Helpful Score: 1
I used to round up shopping carts in the parking lot at Wal-Mart. Then I met Ceepak and lifes been one big roller coaster ride ever since. Danny Boyle
Officer Danny Boyle isnt the only one going for a roller coaster ride in Rolling Thunder, the sixth entry in author Chris Grabensteins John Ceepak/Jersey Shore mystery series. Memorial Day weekend in Sea Haven, New Jersey finds Danny and his partner, John Ceepak, working crowd control at the grand opening of the Rolling Thunder roller coaster. Big Paddy OMalley, owner of the Rolling Thunder, his family, and assorted town dignitaries are also on hand to be the first to experience the seaside towns newest attraction.
They get more than they bargained for when Mrs. OMalley has a heart attack and dies during the coasters initial run. Though the death appears on the surface to be nothing more than an unfortunate tragedy, Ceepak and Boyle are bothered by the lack of distress exhibited by several members of the family and begin looking into the workings of the OMalley clan. As they are doing so another death, this one unquestionably a murder, confirms their suspicion that something is fishy in Sea Haven.
As with all previous entries in this outstanding series, Grabenstein serves up a wonderfully complex mystery for Ceepak and Danny to tackle. Along the way they must deal with a jealous, potentially criminally complicit colleague, prominent members of the community engaging in organized activities of questionable legality, a mayor who wants nothing more than to not upset the tourists, and a family with Shakespearean levels of dysfunction.
Engaging mysteries notwithstanding, it has always been the characters of Ceepak and Danny themselves that truly set the Jersey Shore series apart from run of the mill crime fiction. Though theyre easy to describe in broad brush terms for a book jacket Ceepak the straight-laced, by the book former Military Police Officer, Danny the young, wisecracking local who got into part-time law enforcement on a whim there is so much more going on.
Over the course of the series weve learned about the chaos in Ceepaks early life that drove him into the military and shaped him into a man who craves extreme order as a means to feel in control of his life. Weve also seen glimpses into the darkness that lurks beneath Ceepaks ordered surface, reminding readers that hes much more than the Dudley Do-Right his foes often describe him as.
Likewise, Danny has shown himself to be more than a wisecracking side-kick. Initially only caring about his part-time job with the Sea Haven PD because chicks dig the cop cap, Danny has grown to appreciate and take pride in his individual role as a police officer, as well as his status as Ceepaks partner. Hes also grown into a formidable investigator in his own right, and the events that unfold in Rolling Thunder set the stage for Danny to take a tremendous step forward in his maturation as both a police officer and a man.
Yes, in Ceepak and Danny Grabenstein has, with a sure hand, brought to life over the course of the series two of the most interesting, multi-faceted protagonists in modern crime fiction. Those whove been reading the series since its Tilt-A-Whirl debut will love the continuing evolution of Ceepak and Danny, while those new to Sea Haven will find ready-made friends theyll feel as though theyve known forever. No doubt about it, everyone should be in line for a ride on Rolling Thunder.
Officer Danny Boyle isnt the only one going for a roller coaster ride in Rolling Thunder, the sixth entry in author Chris Grabensteins John Ceepak/Jersey Shore mystery series. Memorial Day weekend in Sea Haven, New Jersey finds Danny and his partner, John Ceepak, working crowd control at the grand opening of the Rolling Thunder roller coaster. Big Paddy OMalley, owner of the Rolling Thunder, his family, and assorted town dignitaries are also on hand to be the first to experience the seaside towns newest attraction.
They get more than they bargained for when Mrs. OMalley has a heart attack and dies during the coasters initial run. Though the death appears on the surface to be nothing more than an unfortunate tragedy, Ceepak and Boyle are bothered by the lack of distress exhibited by several members of the family and begin looking into the workings of the OMalley clan. As they are doing so another death, this one unquestionably a murder, confirms their suspicion that something is fishy in Sea Haven.
As with all previous entries in this outstanding series, Grabenstein serves up a wonderfully complex mystery for Ceepak and Danny to tackle. Along the way they must deal with a jealous, potentially criminally complicit colleague, prominent members of the community engaging in organized activities of questionable legality, a mayor who wants nothing more than to not upset the tourists, and a family with Shakespearean levels of dysfunction.
Engaging mysteries notwithstanding, it has always been the characters of Ceepak and Danny themselves that truly set the Jersey Shore series apart from run of the mill crime fiction. Though theyre easy to describe in broad brush terms for a book jacket Ceepak the straight-laced, by the book former Military Police Officer, Danny the young, wisecracking local who got into part-time law enforcement on a whim there is so much more going on.
Over the course of the series weve learned about the chaos in Ceepaks early life that drove him into the military and shaped him into a man who craves extreme order as a means to feel in control of his life. Weve also seen glimpses into the darkness that lurks beneath Ceepaks ordered surface, reminding readers that hes much more than the Dudley Do-Right his foes often describe him as.
Likewise, Danny has shown himself to be more than a wisecracking side-kick. Initially only caring about his part-time job with the Sea Haven PD because chicks dig the cop cap, Danny has grown to appreciate and take pride in his individual role as a police officer, as well as his status as Ceepaks partner. Hes also grown into a formidable investigator in his own right, and the events that unfold in Rolling Thunder set the stage for Danny to take a tremendous step forward in his maturation as both a police officer and a man.
Yes, in Ceepak and Danny Grabenstein has, with a sure hand, brought to life over the course of the series two of the most interesting, multi-faceted protagonists in modern crime fiction. Those whove been reading the series since its Tilt-A-Whirl debut will love the continuing evolution of Ceepak and Danny, while those new to Sea Haven will find ready-made friends theyll feel as though theyve known forever. No doubt about it, everyone should be in line for a ride on Rolling Thunder.
Another tight mystery by Chris Grabenstein. Great characters and a well developed story. Keeps you guessing until the end.
If you like wonderful characters, action sequences that can curl your hair, and a delicious sense of humor, you can't go wrong with Chris Grabenstein's Ceepak and Boyle mystery series. Ceepak is the straight arrow, "an ex-military man who looks like he could still jump out of a helicopter with a Humvee strapped to his back." Young Danny Boyle looks up to him as a father figure, and he's the older man's Watson-like sidekick who takes us through their investigations. Danny has been learning and taking on more responsibility with each book, and it's a pleasure to watch him grow. Even Ceepak the Magnificent is slowly being revealed-- mostly through the presence of his no-good father, Joe. Once you learn about Joe, you know why straight-and-narrow Ceepak doesn't contradict people when they denigrate their parents.
Grabenstein is an expert with his fast-paced stories, and Rolling Thunder is no exception. The problem in this installment is the O'Malley clan. Most of the O'Malleys are unpleasant (starting with the father), most of them have a motive for committing the crimes, but it takes time for Ceepak and Boyle to work their way through them-- and that clock is ticking away precious minutes.
New Jersey seems to have its own special breed of mystery writers with a wonderful sense of humor. Chris Grabenstein, Brad Parks, and Jeffrey Cohen immediately spring to mind. Whenever I need a break from the psychologically dark crime fiction that I read, I know I can journey to Sea Haven to experience a fun and exciting investigation with two of my favorite policemen: John Ceepak and Danny Boyle.
Grabenstein is an expert with his fast-paced stories, and Rolling Thunder is no exception. The problem in this installment is the O'Malley clan. Most of the O'Malleys are unpleasant (starting with the father), most of them have a motive for committing the crimes, but it takes time for Ceepak and Boyle to work their way through them-- and that clock is ticking away precious minutes.
New Jersey seems to have its own special breed of mystery writers with a wonderful sense of humor. Chris Grabenstein, Brad Parks, and Jeffrey Cohen immediately spring to mind. Whenever I need a break from the psychologically dark crime fiction that I read, I know I can journey to Sea Haven to experience a fun and exciting investigation with two of my favorite policemen: John Ceepak and Danny Boyle.
#6 in Ceepak series. " Rolling Thunder" is the brand new roller coaster on the boardwalk the O'Malleys have built & it's grand opening time! Ceepak & Boyle are patrolling the grand opening when Mrs. O'Malley has a heart attack on the inaugural ride with her family. Whispers of it may not being an attack when another girl is found dead swirl in the community. Ceepak & Boyle uncover a rich man's playground for mayhem and murder while investigating the dead girl and clues pointing back to the O'Malley heart attack. Town leaders want the investigation swept under the rug and gone as to not hurt tourism money, but Ceepak has a code" He cannot lie, cheat, or steal and doesn't tolerate those who do. He & Boyle uncover things that are not what they seem. Ceepak's criminal father turns up in town hellbent on destroying his son. Unpredictable and interfering with the investigation tests Ceepak & Boyle's skills at finding the killer or killers.
