Heat Wave

Heat Wave
by Richard Castle

This novel is a tie-in to the popular ABC television series, Castle (airing Mondays at 9:00, with repeats on Saturday nights). As such, it is one of the most unusual and unique tie-ins in TV tie-in history. The conceit of the television series is that New York Times bestselling thriller writer Richard Castle is shadowing NYC cop Kate Beckett, using her as the inspiration for the main character in his latest crime novel, Nikki Heat. Heat Wave is the first Nikki Heat novel by Richard Castle. The research for, writing of, publishing of, and promotional efforts for this novel have all featured in episodes of the TV series. The "real world" release of the book was timed to coincide closely with the release of the book in the continuity of the show. And the publishers are not letting us know who the actual author of Heat Wave is, continuing with the conceit that it is written by the fictional Richard Castle, who, since this book showed up for weeks on the NYT Bestseller Lists, is now, really, a New York Times bestselling thriller writer. So...how does the book do on its own? Like the show, it is a character-driven police procedural, filled with snappy dialog and lots of sexual tension. Unlike the show, that's not UNresolved sexual tension, as the novel's thinly disguised versions of the series' characters go a lot further in exploring their heated relationship that ever happens on the show. But, at the core of it all is a very solid mystery, filled with lots of twists and unexpected turns. I love the series, Castle, and this is an excellent addition to the overall story arc of that show's characters. Mystery fans and TV fans alike should both enjoy this thriller -- a second Nikki Heat novel is scheduled for the fall of 2010. [If you enjoy this, you might also like the TV series Castle; the first season of which is out on DVD so far.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available in downloadable audio, book-on-cd formats.]

[ official Castle novel web site ] | [ official Castle TV show web site ]


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