Candyland

by Vicki Salloum

A TEENAGER WITH A CONSCIENCE GOES ON A HARROWING CRUSADE TO SAVE A BOY'S LIFE.

Seventeen-year-old Lázara overhears her brothers plotting to kill the teenage son of her employer for failing to pay his drug debt. Unable to bear the burden of the boy's murder on her conscience, she embarks on a crusade to save the boy, first alerting the boy's father then confronting her brothers and, finally, seeking help from a New Orleans cop. When all efforts fail, she steals a handgun and surprises her brothers during their rendezvous with the boy at the meth lab, Candyland, unleashing consequences she never expected or could ever have imagined.

246 pages, Paperback

Published January 21, 2016

About the author

Born in Gulfport, Mississippi, Vicki Salloum has lived in New Orleans for many years with her husband, the late Wayne Joseph Holley. Her five published novels are A GATHERING PLACE, released in 2025 by Silent Clover Press of Los Angeles, California; WAITING FOR YOU AT MIDNIGHT, released in 2018 by Moonshine Cove Publishing of Abbeville, South Carolina; CANDYLAND, published in 2016 by Moonshine Cove; FAULKNER & FRIENDS, released in 2014 by Underground Voices of Los Angeles, California; and A PRAYER TO SAINT JUDE, released in 2012 by Main Street Rag of Charlotte, North Carolina. Her short fiction has been included in the anthologies When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple (Papier-Mache Press, 1987); Pass/Fail: 32 Stories About Teaching (Red Sky Books, 2001); Voices From the Couch (America House, 2001); and Umpteen Ways of Looking at a Possum: Critical and Creative Responses to Everette Maddox (Xavier Review Press, 2006). She holds an MFA in creative writing from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Reviews

[Kevin Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I won this book from Goodreads giveaway** I enjoyed the story very much. The only real issue I had was the story jumped a few times into the past and I had to reread a page to get me set right. I can only say I am glad not to live in her world. A glance into this world is more then enough for me, but would like to do so again. I will keep my eye out for more of Ms. Salloum's work. I recommend this book.

[Pam Mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rings so true you know this plot is acting out across the country. I loved the desperate strength of the teenage girl - scared and yet on a mission. Compelling to see her perspective as she figures out what is going on in her family and their underworld activities. A great crime novel full of grit, angst and suspense. A good read.

[Emiley Allen Bowes · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS..... A well written book. Brings out the many sides of each character. Shows how complex the interactions between people can become. Lazara only wants to escape from her family and their life of crime, but, she keeps being drawn back into the evil that surrounds her. Thanks to goodreads for this ARC

[Rebecca Warnock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a definite page turner!! Once I started reading, I didn't want to stop. Vicki Salloum does a wonderful job of painting a picture with her writing. The characters are easy to imagine and they create a wonderful story. Following Lazara on the terrifying life experience she finds herself in was an on the edge journey I enjoyed every moment of.

[Dianne Hurley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an enjoyable read. It is set in New Orleans and the main character is a 17 year old girl who happens to have parents who make drugs and 2 brothers who sell them. She has turned out, although a bit hardened, to be an ambitious and law abiding person. The book is brief, and involves her employment with a lawyer and trying to save his son from death at the hands of her brothers.

[Desiree · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for noir fiction fans! I received Candyland through a Goodreads giveaway, and am grateful to have been introduced to Salloum's work. The novel contains quick, terse dialogue, and dark, damaged characters, but it left me with the possibility of hope.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It's fast paced and had me engaged the whole time. The characters were realistic and reacted to situations in an honest way. Definitely worth reading. I won this book from a goodreads giveaway.

[Connie Wisniewski · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot was interesting, but too much repetition. Characters interesting.

[Donna Valente · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads giveaway. A very good book and well written. Couldn't put it down. Want to see some more of Vicki Salloums work!!

[Books365days · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book but all reviews is my own. The book was really great in the beginning. The only issue I had was it kept repeating itself and her history. Quick easy read.