Mysterious Saturday Review: Driving Heat

* Book 7 in the Nikki Heat series * 

A promotion brought Nikki Heat to the rank of Captain. When Heat's psychologist turns up murdered on her first morning, she's surprised to see Rook's on the surveillance video going into the office. He won't tell her why he was at the office. Heat doesn't appreciate being kept in the dark, especially when she feels it will help her case. Files were stolen from the office and she's worried about them falling into the wrong hands.

In order to make her team run smoothly, she jointly promoted Roach to run the case. But even Raley and Ochoa are trying to one up each other for the permanent promotion.

Throw in the fact that Nikki's getting cold feet about the wedding and tension between her and Rook escalates. This investigation brings out the worst in all the relationships in this book. Can they work together and solve the murder before the murderer comes for one of them?

My Thoughts: As a huge fan of the show, I'm happy when more Richard Castle books come out. This one wasn't my favorite - mostly because all the characters were at each other's throats and I didn't enjoy that type of tension. The overall mystery pushes to book forward with lots of suspects, clues, and dead ends. I love the tidbits that overlap the TV show and the book.

Cover Thoughts: Great
Source: My Library

Final Thoughts: If you're a fan of the show, read these books!

Mysterious Saturday Review: Deadly Heat

* Book #5 in the Nikki Heat Series *

Nikki Heat found a breakthrough in her mother's case; a secret code that she's told no one about. Soon, she confides in Rook. Together, they dig deeper. 

Unfortunately, another article about Nikki has hit the internet. She's attracted the attention of a serial killer. He's leaving bodies all over town with clues to his next victim.

Nikki's scrambling to work both cases - but her boss only wants her focusing on the Rainbow Killer. Nikki's not about to give up her mother's case. She juggles them both. Only the serial killer's getting too close. He wants to play a game, but in his mind she ends up dead in that game.

Can Nikki close out the case before it's too late?

My Thoughts: I love the tie in books with Castle. As a big fan of the show, I like seeing it extended beyond the show and finding similarities between them. I like the story-line of Nikki Heat's mother and how it becomes the backdrop of the books, in addition to the murders happening in New York City. I like seeing Heat in her element at the precinct. I like watching her bounce ideas off her team and her debriefings.  I like the mystery of the serial killer and seeing him try to outwit Heat. A great installment to a fun, fast-paced mystery.

Cover Thoughts: I like it.

Source: My Library

Mysterious Saturday Review: Storm Front

Derrick Storm's been given an assignment from the CIA - an assignment chasing a man he believed to be dead for years. When several dead bankers turn up tortured - Storm realizes Volkov's behind everything.

He chases the dead bodies from Paris to London and back to US soil. As he races to uncover the clues behind the bodies, he discovers a financial plot that could ruin everyone.

Can Derrick Storm stop Volkov from killing the last banker and gaining access to his evil plot?

My Thoughts: I love Castle - so of course I wanted to read about the character he wrote. I love the TV ties with these books.  Plus, I was genuinely curious about Derrick Storm. The short chapters, plot twists, and multiple perspectives made it hard to put down. I loved all the action - the car chases (especially the one on the New Jersey turnpike), things being blown up, and the confrontations with the bad guys. It read like a fun action flick with some tender moments and some moments of laughter to ease the tension.  I loved the opening line where the gondolier was described as ruggedly handsome. 

Cover Thoughts: Really like it - especially the dark colors.
Source: My Library
Curious: I'm curious to discover who wrote the book - I feel like I've read the author before, but I can't quite place it.
Fun Fact: I even caught my puppy reading it!

Mini Review: Storm Season

 *  volume 2 in the series *

Derrick Storm sees a ghost from his past while working a case. He's been hired to help a woman recover money she lost. Everything should have gone smoothly, but the man she identified as the con artist, comes to Derrick asking for help.


He's looking to find his missing sister, who disappeared. As Derrick digs into the case, he uncovers a dangerous criminal organizations - along with his old CIA partner.

My Thoughts: I'm so happy to learn more about Derrick Storm - with great illustrations, lots of action, lots of danger, and a hint of romance. I hope these graphic novels continue!

Cover Thoughts: Great
Source: My Library

Mysterious Saturday Review: Frozen Heat

*4th book in the Heat series*

When a murder happens early one morning, everything changes. At the scene, Nikki Heat recognizes the suitcase the victim lies in. It's the suitcase that was stolen from the apartment the night her mother was murdered.

Now, years later, she believes the murders are connected. She's never heard of the deceased woman, but she's determined to find out the connection between her and her mother. Rock attempts to help by rehashing her mother's death. Nikki has no desire to relive the past, but as Rook prods her, she relents.

Together they dig up some clues. As they keep digging, they uncover hidden life of Nikki's mom. Will Nikki finally know what happened that night and who's reponsbile? 

My Thoughts: I LOVE this series. I'm a HUGE Castle fan and these books are on my automatic to read pile.  I love how similar and yet wildly different the books are to the characters on the TV show. Obviously it's not the same characters, but key plot points are similar. I love how Rook tries to make Nikki laugh at traumatic moments. I love his geekiness and hit wit. I love their banter. There's deep emotions running through this book. It's personal. I love uncovering the secrets of Nikki's mother's life. I liked how Rook and Nikki traveled to uncover answers that no one asked before. I love the combination of Roach. I like how the police force is very different from the TV show, but with similar players. An emotional roller coaster ride of action, danger, and death.

Cover Thoughts: Fun - but I'm not sure it would grab my attention if I didn't know about the series.
Source: my Library

Mysterious Saturday Review: Heat Rises

*3rd in the series*

Nikki Heat arrives at a crime scene to find the body of a priest in a very unlikely place.

She's dealing with a boss who's starting to question her judgement when his own behavior is raising red flags. She's dealing with unhappy co-workers. She's dealing with bureaucracy who want to promote her through the ranks.

Nikki's not sure who to trust these days. When information about the case and her Captain is leaked to the press, Nikki Heat is suspended. The day before she threaten to leak that same information. Now she's stuck on the outside without protection.

Nikki can't stay still for long. Soon she's nosing around the case with Jameson Rook. He gets past her defenses. Together, they battle the cold weather and the loose ends of this case, hoping they can put it all together before something happens to them.

My Thoughts: I really love this TV tie in idea as I LOVE these books. It combines the characters of the show, but also makes the slightly different. I love the action, the suspense, and the romance between Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook. I love Nikki's determination, her toughness, and her strength. I love Roach - her two main co-workers. I hope this series continues for a long time.

Cover Thoughts: Great

Source: Inter-Library Loan

Adult Review: Deadly Storm

Derrick Storm, PI is out chasing down a lead to his latest case. Instead of a simple - man's cheating on his wife chase, he finds himself in the midst of an FBI investigation. When asked to help with the investigation, Storm finds himself trying to right a wrong - even if his dad believes he's being played. After all, this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.

My Thoughts: I'm a HUGE Castle fan, so I was ecstatic when I heard about this book. I've always wanted to know more about Derrick Storm and now I'm hooked! The story was fun, exciting, and very entertaining. It read like a Castle episode - I couldn't put it down. The art was phenomenal. Here's hoping this only the beginning for Derrick Storm!

Cover Thoughts: Awesome!

Source: My Library - I begged the person in charge of this area to purchase this book!

Castle:

In last nights killer season finale, two awesome bookish things were revealed:

Derrick Storm graphic novel is in the works and will be out in September



and the reveal of the next Nikki Heat cover - also out in September 20th.



I can't WAIT for both!

Mysterious Saturday Review: Naked Heat

Jameson Rook, the famous magazine journalist, is found on the scene of Nikki Heat's murder victim - gossip columnist, Cassidy Towne. Rook has been shadowing Towne for his next article.

Nikki isn't thrilled with their reunion. She's still getting grief from the magazine article he published about her. Plus her team isn't happy with him either. Still, she must work with him to uncover the murderer.

In a case this big, there's too many celebrities with a grudge against Cassidy Town. She broke many stories, dug up dirt, and slung mud. It's almost impossible to find someone who didn't want her quiet - permanently.

Heat and Rook wade through the suspects ranging from a member of the mob, a pro baseball player, a sketchy politician, and a singer. Rook has the inside track on Town: she was writing a tell all memoir about someone famous. She refused to divulge that information, but she dug up something juicy.

My Thoughts: I love the combo of the books and the TV show. I like how the books differ from the show, yet I can still picture the characters from the show while reading. It's sort of like a tell-all fictional book - very fun.

The Cover: Interesting - I like the blend of the city with the type writer

Source: My Library

Fall TV: What's upcoming and What's canceled

There's been a lot of buzz about certain shows getting the axe. Find out if your fave show is one of them. I have two up for potential cuttings that I really hope continue.

Castle (which I LOVE - it makes me Mondays along with 24)
And Chuck, the clever spy comedy

What do you want to save?

Mystery Night

Last night I had a great night curled up reading Bride and Doom, the sixth book in the series starring a wedding planner. This time, Carnegie's helping out at a huge wedding, to make money for her own wedding. It's a baseball theme and she's hobnobbing with several players, one she crushed over in her younger days. She's having a hard time talking with her fiance about the details to their happy day. During the party, her friends gets into a fight with one of the reporters covering the story. Later that night she witnesses that same friend, kneeling over the same person with a baseball bat, drenched in blood. Boris is immediately arrested, but Carnegie knows he's innocent. She vows to spend her time searching for the murderer, even if it means lying to her fiance. Can she see eye to eye with her fiance and juggle her life trying to find a killer on the loose?

I'm big into cozy mysteries and I really like this series though I'm still trying to figure out if this is the last book...or not.

After reading this novel, it was time for Castle, a new drama on ABC. It stars a mystery writer (Nathan Fillion a la Dr. Horrible...) who starts helping out the police when murder victims start appearing identical to the murders in his books. With his help, Kate Beckett a homicide detective, figures out the truth behind the crimes. It also featured a cameo of two big name authors - James Patterson and Stephen J Cannell (I confess I didn't recognize him, but found the answer here). I really like this show - because it's almost as good as reading a mystery novel.