Heat Wave

By: Richard Castle

Narrated by: Johnny Heller

Length: 6 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

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 Heat with a bang.

©2009 Richard Castle (P)2009 Tantor

Castle watcher need to listen to this!

I love the Castle show and was excited to find out about these books. I finally got around to downloading them and I wish I did it sooner!

This book reads like a really good, long version of the show. You can imagine the TV characters with a twist.

I was a little disappointed Nathan Fillion wasn't reading these books because I kept wanting to hear Castle's voice. However, Johnny Heller must have hung out with Nathan because he would say and inflect very similar to the actor.

I loved the different voice and the personality shine throw for each one in this audio book.

If you love any type of cop or mystery genre, definitely download this book.

The Story is awesome...but

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would, and I love the whole series! We need to discuss the narrator though. He is too quiet and it sounds he can't quite decide what voice he wants to use.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Definitely!

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Find his voice, project and stick with it.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Fact paced and entertaining!

Any additional comments?

I would really try and find someone else to read the book. Honestly, he might be good, but for a Castle book, he is not quite right. Also, speak up!

Fiction within fiction

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I am a fan of ABC's Castle, and listening to this book written by a character in a TV show is a lot of fun. The book is very similar to the storyline in the show, and it is keeping me interested.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Mostly. I kinda know what is coming based on experiences in the show, but then there's a twist.

Have you listened to any of Johnny Heller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No.

Any additional comments?

Not at this time.

This Review Needs a Title, else I can't continue

Not as good as the television show. Sarcasm abounds.Cute. Fun -- I'd rather watch the TV show. There's lots more books that are much more interesting. Probably won't order Niki Heat #2.

decent listen

What did you like best about Heat Wave? What did you like least?

I purchased because I am a Castle viewer. Curiosity was my main motivation. I ended up enjoying it.

As advertised-Great lite read.

The book was as expected, entertaining, lite, funny, relatively smart, it is basically a riff on the show.
Intriguing piece of meta-fiction, to think about that the book is based on the fictional characters of "Castle" the TV series, yet the characters are not the exact same as they re on TV, because these are the fictionalized version of them.
Very well read, in a kind of Maltese Falcon, film noir tone. All in all a great book.

Watch the TV series instead

The story was OK. The TV show is much better. The narrator was poor. Really dragged the book down.

If you love Castle, this will make you smile

Would you consider the audio edition of Heat Wave to be better than the print version?

I don't read books, so I'm not one to ask.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Thinking of it in terms of the relationship of Castle and Becket on the TV show. Then a lot of the bravado of the character seems more endearing.

Memories of Spillane

What did you love best about Heat Wave?

Kept interest right up until the end. Was pleased that the language was toned down to more "appropriate" situational vulgarity - what someone would generally say when shocked, scared or extremely mad. No gratuidous "f" bombs which I wish I could say for the other books in the series.

Who was your favorite character and why?

"Roach". They saved her (Nicki's and Rook's) butts more than once acting on instinct and their understanding of "what would Nicki do?"

What about Johnny Heller’s performance did you like?

His natural voice makes it difficult to formulate some accents but all players were different and brought variety. Makes a Swedish accent sound more like an Indian asking "how can I help you with your computer today.?

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Kept me going from start to finish. Glad there wasn't much gratuidous vulgarity. Some of the other books have less cultured (I know it's not a "cultured" book or situation but they drop the "f" bomb much less in this book than the others) language which, I feel, drops them from a 4 or 5 star to a 2 or 3. Would like to be able to read this to a 12-15 year old, and feel I could, but the subsequent books . . . nah!

Any additional comments?

This book is great. Like I said - Micky Spilane only better.

On the other books I think it would be very easy to write, maintain and emote the feeling of the books without resorting to language which would (could) turn away a younger reading audience as well as us who want to read books to get away from reality.There's enough of this stuff going on "next door", I would like to get away from life. Yet it in my down time, reading your books, I feel the books are just like life as far as the language goes. They are wonderful with plot twists, emotional exploits and visual exploration.

One plot line would be good if Nicki were to be involved in a homocide associated with a drug cartel investigation which included a plane crash and survival on a small island where she finds clues leading to her mother's and Nicole's murders. She would carefully have to form alliances with her "trust no one" attitude. Jamison Rook, just so happens, has some history associated with this cartel and island and Nicki would have to bring into account her feelings for him which might contaminate her attitude somewhat.

Just a thought!

Keep up the good work.

Cam

Good book

I love the show Castle but was slow to coming around to reading the book. I finally bit the bullet and started it, and i am glad I did. The book is really good and you can just picture the shows characters as the the ones in the book. It is a good book to read even if you have never seen the show Castle.