There isn't much sun in the fun when a billionaire real estate tycoon is found murdered on the Tilt-A-Whirl at a seedy seaside amusement park in the otherwise quiet summer tourist town of Sea Haven. John Ceepak, a former MP just back from Iraq, has just 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 to help him forget the horrors of war. Instead, Ceepak will head up the murder investigation. 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 by night. In the first novel in a new series written in the spirit of Carl Hiaasen's work, the "Tilt-A-Whirl" murder pushes Ceepak's deep sense of honour and integrity to the limits as unexpected twists and turns keep the truth spinning wildly in every direction.
Tilt-a-Whirl is the first book in Chris Grabenstein's series featuring John Ceepak. Originally published in 2005 by Carroll & Graf, it's 330 pages and available in all formats, including a masterful audiobook version narrated by Jeff Woodman.
This is a first person PoV story 'narrated' by Ceepak's sidekick, part time summertime police officer Danny Boyle.The books are set in a fictionalized part of the Jersey Shore and are full of tourists and anecdotes and some murder and arson.
Though the author is more well known for his children's and YA stories, this is distinctly adult material. The language is rough in places and some of the themes and the denouement are pretty brutal.
I enjoyed this installment very much and have already bought the second book in the series.
