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John Ceepak Mystery #8
Free Fall
“I didn’t do it!” is something cops hear all the time. But when the plea comes from a close friend who’s fallen on hard times,it’s tougher to ignore, especially for young Officer Danny Boyle. It’s the start of another action-packed summer for the wise cracking Boyle and straight-arrow cop (now Chief of Detectives) John Ceepak down the Jersey Shore as they do their best to help Danny’s friend, a young nurse who claims she has been falsely accused of aggravated assault by a prestigious Sea Haven doctor. Ceepak’s unshakable code of honor is tested when he trusts that the nurse is telling the truth. It’s stretched to the limit when one of the nurse’s home health care patients turns up dead.Now Ceepak and Danny must answer the hard and horrible question: “Did we just help a friend get away with murder?"
352 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2013
19 people are currently reading
503 people want to read
About the author
Chris Grabenstein
154 books2,438 followersCHRIS 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
October 31, 2016
No one is ever going to confuse this series with fine literature. But that doesn't mean it's not a fun, fast paced read.
May 29, 2018
I love this series and the development of the characters. Always a good story that is realistic and fast moving. This series never lets me down. Best to read in order but still good stand alones
October 10, 2013
Detectives Ceepak & Boyle are back on the job in Sea Haven, NJ fighting for "Truth, Justice and the American Way" in author Chris Grabenstein's eighth book in this uniquely entertaining series. John Ceepak, a former Eagle Scout and West Point, Iraq War MP, is partnered with Officer Danny Boyle, his twenty-something friend and "Bozwellian" narrator of the story. Together, they employ wit, style, empathy and perseverance in protecting Ceepak's Mom from a dangerous ex-husband and working to solve the murder of an elderly dentist in a Bruce Springsteen world of sun and sand. And... you gotta love the imagery:
"When the Grim Reaper is riding with you, he always hogs the radio"
"When the Grim Reaper is riding with you, he always hogs the radio"
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March 14, 2019I wish there’d been more books in this series but it really did wind down nicely.
March 22, 2016
At the end of the last book, Officer John Ceepak accepted a promotion to Chief of Police; in this book, Ceepak has since hired his successor and become the Chief of Detectives. Due to budget cuts following Hurricane Sandy, Ceepak is also the only detective in the department. Officer Danny Boyle is on patrol with another partner when he is called to a home disturbance involving a girl he is attracted to, who later becomes a suspect in the death of a retired dentist.
While Ceepak assists Danny in the investigation of the retired dentist's death, Danny helps Ceepak run interference between his mother, who has moved to a nearby retirement community, and his deadbeat father, who has returned to the shore as a ride operator. This eighth installment includes a slight sense of closure, although the author has left it vague enough to return with another in the series should he decide to continue.
While Ceepak assists Danny in the investigation of the retired dentist's death, Danny helps Ceepak run interference between his mother, who has moved to a nearby retirement community, and his deadbeat father, who has returned to the shore as a ride operator. This eighth installment includes a slight sense of closure, although the author has left it vague enough to return with another in the series should he decide to continue.
May 1, 2015
Another great entry in the series.
Grabenstein again ups the ante for Ceepak and Boyle as they investigate the death of an elderly man that may be a murder committed by one of Boyle’s female friends. Complicating their quest is the return of Ceepak’s good-for-nothing father looking to score part of his ex-wife’s inheritance. This book, too, has the most intense climax with the highest stakes of any book in the series.
Despite this, Grabenstein still keeps Boyle’s wry view of the world intact with diminishing the intensity of the above or making his observations sound forced. Not many authors can do that.
I hope this isn’t the last Ceepak and Boyle book, hope there are many, many more to come.
Grabenstein again ups the ante for Ceepak and Boyle as they investigate the death of an elderly man that may be a murder committed by one of Boyle’s female friends. Complicating their quest is the return of Ceepak’s good-for-nothing father looking to score part of his ex-wife’s inheritance. This book, too, has the most intense climax with the highest stakes of any book in the series.
Despite this, Grabenstein still keeps Boyle’s wry view of the world intact with diminishing the intensity of the above or making his observations sound forced. Not many authors can do that.
I hope this isn’t the last Ceepak and Boyle book, hope there are many, many more to come.
May 3, 2013
There are a few authors whose books are read on release day. Chris Grabenstein's Ceepak (as narrated by Jeff Woodman) is one of them. I just adore this series of the inflexibly honorable Ceepak, and the maturing man-boy cop Danny. I am not sure I want to think about what will happen when there are no more carnival rides or Danny grows up.
This installment uses themes taken from headlines (GLBT family issues, elder abuse, domestic violence, and Hurricane Sandy) in an inobtrusive way - not like L&O's in your face presentation.
As always, Jeff Woodman narrates the story perfectly. Although I own some of the series in paper, my preference is strongly to listen to the audiobook.
This installment uses themes taken from headlines (GLBT family issues, elder abuse, domestic violence, and Hurricane Sandy) in an inobtrusive way - not like L&O's in your face presentation.
As always, Jeff Woodman narrates the story perfectly. Although I own some of the series in paper, my preference is strongly to listen to the audiobook.
May 23, 2013
Another Thrill Ride from Author Chris Grabenstein with his latest release of FREE FALL (John Ceepak Mystery #8)!! My husband and I were lucky enough to meet these Jersey shore cops, Ceepak and Danny Boyle, with the first in the series, TILT-A-WHIRL! These mysteries have it all – surprise, suspense, humor, unique interesting characters, and great writing! Definite page turners! Already looking forward to #9! We HIGHLY recommend this entertaining mystery series!!!
May 5, 2013
I loved the chance to spend time with Danny and Ceepak again. I am impressed at the way the characters have grown. Danny is a much more mature cop now, and he's more of an adult, too. The plot was intriguing, and the villains keep popping up all over the place. Lots of fun to read.
October 10, 2022
Ugh I hate that this series ended!
September 19, 2014
Danny Boyle, the narrator of Free Fall, is a police officer in the New Jersey beach town of Sea Haven, where he grew up and where he seems to know just about everyone in town (and to have dated just about all the young women). His sometimes partner John Ceepak is a former MP veteran of the Mideast wars whose deductive savvy and strict code of honor make a perfect match with Boyle’s small-town savvy. As Free Fall opens, Danny answers a 911 call to a domestic situation to find old friend Christine Lemonopolous in a “knockdown drag-out” fight with the wealthy woman who employs Christine to care for her handicapped son. Danny and Ceepak trust Christine’s version of the story, and their police work leads to Christine being cleared of her employer’s charge of assault, but the situation begins to look more complicated when another of Christine’s patients dies suddenly and a background check shows that he is not the only one of her patients to have died under her care. In addition, Ceepak’s drunken father has come to town to try to pry money from his ex-wife, Ceepak’s mother, who has recently won millions in the lottery, and Ceepak is determined to protect his mother from her predatory ex.
Free Fall reminds me in an odd way of the classic British small village mystery, where everyone has ties to everyone elsez, but it also belongs to another distinct subgenre of mysteries that practically always please me: humorous mysteries set in New Jersey. The type of wit shown here reminds me most of David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter books: wry but never mean commentary on society and humanity. But Danny definitely has his own voice, such as when he observes “Friday morning I’m in court, feeling like a marinated pork butt because I’m just waiting to be grilled by...Oppenheimer’s high-priced young attorney.” There are bad people in Free Fall and a great deal of heartbreak in the characters’ lives, but the humor is never very far away. In an otherwise very sober and sympathetic recounting of a funeral, the rabbi comments, “Arnold once told me he was named Dentist of the Year….When I asked him what the award was, he said, ‘Nothing much. Just a little plaque.’”
I enjoyed this book so much that I was immediately motivated to read the first John Ceepak mystery, Tilt-a Whirl, which won an Anthony award for Best First Mystery. About Tilt-a-Whirl, my Goodreads friend Eric W. said, “Some of the parts are LOL funny; others border on pathos.” This sums up Free Fall as well, with Tilt-a-Whirl being a bit heavier on the pathos and Free Fall giving me more laughs. Free Fall contains a number of plot spoilers that made it clear this is a series best read in order, but after I read Tilt-a Whirl I realized that there are also themes and character aspects that develop during the series, and I would have enjoyed Free Fall even more if I had first read Tilt-a-Whirl (and probably the others, which I certainly plan to do). In addition, although I think that Tilt-a-Whirl richly deserved its award, Grabenstein’s writing has become more polished. So, I expect Ceepak fans will be delighted with Free Fall, but if you have never met Danny Boyle and John Ceepak, don’t read this book. Do it right, as Ceepak himself would, and begin at the beginning. Get to know the duo properly, and I am confident you will like them as much as I do.
Free Fall reminds me in an odd way of the classic British small village mystery, where everyone has ties to everyone elsez, but it also belongs to another distinct subgenre of mysteries that practically always please me: humorous mysteries set in New Jersey. The type of wit shown here reminds me most of David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter books: wry but never mean commentary on society and humanity. But Danny definitely has his own voice, such as when he observes “Friday morning I’m in court, feeling like a marinated pork butt because I’m just waiting to be grilled by...Oppenheimer’s high-priced young attorney.” There are bad people in Free Fall and a great deal of heartbreak in the characters’ lives, but the humor is never very far away. In an otherwise very sober and sympathetic recounting of a funeral, the rabbi comments, “Arnold once told me he was named Dentist of the Year….When I asked him what the award was, he said, ‘Nothing much. Just a little plaque.’”
I enjoyed this book so much that I was immediately motivated to read the first John Ceepak mystery, Tilt-a Whirl, which won an Anthony award for Best First Mystery. About Tilt-a-Whirl, my Goodreads friend Eric W. said, “Some of the parts are LOL funny; others border on pathos.” This sums up Free Fall as well, with Tilt-a-Whirl being a bit heavier on the pathos and Free Fall giving me more laughs. Free Fall contains a number of plot spoilers that made it clear this is a series best read in order, but after I read Tilt-a Whirl I realized that there are also themes and character aspects that develop during the series, and I would have enjoyed Free Fall even more if I had first read Tilt-a-Whirl (and probably the others, which I certainly plan to do). In addition, although I think that Tilt-a-Whirl richly deserved its award, Grabenstein’s writing has become more polished. So, I expect Ceepak fans will be delighted with Free Fall, but if you have never met Danny Boyle and John Ceepak, don’t read this book. Do it right, as Ceepak himself would, and begin at the beginning. Get to know the duo properly, and I am confident you will like them as much as I do.
April 15, 2013
Free Fall: A John Ceepak Mystery takes readers back to “sunny, funderdull” Sea Heaven. Like the rest of the coastline nearby, the eighteen mile long barrier island that holds Sea Heaven, New Jersey, was seriously damaged by Hurricane Sandy last fall. The residents survived, rebuilt, and are more than ready to put the past behind them. It is June and that means the start of the tourists and the start of the summer season. It also means the past is never gone especially when the living remind Officer Danny Boyle of it.
Christine Lemonopolous easily reminds Danny of the past and it comes with pain. Back in the day she was good friends with Katie who was Danny’s love of his life until she was killed. Like a lot of the people Danny knew when he and Katie were together, he lost track of Christine. Instead of being a nurse in a local hospital, these days Christine works as a home health care nurse for the elderly, disabled, and those who need her help. She struggles to make ends meet and relies on several jobs with living arrangements to barely get by.
She also is now going to rely on Danny and by extension John Ceepak to save her from an escalating legal situation. There is no question she was fighting the wealthy Shona Oppenheimer when police arrived on scene. The facts behind the situation and whether it truly was an assault are in question. It doesn’t help that Christine has a less than stellar mental health reputation these days; some of her patients have died in the past, and other issues.
This latest in the series is another fun read featuring Danny Boyle, John Ceepak, and others that readers know and love. As always multiple story lines are present here and include references to families and politics with much familial angst present. It wouldn’t be one of these mysteries without references to Ceepak’s rules, Bruce Springsteen, and a few other things. Free Fall: A John Ceepak Mystery is another fun read, on and off the boardwalk, and an excellent way to start the summer.
Reviewer Note: Sharp eyed readers may note the brief mention of a very minor character by the name of “Kevin Tipple.” I had the honor of having my name selected by the author for his use as he saw fit in the book. While the character and I share a name, we share nothing else in common and that very brief use did not impact this review.
FREE FALL: A JOHN CEEPAK MYSTERY
Chris Grabenstein
http://www.chrisgrabenstein.com
Pegasus Crime
http://www.pegasusbooks.us
Scheduled release May 2013
ISBN# 978-1-60598-475-9
Hardback
320 Pages
$25.00
ARC sent to me by the author in exchange for my objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2013
Christine Lemonopolous easily reminds Danny of the past and it comes with pain. Back in the day she was good friends with Katie who was Danny’s love of his life until she was killed. Like a lot of the people Danny knew when he and Katie were together, he lost track of Christine. Instead of being a nurse in a local hospital, these days Christine works as a home health care nurse for the elderly, disabled, and those who need her help. She struggles to make ends meet and relies on several jobs with living arrangements to barely get by.
She also is now going to rely on Danny and by extension John Ceepak to save her from an escalating legal situation. There is no question she was fighting the wealthy Shona Oppenheimer when police arrived on scene. The facts behind the situation and whether it truly was an assault are in question. It doesn’t help that Christine has a less than stellar mental health reputation these days; some of her patients have died in the past, and other issues.
This latest in the series is another fun read featuring Danny Boyle, John Ceepak, and others that readers know and love. As always multiple story lines are present here and include references to families and politics with much familial angst present. It wouldn’t be one of these mysteries without references to Ceepak’s rules, Bruce Springsteen, and a few other things. Free Fall: A John Ceepak Mystery is another fun read, on and off the boardwalk, and an excellent way to start the summer.
Reviewer Note: Sharp eyed readers may note the brief mention of a very minor character by the name of “Kevin Tipple.” I had the honor of having my name selected by the author for his use as he saw fit in the book. While the character and I share a name, we share nothing else in common and that very brief use did not impact this review.
FREE FALL: A JOHN CEEPAK MYSTERY
Chris Grabenstein
http://www.chrisgrabenstein.com
Pegasus Crime
http://www.pegasusbooks.us
Scheduled release May 2013
ISBN# 978-1-60598-475-9
Hardback
320 Pages
$25.00
ARC sent to me by the author in exchange for my objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2013
May 15, 2013
When Officer Danny Boyle, of the Sea Haven Police Department, receives a 911 call, he rushes to the destination to find that a good friend Christine Lemonopolous is in a knock down drag out fight with Shona Blumenfeld Oppenheimer. Shona is the mother Samuel Oppenheimer who is in a wheel chair. Christine is his nurse but when war broke out between the two women Samuel made a call to the police. Danny and his partner Salvatore Santucci break up the fight. Christine had been staying at the Oppenheimer residence and Ms. Oppenheimer immediately evicts her. Christine agrees to leave and Danny and his partner write up a report on the incident. Christine informs Danny that she also nurses for Dr. Rosen and she feels sure he will allow her to stay at his residence.
Detective John Ceepak, Danny's former partner, calls Danny in for assistance on occasion. Danny gets a call and finds out that Christine has slept in her vehicle rather than ask Dr. Rosen to stay at his home. Neighbors called the policy and Detective Ceepak suggested that rather than allow Christine to be arrested for vagrancy Danny turn over his apartment to Christine until better accommodations could be found. Ceepak suggested that Danny stay with him until Christine got settled.
Detective Ceepak's mother is now residing in Sea Haven and living very comfortably. Her aunt left her a nice inheritance. When Detective Ceepak and Danny go to inspect the rides prior to the opening of the amusement park, they learn that the owner of the new ride "Free Fall" has hired Ceepak's father to operate the ride. There is a lot of bad blood between Ceepak and his father Joseph Ceepak who is only around to try to collect money from his ex-wife's inheritance.
Ceepak and Danny have enough to worry about with the Christine problem and Joseph Ceepak in town trying to contact his ex-wife to take over her inheritance when Dr. Rosen drops dead. It appears that the death could be suspicious.
Free Fall is a great addition to the John Ceepak Mystery series. Danny Boyle has matured considerably since the beginning of this series. Even though he is still the same fun loving Danny, he is picking up more of Ceepak's habits every day.
Detective John Ceepak, Danny's former partner, calls Danny in for assistance on occasion. Danny gets a call and finds out that Christine has slept in her vehicle rather than ask Dr. Rosen to stay at his home. Neighbors called the policy and Detective Ceepak suggested that rather than allow Christine to be arrested for vagrancy Danny turn over his apartment to Christine until better accommodations could be found. Ceepak suggested that Danny stay with him until Christine got settled.
Detective Ceepak's mother is now residing in Sea Haven and living very comfortably. Her aunt left her a nice inheritance. When Detective Ceepak and Danny go to inspect the rides prior to the opening of the amusement park, they learn that the owner of the new ride "Free Fall" has hired Ceepak's father to operate the ride. There is a lot of bad blood between Ceepak and his father Joseph Ceepak who is only around to try to collect money from his ex-wife's inheritance.
Ceepak and Danny have enough to worry about with the Christine problem and Joseph Ceepak in town trying to contact his ex-wife to take over her inheritance when Dr. Rosen drops dead. It appears that the death could be suspicious.
Free Fall is a great addition to the John Ceepak Mystery series. Danny Boyle has matured considerably since the beginning of this series. Even though he is still the same fun loving Danny, he is picking up more of Ceepak's habits every day.
April 29, 2013
This is the eighth book in Chris Grabenstein's John Ceepak mystery series. John Ceepak and Danny Boyle are police officers in the "Sunny, Funderful" Jersey Shore town of Sea Haven. Ceepak, a former soldier, has a very strict code of ethics and behavior, Danny, not so much. But as the series progresses, Danny sees the wisdom of Ceepak's code, and begins to integrate it into his own life.
This installment starts out with Danny being called to one of the mansions on the beach to mediate an argument between two women, one of whom he knows, but then, he knows pretty much all of the young women in Sea Haven, and has dated most of them at one time or another. The argument, between the lady of the house and a home health care aide, has turned physical, and Danny has to separate the two. The homeowner can't let it go, though, and files charges against the aide.
Ceepak's parents play a large part in this book. Ceepak is now married, living in a small apartment above a bagel shop, and has helped his mother move into a senior retirement complex. His drunken, abusive father also shows up. He resents the fact that his ex-wife, Ceepak's mother, has inherited a couple of million dollars from an aunt and didn't share it with him. He's not going away until he forces her to pay him off, one way or another.
I have read all of the Ceepak books and enjoyed them all. This one was no exception. I confess to not being that crazy about plotlines involving Ceepak's father, and am more interested in the relationship between Ceepak and Danny, and also in the various romantic entanglements that Danny finds himself in. I also very much enjoy the depiction of Sea Haven, a typical beach town, but all in all, this was a great book, and I read it throughout the course of one Sunday, imagining myself in Sea Haven along with Ceepak and Danny.
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a review; I was not paid for this review, nor required to post a positive review.
This installment starts out with Danny being called to one of the mansions on the beach to mediate an argument between two women, one of whom he knows, but then, he knows pretty much all of the young women in Sea Haven, and has dated most of them at one time or another. The argument, between the lady of the house and a home health care aide, has turned physical, and Danny has to separate the two. The homeowner can't let it go, though, and files charges against the aide.
Ceepak's parents play a large part in this book. Ceepak is now married, living in a small apartment above a bagel shop, and has helped his mother move into a senior retirement complex. His drunken, abusive father also shows up. He resents the fact that his ex-wife, Ceepak's mother, has inherited a couple of million dollars from an aunt and didn't share it with him. He's not going away until he forces her to pay him off, one way or another.
I have read all of the Ceepak books and enjoyed them all. This one was no exception. I confess to not being that crazy about plotlines involving Ceepak's father, and am more interested in the relationship between Ceepak and Danny, and also in the various romantic entanglements that Danny finds himself in. I also very much enjoy the depiction of Sea Haven, a typical beach town, but all in all, this was a great book, and I read it throughout the course of one Sunday, imagining myself in Sea Haven along with Ceepak and Danny.
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a review; I was not paid for this review, nor required to post a positive review.
May 3, 2013
Sea Haven is a 'sunny, funderful' place – or at least so the advertising claims. But when Officer Danny Boyle breaks up a fight between nurse Christina and her employer, he doesn’t know he’s just got himself involved in a case that will lead to murder. Danny and his incorruptible, straight as a die boss Ceepak have to negotiate their way through family feuds, local gossip and dodgy funfair rides in this cosy but with an edge crime thriller. Still, looking on the bright side, it gets Danny off the beat and onto playing detective for a while, and gives him an opportunity to drive around in Ceepak’s brand new ‘Batmobile’.
This is the eighth book in the John Ceepak series, but it’s the first I’ve read. It took me a few chapters to get into it – at first it seemed a bit too cosy, and Ceepak seemed a bit too incorruptible. But once the story really got underway, I found this a really enjoyable read, fast-paced, full of humour but with a strong plot and leading up to an exciting climax. The story is told by Danny in the first-person and he’s a very likeable character. Being a laid-back kind of a guy with a liking for arcade games and pretty women, he enjoys life in this beach resort. And he hero-worships his boss, Ceepak (I suspect there’s a back-story there but it really wasn’t necessary to know it). The investigation is complicated by Danny’s attraction to the chief suspect, while Ceepak has to deal with the return of his drunken and bullying father.
While the overall tone is light and sunny, there is enough meat in the story to make for a satisfying read and the ending was suitably dramatic. Well-written and with agreeable, well developed protagonists, I can see why Grabenstein seems to have a loyal following in the US. I’m certainly looking forward to spending some more time in Sea Haven in the future.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher.
This is the eighth book in the John Ceepak series, but it’s the first I’ve read. It took me a few chapters to get into it – at first it seemed a bit too cosy, and Ceepak seemed a bit too incorruptible. But once the story really got underway, I found this a really enjoyable read, fast-paced, full of humour but with a strong plot and leading up to an exciting climax. The story is told by Danny in the first-person and he’s a very likeable character. Being a laid-back kind of a guy with a liking for arcade games and pretty women, he enjoys life in this beach resort. And he hero-worships his boss, Ceepak (I suspect there’s a back-story there but it really wasn’t necessary to know it). The investigation is complicated by Danny’s attraction to the chief suspect, while Ceepak has to deal with the return of his drunken and bullying father.
While the overall tone is light and sunny, there is enough meat in the story to make for a satisfying read and the ending was suitably dramatic. Well-written and with agreeable, well developed protagonists, I can see why Grabenstein seems to have a loyal following in the US. I’m certainly looking forward to spending some more time in Sea Haven in the future.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher.
November 11, 2021
I love the John Ceepak and Danny Boyle pairing. They work perfectly together. I also think setting each book in this series in an amusement park with one ride as it's focus is clever.
April 25, 2013
This is one of the few series I buy as soon as it comes out. The stories are interesting, the characters have become important to me, the location and the humor are the icing on the cake.
Sea Haven is recovering from Hurricane Sandy which had devastated the area and some of the rides. But summer comes and nothing can stop the influx of tourists who love the area. Adele Ceepak , John Ceepak's mother has moved to Sea Haven after inheriting a monetary legacy. Old Joe, her ex-follows her wanting to cash in. He gets a job on a new ride , the Free Fall and begins to make a more than a pest of himself.
Danny Boyle and John are busy investigating the death of a nonagenarian whose natural time had not come. He was helped on the way by the "assassins " all around him. This detective duo has to separate out the liars from the innocent and it isn't easy because as is the case in a small town (during the off-season) Danny knows and is friends with some of the suspects.
The narrator of the mystery is Danny himself who continues to grow and become a person who can surprise and impress you.
Sea Haven is recovering from Hurricane Sandy which had devastated the area and some of the rides. But summer comes and nothing can stop the influx of tourists who love the area. Adele Ceepak , John Ceepak's mother has moved to Sea Haven after inheriting a monetary legacy. Old Joe, her ex-follows her wanting to cash in. He gets a job on a new ride , the Free Fall and begins to make a more than a pest of himself.
Danny Boyle and John are busy investigating the death of a nonagenarian whose natural time had not come. He was helped on the way by the "assassins " all around him. This detective duo has to separate out the liars from the innocent and it isn't easy because as is the case in a small town (during the off-season) Danny knows and is friends with some of the suspects.
The narrator of the mystery is Danny himself who continues to grow and become a person who can surprise and impress you.
June 12, 2013
I got so excited when I found the 8th Ceepak Mystery book on NetGalley! I just had to get it right away. This series is so good and I love every story Grabenstein comes up with. Once again, you can pick up this book and easily see where each character comes from without having to have read every single previous mystery. Free Fall took a sort of different approach than the other stories in the series. This one does not immediately start off with a murder, but with a 911 call of which Danny responds to. Skip a few chapters ahead and then the drama and mystery begin to unfold. A murder occurs, the suspects are lined up, the interrogations and snooping begins.
It felt like I was reading a version of Clue, trying to see who dunnit with what weapon, and their reasoning for it. I liked the tie-in of the Free Fall ride and the sideline story of Ceepak's dad returning again. There were flaws in Free Fall every now and then. The ending was also a bit of a mixed bag for me. I liked on part of the shocker but then something else left me going "really?!"...a bit of a let down. Then again maybe it will be resolved in #9. Can't wait for the next installment!
It felt like I was reading a version of Clue, trying to see who dunnit with what weapon, and their reasoning for it. I liked the tie-in of the Free Fall ride and the sideline story of Ceepak's dad returning again. There were flaws in Free Fall every now and then. The ending was also a bit of a mixed bag for me. I liked on part of the shocker but then something else left me going "really?!"...a bit of a let down. Then again maybe it will be resolved in #9. Can't wait for the next installment!
September 2, 2013
Super Storm Sandy did a lot of damage to the Jersey Shore, but at least John Ceepack and Danny Boyle survived. After a short stint as Chief of Police, John hired his successor and became Chief of Detectives, a department of one. Danny, because of budget cuts, is reduced to patrol duty, except when John needs another “detective.” And in this, the eighth in the series, the two are once again a team.
The gist of the plot is the death of a popular 94-year-old retired dentist. The possibility of murder rears its ugly head, and the list of suspects is several, including a potential love interest for Danny in forthcoming novels (John is now married), the dentist’s two sons and daughter-in-law, and two health aides. To complicate matters, John’s father, Joe Ceepack, turns up in town to operate a boardwalk ride, providing some element of drama.
The plots of the Ceepack mysteries are not overly complicated. The real asset of the novels are the charming characters, especially strait-laced John and his acolyte Danny and the amusing style of writing moving the tales ahead at a brisk pace. Always good fun, and recommended.
The gist of the plot is the death of a popular 94-year-old retired dentist. The possibility of murder rears its ugly head, and the list of suspects is several, including a potential love interest for Danny in forthcoming novels (John is now married), the dentist’s two sons and daughter-in-law, and two health aides. To complicate matters, John’s father, Joe Ceepack, turns up in town to operate a boardwalk ride, providing some element of drama.
The plots of the Ceepack mysteries are not overly complicated. The real asset of the novels are the charming characters, especially strait-laced John and his acolyte Danny and the amusing style of writing moving the tales ahead at a brisk pace. Always good fun, and recommended.
June 15, 2013
#8 in the John Ceepak series. Ceepak, is a straight-arrow cop in a summer-centric New Jersey shore town. Partner Danny Boyle has signed on to his ethical standards, so a reduced amount of print is devoted to it. Ceepak's dysfunctional father reappears to add a level of complexity to the story line. An enjoyable, very readable, series entry.
John Ceepak series - Ceepak-now chief of detectives of the Sea Haven, N.J., police-and officer Danny Boyle intervene in a physical altercation between home nurse Christine Lemonopoulos, a friend of Danny's, and a Mrs. Oppenheimer, who employs her. When Mrs. Oppenheimer fires Christine, Ceepak's mother decides to use her new inheritance to help the latter get a good lawyer. But when Christine becomes a suspect in the poisoning death of another patient, Arnold Rosen, Danny is torn between trusting his friend's reports of the deep conflicts in the Rosen household and finding out the truth. Meanwhile, Ceepak is distracted by the reappearance of his violent, delinquent father, who hopes to extort a million dollars from his mother.
John Ceepak series - Ceepak-now chief of detectives of the Sea Haven, N.J., police-and officer Danny Boyle intervene in a physical altercation between home nurse Christine Lemonopoulos, a friend of Danny's, and a Mrs. Oppenheimer, who employs her. When Mrs. Oppenheimer fires Christine, Ceepak's mother decides to use her new inheritance to help the latter get a good lawyer. But when Christine becomes a suspect in the poisoning death of another patient, Arnold Rosen, Danny is torn between trusting his friend's reports of the deep conflicts in the Rosen household and finding out the truth. Meanwhile, Ceepak is distracted by the reappearance of his violent, delinquent father, who hopes to extort a million dollars from his mother.
June 19, 2013
This is one of the "Ceepak" mystery stories, set in the Jersey Shore resort town of Sea Haven. The two police officer protagonists are John Ceepak, a straight-arrow, by-the-book veteran of the Iraq war, and Danny Boyle, a younger, free-wheeling native of Sea Haven. It's probably best to read these books in order to get an introduction to the protagonists, their advancement, and the setting.
The first book in the series, Tilt A Whirl, was a solid 5 Star story for me. The following stories were all very good, but not quite up to the standard set be the first book.
Free Fall is the eighth book in the series, and is every bit as good as the first. It's a good story, with plenty of twists. The "mystery" -- the murder of a wealthy, elderly resident -- is more clearly defined than the other books, but moves along quickly and still manages to throw in some believable surprises.
Very highly recommended.
The first book in the series, Tilt A Whirl, was a solid 5 Star story for me. The following stories were all very good, but not quite up to the standard set be the first book.
Free Fall is the eighth book in the series, and is every bit as good as the first. It's a good story, with plenty of twists. The "mystery" -- the murder of a wealthy, elderly resident -- is more clearly defined than the other books, but moves along quickly and still manages to throw in some believable surprises.
Very highly recommended.
May 25, 2013
Danny Boyle is out on patrol with Sal Santucci when they get a call for a disturbance. It's another adventure in sunny, funderful Sea Haven, New Jersey for Danny and John Ceepak. An elderly man is poisoned and Danny and Ceepak have to figure out who did it? There are lots of suspects: the two home health care workers or the man's son and his greedy wife. And then, just to complicate things, Ceepak's drunken father show up to harass his former wife, now living in Sea Haven. Who will blink first? This series is a lot of fun, I really like Danny's voice as he lays out the story, while trying to emulate Ceepak. Always entertaining.
May 18, 2013
Enjoyed the book and I always enjoy reading stories that take place practically in my backyard. Two things I noticed, though, that make it clear an outsider wrote the book: Pork roll is either called Taylor Ham OR pork roll, not Taylor Pork Roll. And Toms River is Toms, not Tom's. Again, to anyone else reading this book, these things probably won't even hit your radar, and of course they don't take away from the story, which as always is engaging and fun. Chris' mysteries are well-written and thought out, and (probably because of Ceepak himself), there's never a lot of language or gritty violence. An enjoyable read.
June 16, 2013
Another excellent entry in the John Ceepak/Danny Boyle series. As always funny, suspenseful, and full of spot-on characterizations. Every character rings true, I'm sure I've met people just like these in my life. Even though these books are hysterically funny (thanks to Danny's most excellent narration), never once do you roll your eyes and think "come on, really?" They are realisitic in both the characterizations and the place setting. You can almost smell the combination of ocean water, diesel from the rides and grease from the fryers. And the mystery is good too! I love this book. Please keep the Ceepaks coming.
May 1, 2013
John Ceepak is now head of Detectives at Sea Haven Police Dept. and Danny, who is growing up and maturing, is either the rest of the detective division (as needed) or a patrol cop. The island is recovering from Hurricane Sandy (the first reference to the storm I've seen in the popular press.) Ceepak's mother, newly rich, has moved to the island which means Ceepak's father - still creepy - follows her there. Other goings-on keep the boys involved - it's nice to see Danny's character seeing Ceepak as a role model, but human -- and that Danny is growing up. A quick enjoyable read.
May 19, 2013
A friend of Danny's is facing a restraining order at the same time that Ceepak's father comes to town to harass his ex-wife. All of this happens just as the first tourist season since Hurricane Sandy starts. Looks like Ceepak and Danny will be very busy. I absolutely love these characters, and this was another good chance to see what is happening with them. I did feel the book took a bit of time to get going, but once it did I couldn't put it down.
My full review at Carstairs Considers.
My full review at Carstairs Considers.
June 17, 2013
I look forward to these mysteries every summer. They are funny, poignant, and the characters are true to themselves each year. Grabenstein has a way of making you think a detail is important early on, and it turns out maybe it's not, and vice versa. He's also very funny, which makes reading this series a breeze.
The last several have been a bit more serious than the early ones, but Grabenstein strikes a good balance and has excellent timing to lighten the mood when needed.
The last several have been a bit more serious than the early ones, but Grabenstein strikes a good balance and has excellent timing to lighten the mood when needed.
July 6, 2013
I keep waiting for this series to run out of steam --but it just gets better. Danny keeps on growing and I continue to be amazed that I love Dudley DoRight (otherwise known as John Ceepak). This is the perfect series for summer with its Jersey Shore locale, the rides and the Boardwalk. Ewww--the terrible food too. We know Hurricane Sandy has been here but, fortunately, some of our favorite places survived.
May 24, 2013
I love Mr. Grabenstein!!! His books are so great, all of them. Just finished this one and was very,very pleased at what happened at the end. It needed to be done!! This book I think was the most exciting of all the Ceepak books. Couldn't put it down. But now I have to wait for the next one. Oh well.......I am sure it will BE WORH the WAIT!! Happy Reading :)
May 18, 2017
LOVED being back 'down the shore' wth Ceepak, Danny & the Sea Haven irregulars. Superstorm Sandy may have put a big hurt on the Jersey shore, but that doesn't stop bad guys from being bad, and good guys (that would, of course, be Ceepak and Danny) from catching them! You will, I'm sure, enjoy this 8th book in the series. I guarantee it.
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