Heat Wave

by Richard Castle

A New York real estate tycoon plunges 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 NYPD detective shines a light.

Mystery sensation Richard Castle, blockbuster author of the wildly best-selling 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 magazine 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 wise-cracking 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.

• ISBN10: 1401323820
• ISBN13: 9781401323820
• Publish Date: 7 January 2010 (first published 12 October 2009)
• Publish Status: Transferred
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Hyperion
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

I’m not really surprised that this was a perfectly horrible book.

I mean, it’s a series spun off the show Castle, and honestly… it just reads like bad fanfiction.

Nikki Heat is an attractive but stubborn and alone detective. When she gets saddled with a journalist by the mayor who shadows her on the job (sound familiar?), she brushes him off. Then tragedy hits and Rook suddenly becomes useful… and interesting. He connects her with great contacts and his boyish charm delights her, though she’d never admit it.

Maybe, just maybe, she’s falling for him. But first she’s got a murder to solve.

This whole novel feels exactly like an episode of Castle. But badly done, like the last season. The entire cast of characters is there, right down to Laney/Lauren and Martha/Rook’s Actress Mother. The only character missing is the best one (Alexis).

As far as crime goes, the story was not very plausible and a lot more time was spent speculating on the potential romance between Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook. “Roach” the collective Ryan and Esposito characters, are actually pretty horrible. Which is a bummer because I liked them on the show.

Ah, oh well. Lesson learned! No more TV show tie-ins.

[Liz (Bent Bookworm)]

2.5/5 stars. This book tried too hard to be too many things. Writing was mostly decent (a few eye rolls but not too many), I at least finished it, which is more I can say for one others, haha. But I won't be reading any more of the series.

[layawaydragon]

For those that don't know, Castle is a fantastic police procedural on TV with protagonists Kate Beckett and Richard Castle. Kate is the tough woman who's been personally touched by a murderer and rocking it in a man's world. Richard Castle is the funny, geeky successful crime novelist that has poker games with the real big boys of his genre, including cameo appearances.

Starting out they've got the will they, won't they attraction down like Molder and Scully. (No lie, my first time typing that I used fan-contractions “Sculder” and “Moldey” XD) Of course, now Castle is in its 8th season and it's obvious how these two turn out. But believe me, the ride getting there was so enjoyable. Their OTP status is cemented.

Richard Castle tags along with Kate Beckett for inspiration for his next novel series. And what do you know, his protagonist is based off of her! During the show, his novels are mentioned throughout and it's a lot of fun. Someone had the brilliant idea of writing and publishing those novels as if Richard Castle is real.

This is great for the shows fans like me. Brilliant, really. Makes me want to kiss whoever thought of it. But what about everyone else?



The Good
Spark between Nikki and Jamie
High thrill ride case, kept guessing though if you tired, you might be able to get it first

The Bad & The Other
The couple balance is off and heavily favoring Nikki
Jamie isn't as useful or endearing as Rick Castle
Missing characterization and relies on the TV series to flush it out

Content Warning: Attempted Rape and A Stalker

This alternative universe Castle has plenty to offer those fans who'll enjoy the nods and pieces falling in place from the show. However, this version is more HBO than ABC with a different tone and couple balance. For those just looking for a solid police procedural, it'll work but it's no James Patterson. (Heh, Castle would pitch a fit over that!)

The Couple: Nikki and Jamie

Even though they're just starting it's clearly favoring Nikki in all things and even after a month of tagging along, Jamie isn't as useful as Castle. It's funny how Castle slams the hypothetical and case solutions while Jamie's strength seems to be the interviews.  Though that makes sense for a prize winning journalist but it, along with the loss of Castle's theatrical, fantastic fictional insights, leads to the couple imbalance and darker tone.

Again, being a huge fan,  I can't help but smile because it makes sense. Castle's ego and pomp is dwarfed by his love and admiration for Kate, which makes him see and write her as Nikki who could do it all on the cases by herself and doesn't need him. Except as a romance partner, even if he's got a couple of good interview questions up his sleeve.

They've still got that spark,  but without the build up, the history, the time, and dedication their OTP status is up in the air. Aided by the fact we now know the premise of the next book, whose blurb reveals they have broken up. :(

Well now, it's to see how get they get back together and stay that way.

Characters:

There's wonderful bits and pieces I never thought of before, like how and why Kate (Nikki) walk up to the crime scene. Then there's things that felt off till I thought about it, like Nikki hating "fru-fru" coffees yet drinking them. But a later revelation regarding hyper vigilance and indulgences made it click.

Jamie is just...Jamie. He's got some wise-cracking antics but he's not on Castle's level. There's several things missing from the novel to allow him to be as outrageous and helpful as Castle and the tone is far darker anyways. He's subdued and has different strengths. He's not bad, but after years of loving Castle, he's a pale comparison. Coming with fresh eyes, I'm sure what you'll see but it won't be tainted like my view.

“Roach”: Ocha and Raly are still the bromance to beat but their characterization so far doesn't stem beyond that. What I know about them from TV helps, but if you're reading as a stand alone, they're task monkeys with little else. In the show, they are close to each other and Kate and Castle. Here, their feelings toward Nikki are more subdued and they don't enjoy, encourage nor invite Jamie in thought it's still early in on Jamie's tag along state.

Dr. Lauren Perry fairs a bit better than Roach, being Nikki's gal pal and getting some one on one time with our lead detective. I will admit, much feels missing but there's no way to cram 8 seasons of character progression and feeling in a debut novel. This is a drawback being a fan, I need to learn to chill but it is against our nature.

A stand-in for Alex, Castle's Daughter, is sorely missed. Not only was she a great character, she helped balance her father's fun and carefree ways. And seeing Castle being a good dad is so important to his character. Jamie Rook doesn't and can't measure up to Castle. Though I understand why she's missing from our ensemble, doesn't mean I have to like it.

Bottomline:

For being a solid, short (seriously surprised with its 196 pages when I picked it up), quick thrill ride case. Not the full fun of Castle but not a dark suspense-thriller. It has everything needed to blossom into it's own flushed out fictional world given time and it's enjoyable as a fan nonetheless.

Recommended for:

If you're a fan, I say pick it up now. There's plenty to gleam from it and it's an alternative universe Castle. Beware, your fandom feelings though, the balance and tone are definitely shifted to be darker.

For those who haven't seen Castle (WTF are you waiting for?!? lol!), it's a standard police procedural full of suspects, twisting clues, and thrill ride threats. It's not as flushed out as a stand alone work, so some characters are rather 2-D for the moment. But the elements are there and I've got hope for the next book, Naked Heat, building up to come into its own.

[ibeforem]

This was a really fun read, and if you are a fan of the show Castle, I recommend it! It reminded me of the days when I would read anime fan-fiction online. The parallels between the book and the show are very obvious, right down to the cops working for Nikki Heat and Rook’s mother, but for me, it just made it more readable. The book is fast-paced and you can almost see the movie running in your head. There are even a few unexpected twists. It’s no great work of literature, but it is exactly what it should be — a treat. I wish I knew who "Richard Castle" actually is, but apparently it’s a very well kept secret!

[Michael @ Knowledge Lost]

Factitious writer Richard Castle has actually released a book. Heat Wave is a tie in book to the TV Show Castle published by Hyperion. Ghostwritten under the name “Richard Castle”, it is entirely in character from the dedication to the acknowledgments, although the latter references the principal cast and the show’s creators by name. The first half of the novel was released on the ABC website in weekly increments, but it must be purchased to be read in its entirety. Heat Wave was released on September 29, 2009, and debuted at #26 on the New York Times Best Seller list. In its 4th week on the list, Heat Wave broke into the top 10 at #6.

[Eve1972]

Yes, I am a dork who wants to read this book! Love the TV show! lol