Reviewing: "Mad Mouse: A John Ceepak Mystery" by Chris Grabenstein

“Mad Mouse” is the second in the series after “Tilt a Whirl” and features another interesting and dangerous case for police officers Danny Boyle and John Ceepak. It is late August and a few weeks after the events of the previous novel. Sea Heaven has returned to normal and much of the media attention has finally moved on to other targets leaving Danny to contemplate what the coming end of the summer means. The new police chief intends to hire one of the summer cops as a permant officer and Danny is hoping to move up.

In the meantime, it is time for the old gang of Danny, Katie Landry, (who Danny is hopeful will become a very special friend) Jess Garrett, Olivia Chibbs, Becca Adkinson and Harley Mook to meet. Every August 30th in honor of “National Toasted Marshmallow Day” the group gets together in an annual party ritual. It dates back to when they were teens and they still get together even though the friendships amongst the group are far different now then when they were kids. It should have been a simple late night party at the beach.

It was until the sniper opened fire.

At first, despite Becca’s serious eye injury, it appears that the attack was nothing more than an idiot with a paintball gun. Later investigation and subsequent attacks prove that bullets, along with paintballs are being fired at the group. And it just could be that Danny is the main target.

Being a tourist spot means that the local politicos want this to be kept quiet. The FBI already spent time in Sea Heaven working the Tilt a Whirl case and the local economy can’t take another visit from the FBI and media scrutiny. John Ceepak and Danny Boyle don’t care about that. They just want to end the escalating carnage.

Featuring the same quirky characters, flashes of humor, plenty of action, and another twisting mystery, “Mad Mouse” builds upon the strong foundation of the first book. Everyone is back, and while little more of Ceepak is revealed, readers really get a strong sense of who Danny Boyle was as a teenager and how far he has come in two novels. While the books should be read in order, it is possible to read this one first as there is a minimum of references to the first book.


Mad Mouse: A John Ceepak Mystery
Chris Grabenstein
http://www.chrisgrabenstein.com/
Carol & Graf (Avalon Publishing Group, Inc.)
2007
ISBN# 0-7867-1936-2
Trade Paperback
323 Pages
$14.95



Book provided by the author in exchange for my objective review. By the way, if you haven't read "Tilt A Whirl" you really should. Check it out!


Kevin R. Tipple © 2009