Hell Hole

A John Ceepak Mystery

By: Chris Grabenstein

Narrated by: Jeff Woodman

Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Hell Hole is the fourth book in the mystery series featuring hardened former military PD and current Sea Haven, New Jersey, police officer John Ceepak and his partner, wise-cracking Danny Boyle.

In Hell Hole, Ceepak is confronted with his most personal case yet when he must investigate the alleged suicide of a military corporal who recently returned from Iraq. When it turns out that this "locked stall" rest-stop suicide is anything but an open-and-shut case, Ceepak and Boyle realize that the corporal might have been privy to information that opens up a much larger conspiracy - one that strikes at the heart of our involvement in the Middle East and puts them on the wrong side of some very unpleasant people.

Don't miss other adventures featuring Sea Haven's finest, including (in order) Tilt-a-Whirl, Mad Mouse, and Whack-a-Mole.

©2008 Chris Grabenstein (P)2008 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Grabenstein again shows his intimate knowledge of Jersey shore towns, whose populations swell in the summer....But this series offers far more than a beach-book romp; Hell Hole is taut and satisfying crime fiction." (Booklist)
"Hell Hole - named after an amusement park ride, like his other novels - moves at a brisk pace...The relationship between John and Danny, how each grows and learns from each other, continues to be the heart of Grabenstein's four novels." (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
"Jeff Woodman's natural exuberance is a fine fit for Hell Hole's ingenuous, smart-alecky cop, Danny Boyle....Additionally, Woodman creates a perfect foil in Boyle's NJPD partner, hard-nosed, by-the-book John Ceepak....Chris Grabenstein writes a tight, well-constructed mystery, and Woodman's performance keeps the interest high and the listening upbeat." (AudioFile)

WWJCD!!

I do not know how John Ceepak would do in the real world. But it's nice to listen to an audiobook with spine. "Hell Hole" will take you there. You finally get to meet John Ceepak's father. I see why he's the way he is. Chris excellent job once again with the story and Jeff Woodman excellent job with the narration. It reminds me of "the wonder years" narration ten four!!! can't wait for ROLLING THUNDER 2010!!

More Ceepak fun,

This is my second Ceepak novel, and I have missed books 2 and 3 in the series. Matters not, as they can be listened to almost as stand alone novels.
Must say, in the Tilt a Whirl book I did not relate, even like, Ceepak as a character. In this book he has a character, which is an improvement. I guess in the 2nd and 3rd books Mr Grabenstain has refined and shaped him into something a bit more real.
Easy fun book, and not the last I will listen to.

Another fun Ceepak mystery

A great mix of intrigue, comedy and jersey shore which helps take the reader to the beach. Chris Grabenstein does an excellent job of capturing the essence of the Jersey Shore in this well written story which takes more turns than a mad mouse. Grab some scrapple and settle in for a fun ride!

The Ceepak series is one of those where the narrator adds another whole dimension. I think this series is so much more enjoyable as an audio book because of Mr. Woodman's excellent performance.

In Ceepak’s world R & R = Rendezvous & Rub Out

The best of the series so far, the mystery is smartly written. While the tone is mostly beachy and typically police procedural, this is not a cozy series. Book 4 drops the F-bombs a lot more than the previous books and features military characters and war-stories that get very dark. The last hour especially could be very triggering in terms of atrocities and very unheroic, unAmerican acts.

I disagree with some reviewers who criticized the author for ugly military stereotypes; this author’s main character in particular exemplifies the best and most honorable characteristics of military vets. While the characters and plot are a bit too movie incredible, that is sort of the point in a mystery series. Real cops solving real murders don’t end up in gun fights or other contrived plots, much less do it often enough to merit multiple books.

I also enjoyed this book more because I’m now comfortable with the series regulars. The main characters’ personalities are settled in, with Danny Boyle like a more earnest Mahoney from Police Academy and Ceepak is like the by-the-book Tackleberry, except not crazy. Actually, Ceepak reminds me of the retired agent, Don Fitzgerald, in We’re the Millers played by excellent straight man Nick Offerman. Yes, Ceepak is the world’s biggest hall monitor, but that works for this series. I like that there are some other recurring supporting characters, including Boyle’s new partner, who is hilariously like a Ceepak mini-me on the whole by-the-book thing, only with a super sweet, chipper personality…which brings me to the other aspect that has settled in nicely: the humor. Boyle’s Jersey sarcasm is the perfect odd-couple balance to Ceepak’s earnest adherence to his code. Finally, I still get a kick out of all the Bruce Springsteen references.

Entertaining

Kind of a light hearted mystery that had me chuckle a few times. Easy to listen to, and entertaining. The main characters make a good pair.

read this

I have listened to all of Grabenstein's books about Sea Haven and John Ceepak. this is a good listen---

Hell hole

The amount of profanity used detracted from the story. If there had not been as much profanity the story would have been enjoyable.

Stronger story than books 1-3

This is an excellent addition to this series. It has the same tone and humor and setting as the first 3 books but the story has a bit more punch to it (i.e., it's quite "serious" in nature, and believable, and... well, kinda sad too).

It's probably a bit far-fetched in that I don't think so many people in real life would be complicit in such bad goings-on, but it's all believable within the story, and very suspenseful...

It's fast and enjoyable - though I think it has more swearing than the other books so that might put some people off, but it all fit with the storyline. The narration is very well done.

This One Was Hard

First, let me put a disclaimer out there that I'm active duty in the military and suicide is not something that I take lightly. Last year we recently loss one of our members to suicide after she separated from active duty due to PTSD. So listening to this was really hard. I found myself getting mad and upset at how Grabenstein was portraying the soldiers: the alcohol abuse, the disrespect, the drug abuse, and all the fraternization that was going on (seriously, an ARMY lieutenant going on vacation with his enlisted command? Taking ORDERS from the sergeant? Especially out of a combat zone?? No, just no.)

I had to detach myself from own emotions and reactions. Grabenstein is a former comedian and advertiser executive--and that's how he writes. Grabenstein is not about deep characterization. He creates caricatures that are easy to relate to but hold no real depth or complexities. The only two characters that have any real semblance of three-dimensional character growth are Ceepak and Boyle and it's taken nearly four books to even get some of that. Therefore, to stop thinking of the soldiers that Grabenstein was describing as real people but a collaboration of the worst characteristics that can be found in men. People being in the military does not make the saints, they are as human and fallible as anyone else, and I think Grabenstein was trying to make that point. That in extreme circumstances extreme misconduct and extreme evil can be created and carried out. History has shown this both in the Iraq War, the Vietnam War, and all other wars. The saving point was that although Grabenstein showed the extreme end of evil that sometimes appears in the military, he also contrasted it with the integrity and honor that is prevalent in the armed forces.

So, despite the gruesome and horrific crimes that are described in this novel (and the very liberal politics in regards to the war) I can't hate the novel. Grabenstein stays true to the characterizations of Boyle and Ceepak. He grows them even more and stares unflinching at an issue that makes me sick to my stomach. This book did not leave me with the good feeling that the other books gave me, but it hasn't turned me off of the Ceepak series for good either. I just need a little break before giving Boyle and Ceepak another go.

great series

I am enjoying this series. I accidentally stumbled up on this author and enjoying his books. 4 more to go.