Although I haven’t read “Heat Wave” yet, I didn’t feel lost. If you’re a fan of the hit ABC TV show “Castle”, you won’t feel lost. The book presents itself as being the work of the title character of that show: Richard “Rick” Castle as portrayed superbly by Nathan Fillion. Nathan Fillion appears on the back cover; and the acknowledgments are written from Castle’s point-of-view. Also, the cover and such present other books “by Castle” too.
The TV show features writer Castle tagging along with the NYPD to research his novels, specifically Detective Kate Beckett, portrayed superbly by Stana Katic, upon whom Castle bases his fictional character Detective Nikki Heat.
In the book, as in the show, a writer tags along with the police department too. If you love the show, you should love the book.
As with “Naked Heat”, the key to understanding this novel as being a “written episode” is that Nikki Heat is Kate Beckett; Jameson Rook is Castle; Ochoa is Esposito; Raley is Ryan; Lauren Perry is Dr. Lanie Parish; and the Chief is the Chief and the writer’s mother is the writer’s mother, only with different names. (The daughter doesn’t appear in this story. Otherwise, the characters match the characters from before Season 4. Season 4 has a different Chief.)
Sensing a pattern here, I realize the producers of the hit ABC TV show “Castle” publish a new “Nikki Heat” book after each season. Clever, engaging marketing plan. You can't complain about this TV show causing illiteracy, because they encourage people to read.
Like episodes of the show, the book presents a mystery with intrigue, suspense, and smatterings of humor.
Notice how both the names Castle and Rook are chess pieces.
Like its predecessor “Naked Heat”, “Heat Rises” includes some inside jokes. The main one being the mentioning of the word castle, the name of the show from which these books stem.
Also, an ex-con being interrogated by Nikki Heat says he watched “Quantum of Solace” on Blu-Ray and then adds that Nikki Heat could be a Bond Girl. The joke being that Stana Katic who plays Kate Beckett the character upon whom Nikki Heat is based played a Bond Girl in “Quantum of Solace”.
At the end of chapter nine, Rook (Castle) says the famous line from the Castle promos: “I really am ruggedly handsome, aren’t I?”
On the first page of chapter sixteen, Rook mentions Malcolm Reynolds, the character Nathan Fillion portrayed on the show “Firefly” and in the movie “Serenity” before nabbing the role of Richard Castle on “Castle”.
Not being censored by TV panels and such, the book drops the occasional F-bomb and such, but overall remains true to the spirit and fun of the TV show.
I found “Heat Rises”, like “Naked Heat”, to be fun, engaging, and entertaining. Only “Heat Rises” struck me as better. The twists, the turns, etc. Not just more of the same, but improved!
The murder of a priest turns a conspiracy that threatens the lives of Nikki Heat and those around her. Including Rook. Even the Captain comes under suspicion!
As long as you enjoy smart, suspenseful thrillers with wit and charm, you should enjoy “Heat Rises”. If you’re a fan of “Castle”, you should love “Heat Rises”!
Blessings & Joy,
* Richard Castle is a character on the hit ABC TV show “Castle”, so I don’t know who really wrote this book.
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