A serial killer is on the loose in Beantown and the cops can't catch him. But when the killer leaves his red rose calling card for Spenser's own Susan Silverman, he gets all the attention that Spenser and Hawk can give. Spenser plays against time while he tracks the Red Rose killer from Boston's Combat Zone to the suburbs. His trap is both daring and brave, and gives the story a satisfying climax. "Like Philip Marlowe, Spenser is a man of honor in a dishonorable world. When he says he will do something, it is done. The dialogue zings, and there is plenty of action...but it is the moral element that sets this series above most defective fiction." (Newsweek)
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"I really liked this book. It is number 15 in the Spenser series, and I must say I like Spenser in the early books. He is more raw, more deliberate, but still maintains his philosophy and ethics. As many folks know, I am a die-hard Robert B. Parker fan, and I hang out with several other Parker fans--a motley crew if there ever was. Still, the bad guy in this book is great to hate, and that makes the reading so much fun."
— Yeva (4 out of 5 stars)
" Worst of the Spenser novels, and IIRC the only one not written entirely from Spenser's point of view. "
— Fred, 2/17/2014" Just when I have been come tired and think I will not be able to read all the Spenser novels in 2011 a great one comes along and makes me glad I am reading them! Read in one afternoon and choose it as my favorite so far! "
— Debby, 2/3/2014" Generates a good deal of excitement "
— Nivi_pooh, 1/14/2014" Liked the book. Enjoy the Spenser series. Fast read. Like seeing some of the same people in the book. "
— Laura, 1/7/2014" Quick, easy and entertaining. Good for low attention times. "
— Gizzard, 12/29/2013" I read this in memory of Robert B. Parker, though it's not one of his best. The mystery is not that puzzling. The development of the Spenser & Susan characters was interesting. "
— Donna, 12/5/2013" Probably the best Spenser novel I have read. I ate this book like food. "
— Nate, 11/21/2013" Please see my blog for my review: Martin's View: Crimson Joy. "
— Martin, 10/25/2013" This was the first Parker book that I read so got into the flow of Spenser, mid-stream. "
— David, 6/2/2013" Psycho drama put me off. "
— Eyre, 4/8/2013" One of my favorite Spencer for hire novels. As usual great dialogue and an adversary that initially gets away from Spenser. "
— Mark, 2/22/2013" This was my first ever Spenser novel. I'll let it represent all of the Spenser and Sunny Randall books that I've read. "
— Bridget, 8/16/2012" One of the better ones in the series. "
— Mailmanr5, 6/12/2012" For an older book (and free for that matter) it was pretty good... Very cliche, predictable, and the twist was minor but interesting... A good inbetween reads book "
— Shannon, 4/19/2012" Pretty graphic. I don't like these disturbing ones too much. "
— Ellen, 1/12/2012" Crimson Joy by Robert Parker (1989) "
— Julie, 4/13/2011" Very Good; Continuing character: Spenser; serial killer turns out to be one of Susan's patients. "
— Joe, 1/27/2011" Solid Spenser outing. Felt particularly safe this time, but great dialogue and action scenes, as usual. "
— Tom, 12/21/2010" Probably the best Spenser novel I have read. I ate this book like food. "
— Nate, 3/6/2010" red rose killer in a spenser book. <br/>susan silverman's patient. "
— Steve, 11/1/2009" Very Good; Continuing character: Spenser; serial killer turns out to be one of Susan's patients. <br/> "
— Joe, 9/6/2009" This was my first ever Spenser novel. I'll let it represent all of the Spenser and Sunny Randall books that I've read. "
— Bridget, 4/5/2009" Another good week of reading four more Parker books, <br/>all Spenser adventures. A review called Spenser <br/>"a man who wears a broken nose and a broken heart <br/>equally well." He is certainly unlike anyone I <br/>know, but so likeable. "
— Joy, 2/23/2009" Crimson Joy by Robert Parker (1989) "
— Julie, 1/18/2009" A friend explained Parker's formula for Spenser to me, and they haven't been the same since. Crimson is disturbingly graphic, even for a Spenser novel. However, Crimson showcases a unique final battle that Parker manages to make surprisingly exciting. <br/> <br/> "
— Robert, 1/18/2009" Those who love Spenser novels will not be disappointed. Although there was not as much Hawk/Spenser dialog as I like. This focused more on the relationship between Spenser and Susan as they try to identify the killer of a number of black women. "
— Ginny, 10/3/2008" I read this in memory of Robert B. Parker, though it's not one of his best. The mystery is not that puzzling. The development of the Spenser & Susan characters was interesting. "
— Donna, 6/11/2008" not one of THE best of his, but i'll admit, one of the BETTER ones in this series. i liked how Susan got more involved this time, and can understand the conflict she felt both as a dr, and as a woman. "
— joyce, 3/6/2008Robert B. Parker (1932–2010), long acknowledged as the dean of American crime fiction, was the New York Times bestselling author of the Spenser mysteries, as well as the Jesse Stone novels. He was named Grand Master at the 2002 Edgar Awards by the Mystery Writers of America, an honor shared with earlier masters such as Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen. He has more than fifty books to his credit.
Michael Prichard is a Los Angeles-based actor who has played several thousand characters during his career, over one hundred of them in theater and film. He is primarily heard as an audiobook narrator, having recorded well over five hundred full-length books. His numerous awards and accolades include an Audie Award for Tears in the Darkness by Michael Norman and Elizabeth M. Norman and six AudioFile Earphones Awards. He was named a Top Ten Golden Voice by SmartMoney magazine. He holds an MFA in theater from the University of Southern California.