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The Park Trilogy #2
Crimson Park
Rife with stolen identities, two-faced witnesses, and headless torsos, nothing is as it seems in the second novel in C. J. Booth's 'Park' series.
Following their spectacular success in solving California’s worst serial killer case, a case that had languished unsolved for 15 years, Sacramento’s newly formed cold-case division detectives - Stan Wyld and Jake Steiner with I.T. expert Mallory Dimante - find themselves the toast of the town. Anxious to move on from the rampant publicity, they take on a simple missing person case.
But their search for missing Hollywood film director James Marston pitches them headlong back into the malevolent world of serial killer Ruby Everheart - and into the lives of the killer’s last intended victims, 14 year old Michael and six year old Jessie Cooper – two kids who unknowingly possess a secret that will ensnare everyone in a deadly game of cat and mouse with an evil far worse than Ruby Everheart.
Following their spectacular success in solving California’s worst serial killer case, a case that had languished unsolved for 15 years, Sacramento’s newly formed cold-case division detectives - Stan Wyld and Jake Steiner with I.T. expert Mallory Dimante - find themselves the toast of the town. Anxious to move on from the rampant publicity, they take on a simple missing person case.
But their search for missing Hollywood film director James Marston pitches them headlong back into the malevolent world of serial killer Ruby Everheart - and into the lives of the killer’s last intended victims, 14 year old Michael and six year old Jessie Cooper – two kids who unknowingly possess a secret that will ensnare everyone in a deadly game of cat and mouse with an evil far worse than Ruby Everheart.
386 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 10, 2016
159 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Booth
17 books31 followersC. J. Booth
Following his careers in broadcasting and film and video production, he has brought detectives Stan Wyld, Jake Steiner and Mallory Dimante to life in “Olive Park”, his first novel and the first novel in the series involving Sacramento’s fictional OID – Ongoing Investigation Division, the cold case division.
C. J. has studied with Judith Guest (“Ordinary People”), Rebecca Hill (“A Killing Time in St. Cloud”), Gary Braver (“Tunnel Vision”, “Skin Deep”), and David S. Freeman (“Beyond Structure”).
Olive Park, Crimson Park and Angel Park are all part of the The Park Trilogy, which is available in an e-book box set as the "The Park Trilogy."
C.J. lives with his wife on an island near Seattle, Washington.
Following his careers in broadcasting and film and video production, he has brought detectives Stan Wyld, Jake Steiner and Mallory Dimante to life in “Olive Park”, his first novel and the first novel in the series involving Sacramento’s fictional OID – Ongoing Investigation Division, the cold case division.
C. J. has studied with Judith Guest (“Ordinary People”), Rebecca Hill (“A Killing Time in St. Cloud”), Gary Braver (“Tunnel Vision”, “Skin Deep”), and David S. Freeman (“Beyond Structure”).
Olive Park, Crimson Park and Angel Park are all part of the The Park Trilogy, which is available in an e-book box set as the "The Park Trilogy."
C.J. lives with his wife on an island near Seattle, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 11, 2021
Ahhh cliffhanger!! Seriously can't wait to get to the next book in this series. This riveting read continues on with Stan, Jake and Mallory in the OID. They are handed what seems to be a run of the mill missing persons which soon turns out to be any thing but simple. It's a new investigation that has strong ties to the original Olive Park case in the first book. The twists and turns aren't easy to guess, events are unexpected and it's a fast paced read. I also enjoyed this because you start getting a little insight into the lives and personalities of our MCs, namely Jake and Mallory. It's a layer of humanity that just adds to the overall story. A thrilling series that I am excited to see the conclusion of
January 26, 2023
Wowzer page turner
Like Olive Park. This book followed the story as a page turner. I just could not stop reading. The characters become real and you become a part of the investigation. Trying to guess what's next, not happening.
Like Olive Park. This book followed the story as a page turner. I just could not stop reading. The characters become real and you become a part of the investigation. Trying to guess what's next, not happening.
March 29, 2021
Excellent book!I really enjoyed it!Our friends are still trying to figure out who killed Mr Marsden.inger prints point to someone impossile. With leaks in the department and horror every where,the kids are still trying to get to Arizona. James Romick was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
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October 10, 2021Intense and captivating!
This story kept me up well past my bedtime. Strong, clever characters and an interesting plot. Suspenseful and imaginative, with a few surprises. Well done!
This story kept me up well past my bedtime. Strong, clever characters and an interesting plot. Suspenseful and imaginative, with a few surprises. Well done!
August 5, 2023
The second book in the Park Trilogy, Crimson Park continues the story of the Ongoing Investigation Division - an effort to devote manpower to cold cases and reallocate resources to work the cases to their natural conclusion. The department is made up of Detectives Stan Wyld and Jake Steiner, I.T. specialist, Mallory Dimante and newly acquired pet/police dog, Jake. The second case for the OID begins with a missing person - a film director by the name of James Marston. But the more they look into things, the more strange things they uncover.
I loved the first book, the second though, was not quite as good. First off, it's a cliffhanger. I wouldn't say I love cliffhangers but I can deal with them if they're wrapped up to a sufficient point. This was not one of those and it left me confused and annoyed. I'm lucky the third book is available but I prefer my cliffhangers to be labelled so if it's not released - I can wait to read books together.
Second, this book could do with a good editor - or just a decent reader. While the first book was well plotted this was all over the shop - the narrative and continuity are a mess. Apart from the failure to remember where people were and what they were doing and a lack of decent editing to fix it, the author seems to have forgotten who is who as well. Mallory Dimante's father is now Handleman - I honestly had to get the first book out to double check what the hell was going on - I thought I must be remembering wrong - but I was not. I was annoyed but I was still enjoying the book - the problem was the more that fell apart, the less I liked.
Part 1 was fantastic. The buildup of the case and the unexplained mysteries were great. Part 2 with the return of Michael and Jessie was even better. And then Part 3 it all started going downhill. Parts of the plot fell away - Mallory's stalker and the dead nurse both just went nowhere. Parts got messy - instead of collaborating (which was what I liked most in the first book), they all ran around in different directions like headless chooks. Instead of debriefing or even sharing basic information, they keep it all to themselves. And parts got gross. The office glass windows.
Mallory was rather hard to like at times. Between her gung ho attitude and her delusions she's just irritating. She's so unwilling to listen before doing everything her own way and I didn't understand her crush on Jake at all. I mean she seems to think they're great friends and I'm not sure why. The last book left it with him being super angry at her about her deception and there was nothing to indicate that had changed - but she seemed to think they were meant to be.
She thought Jake understood. Cop to cop. She thought he saw her good parts and ignored the rest because he knew how the scar happened. She thought he could see past the scar. Thought he could see only her. She didn’t realize how much she counted on that. Still, he’d chosen normal. And really, why go with damaged goods when you can get new?
Booth, C. J.. Crimson Park: A spellbinding mystery with an unmissable twist (The Park Trilogy Book 2) (p. 287). Kindle Edition.
Like um what now? The romance was ridiculous and frankly, pretty unbelievable and so, so cringeworthy. Jake was okay. Can't say I really liked him as much as I did in the first book. But I liked Jake dog. He was funny and I loved Stan and I was And of course I'm a huge Michael fan. I loved that he looks after Jessie and it was awesome when he He's a total badass. And his lying was particularly amusing.
Not quite as good as the first book and definitely should be read in conjunction with the third book Angel Park, but a relatively decent read if you ignore a few big missteps. 3.5 stars, rounded to 4.
I loved the first book, the second though, was not quite as good. First off, it's a cliffhanger. I wouldn't say I love cliffhangers but I can deal with them if they're wrapped up to a sufficient point. This was not one of those and it left me confused and annoyed. I'm lucky the third book is available but I prefer my cliffhangers to be labelled so if it's not released - I can wait to read books together.
Second, this book could do with a good editor - or just a decent reader. While the first book was well plotted this was all over the shop - the narrative and continuity are a mess. Apart from the failure to remember where people were and what they were doing and a lack of decent editing to fix it, the author seems to have forgotten who is who as well. Mallory Dimante's father is now Handleman - I honestly had to get the first book out to double check what the hell was going on - I thought I must be remembering wrong - but I was not. I was annoyed but I was still enjoying the book - the problem was the more that fell apart, the less I liked.
Part 1 was fantastic. The buildup of the case and the unexplained mysteries were great. Part 2 with the return of Michael and Jessie was even better. And then Part 3 it all started going downhill. Parts of the plot fell away - Mallory's stalker and the dead nurse both just went nowhere. Parts got messy - instead of collaborating (which was what I liked most in the first book), they all ran around in different directions like headless chooks. Instead of debriefing or even sharing basic information, they keep it all to themselves. And parts got gross. The office glass windows.
Mallory was rather hard to like at times. Between her gung ho attitude and her delusions she's just irritating. She's so unwilling to listen before doing everything her own way and I didn't understand her crush on Jake at all. I mean she seems to think they're great friends and I'm not sure why. The last book left it with him being super angry at her about her deception and there was nothing to indicate that had changed - but she seemed to think they were meant to be.
She thought Jake understood. Cop to cop. She thought he saw her good parts and ignored the rest because he knew how the scar happened. She thought he could see past the scar. Thought he could see only her. She didn’t realize how much she counted on that. Still, he’d chosen normal. And really, why go with damaged goods when you can get new?
Booth, C. J.. Crimson Park: A spellbinding mystery with an unmissable twist (The Park Trilogy Book 2) (p. 287). Kindle Edition.
Like um what now? The romance was ridiculous and frankly, pretty unbelievable and so, so cringeworthy. Jake was okay. Can't say I really liked him as much as I did in the first book. But I liked Jake dog. He was funny and I loved Stan and I was And of course I'm a huge Michael fan. I loved that he looks after Jessie and it was awesome when he He's a total badass. And his lying was particularly amusing.
Not quite as good as the first book and definitely should be read in conjunction with the third book Angel Park, but a relatively decent read if you ignore a few big missteps. 3.5 stars, rounded to 4.
September 9, 2025
This review is based on the Audible audio version of the book.
I must admit that although I got the Park Trilogy as an Audible omnibus I wasn't expecting it to be in reality a single story, I was expecting it to be three stories featuring Stan, Jake and Malory from Sacramento's cold case squad (OID). Crimson Park starts not long after the three of them wrap up the Olive Park murders with the death of Ruby Everheart and they are looking forward to their next case. It arrives unexpectedly from the Captain who as a favour asks them to look into a missing persons case, that of James Marston Jr (a famous movie producer /director famous for slasher movies. Not surprisingly things don't go quite to plan. Marston's car is discovered in the police pound having been towed following a 'report' of it being abandoned (strange thing is their no record of the call reporting it be abandoned). Jake goes to take a look taking his new dog with him (humorously called Jake as well) and discovered a decapitated corpse in the car. Problems mount when forensics confirm that whilst the head is Marston's the body is someone else's, and this turns out to be a former police officer (previously in charge of Olive Park) and no PI hired by Malory to look for her brother. As the investigations continue red herrings abound and as the book comes to its conclusion more links are found to tie the current investigation into their old Olive Park case. The dramatic conclusion of the book has Stan and Jake (dog) being shot in the OID offices and Malory being forced to shoot and kill the attacker who turns out to be a convicted felon who was convicted of attempting to attack Marston with acid.
The story also has occasional looks into the struggle of Michael and Jessie Cooper as they try to live out their lives, come to terms with the trauma of Ruby Everheart whilst plotting to get to their relatives in Arizona.
This is a positioning book as it straddles Oliver Park and awaits conclusion in Angel Park, nothing is resolved in this book. We don't find out by who and why Marston was killed, we don't resolve the links to Olive Park and we still don't know why the Captain gave this case to OID. Hoping these all get answered in the trilogy's conclusion.
I must admit that although I got the Park Trilogy as an Audible omnibus I wasn't expecting it to be in reality a single story, I was expecting it to be three stories featuring Stan, Jake and Malory from Sacramento's cold case squad (OID). Crimson Park starts not long after the three of them wrap up the Olive Park murders with the death of Ruby Everheart and they are looking forward to their next case. It arrives unexpectedly from the Captain who as a favour asks them to look into a missing persons case, that of James Marston Jr (a famous movie producer /director famous for slasher movies. Not surprisingly things don't go quite to plan. Marston's car is discovered in the police pound having been towed following a 'report' of it being abandoned (strange thing is their no record of the call reporting it be abandoned). Jake goes to take a look taking his new dog with him (humorously called Jake as well) and discovered a decapitated corpse in the car. Problems mount when forensics confirm that whilst the head is Marston's the body is someone else's, and this turns out to be a former police officer (previously in charge of Olive Park) and no PI hired by Malory to look for her brother. As the investigations continue red herrings abound and as the book comes to its conclusion more links are found to tie the current investigation into their old Olive Park case. The dramatic conclusion of the book has Stan and Jake (dog) being shot in the OID offices and Malory being forced to shoot and kill the attacker who turns out to be a convicted felon who was convicted of attempting to attack Marston with acid.
The story also has occasional looks into the struggle of Michael and Jessie Cooper as they try to live out their lives, come to terms with the trauma of Ruby Everheart whilst plotting to get to their relatives in Arizona.
This is a positioning book as it straddles Oliver Park and awaits conclusion in Angel Park, nothing is resolved in this book. We don't find out by who and why Marston was killed, we don't resolve the links to Olive Park and we still don't know why the Captain gave this case to OID. Hoping these all get answered in the trilogy's conclusion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2021
A Fortune Tellers Tale
While the Ongoing Investigation Division was celebrating their succes in the Olive Park murders, Michael and Jees ( the young survivors) were being rehomed with their Aunt. Jake, Stan and Mallory find themselves assigned to a missing persons case that seems destined for boredom. Producer, James Marsten is missing and Captain Carruthers wants OID on the case.
When Marsten's body turns up in the impounded trunk of his car, the investigation heats up and leads the detectives to an abandoned carnival site... A site where Michael and Jess are now entrenched along with a 'retired' fortune teller.
As the detectives look for clues, Michael and Jess are looking to escape their worsening situation. Their paths collide as contrat murderers and child traffickers ply their trades.
Can the detectives figure out the links before the children disappear? Or will these cold cases experts wind up the focus of a new crime?
CJ Booth has managed to intertwine the c as sea in such a way that the reader us now invested in both the victims and the investigators.
While the Ongoing Investigation Division was celebrating their succes in the Olive Park murders, Michael and Jees ( the young survivors) were being rehomed with their Aunt. Jake, Stan and Mallory find themselves assigned to a missing persons case that seems destined for boredom. Producer, James Marsten is missing and Captain Carruthers wants OID on the case.
When Marsten's body turns up in the impounded trunk of his car, the investigation heats up and leads the detectives to an abandoned carnival site... A site where Michael and Jess are now entrenched along with a 'retired' fortune teller.
As the detectives look for clues, Michael and Jess are looking to escape their worsening situation. Their paths collide as contrat murderers and child traffickers ply their trades.
Can the detectives figure out the links before the children disappear? Or will these cold cases experts wind up the focus of a new crime?
CJ Booth has managed to intertwine the c as sea in such a way that the reader us now invested in both the victims and the investigators.
July 4, 2024
This is the 2nd in the series about Stan, Jake and Mallory. All detectives in the newly formed cold case division. This time they are taking on a missing person case that their Captain assigns them to. A well known Hollywood director is missing and it might relate back to their well known case that involved the serial killer Ruby Everheart.
Yes, M and Jessie are still in this one and always interested to see what is happening with them. Love the three detectives working together and how they each bring their own knowledge to the case and help solve it.
Can't wait to start the next one!
Yes, M and Jessie are still in this one and always interested to see what is happening with them. Love the three detectives working together and how they each bring their own knowledge to the case and help solve it.
Can't wait to start the next one!
August 19, 2022
Nothing is as it seems in Crimson Park. Everyone has their own take on the situation - always check the facts, don’t trust their words. Jessie and Michael could buy a break even if they had all the money in the world- their lives go from bad to worse and the team gets a new member, a dog. The characters continue to develop and grow - worming their way into your heart and phsyche. The story line is a little more obtuse in this book with no clear ending unlike the last book. Looking forward to the next instalment in the saga.
August 22, 2023
No, no, no! Too many unanswered questions! It had me hooked up to the point in the story where I thought everything would be tied up, and then the book ended.. without any making sure there weren't any loose ends left!! If there'd been an ending, I'd have excused the repetition detailing the happenings in the book and rated it highly. With no ending to the book, there's no way I can give it more than 1*. As I've said before, I hate it when an author leaves things unresolved at a book's end to entice the reader to purchase the next book in the series.
June 23, 2025
Extremely Disappointed
Ok. This is an excellent sequel to Olive Park from the standpoint of storytelling. But it makes me VERY upset when an author does not maintain continuity. It tells me he or she does not respect the reader. There are TWO problems here. One LARGE and one small. A major plot point was changed. Which really affects the whole story. Additionally, a character’s name was changed from the beginning of the book to a different one halfway through. It’s sloppy writing, and editing, and publishing. And it is again, disrespectful to the reader.
Ok. This is an excellent sequel to Olive Park from the standpoint of storytelling. But it makes me VERY upset when an author does not maintain continuity. It tells me he or she does not respect the reader. There are TWO problems here. One LARGE and one small. A major plot point was changed. Which really affects the whole story. Additionally, a character’s name was changed from the beginning of the book to a different one halfway through. It’s sloppy writing, and editing, and publishing. And it is again, disrespectful to the reader.
March 3, 2021
Sacramento PD cold case detectives continue to work the case of a decapitation killing that gives every sign of being one of the most gruesome homicides in city history. This is the sequel to author C.J. Booths earlier "Olive Park" and continues with the same characters now struggling to come to terms with great changes in their lives. This is three part series so I'm on to the last book in the series, Angel Park.
June 9, 2025
I have really wanted to love this series and feel like I’m in the minority for not giving it higher ratings - but maybe because I’m listening to the audiobooks as opposed to reading it?
The male narrator is fine, but his voices for the women drive me crazy - specifically for the younger sister in the story, whom he makes sound sooooo whiny and annoying.
I’ve really struggled getting back into this audiobook multiple times, trying to remember where I was and forgetting details (which is not my norm) if you’re going to do this series, I think I would suggest reading since so many other people have such high reviews - and skip the audiobook version.
Although now I have to listen to the third book for closure, so I’ll just have to stumble through it 😅
The male narrator is fine, but his voices for the women drive me crazy - specifically for the younger sister in the story, whom he makes sound sooooo whiny and annoying.
I’ve really struggled getting back into this audiobook multiple times, trying to remember where I was and forgetting details (which is not my norm) if you’re going to do this series, I think I would suggest reading since so many other people have such high reviews - and skip the audiobook version.
Although now I have to listen to the third book for closure, so I’ll just have to stumble through it 😅
February 27, 2021
Reserving judgment
Warming: This book has no resolution. You have to read the next in the series. Lots of profanity, explicit sex. Spoiler alert: Did I miss something, or is there a glaring discrepancy in the story of Mallory's father between books 1 and 2? In book 1 he was said to have killed the accused, and in book 2 he was the accused.
Warming: This book has no resolution. You have to read the next in the series. Lots of profanity, explicit sex. Spoiler alert: Did I miss something, or is there a glaring discrepancy in the story of Mallory's father between books 1 and 2? In book 1 he was said to have killed the accused, and in book 2 he was the accused.
February 26, 2021
Truly Spellbinding
This transitions from the first book seamlessly keeping the mystery and tension constant. Now t can't wait to start the third book. I'm not going to get any sleep at all.
This transitions from the first book seamlessly keeping the mystery and tension constant. Now t can't wait to start the third book. I'm not going to get any sleep at all.
August 12, 2021
I would love it if it wasn’t a cliffhanger
Awesome story, can’t guess how the story will end and now have to buy the next one to find out. And I will, because it’s that good, but some forewarning would hav been nice.
Awesome story, can’t guess how the story will end and now have to buy the next one to find out. And I will, because it’s that good, but some forewarning would hav been nice.
December 30, 2018
It continues the story with a new mystery but there is was no resolution to this story line. I hope Idon't have to wait 7 years for the third book. I really liked Olive Park.
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June 17, 2025amazing!!
July 7, 2025
Just short of being as good as Olive Park. Character development is great. I'm fully invested in the OID.
June 8, 2020
Crimson Park: A spellbinding mystery with an unmissable twist ( The Park Trilogy Book 2)
Crimson Park is an EXCELLENT SEQUEL to Olive Park. We got Detectives Stan, Ray, and Mallory Dimante are still connecting the dots to the new murder case of Petee Berlin & James Marston Jr., a producer of horror movies. Someone is still killing folks, attacking Mallory, Stan, and Jack the dog. Who is Ilsa Bokovic's family? What is their connection to the Joyland Carnival? On to Angel Park Book 3.
Crimson Park is an EXCELLENT SEQUEL to Olive Park. We got Detectives Stan, Ray, and Mallory Dimante are still connecting the dots to the new murder case of Petee Berlin & James Marston Jr., a producer of horror movies. Someone is still killing folks, attacking Mallory, Stan, and Jack the dog. Who is Ilsa Bokovic's family? What is their connection to the Joyland Carnival? On to Angel Park Book 3.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews