado mountains.



The Erebus Resort featured 'de-extincted' Pleistocene animals, and a disaster resulted in the escape of a group of hostile Neanderthal hominids (Neanders).



That's all you need to know if you want to read 'Paradox' as a standalone.

*****

Early in 'Paradox', the body of a reclusive grizzled gold miner named Willy Grooms is found in his mountain cabin, near the town of Burns, Colorado. There's chatter about Neanders killing Willy, but that turns out to be a false assumption.



FBI Agent Frankie Cash and Sheriff James Colcord get the case, drop everything, and hike up to Grooms' remote cabin to observe the disturbing crime scene.





After the CSI team and medical examiner do their work, the investigators learn that Grooms' foot was crushed by an Inquisition torture device called a 'Spanish boot'; he was force-fed Catholic Communion wafers and red wine; he was embalmed perimortem; and his body was washed and dressed in a white shroud. Also, Willy's cabin was searched methodically and thoroughly.



The case gets stranger when Cash and Colcord learn Grooms had been sending large sums of money to an organization called Paradox, which researches UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, aka UFOs). Moreover, Grooms claimed to have SEEN a UAP crash in the Colorado mountains, and to have retrieved an alien artifact from the crash site.



Willy Grooms' bizarre death is getting a lot of publicity, and the director of the CBI - Blaisdell Holmes, and the District Attorney - Udoka Adewale, want a quick arrest.



With diligent police work, Cash and Colcord find a likely suspect. A good samaritan and financial planner called Margie Brooksfield had been bringing food to Willy Grooms and helping him with money matters. Bank records prove Margie stole $220,000 from Grooms (which she says was for her daughter's heart operation), and Margie is the sole heir to Grooms' fortune (which she claims is a big surprise). Regardless, Margie is arrested for Willy's murder, and part of the book revolves around the prosecution, defense, and court proceedings.

In the meanwhile, a Vatican monk called Brother Niall Armagh, from the Irish Pallottine Fathers of the Basilica, arrives in Colorado.



Brother Armagh tells the authorities that an important Christian relic, a small piece of the skull of Saint John the Baptist, was cut out of a Vatican display and stolen.



CCTV footage reveals the thief was Javier Castillo, an American exobiology professor who runs Paradox, and who recently visited Burns, Colorado. Castillo is known to collect evidence of UFO visits, sightings, and abductions from all over the world.



Brother Armagh's mission is to retrieve the precious relic and return it to the Vatican - and to do it quietly, with no scandal. Armagh hopes he can just ask Castillo for the relic back, with no fuss no muss.

I don't want to give away spoilers, but there are additional murders, and the religious relic and the alien artifact are important to the plot, as is the organization Paradox and a devout Catholic group called Devotio.



As always in Preston's thrillers, there's danger and action in the story, and Cash and Colcord have to be at the top of their game to succeed.



I enjoyed book, but would have liked to learn about the Devotio group earlier in the story, as I felt something was missing. That said, the novel is a fine addition to the Cash and Colcord saga. Highly recommended.

Note: In an afterword, the authors - who base the novel on real life beliefs - explain the rationale for the plot, and it's a fascinating tale.


Authors Douglas Preston and Aletheia Preston

I had a digital copy of the book and the audiobook, narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker, who does a fine job.

Thanks to Netgalley, Douglas Preston, Aletheia Preston, Forge Books and Macmillan Audio for copies of the book.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com

[LindaPf · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Paradox” is basically the second in a series, with Douglas Preston adding his daughter as a co-author after he penned “Extinction.” I really think you should read or listen to “Extinction” first, lest you are confused about why everyone is concerned about Neanderthals roaming around the Colorado Rockies (kooky Billionaire tried to Jurassic Park ancient humanoids and, of course, it got out of control). Two law enforcement characters, CBI agent Frances/Frankie Cash and County Sheriff Jim Colcord have returned (in my 5 star review of the horrifying first book, I said I didn’t particularly want a sequel, but I was emotionally connected to the survival of this pair).

Colcord and Cash (who are not romantic partners — yet) are both called in to investigate an isolated mountain cabin death which is eventually nicknamed the “Shrouder” murder. The death and surrounding mystery has elements of Spanish Inquisition torture, missing artificacts (alien and ancient Catholic), money laundering, and unidentifiable DNA. So, maybe not Jurassic people in this thriller, but enough spooky stuff to make this series worth continuing while making tourism in central Colorado risky. There’s also internal corruption in the law enforcement ranks which makes the pair even more vulnerable, but we still get two decent people to root for again.

Narrator Stephanie Németh-Parker is pitch perfect — delivering the necessary suspense and accompanying emotion that allows you to experience the breath-taking action as it happens. 4.5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Deputy DA Euclid has fierce green eyes, as does the reporter.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO But the dense cover of the Colorado forest hides all sorts of things (Neanderthals, aliens, crazy people).

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been anxiously awaiting the second installment in this series. I’m so happy to return back to this world with Cash & Colcord. This was an addictive sci-fi thriller that kept me hooked till the very end. While this one was different from the first book, it still kept me on the edge of my seat. The ritualistic murders and some of the other scenes in the story definitely gave me goosebumps while listening. So good! I love how sci-fi elements were blended in with ancient beliefs. Aahh, so good!
The narrator, Stephanie Németh-Parker did such a fantastic job. I was thoroughly engaged till the very end and note from the authors. It really makes you wonder what other people believe.
The stakes are getting dangerous for Cash & Colcord. Will they be able to solve the ritualistic murders before it’s too late and their next?

A very special thanks to Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC.

[Blaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I know the alien stuff sounds ridiculous. I hardly believe it myself. But these killings are real. And the only motive tying them together involves rumors of an alien artifact and a saint’s DNA.”

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an ARC of Paradox in exchange for an honest review.

Paradox takes place eight months after the events of Extinction. But please note that this novel is not being positioned as a true sequel. Instead, you are being invited to “enter the world” of Extinction. And that’s important, because you would be forgiven if you assumed—especially given the mention of the Neanderthals in the Goodreads description—that the Neanderthals would appear in this book. I apologize to people who may consider this a spoiler, but to me, this is about truth in advertising: the Neanderthals may be “biding their time for something spectacular,” but whatever that something is, it doesn’t happen in this book. Here, they are never seen, and are simply one of several red herrings.

In addition to not being a true sequel to Extinction, Paradox is thematically quite different as well. Extinction was a Jurassic Park-style thriller. And Paradox contains the science, strangeness, and the potentially supernatural that I had expected. But for long stretches it reads more like a police procedural or an episode of CSI. It is kind of gory in places, with lots of evidence being collected from corpses. There are courtroom scenes, and an important change of venue motion. Perhaps that’s your cup of tea, but it’s not really mine, and it’s definitely not what I was expecting.

Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Frances Cash teams up again with Eagle County Sheriff James Colcord, and that’s nice. I continue to enjoy both characters, individually and as partners. But like Extinction, this book waits way too long to reveal the villain and the real stakes. I would argue that if you have to write a ten-page afterward to explain a lot of details behind your story, you failed to put adequate information into the story itself. Paradox desperately needed some chapters from the villains’ perspective that could have provided the explanations for what they were doing without revealing their identity. Dan Brown is a master of this technique, and this book literally referred to The Da Vinci Code, so I know the authors have seen how it’s done.

I have a long history with Douglas Preston books, so I will probably give the third book in this series a try, even though at this point, there hasn’t been anything special to recommend about either of the first two books.

P.S. A word about the audiobook. It’s well done, and an improvement on the one for Extinction, which had a couple of the male voices that veered into parody.

[Monnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m enjoying this series, of which this is the second, because it’s a bit off center, if you will – the stories cross over the line of believability a titch but do not destroy it, because there’s research (as well as plenty of general public speculation) that lends credibility. The first book, “Extinction,” focused on reconstituting long-gone Neanderthal parts that became alive through genetic manipulation, understandably were wild and nearly destroyed main characters Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Frankie Cash and Colorado Sheriff James Colcord.

This one is more reminiscent of a Dan Brown novel, starting with the theft of a fragment of a part of the biblical John the Baptist’s head, which has been locked in a case at the Irish Pallottine Fathers of the Basilica for safekeeping. Needless to say, it’s a priceless relic, and it’s caused consternation all the way up to the Pope, who resides not far away, and one of the Brothers is charged with finding and returning it to its rightful place.

Meantime, over in America, Cash gets a call from Colcord telling her there’s been a murder in Flat Tops Wilderness – near where those aforementioned Neanderthals escaped from a laboratory into the wilderness. For now, they seem to be on the lam, so for now, at least, Colcord doesn’t consider them to be the culprits. The victim is William Grooms, an illegal squatter. The murder itself, though, suggests some sort of ritual that may be related to Catholicism (I’d mention some of them, but they’re pretty gruesome and besides, that would spoil the impact for other readers).


Back in Rome, the person who ripped off John the Baptist’s body part is identified – an exobiologist from San Francisco. One of the Brothers is sent to find him and retrieve the relic on personal order of the Pope.

If all this sounds strange, it is; but most readers will conclude early on that the two cases are somehow related. And of course, the “somehow” is for Cash and Colcord to discover and pass on to readers – I’m out of that equation because I won’t spoil the story for others. Suffice it to say things get even stranger as the investigation – and search for poor St. John’s head fragment – starts to pick up steam.

Definitely worth reading, and don’t miss the section at the end where the author explains some of the research from which the story was born. As for me, I’m looking forward to the next one – and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to spend time with this one by way of a pre-release copy. Quite engaging!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paradox AUDIO by Douglas Preston and Aletheia Preston is primarily a police procedural. We re-meet Agent Frankie Cash of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Eagle Count Sheriff Jim Colcord again. Frankie has a bad reputation but Colcord couldn’t understand why. She is a good cop, although sometimes acted without thinking. They are investigating the murder of an old man who was mostly a hermit, although the state in which they found the body was odd: in a white shroud and a last meal of Communion wafers and win and he had been embalmed while still alive. At the same time, in Ireland, someone had stolen the small bone fragment from the skull of John the Baptist. How these two crimes are to meet in the middle is the bulk of the story. As it turns out the victim, and the next, are followers of an organization called Paradox which investigates instances of extraterrestrial intrusion. Frankie is skeptical; Colcort is absolutely a non-believer.

This is the second in the series; the first being Extinction, in which a group of scientists have facilitated the re-emergence of Neanderthals. Anyone in the neighborhood were quick to blame this new murder on them, despite the facts. The story came together when the second death turned out to be the man who had stolen the relic. This is a terrific police procedural/investigative book, despite whatever one thinks of the topic. Cash and Colcord are both excellent characters, respectful of one another despite their differing viewpoints. The mystery was a good one, again, despite the topic. The end of the book included an author note explaining some of the groups that are, fictionally, portrayed in this book and that brings it all a little more in focus. Don’t skip it.

Stephanie Nemuth-Parker who does an excellent job, both in keeping an even keel as the story gets more desperate and able to differentiate between characters without resorting to over-blown theatrics. She makes a terrific book better.

I was invited to listen to Paradox by MacMillan Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley @MacmillanAudio #StephanieNemuthParker #DouglasPreston#AletheiaPreston #Paradox

[Char · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was invited by Macmillan Audio to listen to the new book in the Cash and Colcord series, I was excited. I listened to the first book, Extinction, and enjoyed it, so I was looking forward to jumping in!

I didn’t know this would be a series when I read Extinction. I very much enjoyed the premise of that one, which was a bit reminiscent of Jurassic Park. When I heard about this book, I assumed that the story would be somewhat related. I was wrong. Cash and Colcord are back, but this case was a lot more mysterious and widespread than Extinction.

A murder victim is found and his body shows signs of torture. Later, it is learned that his stomach is filled with communion wafers and wine. This leads into an investigation involving the Catholic Church, the UFO, excuse me, err… UAP community, conspiracies and infidelities. Through the rest of the book Cash gets into trouble again and again, and Colcord just tries to withstand the tornado that is Cash. Their relationship is a bit different than the usual fare, they are not partners; one represents local law enforcement, (Colcord), and the other the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.The mystery was fairly decent and the story entertaining.

I must admit, Paradox did not knock my socks off. At times I felt like the narrative was too convoluted- what with the UAP community, and various factions of the Catholic Church, as well as some action with the town locals. At times the whole thing felt a bit silly and not really believable. Oddly, I think the first book was more believable than this one.

Once I did manage to ignore my disbelief, I enjoyed this a bit more. I found humor in Cash’s and Colcord’s banter, and the final 20% was very exciting and compelled me to continue. The narrator did a fine job, but her voicing of some of the men was a little off-putting at first, but I got used to it.

Overall, this was a fun read and would be especially good for beach reading this summer!

*ARC from publisher

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to learn that Cash & Colcord were returning after the excellent “Extinction.” Douglas Preston always delivers fast-paced, suspenseful thrillers. A harmless old conspiracy theorist was painfully tortured and murdered. Money wasn’t the motive, so C&C need to follow more unusual clues that take them from the Catholic Church to UFO enthusiasts. I enjoyed the fringe science aspect, the alien theories and one very suspenseful confrontation involving our heroes against the baddies. I didn’t care for the preachy political correctness that I had never noticed in Preston’s books before (I don’t know for sure, but I blame Aletheia Preston, Douglas’s daughter). There is an irrelevant conversation about preferred pronouns shoehorned in the middle of an otherwise interesting side plot, as well as a Catholic priest with very progressive views on established doctrine. Mostly, as a Catholic, the way my Church is portrayed is offensive. Cash’s viewpoints are her own and, despite my bristling at her treatment of a priest, I could live with that. It’s the whole position of the novel with regards to Catholicism that goes out of its way to gratuitously compare a whole subset of my church to the Spanish Inquisition. Literally. This probably won’t be a problem for readers of other faiths, but it affected my enjoyment of this book. Back to Stephanie Németh-Parker, her impeccable narration gives every single character a distinctive voice, which is important when trying to follow so many storylines. I enjoyed the suspense, I just hope that Preston goes back to simple, entertaining stories without social commentary.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Macmillan Audio.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slight spoilers for the first book, Extinction, ahead!

Paradox is the second installment in the Cash and Colcord series by Douglas Preston and his daughter Aletheia Preston, picking up several months after Extinction, and somehow managing to get even stranger.

Once again, CBI Agent Frankie Cash teams up with Eagle County Sheriff Jim Colcord, this time to investigate a series of deeply unsettling events: a man living off the grid found dead in what appears to be a ritual-like murder, the theft of a holy relic, and the brutal killing of an exobiologist who insisted that aliens are real. Meanwhile, the Neanderthals who vanished in the Colorado mountains are still out there-somewhere.

I really enjoyed this book. While Extinction leaned more heavily into sci-fi thriller territory (which I personally prefer), Paradox kept me on the edge of my seat in a different way. The mystery is layered and strange, and I found myself genuinely invested-not only in the unfolding case but in the characters themselves. Cash and Colcord work well together, and it was fun to see them back on the page as a team.

I was also surprised by how engaged I became in trying to solve the mystery on my own. I correctly guessed some things, missed others entirely, and appreciated how the story kept me guessing. The book embraces the bizarre, weaving together elements ranging from the Catholic Church to extraterrestrial life, and somehow making it all feel like a wild but cohesive ride.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was fantastic; it added a lot to the story and pacing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook. All thoughts are my own.

[Eric Sullenberger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Up front disclaimer - I won a free copy of the audiobook through Storygraph.

I had read the first book in the series and it started out great, but I did not like the twist or the end. I wasn't planning on reading a sequel but won a free copy of the audiobook and decided to give it a chance. 

Like many other mystery thrillers this is action-packed and fast paced. That certainly held my attention, and the short chapters made it easy to not put the book down. It reminds me a lot of Dan Brown's early books. However, I distinctly recall when I was about 60% through the book I'm thinking, "When is something going to happen?" And unfortunately the answer was not until about 80%. There was action, but it just felt like it was all set up. More and more mystery building. And as it got further along it became obvious that there wasn't really a connection to the prior book other than the main characters being the same. The good news there is that you could certainly read this one as a standalone novel. 

I tried hard to like this book, but the twist this time was weirder, the climax too big, the ending was too abrupt, and there were too many loose ends. It did seem a little bit like it might be setting up for a sequel, but the loose ends aren't good Cliff hangers or something that you would really want to base another book on. It's also annoying that there's a very strong anti-religious theme to the book and for me some of the torture was too extreme. After all, "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!"

I appreciate the free audiobook, and it was good enough that I listen to it all the way through, but in the end I'm not a fan.

[Danita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to thank Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the free audiobook of Paradox. All opinions in my review are completely my own.

I was excited to read this book since I really enjoyed the first book in the series, Extinction, but I ended up being a bit underwhelmed. Paradox is following some of the same main characters from Extinction, but I thought the feel of this book was very different and didn't appeal to me as much. Even the characters felt different from how they previously were, and almost all the characters were unlikable. The plot didn't tie in too much to what happened in the first book, though there are enough references that might be confusing if you haven't read it. Through this book there were so many characters and storylines that I started to lose track of what was going on, then my mind would wander and I'd lose interest. It also seemed to focus heavily on police procedure, with suspect interviews, investigation, autopsies, and even some legal proceedings, more than I would have preferred. The plot went into some directions I wasn't expecting, with alien conspiracies and a lot of ties to religion and Catholicism. Some things that happened toward the end just felt weird and not explained well. As far as the crimes, I thought I knew for sure who was behind everything, but I ended up being surprised. I guess you could say it at least wasn't predictable.

I read the audiobook version of the book, and I really liked the narrator. Characters had different voices and some even had accents. I thought the pacing was great too.

[Laurie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: Paradox (Cash Coldcord #2)

Audiobook ARC provided by Macmillan Audio

Paradox is the second book in the Cash Coldcord series, and as soon as I saw Douglas Preston attached to a new project, I knew I needed to dive in. After receiving the audiobook ARC from Macmillan Audio, I went back and listened to Extinction first so I could fully appreciate the continuation.

One thing that surprised me was the change in narrators between books—Extinction features a male narrator, while Paradox is performed by a female narrator. Both delivered strong, engaging performances, each bringing a different but effective tone to the series.

This instalment tackles bold and often controversial themes, and the authors do an exceptional job presenting all sides without pushing the reader toward a particular viewpoint. Cash and Coldcord’s investigation leads them deep into the worlds of Catholicism, ancient artifacts, the Inquisition, and the ongoing debate around alien existence and UAPs. The plot is twisty, well‑constructed, and consistently compelling.

The afterword is especially impactful, tying together the novel’s many threads and leaving you with plenty to think about. This is a story that lingers long after the final chapter—whether you agree with the ideas presented or not, the journey is fascinating and thoroughly entertaining.

A thought‑provoking, well‑paced thriller that expands the series in all the right ways.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Power packed mystery that is propulsive, gripping and a dandy of a thriller. This is the second book in the Colcord-Cash series - I wished I had known about it and the first book, Extinction) - but it can be read as a stand alone.

Agents Jim Colcord and Frankie Cash are in Colorado and face a series of grizzly, ritualistic murders. The murders themselves suggest a fanatical society at work. As they investigate they turn up that the victims were tortured medieval style which turns the investigation global. Additionally a Vatican investigator arrives and shows that the defacement of a holy relic matches the ritualistic deaths in Colorado. The book twists and turns - aliens are thrown in the mix. As investigative joins forces, the discovery at the end is a shocker. No spoilers here.

I like this father-daughter combination. It’s my first read of their books. As one reviewer noted they combine Preston’s scientific realism with a “layer of social commentary and modern character dynamics.” Certainly Cash is a spit fire (loved the scene with this misogynist priest), nothing like Pendergast.

I listened to this book. Loved the narration. Whether you read or listen to the book, it’s a fast-paced, plot driven thriller that keeps you going because you just have to know.

Highly recommend.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this ARC.

[Melissa Widener · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paradox by Douglas Preston and Aletheia Preston
Cash and Colcord #2
3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 0.2/5
Cursing: mod-
Format/Source: audio from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
Genres/Tropes: mystery, suspense, sci-fi
Audience: Adult
Setting: Colorado
Characters: Frankie, Jim, Romansky, Wiley, Horton, Caldas, Margie, Paul, Euclid
👍 short chapters, multi POV, forensics,
👎 cursing, slow at times

Description:
One of the holiest relics in Christendom, inexplicably defaced…
A paranoid old prospector, ritualistically murdered…
A controversial exobiologist, tortured and dismembered…
When a reclusive man is found dead under grisly circumstances in the Colorado wilderness, CBI Agent Frankie Cash and Eagle County Sheriff Jim Colcord, whom we met in the New York Times bestseller, Extinction, team up again on their most enigmatic and dangerous case yet. Their investigation uncovers a trail of bizarre killings, baffling money transfers, and a fanatical secret society.
And all the while, the resurrected Neanderthals, who vanished into the Colorado mountains, seem to be biding their time for something…spectacular.

I enjoyed this novel especially the forensis aspect. I did nor care for the excessive cursing. I would recommend it to those who likes refreshing crime mysteries and don't mind cursing.
#bookstagram #booklovers #mysterybooks

[Sher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook

Stephanie Németh-Parker brings Paradox alive with her clear, steady narration and her ability to distinguish characters throughout the book, which makes it an easy and engaging listen. Don’t let that ease fool you, though as the subject matter is layered and complex. The title alone hints at the twists and turns ahead and I found myself second guessing every conclusion I tried to draw. I was consistently wrong in my assumptions and absolutely thrilled by the many paradoxes woven through the story. The book is full of contradictions that hide the truth until the very end.
This is the second time Cash and Colcord have teamed up and I genuinely enjoy them together. Coming from different departments; Colcord with the Sheriff’s Office and Cash with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Together they bring distinct strengths, instincts, and personalities that make their partnership compelling. I hope that we get to see them again in the future.
The Afterword is a must listen. It’s packed with background, context, and a wealth of ideas that illuminate the core concepts explored in Paradox, offering examples and hypotheses that deepen the experience.
A fascinating, thought provoking listen.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley and the authors for the advanced listening version. All comments are mine alone.

[Jeff · Rating 1 out of 5]

There have been a few books or audiobooks that I have read (or listened to) that I have finished and thought to myself, “What in the world did I just experience?” while laughing. It was odd and quirky and thoroughly enjoyable. I just finished “Paradox” and thought, “What in the world did I just listen to?” and it was not in a good way.

I had never read or listened to any of Douglas Preston’s work before I was chosen to listen to the audiobook of “Paradox” by the publisher. Realizing this was the second book in a series, I quickly found the audiobook of “Extinction” (book #1) and listened before starting this audiobook. The difference between the two novels is so vast, that you will have no problem understanding that Aletheia apparently wrote this with Douglas’ name associated or writing a small portion at best.

“Extinction” was a really good thriller that had a few moments of making a point. “Paradox” is a point being made with a really shallow “thriller” wrapped around it. It fails on both parts. It’s just bad.

The only positive is Stephanie Nemeth-Parker as the narrator. As always, she does a phenomenal job. But even she can’t save this hot mess.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.

[Happy Booker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paradox, by Douglas Preston and his daughter Aletheia Preston is a thrilling ride into the past while staying in the present as we follow CBI Agent Frankie Cash and Eagle County Sheriff Jim Colcord.. They team up again in this second in the series of Preston's latest novel featuring Cash and Colcord in the Colorado wilderness discovering a secret society. In the first of this series, Extinction, Cash and Colcord find scientists have brought back Neanderthals still living in the same wilderness. No need to read the first in the series as both Prestons refer to the events and the aftermath with the Neanderthals from the previous book looming in the background. I found myself riveted as the thrill ride began from the first chapter with the plot thickening to the end of the novel, References to St. John the Baptist's relic from a Catholic Church, a reclusive man who is tortured with a boot from the Spanish Inquisition, and don't forget the Neanderthals, this book has it all and much more! Highly recommend for those who like to read thrillers, history, science, and conspiracies.
Thank you NetGalley, Macmillian Publishers, Douglas and Alethia Preston for granting me this advance reader's copy for my honest review.

[Jacquelyn Dohoney · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to adventure thrillers, Douglas Preston has always been a favorite of mine. He has a real knack for writing in such a way that you feel like you’re in the adventure with the characters. The writing also moves in such a way that you can’t tell that the story is a co-written novel. Which is awesome, because a lot of times that’s not the case. I love the relationship that has developed between Cash and Colcord, as they seem to have pretty easy friendship and they work well together. This story was about as odd as the first one. Even though I’m far more spiritual than religious, I do enjoy reading books about religion in an adventure setting such as this one. Add to that that this one was part adventure thriller part procedural, and it was right up my alley. Really, the only issue I had with this one is that the Neanders were only briefly mentioned, but still very much a part of the overarching world in this series. I had hoped there would be more of their story now that they’ve expanded beyond their original location. Hopefully in the next one we get to see more of what exactly the Neanders are up to with their newfound freedom!

Huge thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

[Lilmissmolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook of Paradox, which is the first book in the Cash & Colcord series. When I listened to its predecessor, Extinction, little did I know that it was the first book in a series. In Extinction we meet the two protagonists, a Colorado County Sheriff Jim Colcord and a Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Frankie Cash. Colcord is a middle aged man who subscribes to the philosophy of slow and steady wins the race. Cash on the other hand is a smart young woman who is impetuous and goes off on her own whenever the feeling strikes. The two made a great pair investigating genetic manipulation in Extinction and in Paradox, they investigate a few ritualistic murders, baffling money transfers, and a fanatical secret society with ties to the Catholic Church.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker. Shee did a stellar job, providing unique voices for all the characters, and providing the appropriate amount of suspense, wonder, and shock befitting this story. A big thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advance listener copy. I highly recommend this audiobook to fans of scientific or religious thrillers, like James Rollins and Steve Berry. I can't wait for the next installment!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A loner conspiracy theorist is found dead in his remote, off-the-grid cabin, and something is just off with how he died. Cash and Colcord arrive on the scene, thinking it may be Neanders. While the victim's foot is completely mangled, the rest of his body is just....wrong. He looks "fresh" though he's definitely been dead for a while. When the medical examiner notices wounds on his neck, they conclude he has been embalmed... while alive. It is certainly not the Neanders, but it is also most certainly very weird, Cash and Colcord have their work cut out for them solving this one.

A great sequel to Extinction, perhaps even better than the first. A fast-paced mystery with some interesting science, yet again, though this one with some Dan Brown-ish undertones. I enjoyed it a lot, and really like how Cash and Colcord play off each other. I hope they keep this series going, I really enjoy the "traditional" mystery with a slightly weird sci-fi twist. A mix of my two favorite genres.

The narrator does a great job with the pacing of the story and voices of the characters.

I received an ARC of this audiobook from #NetGalley.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to MacMillan Audio and Net Galley for allowing me to listen to an advanced copy of this book.

This was a thoroughly fun adventure novel. I'm usually a sucker for the "church is hiding religion destroying secrets from the world" trope, so this was promising from the offing. I was engaged and entertained the entire way through.

Unlike most Preston (or Child or Preston and Child) books, however, this one felt a little lightweight in the world building department. The maguffin was so maguffiney that its nature wasn't even explicitly stated, much less any hint of how or why it came to exist. There was very little speculative science, alternative history, or supernatural elements. It was more a character study and straightforward mystery. Not a bad thing, but not necessarily Preston's bailiwick, and kind of jarring after Extinction.

The narrator did an excellent job. I enjoyed her characterizations. She was well suited to the more straightforward nature of this book.

On the whole, I would happily recommend with that the caveat that you temper expectations if you're an enthusiastic Preston (and/or Child) fan.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paradox is a mystery thriller where CBI Agent Cash and Sheriff Colcord team up again to investigate a string of ritualistic murders. The novel blends suspense and action with an intriguing mix of religious and extraterrestrial elements.

Compared to Extinction and Douglas Preston’s other thrillers, Paradox adopts a noticeably different tone, likely due to the addition of coauthor Aletheia Preston. The character voices, especially that of Sheriff Colcord, feel altered in this installment; at times, Colcord seems more withdrawn, and the chemistry between Cash and Colcord is less dynamic. Some portions, like the discussions about pronoun use and elements included for diversity, felt irrelevant to the story.

While Paradox serves as a sequel to Extinction, it can be read independently. Still, readers familiar with the first book will better understand references such as those related to Neanderthals.

Thank you NetGalley and TOR Publishing for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #Paradox

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me on the EDGE OF MY SEAT! The plot pulled me in so deep I thought I might actually suffocate (in a good way). I would describe this as a present day sci-fi thriller with science vibes like those in Jurassic Park.

Unlike Jurassic Park, it is a crime thriller. Concord & Cash are investigating a series of unexplainable murders. There is other stuff 👀👀👀👀 also going on that kept me SHOOK AND SEATED.

The pacing of the book was immaculate with extremely well flushed out characters that were multi-dimensional. The characters are one of my favorite parts of Preston books and Aletheia Preston has only helped improve the excellent story telling abilities of Douglas Preston. I am very excited for future books together and any independent books from Aletheia Preston.

Action scenes were superbly described and you can easily visualize character placement and movement throughout the scenes.

If you are looking for a mysterious thriller I would HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this series!


I did receive an advance copy. My review is completely my honest opinion of the book.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I just want to throw it out there that if you are an audiobook fan, then, you are going to need to grab the audiobook. Listening to this audiobook is my first introduction to Stephanie Németh-Parker. She did amazing job of voicing all of the various characters both female and male.

I got "lost" listening to Stephanie narrate the audiobook that one moment I was like twenty percent into the book and the next I look I am fifty five percent done.

CBI Agent Frankie Cash and Sheriff Jim Colcord are great duo. They work so well together. Their different perspectives on how they both look at a scene including their skills is what makes them so good together.

I will let you in on a secret. I live in Colorado and Eagle is only a few hours away from me. So this book was made even better by the fact that it took place in Colorado. I had such a great time just listening to the audiobook and letting Frankie and Jim work their magic. I now just need to go back and read book one.

[Cynde]

Sherriff Colcord calls Agent Frankie Cash to help investigate a bizarre murder deep in the Flat Top Wilderness in the the Rocky Mountains. The victim is an illegal squatter in a cabin by Solitary Lake. They find him laid out on the kitchen table dressed in a white gown, looking like he is peacefully asleep. There is a possibility of Neander involvement -the reanimated Neanderthals creatures who caused the disaster at the Erebus Resort in the previous book in this series. Also a priest sent on a secret mission from the Vatican and a possible secret death squad may be involved. The investigation gets weirder and more dangerous from this point to the thrilling conclusion.
The character development is excellent but the plot development is slow.
There is a spine-tingling epilogue foreshadowing another book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy for my honest review.

[Coca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for the audio version of the book, provided by NetGalley, and narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker.

In the follow up to "Extinction" we're once again following CBI Agent Cash and Sheriff Colcord as they investigate the murder of a hermit who was living deep in the Rockies. When the conspiracy theories that the hermit used to shout about start hitting a little too close to home, Cash and Colcord are forced to look far into the past for clues to the present situation.

About 2000 years into the past.

I really enjoy Preston's writing style but it was nice to see him co-authoring this with his daughter, a former prosecutor. It felt a little fresher than Extinction. This was fun and entertaining.

The characters kind of what you'd expect, a brash, younger (hot tempered) Cash and an older, wiser (and calmer lol) Colcord.

If you're a fan of Preston's other work this would be worth your time to read. I enjoyed it.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This standalone read was a pretty good read that I enjoyed from start to finish.

I did not realize that this was the second book of a series when I read this book and where there were mentions of events from the previous book this book can be read as a standalone book.

The story starts with the theft of a religious relic and then the murder of a man that lived in a solitary life in the hills. The investigation is mainly about the murder but the separate story line of the relic theft takes a backseat to a story line of aliens to have all the story lines combine at the end for the resolution.

This was a suspenseful read but I will admit that the story line with the aliens was a stretch for me. I also was not sure about the religious point of the story line since it was forgotten for a while and then returned aside from the part of that story where they connected.

Overall, this was a a good story that I did enjoy from the start and would recommend this book to others.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paradox by Douglas Preston and Aletheia Preston. This book reintroduces the reader to CBI Agent Frankie Cash and Eagle County Sheriff Jim Colcord who we first met in Extinction several years ago. I have been a huge fan of Douglas Preston throughout his entire writing career. I’ll be honest and say that I have not always loved the books he writes without his longtime writing partner Lincoln Child, but when Extinction came out I thought it was a cool premise, but didn’t think it was the beginning of a series. So when I saw Paradox was being released and realized to was bring those characters back I was intrigued. I also thought it was cool that Douglas co-wrote this title with his daughter. So I was excited to give this a listen. I thought the plot was good, but have to be honest in my opinion the “secret vision” given to the 3 survivors when they held the “artifact” wasn’t handled well. I understand the idea behind it, but it wasn’t executed well and sort of struck me as a lazy writing technique. I also felt like there was a lot of of stereotypes used throughout the story. Part of me felt like I had read it all before. Priests trying to keep secret knowledge secret. Some secrets will destroy the world/religion, God is an alien, throw in a little inquisition stuff and blah, blah, blah. We have ordered the booth and our patrons will read it, I just felt there was nothing really new or interesting in the story.