mike.holmes's Full Review: Richard Castle - Heat Wave: Library Edition
"Heat Wave" is written by a famous mystery writer, Richard Castle, as the first in a new series of books. Castle has written several bestselers featuring Derrick Storm but the author grew tired of Storm (and killed him off as Doyle tried to do with my fictional namesake, Sherlock Holmes--I once told a young lady that I was related to Sherlock Holmes and she answered, "Really?"). Castle has embarked on the new series based on a beautiful New York City police detective that he has been shadowing with the permission of his friend, the New York mayor.
From the title to my review, you can tell that Richard Castle is not an actual person. He is, in fact, the fictional writer who is featured on the weekly ABC drama series, "Castle", starring Nathan Fillion as the fictional writer of mysteries. I've loved that show since it first started last March. I can't prove it, but I believe this is the first book ever written is this style as a direct spin-off of a television show.
THE PLOT
Detective Nikki Heat and her "forced companion", Pulitzer-winning journalist Jameson Rook arrive at a murder scene on the first page of the book. It seems that a well-known real estate mogul, Matthew Starr has been thrown from his balcony onto the sidewalk. Rook is being allowed to follow Heat around because he is the friend of the mayor. Nikki does not like this but grudgingly puts up with the wisecracking journalist.
The investigation of Starr's murder leads Heat and Rook and her fellow detectives, Raley and Ochoa, through ups and downs of the real estate business and Mr. Starr's numerous bad habits which include compulsive gambling and compulsive use of expensive call girls. Among the suspects are his much younger trophy wife, Kimberly, his bookies and rival real estate tycoons.
The book takes place in a recording-breaking heat wave in the Big Apple (thus the title which, of course, has a double meaning with the lead detective's last name).
Throughout the book, Heat and Rook have a love-hate relationship. As the book progresses, however, that relationship improves as the characters gradually learn each other's strengths.
WHY I REALLY LIKED THE BOOK
Since I enjoy the television show so much, I was a little worried that the book would not be so entertaining. I was wrong. I think the book would stand on its own even if I had not seen the show. However, being a fan of the show added to my enjoyment in reading the novel.
For one thing, there are obvious similarities between all of the major characters in the book and the show. "Castle" even dedicates the book "to KB (Kate Beckett) and all my friends at the 12th". Nikki Heat is described in the book as gorgeous but exceedingly intense in her work (just as on the show). Her fellow detectives, Raley and Ochoa, match the show's Ryan and Esposito.
One of the main reasons I like the book is that it is full of clever dialogue. That dialogue reminds me of the old movie series, "The Thin Man" and the later televison series, "Moonlighting". There is a continuous tension between the main characters that include both humor and sexual attraction.
The fictional author also has the ability to write several exciting scenes that had me on the edge of my seat. The violence is fairly graphic and realistic.
It will be interesting to see if there are more "Richard Castle" books in the future. I'll certainly read them.
The title character from ABC s hit television series Castle kicks off his new series of books featuring tough and sexy New York police detective Nikki...More at Buy.com
The title character from ABC s hit television series Castle kicks off his new series of books featuring tough and sexy New York police detective Nikki...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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