7.4 /10 1 Votes7.4
3.8/5 Barnes & Noble Language English Publication date September 29, 2009 Originally published 29 September 2009 Followed by Naked Heat Publisher Hyperion Books | 3.6/5 Country United States Series Nikki Heat ISBN 9781401323820 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Media type Print Hardcover and Paperback and E-book and Audiobook Similar Richard Castle books, Crime Fiction books |
Heat Wave is the first in a series of mystery novels featuring the characters Nikki Heat, an NYPD homicide detective, and Jameson Rook, a journalist. The novel and its sequels are published by Hyperion Books as a tie-in to the U.S. crime series Castle, and are attributed to that show's lead character Richard Castle. Heat Wave was published in 2009 and has been followed by Naked Heat (2010), Heat Rises (2011), Frozen Heat (2012), Deadly Heat (2013), Raging Heat (2014) and "Driving Heat" (2015).
Contents
Premise
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 at 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 hates Rook, she also feels 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 strikes the city.
Characters
Reception
Heat Wave reached #6 on the New York Times bestseller list in its fourth week of release.