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Colleen Hayes #5
Night Candy
1970s San Francisco: the sights, the sounds, the serial killers
As the '70s draw to a close in San Francisco, things do not bode well for the city—or for ex-con PI Colleen Hayes, whose daughter Pam, in a tragic turn of events, has lost her baby. Pam leaves San Francisco and Colleen, who moved there to reunite with her, starts to wonder what she's doing in the Bay Area.
Meanwhile, a serial killer given the name “Night Candy” is targeting sex workers, both male and female. The situation doesn't improve when Colleen' s friend and ally—SFPD Inspector Owens—is arrested for the murder of his ex-wife, who was found burned in a fire the same night the pair had tried to rekindle their love. Could Owens have really done what they say? Even Colleen has her doubts.
But there are people depending on her: Owens, who needs help finding his ex-wife's real killer, and a trio of sex workers Colleen keeps her eye on— especially with Night Candy on the loose. Then, one of the three girls is next to disappear. If anything is to test Colleen' s resolve, December 1979 seems to be it.
As the '70s draw to a close in San Francisco, things do not bode well for the city—or for ex-con PI Colleen Hayes, whose daughter Pam, in a tragic turn of events, has lost her baby. Pam leaves San Francisco and Colleen, who moved there to reunite with her, starts to wonder what she's doing in the Bay Area.
Meanwhile, a serial killer given the name “Night Candy” is targeting sex workers, both male and female. The situation doesn't improve when Colleen' s friend and ally—SFPD Inspector Owens—is arrested for the murder of his ex-wife, who was found burned in a fire the same night the pair had tried to rekindle their love. Could Owens have really done what they say? Even Colleen has her doubts.
But there are people depending on her: Owens, who needs help finding his ex-wife's real killer, and a trio of sex workers Colleen keeps her eye on— especially with Night Candy on the loose. Then, one of the three girls is next to disappear. If anything is to test Colleen' s resolve, December 1979 seems to be it.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2023
11 people are currently reading
3966 people want to read
About the author
Max Tomlinson
13 books196 followersBorn in the wilds of San Francisco, with its rich literary history and public transport system teeming with potential characters suitable for crime novels, it was inevitable that Max Tomlinson would become a writer.
He is also kindred spirits with a dog named Floyd, a shelter-mix who stops and stares at headlights as they pass by at night. There's a story there, too. If only Floyd could talk. Then again, maybe not.
His work to date includes SENDERO (listed as one of the top 100 Indie novels of 2012 by Kirkus), WHO SINGS TO THE DEAD, LETHAL DISPATCH, THE CAIN FILE (selected by Amazon’s Kindle Scout program) and the follow-up – THE DARKNET FILE. A new three-book mystery series set in 1970s San Francisco debuted in 2019 with Oceanview Publishing. The first book, VANISHING IN THE HAIGHT, features ex-con Colleen Hayes, on the hunt for her long-lost daughter. TIE DIE, book #2, releases August 2020.
Max also writes under the pen name “Max Radin” when he’s not being purely mysterious or suspenseful. Check out ROCK 'N' ROLL VAMPIRE for his comedy debut.
He is also kindred spirits with a dog named Floyd, a shelter-mix who stops and stares at headlights as they pass by at night. There's a story there, too. If only Floyd could talk. Then again, maybe not.
His work to date includes SENDERO (listed as one of the top 100 Indie novels of 2012 by Kirkus), WHO SINGS TO THE DEAD, LETHAL DISPATCH, THE CAIN FILE (selected by Amazon’s Kindle Scout program) and the follow-up – THE DARKNET FILE. A new three-book mystery series set in 1970s San Francisco debuted in 2019 with Oceanview Publishing. The first book, VANISHING IN THE HAIGHT, features ex-con Colleen Hayes, on the hunt for her long-lost daughter. TIE DIE, book #2, releases August 2020.
Max also writes under the pen name “Max Radin” when he’s not being purely mysterious or suspenseful. Check out ROCK 'N' ROLL VAMPIRE for his comedy debut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
November 3, 2022
Colleen Hayes is a bit unconventional for a private investigator, although bending the rules has always been par for the course for characters in this genre. For one thing, she's an ex-con, recently paroled. For another, she pokes her head into matters she's been told to stay out of. Night Candy, the fifth book in the series, has her crossing all kinds of lines and then some. For once, her investigations aren't delving into matters going back decades. Rather, she's got two things in the here and now on her plate.
One is Night Candy, a serial killer preying on the ladies of the night. Hayes wants to help them pro bono. The other thing is one of her only friends on the SFPD, Owens, now divorced, hoping to rekindle a romance with his ex wife, but all the evidence looks like he took her to a cabin and offed her in a fit of rage. Moreover, he's on his own behind bars with no one in the brotherhood coming to his aid. Hayes is convinced something is rotten in Denmark and there is nothing she won't stop at to prove Owens' innocence - even to the point of shaving her head and having tea with a serial killer's mother.
Once again, Tomlinson does a great job of bringing to life San Francisco in the Seventies, down to the cars being driven, the songs on the radio, and the fashions being worn.
One is Night Candy, a serial killer preying on the ladies of the night. Hayes wants to help them pro bono. The other thing is one of her only friends on the SFPD, Owens, now divorced, hoping to rekindle a romance with his ex wife, but all the evidence looks like he took her to a cabin and offed her in a fit of rage. Moreover, he's on his own behind bars with no one in the brotherhood coming to his aid. Hayes is convinced something is rotten in Denmark and there is nothing she won't stop at to prove Owens' innocence - even to the point of shaving her head and having tea with a serial killer's mother.
Once again, Tomlinson does a great job of bringing to life San Francisco in the Seventies, down to the cars being driven, the songs on the radio, and the fashions being worn.
July 21, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up'
Coleen Hayes #5
As the 70s draw to a close. in San Francisco, things do not bode well for the city - or for ex-con PI Coleen Hayes, whose daughter Pam, in a tragic turn of events, has lost her baby. Pam leaves San Francisco and Coleen, who moved there to reunite with her, starts to wonder what she's doing in the Bay Area. Meanwhile a serial killer given the name "Night Candy" is targeting sex workers, both male and female. The situation doesn't improve Coleen's friend and ally - SFPD Inspector Owens - is arrested for the murder of his ex-wife, who was found burned in a fire the same night the pair had tried to rekindle their love. Could Owen really have done what they say? Even Coleen has her doubts.
Coleen Hayes is an ex-con whose turned private investigator. Coleen is trying to help her friend Owen, a police officer, who has been arrested for his ex-wife's murder. We also have Night Candy, a serial killer who targets male and female sex workers. This is the first book in the series that I've read. Although it did read well as a standalone, I would have preferred to read the series in the order they were written in. The story is action packed. It's quite a complicated read and just a little gruesome. The characters are well developed.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #OceanviewPublishing and the author #MaxTomlinson for my ARC of #NightCandy in exchange for an honest review.
Coleen Hayes #5
As the 70s draw to a close. in San Francisco, things do not bode well for the city - or for ex-con PI Coleen Hayes, whose daughter Pam, in a tragic turn of events, has lost her baby. Pam leaves San Francisco and Coleen, who moved there to reunite with her, starts to wonder what she's doing in the Bay Area. Meanwhile a serial killer given the name "Night Candy" is targeting sex workers, both male and female. The situation doesn't improve Coleen's friend and ally - SFPD Inspector Owens - is arrested for the murder of his ex-wife, who was found burned in a fire the same night the pair had tried to rekindle their love. Could Owen really have done what they say? Even Coleen has her doubts.
Coleen Hayes is an ex-con whose turned private investigator. Coleen is trying to help her friend Owen, a police officer, who has been arrested for his ex-wife's murder. We also have Night Candy, a serial killer who targets male and female sex workers. This is the first book in the series that I've read. Although it did read well as a standalone, I would have preferred to read the series in the order they were written in. The story is action packed. It's quite a complicated read and just a little gruesome. The characters are well developed.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #OceanviewPublishing and the author #MaxTomlinson for my ARC of #NightCandy in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2023
What could be more enticing? Serial killers amidst the sounds and sights of San Francisco at the end of the Seventies. This is a perfect jumping-on point to the wild mouse ride with unexpected twists and turns of the Colleen Hayes mystery series. Tomlinson seamlessly inserts any necessary backstory to allow any new reader to devour and enjoy this fifth entry. Colleen is an unconventional, but multilayered character. Tenacious and loyal, she will relentlessly follow any lead to uncover the truth and clear her friend, Inspector Owens of SFPD, of a bogus murder charge.
This gorgeous and smart woman is an ex-con trying to navigate the waters as an unlicensed private investigator. Colleen served almost a decade in the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility for killing her scum-bag husband, Roger. She came home from work to find Roger puttering around the kitchen sink with his toolbox nearby, on the floor. When asked where her daughter Pam was, he nonchalantly quipped, ‘In her room.’ She finds her daughter cowering on the floor of her room in a near-catatonic state. Quickly realizing the heinous nature of the daughter’s abuse, she retreats to the kitchen. Out of the toolbox, she selects a screwdriver, and completing the Frankenstein monster picture before her, she drives the screwdriver from one side of the neck to the other.
As 1979 draws to a close in San Francisco, not only does Christmas music abound, but Night Candy, the serial killer, plies his trade on the local sex workers of the dark and shadowy streets. His victims are found posed in the crucifixion position and liberally dosed with the teen fragrance, known as Night Candy. Colleen on numerous occasions has been a Confidential Informant for Owens. They have progressively forged a relationship that approaches friendship. After prison, she moved to California to hopefully stabilize her relationship with Pam. After Pam loses her pregnancy and soon-to-be grandson, she deserts Colleen without explanation or a hint of her whereabouts.
Apparently, Owens and his estranged wife, Alice, are going away for hopefully a romantic weekend. When their cabin is destroyed in an inferno, authorities find Alice’s remains with a bullet hole in the back of her head. Owens had not stayed the night, however, he was soon arrested and charged with her murder.
Tomlinson weaves a taut, action-packed mystery thriller as Colleen relentlessly pursues multiple threads and possible leads through the underbelly of San Francisco. She will wade through pimps and the organized Tongs of Chinatown to pursue leads. She knows with certainty that Owens is not the killer. She will follow leads to an ex-boyfriend, Roy Quick, and will even seek the aid of an imprisoned serial killer, serving multiple life sentences in San Quentin. The tension and intrigue is progressively ratcheted up in this page-turner, and ultimately crescendos to an explosive denouement.
..... Published at MysteryAndSuspense Magazine.com .....
This gorgeous and smart woman is an ex-con trying to navigate the waters as an unlicensed private investigator. Colleen served almost a decade in the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility for killing her scum-bag husband, Roger. She came home from work to find Roger puttering around the kitchen sink with his toolbox nearby, on the floor. When asked where her daughter Pam was, he nonchalantly quipped, ‘In her room.’ She finds her daughter cowering on the floor of her room in a near-catatonic state. Quickly realizing the heinous nature of the daughter’s abuse, she retreats to the kitchen. Out of the toolbox, she selects a screwdriver, and completing the Frankenstein monster picture before her, she drives the screwdriver from one side of the neck to the other.
As 1979 draws to a close in San Francisco, not only does Christmas music abound, but Night Candy, the serial killer, plies his trade on the local sex workers of the dark and shadowy streets. His victims are found posed in the crucifixion position and liberally dosed with the teen fragrance, known as Night Candy. Colleen on numerous occasions has been a Confidential Informant for Owens. They have progressively forged a relationship that approaches friendship. After prison, she moved to California to hopefully stabilize her relationship with Pam. After Pam loses her pregnancy and soon-to-be grandson, she deserts Colleen without explanation or a hint of her whereabouts.
Apparently, Owens and his estranged wife, Alice, are going away for hopefully a romantic weekend. When their cabin is destroyed in an inferno, authorities find Alice’s remains with a bullet hole in the back of her head. Owens had not stayed the night, however, he was soon arrested and charged with her murder.
Tomlinson weaves a taut, action-packed mystery thriller as Colleen relentlessly pursues multiple threads and possible leads through the underbelly of San Francisco. She will wade through pimps and the organized Tongs of Chinatown to pursue leads. She knows with certainty that Owens is not the killer. She will follow leads to an ex-boyfriend, Roy Quick, and will even seek the aid of an imprisoned serial killer, serving multiple life sentences in San Quentin. The tension and intrigue is progressively ratcheted up in this page-turner, and ultimately crescendos to an explosive denouement.
..... Published at MysteryAndSuspense Magazine.com .....
April 23, 2023
I've never read Tomlinson before but I enjoyed Colleen so much that now I'll need to read the first four in this series! P.I. Colleen is on the case of Night Candy, a serial killer targeting sex workers. She tries to warn the women on the streets where he frequents, but they must continue to stay alive and finance their pimps. Colleen is also worried about her own daughter, Pam who disappeared after she lost her baby and of course what mother wouldn't be concerned about that? In the meantime, there's a death at a cabin hideaway and the apparent murderer is in prison. Colleen (who's served a sentence herself) visits but is convinced there is something odd about the whole situation. She digs deeper, uses her cunning to figure out what the real story is, and using her wits and feminine wiles, is able to solve this somewhat-complicated case. I enjoyed this and look forward to more of her exploits!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
July 26, 2023
This is the fifth book in the series, but my second, featuring ex-con Colleen Hayes, convicted of killing her abusive husband, but now she is out of prison and working as a private eye without a license. While working on a serial killer case and worrying for her daughter, she feels that she needs to help her colleague because she feels he is not guilty. It's an action-packed, fast-paced, with twists and turns that kept me invested in reading. The characters with all their flaws were realistically shown. The story also took me back in time and gave me a sense of nostalgia. I can’t wait to see what will be the next adventure for Colleen in the next installment.
June 30, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC
I found Night Candy (the nickname for a serial killer in case you were are wondering) to be an well-written and highly entertaining police /private investigator procedural. I also enjoyed that this novel was set right at the conclusion of the 70's it was pleasant revisiting cutural and musical references from that timeframe.
Lastly, I believe that novel did an excellent job when it came to framing the struggles cops and other aw enforcement pros face on an almost daily basis (for example, if the temptation to "stack the cards" a bit when they Know who committed a particular crime or crimes, however you also equally realize that Yu cannot prove who the perpetrator was "beyond a shadow of a doubt" therefore the creep will keep repeatedly breaking the law and could easily harm you or your loved ones as they go about their daily activities.
The temptation to sightly titt the scales of justice would be seductive, and even more so in the self-defining seventies.
Definitely a great novel for someone searching for a traditional police procedural that recognizes stressors that exist when you empower an individual to be quick thinking individuals, when those individuals have a n amount of power.
This was the first book (it definitely won't be my last) that I have read written by this talented author.
Until next time, dear readers, stay safe
I found Night Candy (the nickname for a serial killer in case you were are wondering) to be an well-written and highly entertaining police /private investigator procedural. I also enjoyed that this novel was set right at the conclusion of the 70's it was pleasant revisiting cutural and musical references from that timeframe.
Lastly, I believe that novel did an excellent job when it came to framing the struggles cops and other aw enforcement pros face on an almost daily basis (for example, if the temptation to "stack the cards" a bit when they Know who committed a particular crime or crimes, however you also equally realize that Yu cannot prove who the perpetrator was "beyond a shadow of a doubt" therefore the creep will keep repeatedly breaking the law and could easily harm you or your loved ones as they go about their daily activities.
The temptation to sightly titt the scales of justice would be seductive, and even more so in the self-defining seventies.
Definitely a great novel for someone searching for a traditional police procedural that recognizes stressors that exist when you empower an individual to be quick thinking individuals, when those individuals have a n amount of power.
This was the first book (it definitely won't be my last) that I have read written by this talented author.
Until next time, dear readers, stay safe
July 9, 2023
This is the fifth book in the series featuring ex-con Colleen Hayes, who's now out of prison - convicted of killing her husband - and working as a private eye (albeit unlicensed). It's also the first one I've read, but it certainly won't be the last; I'm intrigued by Colleen's rather unconventional approach to her work - sort of the means-justifies-the-end attitude. At least in some cases, ethics is far less important than outcome.
She does not, for instance, feel remorse for the murder she committed; he was, after all, seriously abusing their daughter Pamela, with whom Colleen is trying to reestablish a working relationship (with mixed results; not long ago, Pamela once again disappeared from Colleen's life). A bit of remorse there? You bet.
Meantime, a serial killer known as "Night Candy" has been targeting sex workers in San Francisco in the late 1970s. It's almost 1980 now, and Colleen's cop friend Owen - in jail for the murder of his wife Alice - needs her help (his police department colleagues seem to have washed their hands of him, and their disdain extends to Colleen as well). But she's convinced that Owen was railroaded and sets out to prove it despite doubts of her friends and colleagues.
Needless to say, that puts her squarely in the sights of the SFPD as well as police departments of surrounding communities to which her investigation takes her. Fairly early on she identifies her prime suspect, but pinning down the required evidence isn't the easiest of tasks (and certainly isn't without more toe-stepping and outright danger). By the end - and at least two more murders - she's frustrated enough to throw caution to the wind (again) to bring the case to a close. It's an action-packed adventure, although a little repetitive here and there - and there's plenty left to carry over to the next installment. I'm looking forward to reading it, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.
She does not, for instance, feel remorse for the murder she committed; he was, after all, seriously abusing their daughter Pamela, with whom Colleen is trying to reestablish a working relationship (with mixed results; not long ago, Pamela once again disappeared from Colleen's life). A bit of remorse there? You bet.
Meantime, a serial killer known as "Night Candy" has been targeting sex workers in San Francisco in the late 1970s. It's almost 1980 now, and Colleen's cop friend Owen - in jail for the murder of his wife Alice - needs her help (his police department colleagues seem to have washed their hands of him, and their disdain extends to Colleen as well). But she's convinced that Owen was railroaded and sets out to prove it despite doubts of her friends and colleagues.
Needless to say, that puts her squarely in the sights of the SFPD as well as police departments of surrounding communities to which her investigation takes her. Fairly early on she identifies her prime suspect, but pinning down the required evidence isn't the easiest of tasks (and certainly isn't without more toe-stepping and outright danger). By the end - and at least two more murders - she's frustrated enough to throw caution to the wind (again) to bring the case to a close. It's an action-packed adventure, although a little repetitive here and there - and there's plenty left to carry over to the next installment. I'm looking forward to reading it, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.
October 4, 2024
I would like to thank Oceanview Publishing and Max Tomlinson for granting me a digital copy of this book.
3⭐- set in San Francisco in the late 70's, we follow an ex-con turned unlicensed PI Colleen in her search of a serial killer called Night Candy, who targets female sex workers by night.
It was an OK read, knowing this is the fifth story in the Colleen Hayes series, I feel like I was missing some context by jumping in so late - I would definitely read the other books in this series before starting this one.
3⭐- set in San Francisco in the late 70's, we follow an ex-con turned unlicensed PI Colleen in her search of a serial killer called Night Candy, who targets female sex workers by night.
It was an OK read, knowing this is the fifth story in the Colleen Hayes series, I feel like I was missing some context by jumping in so late - I would definitely read the other books in this series before starting this one.
August 9, 2023
What could be more enticing? Serial killers amidst the sounds and sights of San Francisco at the end of the Seventies. This is a perfect jumping-on point to the wild mouse ride with unexpected twists and turns of the Colleen Hayes mystery series. Tomlinson seamlessly inserts any necessary backstory to allow any new reader to devour and enjoy this fifth entry. Colleen is an unconventional, but multilayered character. Tenacious and loyal, she will relentlessly follow any lead to uncover the truth and clear her friend, Inspector Owens of SFPD, of a bogus murder charge.
This gorgeous and smart woman is an ex-con trying to navigate the waters as an unlicensed private investigator. Colleen served almost a decade in the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility for killing her scum-bag husband, Roger. She came home from work to find Roger puttering around the kitchen sink with his toolbox nearby, on the floor. When asked where her daughter Pam was, he nonchalantly quipped, ‘In her room.’ She finds her daughter cowering on the floor of her room in a near-catatonic state. Quickly realizing the heinous nature of the daughter’s abuse, she retreats to the kitchen. Out of the toolbox, she selects a screwdriver, and completing the Frankenstein monster picture before her, she drives the screwdriver from one side of the neck to the other.
As 1979 draws to a close in San Francisco, not only does Christmas music abound, but Night Candy, the serial killer, plies his trade on the local sex workers of the dark and shadowy streets. His victims are found posed in the crucifixion position and liberally dosed with the teen fragrance, known as Night Candy. Colleen on numerous occasions has been a Confidential Informant for Owens. They have progressively forged a relationship that approaches friendship. After prison, she moved to California to hopefully stabilize her relationship with Pam. After Pam loses her pregnancy and soon-to-be grandson, she deserts Colleen without explanation or a hint of her whereabouts.
Apparently, Owens and his estranged wife, Alice, are going away for hopefully a romantic weekend. When their cabin is destroyed in an inferno, authorities find Alice’s remains with a bullet hole in the back of her head. Owens had not stayed the night, however, he was soon arrested and charged with her murder.
Tomlinson weaves a taut, action-packed mystery thriller as Colleen relentlessly pursues multiple threads and possible leads through the underbelly of San Francisco. She will wade through pimps and the organized Tongs of Chinatown to pursue leads. She knows with certainty that Owens is not the killer. She will follow leads to an ex-boyfriend, Roy Quick, and will even seek the aid of an imprisoned serial killer, serving multiple life sentences in San Quentin. The tension and intrigue is progressively ratcheted up in this page-turner, and ultimately crescendos to an explosive denouement.
This gorgeous and smart woman is an ex-con trying to navigate the waters as an unlicensed private investigator. Colleen served almost a decade in the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility for killing her scum-bag husband, Roger. She came home from work to find Roger puttering around the kitchen sink with his toolbox nearby, on the floor. When asked where her daughter Pam was, he nonchalantly quipped, ‘In her room.’ She finds her daughter cowering on the floor of her room in a near-catatonic state. Quickly realizing the heinous nature of the daughter’s abuse, she retreats to the kitchen. Out of the toolbox, she selects a screwdriver, and completing the Frankenstein monster picture before her, she drives the screwdriver from one side of the neck to the other.
As 1979 draws to a close in San Francisco, not only does Christmas music abound, but Night Candy, the serial killer, plies his trade on the local sex workers of the dark and shadowy streets. His victims are found posed in the crucifixion position and liberally dosed with the teen fragrance, known as Night Candy. Colleen on numerous occasions has been a Confidential Informant for Owens. They have progressively forged a relationship that approaches friendship. After prison, she moved to California to hopefully stabilize her relationship with Pam. After Pam loses her pregnancy and soon-to-be grandson, she deserts Colleen without explanation or a hint of her whereabouts.
Apparently, Owens and his estranged wife, Alice, are going away for hopefully a romantic weekend. When their cabin is destroyed in an inferno, authorities find Alice’s remains with a bullet hole in the back of her head. Owens had not stayed the night, however, he was soon arrested and charged with her murder.
Tomlinson weaves a taut, action-packed mystery thriller as Colleen relentlessly pursues multiple threads and possible leads through the underbelly of San Francisco. She will wade through pimps and the organized Tongs of Chinatown to pursue leads. She knows with certainty that Owens is not the killer. She will follow leads to an ex-boyfriend, Roy Quick, and will even seek the aid of an imprisoned serial killer, serving multiple life sentences in San Quentin. The tension and intrigue is progressively ratcheted up in this page-turner, and ultimately crescendos to an explosive denouement.
March 4, 2023
It’s San Francisco. The 1970s are fading and the “Summer of Love” a distant memory. Maybe the 80s will bring something new, and hopeful. Not so, as Night Candy, the moniker of a brutal serial killer who preys on sex workers, vexes private investigator Colleen Hayes. Colleen, who, by the way, is an ex-con already has a full plate: Her daughter dealing with a personal tragedy; her partner facing charges in the death of his wife; and now this. In NIGHT CANDY, the fifth installment in the best-selling Colleen Hayes Mystery Series, Tomlinson spins a wild tale that is fast-paced, convoluted, and populated with memorable characters. Highly recommended.
DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series
DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series
February 28, 2023
Night Candy by Max Tomlinson
Colleen Hayes is a modern Spencer For Hire or really a mix of Spencer and Hawk. She is an unlicensed PI who has a hard sleuth exterior and a soft, gruff interior. It’s the ‘70s and a serial killer is stalking women of the night in San Franciso. Her only friend in the police department falls into disfavor with his peers and she is the only one who stands by him. Adding to the tension of a friend in trouble, a runaway daughter, and targeted sex workers she is an ex-con.
Hayes is a likable, flawed character. She skirts legality but only in the course of justice. I liked the story and characters, and I recommend it.
Colleen Hayes is a modern Spencer For Hire or really a mix of Spencer and Hawk. She is an unlicensed PI who has a hard sleuth exterior and a soft, gruff interior. It’s the ‘70s and a serial killer is stalking women of the night in San Franciso. Her only friend in the police department falls into disfavor with his peers and she is the only one who stands by him. Adding to the tension of a friend in trouble, a runaway daughter, and targeted sex workers she is an ex-con.
Hayes is a likable, flawed character. She skirts legality but only in the course of justice. I liked the story and characters, and I recommend it.
August 28, 2023
Of all the Colleen Hayes books in this enthralling series, the 5th and final was even better than I anticipated. I am sorry to see the story end, and will be wondering how Colleen would have fared in the 80's. I love how Tomlinson smoothly intertwined San Francisco and Bay Area locales to the storyline - a real treat for those of us who were born and raised in The City in those days....
Very much looking forward to what Tomlinson comes up with next.
Farewell, Colleen....
Very much looking forward to what Tomlinson comes up with next.
Farewell, Colleen....
January 10, 2024
This was a fine mystery/thriller that had enough to keep me reading but not the most gripping of the genre. If you've read others in the series you will find this is the same and you will enjoy it as much as you did the other.
August 22, 2023
Slow read, for me
It started out interesting and exciting but just dragged on. Over half of the book was spent setting up the ending with details that didn't even impact the "exciting" conclusion. The ending fell short too, disappointing -- I wouldn't read another in the series.
It started out interesting and exciting but just dragged on. Over half of the book was spent setting up the ending with details that didn't even impact the "exciting" conclusion. The ending fell short too, disappointing -- I wouldn't read another in the series.
September 3, 2023
It's 1979 and while the age of Disco is coming to an end, PI Colleen Hayes has rather more serious things on her mind. Having done her time after dispatching her vile husband (for very good reasons), she is still struggling to rebuild her life.
And although Colleen originally came to San Francisco to track down her estranged daughter Pamela, things have not worked out quite as she had hoped. After becoming involved with a cult leader, Pam has more recently miscarried her baby, and taken the decision to leave the Bay area to recover from those traumatic experiences.
Which leaves Colleen wondering whether or not she should also head off elsewhere, even though she has now established a base for herself in San Francisco - not least due to her business as a private investigator.
But she still has unfinished business here. A good friend of hers, and one of the few cops she trusts implicitly, is being investigated for the murder of his wife. And Colleen seems to be one of the very few people who believe that Officer Owens is innocent. So how can she just leave him to his fate?
And to make matters worse, her adopted city is being terrorised by a twisted serial killer, known only as Night Candy, who targets female sex workers, and has also killed a transvestite (as it turns out, in the mistaken belief that he was a woman, sigh).
So, particularly after meeting a trio of sex workers whom Colleen wants to persuade to move to another line of work, this woman - who knows all too well the price of male violence against women - gets involved in trying to track down Night Candy.
But this time, Colleen gets way more than she bargained for. And she finds herself crossing all kinds of red lines in the process...
In Colleen, author Tomlinson has created an unusual character. This is a woman that it is hard not to care about, because she herself cares so much about so many things - and people.
The vibe of '70s San Francisco, with its people, police force and prostitutes is also brought to life in the book in a way that the authenticity shines through. Take a walk down memory lane, and revisit the end of an era, and the early days of America's assembly line of serial killers.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review
And although Colleen originally came to San Francisco to track down her estranged daughter Pamela, things have not worked out quite as she had hoped. After becoming involved with a cult leader, Pam has more recently miscarried her baby, and taken the decision to leave the Bay area to recover from those traumatic experiences.
Which leaves Colleen wondering whether or not she should also head off elsewhere, even though she has now established a base for herself in San Francisco - not least due to her business as a private investigator.
But she still has unfinished business here. A good friend of hers, and one of the few cops she trusts implicitly, is being investigated for the murder of his wife. And Colleen seems to be one of the very few people who believe that Officer Owens is innocent. So how can she just leave him to his fate?
And to make matters worse, her adopted city is being terrorised by a twisted serial killer, known only as Night Candy, who targets female sex workers, and has also killed a transvestite (as it turns out, in the mistaken belief that he was a woman, sigh).
So, particularly after meeting a trio of sex workers whom Colleen wants to persuade to move to another line of work, this woman - who knows all too well the price of male violence against women - gets involved in trying to track down Night Candy.
But this time, Colleen gets way more than she bargained for. And she finds herself crossing all kinds of red lines in the process...
In Colleen, author Tomlinson has created an unusual character. This is a woman that it is hard not to care about, because she herself cares so much about so many things - and people.
The vibe of '70s San Francisco, with its people, police force and prostitutes is also brought to life in the book in a way that the authenticity shines through. Take a walk down memory lane, and revisit the end of an era, and the early days of America's assembly line of serial killers.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review
July 22, 2023
Night Candy by Max Tomlinson is a highly recommended mystery and the fifth novel in the Colleen Hayes series.
Ex-con and current private investigator Colleen Hayes moved to the San Francisco area to reconnect with her daughter Pam. Now it's 1979 and Pam has left the area after losing her baby. Colleen is heartbroken, but keeping it to herself and working on her cases as a PI. She is very concerned about the serial killer known as Night Candy who is still on the prowl and those who are most vulnerable to be targeted by him.
At the same time another case more personal to Colleen. SFPD Inspector Edmund Owens has been arrested for the murder of his ex-wife. Colleen knows he is innocent and sets out to prove this. She is up against the investigator assigned to his case who is openly hostile to Owens as well as Colleen. The danger and tension increases as Colleen exposes information and clues in two different complicated cases leading up to an intricate and very satisfying conclusion.
Night Candy is a fast paced, intelligent and sophisticated investigative mystery. It is enjoyable to follow the investigation and try to piece together the clues as Colleen works the cases. Colleen is a wonderfully complicated and intelligent character. Sure, she has issues and imperfections, but most readers are going to like her and will closely follow her investigations, wanting her to succeed.
Set in the seventies, Tomlinson brings it all back (for the best and the worst) from clothes to cars. There were a few phrases/words used by characters that wouldn't have been said in the seventies, but, to be honest, most readers won't notice this at all. It also portrays a San Francisco from decades ago and not today.
Although this can be read as a standalone, it does feel like I'm missing some vital information and backstory about the characters and wish I had at least read the previous novel first. The series includes Vanishing in the Haight, Tie Die, Bad Scene, Line of Darkness, and Night Candy.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Oceanview Publishing via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/0...
Ex-con and current private investigator Colleen Hayes moved to the San Francisco area to reconnect with her daughter Pam. Now it's 1979 and Pam has left the area after losing her baby. Colleen is heartbroken, but keeping it to herself and working on her cases as a PI. She is very concerned about the serial killer known as Night Candy who is still on the prowl and those who are most vulnerable to be targeted by him.
At the same time another case more personal to Colleen. SFPD Inspector Edmund Owens has been arrested for the murder of his ex-wife. Colleen knows he is innocent and sets out to prove this. She is up against the investigator assigned to his case who is openly hostile to Owens as well as Colleen. The danger and tension increases as Colleen exposes information and clues in two different complicated cases leading up to an intricate and very satisfying conclusion.
Night Candy is a fast paced, intelligent and sophisticated investigative mystery. It is enjoyable to follow the investigation and try to piece together the clues as Colleen works the cases. Colleen is a wonderfully complicated and intelligent character. Sure, she has issues and imperfections, but most readers are going to like her and will closely follow her investigations, wanting her to succeed.
Set in the seventies, Tomlinson brings it all back (for the best and the worst) from clothes to cars. There were a few phrases/words used by characters that wouldn't have been said in the seventies, but, to be honest, most readers won't notice this at all. It also portrays a San Francisco from decades ago and not today.
Although this can be read as a standalone, it does feel like I'm missing some vital information and backstory about the characters and wish I had at least read the previous novel first. The series includes Vanishing in the Haight, Tie Die, Bad Scene, Line of Darkness, and Night Candy.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Oceanview Publishing via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/0...
July 30, 2023
Following 2022’s LINE OF DARKNESS, the ’70s nears an end. “Inflation was over ten percent. The economy was hemorrhaging jobs.” At an astounding 85 cents per gallon, the gas-guzzling Ford Torino that tyro private investigator Colleen Hayes drives to and from Sonoma County costs $25 a week.
Three sex workers have been killed, posed with arms spread crucifixion-style. They “had been sprayed with a teen fragrance known as Night Candy,” the moniker ascribed to the serial killer. Now a fourth victim appears to have been offed in a rush, no time for posing or scent. The presumed perpetrator is identified early. Is this Max Tomlinson’s wry use of poetic license, or is he teasing readers?
Colleen’s grandchild died at birth and, true to daughter Pam’s style of dealing with reality, runs from it. Cop friend-with-benefits Matt has interviewed for a CIA gig on the east coast. Once an adversary, SFPD Inspector Edmund Owens had engaged Colleen as a confidential informant, paving the way for the ex-con to obtain her PI license. Murdering a spouse for raping your pre-pubescent daughter can hinder licensure when languishing in a penitentiary for a decade. Now in charge of SFPD Internal Affairs, Inspector Ryan “looked like Fred Flintstone with a hangover.” He isn’t fond of either Colleen or Owens.
Owens and his ex, Alice, attempt to reconcile at the secluded cluster of cabins in Sonoma County, where they honeymooned. After dinner, she kicks him out. The next morning, Owens is charged with murder, his pistol found in the charred cabin remains. With overwhelming circumstantial evidence, even Colleen has doubts, but she visits her friend at the local lockup. Something seems screwy. Colleen slithers under crime scene tape, uncovering evidence not documented by local beadles who have never investigated a homicide.
Rarely is a mystery so richly entrenched in forensics, police procedure, investigative techniques and a novice investigator who tirelessly pursues the truth. Multiple plotlines and characters are like fine linen threads woven into an intriguing tapestry. NIGHT CANDY is sure to earn several literary awards and nominations.
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
Three sex workers have been killed, posed with arms spread crucifixion-style. They “had been sprayed with a teen fragrance known as Night Candy,” the moniker ascribed to the serial killer. Now a fourth victim appears to have been offed in a rush, no time for posing or scent. The presumed perpetrator is identified early. Is this Max Tomlinson’s wry use of poetic license, or is he teasing readers?
Colleen’s grandchild died at birth and, true to daughter Pam’s style of dealing with reality, runs from it. Cop friend-with-benefits Matt has interviewed for a CIA gig on the east coast. Once an adversary, SFPD Inspector Edmund Owens had engaged Colleen as a confidential informant, paving the way for the ex-con to obtain her PI license. Murdering a spouse for raping your pre-pubescent daughter can hinder licensure when languishing in a penitentiary for a decade. Now in charge of SFPD Internal Affairs, Inspector Ryan “looked like Fred Flintstone with a hangover.” He isn’t fond of either Colleen or Owens.
Owens and his ex, Alice, attempt to reconcile at the secluded cluster of cabins in Sonoma County, where they honeymooned. After dinner, she kicks him out. The next morning, Owens is charged with murder, his pistol found in the charred cabin remains. With overwhelming circumstantial evidence, even Colleen has doubts, but she visits her friend at the local lockup. Something seems screwy. Colleen slithers under crime scene tape, uncovering evidence not documented by local beadles who have never investigated a homicide.
Rarely is a mystery so richly entrenched in forensics, police procedure, investigative techniques and a novice investigator who tirelessly pursues the truth. Multiple plotlines and characters are like fine linen threads woven into an intriguing tapestry. NIGHT CANDY is sure to earn several literary awards and nominations.
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
September 20, 2024
When a prostitute disappears after a transvestite rent boy is discovered murdered in a car park, the fear is that a serial killer is back: Night Candy, so-called because of the trademark scent left on his victims: likewise called Night Candy.
This proves to be far more complex for private detective Colleen Hayes, though she is frequently warned to stay away. But when she realises the victim is a stand-in related to someone she knows, all of Haye's protective instincts kick in.
Bell-bottom wearing Hayes (this is the end of the 70's) is not your average sleuth:she's a convicted murderer on parole, though still has to use her ex-cop skills to pay her bills. Not above breaking and entering either, she soon discovers evidence that her ex-colleague and friend is being framed for a murder he didn't commit, but that the killer might have been looking for a stand-in victim. However, the police are dragging their feet. Even when one of their own gets killed. In any case, are these two recent killings, really the work of Night Candy?
Will she be able to bring the real culprits to justice before they get her? And will she be able to save her two prostitute acquaintances from the fate of their fellow working girl?
To get more evidence she has to stoop really low by interviewing a mass child murderer who might know Night Candy , and information is exchanged on a quid pro pro basis. Sound familiar?
Hayes is a tough campaigner or justice, which will make her sympathetic to her readers, though the question on just how far anyone should take the law into their own hands is a constant nagging question, and one with which she is confronted, again and again. Neither does Hayes often, willingly back down from a case.
For those who might develop a taste for this sleuth, there is good news: there are earlier standalone novels featuring her, and a Colleen Hayes collection is not beyond the realms of possibility.
This proves to be far more complex for private detective Colleen Hayes, though she is frequently warned to stay away. But when she realises the victim is a stand-in related to someone she knows, all of Haye's protective instincts kick in.
Bell-bottom wearing Hayes (this is the end of the 70's) is not your average sleuth:she's a convicted murderer on parole, though still has to use her ex-cop skills to pay her bills. Not above breaking and entering either, she soon discovers evidence that her ex-colleague and friend is being framed for a murder he didn't commit, but that the killer might have been looking for a stand-in victim. However, the police are dragging their feet. Even when one of their own gets killed. In any case, are these two recent killings, really the work of Night Candy?
Will she be able to bring the real culprits to justice before they get her? And will she be able to save her two prostitute acquaintances from the fate of their fellow working girl?
To get more evidence she has to stoop really low by interviewing a mass child murderer who might know Night Candy , and information is exchanged on a quid pro pro basis. Sound familiar?
Hayes is a tough campaigner or justice, which will make her sympathetic to her readers, though the question on just how far anyone should take the law into their own hands is a constant nagging question, and one with which she is confronted, again and again. Neither does Hayes often, willingly back down from a case.
For those who might develop a taste for this sleuth, there is good news: there are earlier standalone novels featuring her, and a Colleen Hayes collection is not beyond the realms of possibility.
July 21, 2023
As 1979 is about to draw to a close, Colleen Hayes has a lot to deal with. She's an unlicensed Private Investigator living in San Francisco taking less than desirable cases to pay the bills. There's a serial killer on the loose named "Night Candy" targeting the city's street walkers and Colleen's good friend, Homicide Inspector Edmund Owens, is working the case. Colleen warns three women she feels are in danger. While dealing with family issues, Colleen is shocked when Owens is arrested as the primary suspect in the murder of his ex-wife, who he had hoped to reconcile with. Colleen is convinced of Owens' innocence and is frustrated by the lack of support received by the police. So, she's out on her own to solve the case. Is there some connection to the serial killer?
I've read all of the Colleen Hayes books by author Max Tomlinson and Night Candy is one of my favorites in the series. Colleen is a complex character who is smart and daring. She doesn't always stay inside the lines but has created her own boundaries. Colleen has had so much go wrong in her life, yet she continues to think of others and, as shown with Owens, she's a great friend. This is a fast-paced story that is intelligent and exciting. You don't have to read the first four books to enjoy this book, but I'd recommend it. This book has a good sense of nostalgia as Tomlinson mentions songs playing in the background, which are instantly recognizable. It's an effective device but it is a bit over-used in the book. It will be interesting to see how Colleen's life and career evolve as she enters the 1980s. I'll certainly be along for the ride.
Many thanks to Oceanview Publishing for the opportunity to read Night Candy in advance of its publication.
Rated 4.25 stars.
Review to be posted on MicheleReader.com.
I've read all of the Colleen Hayes books by author Max Tomlinson and Night Candy is one of my favorites in the series. Colleen is a complex character who is smart and daring. She doesn't always stay inside the lines but has created her own boundaries. Colleen has had so much go wrong in her life, yet she continues to think of others and, as shown with Owens, she's a great friend. This is a fast-paced story that is intelligent and exciting. You don't have to read the first four books to enjoy this book, but I'd recommend it. This book has a good sense of nostalgia as Tomlinson mentions songs playing in the background, which are instantly recognizable. It's an effective device but it is a bit over-used in the book. It will be interesting to see how Colleen's life and career evolve as she enters the 1980s. I'll certainly be along for the ride.
Many thanks to Oceanview Publishing for the opportunity to read Night Candy in advance of its publication.
Rated 4.25 stars.
Review to be posted on MicheleReader.com.
July 7, 2025
This was a pretty good read., I did not realize that it was part of a series but I think it worked fine as a standalone. It centers on Colleen, an ex-con now working as a private investigator. She is reeling from a personal tragedy while trying to solve 2 mysteries: one being a serial killer targeting prostitutes and the other being her close friend being accused of murdering his wife.
Colleen is hard not to like- she is smart and savvy and has a lot of moxie, though she would likely get herself in really big trouble, both personally and with the law,, if she did some of what she did in the book in real life. Makes for a good story, though. The story has more of a police procedural type quality to it than a mystery, as the reader essentially knows from the beginning who the "bad guy" is but follows along with Colleen as she tries to make sure he goes down for it. There were a few twists along the way, though, which made the pacing continually quick. One thing I thought was a little weird (and maybe this is explained in the previous books) is that the reader gets a detailed explanation of what Colleen is wearing pretty much every time she leaves the house. I personally did not care for that level of detail and wasn't sure why it was in there. I liked the way the book ended, for the most part, though I don't think that every detail was tied up as neatly as I would have preferred.
Overall, I liked the book and thought it was a fast-paced and engaging read. It was interesting that it took place in the late 1970's, as I had to keep reminding myself that they didn't have the technology to do some of the stuff I expected them to do. I am not super big on reading series but I would pick up another book from this one if I saw it. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Colleen is hard not to like- she is smart and savvy and has a lot of moxie, though she would likely get herself in really big trouble, both personally and with the law,, if she did some of what she did in the book in real life. Makes for a good story, though. The story has more of a police procedural type quality to it than a mystery, as the reader essentially knows from the beginning who the "bad guy" is but follows along with Colleen as she tries to make sure he goes down for it. There were a few twists along the way, though, which made the pacing continually quick. One thing I thought was a little weird (and maybe this is explained in the previous books) is that the reader gets a detailed explanation of what Colleen is wearing pretty much every time she leaves the house. I personally did not care for that level of detail and wasn't sure why it was in there. I liked the way the book ended, for the most part, though I don't think that every detail was tied up as neatly as I would have preferred.
Overall, I liked the book and thought it was a fast-paced and engaging read. It was interesting that it took place in the late 1970's, as I had to keep reminding myself that they didn't have the technology to do some of the stuff I expected them to do. I am not super big on reading series but I would pick up another book from this one if I saw it. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2023
I'm a real fan of this series & the protagonist, Colleen Hayes. She's a parolee convicted of murdering her husband. She manages to pull her life back together & starts a private investigative agency (unlicensed). The setting of 1970's/cusp of 1980's San Francisco is gritty.
Someone is hunting & killing prostitutes and no one gives a flip - except Colleen. That's her turf & the victims are kindred spirits.
Meanwhile, her unlikely best friend, Detective Owens, is trying to put his marriage back together after his ex-wife's extra-marital affair. He is out of pocket at a cabin/resort in the woods (literally).
The reunion is a bust, and Owens leaves. The cabin catches on fire, his wife's body is found in the ruins, and Owens is arrested. No one believes in his innocence except - Colleen. The girl's got a lot on her plate.
She starts by finding the beneficiary of the ex-wife's will. A younger, buffer local bartender. Cliches are cliches for a reason. Colleen continues to investigate outside the lines with her limited resources (and 1970's "technology").
Turns out, the prostitutes & Owens ex-wife are sorta the same body type & coloring. hmmm...
worlds collide. I'll let you figure out the rest.
A dark ride in the underbelly of SanFran back in the day. Go back and start at book #1 even though you don't have to. Thank me later.
Thank you to Oceanview Publishing & net galley for an advance reading copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This book will be released on July 25, 2023.
Someone is hunting & killing prostitutes and no one gives a flip - except Colleen. That's her turf & the victims are kindred spirits.
Meanwhile, her unlikely best friend, Detective Owens, is trying to put his marriage back together after his ex-wife's extra-marital affair. He is out of pocket at a cabin/resort in the woods (literally).
The reunion is a bust, and Owens leaves. The cabin catches on fire, his wife's body is found in the ruins, and Owens is arrested. No one believes in his innocence except - Colleen. The girl's got a lot on her plate.
She starts by finding the beneficiary of the ex-wife's will. A younger, buffer local bartender. Cliches are cliches for a reason. Colleen continues to investigate outside the lines with her limited resources (and 1970's "technology").
Turns out, the prostitutes & Owens ex-wife are sorta the same body type & coloring. hmmm...
worlds collide. I'll let you figure out the rest.
A dark ride in the underbelly of SanFran back in the day. Go back and start at book #1 even though you don't have to. Thank me later.
Thank you to Oceanview Publishing & net galley for an advance reading copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This book will be released on July 25, 2023.
July 23, 2023
San Francisco is on the verge of a new decade and before it begins a serial killer known as Night Candy is murdering sex workers both male and female. It is 1979 and PI Colleen Hayes is frustrated by the lack of police concern over these killings due to the targets. She begins to investigate. In addition, her friend, SFPD Insp. Edmund Owens, has been arrested for the murder of his ex- wife. Her body was found in their burned out vacation home. She had a bullet wound in her head. Could Owens have done it, he wanted to reconcile?
This is the fifth installment in this great mystery series. Max Tomlinson vividly brings 1970s San Francisco back to life, from the music, cars, fashion, pay phones, and mind sets. Colleen is a flawed character, an ex-con, who killed her abusive husband, and has no remorse over it. She was estranged from her daughter, Pam, and eventually reconnected. She is brave and a champion of the underdog. She started an unlicensed PI business and tends to bend the rules. I would definitely want her on my side.
This mystery has action, moves quickly, and has well drawn out characters. It can be read as a standalone, but I suggest reading the series from the beginning for all of Colleen's backstory and reading about her previous cases. You will not be disappointed and like me, will want to see more of Colleen.
Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for an ARC. The review is my own.
This is the fifth installment in this great mystery series. Max Tomlinson vividly brings 1970s San Francisco back to life, from the music, cars, fashion, pay phones, and mind sets. Colleen is a flawed character, an ex-con, who killed her abusive husband, and has no remorse over it. She was estranged from her daughter, Pam, and eventually reconnected. She is brave and a champion of the underdog. She started an unlicensed PI business and tends to bend the rules. I would definitely want her on my side.
This mystery has action, moves quickly, and has well drawn out characters. It can be read as a standalone, but I suggest reading the series from the beginning for all of Colleen's backstory and reading about her previous cases. You will not be disappointed and like me, will want to see more of Colleen.
Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for an ARC. The review is my own.
July 24, 2023
Inspector Owens and his estranged wife are going to give their marriage one more try. But their night turns deadly and Owens is arrested for her murder. But, his good friend Colleen, knows there is something not right and she doesn’t stop until she knows the truth.
I love the setting of the 1970s. And the author did a great job with the clothing, the cars and the whole feel of the 70s. I also found Colleen a fantastic character. She is a strong, no nonsense type of gal. And she takes no crap off these men! Plus, she is smart and it shows!
This story weaves a great mystery with a kick. The twist and turns are exciting. I love how the author entangled the story around Inspector Owens and then contorted all the pieces together. And this book hit me at just the right time. I needed a good thriller to get lost in and this one fit the bill!
Need a good tale with a twist or two or three…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
I love the setting of the 1970s. And the author did a great job with the clothing, the cars and the whole feel of the 70s. I also found Colleen a fantastic character. She is a strong, no nonsense type of gal. And she takes no crap off these men! Plus, she is smart and it shows!
This story weaves a great mystery with a kick. The twist and turns are exciting. I love how the author entangled the story around Inspector Owens and then contorted all the pieces together. And this book hit me at just the right time. I needed a good thriller to get lost in and this one fit the bill!
Need a good tale with a twist or two or three…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
July 30, 2024
Coleen, a convict who is serving a ten-year term out on parole, has become a PI and sets out to find the truth behind the arrest of her close friend, an SFPD detective accused of murdering his wife. The book deals with the sordid life of streetwalkers who are exploited by their agents. There is also a serial killer who chooses his victims from among these streetwalkers. The pace is sedate to begin with gathering strength as Coleen unravels pieces of evidence one after another and proves the innocence of the SFPD detective but puts her life in danger in the process. It is a very interesting murder mystery thriller that keeps you engrossed right till the end. The ending is slightly overboard, with Coleen trying to solve everything rather than leave it to the police to complete their due process. Overall an interesting read.
Thank you Oceanview Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via Edelweiss Plus. All opinions are my own.
Thank you Oceanview Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via Edelweiss Plus. All opinions are my own.
July 24, 2023
Colleen Hayes, who served time for killing her husband, is an unlicensed albeit really good PI and now, in 1979, she facing her toughest situations yet. Her ally on the SFPD Edmund Owens has been accused of murdering his wife, the woman with whom he'd only recently reconciled. There's a serial killer going after "women of the night". And Colleen's daughter Pam, for whom she's risked everything in the past, has gone away after losing a baby. This twists in and back and over itself for a mystery that's got both gruesome murders and thoughtful solutions. The late 70s atmospherics are great; those who have been following along will no doubt appreciate how Tomlinson has slid not only Colleen's situation but the setting up the dial. This should be fine as a standalone. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. A good read.
July 25, 2023
This is #5 in a series but I can attest to it being easily read as a stand-alone. Ex-con turned PI Colleen Hayes is as smart as she is unconventional, and willing to bend the rules when necessary. As 1979 draws to a close and a serial killer, Night Candy, is targeting sex workers in San Fransisco, and Colleen learns her friend and only ally in the SFPD, Inspector Owens, has been arrested for the murder of his estranged wife. When she realizes she may be the only person who believes he is innocent and that even Owens' colleagues aren't going to do anything to help him, Colleen starts looking into what happened. The characters are unique and nuanced, and the 1970's references add realism and interest. More suspense than mystery, but knowing who did what doesn't help you figure out where the action-packed plot will lead.
July 25, 2023
This is #5 in a series but I can attest to it being easily read as a stand-alone. Ex-con turned PI Colleen Hayes is as smart as she is unconventional, and willing to bend the rules when necessary. As 1979 draws to a close and a serial killer, Night Candy, is targeting sex workers in San Fransisco, and Colleen learns her friend and only ally in the SFPD, Inspector Owens, has been arrested for the murder of his estranged wife. When she realizes she may be the only person who believes he is innocent and that even Owens' colleagues aren't going to do anything to help him, Colleen starts looking into what happened. The characters are unique and nuanced, and the 1970's references add realism and interest. More suspense than mystery, but knowing who did what doesn't help you figure out where the action-packed plot will lead.
October 1, 2023
*Paperback
Thank you to Oceanview Publishing for my gifted review copy of Night Candy, in exchange for an honest review.
This one hooked me immediately. San Francisco is such a cool place for a detective / investigator novel. It was so atmospheric which I really liked.
The pacing of this one was really slow after the first couple of chapters and I struggled to keep reading. This book is also part of a series, which I didn’t know. The author does allude to the history of PI Colleen, so it could be read as a stand-alone but I think you’d get more out of it if you read them from the beginning.
I think this book was probably about 100 pages too long.
I ended up skimming it towards the end just to get through it.
The story itself was cool and interesting, it just took a little long for my taste to get from point A to point B. It’s a preference thing for me.
Thank you to Oceanview Publishing for my gifted review copy of Night Candy, in exchange for an honest review.
This one hooked me immediately. San Francisco is such a cool place for a detective / investigator novel. It was so atmospheric which I really liked.
The pacing of this one was really slow after the first couple of chapters and I struggled to keep reading. This book is also part of a series, which I didn’t know. The author does allude to the history of PI Colleen, so it could be read as a stand-alone but I think you’d get more out of it if you read them from the beginning.
I think this book was probably about 100 pages too long.
I ended up skimming it towards the end just to get through it.
The story itself was cool and interesting, it just took a little long for my taste to get from point A to point B. It’s a preference thing for me.
February 20, 2023
4.5/5 stars! This is the 5th book in the Colleen Hayes series. I was looking forward to this story told in San Francisco in the 70s. At times the plot felt like a little much with both the serial killer investigation and the separate murder investigation being conducted. But I suppose that makes it more real-world because detectives are rarely only covering one case at a time. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the story. The author was really descriptive of the locations, which I really like. The ending was a surprise and a good conclusion to the novel. I will be going back to read the other Colleen Hayes books.
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
June 2, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Oceanview publishing for the copy of Night Candy by Max Tomlinson. The first time I started this I couldn’t get into it for some reason. When I picked it up againI really liked it but then stopped being engaged. I think the writing style was hard for me because the sentences were choppy and the words didn’t have a good flow. Having to read about what Colleen was wearing, and the title and artist of every song that plays anywhere was probably done to evoke the 70s, but it got repetitive and boring. Once it got going though, the story was really good. The book really wasn’t for me because writing is so important, but if you want a good story with a lot of action this is for you!
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