Night Candy was a story that caught my eye. Colleen is an ex con and an unlicensed private investigator. What impressed me was how she never gave up. She chased every lead. Along the way she meets a wide range of characters. The street walkers are looking for a missing gal that got into a car with a killer. Colleen is friends with a policeman that is being setup for the death of his ex-wife. And all the police departments want Colleen to stop looking for answers. What a good book!

Very much enjoyed all books in this series, due to the great characters, authentic setting, and plots. Also very witty.

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.

I’m on the fence about this book. The book started great with the killer making his presence known. He was on the hunt. He had a particular prey and the blond one was his mark. Who knew they had transgenders in the seventies. I was a toddler back then. Anyway, Colleen’s character was awesome. There were moments were the plot and the entertainment moved with her however, there parts that dragged the book out for me. It stalls after the killer takes his first victim. The book was an alright read for me. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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.

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.

Having not read any of the previous books, this was kind of a hard book to get invested in since I had missed so much of the back story. I would recommend to others reading this book, it is probably good to have read some of the previous books. I did find the book was full of different twists and turns, which did help to keep me reading. I would still recommend this book to others, because I know everyone doesn't like the same thing.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

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.

Get ready for a thrilling ride with ex-con Colleen Hayes, now working as a private eye without a license after being convicted of killing her abusive husband. In this action-packed fifth installment, Colleen takes on a serial killer case and fights to prove her colleague’s innocence while worrying for her daughter’s safety. The twists and turns kept me invested, and the flawed yet realistic characters were a standout. The 1970s setting brought a nostalgic charm, and Colleen’s strong and smart personality made her a fantastic protagonist. The mystery weaved around Inspector Owens added to the excitement, and this gripping thriller was exactly what I needed. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for Colleen’s next adventure!

Max Tomlinson is a native of San Francisco. He is the author of a crime series set in South America, an international espionage series, and the Colleen Hayes mysteries, set in 1970s San Francisco. Max also writes under the pen name Max Radin.

Colleen Hayes killed her abusive husband and spent ten years in prison in Colorado. When she was released, she drifted into private investigation work and eventually received her license. Colleen’s main focus was on reconnecting with the daughter who went into foster care while she was incarcerated and she ended up in San Francisco, because that’s where her daughter was.

Night Candy is the fifth book about Hayes, released by Oceanview in July 2023. Colleen is grieving the death of her first grandchild. Her daughter has disappeared to mourn on her own and Colleen is left to carry on her fledgling PI business. Fortunately there is no shortage of wives checking up on husbands and vice versa to keep her gainfully employed.

A serial killer who targets prostitutes is prowling the streets. Because of his chosen victims, the press is calling him Night Candy. Colleen is keeping an eye on a trio of sex workers that she is trying to persuade to find other sources of income, hoping to keep them safe. Their pimp isn’t especially happy about her efforts to deprive him of revenue streams.

In the meantime one of her few friends on the San Francisco Police Force, Inspector Edmund Owens, is arrested for the murder of his ex-wife. Colleen is convinced that he is being railroaded and turns over every stone and cuts all sorts of corners in her attempt to identify the real killer.

This is a fast-moving, tightly plotted thriller with more than one surprise as Colleen shreds the DA’s case against her friend. Colleen Hayes is a great character. She is the feminine version of the loner private investigator seen in so many crime fiction series. She takes just as many chances and is just as ruthless as her male counterparts. Her lack of friends and family weighs heavily on her but not enough to change her life. I have not read the first four books in the series and had no trouble following the back story, so they do not have to be read in order.

Especially for fans of contemporary female private investigators.

Eh, I think this was an okay read. It had a hard time keeping me engaged at times and there were a few elements I just didn't understand but maybe if I "knew" Colleen better from previous books in the series I would have enjoyed it a bit more. All in all it was a decent book and I wouldn't tell anyone not to read it, especially if these stories are up their alley.

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.

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.

Coleen is shattered after her daughter loses her child and leaves home, to add to her afflictions, her best friend is accused of murdering his wife and put in jail. At the same time, there is a serial killer, Night Candy, targeting women in the streets of San Francisco, and Coleen ends up being mixed up in the investigation re. Night Candy and that to free her friend. The story is full of action, it gives a good view of how people communicated before cell phones, social media, and so on. Entertaining!

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.

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.

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.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Amazon.

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 have really 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 this series in the order they were written in. murder. We also have Night Candy, a serial killer who targets male and female street 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.

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.

Rated 4.25 stars.

Night Candy, by Max Tomlinson, is a fast paced suspense with plenty of heart. It's part of a series about PI Colleen Hayes that takes place in the '70s and I'm here for it! I appreciate all the pop culture references on things like her clothes, cars and people's attitudes.
It's the end of the ’70s in San Francisco and trouble is brewing and PI Colleen Hayes, is all about borrowing trouble. There's a serial killer on the prowl and he's going after people that Colleen cares about. She's trying to look out for them but can only handle so much. Then things go from bad to worse when one of her friends is arrested for murdering his ex. Now she's left unsure who to trust.
She realizess that she better suck it up so she can try and help those that she cares about.