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elinacre's review against another edition
4.0
so bummed this is the last out in the series... will there be more?! fun, fast mystery in the sunny, funderful setting of sea haven!
willac's review against another edition
4.0
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.
fictionfan's review against another edition
4.0
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.
laneylegz's review
4.0
Boyle & Ceepak are back! Taking place almost a year after Fun House the guys have been through Hurricane Sandy & the town has rebuilt and ready for business. A brand new ride called "Free Fall" is new on the shore with a brand new operator who is none other than Ceepak's father who shouldn't even be in town after last year's restraining order. Between him and one of Danny's friends being accused of a murder and being an "angel of death" to the elderly, the duo have a full plate of investigation, sleight of hand, lies, threats, & a list full of suspects.
sk888888's review against another edition
5.0
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.
lizdesole's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyable as ever Jersey Shore mystery. The plot is not the thing. These are books to soak in the ambience of the Jersey Shore in all its glorious tackiness. The perfect beach read
vkemp's review
4.0
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.
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