Murder down the shore under amusement park lights... You can smell the funnel cake and salt air and hear the bells of the arcade over the soft roar of the ocean as NJ beach lover Chris Grabenstein weaves his twisting plots through the sand and summer crowds.
Join this award-winning mystery (and young adult) writer and former Metuchen resident at the Metuchen Library on Thursday, August 13 at 7:30 PM when he speaks about his journey from improvisational comedian to advertising executive to celebrated author. You might also win the chance to name a character in an upcoming book! Read on to see how.
His 5-book (to date) Jersey shore mystery series features the no-nonsense detective John Ceepak, a former soldier and Iraqi war veteran, a straight-laced mountain of all-man who lives by a strict code of honor (I love this guy). John's partner is a 20-something cop in training, Danny Boyle - a guy I swear I know.
Chris also writes novels for middle school aged readers. Crossroads (2009) won the Agatha Award for the Best YA/Children's Mystery. The sequel, The Hanging Hill, is coming out this week and will be among the titles for purchase at the Library.
Name a Character Contest:
... to benefit the Friends of the Metuchen Library. For $5 an entry, one lucky person will win the chance to name a character in one of Grabenstein's 2010 titles; either the young adult ghost story, The Smoky Corridor, or the sixth John Ceepak mystery, Rolling Thunder. Chris will draw the winner's name and you need not be present to win. Enter that night or at the Library desk anytime before the 13th. Or, mail your check and entry (to the library at
For more information about the Author Visit, call the Library at 732-632-8526 and ask for John McBride or Kathy Liss. To learn more about Chris, visit his website.
We had a wonderful time -- what a great speaker!
My son is already half-way through "Crossroads".
Many thanks to the Friends of Metuchen Library for all their great speakers and activities for the community!