Heat Wave

Nikki Heat #1

by Richard Castle

A New York real estate tycoon plunged to his death on a Manhattan sidewalk. A trophy wife with a past survives a narrow escape from a brazen attack. Mobsters and moguls with no shortage of reasons to kill trot out their alibis. And then, in the suffocating grip of a record heat wave, comes another shocking murder and a sharp turn in a tense journey into the dirty little secrets of the wealthy. Secrets that prove to be fatal. Secrets that lay hidden in the dark until one NYPB detective shines a light.
Mystery sensation Richard Castle, blockbuster author of the wildly bestselling Derrick Storm novels, introduces his newest character, NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat. Tough, sexy, professional, Nikki Heat carries a passion for justice as she leads one of New York City’s top homicide squads. She’s hit with an unexpected challenge when the commissioner assigns superstar journalist Jameson Rook to ride along with her to research an article on New York’s finest. Pulitzer- Prize-winning Rook is as much a handful as he is handsome. His wisecracking and meddling aren’t her only problems. as she works to unravel the secrets of the murdered real estate tycoon, she must also confront the spark between them. The one called Heat.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Romance, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

198 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 29, 2008

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Richard Castle is the author of numerous bestsellers, including the critically acclaimed Derrick Storm series. His first novel, In a Hail of Bullets, published while he was still in college, received the Nom DePlume Society's prestigious Tom Straw Award for Mystery Literature. Castle currently lives in Manhattan with his daughter and mother, both of whom infuse his life with humor and inspiration.

Note: Richard Castle is a fictional character from the ABC television show, Castle, played by Nathan Fillion. The biography is of this character. His name is being used as a pseudonym for tie-in novels to the TV show.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 3 out of 5]

(B+) 76% | Good
Notes: Fun but disposable. It's got all the bones of a good detective story, but with characters in need of further fleshing out.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those of you who watched last night's Castle: yes, the thing on page 105 is really there. FYI.

I don't really know how to actually review this, so I'll repeat what I said to a friend of mine this morning:

Her: Oh my God. IS IT TERRIBLE? I MUST KNOW.

Me: It's not! It's not high literature either, but--it's basically the same in terms of quality as the show. Fluffy, funny, throwing in another dead body whenever they think of plot, and just adorable.

(and slashy.)

I like.

[Mojca · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a prime example of TV-show-success exploitation. It reads like a fanfiction written by someone NOT Richard Castle. At least not Richard Castle from the TV show. Because from what I saw in the series, the “original” Richard Castle at least appears to be a (much) better writer.

So, why the fanfiction-y feel?
1. It read like one of the episodes of the TV show, though to be turned into one if would need a lot of work.
2. All of the “main” characters were there (with slightly different names), and Mr. Castle didn’t bother much with characterization. They were all pretty much one-dimensional and would’ve been bland without my imagination providing for their voices, images, and filling up all the other holes.
3. It had a little more nudity (scene with Pochenko).
4. It had the mandatory sex scene between the two leads (What’s the acronym for them in the fanfic world? Caskett?), though it still read like an episode part (...they tumble onto the bed. [Fade to black] The next morning...). I missed the “steaminess” so-much-advertised in one of the starter episodes of Season 2.

Especially given the last one, which could be Richard Castle living out writing up his fantasy scenario with “real life” Nikki Heat (Det. Kate Beckett), why did I say it was written by someone so obviously not Richard Castle from the show?
Well, sure, Jameson Rook (Richard Castle’s “fictional” counterpart, and the one Nikki Heat had a naked one-on-one on “page 105” sans all the steam if we don’t count the fictional heat wave) was a bit more “heroic” and more obviously protective than his “real life” counterpart, but why on earth would Rick Castle write himself to be such an idiot? Because while the “real” Richard Castle would sometimes act like a child (well, most of the time) he’s a pretty good detective, often providing insightful and helpful information for solving the case. James Rook on the other hand appeared to have no clue, jumping from conclusion to conclusion, suspect to suspect, offering himself up for embarrassment and pick-on fodder for Heat and Roach.

Maybe I dissected this a bit too much (when it comes to characters), instead of just enjoying it for an entertaining romp that it hoped to be was. But as a new, yes, but enthusiastic fan of Castle I couldn’t help but feel cheated with this book.
This is one of those times when you wish you could get a refund.

One-dimensional characters, some of them acting not at all like them (Jameson Rook is one example, Nikki Heat the other, because she was being a bitch through most of the book), a pretty standard crime with the perp visible from a mile away, not particularly well-written. The flow was broken, the pacing slow, the jumping from scene to scene a bit too jarring...
I do have the next book on my eReader, but I think I’ll wait and enjoy the TV show instead.

[David - proud Gleeman in Branwen's adventuring party · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, Castle, I love your television show, but Heat Wave is lukewarm at best :(

It's been said that the bigger they are, the harder they fall...so maybe that's why king of New York real estate Matthew Starr just took a plunge from a six-story balcony. And while plenty of people may have wanted Starr dead, since he himself wasn't one of them, the authorities know they have a homicide on their hands. So the NYPD does what they always do when they need to catch a murderer...they turn up the Heat! As detective Nikki Heat investigates Starr's murder, she finds herself being trailed by dangerous opponents, professional killers, and worst of all, annoying tag-along reporter Jameson Rook! Nikki Heat always gets her man...and no one is more happy to hear that than Jameson Rook!

Okay, let me just get something out of the way...this book, which is a media tie-in for the "Castle" television series, is advertised as being written by a fictional character...so it's not like I went into this expecting high art or anything! But I am a big fan of Castle, and while a lot of the success of that series is owed to its brilliant stars, Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion (who play, respectively, NYPD homicide detective Kate Beckett and best-selling author Richard Castle), I've always enjoyed the writing on the show as well. The dialogue is often clever, the characters are all likeable in their own quirky ways, and the mysteries are fun to solve. So while I understood that I wasn't about to read the next War and Peace here, I was hoping to read something that was about as enjoyable as an average episode of the Castle television show. So imagine my disappointment when this book didn't even manage to live up to those expectations...


After reading "Heat Wave", I'm not surprised bookstores don't seem to be in any danger of selling out all their copies...

At first glance, I thought I was in for a fun ride. The cover features a blurb from James Patterson (a frequent guest-star on the series) praising "Castle's" latest effort. The book is dedicated to "the extraordinary KB" and all of Castle's friends "at the 12th". The acknowledgements tear down the fourth wall when Castle includes some very familiar names (including Stana's & Nathan's), and the "About The Author" blurb features a rather amusing clue as to who the book's authors really were. Unfortunately, it didn't take long before I stopped grinning and started groaning instead. For one thing, the prose is beyond clumsy. The writers were clearly trying to mimic the hard-boiled writing style of Raymond Chandler and Michael Connelly, but the prose is often just dull in the best moments, and downright awful in the worst. Another glaring problem is the mystery itself. Anyone who has read more than ZERO mysteries will have no problem figuring out the solution long before Nikki Heat does. In fact, the only reason I ever wondered if I may have been mistaken is that the solution seemed so painfully obvious, I questioned if maybe the book would throw an unexpected twist at me towards the end. Sadly the ending held no surprises (and didn't come soon enough, for that matter).

Now, since it's alluded to that this book was really written by two of the TV show's head writers, I can give them some leeway in regards to the above complaints. After all, television writers aren't accustomed to telling a story through third-person narration, they mostly use dialogue and action to move things along. So while I expected that the prose might be lacking, I at least thought that I would have some fun with the characters themselves. Unfortunately, the writers came up short here too. I'll admit that I got a kick out of watching the main characters of the show pop up throughout the book. In addition to Beckett and Castle being channeled through Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook, Beckett's team of nerdy detective Ryan and cocky detective Esposito show up as Detectives Raley and Ochoa, while sassy medical examiner Lanie Parish is transformed into Lauren Parry. Unfortunately, none of the book characters have even a fraction of the charisma of their television counterparts. Raley and Ochoa display almost no personality, with most of their attempted jokes falling flat. And Jameson Rook is just downright annoying! While Castle is a bit too full of himself, his charm and sense of humor still make him the kind of guy you'd like to have a drink with. Rook, on the other hand, is the kind of guy you'd like to slip a mickey in his drink just to get him to shut up! He comes across as a self-absorbed egomaniac, and the only thing the writers get right with him is that his behavior makes it completely understandable why Nikki wouldn't want to have him around! The ladies fare a little better, with Parry offering some tender moments. And while Nikki isn't nearly as endearing as Kate Beckett, she at least manages to outshine the other characters (which is kind of like crediting the vampire episode of Gilligan's Island as being the most believable)!


There may be a little Nikki Heat in Kate Beckett, but there isn't nearly enough Kate Beckett in Nikki Heat :(

That's not to say that the entire book is a failure. The action sequences are actually very well done, especially an exciting fight between Nikki and a brutal hit-man. And while the dialogue often lacks the zing of the TV show's, sometimes the characters do fire off a good one (like when Heat refers to an interrogation being conducted by her and Rook as them playing "Good Cop - No Cop"). And fans of the show will enjoy some of the winks to the audience. Castle's mother Martha has a hysterical cameo as Margaret Rook...it's too bad her appearance was so short, as she was the only one who really lived up to her television counterpart. And then there's Chapter Ten...hardcore fans of "Castle" already know what I'm talking about! On the television series, after "Heat Wave" is released, Beckett is soon shocked (but also somewhat intrigued) when she learns that there is a hot sex scene between Nikki and Jameson on Chapter 10. People who have heard Chapter Ten referenced on the show will have fun getting to see what all the fuss was about, and yes, we now can understand why Beckett was horrified, yet also flattered, when she read the scene for herself...



DAVE'S FINAL JUDGMENT -

THE DEFENSE
- Occasionally the dialogue is clever
- Fans of the show will get a big kick out of Chapter 10
- At under 200 pages, it's a quick read

THE PROSECUTION
- Uninspired prose
- Main story is dull
- The solution to the mystery is way too obvious
- At under 200 pages, the book still manages to be too long

THE VERDICT
Little more than a lazy cash grab from the makers of "Castle". Die-hard fans of the show may find some enjoyment from this book, but even they would be better served by just watching the TV show instead.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never got into Richard Castle's Derek Storm novels, because I try to avoid things that hit bestseller status--in no small part because I've had one too many instances of "bestseller" being code for "hamfisted writing". Plus, there's been all the media hype about how Castle's such a ruggedly handsome jetsetter of an author, and the whole thing about him tagging along with the NYPD by way of the world's longest publicity stunt to promote a new series, yeah yeah yeah blah blah blah but can the man actually write?

I had my doubts, I have to say, when I learned that the lead character of his shiny new series is named Nikki Heat. Let me emphasize that: Nikki Heat. Say what? C'mon, I thought that the romance genre was supposed to be the one with all the stupidly named characters. "Heat" isn't even a name you'd see in romance novels. It's more like something you'd see in badly executed porn.

If you can get past the godawful name for the character, you'll get to a rather eye-rolling central personality concept for her: Nikki is the prototypical tough cop chick who really just wants to have a relationship and a life. Granted, she's also got her share of being a competent detective going on, and she has plenty of reason to be devoted to her career. But did we really have to go down the route of "but what she really wants is a relationship?" And did this have to get more emphasis in her character development than the fact that she's also got a lot invested in her career as a cop? While the book didn't go overboard with this to the point that I wanted to smack it against a wall, it was still frustrating to see that kind of stereotypical portrayal for a lead female character. Nikki Heat is, I fear, no real match for Eve Dallas.

And, of course, Jameson Rook, our male lead, has "Marty Stu" written all over him. Having the love interest be a journalist tagging along with the NYPD was just not the right move, Mr. Castle, sorry; it's like putting yourself into the story wearing glasses and a different jacket, and hoping nobody would notice.

Now, all this said? Aside from these big glaring flaws, the story's actually not half bad. Despite her annoying name and central motivation, Nikki is a competent detective when the story lets her be, and she's believable doing her job. Rook's a Marty Stu, but at least he's a likeable one, and I do have to admit that having a civilian involved with the police investigation does lend a feel to the reader of "really being there". The murder mystery to be solved is decently suspenseful, and Castle's prose, while never truly noteworthy, is nonetheless engaging and readable. Three stars.

Addendum: In case it's not obvious, this review is written entirely in-character. If ABC can give us a novel from the Castle universe, I can review it as such! But I'll also, out of character, give it an extra star just because the sheer fact that this novel exists makes me giggle and giggle. So the real ranking? Four stars!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone knows this is a TV tie in novel based on the hit show 'Castle'. I had no idea what to expect when I started reading "Heat Wave". I was pleasantly surprised. The book mirrors the show a great deal, but isn't exactly the same.
Nikki Heat has to allow "Rook", a journalist doing research for a magazine article, to follow her around while she works a case. In this instance, a very wealthy man is tossed from his apartment window and killed. Then, the man's wife is attacked. Heat and the gang have to determine who killed Matt and why.
The atmosphere in this book is just like the show. Lots of sharp and sassy dialogue and humor. No overly graphic language or violence. The story is fast paced and the mystery was interesting. I'm impressed with this one- even though I have no idea who the real "Richard Castle" is.
Overall this one gets an A

[Sumaîya Afrôze Puspîta · Rating 3 out of 5]

ব‌ইয়ের শুরু একটা ক্রাইম সিন দিয়ে। ডিটেক্টিভ নিকি হিট তদন্ত করছেন সাততলা থেকে পড়ে মৃত্যুবরণ করা মিলিওনেয়ার এক ব্যক্তির মামলা। স্বভাবতই প্রথম সন্দেহ– আত্মহত্যা নাকি হত্যা? হত্যা হলে কে তাকে ধাক্কা দিয়েছে? দৃশ্যপটে একের পর এক নিহতের কাছের, পরিচিত সকলের সাথে পরিচয় ঘটতে থাকে এবং সবার দিকেই আঙুল তোলার মতো অবস্থা এসে দাঁড়ায়। এর ধোঁয়াশা কাটতে না কাটতেই নিকির উপর একপ্রকার যৌন আক্রমণ ঘটে; আরো দুটো লাশ পড়ে যায়। এবার নিকি হিট আরো দৃঢ় হয়ে কাজে নেমে পড়েন... কারণ তার চোখের সামনে অন্য আরেক খুন ভাসছে, যার কারণে সে আজ হোমিসাইড ডিটেক্টিভ।

▪️▪️▪️

ব‌ইটা পড়তে প্রচুর উৎসাহ বোধ করেছিলাম। কারণ কোথায় যেন পড়েছি, এই ব‌ইয়ের আসল লেখক হিসেবে অনেককে সন্দেহ করা হলেও এখনো সত্যটা অজানা। কিন্তু গুগলিং করে জানলাম, টম স্ট্র গোস্টরাইটার হয়ে লিখেছিলেন। যাই হোক, পড়ে মধ্যম মানের লাগল, হয়তো আমি অপরাধী কে সেটা আঁচ করে ফেলেছি বলে। ধাপভিত্তিক 'পুলিশ ওয়ার্ক' উপস্থাপন ভালো ছিল। নিকি-রুক জুটি চমৎকার, তবে এটাই ব‌ইটাকে কিছুটা হালকা করে দিয়েছে মনে হলো। এই‌ সিরিজ মোট ১০টি উপন্যাস নিয়ে। কিন্তু এই মুহূর্তে বাকিগুলো পড়ার উৎসাহ বোধ করছি না।

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heat Wave is not a particularly noteworthy novel; it is more of an episode from the TV series Castle. The author of this book is said to be Richard Castle, but he’s actually a character from the TV series. Heat Wave was authored by a ghostwriter. It is an easy-to-read novel and is entertaining, which is the purpose of fiction. I give this book four stars because it is well-written, and the culprit is not telegraphed too early. I recommend this book to any of my friends who want a few days of light reading.

[Chelsea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Going into this, I had an inkling it wouldn’t be a literary masterpiece, but I still couldn’t help but be surprised by how weak this novel was in every aspect.

This book series is based on the now finished procedural crime drama, Castle. When I started watching that show, I was very young. It was one of the first dramatic television shows I watched, and I instantly fell in love with that way of storytelling.

There are so many aspects of Castle that impacted me and my tastes, as well as my abilities as a writer. It allowed me to take an interest in crime and murder mysteries, as well as introducing me to my favorite banter-filled will-they-won’t-they relationship.

So, it is no surprise that the show has a special place in my heart.

The book on the other hand...well, it honestly has no reason to exist. Why the publishers decided to publish nine of them, I have no idea. Every book store I walk into seems to have these novels in the bargain section, unable to get rid of them even at the lowest prices.

I’m often spoiled by young adult fiction, which has grown to be really progressive, so I often find myself surprised at the rampant sexism and unacceptable remarks I see in adult fiction.

Detective Heat smiled back and parted her linen blazer to give him something else to fantasize about.
...
She broke the surface and palmed the suds off her face and hair, and floated, weightless in the cooling water, and let herself wonder what it would be like with Jameson Rook. What would he be like? How would he feel and taste and move? And then the flutter hit her again. What would she be like with him? It made her nervous. She didn’t know. It was a mystery.

So, can we tell a man wrote this?

I also found the romance to be written in a really uncomfortable way, rather than the charming banter in the show.

This book’s only saving grace is the fact that I was pictured the characters as Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic. The author does a somewhat okay job of capturing the vibe of the show, with it’s not-at-all-serious take on homicide, filled to the brim with (kind of terrible) jokes and banter.

If reading a really shitty episode of Castle sounds appealing to you, this may be entertaining. But for me, the story fell completely flat and the murder is entirely unremarkable. There is no tension in the narrative whatsoever, though that is somewhat consistent with the show.

Also, these two gems:

A carrot cupcake was screaming at her from that plate and it had to be silenced.
…
OK..." said Paxton, accepting Rook's presence as if recognizing there was a walrus on the front lawn but not understanding why.

Anyway, not good. I knew it wouldn’t be, but I can now officially say that these novel tie-ins are not worth a read. I’ll stick to the show.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of the TV show Castle and had been dying to read the Nikki Heat books supposedly written by Nathan Fillion's character. In Heat Wave, I found great writing, wonderful character chemistry and an unbeatable mystery. I also found my mind making constant connections to the show, which was both distracting and confusing at times.

It's hard not to compare Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook to Kate Beckett and Richard Castle from the show. The book is written under the premise that Castle is the author and Beckett is his muse. All signs point to Castle writing a very biographic character in Jameson Rook - from the last name to hs quippy humor to the fact he's a writer (articles instead of novels) working with the police. Nikki is written like Castle's fantasy Beckett, she's just like Kate but willing to give into her attraction to the writer in her life. Having watched the TV show for years, the line often becomes blurred between the two.

With a little reader effort, one can actively disassociate the show and the book allowing for a great reading experience. This would be a wonderful mystery even if it had no pop culture connection. It's reasonably fast paced and definitely keeps you guessing. Readers who don't watch the show may enjoy Heat Wave even more than fans, as they'll be able to fully immerse themselves into the plot and characters without preconceived ideas of how things are supposed to go.

[Mimi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried again, harder this time. Still didn't get that far, only 28%.

It's not a bad book, really. Just not something I normally read or enjoy. But objectively speaking, it has its charms. It's kind of funny and kind of cute if you like the bumbling amateur PI vs. tough real cop dynamic. I'm not a big fan of detective fiction (unless it's SFF), so this is not doing much for me, but I can see mystery fans enjoying this book as a fun popcorn read.

* * * * *

DNF @ 20%. I tried, though not very hard, so maybe I'll return to it later (if there's time or if it's chosen as a BotM).

This book came to me highly recommended by bookclub friends who are also big fans of the TV show. I watched the first few episodes, but didn't find them that interesting. Kind of generic, really. It's an okay show overall, with nondescript (forgettable) characters and trope-ish murder mysteries. So basically another serial procedural drama. Nothing to write home about. And the book is just like that. The show doesn't stray too far from the source material.

[Darcia Helle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy the TV show Castle, which is why I bought this book. However, for me, this book falls short of the show. (Rare, since I prefer reading to TV.)

The dialogue is much like the TV show. The characters banter and there is a lot of lighthearted fun in the way they speak to one another. However, the story lacked detail. The plot was a spin on various episodes of the show. At times it was more like reading a summary of events.

The characters also lacked detail. If I had never watched the show, I doubt I would have had a clear grasp of the characters. Heat came off a little too needy (in a drippy, drooly, school girl crush kind of way) and Rook (Castle in the show) came off a little too childish.

The book is short (196 pages) and doesn't require a big committment. It's easy to read, light, and a good distraction from life. Overall, good but far from great.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, quick read. Mystery novels are not my thing, but I adore the TV show "CASTLE" and this book reads exactly like a show episode. In fact, bits and pieces of scenes from the first season where playboy novelist Richard Castle is riding-along with Det. Kate Beckett make their way into the story. Castle's counterpart is Jameson Rook, a magazine journalist shadowing Det. Nikki Heat (based on Beckett) to get an on the job perspective for an article about NYPD homicide detectives. Captain Montgomery, Medical Examiner Lanie Parish, and Detectives Esposito and Ryan also have doppelgangers in the novel: Captain Montrose, M.E. Lauren Perry, Det. Ochoa, and Det. Raley, respectively.

If you've seen this Monday's episode (Season 2, Ep 2) of "CASTLE", then you also know that there is a sex scene in the novel between Rook and Nikki Heat, which does not occur between the TV series' characters. I love how they handled that aspect on the show -- very funny.

Congrats to "Richard Castle" for Heat Wave's #26 entry on the NY Times Best Sellers (Hardcover Fiction) List!

[Metodi Markov · Rating 1 out of 5]

Нахакана полицайка разследва престъпление в задушаващите летни жеги на Ню Йорк. Към екипа ѝ има прикрепен секси и известен журналист, уж някаква статия щял да пише за работата на NYPD. Към средата на книгата следва задължителната свалка с детектив Хийт.

Твърде клиширано и безинтересно ми дойде, но пък е дълга поредица, явно на другите ѝ читател�� е допаднала повече. Па и журналето през две страници се хвали, че познавал Боно. Пука му на някой. :)

P.S. Май е писана по сериал книгата, това обяснява нещата. Най-вероятно нямаше изобщо да я започна, ако го знаех предварително.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 2 out of 5]

It'll be a while, I'm way down the list for this at the library. Wonder who wrote it? It came it.

Basically, stick with the TV series. Sad to say but it really didn't make the transition all that well. This thin volume has a few good word gags and a passable story, but not great. It lost my interest early on. Could just be me I suppose. I picked it up because I find the series humerus though (of course) totally implausible. Yes, a chief of detectives is going to force one of his officers to travel around with a writer (reporter in this book) sssuuurrreee. Television realism. The legal liabilities alone would be a nightmare. Mostly I think it's Nathan Fillion's comic timing and ability to actually act that sells the TV program...you don't get that here.

So, decide for yourself, not a real winner from my point of view, but not the worst thing I ever read either. (I don't think it is anyway.....)

[Richard Derus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: a deeply surprised 3* of five

As a rule, I watch very little TV that isn't about science, on PBS, or revoltingly prurient. Outside of that, why bother? So the other year, there came on this little show called "Castle" that had a promising premise: Bestselling author strongarms NYC mayor into giving him access to a working homicide team to research a character for some novels. (Yeah, right.) Sorta like being an embedded journalist in Afghanistan.

I heard about it, I watched a few, I liked it fine. I forgot all about it after a few episodes, which is pretty much Standard Operating Procedure for me, unless the show is revoltingly prurient in which case its entire schedule is permanently etched in my brain (need to know when another episode of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" is coming on? Me or the website, either one can tell you).

Then this slender volume assaults my eyes in the Buns and Nubile I patronize in Carle Place. I mean, what? A book by a fictional author in a real bookstore? And it's not soap opera related?! (Charm! by "Kendall Hart" - go look it up, and yes I watch "All My Children" I already said I like revoltingly prurient TV so leave it.) So I got...oh the shame...curious. I couldn't bring myself to plunk down twenty United States dollars for the little marvy, but the liberry saved me.

Sort of saved me, anyway. I read the book, a competently written tale of love gone bad, greed, revenge, and a dash of silly sex tossed (!) in for good measure. I wouldn't recommend it on its literary merits.

But I was struck by something interesting...the TV network that runs the show is owned by the same corporation that owns the publishing house, and that corporation owns several companies whose products figure into the story. The story itself isn't the usual "this is a script we couldn't find a way to budget so now it's a hit-series-companion-volume" type of thing...this is the book the fictional author in the series is said to be researching and writing, featuring the thinly disguised fictionalization of the sexy homicide detective he's following around. So for fans of the show, there are in-jokes and throwaways that add a level of insiderness to the read.

And it makes me feel a little queasy, frankly. It's all so...arch, manipulative, packaged that it just comes across as...cynical. It reeks of editorial committee meetings wherein the Corporate Parent's Wishes are acceded to. Possibly even applauded. Whatever, it just isn't natcherl, like a blue rose isn't. Recommended? Oh...on balance, not; if you're interested in plumbing the depths of commercialization, this is a good case study, though.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this as a downloadable audio book at the library. I like the show "Castle" mostly because of Nathan Fillion. He was great as Cap'n Mal in Firefly & I even liked him in "Slither". In "Castle" Fillion plays Richard Castle, a best selling author who has made millions with his Derrick Storm novels. He wants to write a new series & asks his buddy, the Mayor, if he couldn't work with one of the best female detectives, Kate Beckett. He does & bases his new series & character on Kate, thus is born Nikki Heat.

I don't know what I expected when I found this. I did a brief Google search to find out who the ghost writer was & ran across a couple of items that said it was a big secret. I don't know why. After listening to a bit, I realized that it must be the script writers. This is an episode of Castle, just the names have been changed.

Castle = Rook a magazine writer instead of novelist, but he got his gig with the police the same way. Same personality.

Kate = Nikki, no change & so on.

So far, no daughter, but there is Rook's mother. She's a successful actress with multiple Tony awards.

Even the case they're working on has a lot of similarities to one of Castle's. A man beaten with a fist that has a ring on it. I recognized other situations from the show. I'm not sure if they're all the same episode - probably not - but they run together in my memory, anyway. There is a sex scene, but nothing terrible, just a bit long.

IOW, if you like watching "Castle" & think you might like reading one or listening to it, this is for you. It's not bad, although the reader didn't do a lot for me. I won't be getting another any time soon. One was fun, two would be pushing it, though. I will look for a Derrick Storm novel, though. That will be fun.

[The Frahorus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Questo romanzo poliziesco piacerà sicuramente a chi segue le mitiche investigazioni dello scrittore Richard Castle e della detective Kate Beckett nel telefilm Castle. Questo è il primo best seller che scrive Castle dopo aver conosciuto la detective Kate, e della quale (si capisce subito) si è perdutamente innamorato! Guarda caso in Heat Wave i protagonisti sono due: lo scrittore premio Pulitzer Jameson Rook e la detective Nikki Heat che indagano su un caso di omicidio (il cadavere gli piove quasi in testa!). Castle riesce a scrivere questo thriller traendo ispirazione dalle investigazioni che compie assieme (anzi, aiutando) il detective Kate, e spesso, come accade nella storia narrata, ci sono molti riferimenti autobiografici di Castle. Il ritmo è lo stello del telefilm: serrato, pieno di colpi di scena, quando sembra di aver capito chi sia stato l'assassino, ti accorgi che forse si sta sbagliando e bisogna ricominciare ad indagare daccapo! Chi leggerà questo libro sarà coinvolto in prima persona nelle indagini, e non si smetterà di leggerlo fino a quando non troverete l'assassino... Godibile, consigliabile per passare un paio di giorni come assistenti di Castle e amici!!! La simpatia di Castle vi catturerà, ne sono certo, così come ha fatto con me la prima volta che ho visto il telefilm (che vi consiglio di seguire, è troppo forte!).

[Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~]

I really enjoyed the show "Castle" (minus the final season that doesn't exist) and when I found out early on that someone was writing under the name Richard Castle, well, how could I resist?

The good: This does certainly read like something Castle would write - if you take the stance that the way a person speaks is also inevitably the same as how they write. (You'd be wrong in that assumption.)

The bad: As much fun as Castle is as a character, he's annoying as a writer. Whoever was responsible for writing this (I'm sure that info's online, but I'm too lazy to look it up) did a little too good a job of capturing the cheese wiz goofiness that makes up that character, while neglecting all the warmth and depth.

I read this too long ago to remember where I was when I DNF'd it. I do remember a scene of the Beckett-inspired character watching a movie alone in the theater, so it was at some point after that. Probably very shortly after that.

If you're in the mood for something cheesy, breezy and without nutritional value, this is the book for you.

[Theresa Berry · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was really not that good of a book. And for that, I'm very disappointed given how much I love the TV show and how apt I am to squee with delight at everything that has Nathan Fillion's picture on it.

The premise, for those living under a rock, is that these are the books written by Richard Castle as he follows Kate Beckett around at her detective job on Castle. The TV show plays prominently here, so if for some reason you've picked this up without ever watching the show, you're not going to 'get' some of the references they make. Here's a good one that I actually enjoyed: Judge Simpson. Nikki Heat thinks the judge reminds her of Homer Simpson and wants him to say "D'Oh!" On the TV show, the actor playing Judge Markway (the basis for Judge Simpson) is played by Dan Castellaneta, the same guy who does the voice for Homer Simpson. And sadly, this was my favorite part of the whole book.

I did like the mystery story, even though I had solved it down to almost the last detail by 1/2 way through. What killed it for me, though, was the actual quality of the writing. It could have benefited from a few more edits. Things that grate on my nerves like repeating the same phrase over and over again within the same paragraph, not for emphasis, but for lack of imagination, and clunky phrasing/dialogue happen quite often in the book. And the beautiful chemistry between Beckett and Castle did not translate well to Heat and Rook. I wanted more of the banter, the flirting that isn't but that is, the interplay of emotions they have towards each other and towards the feelings they have about those emotions. The whole thing felt flat. I had no emotional attachment to any of the characters in the book whatsoever.

Will I read the rest? Yes. And hope the writing gets better and the characters start to matter to me. Why two stars? Well, like I said, Nathan Fillion's picture is on the back cover.

[Matt Schiariti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of the TV show from day one. I hadn't even known at the time that they were planning on putting out books by 'Richard Castle' based on his time spent and research with the 12th Precinct. I'm glad I decided to check it out.

From the peer blurbs on the front cover and inside jacket, to the press photo of 'Richard Castle' on the back, to the dedication in the very beginning, the novel feels very authentic. As if Richard Castle on TV were a real author and used his adventures in his fictional TV life to put pen to paper and write a book based on those experiences.

If you're a fan of the TV show, you'll feel right at home reading this. It has all the elements that make the show fun. 'Castle' wrote himself into the book, under the guise of Jameson Rook, a pulitzer prize winning journalist who's doing research for a series of articles he wants to write. Nikki heat is detective Beckett, and even her two detectives are in the book. In a way, it reads very much like the television show which is fine by me. All the elements are there. The police work, the begrudged Heat/Beckett crush on Rook/Castle, the interplay at the precinct, the ride along, crimes, suspects, interrogations in the observation room.

I have no idea who actually wrote this, but even if it weren't based on the 'research' of Rick Castle, it would still be a fun mystery/whodunnit. My guess is that it's one of the TV show's writers, but I could be wrong. In any event, there's a solid little mystery here as well as some genuine laugh out loud moments between Rook and the Detectives he's become latched on to.

Lots of fun!

[Erma Talamante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, my... Hack! Absolute hack! But of the wonderful variety...

I never thought that I would love hack, but this, I really like! (Okay... too many exclamation points already. But, you get the point...)

But as much as I declare this hack, it's GOOD hack, as shown in the actual action scenes. This was definitely written by an awesome author, who knows how to write a gripping scene, and not just glorified fan-fiction, which is the tone this book starts out on. So if this doesn't appeal to you from the start, keep reading - it truly does get better.

Read the full review here:
https://ermareads.wordpress.com/novel...

[Gaia De · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Capita a volte che vagando su vinted a caccia di sconti si incappi per puro caso in delle vere chicche che mai si sarebbero acquistate in un contesto diverso. È questo il caso di Heat Wave, il libro scritto dall'immaginario giallista Richard Castle nell'omonima serie tv, che mai e poi mai avrei letto se non mi fosse stato venduto alla simbolica cifra di due euro.
Nonostante io sia una grandissima fan della serie, non mi hanno mai attirata i libri scritti come espansione di altri media, perché mi sono sempre sembrati un modo sfacciato per scucire soldi alla gente senza impegnarsi troppo. Un po' come i live action dei film disney.
Ma poiché in questo caso ci sono state offerte in chiesa che mi sono costate di più, ho fatto un tentativo: e sono rimasta pienamente soddisfatta.
Certo, non si tratta di alta letteratura (anzi, in certi punti oserei dire che la scrittura è quasi mediocre) ma del resto non è un romanzo di grandi pretese. Rispecchia in pieno le caratteristiche dello show: un giallo leggero, divertente e pieno di spirito, ma non privo di momenti di tensione e scene rocambolesche (molte più di quante mi aspettassi, e una in particolare molto riuscita).
È un libro piacevole che non richiede troppo impegno, utile per staccare ogni tanto da cose più pesanti. L'investigazione è costruita bene e resta centrale per tutto il romanzo, Nikki è un'eroina accattivante e la storia fa venire voglia di andare avanti. Un po' sacrificati i personaggi: a parte la protagonista sono tutti delle macchiette ed è difficile ritrovare quelli che divrebbero essere i personaggi della serie. Perfino l'alter ego di Castle è abbastanza insipido e quasi di nessuna utilità.
Insomma, lo show resta di gran lunga superiore, ma per i nostalgici questo è un bel modo per ricrearne le atmosfere.

[vivya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the tv show lots, and it was a weird experience reading 'Castle's' book haha.. felt like reading Castle episodes 👌🏻

[Mikella Etchegoyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me preface this with a declaration of my love for the show Castle. Nathan Fillion as a best selling author of detective novels? That’s a win in my book. There’s also the intense sexual tension between Castle and Beckett,and the antics of lovable partners Ryan and Esposito.

Anyway, reading Heat Wave was like watching a marathon of Castle episode. Raley and Ochoa (a.k.a. Roach) are fictional duplicates of Ryan and Esposito. Nikki Heat, while obviously altered to fit Castle’s imagination of the character, is definitely a perfect rendition of Beckett. And then there’s Rook, the embodiment of Castle, who’s only difference is that he’s a journalist not a novelist (haha, Rook, Castle, get it?).

The only difference between the book and the show, is the will-they-won’t-they dynamic Castle and Beckett have going on is non existent in the book…there’s just a very descriptive they did toward the middle of the book.

My love for the show amplified my love for this little tie-in, promotional book.

[Senf Dazu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Herrlich! Begeisterte 4 von 5 Sternchen. Eine perfekte Symbiose von TV Serie zum Buch. Grandios. Wer Castle im TV möchte, macht hier gar nichts falsch. Pures Lesevergnügen.
Ich bewerte hier meinen Lesespass! Heatwave ist wirklich keine hohe Literatur, aber als Unterhaltung macht das Buch richtig spass. Und Lust die 8 staffeln Cstlenochmal zu bingen 😋

[❀ Tina ❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*

[Nicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty awesome idea, all things considered. Put out the book that the character writes, and do it all in character. Even the marketing, from what I've seen. Right down to the acknowledgements in the back. It's a moneyspinner: even people who don't know the show, Castle, might pick it up, and certainly loads of people that watch the show will pounce on it. And people who read it unknowing might end up sucked into the show.

Also, tons of opportunities to reference it in the show, and to further characterise Richard Castle himself.

The mystery itself is way secondary to all other concerns, reading it as a fan of Castle. It's pretty trashy, an easy read, quick: good to just kick back with, and not think too much about. The story on its own is so-so, I guess: I was there for the Castle references, not for anything unique and scintillating on its own. Pretty much standard fare.

Not sure how I felt about the idea of Castle writing a sex scene about the characters so clearly based on himself and Beckett. I guess I'll have to see how it's played in the show, but I didn't think he'd go that far.

Still, pretty fun, and an awesome idea.

[Choco Con Churros · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quitando la anécdota de la coincidencia del título con mi lectura en un día de mucho calor, que me hacía identificarme con la tensión sudorosa en que estaban todos, poco más puedo mencionar.
Estas novelas están elaboradas a partir de la serie televisiva "Castle". Richard Castle, personaje de ficción protagonista de dicha serie, es un escritor de éxito de novelas policiacas. Con el éxito de la serie, se le encargó al escritor y guionista Tom Straw, que escribiera y diera vida a las novelas que supuestamente escribió este personaje, que se comercializaron con la foto del actor que interpreta Castle en lugar de su autor real y un pequeño resumen de su vida ficticia😂. Lo leí por una conjunta y pensaba aprovecharlo para un reto y mi gozo en un pozo. Acabo de darme cuenta que no lo cumple.
Es una lectura muy rápida de hacer que casi no exige ni atención, al menos no mucha, porque está plagada de lugares comunes. El caso, similar a los de la propia serie que protagoniza su supuesto autor, tiene un cierto aire a serie televisiva de no mucho calado, lo que da todo el rato la impresión de algo ya visto y leído con anterioridad. Goodreads lectores (negro)

[Adi (Reading in the Windowseat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars for one reason alone - I love the plot of the TV series more than that of the book. But I'll definetely be onto the next book like... today, actually XD

The first installment of the Nikki Heat series is dynamic and catching, realistic to the point of seeming based on real events and convoluted enough to keep the reader wondering who's the real bad guy to the very last chapter. I found the characters unique and intriguing, the settings - well-described, and the detective work quite up to the standarts of the TV Series Castle.

The thing that made me give it 4 stars was the relationship - as good as are things between Nikki Heat and Jamie Rook, the sparks between Richard Castle and Kate Beckett are on a whole other level.

So take note, Mr Castle, and when you write on be sure to include more of that in your next books ;)