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  • Tilt-a-Whirl

  • John Ceepak, Book 1
  • By: Chris Grabenstein
  • Narrated by: Jeff Woodman
  • Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (277 ratings)
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Tilt-a-Whirl cover art

Tilt-a-Whirl

By: Chris Grabenstein
Narrated by: Jeff Woodman
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Summary

There isn't much fun in the sun 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 at 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 honor and integrity to the limits, as unexpected twists and turns keep the truth spinning wildly in every direction.

©2006 Chris Grabenstein (P)2007 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

  • Anthony Award, Best First Mystery, 2006

  • 2006 Anthony Award, Best First Novel
"A fast-paced thrill ride with lots of twists and turns and good writing from start to finish." (James Patterson)
"From page 1, this debut stands out as refreshingly different....an absolute triumph." ( Booklist)

What listeners say about Tilt-a-Whirl

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    126
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  • 2 Stars
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Performance
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Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Good Fun Light Read

I downloaded this book on a whim and listened to it over two days. It has an interesting pace and a good level of descriptive language in relation to setting the scene. The main characters are fleshed out over the course of the story, giving the reader/listener a sense that they are getting to know someone .
It was enjoyable overall but it had a small niggling issue that cropped up more than once: women are either conniving, heartless, rich and self absorbed OR they are vapid, inconsequential airheads. Both categories seem to have little purpose but to serve as 'eye-candy' for the narrator and unintentionally lead him to conclusions that he should have been capable of himself. The very small parts played by the forensic pathologist (an 'eccentric' older woman) and the police officer with social worker training (bleeding heart with little real input) seem to be used to fill plot holes rather than offer much needed substance/balance to the heavily stereotyped hero-worship of the male lead by the narrator.
While the reveal and ending did feel a little worn by the time they arrived, I enjoyed the premise and the world that was being created.
Even with the point which I criticise, I will seek out the next books in the series.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

good story well told

really good tale well told. enjoyed it very much kept up a good pace all the way through both writer and reader delivered. thanks

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Free Book - Surprisingly Excellent

For a free book this was book was surprisingly good infact it was excellent and I'm going to buy and listen to the hole series.
This book was not like the rest of the crime book's, you just didn't know which way the story was going to go there where twists and turns every which way, it was very cleverly written.
I only took a star off because of there was some bad language in it but that's my personal preference.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant!

Absolutely loved it, characters, narrator, fantastic! a b c d e f g h i

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Pretty hilarious but requires a bit of sensitivity

I thoroughly enjoyed this Cabot Cove style detective story, especially for a first book right up until the last 20 mins where the author could have handled the actual tragic circumstance with a little more sensitivity and not brush it off as just part of an investigation.

The narrator, who poses as the 24-year-old sidekick is brilliant, his antics and hilarious commentary kept the entire plot together at a wonderful pace. Unfortunately, when the story turns dark and serious, the tone didn't change and it almost seemed to be a mockery of a very disturbing situation. The plot twist in the end, however, was a good day to go. I would definitely listen to more in this series mostly because of the comedic aspect.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining

Very well narrated, every character easily recognised. Ceepak could easily have been a two dimensional character, but us building up nicely. About to order the next in the series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

This was excellent. Really enjoyed the tale and unravelling of the crime.
The story from the new guy was different and really good.
Narrator was good. Kept the tempo really good & kept the story flowing

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

WOW!!

If you enjoy murder mysteries with a healthy dose of plot twists then you'll enjoy this.

The dynamic between the main characters is very well written and thought out. I found myself laughing out loud several times throughout the book (yes youngsters that's how you should be writing lol - lol).

One of the best things about this book is that there were plot twists that I didn't see coming till the moment they were revealed, which I'm finding less and less common the more books I listen to.

The ONLY reason I took a star off the overall rating is because of the amount of bad language in it. Its not prolific and is mainly based on who's talking at the time in the book, but still... more than I would prefer personally.

On the whole, one of the best books I've ever listened to!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

enjoyed this first free book...

good narration...good voices. enjoyed the story .downloaded after having no credits available and I am glad I did!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great story and well read.

Great twists and some funny characters really makes listening to this book fly by. It leads you into the characters and makes you want to laugh out loud.

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