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)

Good cheap fun.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Not really, it does what it intends to do pretty well, Which is provide some good light suspense and crime mystery.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Same answer as above.

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

This was my first book narrated by Jeff Woodman

Do you think Tilt-a-Whirl needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

It stands well on it's own, but does have a sequel.

Any additional comments?

I would like to read a book from the point of view of Ceepak later in the series.

Excellent

I'm so glad he followed behind James Patterson. Very good writing. Loved it!!!!!

an enjoyable 'who done it!

I 1st read this series a few years ago when I just got into audible. I go back and read one every time I've read a mystery that I didn't particularly like - just a clean my palate. great series@

Waited too long to listen to this one

I purchased Tilt A Whirl over two years ago and I had not listened to it until last night. What a wonderful surprise. I started about 9pm and I was awake till the end. Ceepak is a wonderful hero - a true honest good-guy. Tilt A Whirl had wonderful moments of humor and amazing characters, but also a serious heart-breaking family tragedy. The narrator is excellent and I agree with others - do not let him go! I will be picking up other titles in this series.

Wide-eyed Innocent Side-kick Narrator

The mystery is told thru the side-kick of the investigating officer. At first I found the narrator's voice a bit too young and disingenuous, but it did fit the character pretty well. I enjoyed the relationship between the two police officers. The tourist trap island on the (New) Jersey Shore is a funny location and Grabenstein makes nice connections between the fantasy world of tourist entertainment and real life. The mystery isn't especially believable, but I read for characters, and this was nice light entertainment.

Tilt-a-Whirl

The story is interesting but someone needs to tell the narrator that NJ residents south of Newark don't speak with thick Brooklyn accents...

Superb narration, alternates funny and explicit

I have listened to the entire series (8 books so far),so obviously I enjoy it. They are called the John Ceepak series, but all the stories are told by his sidekick, Danny Boyle. The author does a really good job with this -- "Dudley Do-Right" super cop seen through the eyes of a light-hearted 20-something beach boy.

As the series progresses, the characters go through some changes, and some of he characters' reactions and relationships don't make sense unless you have read the earlir books., The books really must be read in order.

My problem with the books is that the graphic discrptions of crime scenes and extremely intense emotional issues are at odds with the light, jokey tone of the rest of the books.

The narration is amazing. I'm going to look for morebooks done by Jeff Woodman. His ability with voices makes it sound almost like a multiple-cast narration. The Jersey accents are amusing without bein over the top, and he does females well.

Not great literature, and not for the overly tender-hearted reader, but entertaining listening for mystery fans.

Interesting

How does a cop, who is fresh out of the Army and who is struggling with PTSD manage his new job as a cop in a resort town? He no longer drives because of some trauma that he doesn't want to talk about, so the police chief has hired a driver, Danny Boyle to drive him where he needs to go. Danny knows the the island like the back of his hand, as he's grown up there. He knows the people, the places, the secrets and the little quirks and oddities of the place.

The job is slow, routine, easy work, just what John Ceepak needs. Ceepak lives by a code. It's a code of honor; a code of justice; a code that honestly serves and protects; especially children. Then one day while he and Danny are eating breakfast a young girl comes running down the road in front of the restaurant where they're eating and she's screaming and covered in blood. Everything changes and Ceepak suddenly becomes a detective, and a very good one. Danny starts to become more than a driver. He begins becoming a police officer.

Together this unlikely pair begin to unravel a very weird conspiracy. The twists and turns in this mystery kept me on the edge of my seat. The Narrator, Jeff Woodman, did an excellent job with the reading.

I recommend this book highly. If you like mysteries, you should enjoy this book.

I wanted to enjoy Ceepak and Boyle but...

I would have liked to really enjoy the book Tilt-A-Whirl - the first in the John Ceepak series, but the language was horrible.
It's interesting that at one point Ceepak says to Danny that foul language is the sign of a limited vocabulary.... Chris Grabenstein might want to consider taking his own advice!

Whats Not to Love about Cepak!!!!

Would you listen to Tilt-a-Whirl again? Why?

I love this series, and I would listen again and again! The stories are always entertaining, and will leave you guessing unto the end !!

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

The plot is believable, and the story flows quite well. I like the fact that the cussing has almost stopped!!!

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

This book excited me, I couldn't wait for the next chapter.