Chris Grabenstein

Author Information
Chris Grabenstein's Latest Book

Newest Release

  • Bibliography:
    47 Books (10 Series)
  • First Book:
    September 2005
  • Latest Book:
    November 2024
  • Author Rating:
  • Share:

Full Series List in Order

A Christopher Miller Thriller

1 - Slay Ride (Dec-2006)
2 - Hell for the Holidays (Oct-2007)

Dog Squad

1 - Dog Squad (May-2021)
2 - Cat Crew (Oct-2022)

A Haunted Places Mystery

The Crossroads (May-2008)
The Hanging Hill (Aug-2009)
The Smoky Corridor (Sep-2010)
The Black Heart Crypt (Sep-2011)

A John Ceepak Mystery

1 - Tilt-a-Whirl (Sep-2005)
2 - Mad Mouse (May-2006)
3 - Whack-a-Mole (Jun-2007)
4 - Hell Hole (Aug-2008)
5 - Mind Scrambler (Jul-2009)
6 - Rolling Thunder (May-2010)
6.5 - Ring Toss (Oct-2011)
7 - Fun House (May-2012)
8 - Free Fall (May-2013)

Mr. Lemoncello

0.5 - Mr. Lemoncello's Very First Game (May-2022)
1 - Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library (Jun-2013)
2 - Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics (Jan-2016)
3 - Mr. Lemoncello's Great Library Race (Oct-2017)
4 - Mr. Lemoncello's All-Star Breakout Game (May-2019)
5 - Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket (Aug-2020)
6 - Mr. Lemoncello's Fantabulous Finale (Nov-2024)

Mr. Lemoncello's Library Graphic Novels

1 - Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library: The Graphic Novel (Nov-2023)

Riley Mack

1 - Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers (Apr-2012)
2 - Riley Mack Stirs Up More Trouble (Apr-2013)

The Smartest Kid in the Universe

1 - The Smartest Kid in the Universe (Dec-2020)
2 - Genius Camp (Dec-2021)
3 - Evil Genius (May-2023)

Stinky's Stories

1 - The Boy Who Cried Underpants (Oct-2024)
2 - Jack and the Beanstink (Oct-2024)

Welcome to Wonderland

1 - Home, Sweet Motel (Oct-2016)
2 - Beach Party Surf Monkey (May-2017)
3 - Sandapalooza Shake-Up (May-2018)
4 - Beach Battle Blowout (Apr-2019)

Book List in Order: 47 titles

  • Tilt-a-Whirl

    A John Ceepak Mystery - 1

    There isn't much sun in the fun 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 j...

  • Mad Mouse

    A John Ceepak Mystery - 2

    It's almost Labor Day, and the end of summer could mean the end of someone's life in this exciting sequel to Chris Grabenstein's Tilt-a-Whirl. Young Danny Boyle, the part-time summer cop "down the shore" in Sea Haven, New Jersey, gets taken on a w...

  • Slay Ride

    A Christopher Miller Thriller - 1

    Scott Wilkinson is a successful young advertising executive on his way to the top. Christopher Miller is an FBI legend who has been willing to do whatever it takes to see that justice is done. However, at age 50, he’s ready to spend more time with ...

  • Whack-a-Mole

    A John Ceepak Mystery - 3

    John Ceepak and Danny Boyle returns with the hunt for a long-dormant serial killer who might be ready to strike again. An innocent discovery on the beach in Sea Haven pits Ceepak against a killer with a code just as rigid as his own. When the killer ...

  • Hell for the Holidays

    A Christopher Miller Thriller - 2

    A sequel to Slay Ride finds FBI agent Christopher Miller tackling a band of domestic terrorists who are copying the tactics of Al Qaeda throughout a plot to crash an African airliner leaving JFK airport during a busy holiday season. By the au...

  • The Crossroads

    A Haunted Places Mystery

    From the New York Times bestselling author of Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library and coauthor of I Funny and Treasure Hunters, comes a series of spine-tingling mysteries to keep you up long after the lights go out...

  • Hell Hole

    A John Ceepak Mystery - 4

    Hell Hole is the fourth book in the mystery series featuring former hardened military PD and current Sea Haven, NJ police officer John Ceepak and his partner, wise-cracking Danny Boyle. In Hell Hole, Ceepak is confronted with his most personal case y...

  • Mind Scrambler

    A John Ceepak Mystery - 5

    John Ceepak and Danny Boyle are making the rounds in Atlantic City when Danny runs into his former crush, Katie. She's working for a magician named Rock, and her life seems to be in better order than Boyle could have hoped for. But Ceepak and Boyle s...

  • The Hanging Hill

    A Haunted Places Mystery

    How serious is stage fright? At the Hanging Hill Playhouse, it can kill you. After narrowly escaping a malevolent spirit in The Crossroads, Zack and Judy are hoping to relax during the rehearsals for a show based on Judy's bestselling children's b...



  • Rolling Thunder

    A John Ceepak Mystery - 6

    There’s more fireworks down the Jersey shore in Chris Grabenstein’s sixth fast-paced John Ceepak mystery Rolling Thunder. A prominent citizen suffers a heart attack on opening day of a brand new boardwalk roller coaster in the seedy seaside resor...

  • The Demon in the Dunes

    in Death's Excellent Vacation

    The editors of Wolfsbane and Mistletoe and Many Bloody Returns deliver a new collection-including a never-before-published Sookie Stackhouse story. New York Times bestselling authors Charlaine Harris, Katie MacAlister, Jeaniene Frost-plus Lilith S...

  • The Smoky Corridor

    A Haunted Places Mystery

    Zack is about to start at his new school, and his dad, who went there years before, tells Zack the stories of the haunted janitor's closet, the specter of a dead crossing guard, and the Donnelly brothers, who perished in a suspicious fire. Dad doesn'...

  • The Black Heart Crypt

    A Haunted Places Mystery

    Halloween is nearing, the one day of the year when the ghostly plane is close enough to the human plane to allow mischief and mayhem. But the ghosts who have their eye on Zack aren't thinking mischief, they are thinking murder. In this fourth volu...

  • Ring Toss

    A John Ceepak Mystery - 6.5

    The reported theft of a family heirloom sends officers Ceepak and Boyle racing to Sea Haven, New Jersey's Mussel Beach Motel to investigate. At the scene of the crime, Danny and Ceepak run into something much worse than a burglar: the DePinna family ...

  • The Explorers' Gate

    The potentially true and incredibly amazing hidden history of New York City's Central Park From award-winning middle grades author Chris Grabenstein comes a brand new, fast-paced, fun read for children ages 8 to 108. Follow the intrepid 12-ye...

  • Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers

    Riley Mack - 1

    What do you get when you add up 1 middle-school bully 2 bank robbers 57 dogs in peril 4,000 missing dollars and 5 daring troublemakers led by the one and only Riley Mack? 1 crazy caper! In this merry, mischievous romp, master storytel...

  • Fun House

    A John Ceepak Mystery - 7

    The latest novel in the award-winning John Ceepak mystery series, set on the Jersey Shore. What if a reality TV show like Jersey Shore set up production in the fictional seaside resort Sea Haven? What if hitting the gym, tanning, and doing a littl...

  • Riley Mack Stirs Up More Trouble

    Riley Mack - 2

    Briana Bloomfield, the talent Jake Lowenstein, the genius "Mongo," the muscle Jamal Wilson, the fifth grader -- and -- Riley Mack, the fearless leader Together, these five are the Known Troublemakers, stirring up trouble in the name of justice. W...

  • Fatherhood: And Other Stories

    In a debut volume, the collected short stories of Thomas H. Cook, one of America's most celebrated crime fiction authors. Over his acclaimed career, Cook’s novels have haunted, riveted, and spellbound readers across the world, and his short stor...



  • Free Fall

    A John Ceepak Mystery - 8

    “I didn’t do it!” is something cops hear all the time. But when the plea comes from a close friend who’s fallen on hard times, it’s tougher to ignore, especially for young Officer Danny Boyle. It’s the start of another action-packed s...

  • Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

    Mr. Lemoncello - 1

    Kyle Keeley is the class clown, popular with most kids, (if not the teachers), and an ardent fan of all games: board games, word games, and particularly video games. His hero, Luigi Lemoncello, the most notorious and creative gamemaker in the world, ...

  • Don't Call Me Christina Kringle

    This December, a girl who hates Christmas is in for the surprise of her life Ten-year-old Christina Lucci absolutely despises everything about Christmas. The carols, the eggnog, the decorations -- and most of all, Santa Claus. And for good reason:...

  • The Island of Dr. Libris

    New from the author of "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library" and coauthor of the I Funny series with James Patterson! Celebrate the power of imagination with this action-packed New York Times bestseller that shows that sometimes the real story sta...

  • Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics

    Mr. Lemoncello - 2

    Welcome, boys and girls, readers of all ages, to the first-ever Library Olympics! Kyle and his teammates are back, and the world-famous game maker Luigi Lemoncello is at it again!   This time Mr. Lemoncello has invited teams from all across Ameri...

  • Home, Sweet Motel

    Welcome to Wonderland - 1

    From the bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and co-author with James Patterson of I Funny, House of Robots, and Treasure Hunters, comes a hilarious illustrated series about all the wacky things that happen when you live in a...

  • Beach Party Surf Monkey

    Welcome to Wonderland - 2

    There’s always something wacky happening when you live in a motel, and P.T. (named after P. T. Barnum, of course) has grown up at the world’s wackiest! When word gets out that the hottest teen idols in Hollywood (plus current YouTube sensation Ke...

  • The Demons' Door

    Every theater has its demons. At this one? They’re real. Zack is staying at the Hanging Hill summer theater, a place where he and his family hope to recover from the fiery fallout of Zack’s last ghostly encounter. The theater is all set to s...

  • The Zombie Awakening

    Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. It just doesn’t usually come from the grave. The basement of Zack’s new school is hiding something, or rather someones. Two ghosts, to be exact -- Joseph and Seth Donnelly, brothers who perished in a sus...

  • Mr. Lemoncello's Great Library Race

    Mr. Lemoncello - 3

    #1 New York Times bestselling author Chris Grabenstein is back with the third fantastically fun, puzzle-packed MR. LEMONCELLO adventure! On your marks. Get set. Lemon, cello, GO! Everyone’s favorite game maker, Mr. Lemoncello, is testing ou...



  • Sandapalooza Shake-Up

    Welcome to Wonderland - 3

    Dive into summer fun with this hilarious illustrated middle-grade series Life's a vacation when you live in the world's wackiest motel P.T. and his best friend, Gloria, are getting ready for St. Pete Beach's first-ever Sandapalooza The Wonderland'...

  • Beach Battle Blowout

    Welcome to Wonderland - 4

    Take a vacation in a book with this hilarious illustrated middle-grade series by Chris Grabenstein, New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library and coauthor with James Patterson of the I Funny and House of Robots ser...

  • Mr. Lemoncello's All-Star Breakout Game

    Mr. Lemoncello - 4

    Greetings, boys and girls, gamers of all ages--are you ready to play Mr. Lemoncello's BIGGEST, most dazzling game yet? After months of anticipation, Mr. Lemoncello is taking his games out of the library and going LIVE across the nation on the...

  • No More Naps!

    The #1 New York Times bestselling powerhouse author of the Mr. Lemoncello books brings his wit and humor to a pint-sized audience in this picture book debut that turns the universal dilemma of getting kids to sleep on its head. It's time for a...

  • Super Puzzletastic Mysteries

    Bestselling author Chris Grabenstein and the Mystery Writers of America bring together twenty peerless puzzles -- from bestselling authors such as Peter Lerangis, Stuart Gibbs, Lauren Magaziner, Kate Milford, and, of course, Grabenstein himself -- in...

  • Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket

    Mr. Lemoncello - 5

    Welcome! For the first time, you are invited INSIDE Mr. Lemoncello's one-of-a-kind Gameworks Factory in book five of the fun-filled, action-packed bestselling series from the much-loved coauthor of the I Funny and Max Einstein series! Now with...

  • The Smartest Kid in the Universe

    The Smartest Kid in the Universe - 1

    "Chris Grabenstein just might be the smartest writer for kids in the universe." --James PattersonWhat if you could learn everything just by eating jellybeans?! Meet the Smartest Kid in the Universe and find out in this fun-packed new series from the ...

  • Stuck

    Peter Pan meets Groundhog Day when 11-year-old Jackson makes a birthday wish about never growing up that mysteriously comes true. On his 11th birthday, Jackson is nervous about moving up to middle school where he knows he'll be bullied by older kids,...

  • Dog Squad

    Dog Squad - 1

    Introducing DOG SQUAD, the crime-fighting, tail-wagging, hilarious new series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library and coauthor of Max Einstein!When trouble calls . . . it's DOG SQUAD to the rescue!Duk...

  • Genius Camp

    The Smartest Kid in the Universe - 2

    "Chris Grabenstein just might be the smartest writer for kids in the universe." -- James PattersonThe Smartest Kid in the Universe goes to genius camp in book two of this action-packed series from the New York Times bestselling author of Escape from...



  • Mr. Lemoncello's Very First Game

    Mr. Lemoncello - 0.5

    Before Mr. Lemoncello became everyone’s favorite game maker, he was a kid who liked to roll the dice . . . Discover the origins of what James Patterson calls “the coolest library in the world” in this PREQUEL to the New York Times bestselling E...

  • Cat Crew

    Dog Squad - 2

    Do you love DOGS? Do you love CATS? Do you love ADVENTURE? Then put your paws together for DOG SQUAD, the hilarious, crime-fighting middle-grade series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library!When trouble...

  • Evil Genius

    The Smartest Kid in the Universe - 3

    Meet middle schooler Jake McQuade. Jake became the smartest kid in the universe when he accidentally ate a jarful of ingestible knowledge jelly beans. But what happens when those jelly beans fall into the wrong hands?! Readers who enjoy the action of...

  • NO Is All I Know!

    Do you know anyone like Oliver McSnow...who only knows the word NO?!Introducing a story about the AMAZING power of YES! This universally relatable picture book about toddlerhood from the New York Times bestselling team behind No More Naps! will ...

  • Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library: The Graphic Novel

    Mr. Lemoncello's Library Graphic Novels - 1

    The BESTSELLING book is now a full color, fast packed GRAPHIC NOVEL!The Lemoncello books have spent over 100 Weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List and are on 44 State Award Lists!Find out if game loving Kyle Keeley can escape from what James Pa...

  • The Boy Who Cried Underpants

    Stinky's Stories - 1

    Underwear has never been so much fun to wear!It’s story time at Hickleberry Elementary with Stinky the stuffed skunk! You’ve probably heard of the boy who cried wolf, but do you know what happened after no one believed him? Well, according to Sti...

  • Jack and the Beanstink

    Stinky's Stories - 2

    Fee, fi, fo, FUN!It’s story time again at Hickleberry Elementary with Stinky the stuffed skunk -- and this time the class is reading the classic Jack and the Beanstalk! Everyone knows the story ends with the giant falling from the sky, but only Sti...

  • Mr. Lemoncello's Fantabulous Finale

    Mr. Lemoncello - 6

    Do you have what it takes to be the new owner of Mr. Lemoncello’s epic gaming empire? Find out in this fantabulous finale to the beloved, New York Times Bestselling Mr. Lemoncello's Library series!Mr. Lemoncello's ENTIRE game-making empire is up fo...

Award-Winning Books by Chris Grabenstein

The Black Heart Crypt
2011 Agatha Award -- Children/Young Adult
The Crossroads
2009 Anthony Award -- Children/Young Adult
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
2013 Agatha Award -- Children/Young Adult
2014 Black-Eyed Susan Award -- Grades 4-6
2014 Buckeye Children's Book Award -- Grades 3-5
2014 Great Stone Face Book Award -- Grades 4-6
2015 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award -- Children's
2015 Flicker Tale Children's Book Award -- Juvenile
2015 Maine Student Book Award -- Grades 4-8
2015 Rhode Island Children's Book Award -- Grades 3-6
2015 Sunshine State Young Reader's Award -- Grades 3-5
Tilt-a-Whirl
2006 Anthony Award -- First Novel


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Chris Grabenstein has published 47 books.

The next book by Chris Grabenstein, Mr. Lemoncello's Fantabulous Finale, will be published in November 2024.

The first book by Chris Grabenstein, Tilt-a-Whirl, was published in September 2005.

Yes. Chris Grabenstein has 10 series.
Pseudonyms / Co-Author
Author Series
Top Authors in Schools
No ads, please...

$20 / year

FictionDB Premium Membership

Subscribe