Review: Heat Storm

* Book 9 in the Nikki Heat Series *

Nikki Heat swears she saw her mother - alive. After seventeen years of believing her to be dead, she's ready to tear down the world searching for her and discovering why her mother faked her own death.

But her mother doesn't want her to interfere. She left to keep her daughter safe. She's warning Nikki to say away from the mystery.

Nikki isn't about to give up - even if everyone is telling her to leave this mess alone. She wants her mother to be able to come out of the shadows and she'll do anything to make it happen.

My Thoughts: I really loved this series and of course the show. I know this book came out later because \no one knew the show was going to end so abruptly. I really enjoyed learning more about Nikki's mother and her life. Of course I loved the moments between Rook and Heat. I really liked the ending. And could the ghost writer have finally revealed himself?

Cover Thoughts: Fun
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Purchase where other books in the series are popular.

Adult Review: High Heat

* Book 8 in the Nikki Heat series *

When Jameson Rook's name comes out of the lips of a man who just beheaded a reporter on camera, Nikki Heat moves quickly. She wants to find her husband. She wants to find the masked men responsible for the death. She wants to find the identity of the dead woman. And she wants it done yesterday.

But the ISIS style group who carried out the beheading aren't playing around. They didn't leave many clues behind. Still, Heat and her team use all their skills to uncover the scene of the crime. Form there's it's just a matter of time before everything else comes together.

But when they come from Rook, the team will have a matter of hours to put all the pieces together. Can they pull it off in time?

My Thoughts: This one wasn't my favorite Nikki Heat book, but boy did it pack a punch. I found the references to the TV show amusing. I liked the political aspect of the novel - including the librarian running for President. I enjoyed the Harry Potter jokes Rook made. This one had the right amount of humor to lighten the tension in the novel.  I liked the team tracking down the scarf and the reporter's whereabouts before her death. I enjoyed the revelations about Nikki Heat and her mother and all that it entails - which makes me need the next book immediately!

Cover Thoughts: Interesting
Source: My Library
Series Thoughts: I know this book came out after Castle was canceled, but the production was in works before that. Given the side plot about Nikki Heat's mother, they have to make at least one more book! I really hope that happens.Heat Storm is apparently coming next year. I hope that remains the case.

Library Recommendation: Purchase for public libraries where this series is popular.

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: Raging Heat

* Book 6 in the Nikki Heat Series *

Nikki Heat catches a case of an illegal immigrant falling from the sky and crashing into a building - with his hands tied his behind his back. As she digs into the murder, she finds herself a suspect.

Unfortunately, the man has clout - he's the Commission of the Port Authority. As the case widens, Rook believes that Heat's arrested the wrong man. His doubts, shared with others lead to a whole lot of trouble.  The man's let go and Heat finds herself accused of a witch hunt.

The clock's ticking on her murder investigation, especially since a hurricane's making it's way up the coast. Sandy's due to hit and everyone's predicting a major storm.

Can Heat get her murder investigation and her romance on track before taking cover for the storm?

My Thoughts: I really love this series - I love how it follows the show to a certain extent, but it also wildly different. I liked the setting of this book against Super Storm Sandy, it gave a sense of urgency to the book.Lots of action, danger, and romantic issues kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. I needed to see how everything was going to turn out - and oh - what an ending. I can't wait for the next book to see how Nikki adapts. If you're a Castle fan of if you like a great mystery with lots of action - read these books.

Cover Thoughts: Great
Source: My Library

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: 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

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