• Fun House

  • A John Ceepak Mystery, Book 7
  • By: Chris Grabenstein
  • Narrated by: Jeff Woodman
  • Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (942 ratings)

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Fun House  By  cover art

Fun House

By: Chris Grabenstein
Narrated by: Jeff Woodman
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Publisher's summary

Fun House is the latest novel in the award-winning John Ceepak mystery series, set on the Jersey Shore.

What if a reality TV show like Jersey Shore set up production in the fictional seaside resort Sea Haven? What if hitting the gym, tanning, and doing a little laundry aren't the only things the contestants get into? By-the-book officer John Ceepak and his wisecracking young partner, Danny Boyle, have to babysit the buff and boozy kids partying it up in a Jersey Shore rental house for TV’s summertime hit Fun House, while simultaneously trying to stop the rowdy kids from breaking the law up and down the beach. But even Ceepak and Danny can’t stop one young cast member from being murdered - and others from being threatened with the same fate.

©2011 Chris Grabenstein (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Fun House

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Ceepak and Boyle are worth waiting for

What made the experience of listening to Fun House the most enjoyable?

Jeff Woodman's narration was, as always, an excellent way to bring the fabulous characters of John Ceepak and Danny Boyle alive.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

This was one of the lighter novels in the series, with Grabenstein taking the opportunity to poke fun at reality TV throughout the book, but no less suspenseful for that. There's lots of action and Grabenstein's usual subtle social commentary as well.

Have you listened to any of Jeff Woodman???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have only listened to Jeff Woodman narrating all the earlier books in this series and he is part of the reason I fell in love with the books (against my own expectations). His performance here was up to his usual high standard. Woodman IS Danny Boyle.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laughed. Out loud. Multiple times.

Any additional comments?

It IS hard to wait two years for each new instalment of this series but Grabenstein has made it worth the wait, meeting my expectations and then some.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Maybe it's time for Sea Haven to retire...

I'm a completist and I had to read this book so I would be current with the series. I've read them all, in order, and, unfortunately, this is by far my least favorite.

The characters and setting are the same as the rest in the series. But Danny has been around too long for his point-of-view to be fresh or funny (even though it seems he tries). The mystery was not particularly challenging to figure out, and I'm not convinced the "badguy" was believable in the end... to accept the rationale behind the crimes, you have to suspend disbelief just a smidge too much - more than I expect from a book in this genre.

Even Ceepak seemed to be muted here... or maybe I'm just tired of his goody-two-shoes character which has not shown any growth over time? Not sure, but... I will still probably read the next in the series if there is one. The narration is great as usual.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Now We Know for Sure ~ Reality TV is a Crime

How did I miss Chris Grabenstein for all these years? The guy is a terrific writer with a light touch, solid character development and engaging plot lines. Every one of his Ceepak mysteries is worth a listen ~ Fun House, his latest, is no exception.

Here, you can expect the same fast paced action, Ceepak understatement, and Danny Boyle humor we enjoyed in the first six mysteries. You also are rewarded with a terrific values clash between the straight-laced Ceepak and the anything-for-ratings world of Reality TV. Even if we had not been punished by the dominance of reality TV for a decade now, it would be easy to hate its minions from this mystery alone. They are detestable and Grabenstein shines a spotlight on them.

Fun House is just that ~ a fun read. Danny Boyle and John Ceepak continue to develop as characters, and their town of Sea Haven continues to come alive with return appearances from locals and wonderful descriptions of this Down the Shore beach town. Delivery could NOT be better ~ Jeff Woodman has these characters down cold.

Enough review. This one will keep you hooked and make you laugh. Grab it. Listen. Kinda like a funnel cake ~ you'll enjoy it while you're listening and still have room for more.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • JC
  • 05-14-12

Totally enjoyable

The other reviewers have said it all beautifully. Another great Danny and Ceepak story that made me laugh out loud numerous times. This narrator is EXCEPTIONAL and makes me want to listen to this again and again. I hate thinking that I'll have to wait 2 years for the next one. I love this series!

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I Love Ceepak! and Danny Boyle TOO!

Would you listen to Fun House again? Why?

Yes, I would re-listen to all Ceepak novels

What other book might you compare Fun House to and why?

Rolling Thunder/Tilt a Whirl

What about Jeff Woodman’s performance did you like?

To me he is Danny Boyle

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It definately make me cry!

Any additional comments?

I really enjoy Chris Gaberstein's creations - Boyle and Ceepak and Sea Haven, my only issue is that they are tooo slow in being released by the publisher. Hope we don't have to wait 2 more years for the next Ceepak novel.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful, as usual

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes, great narration, good story line, quick pace

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

I have listened to all the Ceepak books, and I really enjoy the narrator, and the storylines, Extremely entertaining.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another Winner

As always the writer and reader mesh; the book and it's narration flawlessly. The chemistry between Ceepak and Boyle is perfect and the relationship between them make this series work. The degree of reality in the police procedure seems less than ideal,but that"s a minor problem in the series. If you're seeking Michael Connelly level detail pertaining to a cop's life, you'll have to keep looking. These are great, light weight reads, or listens I have all eight of the books in the series and I rate them all as five star reads. Sit back and enjoy.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The perfect whodunit, as usual!

Grabenstein has written another ideal whodunit for Ceepak and Danny Boyle. The settings, the characters and the story are captured with the usual Jersey Shore flair Grabenstein brings. And there are very few pairings on Audible as perfect as Jeff Woodman and this series. He is the perfect narrator to capture the drama, humor and oddness that is Sea Haven, NJ. After I listened to this one I just couldn't get enough, and went back to re-listen to the first of these books, Tilt-A-Whirl.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Great Listen

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to friends and family but would have to with a warning about the language. The language is crude but it make the situation in the book believable.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Fun House?

Batman testing out a hypothesis and at "Veggie Shack" Danny's reactions and thoughts.

Which scene was your favorite?

When the Fried Oreo guy asked Ceepak if he was George f****ing Washington? Danny's answer.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Ceepak meets Reality TV!

Any additional comments?

We listen to this book over the weekend and my wife stated that she was not enjoying the book as much as the other during the first half of the book. I asked "Why?" Her answer was the language and how this generation were treating each other. This lead to two discussions. First author Chris Grabstein go it right with language, actions, and events with reality shows. Then I pointed out how Danny and other locals in the same age group were just as discussed with this show as Ceepak and yet the town leader loved the show. This will be listen to again and would recommend it to friends and family.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

"Reality" television meets Ceepak

Where does Fun House rank among all the audiobooks you???ve listened to so far?

Woodman does one of the best jobs I've heard with Ceepak.

What does Jeff Woodman bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

He brings Danny to life.

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