Whack A Mole

John Ceepak Mystery #3

by Chris Grabenstein

An innocent discovery on the beach in Sea Haven leads Ceepak, the cop with an unshakable code of honor, and his rookie partner, the twentysomething wisecracker Boyle, into the hunt for a long-dormant serial killer who might be crawling out of his hiding hole to strike again. Like the relentless rodents in the Boardwalk arcade game, gruesome clues keep popping up all over the island as Ceepak (the former soldier who will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do) finds himself up against an adversary with an even more stringent code; a code he rigidly enforces, no matter what the outcome. When the killer targets his next victim, the consequences become dire for Ceepak and Boyle. This is a game they have to win.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Fiction, Procedural, Humor

280 pages, Hardcover

First published May 21, 2007

About the author

CHRIS GRABENSTEIN is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. His books include the LEMONCELLO, WONDERLAND, HAUNTED MYSTERY, DOG SQUAD, and SMARTEST KID IN THE UNIVERSE series, and many fun and funny page-turners co-authored with James Patterson. You can visit Chris at ChrisGrabenstein.com.

Reviews

[Ingie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review written August 23, 2017

4 Stars - Geeky fun cozy mystery solving with the Ceepak & Danny cop team. My love!

- Book #3 in the John Ceepak Mystery series (8 books so far). — Whack A Mole the 7:56 hrs third part and I'm once again listened to yet another JCM audiobook terrific narrated by Jeff Woodman.

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Sea Haven, New Jersey US

It is always so very nice to meet these Springsteen loving men there in the New Jersey coast.

« John Ceepak, a former MP back from Iraq, has 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... ~~ 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. »

My reviews:

#1 ★★★★☆ #2 ★★★★☆

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« John Ceepak and Danny Boyle return with the hunt for a long-dormant serial killer who might be ready to strike again. An innocent discovery on the beach in Sea Haven, pits Ceepak against a killer with a code just as rigid as his own. »

Whack A Mole was a bit more creepy, with a very ugly serial killer crime case, than the first two. I honestly shivered hearing about found girl bodies (20 year old parts) but as always I also smiled following these guys fabulous geeky thoughs, bantering and often hilarious conversation. — Ceepak is like nobody. My favorite cop right now. Admire and kind of love him. I'm hooked. — Yes, I sincerely could say I "love" these nerdy cop guys in Sea Haven by now.

The easy feeling from a story in cozy mystery style like this one just make me giggle and I just want more stories ...

- ...next up in this series is #4.

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I LIKE - ...and will continue this funny Ceepak serie

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.6* of five

The Publisher Says: An innocent discovery on the beach in Sea Haven leads John Ceepak, the cop with an unshakeable code of honor, and his rookie partnet, the twentysomething wisecracker Danny Boyle, into the hunt for a long-dormant serial killer who might be crawling out of his hiding hole to strike again.

Like the relentless rodents in the Boardwalk arcade game, gruesome clues keep popping up all over the island as Ceepak (the former soldier who will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do) finds himself up against an adversary with an even stricter code, a code he rigidly enforces.

When the killer targets his next victim, the consequences become dire for Ceepak and Boyle. This is a game they have to win!

My Review: A solid four-star outing for that Dudley Do-Right of the Jersey Shore, John Ceepak, and his wing man young Danny Boyle. One thing's for sure, the villain of the piece gets a hellacious run-around before he's brought to justice.

The first two books in the series were good fun, with lots of wisecracking and silliness from Danny, along with some very Monk-like fun-making at Ceepak's expense. This outing has the fun, less of the fun-making; in fact, the shoe goes very much on the other foot this outing. I enjoyed that.

I also enjoyed the darker and more intense pace of this entry in the series. It serves the characters well because it's about them growing up and filling in their roles as a team. There's so much more to work with in a book-three mystery, an established sense of place and a mode of communication and a web of memories to draw on. Grabenstein does all of that, stays true to Ceepak's character in every way and manages to continue Danny Boyle's maturation and education without *whap*smack*bang*ing us to notice it. In this book, Danny's lessons are pricey and yet completely relatable. Don't get me wrong, I was still hollering at the Kindle, "DON'T YOU DO THAT! NO NO!! NOT THAT!" Danny wasn't listening. In a world with smartphones, I think I can be excused for mistaking the Kindle for an old Dick-Tracy-style two-way wrist radio.

That's my story, anyway.

By the end of the book, when the stakes were ratcheted higher than ever before, I was over-pushing the paging buttons and having to back-track. I was that wrapped up in the ending. You know how the Big Reveal is so often the Middlin' Reveal? Not this time. Nope. Big Reveal is a biiiig surprise.

The solution to the crime isn't too shabby, either. Heh.


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

[Tracy P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ceepak is chasing a serial killer and it is always fun going through the paces with this no nonsense, obsessive rule/law follower as he (all too often) has to work/deal with unethical and nefarious people (some suspects - some witnesses - some otherwise) and how eloquently he always presents himself. . .able to consistently keep his gentlemanly demeanor, respectfulness towards all, and moral compass in balance. His tone of voice is always monotone which makes the plot that much more intriguing and entertaining (ticks many people off because it is almost impossible to rile him up). Love it! He will drink off duty (Remember -one hour of no drinking per beer before driving!;) and will cab it if he cannot abide by the legal guidelines to a "T." Cool that he holds himself to the same standards he does the citizens he serves and practices what he preaches.
The ending means big changes for Ceepak's future and am looking forward to finding out how the series progresses for not only him but the whole community.

[Angela Verdenius · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how the murders can be so gory yet the author does it in such a way it isn't stomach-turning. The mystery twists and turns, and the beach setting just makes this so real - like sunshine and thunder all at once! Loving this series so much.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first two books, but by the middle of this one I was left wondering where it was headed? After a couple of red herrings, the duo finally confront the villain in an exciting scene worth waiting for (just). Others have complained it was gruesome, but I didn't really think so. Jeff Woodman's usual outstanding narration carried the story for me here, where I think I would've definitely skimmed the print book wanting to get to the resolution.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whack-a-Mole by Chris Grabenstein is the 3rd book of the John Ceepak mystery series set in the 1990s in fictitious Sea Haven along the Jersey shore. John Ceepak is an ultra straight-arrow, ex-military police officer who lives by The Code: he will not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do. He's the ultimate (if extreme) role model for Danny, his partner officer in the Sea Haven PD. Danny, who narrates their adventures, seems to be stuck in a high-school mentality. When not on duty, he drifts along on an eternal beach vacation. Each day after work he "hangs out" with friends at boardwalk snack bars.

Generous dollops of humor make this police procedural unlike most. Since Danny's former girlfriend Katie has left for California, throughout the story Danny's friends repeatedly try to fix him up with Audrey (which seems exactly like high school). Every time, Danny is called to urgent duty at the last minute, and misses the scheduled meet-up. Danny being Danny (relaxed & irresponsible), he doesn't ever call her to explain.

One of John Ceepak's spare time activities is to "Treasure Hunt" the beach with a metal detector. When he finds a class ring, he decides the honorable thing is to identify its owner and return it. He and Danny return the ring, surprised the owner is not more interested in his ring, or grateful to have it back. He gave it to a girlfriend, then never saw her again, and doesn't care. Ceepak and Danny drive back to Sea Haven in separate cars. Danny picks up a hitchhiker, a "babe", who (he quickly finds out) behaves like a slut. Back at Sea Haven, he tries to be helpful, get her a meal, but she robs him and takes off. Good riddance. He's so ashamed of the experience, he does not tell John Ceepak about it for a long time.

Sea Haven is about to have a huge sand castle competition - a great revenue stream. When a grisly discovery is made in a gift shop, the mayor refuses to cancel the competition. The digging to construct sand castles begins, almost immediately disrupted by the discovery of human remains buried in the sand. As John Ceepak and Danny investigate, they find evidence of serial killings, decades ago.

The red herrings in the mystery are very plausible, very convincing for most of the book. Near the end, an exciting plot twist with a suspenseful search-and-rescue reveals the true culprit.

[Vfields Don't touch my happy! · Rating 5 out of 5]

My book friends know I don’t usually enjoy humorous writings. I avoid them as much as possible. Really, for me humor should be organic. I don’t know if Chris Grabenstein’s goal was to create characters that seemed to highlight the hilariously ridiculous things people do and say or what but I laughed hard. No really, I was stared at on the bus, at the coffeeshop and the subway. Can you imagine how much I was laughing to make fellow riders look up? I’m just going to say this mystery moved fast, was appropriately gross and made sense to me. I know I’m a fan when I slow down and mete out my reading so the good stuff lasts as long as possible.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHACK-A-MOLE is the third book in the John Ceepak/Danny Boyle mystery series. In this installment, Danny is now a full-time officer with the Sea Haven Police Department, so he's carrying a gun. But, fear not, he scored very well at the academy and knows how to handle himself with a firearm. This new accessory to his uniform comes in handy when John and Danny have to find the killer who has buried the heads of his victims on the beach. In the middle of winter, this might not have been such a problem, but in the middle of summer and in the midst of Sea Haven's first ever sand sculpting contest this discovery is far from "convenient."

With a plethora of possible suspects and a police chief who doesn't want to take the time to do the job right - just keep it low-key, Ceepak and Danny are once again challenged in their efforts to "save the day."

Each book in this series pulls me in and mesmerizes me. I am so fascinated with the development of all the characters in this series. But of course, Ceepak and Danny are the main focus. In each book John Ceepak has revealed a characteristic that makes me absolutely adore him more. In TILT-A-WHIRL, the first book, simply the fact that he was such a goody-goody drew me in. In MAD MOUSE, John showed his interest in the environment. And now in WHACK-A-MOLE, we see his love for animals. You can't help but admire a guy who respects animals.

And Danny is maturing in each novel, slowly, but still maturing. The admiration he shows for Ceepak is endearing. The relationship between the two is so multi-faceted. At some points it's very father-son in nature; at other times, it's buddy-buddy; and there are also times when it's definitely mentor-mentee. They learn from each other, and that seems to be what makes their relationship work. Danny has his roles and responsibilities and Ceepak has his.

One of Danny's roles in the novel (not necessarily in the relationship) is comic relief. His sarcastic humor is so much fun. Grabenstein is definitely making fun of the tackiness in a commercial "vacation spot," and that's light and fun, but the weight of the events transpiring in the tacky vacation spot is overwhelmingly heavy and daunting. Danny and Ceepak seem to reflect those two ends of the spectrum, and Danny is the light and fun end of the spectrum.

But, I also believe the two partners are, through the course of the series, walking toward the middle of that spectrum - not remaining on the ends.

And if anyone reflects the tacky vacation spot itself, it would have be the Chief. It's all about the politics with him. That's his job and that adds dimension to the plot. As does Sergeant Santucci! Being a child of the 80s, I couldn't help but think of Rosco P. Coltraine as Santucci fired willy-nilly at Mama Shucker's restaurant.

With all this comedy, you might think that the plot would be basic, maybe even silly; however, you would be completely wrong in that thinking. Grabenstein's plots never fail to involve a complexity unlike any other. The dichotomy is undoubtedly what makes this series work so flawlessly. In WHACK-A-MOLE, Grabenstein tackles a very heavy subject: religious extremism. The significance of Ceepak's initials even come into play in this novel.

And for me, one of the most fascinating elements in each of Grabenstein's novels is the connection of the title to the plot. WHACK-A-MOLE is, of course, a carnival game and a game that is found in Sea Haven. But WHACK-A-MOLE is also symbolic when Ceepak and Boyle are digging holes across the beach that contain heads. And finally, WHACK-A-MOLE is significant in the search to find the killer. One suspect pops up and then disappears while another pops up somewhere else. The first suspect comes back again as a possibility and then goes away. Can the game ever be won? Will the mole ever be whacked?

So, all in all, you can read a Chris Grabenstein novel and enjoy just the surface of it. There are a lot of laughs and a great "who-dunnit" plot. But if you delve even deeper, you'll find your reading experience to be far more challenging and fulfilling.

[Eric_W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in the John Ceepak series of novels, loosely labeled police procedurals. I read the first two and very much enjoyed their humorous undertone. This one is much, much darker with graphic descriptions of the dismembered victims of a Sea Haven serial killer who buried his victims twenty-plus years ago and is now leaving parts of their bodies, polaroids, and religious hints around the island during the height of tourist season. It sets a very different tone for the series.

Narrated by Danny, the erstwhile summer cop taken under Boy Scout Ceepak’s wings, Danny is a very naive Archie to Ceepak’s ultra-pure Wolfe. Jen has a wonderful review that summarizes all you need to know about the plot. [http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...]

The characters are what make this series different. Ceepak is morally pure and can’t tell a lie. Danny is less wholesome but a more real sidekick who often runs interference for John, sometimes lying to protect feelings or help someone. Several reviewers have suggested we need more Ceepaks. I would suggest it’s the Danny’s that make life tolerable.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

When John Ceepak is indulging his hobby of metal-detecting on the beach, he finds a class ring. It has a name inscribed so Ceepak does a bit of investigating and finds the original owner. He tells Ceepak that he gave the ring to a girlfriend many years ago. Then she upped and disappeared and he has never seen her or the ring again. While Ceepak and his young partner have been tracking the ring’s owner, another member of the metal-detecting club has found a bracelet. Again they set out to return it to its owner, and again they find this girl too disappeared many years ago and hasn’t been seen or heard of since. And then the trophies turn up in the museum – two ears in jars, perfectly pickled, and obviously from two different girls…

I always find these books a rather odd combination of cosy setting and main characters with some pretty dark and sometimes gruesome crimes. I feel it shouldn’t work, but it does. The plots are usually more complicated and better developed than in a lot of cosies, with a proper whodunit complete with reasonably fair-play clues and interesting characters and motives; and while both Ceepak and Danny have some romance in their lives, it’s never the main focus. In style, they’re more like the vintage mysteries of old than the contemporary police procedural, although youthful Danny, our very likeable narrator, keeps them firmly in the modern world as far as cultural references go. There’s also considerably more swearing, unfortunately, than there normally would be in a cosy.

It’s soon apparent that a serial killer had been operating in Sea Haven back twenty or so years ago in the early 1980s. It looks like he may have been preying on young runaways who’d fled difficult family lives or boyfriends and ended up in this resort, where they could get lost amongst the tourists, and where when they disappeared, people would simply assume they’d moved on or gone home. So many runaways end up in Sea Haven, in fact, that there’s a kind of refuge run by a local church called Life Under the Son, and several of the missing girls seem to have ended up there, for a while at least. But after being dormant for years, the killer now seems to be leaving clues – like the severed ears and noses that keep turning up around town. Is he about to start again? Has he been in town all this time, or is it someone who was there in the ’80s and has now returned? Why does he cut off their ears and noses specifically? Ceepak and Danny will have to find the answers, and fast, before he kills again…

John Ceepak is becoming a more rounded character as the series goes along. In the first book he’s a bit unbelievable – a man with a strong moral code who expects others to live up to the standards he sets, a forensics whizz who’s learned most of what he knows from watching CSI, and a superfit action hero when required. He’s still all of that, but now he has a girlfriend, Rita, who has a teenage son, and they serve to humanise him. Add that we’ve learned he has a hobby and has acquired a rescue dog, and he’s now likeable as well as admirable. Danny is a little older than at the start of the series – he’s now about 25 and a permanent policeman, complete with training and a gun. He’s still very much the junior partner and he still hero-worships Ceepak, but their partnership is beginning to feel a bit less lop-sided, and Danny is developing his own set of skills. And there’s still plenty of humour in his narrative along the way.

There are several suspects and a solid foundation for suspecting each of them, and Grabenstein is great at drip-feeding out the information so that for a long time it could be any of them. I followed several rabbits only to find I was down the wrong hole. I didn’t spot the killer until it was revealed, but found the solution quite credible and satisfying. And it all ends in a dark and tense thriller-style ending which, as far as I’m concerned, takes it well out of cosy territory.

A final word of praise for the excellent narrator of this series, Jeff Woodman. He’s great at Danny’s voice, and is also able to do a huge range of different voices, accents and personalities for all the other characters. This is one of those rare cases where the narrator becomes almost as important as the author. I thoroughly enjoyed this one again, and I’ve already acquired the next one!

www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com

[Rachel N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ceepak has joined the local metal detector club. When one member uncovers a gruesome find Ceepak and Danny find themselves on the trail of a serial killer. This book was darker than the other two books in the series. I was glad Danny is now a permanent cop. I didn't predict the killer which was good. There was a bit of a stretch to make the boardwalk related name of the book fit into the story.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing I really like about this series is that the characters grow, especially Danny. This book leads to some rather important changes in Danny's life, he has to do something that will become part of him for the rest of his life. I also like the fact that Danny ditched the white minivan :)

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a funny mystery. 3rd in the John Ceepak series that takes place on the Jersey Shore. Can’t wait to read more

[Hobart · Rating 3 out of 5]

How does Sea Haven, NJ continue to have summer tourism? For three years straight, the peaceful, quaint tourist town has been shaken by murders -- some pretty ghastly. Sure, they’ve got a police chief and a mayor dedicated to keeping the havoc and mayhem under wraps. That’s part of it. And perhaps people looking to spend a week or two along the beach in Jersey aren’t the most discriminating of people (suddenly, I’m thinking of a MTV series).

Another factor, of course, has to be how the Sea Haven police deal with these murderers. In particular, rookie officer Danny Boyle and his partner John Ceepak. Ceepak’s practically a modern-day paladin -- honor-bound, noble, with a deep sense of justice, law and order, infinitely patient with his partner -- who spends almost every off-duty hour trying to learn all he can about forensic and investigation methods. If not for Ceepak, Boyle’d probably be on track for a life of partying, waiting tables, and trying to stay entertained. But now he’s on-track to become a better-than-average cop.

This time out, Ceepak and Danny are on the track of a serial killer who was pretty busy in the late 1970s and 1980s, but took a decade or two off -- but now he’s back on his holy crusade to rid the world -- or at least Sea Haven -- from promiscuous young women. Of course, last time he was active, Ceepak wasn’t anywhere near Sea Haven (or a police force), things are going to go differently for the killer this time.

Grabenstein’s style is what makes these work -- the mysteries, the situations, the characters, the setting -- they’d probably be okay. But Grabenstein makes them sparkle. These are occasionally laugh-out-loud funny, but mostly these stories are just told with a dazzling wit, Danny’s voice is naive and worldly-wise at the same time -- his devotion to his partner, along with his inapplicability of really understanding him, make me think of the Archie Goodwin/Nero Wolfe pairing. Ceepak’s too good to be true, but Danny’s incredibly believable, and as long as he believes in Ceepak, the reader does, too.

Good, solid entry in this series that I hope keeps going for a long time.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An innocent discovery on the beach in Sea Haven leads John Ceepak, the cop with an unshakeable code of honor, and his rookie partnet, the twentysomething wisecracker Danny Boyle, into the hunt for a long-dormant serial killer who might be crawling out of his hiding hole to strike again.

Like the relentless rodents in the Boardwalk arcade game, gruesome clues keep popping up all over the island as Ceepak (the former soldier who will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do) finds himself up against an adversary with an even stricter code, a code he rigidly enforces.

When the killer targets his next victim, the consequences become dire for Ceepak and Boyle. This is a game they have to win!

Another great read by Chris Grabenstein! I love the other 2 in the Ceepak series, and this one did not disappoint!

[✨Susan✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seapack is at it again trying to hunt down a killer who may have been living in this costal tourist city for decades. This addition to the series is a little more gruesome and there is some profanity thrown in here and there. Danny and Seapack have their hands full trying to get ahead of this killer and The Chief is not helping at all by assigning two other detectives that could not find their butt with both hands. Seapack has requested that the FBI be called in but the Chief, as always, is trying to minimize the investigation as not to alarm the tourists and scare off summer revenue.

There is an unexpected surprise at the end that will forever change Seapeck's life. Another good action packed investigation.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down once I started it... two cops, one serial killer, and a Jersey seaside town. Gotta Love it! Actually bought it for the book title... I like telling people I am reading "Whack a Mole” they all look at me with that weird squinty-eyed perplexed look!

This is book 3 in a series of 5; I am definitely reading the others. The book was humorous and gruesome and I wasn't sure who the killer was until the end. I want to go to the boardwalk in Jersey real bad after reading this book! And the two main characters, John Ceepak and Danny Boyle are better than Starsky and Hutch! These two cops need to meet up with Stephanie Plum!

[Susan (aka Just My Op) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The third in the carnival game themed series set on the Jersey (as in New Jersey) shore, this one fell flat. The premise was not entirely believable, but I can deal with that; it didn't bother me. What did bother me was the dialogue and the characterization. The dialogue was stilted and didn't come close to feeling natural to me. And John Ceepak came across as more of a caricature than as a fictional character, and a rather wooden caricature at that. The dead bodies (LOTS of dead body parts) were rather grisly, but even that, even “trophies” collected couldn't make this book interesting for me.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great googlygrabenstein! Must read more from the Ceepak series. Danny Boyle chronicles his days riding sidekick with John Ceepak as officers in the little seaside town of Sea Haven, NJ. His hero-worship of Ceepak is endearing. Ceepak is the straightest arrow that ever flew, and a follower of the Book of Springsteen.
After a very long time, a serial killer is back in action in little Sea Haven. Ceepak and Danny are on the job, even before they realize how nasty a job it can be.
Life's a beach.

kat

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Danny Boyle now a full-time cop and still with his partner John Ceepak murder is guaranteed to occur again in this third chapter in the Jersey seaside mysteries. Danny is growing up and developing as a man and Ceepak is starting to soften from his early rigid behavior. They haven't changed drastically but you can see the character development in this third installment.

Highly recommended

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, I'm officially hooked on these John Ceepak mysteries. Looked up Grabenstein's website and discovered a lot of interesting things. He's also written kids' books. He was a stand-up, improv comedian. He co-wrote the John Denver Christmas movie, A Christmas Gift. He's written scripts for The Muppets. He was an advertising copywriter. And he'll be in Houston in a few weeks. Cool. Oh, yeah, and there are several more in this series available. That was the best info of all.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A long dormant serial killer has suddenly decided to make an appearance at the height of tourist season in summer hot spot Sea Haven, New Jersey, and it's up to now-officially-a-cop Danny Boyle and his partner John Ceepak to stop him. This installment is a bit darker than the previous two books in this series, but Ceepak is still a Boy Scout and Danny is still cracking wise, keeping this a fun, easy read.

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

While not my favorite kind of plot, this was an entertaining audio. I really like the characters, the setting on the Jersey shore is interesting, and the narration by Jeff Woodman is top notch.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy Grabensteins books. They are consistently entertaining, unlike some series that seem rushed at the end, as though there is a deadline to meet. Fun. quick reads.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books keep getting better, though still a bit too jokey for my taste. I'm warming to the characters, though, and will keep reading.

[Angie Boyter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as good as the previous ones. Not as much fun commentary and the crime is a bit nastier. Eric W and Cathy Cole's reviews are spot on.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oops. I thought Whack A Mole was the first book in the John Ceepak Mystery series. After I started listening to it, I discovered that it is the third book in a series of eight. A few years ago someone was so pleased with the series that I picked up the first three as audio books when they were very inexpensive.

It can be difficult to begin a series in the middle, but it was easy pick up the location and characterizations in this one. Most of this book takes place in a New Jersey beach town with many tourists. The title comes from an arcade game, which is one of many in this location.

Police officer John Ceepak reminds me of Officer Friday from the Dragnet radio series which I heard as a child. His voice is clipped and his words are dry and pedantic. He is very moral and does not lie, cheat or steal. Audio narrator Jeff Woodman's voice enhances Ceepak's rigidity.

Ceepak and his police side kick, Danny Boyle, are searching for a serial killer that might be connected to an evangelist who tries to save runaway young girls. In the process of their search the book mocks small town police and those pushing Christian conversions. This mocking is meant to be humorous. I found it silly and irritating.

Unfortunately the characters and their investigation are just mildly interesting. Hopefully the first and second books in the series will be less disappointing.

Rating: 3 -

[Joseph Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whack A Mole is the third book in the John Ceepak Mystery series. This is one of the few series that you do not need to worry if you have not read the first two books in the series. The same could probably be said for Mad Mouse (book #2). So far each book is its own stand-alone mystery which is resolved entirely in the novel. This is a nice change of pace from many other series that I have read lately where even after three books into the series nothing major has been resolved.

The story is set in the New Jersey summer spot Sea Haven. It is told from the first person perspective of now rookie police officer Danny Boyle. Danny is partnered with John Ceepak, a man with a strict code: "Don't lie, cheat or steal nor tolerate those who do.". After a discovery on a beach, Danny and Ceepak start investigating a cold case of a missing person that is 30 years old. Soon new evidence comes to light that raises the stakes.

This book was a fun, light read much like the previous two books. One thing that bothered me in this book more than previous books, was the complete ineptitude of the other police in this book. The pinnacle of this is Officer Santucci. The degree to which Santucci took the inept police work, was just a bit much for me at times.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will probably continue with this series!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another thrilling escapade with Danny and Ceepak! 
This series always a delight From humor to dark and compelling scenarios, both talented author Chris Grabenstein and narrator extraordinaire Jeff Woodman are a perfect duo. I've read almost all of Ceepak and Danny's adventures and never one disappointment. In this thrilling installment, Ceepak and his partner Boyle hunt a long-dormant serial killer who's resurfaced with a vengeance. As gruesome clues pop up across the island, Ceepak's unshakable code of honor clashes with the killer's rigid morality. Narrator Jeff Woodman brings the characters to life with his impressive range and distinctive voices. A must-listen for fans of humorous mysteries with complex characters. I find Woodman's excellent range of talent amazing with his distinctive voices as he brings each and every character to life. Just get this audiobook; it is well worth the credit. You won't be sorry. I did not read them in order, but that was not a problem. Highly recommended with 🍒 🍒 🍒 on top! Keep 'em coming, Mr. Grabenstein and keep Jeff Woodman on board. If you’re like me and enjoy humorous mysteries with complex characters, the John Ceepak series is a great choice. Get this audiobook for more adventures with Ceepak and Danny!

💥👏✍️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟👏✍️💥

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good vs Evil

Whack a Mole shows us the best and worst that mankind has to offer, and all that's in between. Officers Ceepak and Boyle find themselves on the trail of a very cold case, and no one cares. They work the mystery on their own time until their boss is forced to take notice. Then all heck breaks loose.

It's the first John Ceepak mystery I've read, but I like the style. There's enough humor to keep the depravity from overwhelming the reader, and plenty of characters to care about, as well as a few you love to hate. The mystery is a good one, with enough details to follow along without getting lost in technical details.