Hell Hole

A John Ceepak Mystery

By: Chris Grabenstein

Narrated by: Jeff Woodman

Hell Hole is the fourth book in the mystery series featuring hardened former military PD and current Sea Haven, New Jersey, police officer John Ceepak and his partner, wise-cracking Danny Boyle.

In Hell Hole, Ceepak is confronted with his most personal case yet when he must investigate the alleged suicide of a military corporal who recently returned from Iraq. When it turns out that this "locked stall" rest-stop suicide is anything but an open-and-shut case, Ceepak and Boyle realize that the corporal might have been privy to information that opens up a much larger conspiracy - one that strikes at the heart of our involvement in the Middle East and puts them on the wrong side of some very unpleasant people.

Don't miss other adventures featuring Sea Haven's finest, including (in order) Tilt-a-Whirl, Mad Mouse, and Whack-a-Mole.©2008 Chris Grabenstein (P)2008 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Grabenstein again shows his intimate knowledge of Jersey shore towns, whose populations swell in the summer....But this series offers far more than a beach-book romp; Hell Hole is taut and satisfying crime fiction." (Booklist)
"Hell Hole - named after an amusement park ride, like his other novels - moves at a brisk pace...The relationship between John and Danny, how each grows and learns from each other, continues to be the heart of Grabenstein's four novels." (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
"Jeff Woodman's natural exuberance is a fine fit for Hell Hole's ingenuous, smart-alecky cop, Danny Boyle....Additionally, Woodman creates a perfect foil in Boyle's NJPD partner, hard-nosed, by-the-book John Ceepak....Chris Grabenstein writes a tight, well-constructed mystery, and Woodman's performance keeps the interest high and the listening upbeat." (AudioFile)

WWJCD!!

I do not know how John Ceepak would do in the real world. But it's nice to listen to an audiobook with spine. "Hell Hole" will take you there. You finally get to meet John Ceepak's father. I see why he's the way he is. Chris excellent job once again with the story and Jeff Woodman excellent job with the narration. It reminds me of "the wonder years" narration ten four!!! can't wait for ROLLING THUNDER 2010!!

More Ceepak fun,

This is my second Ceepak novel, and I have missed books 2 and 3 in the series. Matters not, as they can be listened to almost as stand alone novels.
Must say, in the Tilt a Whirl book I did not relate, even like, Ceepak as a character. In this book he has a character, which is an improvement. I guess in the 2nd and 3rd books Mr Grabenstain has refined and shaped him into something a bit more real.
Easy fun book, and not the last I will listen to.

Another fun Ceepak mystery

A great mix of intrigue, comedy and jersey shore which helps take the reader to the beach. Chris Grabenstein does an excellent job of capturing the essence of the Jersey Shore in this well written story which takes more turns than a mad mouse. Grab some scrapple and settle in for a fun ride!

The Ceepak series is one of those where the narrator adds another whole dimension. I think this series is so much more enjoyable as an audio book because of Mr. Woodman's excellent performance.

In Ceepak’s world R & R = Rendezvous & Rub Out

The best of the series so far, the mystery is smartly written. While the tone is mostly beachy and typically police procedural, this is not a cozy series. Book 4 drops the F-bombs a lot more than the previous books and features military characters and war-stories that get very dark. The last hour especially could be very triggering in terms of atrocities and very unheroic, unAmerican acts.

I disagree with some reviewers who criticized the author for ugly military stereotypes; this author’s main character in particular exemplifies the best and most honorable characteristics of military vets. While the characters and plot are a bit too movie incredible, that is sort of the point in a mystery series. Real cops solving real murders don’t end up in gun fights or other contrived plots, much less do it often enough to merit multiple books.

I also enjoyed this book more because I’m now comfortable with the series regulars. The main characters’ personalities are settled in, with Danny Boyle like a more earnest Mahoney from Police Academy and Ceepak is like the by-the-book Tackleberry, except not crazy. Actually, Ceepak reminds me of the retired agent, Don Fitzgerald, in We’re the Millers played by excellent straight man Nick Offerman. Yes, Ceepak is the world’s biggest hall monitor, but that works for this series. I like that there are some other recurring supporting characters, including Boyle’s new partner, who is hilariously like a Ceepak mini-me on the whole by-the-book thing, only with a super sweet, chipper personality…which brings me to the other aspect that has settled in nicely: the humor. Boyle’s Jersey sarcasm is the perfect odd-couple balance to Ceepak’s earnest adherence to his code. Finally, I still get a kick out of all the Bruce Springsteen references.

Entertaining

Kind of a light hearted mystery that had me chuckle a few times. Easy to listen to, and entertaining. The main characters make a good pair.