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Derrick Storm #0.25
A Brewing Storm
The first piece of the Derrick Storm trilogy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Richard Castle, available exclusively as an eBook short. When Derrick Storm needed to leave the CIA, he couldn't just retire. He had to fake his own death. So when his former boss calls in an old favor that will bring Storm out of early retirement and back to Washington to investigate a high-profile kidnapping, he knows there must be more at stake than the life of a Senator's son. Working alongside, but not exactly with, bombshell FBI investigator April Showers, Storm must make sense of a confusing flurry of ransom notes and a complicated web of personal relationships and international politics. He'll get to the bottom of the kidnapping, but the storm is still brewing…
103 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2012
430 people are currently reading
7773 people want to read
About the author
Richard Castle
58 books4,891 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Richard Castle is the author of numerous bestsellers, including the critically acclaimed Derrick Storm series. His first novel, In a Hail of Bullets, published while he was still in college, received the Nom DePlume Society's prestigious Tom Straw Award for Mystery Literature. Castle currently lives in Manhattan with his daughter and mother, both of whom infuse his life with humor and inspiration.
Note: Richard Castle is a fictional character from the ABC television show, Castle, played by Nathan Fillion. The biography is of this character. His name is being used as a pseudonym for tie-in novels to the TV show.
Richard Castle is the author of numerous bestsellers, including the critically acclaimed Derrick Storm series. His first novel, In a Hail of Bullets, published while he was still in college, received the Nom DePlume Society's prestigious Tom Straw Award for Mystery Literature. Castle currently lives in Manhattan with his daughter and mother, both of whom infuse his life with humor and inspiration.
Note: Richard Castle is a fictional character from the ABC television show, Castle, played by Nathan Fillion. The biography is of this character. His name is being used as a pseudonym for tie-in novels to the TV show.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 472 reviews
August 25, 2018
A Brewing Storm by Richard Castle is the first book of the Derrick Storm thriller series. These books are based off of the fictional television author Richard Castle's series that was mentioned in the Castle television series on ABC. The Derrick Storm series was the one Castle had become famous for writing when the show began and he began to get his inspiration from Beckett for the Nikki Heat series.
In A Brewing Storm readers find that Derrick Storm has faked his own death and has been off of the radar for a few years. However, the ex-CIA agent is needed to help in a huge kidnapping case of a Senator's son so he ends up teamed up with FBI investigator April Showers.
Now come on folks, just from the names of these characters it's easy to see that this is more on the cheesy side than a serious thriller but cheesy was Richard Castle's middle name. The story oozes that personality he had on the show so fans of the tv show will probably like the over the top action story that was penned in this series. Not exactly award winning literature but just some good old fashioned fun.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
In A Brewing Storm readers find that Derrick Storm has faked his own death and has been off of the radar for a few years. However, the ex-CIA agent is needed to help in a huge kidnapping case of a Senator's son so he ends up teamed up with FBI investigator April Showers.
Now come on folks, just from the names of these characters it's easy to see that this is more on the cheesy side than a serious thriller but cheesy was Richard Castle's middle name. The story oozes that personality he had on the show so fans of the tv show will probably like the over the top action story that was penned in this series. Not exactly award winning literature but just some good old fashioned fun.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
February 4, 2017
slabije od nikki heat romana, i u nastavcima. malo jača trojka.
July 11, 2012
I have been a fan of the show castle for quite some time now. I have enjoyed the Nikki Heat books for the simple reason that watching the show we as the viewer get to watch Castle write them and then after the season finale the book releases. Granted I know Richard Castle is a fictional character and ghost writers write these it is easier to refer to the author as Castle.
Before Castle began writing the Nikki Heat series he was known for a character named Derrick Storm. Castle felt he was done with this character and kills him off. This Novella begins with us as the reader finding out Storm isn’t dead. He wanted out of the CIA and the only way to do that was to fake his own death. Hiding out in Montana under a different identity he is tracked down by a former friend. He is pulled into a case involving the kidnapping of a senator’s son. Seeming there is more to this case than kidnapping Storm is determined to find out exactly what he has gotten into.
This was a great read. Even though it is an ebook novella it is part of a much larger story. This story does somewhat wrap up, which is a bit frustrating, but it leads the way into the next novella coming out in July. Even though this is part one of three possibly, there was very little down time while characters were introduced. The intrigue and suspense was always there and I was hooked early on. Now I look forward to the other novellas in this series. Not long to wait with part 2 coming in July and part 3 currently set for August. For any fan of Castle I would say this is a must read. For those who may not be a fan of the show, or never seen it; It still makes for a great suspense read.
Before Castle began writing the Nikki Heat series he was known for a character named Derrick Storm. Castle felt he was done with this character and kills him off. This Novella begins with us as the reader finding out Storm isn’t dead. He wanted out of the CIA and the only way to do that was to fake his own death. Hiding out in Montana under a different identity he is tracked down by a former friend. He is pulled into a case involving the kidnapping of a senator’s son. Seeming there is more to this case than kidnapping Storm is determined to find out exactly what he has gotten into.
This was a great read. Even though it is an ebook novella it is part of a much larger story. This story does somewhat wrap up, which is a bit frustrating, but it leads the way into the next novella coming out in July. Even though this is part one of three possibly, there was very little down time while characters were introduced. The intrigue and suspense was always there and I was hooked early on. Now I look forward to the other novellas in this series. Not long to wait with part 2 coming in July and part 3 currently set for August. For any fan of Castle I would say this is a must read. For those who may not be a fan of the show, or never seen it; It still makes for a great suspense read.
June 4, 2012
A gimmick is a gimmick is a gimmick, but as gimmicks go, this ain't a bad one. A Brewing Storm is the first in a trilogy of short "books" (this one is 83 pages) featuring Derrick Storm, a former CIA agent who faked his own death when he retired. Now happily living in the backwoods and doing his own thing, a former colleague calls in a favor and he's forced to return to the fold, albeit under a new identity. That way, he can retire again once this caper is finished (assuming he lives that long).
Each installment costs somewhere around $1.99 at Amazon.com, so the whole series won't cost much more than a large milkshake from Dairy Queen. But is it even worth the two bucks? Well, if you're a fan of TV's "Castle" as I am and/or have read the three previous books by Richard Castle (who is someone pretending to be the writer from the TV show, which is a gimmick in and of itself), you'll probably like this. Yes, it's a bit fluffy, a bit trite and a bit contrived, but on the whole it's also entertaining - rather a fun way to spend a couple of hours without taxing your brain.
Although the ending is a lead-in to the next installment, you can stop with this one and never pick up another. But No. 2 is set for Kindle publication on July 3, and I have every intention of reading it as well as the last one.
Each installment costs somewhere around $1.99 at Amazon.com, so the whole series won't cost much more than a large milkshake from Dairy Queen. But is it even worth the two bucks? Well, if you're a fan of TV's "Castle" as I am and/or have read the three previous books by Richard Castle (who is someone pretending to be the writer from the TV show, which is a gimmick in and of itself), you'll probably like this. Yes, it's a bit fluffy, a bit trite and a bit contrived, but on the whole it's also entertaining - rather a fun way to spend a couple of hours without taxing your brain.
Although the ending is a lead-in to the next installment, you can stop with this one and never pick up another. But No. 2 is set for Kindle publication on July 3, and I have every intention of reading it as well as the last one.
September 17, 2025
Great novella. Fast paced and a bit tricky. A lot of moving parts and love that there is a lot going on behind the scenes. I think I may be hooked on this series now and have to keep on reading.
January 26, 2022
This book introduces the reader to Derrick Storm, former CIA presumed dead, called into action when an old friend comes calling. Now, this isn’t a book that should be read if you’re looking for something true to life. This is a fun, fast paced story of the search for a kidnapped stepson of a powerful senator. With cheesy names, like April Showers, sarcasm and sexual innuendos, it can’t really be taken seriously. What I found was a fun chase that was very enjoyable. It’s quite a little story packed into 83 pages. The ending will carry us right into the second book, which I look forward to reading!
May 2, 2012
The latest entry in the Castle universe is the first short story in Derrick Storm series. Whilst the graphic novels are based on the works mentioned in the show which made Castle famous these appear to be set in a later time period after Storm's "death". This makes them the first real breakaway books not mentioned in the show.
In this volume Storm is brought back from retirement to help his old boss untangle a kidnapping involving the stepson of a high ranking politician. It also introduces a potential new love interest in Special Agent Showers.
A quick, fun action mystery it's good to see something new. It sets a mystery up for the second book due to be released in July. Looking forward to it.
In this volume Storm is brought back from retirement to help his old boss untangle a kidnapping involving the stepson of a high ranking politician. It also introduces a potential new love interest in Special Agent Showers.
A quick, fun action mystery it's good to see something new. It sets a mystery up for the second book due to be released in July. Looking forward to it.
January 17, 2021
The story itself was pretty good, but the dialogue that I think was supposed to be “flirty banter” wasn’t and just made me feel icky.
May 17, 2012
Personally, I liked this short story more than any of the Nikki Heat books, but at only sixty pages A Brewing Storm's just way too short. It takes about thirty pages to set up the plot, and then another fifteen or so to wrap things up, leaving a very short car chase through DC and a brief shootout as the only action. Way too short and unsatisfying. But the writing is classic Castle, the quips, one liners, observations, and even character names (April Showers! Matthew Dull!) feel closer to Castle's style on the show than anything in any of the Nikki Heat books. Good stuff.
Bouncing between three and four stars, depending on how hard I ding the plot development, or lack thereof. But there are a few nice twists and turns to the story, the way the kidnapping's unveiled, and yes, even the cliffhanger ending setting up the next short story. I really wish the team behind this series put a little more effort into the book though; it's awesome but needs some more meat, more action scenes, more character development, basically more of everything to fill in what's a very bare bones novella. Good effort, but I want to see more. Rounding up I guess because I enjoyed the writing and story despite the disappointing length.
Bouncing between three and four stars, depending on how hard I ding the plot development, or lack thereof. But there are a few nice twists and turns to the story, the way the kidnapping's unveiled, and yes, even the cliffhanger ending setting up the next short story. I really wish the team behind this series put a little more effort into the book though; it's awesome but needs some more meat, more action scenes, more character development, basically more of everything to fill in what's a very bare bones novella. Good effort, but I want to see more. Rounding up I guess because I enjoyed the writing and story despite the disappointing length.
May 8, 2012
How do you review a fiction novel, for a fictional character with a series of fictional titles written by a fictional television character in a fictional television show and remember what part is fiction and what part is reality?
This is another tie in to the Castle television series and sees the character Derrick Storm resurrected from death to commence a new series of stories. What we have is a very short introduction story to Derrick Storm, who we discover did not die but has been hiding in the mountains and has been pulled into a comeback against his will.
I am not sure about the character of Derrick Storm, he is portrayed like an American James Bond but with out the charm or sophistication. The story is razor sharp in delivery and sets you up for a series of novels that must be in the pipeline.
Will I read anymore after this brief introduction, I am not sure? I just did not gel with the character at all as the macho stereotype was a bit grating. Storm seems to have three thought patterns through out the story being solve the mystery, where is my next drink and where is my next sexual encounter. I just found the character needed more development and far more baggage.
Anyway it will be interesting to see if Storm’s return will make a make a mention in the Castle television series as to why this has happened.
This is another tie in to the Castle television series and sees the character Derrick Storm resurrected from death to commence a new series of stories. What we have is a very short introduction story to Derrick Storm, who we discover did not die but has been hiding in the mountains and has been pulled into a comeback against his will.
I am not sure about the character of Derrick Storm, he is portrayed like an American James Bond but with out the charm or sophistication. The story is razor sharp in delivery and sets you up for a series of novels that must be in the pipeline.
Will I read anymore after this brief introduction, I am not sure? I just did not gel with the character at all as the macho stereotype was a bit grating. Storm seems to have three thought patterns through out the story being solve the mystery, where is my next drink and where is my next sexual encounter. I just found the character needed more development and far more baggage.
Anyway it will be interesting to see if Storm’s return will make a make a mention in the Castle television series as to why this has happened.
April 10, 2020
So very short book, check, very short story, check, very mediocre mystery, check, Fun, Check, so this is the very first Derrick Storm novellas available which are obviously a product of team behind hit TV series 'Castle' this series being the work where Castle comes up in the first season to work with Kate to write his Nikki Heat novels. This book brings Storm out of retirement when a Senator's step-son is kidnapped and the story moves from there.
Nice little story but the story is continuing in the second part of a trilogy of novels where I goofed up and read the 3rd part first however that didn't spoil the story much. So do jump in to enjoy these little e-books and Keep on Reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
Nice little story but the story is continuing in the second part of a trilogy of novels where I goofed up and read the 3rd part first however that didn't spoil the story much. So do jump in to enjoy these little e-books and Keep on Reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
June 22, 2015
As a big fan of the television show Castle I couldn't wait to pick up a Derrick Storm novel, so I decided to start with this novella to get a feel for it.
Overall, it was a very okay read. The mystery wasn't spectacular, the characters were very mediocre, and the writing style was annoying at times.
Although the mystery isn't finished (since this is only the first novella), what was solved was very underwhelming. The mystery wasn't that intriguing or serious and it didn't feel like a case worth pulling the main character out of retirement for.
The characters were all, once again, underwhelming. There isn't much to say about the main character because he didn't feel like the crazy, badass, all knowing super agent he's made out to be. He comes off as just a competent guy. This is only the first novella so maybe I'm being too harsh.
Finally, the writing style felt generic. There was nothing that gave it a personal feel and there were too many information dumps sprinkled throughout the entire novella. The writing style made me feel as if someone input a basic plot line into a computer and the computer wrote the story.
I will read the second novella in hopes that the kinks work themselves out since it was only the first instalment.
Overall, it was a very okay read. The mystery wasn't spectacular, the characters were very mediocre, and the writing style was annoying at times.
Although the mystery isn't finished (since this is only the first novella), what was solved was very underwhelming. The mystery wasn't that intriguing or serious and it didn't feel like a case worth pulling the main character out of retirement for.
The characters were all, once again, underwhelming. There isn't much to say about the main character because he didn't feel like the crazy, badass, all knowing super agent he's made out to be. He comes off as just a competent guy. This is only the first novella so maybe I'm being too harsh.
Finally, the writing style felt generic. There was nothing that gave it a personal feel and there were too many information dumps sprinkled throughout the entire novella. The writing style made me feel as if someone input a basic plot line into a computer and the computer wrote the story.
I will read the second novella in hopes that the kinks work themselves out since it was only the first instalment.
June 23, 2012
Ohhhhh, Castle! You charming, roguishly handsome, devil! How? Can a gal say "no"?!
I know, I know... My review is a tad delayed on this one. I haven't been well and the computer... Even my adored phone, seems too much at times. :(
ONWARDS!
Having not read the Derrick Storm graphic, this was my first intro to the character (other than the mentions on tv). I found it, lively and quick.... But... Was it just me or could anyone else totally see Nathan Fillion in Derrick? I could hear his voice reading the lines and see him in the scenes. Ha! For some reason, especially the bar/flirty scenes. For me, there seemed more of an affinity here, even than with Rook in the Nikki Heat series. Perhaps a different ghost writer?
Regardless! So much quick-paced fun! I look forward to the second part coming soon in July!
I know, I know... My review is a tad delayed on this one. I haven't been well and the computer... Even my adored phone, seems too much at times. :(
ONWARDS!
Having not read the Derrick Storm graphic, this was my first intro to the character (other than the mentions on tv). I found it, lively and quick.... But... Was it just me or could anyone else totally see Nathan Fillion in Derrick? I could hear his voice reading the lines and see him in the scenes. Ha! For some reason, especially the bar/flirty scenes. For me, there seemed more of an affinity here, even than with Rook in the Nikki Heat series. Perhaps a different ghost writer?
Regardless! So much quick-paced fun! I look forward to the second part coming soon in July!
December 14, 2015
Richard Castle may be the hardest working fake author around. What seems like a great marketing strategy has seemed to take off on its own. While the Nikki Heat books seem to show up in the TV show Castle, now there is a new series to help people get a better understanding of Richard Castle’s best known character (according to the fans in the show) Derrick Storm. A Brewing Storm tell the story of a spy coming out of retirement to help find the kidnapped stepson of a high ranking politician. While the book is short it was interesting to get a better sense of the character that makes Richard Castle a bestselling author (in the show).
November 6, 2015
If you enjoy mysteries, adventures, or the other Richard Castle books, skip this one and go read something else. The characters are wooden, boring, and the plot is predictable.
The graphic novels are way better.
Not worthy of the Richard Castle name.
The graphic novels are way better.
Not worthy of the Richard Castle name.
February 18, 2024
Hier wird es keinen grossen Spoileralarm von mir geben….denn der Klappentext oben verrät schon alles……Mehr passiert hier nicht….
Es gibt kein Spannungsbogen….ich wollte nur fertig werden….so jetzt haben wir hier am Ende noch einen Cliffhänger….das bedeutet, die nächsten werde ich dann wohl auch lesen….vielleicht sind die ja besser…..
Also nochmal…..aufgrund der Kürze des Buches ist es nicht so schlimm es zu lesen….es kam mir jetzt nicht wie eine Zeitverschwendung vor….aber es hat auch nicht so viel Spass gemacht….es war keins der Bücher auf das man sich beim heimkommen freut…..
Es gibt kein Spannungsbogen….ich wollte nur fertig werden….so jetzt haben wir hier am Ende noch einen Cliffhänger….das bedeutet, die nächsten werde ich dann wohl auch lesen….vielleicht sind die ja besser…..
Also nochmal…..aufgrund der Kürze des Buches ist es nicht so schlimm es zu lesen….es kam mir jetzt nicht wie eine Zeitverschwendung vor….aber es hat auch nicht so viel Spass gemacht….es war keins der Bücher auf das man sich beim heimkommen freut…..
February 15, 2024
An excellent tie in novel
I love tie in novels. Watching the show Castle. I wondered if their were actually Richard Castle novels and to my surprise there were.
Castle is an excellent author who delivered another well written thriller. It was short story featuring his breakout character Derrick Storm.
I love tie in novels. Watching the show Castle. I wondered if their were actually Richard Castle novels and to my surprise there were.
Castle is an excellent author who delivered another well written thriller. It was short story featuring his breakout character Derrick Storm.
June 30, 2022
Wow this book was pretty bad. I see why they decided to make the show Castle about the Nikki Heat series instead. Derrick Storm is like the stereotypical, corny spy. He's actually a lot like the cheesy playboy that Castle is portrayed as at the beginning of the tv series. I'm still going to read the next one to see if it gets better. Oooh boy do I hope it does.
May 14, 2018
Stars: 3.5 / 5
Recommendation: A quick and easy read for anyone who wants to pick up murder mysteries but want to avoid the gorier and grittier parts.
Brewing Storm is the first book published in May of 2012 by fictional author Richard Castle from the TV series Castle (portrayed by Nathan Fillion) (My review of the TV series here: http://inspirethoughts.livejournal.co...). This forms the first book in a trilogy within the series.
According to the Richard Castle's character bio, after his book Storm Fall in his Derrick Storm series, he had killed the character out of boredom. However his literary friends James Patterson and Stephen J. Cannell suggest that instead of killing Storm he should have retired or crippled so he could bring that character back at a later point of time, in case he had a change of mind.
Keeping in sync with Castle's bio, he resurrects his character Derrick Storm four years after he had finished him off, with this spy thriller Brewing Storm.
I came across Derrick Storm in the eighth Nikki Heat book High Heat by Richard Castle which was published in October of 2016. (My review of the book here: https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...). That book concludes with re-introduction of Derrick Storm who waits for Nikki Heat in her old apartment while she is trying to investigate her mother's fake death. Obviously the ninth book Heat Storm is a crossover between both the series by Richard Castle expanding further on Nikki's murder's fake death.
However that re-appearance of Derrick Storm spurred my interest to read his novels by the fictional author Richard Castle. And thus my reviews.
After successfully faking his death and going under the grid for four years, Derrick Storm's ex-boss, Jedidiah Jones - Director of the National Clandestine Services, calls in a favor that forces Derrick to come out of his so-called retirement. Matthew Dull, the step son of U. S. Senator Thurston Windslow from Texas, is kidnapped and Storm is pulled into solve it. His partner in this high-profile case is FBI Special Agent April Showers. Neither Derrick nor April trust each other but then strive to work together for the case. More importantly Storm doesn’t trust Jones about the case being as simple as a kidnap. What was behind this kidnap that Jones had to cash in his huge debt from Storm? Where does this lead Storm and Showers?
Castle has spun a very good web around political conspiracy and the lives of government agents. His characters, Derrick Storm and April Showers, both come off pretty strong. Starts off as a simple kidnapping, it spirals down into a very complex plot involving political conspiracy, murder and potential international crime.
Normally when I imagine a character the author describes I like to know physical features as well as their mental and emotional characteristics. For some reason Richard Castle doesn’t describe Derrick Storm in so much physical detail except that he has dark brown hair and well built.
Castle certainly has a flair of humor when it comes to the names of his characters - Dull, Windslow, Showers, all very interesting and comic last names. But he hides the true nature of his characters behind this comic façade. Matthew Dull seems as dull as anyone can come, April Showers comes as a pleasant shower on Storm's dusty and dead life while Thurston Windslow's wind flows rather slower than needed at times of crisis.
Castle also provides an architectural tour of Washington D.C. to the readers, especially with regards to buildings that are not normally listed on any tour for a tourist. For instance, readers get a 10,000 foot lesson on Russell Senate Office Building (SOB) and Dirksen SOB; about how the SOBs came to be named; a brief historical tidbit about Willard InterContinental Hotel; reasons as to why J. Edgar Hoover Building was built so; and many more.
Just as Derrick Storm suspects at the beginning of the book, there is more to this political conspiracy plot that keeps the reader at the edge of their seats. Needless to say I continued reading the next part in this trilogy immediately. I am hoping you are as intrigued now to pick this first book immediately. If so, go for it and have an adventurous action-packed ride.
Spoiler Alerts:
1) Plot Reveals:
a. National Clandestine Services is a division of CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) that recruits spies who are sent to clandestine operations across the world working for United States. Richard Castle mentions Derrick Storm belongs to this organization and I wasn’t sure if it even existed. Looks like it does. Check here: https://www.cia.gov/offices-of-cia/cl....
b. Derrick Storm calls the drama that Jedidiah Jones sets up in order to introduce the players - not all of them mind you - as Kabuki play. A Kabuki is a classical Japanese dance drama that has its actors with elaborate makeup and very stylized scenes. True to the nature of the play Castle has Jedidiah Jones create elaborate scenes, hidden behind layers of masks for Derrick Storm to sift through to reach his destination.
c. Mark Twain is supposed to have written two books while staying at Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington D.C.
d. The book ends with Matthew Dull being murdered by the kidnappers, his girlfriend Samantha Toppers is behind the second extortion scheme, a serious connection between Senator Windslow and the Russians, and finally with Senator Windslow being shot by a sniper.
e. We see frequent mention of another agent, Clara Strike, who also worked for Jedidiah Jones at NCS. There definitely seems to be some kind of romantic link between Derrick Storm and Clara Strike; that Clara also faked her death and had retired similar to Storm. Will she be resurrected in a future book by Richard Castle is something one will have to wait and see.
2) Sub Plots:
a. In the eighth Nikki Heat book, High Heat (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...), Richard Castle shows the reader as having Nikki Heat met Derrick Storm as a suspect in a case she had caught a few years earlier, a brutal murder of a currency trader. I was wondering what case was that since I hadn't come across any such case in all of her eight books. However, on Wikipedia it is mentioned in the character bios of Detective Nikki Heat and her husband and Pulitzer prize winning journalist Jameson Rook that they had made cameo appearances in the Derrick Storm novel Storm Front which was published in May of 2013. I am yet to read that book and come across that scenario.
b. Richard Castle introduces Derrick Storm at the end of the book, High Heat, giving a segue that his next book would be a Heat and Storm combo. Naturally there would be a next book considering the reappearance of Cynthia Heat has to be solved. However bringing in Derrick Storm – even though I distinctly remember that he was killed off by Castle when he was introduced in Season I of the TV Series – adds another layer of strength and power. It would be interesting to see how the two strong alpha characters fare in the next book.
3) It’s still a mystery as to who wrote truly wrote these books, be it Nikki Heat series or Derrick Storm series. Obviously not the fictional character Richard Castle or Nathan Fillion the actor who portrayed the role. Unlike Murder, She Wrote books (Check my reviews of this series here: http://inspirethoughts.livejournal.co...), the actual author of these books is really hidden deep.
4) Grammatical / Historical / Geographical / Character / Mythological / Plot Errors:
a. On Pg. 75, last para, Windslow is spelt as "Winslow".
Recommendation: A quick and easy read for anyone who wants to pick up murder mysteries but want to avoid the gorier and grittier parts.
Brewing Storm is the first book published in May of 2012 by fictional author Richard Castle from the TV series Castle (portrayed by Nathan Fillion) (My review of the TV series here: http://inspirethoughts.livejournal.co...). This forms the first book in a trilogy within the series.
According to the Richard Castle's character bio, after his book Storm Fall in his Derrick Storm series, he had killed the character out of boredom. However his literary friends James Patterson and Stephen J. Cannell suggest that instead of killing Storm he should have retired or crippled so he could bring that character back at a later point of time, in case he had a change of mind.
Keeping in sync with Castle's bio, he resurrects his character Derrick Storm four years after he had finished him off, with this spy thriller Brewing Storm.
I came across Derrick Storm in the eighth Nikki Heat book High Heat by Richard Castle which was published in October of 2016. (My review of the book here: https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...). That book concludes with re-introduction of Derrick Storm who waits for Nikki Heat in her old apartment while she is trying to investigate her mother's fake death. Obviously the ninth book Heat Storm is a crossover between both the series by Richard Castle expanding further on Nikki's murder's fake death.
However that re-appearance of Derrick Storm spurred my interest to read his novels by the fictional author Richard Castle. And thus my reviews.
After successfully faking his death and going under the grid for four years, Derrick Storm's ex-boss, Jedidiah Jones - Director of the National Clandestine Services, calls in a favor that forces Derrick to come out of his so-called retirement. Matthew Dull, the step son of U. S. Senator Thurston Windslow from Texas, is kidnapped and Storm is pulled into solve it. His partner in this high-profile case is FBI Special Agent April Showers. Neither Derrick nor April trust each other but then strive to work together for the case. More importantly Storm doesn’t trust Jones about the case being as simple as a kidnap. What was behind this kidnap that Jones had to cash in his huge debt from Storm? Where does this lead Storm and Showers?
Castle has spun a very good web around political conspiracy and the lives of government agents. His characters, Derrick Storm and April Showers, both come off pretty strong. Starts off as a simple kidnapping, it spirals down into a very complex plot involving political conspiracy, murder and potential international crime.
Normally when I imagine a character the author describes I like to know physical features as well as their mental and emotional characteristics. For some reason Richard Castle doesn’t describe Derrick Storm in so much physical detail except that he has dark brown hair and well built.
Castle certainly has a flair of humor when it comes to the names of his characters - Dull, Windslow, Showers, all very interesting and comic last names. But he hides the true nature of his characters behind this comic façade. Matthew Dull seems as dull as anyone can come, April Showers comes as a pleasant shower on Storm's dusty and dead life while Thurston Windslow's wind flows rather slower than needed at times of crisis.
Castle also provides an architectural tour of Washington D.C. to the readers, especially with regards to buildings that are not normally listed on any tour for a tourist. For instance, readers get a 10,000 foot lesson on Russell Senate Office Building (SOB) and Dirksen SOB; about how the SOBs came to be named; a brief historical tidbit about Willard InterContinental Hotel; reasons as to why J. Edgar Hoover Building was built so; and many more.
Just as Derrick Storm suspects at the beginning of the book, there is more to this political conspiracy plot that keeps the reader at the edge of their seats. Needless to say I continued reading the next part in this trilogy immediately. I am hoping you are as intrigued now to pick this first book immediately. If so, go for it and have an adventurous action-packed ride.
Spoiler Alerts:
1) Plot Reveals:
a. National Clandestine Services is a division of CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) that recruits spies who are sent to clandestine operations across the world working for United States. Richard Castle mentions Derrick Storm belongs to this organization and I wasn’t sure if it even existed. Looks like it does. Check here: https://www.cia.gov/offices-of-cia/cl....
b. Derrick Storm calls the drama that Jedidiah Jones sets up in order to introduce the players - not all of them mind you - as Kabuki play. A Kabuki is a classical Japanese dance drama that has its actors with elaborate makeup and very stylized scenes. True to the nature of the play Castle has Jedidiah Jones create elaborate scenes, hidden behind layers of masks for Derrick Storm to sift through to reach his destination.
c. Mark Twain is supposed to have written two books while staying at Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington D.C.
d. The book ends with Matthew Dull being murdered by the kidnappers, his girlfriend Samantha Toppers is behind the second extortion scheme, a serious connection between Senator Windslow and the Russians, and finally with Senator Windslow being shot by a sniper.
e. We see frequent mention of another agent, Clara Strike, who also worked for Jedidiah Jones at NCS. There definitely seems to be some kind of romantic link between Derrick Storm and Clara Strike; that Clara also faked her death and had retired similar to Storm. Will she be resurrected in a future book by Richard Castle is something one will have to wait and see.
2) Sub Plots:
a. In the eighth Nikki Heat book, High Heat (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...), Richard Castle shows the reader as having Nikki Heat met Derrick Storm as a suspect in a case she had caught a few years earlier, a brutal murder of a currency trader. I was wondering what case was that since I hadn't come across any such case in all of her eight books. However, on Wikipedia it is mentioned in the character bios of Detective Nikki Heat and her husband and Pulitzer prize winning journalist Jameson Rook that they had made cameo appearances in the Derrick Storm novel Storm Front which was published in May of 2013. I am yet to read that book and come across that scenario.
b. Richard Castle introduces Derrick Storm at the end of the book, High Heat, giving a segue that his next book would be a Heat and Storm combo. Naturally there would be a next book considering the reappearance of Cynthia Heat has to be solved. However bringing in Derrick Storm – even though I distinctly remember that he was killed off by Castle when he was introduced in Season I of the TV Series – adds another layer of strength and power. It would be interesting to see how the two strong alpha characters fare in the next book.
3) It’s still a mystery as to who wrote truly wrote these books, be it Nikki Heat series or Derrick Storm series. Obviously not the fictional character Richard Castle or Nathan Fillion the actor who portrayed the role. Unlike Murder, She Wrote books (Check my reviews of this series here: http://inspirethoughts.livejournal.co...), the actual author of these books is really hidden deep.
4) Grammatical / Historical / Geographical / Character / Mythological / Plot Errors:
a. On Pg. 75, last para, Windslow is spelt as "Winslow".
August 15, 2012
Part of this two-star review is my own fault. When Hyperion made the announcement early in 2012 that they'd be releasing three Derrick Storm "shorts," I assumed that meant three separate stories, not one story broken up into three parts. So my reading expectations for the next two parts will be different than they were for the first installment because I know what to expect.
But aside from that, the story here is not particularly interesting. The Nikki Heat novels are complex yet tightly plotted and paced. That's not the case here; the central mystery is very standard (government official's son is kidnapped, possibly by the mafia... never heard that one before), and since this is written as a continuation of a group of Derrick Storm novels we've never read (because they're not real), we're kind of dropped into the headspace of a character we don't know without any real introduction.
Plus it's terribly edited. Seriously, this is a high profile release from a major publishing house, yet apparently no one proofread it. There are typos, misspellings, misplaced punctuation, etc. all over the place. And who thought it was a good idea to use those italics? They're totally abrupt and confusing.
All in all, it's fun (albeit short) ride for those of us who are Castle fanatics, and it did end with a decent set-up for the next two pieces of the story. It's just not up to par with the rest of the Castle canon.
But aside from that, the story here is not particularly interesting. The Nikki Heat novels are complex yet tightly plotted and paced. That's not the case here; the central mystery is very standard (government official's son is kidnapped, possibly by the mafia... never heard that one before), and since this is written as a continuation of a group of Derrick Storm novels we've never read (because they're not real), we're kind of dropped into the headspace of a character we don't know without any real introduction.
Plus it's terribly edited. Seriously, this is a high profile release from a major publishing house, yet apparently no one proofread it. There are typos, misspellings, misplaced punctuation, etc. all over the place. And who thought it was a good idea to use those italics? They're totally abrupt and confusing.
All in all, it's fun (albeit short) ride for those of us who are Castle fanatics, and it did end with a decent set-up for the next two pieces of the story. It's just not up to par with the rest of the Castle canon.
June 7, 2012
This novella is the first Derrick Storm book available, although it comes after the fictional end of the series as presented in the "Castle" TV show. Per the Derrick Storm mythology as presented in the TV show, Richard Castle killed off Storm in the last book of that series, and this book starts with the reader discovering that that death was faked - Storm is still alive and living out a quiet retirement. Storm is brought back to the CIA to investigate the kidnapping of the son of a powerful senator.
Probably because it is a novella, and too short to fully develop a more complex story, the book is somewhat simplistic - you can see the end almost from the beginning - but it is a suitable introduction to all the characters involved. The most disappointing thing was that the ending suggests that this book is really just a teaser for a longer version that will come in a few months.
This is certainly not great literature - in fact it does not even reach the mediocre standards of the "Nikki Heat" series but moved well and was more about the crime than the action, so it might be an indicator of better things to come.
Probably because it is a novella, and too short to fully develop a more complex story, the book is somewhat simplistic - you can see the end almost from the beginning - but it is a suitable introduction to all the characters involved. The most disappointing thing was that the ending suggests that this book is really just a teaser for a longer version that will come in a few months.
This is certainly not great literature - in fact it does not even reach the mediocre standards of the "Nikki Heat" series but moved well and was more about the crime than the action, so it might be an indicator of better things to come.
August 12, 2021
What the actual fuck. I read the first novel years ago and I don't remember it being this grossly sexist, but maybe I've just blocked it. Let's just ignore the fact that most of the characters, and especially the women, have stupid names, I think that's part of the joke (EXCEPT for the extremely large breasted fiancee HILARIOUSLY named Toppers. Seriously dude, what jokes. What class.) But let's NOT ignore the nasty sexual innuendos constantly piled on the female agent. It doesn't seem like Storm has many thoughts about any woman except for those centering on her breasts, thighs, other body parts, and add in the immediate unwanted invitation to bed. If there was any indication that the other agent returned his interest, I might let it pass, but the character was obviously not interested and it wasn't funny. At all. Especially because Storm straight up admits that he's sexually harassing her because he finds it fun while knowing she does not. AND when he was essentially brought in to be the much better Savior male agent and spent his entire time being an absolute twat to her. Fucking gross and fuck the patriarchy.
May 15, 2012
I quite liked this entertaining novella. I suspect I'm really getting played...that I'm going to end up paying more for a novel in $2 increments than I'd ever spend as a single purchase, but I guess I'm in for the ride now. I haven't read the graphic novel yet, so I thought it would be fun to get a glimpse of Derrick Storm, and it was. The character names are straight out of "How to Write a Comic Book"...Derrick Storm, Clara Strike, April Showers, Jedediah Jones...but it just adds to the cheesy good fun. The story is complete while still leaving a conspiracy theory open for follow up. You got glimpses of Storm's past without lingering on it. The inner dialogue parts may have felt a little too long/repetitive/something at times, but not to the point of being annoying. Really, you couldn't ask for more in a novella.
June 17, 2013
I'm a big fan of the trashy fun found in the other Richard Castle novels, and I've really enjoyed the winks interspersed throughout the books to an audience that understands these are fiction books being written under the name of a fictional guywho is writing thinly veiled fiction about his life and work with the NYPD. (Got that?)
This e-novella, however, had most of the cheesy lines but somehow much less of the fun of the Nikki Heat books. The jokes are more obvious (a well-endowed woman is named Samantha Topper), the male lead character less fun than the dashing-but-sensitive-and-clearly-based-on-Castle Jameson Rook, and the female characters are just blah, blurry, beautiful back drops to the sexually charged (and too aggressively flirtatious) Derrick Storm.
Even at $2 per ebook, I'm not sure I'll continue this series.
This e-novella, however, had most of the cheesy lines but somehow much less of the fun of the Nikki Heat books. The jokes are more obvious (a well-endowed woman is named Samantha Topper), the male lead character less fun than the dashing-but-sensitive-and-clearly-based-on-Castle Jameson Rook, and the female characters are just blah, blurry, beautiful back drops to the sexually charged (and too aggressively flirtatious) Derrick Storm.
Even at $2 per ebook, I'm not sure I'll continue this series.
January 8, 2020
Nathan Fillion would be ashamed! I loved the Castle TV show, and was surprised there were actual books. This ‘novella’ or short story (definitely not a real book) was just dreadful, though. The main character was an absolute pig, and the internal monologue (in italics on every page!) is horrible. It’s incredibly sexist, and he is over-the-top cocky. On top of that, the actual plot is just..meh. So to make it better the writer has made everything cryptic, and tells you something big has just been revealed, but doesn’t give you enough information to know what connection was actually made. I had already figured out the ending but struggled to put together the gap hardly revealed pieces. It was not enjoyable. I have read that the Nikki Heat series is better so I will give it one more try from the female perspective, but my hopes are very, very low.
January 7, 2015
This was a library/Kindle check-out on a lazy Sunday afternoon, THANK GOD I didn't pay money for it.
Okay, so I haven't paid attention to who is really writing these, and this novella has ensured that I will not be looking for more of his work. First of all, the italics. THE ITALICS. Every other paragraph was an italicized rambling monologue of what this unlikable pig Derrick Storm was thinking, only it wasn't at all enlightening to the plot. Enlightening regarding one woman's enormous chest, or another woman's yoga-toned ass... oh yes indeed.
We're supposed to believe that this is the sort of dribble the character, Castle, writes? Gross.
Okay, so I haven't paid attention to who is really writing these, and this novella has ensured that I will not be looking for more of his work. First of all, the italics. THE ITALICS. Every other paragraph was an italicized rambling monologue of what this unlikable pig Derrick Storm was thinking, only it wasn't at all enlightening to the plot. Enlightening regarding one woman's enormous chest, or another woman's yoga-toned ass... oh yes indeed.
We're supposed to believe that this is the sort of dribble the character, Castle, writes? Gross.
August 17, 2020
A facile and (in a word used by another reviewer) cheesy supposed novella - in fact just the first segment of a three episode serial - 'written' by the fictional 'Richard Castle', actually screenwriter Tom Straw. And it reads like it: little characterisation, little real plot, plenty of running around and 'revelations' arrived at by the main character in largely unbelievable ways. I've gone back and forth on whether to give 1 or 2 stars: I'm going to stop on 1, because 2 is really too generous. Glad I borrowed this ebook from the library rather than paying for it. Apparently some of the 'Richard Castle' books are rather better...
September 15, 2015
This was the first Derrick Storm story published, but it starts by bringing Storm out of retirement, so it wasn't as much of an introduction as I had hoped. The 83 page ebook novella was an easy read that leads directly into the second Storm ebook,which I have requested from the library's ereading lender.
November 26, 2017
I would not recommend this book to anyone who loves this genre. I can't speak to the fans of the show, because had I known there was a show, I would never have read it, but it was cliche and extremely predictable. The writing wasn't horrible, but everything happened too fast to really believe. I will not be reading the remaining books in the trilogy.
June 2, 2014
As a fan of the Nikki Heat novels, I was expecting the usual formulaic novel in line with an episode of the tv show, Castle. I was delightfully surprised to discover that this is a well crafted thriller!
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