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cyrce's review against another edition
5.0
Here we are with Heat Wave. Reportedly written by Richard Castle, who is a character on the TV series Castle, which I’m both addicted to and behind on. The true writer of the book is a toss up between the late Stephen Cannell and James Patterson up as possible candidates, as well as the writing staff of Castle. So let’s just say Richard Castle wrote it and continue on our way.
The main characters are Detective Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook. For anyone that has watched Castle, then you’ll understand what I mean when I say that the two main characters are very much like Detective Kate Beckett and Richard Castle. The differences? Rook’s a journalist and Castle is a writer. Their names are synonymous (a chess rook was once called a castle). And they’re both entertaining characters. They can provide comic relief while still understanding the seriousness of the situation. The incident with the murderer’s…I guess you can call him a tool (I don’t have the book with me to reference the name) and Rook’s attempt to protect Heat was very sweet.
There are various twists that I’m glad Heat and Rook don’t suddenly come upon the murderer and instinctively know that they did it. But with a frustrated trophy wife used to a certain standard of living, a bookie looking to collect, a girlfriend (or two), and others on him, who’s to say that it wasn’t a suicide? Well, that it’s a mystery novel and suicide is never a good ending when you’re starting a new series. Not that it wouldn’t be quite the twist in a later book (though it might have been overdone in the CSI series).
I spent over an hour in my bubble bath reading it when I originally intended to spend half an hour. Addicting and highly recommended. The next will be the following book in the series; Naked Heat.
The main characters are Detective Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook. For anyone that has watched Castle, then you’ll understand what I mean when I say that the two main characters are very much like Detective Kate Beckett and Richard Castle. The differences? Rook’s a journalist and Castle is a writer. Their names are synonymous (a chess rook was once called a castle). And they’re both entertaining characters. They can provide comic relief while still understanding the seriousness of the situation. The incident with the murderer’s…I guess you can call him a tool (I don’t have the book with me to reference the name) and Rook’s attempt to protect Heat was very sweet.
Spoiler
But, as this is a murder and neither of the main characters kick it, we should move on. The first Nikki Heat novel opens with a real estate powerhouse falling out of his apartment window and going splat on the pavement. The natural assumption would be suicide considering the hidden state of Matthew Starr’s financials, but the bruises that appear on the body and a ripped piece of jean turns our dynamic duo onto murder. Not to mention the avid protestations from those that knew Matthew Starr, stating that he wouldn’t take his own life.There are various twists that I’m glad Heat and Rook don’t suddenly come upon the murderer and instinctively know that they did it. But with a frustrated trophy wife used to a certain standard of living, a bookie looking to collect, a girlfriend (or two), and others on him, who’s to say that it wasn’t a suicide? Well, that it’s a mystery novel and suicide is never a good ending when you’re starting a new series. Not that it wouldn’t be quite the twist in a later book (though it might have been overdone in the CSI series).
I spent over an hour in my bubble bath reading it when I originally intended to spend half an hour. Addicting and highly recommended. The next will be the following book in the series; Naked Heat.
sophialaustin's review against another edition
Men can write women, but sometimes female characters really feel like men wrote them, ya know? This one did, and I was just not interested.
cursivequeen's review against another edition
4.0
This was fun. It read like an episode and borrowed alot from season 1. I started watching season 1 at the same time as reading this.
You can picture Nathan Fillion so easily in this character.
You can picture Nathan Fillion so easily in this character.
meryep's review against another edition
4.0
Me ha encantado. Además, me acordaba constantemente de la serie :)
smjonas77's review against another edition
3.0
As a tribute to my love of Castle, I am reading this on my Holiday vacation!
misswitch's review against another edition
3.0
As long as this book is viewed as what it really is - fan fiction written as a marketing ploy, it is a solid and enjoyable read. If, however, it is viewed as it is supposed to be - a mystery thriller by a writer who shares NYT best seller list space with the likes of Stephen King and Tom Clancy, the reader will be sorely disappointed.
The story was solid and I enjoyed the mystery and it's unraveling. It was very much like an episode of the tv show, to the extent that about mid-way through the book, I stopped seeing the 'fictionalized' names and automatically used the characters' names from the show.
As a tie in to the show, it's a fun addition. However, if there were a stand alone novel by either of the previously mentioned authors, it would not receive as many stars and I would absolutely be panning the book instead of praising it.
The story is simplistic and in several places, the author got so caught up in showing off their mad writing skillz that the plot got lost. There were several times I had to stop and reread a sentence or paragraph because the convoluted nature took me out of the story.
Also taking me about of the story was the fact that this was so clearly a fan fiction with the names changed. I am positive that I would've enjoyed it more if they'd just kept the tv character names. (although that would've clearly defeated the purpose of the book.)
And finally, the sex scene that they made such a big deal about in the show? Not even close to being as hot as they made it out to be. I've seen steamier things on prime time tv.
But, bottom line - Castle fans will enjoy the book and fan fiction writers can cling to the hope that there are avenues opening up that will enable them to be paid for doing what they love.
The story was solid and I enjoyed the mystery and it's unraveling. It was very much like an episode of the tv show, to the extent that about mid-way through the book, I stopped seeing the 'fictionalized' names and automatically used the characters' names from the show.
As a tie in to the show, it's a fun addition. However, if there were a stand alone novel by either of the previously mentioned authors, it would not receive as many stars and I would absolutely be panning the book instead of praising it.
The story is simplistic and in several places, the author got so caught up in showing off their mad writing skillz that the plot got lost. There were several times I had to stop and reread a sentence or paragraph because the convoluted nature took me out of the story.
Also taking me about of the story was the fact that this was so clearly a fan fiction with the names changed. I am positive that I would've enjoyed it more if they'd just kept the tv character names. (although that would've clearly defeated the purpose of the book.)
And finally, the sex scene that they made such a big deal about in the show? Not even close to being as hot as they made it out to be. I've seen steamier things on prime time tv.
But, bottom line - Castle fans will enjoy the book and fan fiction writers can cling to the hope that there are avenues opening up that will enable them to be paid for doing what they love.
jaredwsaltz's review against another edition
4.0
My first straight-mystery in awhile. Agatha Christie it was not, but it made up for it with the pleasant familiarity of reading a more polished form of the TV show, Castle. For those who don't know, the ABC crime drama Castle has been quite the hit--the family and I love it. The show revolves around a best-selling mystery author who follows around a police detective for inspiration in order to write a book. This is the book he wrote. In fact, if you look on Amazon the author is noted as "Richard Castle," and shows a picture of Nathan Fillion. So, in reality you're reading a book about a fictional detective based on a real detective who's actually a fictional detective in a TV show. Think about it for a second. You'll figure it out.
So, I was unsure what to expect. The tv show is all about the relationships, not the murder mysteries themselves, so I was somewhat trepidatious about this one. However, I shouldn't have been. It was excellent. Again, I will note I'm not a purveyor of modern mystery, but this one kept me guessing--something no tv show-quality mystery has ever done--and I found the book very enjoyable. But what sold it was that it FELT like I was reading a book about the characters in the TV show. It was fantastic. Ultimately, I'm not sure how it would read if I wasn't a fan of the tv show, but as a fan I loved it.
Brava, Castle--whoever you really are--brava.
So, I was unsure what to expect. The tv show is all about the relationships, not the murder mysteries themselves, so I was somewhat trepidatious about this one. However, I shouldn't have been. It was excellent. Again, I will note I'm not a purveyor of modern mystery, but this one kept me guessing--something no tv show-quality mystery has ever done--and I found the book very enjoyable. But what sold it was that it FELT like I was reading a book about the characters in the TV show. It was fantastic. Ultimately, I'm not sure how it would read if I wasn't a fan of the tv show, but as a fan I loved it.
Brava, Castle--whoever you really are--brava.
nicki_in_nz's review against another edition
3.0
Not a bad read. I do wonder if you'd get much from it if you haven't seen the show, but if you're a Castle fan it's worth a look. I was reminded a little of the 'In Death' books - both set in NY with strong female detectives and well connected male interest. Those are much better but I think this is more fun.