Candy from Strangers

by Mark Coggins

Book Overview

Caroline Stockwell has a secret: she and her best friend Monica are "cam girls."

Soliciting cash donations and gifts via Amazon.com wish lists from anonymous admirers, the young women have put up a web site featuring still photographs, video and blogs to help pay their way through art college. But when Caroline goes missing and her mother Ellen engages jazz bass-playing PI August Riordan to find her, Riordan discovers her secret and it appears...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1461046289
• ISBN13: 9781461046288
• Release Date: April 2011
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

August Riordan: what an attitude!

"Candy from Strangers" is a fast-paced, enjoyable read. I particularly liked the snarky attitude of private-eye August Riordan, who never, EVER passes up an opportunity to dish out a caustic one-liner. Mark Coggins is a talented mystery writer.

Great to have Riordan back

Since the second of Mark Coggins' mysteries only involved August Riordan peripherally, it's great to have him back on center stage in "Candy from Strangers". He's a great "alter ego" for San Franciscans tired of the hype and so-called sophistication that the city tries to generate. (I say that as a life long SF resident who deeply loves the place). Riordan navigates the city's familiar landscape in his battered Ford Galaxie with all of San Francisco's reputed tolerance and acceptance, but with an honest and refreshing blue collar sensibilty. And what's more, he figures out "who dun it"! He's no Holmes or Poirot, our August. But he's tenacious and smart enough to get the job done, and he plays the bass! (I doubt he'd be interested in accompanying Holmes' cerbral violin playing). So welcome back Augie. "Candy from Strangers" is great read, and I look forward to many more in the series.

A mystery with enough depth and intrigue to keep you turning the pages.

August Riordan is a hard boiled detective (although the author would not stoop to such tired clichés) from the old school faced with a new age crime. As Riordan digs through the case, he encounters various interesting, diverse (an understatement), and believable characters who both help and complicate Riordan's efforts. He also struggles with a few personality quirks that probably would rule out a career in Human Resources. It all adds to up a thoroughly enjoyable book. Highly recommended.

Riordan is Back!

I was a huge fan of The Immortal Game, and while I did like Vulture Capital, I am very happy to see August back front-and-center. I consider Candy from Strangers to be Coggins' best work yet. Pure fun; I couldn't put the book down. Especially with all the attention that MySpace has been getting, this book couldn't have been more timely. And I love the locales and trivia from the San Francisco Bay Area. Tell me when I can pre-order the next installment!

Coggins' Best Yet

Coggins is firing on all cylinders (unlike his lead character's Galaxie 500) with this latest August Riordan series mystery. Are you a mystery fan? Coggins' credentials are top-notch and he delivers all you could ask for--just look at the raves in the blurbs from other top mystery authors. Not really a mystery devotee? (I'm not, actually.) Have no fear--you'll be hooked right from the first chapter (a doozy) by the thoughtful and often brilliant writing, the taut and highly entertaining story, the vivid cast of characters, and the persistently witty, funny dialog and narration (I laughed out loud numerous times--something I seldom do when reading, especially in public). Already familiar with August Riordan's world? This is everything you've been waiting for, and more.