Heat Wave (novel)

Heat Wave

Cover of the book
Author (fictional) Richard Castle
(real) unknown
Country United States
Language English
Series Nikki Heat
Genre Mystery,
Crime
Publisher Hyperion Books
Publication date
September 29, 2009
Media type Print Hardcover and Paperback and E-book and Sudiobook
Pages 240 pages (paperback)
ISBN 9781401323820
Followed by Naked Heat

Heat Wave is the first novel in Richard Castle's series about NYPD homicide detective Nikki Heat and journalist Jameson Rook. It was released on September 29, 2009 and has had five sequels: Naked Heat (2010), Heat Rises (2011), Frozen Heat (2012), Deadly Heat (2013) and Raging Heat (2014).

The novel was published by Hyperion Books as a deal with ABC. ABC produces the TV series Castle, where the main character, Richard Castle, to whom the book is credited to being written by, shadows NYPD Detective Kate Beckett. The real author is unknown.

Premise

Main article: Castle (TV series)

On ABC's mystery television show Castle, Richard Castle is a best-selling author who has published the final book in his successful series, in which he killed off the main character after writing the books became too much "like work". He is desperately searching for a new muse. When a copy-cat killer stages the crime scenes right from the pages of his books, he is called in to assist Detective Kate Beckett and her team.

At the end of the pilot episode, he becomes Beckett's partner in order to do 'research'. Heat Wave is released at the start of the second season which aired just before the actual release of the book. Because of its success, ABC has released even more books, including a Derrick Storm trilogy and Derrick Storm graphic novels.

Plot summary

The title of the book refers to a heat wave that gripped the city, the heat that is inside the characters’ attraction for each other, and the character’s surname. Castle’s protagonist is NYPD homicide detective, Nikki Heat. Ms Heat is attractive, tough and means business when she’s on a case. Ms Heat is good in her job and is the leader of her team investigating murders. Heat’s boss, the commissioner, assigns Jameson Rook, a reporter, to be attached to her to do research on his article. Rook proves to be a challenge to Heat as he has a mind of his own.

As much as Heat hated Rook, she also felt a compelling force that draws him to her. Heat feels the heat between them. Ms Heat tries to handle her professional work, as well as answer to the call of nature as she falls for her handsome, magnetic shadow. In her work, Heat has to dig into the case of a real estate millionaire who fell to his death. His widowed wife was attacked but survived the confrontation. All the action is set against the background of a killer heat wave that struck the city.[1]

Characters

Reception

Heat Wave reached #6 on the New York Times bestseller list in its fourth week of release.

Footnotes

External links