An innocent discovery on the beach in Sea Haven leads to a string of gruesome clues and one chilling conclusion: a long dormant serial killer is poised to strike again.
In another fast-paced thrill ride, Danny and Ceepak, the cop with a strict moral code, race against the clock to undercover a hidden mole with a twisted code all his own. If they don't catch the killer in time, someone they love may become the next victim.
"Grabenstein has done his homework. His portrait of summer on the Jersey shore, replete with tacky boardwalk arcades, kitschy souvenir and T-shirt shops, manic city folk who bring their attytood on vacation, and hordes of young people awash in hormones, is virtually note-perfect. Another winner in the Jersey Shore series."
—BOOKLIST
"Whack A Mole is as engaging and enjoyable as the debut Tilt-a-Whirl. Certainly more fun when read as part of a series, this title nevertheless stands on its own as a well-written mystery, complete with humor, humanity, a fast-moving plot, and memorable characters. Highly recommended."
—LIBRARY JOURNAL
"Grabenstein has crafted a solid mystery here. The manner in which the killer taunts the police is very unique—I will never be able to walk into a resort town gift shop again without thinking of this book—and the identity of the murderer, while plausible, will keep you guessing. I was absolutely sure I had his identity pegged and nailed, but I was totally wrong. This series has already won an Anthony Award in the course of its short history; after reading Whack A Mole, it would seem that Grabenstein, who undoubtedly will receive additional accolades, may need to add a trophy room to his domicile if he has not done so already."
—Joe Hartlaub, BOOKREPORTER.COM
"If Agatha Christie was around now, and lived in say, New Jersey, this is the kind of mystery she would weave... Despite all the clues, Grabenstein still managed to hang out enough red herrings to throw me off the track of the killer. Just like Christie, his writing is no frills, but there's enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, right to the end."
—Cindy White, CALGARY HERALD
"Grabenstein's rapid-fire prose style, clipped dialogue, eye for precise detail, and heady pace generate an enjoyable suspense thriller. The cerebral, buttoned-down Ceepak plays well off the irrepressible, loyal Danny. Excerpts from nine Bruce Springsteen ballads stitched into the storyline add extra appeal for The Boss's fans. The Jersey Shore setting is picturesque and the likeable cop pals are developing into close-knit, effective crime fighters."
—MYSTERY SCENE magazine
"Whack A Mole is one of those mysteries that flows. The pace is unrelenting, and the characters come alive. The plot moves along while keeping the identity of the killer hidden until the final pages. Whack A Mole is a terrific read."
—Steven Sill, I LOVE A MYSTERY
"When Kansas' BTK killer made contact with police after years of inactivity, his downfall followed quickly. Chris Grabenstein takes that premise and spins it forcefully in Whack A Mole, the third installment in his John Ceepak series set on the Jersey Shore. Not long after the story opens, policeman Ceepak—and Iraq war veteran who neither lies, cheats, nor steals, nor tolerates those who do—and his young police partner, Danny Boyle, begin to find body parts labeled by name and dating to the 1980s. But no murders had been reported. So what's going on?
The answers come as fast and twisty as one of Sea Haven's thrill rides, as Grabenstein continues to spin a rich story and to develop his main characters. Here's some perfect summer reading to take to the beach (or if you're heading north, to the shore)."
—Jay Strafford, THE RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH'S BOOK BAG
"Whack A Mole is filled with wonderful characters, is set in a great location, and has a first-rate murder mystery that grabs you, keeps you thinking and hits you with a surprise ending that will tear your heart out. It is a good standalone book, and fans of the series will not be disappointed. Whack A Mole is a fine read for any season."
—Sharon Katz, REVIEWING THE EVIDENCE
