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.

Good book terrible narrator

I love the TV show and I liked to listen to the book. I decided to also read the book and it was much better with the voices in my head. Many times the narrator makes the book but not in this case. He did not annoy me enough to quit listening but I will not listen to another Richard Castle book if he narrates it. I think a woman would have been a better reader since the lead was a woman.

OK, the TV show is better

I don't say very often that the show or movie is better than the book. In this case the show was first and then some one thought, lets write the book that was written in the show.
I thought that it was a interesting idea,and so I bought the book. The narrator was fine with me, descent voice, tone and inflextion.
The story was good. it mirrored the show, a writer doing a ride-a-long with a cop. In the show the writer is very witty and much better at helping to solve or having ideas to help solve the murder. In the show the two main charactors haven't gone to bed, yet. they have to string it along with the interpersonal conflicts, once they sleep together in tv the show ends soon after. In a book they always have to have a sex scene or two right?
So I enjoyed the listen. You might also.

Missing the Dedication

Okay, so any one that watches the show should know what the book is going to be like. I like the wackiness of the show and the book mirrors it. Good listen if you like to relax and have fun.

For fans of "Castle" TV series

This book is for fans of the TV series "Castle." Nathan Fillion plays fiction writer Richard Castle, who is riding along with Detective Kate Beckett for research for his next book series. It is amusing to watch the episodes (i.e., "real life") and then read the book (where most of the people in the TV series have a counterpart in the book). It can be confusing to keep track of who is "real" and who is fake -- Richard Castle is the writer in the TV episodes who is riding along with Detective Beckett. Jameson Rook is the writer in the book who is riding along with Detective Nikki Heat. If you watched Season 1 before reading this book, you'll start thinking about the details from "real life" TV episodes and comparing them to the book.

The book on its own reads like a pulp crime story, which probably would not appeal to many readers except fans of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. The high rating is for tie-in to "Castle" and adding a unique dimension to the show -- as if Richard Castle is real and he wrote this book.

A narrator can make or break a story

What made the experience of listening to Heat Wave the most enjoyable?

Good story, good characters.

What other book might you compare Heat Wave to and why?

Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum. A little mystery, a little humor

How could the performance have been better?

Inflection, more emotion, more pizazz, more anything. Reading was dead pan and boring almost monotone.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Had trouble getting into it because of narrator

Any additional comments?

I will most likely not purchase the rest of the series because of the narrator