Tilt-a-Whirl

John Ceepak, Book 1

By: Chris Grabenstein

Narrated by: Jeff Woodman

Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

There isn't much fun in the sun when a billionaire real-estate tycoon is found murdered on the Tilt-a-Whirl at a seedy seaside amusement park in the otherwise quiet summer tourist town of Sea Haven.

John Ceepak, a former MP just back from Iraq, has just joined the Sea Haven police department. The job offer came from an old Army buddy who hoped to give Ceepak at least a summer's worth of rest and relaxation to help him forget the horrors of war. Instead, Ceepak will head up the murder investigation. He is partnered with Danny Boyle, a 24-year-old part-time summer cop who doesn't carry a gun and only works with the police by day so he has enough pocket money left over to play with his beach buddies at night.

In the first novel in a new series written in the spirit of Carl Hiaasen's work, the Tilt-a-Whirl murder pushes Ceepak's deep sense of honor and integrity to the limits, as unexpected twists and turns keep the truth spinning wildly in every direction.

©2006 Chris Grabenstein (P)2007 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Anthony Award, Best First Mystery, 2006

• 2006 Anthony Award, Best First Novel

"A fast-paced thrill ride with lots of twists and turns and good writing from start to finish." (James Patterson)
"From page 1, this debut stands out as refreshingly different....an absolute triumph." ( Booklist)

Twists and turns and humor

I really enjoyed this cop story. The kid who works part time and carries no gun and his partner, the straight laced veteran investigate a murder. The narrator is terrific. A fun read.

Couldn’t Put it Down!

What did you love best about Tilt-a-Whirl?

The reader really keeps the book moving along, perfect for the story.

What did you like best about this story?

DIverse characters with good development of their unique personalities. Looking forward to next book. Intriguing twists in what could be an ordinary storyline.

Excellent plot

really enjoyed, could have done without the profanity because it is really a good book.

Excellent Narrator and Story

Horrible ungodly expletives
The story would have been far more superior without the terrible language

A very entertaining read

I love a book that draws me in right from the beginning and keeps me interested until the end. Just when I thought the story was drawing to a conclusion it threw some more twists and turns in. I will be getting more of these stories. I just loved Ceepak and Danny and their interaction together. I like to be entertained, and that is exactly what Tilt a Whirl did.

Really fun book!

I am not sure how I stumbled upon this book but I am very excited I did. A cool story of two different people working for a better cause.

The narator was awesome and I'll make sure to listen to some of his other readings 😀

great reads!

I listened to the series and loved them all. They have good story lines, and the narration is "sassy" - if a male narrator can be sassy, lol. I got a lotta smiles and head nods at the comments from Danny Boyle! Would recommend this series, but read 1-7 in order...much better!

My Review May Be As Blah As The Book

Although I listened all the way to the end, this book just didn't do it for me. And I really wanted to like i!. Tilt-a-whirl rides were always so much fun, remember? I was expecting more enjoyment to this story and yet, it wasn't there for me.

John Ceepak was a very thin cardboard character. I never felt I knew who he was, what he looked like, what he liked, what he did when he was off work, what history he had. And his behavior, the monotone way of speaking, the roger this, roger that--totally unbelievable and it did not endear me to him in any way. Danny, the narrator, was at least likeable and entertaining but certainly not main character material.

The story-line was just another meh moment. About two thirds in, I realized who committed the crime, although I was hoping to be wrong. The meh came to an end as the story did, when the over-used reveal came with an explanation that was really inappropriate and insensitive for a somewhat humorous book. It angered me--and I am not one to be offended by fiction, usually.

As far as the narrator, I think that although he was great at the different characters, he just went a bit above and beyond in his portrayals. It became annoying to me instead of funny. If I could have spoken to him, I would have told him to tone it down a notch.

I am clearly in the minority here. Perhaps I have become too picky. Or perhaps, I have become more discerning.

Terrific Narration

This is one of those books that would be an OK read, but becomes special because of the narrator who does a superb job with the characters.

Ceepack by the Seaside

A fun story with a good mystery that kept me changing my suspicions and suspects throughout. Ceepack is a retired MP turned small seaside town policeman who has a very strict code of right and wrong coupled with an extremely mellow personality. Ceepack and his summer apprentice must get to the bottom of an ever changing murder investigation that has too many odd suspects. A fun and light read that was good from the very start. This is the first in a series that I will definitely be revisiting.

Jeff Woodman did an excellent job narrating, his voices were distinct and very believable. Surprisingly good combination of a well written story and artful narration.