Customer Reviews

Candy from Strangers (August Riordan)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

"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.

I enjoyed the first two novels by the same author quite a lot, so I was looking forward to Candy from Strangers. It did not disappoint. As with his previous two novels, there were many colorful characters -- with the Bay Area itself being an integral part of the cast. Coggins is very faithful to the mystery tradition of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, with a brisk plot and the right mix of humor and darkness. I think this may be his best novel yet (although it is a close call compared to Immortal Game) and I am already looking forward to his next one.

If you enjoyed Immortal Game as much as I did, I definitely recommend Candy from Strangers. And if you haven't read Immortal Game, you might want to pick it up too.

Crusty old August Riordan is back and better than ever! Coggins continues to dazzle with his ingenious characters, spellbinding and delightfully suspenseful plots,laugh-out-loud humor, and mind-boggling knowledge of San Francisco and the Bay area!! I loved his first two books, but this surpasses even those!! Don't miss this one---take a walk on the wild side and enter a whole new dark and twisted internet universe. You will be crushed when the final page is turned and, like me, will have to wait for Riordan's next adventure!!

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.

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.

San Francisco PI and part-time bass player August Riordan and his cross-dressing friend, lead singer and computer hacker Chris Duckwork escape a bar fight only to come across a dead girl's body bearing what seems to be the beginning of a tattoo. Riordan is hired by Ellen Stockwell, wife of an alcoholic suspended East Palo Alto policeman, to find her missing daughter. The case leads Riordan into the world of sexual websites, a doomed relationship and murder.

Coggins knows the streets of San Francisco better than MapQuest. He has created some interesting characters but doesn't develop them. I kept waiting to feel something for any of the characters, but never did. The plot begins with a coincidence and the motive behind it all was very thin. The dialogue was well written and did add to the flavor of the story and characters but I never had a feeling of suspense. For someone who is supposed to be an experienced investigator, Riordan did, or didn't do, things I found unrealistic. I had read Coggins first Riordin book and hoped I would like this one better. Unfortunately, I didn't. Sorry, but this just didn't work for me.