What do you think?
Rate this book
Nikki Heat #9
Жега и Буря
Ако капитан Ники Хийт от нюйоркската полиция се държи така, сякаш е видяла призрак насреща й, това съвсем не е случайно.
Mайка й, смятана цели седемнадесет години за мъртва, се появява изневиделица. На пръв поглед единствената причина за завръщането на Синтия Хийт е да предупреди дъщеря си, че първоначалната заплаха, накарала я да се укрие, сега е по-голяма от всякога.
Този път опасността не грози само Синтия. Докато Ники все повече се доближава до истината, мистериозна фигура от престъпния свят с прозвище Змея започва да я преследва по най-жесток начин.
Каква е тайната на Синтия? Какво би накарало една любяща майка да инсценира смъртта си и да изчезне от живота на дъщеря си? Отговорите се крият седемнадесет години назад във времето в другата част на света...
...където супершпионинът от ЦРУ Дерик Сторм се натъква на стара гласова поща, оставена от самата Синтия. Агентът е по петите на престъпна групировка от китайски бизнесмени, известни като „Шанхайската седморка“, които са замаскирали незаконната си дейност, така че да убегне на властите.
И сега миналото на Синтия се оказва свързано с настоящите престъпления на Седморката. Част от тези събития стават и двамата твърдоглави детективи.
Ники Хийт и Дерик Сторм, героите, помогнали на Ричард Касъл да стане един от любимите писатели на Америка, се срещат за първи път. Ще се наложи да приложат целия си набор от умения, за да спрат злодея, притежаващ ресурсите и решителността да убие и двамата.
Mайка й, смятана цели седемнадесет години за мъртва, се появява изневиделица. На пръв поглед единствената причина за завръщането на Синтия Хийт е да предупреди дъщеря си, че първоначалната заплаха, накарала я да се укрие, сега е по-голяма от всякога.
Този път опасността не грози само Синтия. Докато Ники все повече се доближава до истината, мистериозна фигура от престъпния свят с прозвище Змея започва да я преследва по най-жесток начин.
Каква е тайната на Синтия? Какво би накарало една любяща майка да инсценира смъртта си и да изчезне от живота на дъщеря си? Отговорите се крият седемнадесет години назад във времето в другата част на света...
...където супершпионинът от ЦРУ Дерик Сторм се натъква на стара гласова поща, оставена от самата Синтия. Агентът е по петите на престъпна групировка от китайски бизнесмени, известни като „Шанхайската седморка“, които са замаскирали незаконната си дейност, така че да убегне на властите.
И сега миналото на Синтия се оказва свързано с настоящите престъпления на Седморката. Част от тези събития стават и двамата твърдоглави детективи.
Ники Хийт и Дерик Сторм, героите, помогнали на Ричард Касъл да стане един от любимите писатели на Америка, се срещат за първи път. Ще се наложи да приложат целия си набор от умения, за да спрат злодея, притежаващ ресурсите и решителността да убие и двамата.
320 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2017
414 people are currently reading
4474 people want to read
About the author
Richard Castle
58 books4,890 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 313 reviews
December 29, 2017
Returning for another instalment of the Nikki Heat series, readers will be graced with the added bonus of a full Derrick Storm novel as well, showing the Richard Castle is able to juggle two of his protagonists in this high-flying piece of light fare. Away from the fast pace of China’s cities, Derrick Storm is in the middle of uncovering a counterfeit operation that could have significant implications in the United States. It would seem someone is laundering large amounts of US money from somewhere in China. Storm escapes with a single CD, which could hold a number of truths to bring down a group known only as the Shanghai Seven. Meanwhile, in New York, Nikki Heat is still reeling with the knowledge that her mother is alive after being presumed dead and cremated seventeen years before. However, Cynthia Heat remains on the lam, from whom, no one is quite sure. Nikki receives numerous cryptic texts from a man using the moniker, The Serpent, warning her that recent brushes with death may one day not miss their mark. As Nikki tries to work through this news, Derrick Storm appears stateside with some information that could tie Cynthia Heat to a CIA operation in China and the counterfeit operation he has been running. Storm is also being chased, presumably by the Shanghai Seven, who want their disc back. Armed with his wits and retired father, Carl, Storm seeks to battle his way to safety. Heat discovers something her mother left for her, a clue that could tie-in with the Derrick Storm fiasco. All the while, Heat’s husband and the annoying aspect of this book series, Jameson Rook, appears to woo his wife away from all the panic that is going on. While she seeks to rebuff him for a time, she cannot deny his wiles, which only makes for a cheesy collection of moments throughout the narrative. Can Nikki and Storm clear the way for a Heat reunion? Might the Shanghai Seven be topped by beheading The Serpent? All this and more awaits the reader, with a chance that this might be the swan song for Castle’s published writing career. Fans of the series and cancelled television show may like this piece, though others might want to read it to close the door once and for all.
I am not normally a bitter person when it comes to reading. I realise that sometimes books are written to entertain on a lighter level and can accept that. However, there has been something about the last few novels (and the latter seasons of the television show) that irked me enough to tune out. I want to enjoy them, from the fast pace of the storylines and the interesting character developments, but find myself feeling short-changed. It is hard to divorce the characters from the book with those I saw on the small screen, though I try by best. Nikki Heat is surely a climber within the NYPD, working hard to solve cases and putting her eventual passion for Jameson Rook to the side. The revelation about her mother being alive allowed the reader to tap into more flashback memories about Heat’s childhood, though they are muddled between trying to find The Serpent and the off-putting Jameson Rook’s reappearance to woo her between the sheets. Derrick Storm is given some wonderful development here, tapping into not only his youth, but pulling the elder Mr. Storm into the mix to offer familial comparisons. Castle does well to weave this into the story, providing some interesting banter as well as strong character development throughout the piece. Utilising a number of interesting supporting characters, Castle pushes the story forward and keeps the reader wondering what awaits. The story found herein is not weak, though there were times that I wanted things to get moving. Storm’s storyline kept things interesting, but still I found things dragged throughout. I try not to get too cynical, but I did notice I was waving my hand in a circular motion, hoping to push the narrative along so that I could reach the end. Might it have been knowing that there was little left to read in order to put this series to bed? Quite possibly, but I am not willing to waste too much of my time waiting when I have so many other books to devour. I liked the Heat series, don’t get me wrong, but there comes a time when pulling the proverbial parachute is in order. This was surely the time for Castle, as television executives did recently as well.
Kudos, Mr. Castle, for a valiant effort to tie off some loose strings. I have enjoyed the series, but am sure you, as a fictional front for a ghost writer, will now disappear into the annals of time and enjoy fictional retirement.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I am not normally a bitter person when it comes to reading. I realise that sometimes books are written to entertain on a lighter level and can accept that. However, there has been something about the last few novels (and the latter seasons of the television show) that irked me enough to tune out. I want to enjoy them, from the fast pace of the storylines and the interesting character developments, but find myself feeling short-changed. It is hard to divorce the characters from the book with those I saw on the small screen, though I try by best. Nikki Heat is surely a climber within the NYPD, working hard to solve cases and putting her eventual passion for Jameson Rook to the side. The revelation about her mother being alive allowed the reader to tap into more flashback memories about Heat’s childhood, though they are muddled between trying to find The Serpent and the off-putting Jameson Rook’s reappearance to woo her between the sheets. Derrick Storm is given some wonderful development here, tapping into not only his youth, but pulling the elder Mr. Storm into the mix to offer familial comparisons. Castle does well to weave this into the story, providing some interesting banter as well as strong character development throughout the piece. Utilising a number of interesting supporting characters, Castle pushes the story forward and keeps the reader wondering what awaits. The story found herein is not weak, though there were times that I wanted things to get moving. Storm’s storyline kept things interesting, but still I found things dragged throughout. I try not to get too cynical, but I did notice I was waving my hand in a circular motion, hoping to push the narrative along so that I could reach the end. Might it have been knowing that there was little left to read in order to put this series to bed? Quite possibly, but I am not willing to waste too much of my time waiting when I have so many other books to devour. I liked the Heat series, don’t get me wrong, but there comes a time when pulling the proverbial parachute is in order. This was surely the time for Castle, as television executives did recently as well.
Kudos, Mr. Castle, for a valiant effort to tie off some loose strings. I have enjoyed the series, but am sure you, as a fictional front for a ghost writer, will now disappear into the annals of time and enjoy fictional retirement.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
August 9, 2021
This is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. This series is written by a fictional character that was part of the television show Castle. In that show he is an author and the powers to be decided to print actual books from that "author". This is a crossover event between the author's two running series. Derrick Storm and Nikki Heat work together to discover who is behind a counterfeit crime which also has ties in with Nikki's mother's disappearance.
This book was just plainly fun from the beginning page to the end. It has been awhile since I have read a book from this universe and I am sorry that it took me so long to get back into this universe. I will say once again I love this little twist of a media tie-in novel. I love the idea of a fictional character (we do know now who is the actual author) writing actual books based from the concept of the show. As soon as I started reading I get the sense of Nikki based off Kate in the show and right away I felt like I was again in the world of Castle. As for the crossover it works as we get one chapter with one hero and then the next chapter with the other. I have always liked this kind of storytelling as you are left with a cliffhanger usually and it just entices me to continue reading. There was plenty of action and new characters introduced. Derrick's father is terrific and I want to see more from him. The only negative to this book was Rook wasn't involved until the end. To stay with my television show comparison it would be like watching an episode of the show and not seeing Nathan Fillion until the final act.
This is a great example of a beach read. It isn't serious but it is fun and entertaining. The mystery was easy to figure out but I did not care. I was along for the ride and I enjoyed every second of it.
This book was just plainly fun from the beginning page to the end. It has been awhile since I have read a book from this universe and I am sorry that it took me so long to get back into this universe. I will say once again I love this little twist of a media tie-in novel. I love the idea of a fictional character (we do know now who is the actual author) writing actual books based from the concept of the show. As soon as I started reading I get the sense of Nikki based off Kate in the show and right away I felt like I was again in the world of Castle. As for the crossover it works as we get one chapter with one hero and then the next chapter with the other. I have always liked this kind of storytelling as you are left with a cliffhanger usually and it just entices me to continue reading. There was plenty of action and new characters introduced. Derrick's father is terrific and I want to see more from him. The only negative to this book was Rook wasn't involved until the end. To stay with my television show comparison it would be like watching an episode of the show and not seeing Nathan Fillion until the final act.
This is a great example of a beach read. It isn't serious but it is fun and entertaining. The mystery was easy to figure out but I did not care. I was along for the ride and I enjoyed every second of it.
May 20, 2017
3.5 stars, actually.
It's a little hard to take the Nikki Heat series seriously - whether or not you loved the very popular Castle TV show that starred the New York police detective (played by Stana Katic) and her Pulitzer prize-winning squeeze, Richard Castle (played by the hunky Nathan Filion). I was a diehard fan until the last couple of seasons, when the shows somehow stopped being fun and I pretty much lost interest. Supposedly, the books are written by Castle; but of course, he's not a real person; the true author, in fact, has been speculated about but never revealed. And like the TV show, the books started out quite fun but may be slipping a bit (the last three, including this one, earned just 3-1/2 stars from me).
This one brings together Nikki and another "Richard Castle" series hero, Derrick Storm - a hulk of a man the CIA calls when something is amiss in the U.S. of A., where CIA investigations are off limits. The pairing, though, seems just plain off. There's plenty of action, particularly on Storm's side of the plot, but I never felt any kind of connection between the two, nor of Storm with Heat's husband Jameson Rook (the name her TV husband Castle assumes in the books) even though indications are that Heat has been friends with Storm for quite some time.
Essentially, what we have are two story lines that, as expected, eventually converge. Ever since Heat's recent sighting of a woman she's sure is her mother Cynthia - a secret U.S. spy Heat had believed was murdered 17 years ago - she's been frantically trying to track her down. In the midst of that, the female U.S. President-to-be has rather inexplicably asked Heat to be her chief of Homeland Security, so there's a big decision to be made. That's even harder since she's banished her hubby from her life, claiming her search for her mother is a dangerous journey and she doesn't want him to be involved (yeah, I never bought that in the TV series, either).
Meanwhile, Storm took part in the raid of a counterfeiting ring that appears to be connected to a nasty group known as the Shanghai Seven. In the process, he begins to suspect that his own government may be working against him, and he turns to his dad Carl for much-needed help. The two story lines begin to come together when Storm finds a tape with Heat's mother's voice on it that appears to connect her to the Shanghai Seven. At the same time, Heat is taking heat in the form of text messages from someone called "The Serpent" warning her to call off the search for her mother.
From then on, the action really picks up - some of it the stuff a Roger Moore James Bond movie is made of that crosses the line of credulity and leads to a rather sappy ending. Overall, it makes for an easy, breezy read that won't tax your brain cells - perfect for reading on a beach or waiting at a doctor's office.
It's a little hard to take the Nikki Heat series seriously - whether or not you loved the very popular Castle TV show that starred the New York police detective (played by Stana Katic) and her Pulitzer prize-winning squeeze, Richard Castle (played by the hunky Nathan Filion). I was a diehard fan until the last couple of seasons, when the shows somehow stopped being fun and I pretty much lost interest. Supposedly, the books are written by Castle; but of course, he's not a real person; the true author, in fact, has been speculated about but never revealed. And like the TV show, the books started out quite fun but may be slipping a bit (the last three, including this one, earned just 3-1/2 stars from me).
This one brings together Nikki and another "Richard Castle" series hero, Derrick Storm - a hulk of a man the CIA calls when something is amiss in the U.S. of A., where CIA investigations are off limits. The pairing, though, seems just plain off. There's plenty of action, particularly on Storm's side of the plot, but I never felt any kind of connection between the two, nor of Storm with Heat's husband Jameson Rook (the name her TV husband Castle assumes in the books) even though indications are that Heat has been friends with Storm for quite some time.
Essentially, what we have are two story lines that, as expected, eventually converge. Ever since Heat's recent sighting of a woman she's sure is her mother Cynthia - a secret U.S. spy Heat had believed was murdered 17 years ago - she's been frantically trying to track her down. In the midst of that, the female U.S. President-to-be has rather inexplicably asked Heat to be her chief of Homeland Security, so there's a big decision to be made. That's even harder since she's banished her hubby from her life, claiming her search for her mother is a dangerous journey and she doesn't want him to be involved (yeah, I never bought that in the TV series, either).
Meanwhile, Storm took part in the raid of a counterfeiting ring that appears to be connected to a nasty group known as the Shanghai Seven. In the process, he begins to suspect that his own government may be working against him, and he turns to his dad Carl for much-needed help. The two story lines begin to come together when Storm finds a tape with Heat's mother's voice on it that appears to connect her to the Shanghai Seven. At the same time, Heat is taking heat in the form of text messages from someone called "The Serpent" warning her to call off the search for her mother.
From then on, the action really picks up - some of it the stuff a Roger Moore James Bond movie is made of that crosses the line of credulity and leads to a rather sappy ending. Overall, it makes for an easy, breezy read that won't tax your brain cells - perfect for reading on a beach or waiting at a doctor's office.
August 2, 2017
Βαθμολογία: ★★★
Μια υπέροχη αστυνομική σειρά φτάνει στο τέλος της. Στο ένατο βιβλίο παίζεται ένα crossover μεταξύ των δύο πρωταγωνιστών των βιβλίων του Richard Castle (από την ομώνυμη τηλεοπτική σειρά), της Nikki Heat και του Derrick Storm. Δυστυχώς δεν ακολουθεί την κλασική ροή των υπόλοιπων μυθιστορημάτων της σειράς. Δεν υπάρχει πτώμα, αναζήτηση δολοφόνου και η υπόλοιπη αστυνομική ομάδα εμφανίζεται ελάχιστα. Η δράση είναι ασταμάτητη καθ' όλη τη διάρκεια του βιβλίου. Δεν με ενθουσίασε ιδιαίτερα ούτε η πλοκή, ούτε ο Storm. Το κλείσιμο αν και συμπαθητικό, θα προτιμούσα να είχε υπάρξει και κάποιο flashforward.
Μια υπέροχη αστυνομική σειρά φτάνει στο τέλος της. Στο ένατο βιβλίο παίζεται ένα crossover μεταξύ των δύο πρωταγωνιστών των βιβλίων του Richard Castle (από την ομώνυμη τηλεοπτική σειρά), της Nikki Heat και του Derrick Storm. Δυστυχώς δεν ακολουθεί την κλασική ροή των υπόλοιπων μυθιστορημάτων της σειράς. Δεν υπάρχει πτώμα, αναζήτηση δολοφόνου και η υπόλοιπη αστυνομική ομάδα εμφανίζεται ελάχιστα. Η δράση είναι ασταμάτητη καθ' όλη τη διάρκεια του βιβλίου. Δεν με ενθουσίασε ιδιαίτερα ούτε η πλοκή, ούτε ο Storm. Το κλείσιμο αν και συμπαθητικό, θα προτιμούσα να είχε υπάρξει και κάποιο flashforward.
September 17, 2019
In qualità di amante della serie televisiva "Castle", mi sono spinto a leggere anche il nono libro della serie con protagonista Niki Heat, e non sono rimasto affatto deluso.
Anzi, anche questo episodio mi è piaciuto molto, avendovi ritrovato tutti quegli elementi che mi hanno fatto molto apprezzare i precedenti 8 libri della serie: buon ritmo della narrazione, tanta sana e piacevole ironia, qualche buona battuta, qualche divertente equivoco e una manciata di piacevoli colpi di scena.
Ho letto la versione in lingua originale e tutto sommato l'ho trovata comprensibile anche per un non madre lingua.
Anzi, anche questo episodio mi è piaciuto molto, avendovi ritrovato tutti quegli elementi che mi hanno fatto molto apprezzare i precedenti 8 libri della serie: buon ritmo della narrazione, tanta sana e piacevole ironia, qualche buona battuta, qualche divertente equivoco e una manciata di piacevoli colpi di scena.
Ho letto la versione in lingua originale e tutto sommato l'ho trovata comprensibile anche per un non madre lingua.
August 2, 2020
Honestly I never thought I'd ever read this book because I didn't know it existed in the first place until I saw it in my local bookstore. I had no idea which book came first or second so I decided to grab this one which happened to be the ninth instalment of this series (yay me). But that wouldn't have mattered had it been a good book which sadly it is not.
It is a mildly interesting book and I have no issue with the writing style what so ever. It's just, it gets boring really fast and I think it's because the TV show did a better job. I didn't really connect with any of the characters but that was probably because I never followed the series from the very beginning. The plot was average and very predictable. I figured out who the big bad was going to be in this book right from the very beginning so I didn't enjoy any suspence since there wasn't any. And the whole " The Serpent" thing was actually quite stupid. The one thing that really pissed me off is the fact that this book doesn't have an ending and I mean it quite literally. We don't get any closure. We have no clue what happens to the bad guys. Are they dead or alive? Do they go to jail? Do they suffer the repercussions of their past actions? Do they even catch the bad guys? Did the bad guys escape? What happens to Nikki Heat after the climax? Does she go on an emotional roller coaster ride now that she's reunited with her mother again? I have so many unanswered questions. But what we get instead is a chapter of how things just revert back to normal. Maybe the author didn't have enough time. But still, ending a novel in the middle of the climax of the story is just unacceptable.
For me this book is a 2 star out of 5. I don't recommend reading this book but from what I've heard the initial books in this series are good so you can give those a read, just not this one.
It is a mildly interesting book and I have no issue with the writing style what so ever. It's just, it gets boring really fast and I think it's because the TV show did a better job. I didn't really connect with any of the characters but that was probably because I never followed the series from the very beginning. The plot was average and very predictable. I figured out who the big bad was going to be in this book right from the very beginning so I didn't enjoy any suspence since there wasn't any. And the whole " The Serpent" thing was actually quite stupid. The one thing that really pissed me off is the fact that this book doesn't have an ending and I mean it quite literally. We don't get any closure. We have no clue what happens to the bad guys. Are they dead or alive? Do they go to jail? Do they suffer the repercussions of their past actions? Do they even catch the bad guys? Did the bad guys escape? What happens to Nikki Heat after the climax? Does she go on an emotional roller coaster ride now that she's reunited with her mother again? I have so many unanswered questions. But what we get instead is a chapter of how things just revert back to normal. Maybe the author didn't have enough time. But still, ending a novel in the middle of the climax of the story is just unacceptable.
For me this book is a 2 star out of 5. I don't recommend reading this book but from what I've heard the initial books in this series are good so you can give those a read, just not this one.
June 12, 2017
Oh, dear. Oh, my. Aargh!!! How do I give stars to "Heat Storm"? On the one hand, I felt like Sally Field: I liked it...I really, really liked it. On the other hand: I really, really didn't. If you've read my review of the last Nikki Heat book, "High Heat", I gave it five stars and praised author Richard Castle for writing a great prequel to a "they're-gonna-reunite-and-it's-gonna-kick-butt" book. Well, I was wrong. "Heat Storm" was more of a Nikki Heat/Derrick Storm love fest. And, no, I don't mean Nikki and Derrick were romantically involved. I mean that it was equally Nikki-centric and Derrick-centric and that, once again, Jameson Rook was superfluous. (Which leads me to believe that all those awful internet rumors were true and that "the powers that be" *coughAndrewMarloweandTerriEddaMillercough* are getting back at Nathan for being a jerk to Stana...which just makes me sad all the way around.) And although I truly enjoyed both Nikki's and Derrick's storyline, I will reiterate in this review what I have said in the others...I watch/read "Castle"/"Nikki Heat" for the romance, humor and witty repartee between the two leads...which was, frankly, pathetic in this book.
If "Richard Castle" is going to continue down this literary road with Nikki and Derrick, perhaps he should just put us Caskett/Rooki-shippers out of our misery and do what he did in the first season of "Castle" -- kill off his hero (in this case, Jameson Rook). Then at least we could enjoy Nikki and Derrick without being despondent over the slow, painful, seemingly conscious-uncoupling of Nikki and Jameson.
If "Richard Castle" is going to continue down this literary road with Nikki and Derrick, perhaps he should just put us Caskett/Rooki-shippers out of our misery and do what he did in the first season of "Castle" -- kill off his hero (in this case, Jameson Rook). Then at least we could enjoy Nikki and Derrick without being despondent over the slow, painful, seemingly conscious-uncoupling of Nikki and Jameson.
May 5, 2017
The combination of Nikki Heat and Derrick Storm in this book makes for a double dose of murder, mystery and mayhem - not to mention 3 ruggedly handsome men with 2 Storms and Rook! - that keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. I literally couldn't put this book down, through all its twists and turns, until I'd read to the very end (and what an ending!). Loved it!
October 21, 2019
Учудващо приятна за четене книга, която се гълта на един дъх. Интелигентно написана, с чувство за хумор на места... Ех, жалко че сериалът свърши — може би нашите щяха да преведат и останалите от поредицата... :(
June 24, 2017
In the very first episode of Castle, the show opens with author Richard Castle at a launch party for "the final Derek Storm novel". In particular, the show lets you know, Derek Storm has been definitively killed by a gun shot to the head with a large exit wound. However, in the world that "Richard Castle" has setup, it's clear dead doesn't mean dead, and this book is no exception, as Derek Storm teams up with Nikki Heat to find out who killed her mother and why, once and for all.
These books got more and more improbable as time went on, though they were still enjoyable. That said, if there's ever another Nikki Heat book, I'd prefer it to be more like the beginning of the series (and for that matter, like the beginning of the TV show) rather than the end. Focus on the smart, sexy cop. Focus on her doofus boyfriend. None of this terrorism crap that, yes, the NYPD does, but they don't actually have any charter to do.
These books got more and more improbable as time went on, though they were still enjoyable. That said, if there's ever another Nikki Heat book, I'd prefer it to be more like the beginning of the series (and for that matter, like the beginning of the TV show) rather than the end. Focus on the smart, sexy cop. Focus on her doofus boyfriend. None of this terrorism crap that, yes, the NYPD does, but they don't actually have any charter to do.
June 2, 2018
While it wasn't as engaging as previous Heat books, I guess it rounded the series off. There was a lot more that could have been said, if only they'd let him have a few more chapters.
February 26, 2020
The last couple of books have been getting hokier & hokier, but this one will be my last Nikki Heat book. The story was weak & predictable. The Derrick Storm character seemed very 2 dimensional & to "James Bond" ish. The ending was trite & did a poor job of summoning up the story. I will always be a Castle fan, but I now understand why the show ended. These characters have gone about as far as they can go & please put them to rest.
September 17, 2017
What would YOU do if your mother, presumed dead and buried for 17 years, is spotted at a bus stop? You chase her down but she disappears before your eyes. Was she a bit of bad pizza or just a wishful dream?
Nikki Heat and Derrick Storm, Richard Castle's most beloved characters, team up for the first time to find Nikki's mother. Standing in their way is a nefarious group of Chinese businessmen known as the Shanghai Seven, who have the resources-and ruthlessness-to stop them.
Dear Richard Castle, don't stop! I love these books!
Nikki Heat and Derrick Storm, Richard Castle's most beloved characters, team up for the first time to find Nikki's mother. Standing in their way is a nefarious group of Chinese businessmen known as the Shanghai Seven, who have the resources-and ruthlessness-to stop them.
Dear Richard Castle, don't stop! I love these books!
February 26, 2021
Un sentiment plutôt mitigé sur ce tome. En effet, c'était plus un tome de Derrick Storm que de Nikki Heat. Même si notre intrépide capitaine tient grande place dans l'histoire, ce roman n'est pas dans le style habituel, surtout sur le sujet de la mère de notre héroïne. Par ailleurs, Rook tient ici un rôle secondaire et est quasiment absent sur la majeure partie de l'histoire. Seul l'arc final relève le niveau. Lecture en demie teinte donc.
June 11, 2017
I LOVED this! It was so much fun. I love the Derrick Storm / Nikki Heat partnership, and I'm so glad that this book series is continuing even though the TV series isn't. I can't wait for the next book!
September 17, 2017
This was great! The beginning was a bit slow, but after that hurdle the book definitely picked up and kept my attention throughout. I loved Derrick and his dad - they were hilarious and unstoppable together. Nikki Heat and Derrick Storm make a fantastic team!
January 22, 2018
Entretenido y mantiene la intriga hasta el final. Un buen colofón para una serie de libros basada en una serie de televisión que languideció la última temporada
February 25, 2018
An extremely well-researched and well-written thriller. I love the combination of characters and the intricate plots and storylines.
December 28, 2018
It’s 12:30 a.m. you all are getting a real review when I wake up but I really really liked it and it was definitely one of the best decisions to wait 2 years to read this book.
February 15, 2019
I’m kind of disgruntled that there wasn’t enough of Nikki and her mom considering how many books was focused on finding out what exactly happened to her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
October 3, 2019In the words of Richard Castle - Best Ever!
January 29, 2020
My mom and I read this for our little book club and I have to say that I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. But I won’t read another one.
September 9, 2025
que fim absolutamente perfeito, adoro adoro, mistério maravilhosa e personagens perfeitas - não acredito que só me falta um para acabar :(((
March 26, 2019
Derrick Storm meets Nikki Heat
January 4, 2018
This was a good book. I’ve read this series since it started and because I loved Castle when it was on. Some of the story is improbable but since there are things happening in the real world that I would have thought completely improbable, why not enjoy a fiction book of improbabilities? Nikki and Rook have the magic that Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion have in the tv series. Very enjoyable, light reading and after 9 books in the series I’m still looking forward to #10. Enjoy!
July 20, 2018
For this #FictionFriday review, we're talking about Richard Castle's final novel about the adventures of Captain Nikki Heat in Heat Storm.
So, what's this book all about? Heat teams up with Castle's other mainstay character, Derrick Storm, to save Nikki's mother, Cynthia, who has been in hiding (and presumed dead) for 17 years. Standing in their way is a nefarious group of Chinese businessmen known as the Shanghai Seven, who have the resources-and ruthlessness-to stop them.
My honest review of the book was that it was nice to see this series recover after so many falters. It was a true return to form with the addition of Derrick Storm that allowed this book to be a detective mystery at its core without the constant sloppy sex scenes between Heat and her husband that feel forced in other entries in this series. With Rook being a smaller part of this novel, it allows us to focus on following Heat and Storm as they track down the clues to not only stop the Shanghai Seven but also save Cynthia Heat's life. As always though, that is just one reader's opinion. Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments and check me out at jdmartinbooks.com or follow me on Goodreads for more reviews and to find my own books and other merchandise.
Thanks for reading!
So, what's this book all about? Heat teams up with Castle's other mainstay character, Derrick Storm, to save Nikki's mother, Cynthia, who has been in hiding (and presumed dead) for 17 years. Standing in their way is a nefarious group of Chinese businessmen known as the Shanghai Seven, who have the resources-and ruthlessness-to stop them.
My honest review of the book was that it was nice to see this series recover after so many falters. It was a true return to form with the addition of Derrick Storm that allowed this book to be a detective mystery at its core without the constant sloppy sex scenes between Heat and her husband that feel forced in other entries in this series. With Rook being a smaller part of this novel, it allows us to focus on following Heat and Storm as they track down the clues to not only stop the Shanghai Seven but also save Cynthia Heat's life. As always though, that is just one reader's opinion. Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments and check me out at jdmartinbooks.com or follow me on Goodreads for more reviews and to find my own books and other merchandise.
Thanks for reading!
June 26, 2019
Stars: 3 / 5
Recommendation: If you like crime plots and follow closely how day-in and day-out law enforcement personnel solve a case along with tinge of romance and a boat load of twists that spin the plot like a top, then this is a perfect series to read through.
Heat Storm is the ninth book in the series of Castle Books written 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...) published in May of 2017. The plot is set immediately after the events of the previous book High Heat, with introduction of Derrick Storm in Nikki Heat series.
Typically as the TV series progressed, one book per season was released. However the series ended after eight seasons in May 2016. Yet, Hyperion Books went on to publish two more books in this series, which were going to be the end of the series in books. The first of which was High Heat (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...), the eighth book in the series. And this book. But, I see that a tenth book Crashing Heat was released this past March. Looks like the popularity of the books hasn’t faded, just like the series whose reruns are still watched hugely. Anyways, back to my review of this current book Heat Storm.
In High Heat we noticed that Cynthia Heat had reappeared from her fake death and also Derrick Storm introduced at the end of the plot with regards to Cynthia Heat. This plot starts at that very moment when Nikki Heat and Derrick Storm face-off before they shake hands on a very unique and very personal mission. As they proceed in their investigation, new enemies pop up who will do anything to stop them, even killing them.
Now that I have completed reading Derrick Storm books as well, it was a fun ride in this plot to see how two strong and powerful characters work with each other towards a common goal. Both being Alpha in nature, I liked the fact that Castle kept two separate tracks for them, although they were working on the same investigation. Along the way, readers get historical, political and scientific education.
Castle this time takes the readers into a battle between two powerful countries in the world to dominate politically, trade-wise and economically. We get brief history between how the two countries faced off in the early 19th to late 20th century before capitalism took over.
Given the fact that Castle had merged Nikki's world and Derrick's world, we are bound to see characters from both appear along the plot - Nikki's team, Derrick's boss and associates and their families. Oh of course, the villains from the previous plots also surface. But who is friend and who turns foe is what keeps the reader on the edge as the plot evolves and characters reveal their true self.
What bothered me though was that Heat refuses to take help of her husband Jameson Rook for most part of the book, despite the history where he had helped solve her cases and also come to her rescue when needed. I understand that she wanted to keep him away from danger. But, given the fact that he was more helpful being closer than far, I felt that Castle made Nikki Heat rather selfish and stupid at the same time with that one fact.
And again she goes off on her own into the world of dangers when she could have called for a backup. Why does Castle have Nikki Heat fighting her own perils all the time. That always ticked me off with this series.
The character portrayal of both Heat and Storm sticks to what we had seen on both their individual series so far. By bringing in the elements from their books, Castle keeps the fluid motion of their lives rising and falling all along the plot. Thus we see Storm's obsession with Ford cars and Heat's passion to find the truth. Not to forget the amazing ability both of them have to rig a weapon with anything they have in dire situations or create a path to where they need to go despite the enemies closely following them.
Derrick still comes of strong and independent character, neither over shadowing Nikki nor being over shadowed by her. Castle is at his best again in moving his characters like a chess piece, giving them their due and at the same time not making it boring or mundane.
The plot ends clean and there doesn’t seem any doors open for Nikki Heat at least. However, now that she has joined hands with Derrick Storm, and forming a Heat-Storm kind of family, I wonder what would be in the next book that released this year. Perhaps Castle would take Nikki into Derrick's world to close some of his open doors? Or maybe Nikki will have a new door open that will lead to another deeper plot? One will have to read and see the next book to know.
Another easy read in a long-line of books by Richard Castle, that keeps you on the edge, takes you through conspiracies and trysts, indulges you with romance and love and at the end solves a problem that would save the world in general for being destroyed.
Spoiler Alerts:
1) Plot Reveals:
a. Nikki Heat is offered the position of Director of Homeland Security by Lindsay Gardener, the potential Presidential Candidate.
b. Nikki Heat picks up a new author, Brad Parks, to read her next set of books. Never heard of the author before but his books look interesting. Another author to my list.
c. Castle writes about a group of high-tech peeping toms called as The Gotham Voyeurs, who within their legal rights watch private lives of everyone, make a game out of it and basically are a bunch of perverts with high-tech knowledge and a weird sense of law. Made me cringe and shiver. The perils of living in a technology world.
d. One of the character in the book is named Albert Gorithem, short form Al Goritehm. Loved the play on words where Castle used "algorithm" to name a character who was deep in trenches with code and science and math.
e. A lot of what Chinese is subtly doing all over the world, in order to slowly capture it and rule is mentioned in the plot. A powerful country that doesn’t let others live in peace I suppose, being carried from centuries, just like another powerful country doing the same since past 100 years or so.
2) Sub Plots:
a. The plot in the final book in the trilogy, A Bloody Storm, ends with Jedediah Jones and Derrick Storm (without the knowledge of Jones) have the actual location of the Russian Gold. Or so he thought. Will Richard Castle set the next plot for Derrick Storm on hunting this gold? One has to wait and see.
b. At the end of this plot, Heat Storm, Cynthia Heat - Nikki's mother - and Carl Storm - Derrick's father - get engaged. I had a feeling that would be the ending of it, when Castle had referred to Nikki and Derrick's in the opening meeting as two long-lost siblings seeing each other.
c. Will Castle have Nikki Heat continue to have Detective Raley and Ochoa as co-squad leaders or will he get her a new leader or two departments for one lead each? Will be curious to see how he will turn that twist.
d. Places that Heat and Storm visit:
i. The Players Club in NYC - a prestigious club that I thought was fictional until I came across it here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pla...).
Recommendation: If you like crime plots and follow closely how day-in and day-out law enforcement personnel solve a case along with tinge of romance and a boat load of twists that spin the plot like a top, then this is a perfect series to read through.
Heat Storm is the ninth book in the series of Castle Books written 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...) published in May of 2017. The plot is set immediately after the events of the previous book High Heat, with introduction of Derrick Storm in Nikki Heat series.
Typically as the TV series progressed, one book per season was released. However the series ended after eight seasons in May 2016. Yet, Hyperion Books went on to publish two more books in this series, which were going to be the end of the series in books. The first of which was High Heat (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...), the eighth book in the series. And this book. But, I see that a tenth book Crashing Heat was released this past March. Looks like the popularity of the books hasn’t faded, just like the series whose reruns are still watched hugely. Anyways, back to my review of this current book Heat Storm.
In High Heat we noticed that Cynthia Heat had reappeared from her fake death and also Derrick Storm introduced at the end of the plot with regards to Cynthia Heat. This plot starts at that very moment when Nikki Heat and Derrick Storm face-off before they shake hands on a very unique and very personal mission. As they proceed in their investigation, new enemies pop up who will do anything to stop them, even killing them.
Now that I have completed reading Derrick Storm books as well, it was a fun ride in this plot to see how two strong and powerful characters work with each other towards a common goal. Both being Alpha in nature, I liked the fact that Castle kept two separate tracks for them, although they were working on the same investigation. Along the way, readers get historical, political and scientific education.
Castle this time takes the readers into a battle between two powerful countries in the world to dominate politically, trade-wise and economically. We get brief history between how the two countries faced off in the early 19th to late 20th century before capitalism took over.
Given the fact that Castle had merged Nikki's world and Derrick's world, we are bound to see characters from both appear along the plot - Nikki's team, Derrick's boss and associates and their families. Oh of course, the villains from the previous plots also surface. But who is friend and who turns foe is what keeps the reader on the edge as the plot evolves and characters reveal their true self.
What bothered me though was that Heat refuses to take help of her husband Jameson Rook for most part of the book, despite the history where he had helped solve her cases and also come to her rescue when needed. I understand that she wanted to keep him away from danger. But, given the fact that he was more helpful being closer than far, I felt that Castle made Nikki Heat rather selfish and stupid at the same time with that one fact.
And again she goes off on her own into the world of dangers when she could have called for a backup. Why does Castle have Nikki Heat fighting her own perils all the time. That always ticked me off with this series.
The character portrayal of both Heat and Storm sticks to what we had seen on both their individual series so far. By bringing in the elements from their books, Castle keeps the fluid motion of their lives rising and falling all along the plot. Thus we see Storm's obsession with Ford cars and Heat's passion to find the truth. Not to forget the amazing ability both of them have to rig a weapon with anything they have in dire situations or create a path to where they need to go despite the enemies closely following them.
Derrick still comes of strong and independent character, neither over shadowing Nikki nor being over shadowed by her. Castle is at his best again in moving his characters like a chess piece, giving them their due and at the same time not making it boring or mundane.
The plot ends clean and there doesn’t seem any doors open for Nikki Heat at least. However, now that she has joined hands with Derrick Storm, and forming a Heat-Storm kind of family, I wonder what would be in the next book that released this year. Perhaps Castle would take Nikki into Derrick's world to close some of his open doors? Or maybe Nikki will have a new door open that will lead to another deeper plot? One will have to read and see the next book to know.
Another easy read in a long-line of books by Richard Castle, that keeps you on the edge, takes you through conspiracies and trysts, indulges you with romance and love and at the end solves a problem that would save the world in general for being destroyed.
Spoiler Alerts:
1) Plot Reveals:
a. Nikki Heat is offered the position of Director of Homeland Security by Lindsay Gardener, the potential Presidential Candidate.
b. Nikki Heat picks up a new author, Brad Parks, to read her next set of books. Never heard of the author before but his books look interesting. Another author to my list.
c. Castle writes about a group of high-tech peeping toms called as The Gotham Voyeurs, who within their legal rights watch private lives of everyone, make a game out of it and basically are a bunch of perverts with high-tech knowledge and a weird sense of law. Made me cringe and shiver. The perils of living in a technology world.
d. One of the character in the book is named Albert Gorithem, short form Al Goritehm. Loved the play on words where Castle used "algorithm" to name a character who was deep in trenches with code and science and math.
e. A lot of what Chinese is subtly doing all over the world, in order to slowly capture it and rule is mentioned in the plot. A powerful country that doesn’t let others live in peace I suppose, being carried from centuries, just like another powerful country doing the same since past 100 years or so.
2) Sub Plots:
a. The plot in the final book in the trilogy, A Bloody Storm, ends with Jedediah Jones and Derrick Storm (without the knowledge of Jones) have the actual location of the Russian Gold. Or so he thought. Will Richard Castle set the next plot for Derrick Storm on hunting this gold? One has to wait and see.
b. At the end of this plot, Heat Storm, Cynthia Heat - Nikki's mother - and Carl Storm - Derrick's father - get engaged. I had a feeling that would be the ending of it, when Castle had referred to Nikki and Derrick's in the opening meeting as two long-lost siblings seeing each other.
c. Will Castle have Nikki Heat continue to have Detective Raley and Ochoa as co-squad leaders or will he get her a new leader or two departments for one lead each? Will be curious to see how he will turn that twist.
d. Places that Heat and Storm visit:
i. The Players Club in NYC - a prestigious club that I thought was fictional until I came across it here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pla...).
September 26, 2017
This was definitely not my favorite of the Nikki Heat books, but it definitely grew on me as the story went along. I liked the combination of Derrick Storm and Nikki Heat- except for the fact that Derrick Storm is killed off in the last book of his series (according to the first episode of Castle) which leaves me wondering where this falls in the timeline compared to those books. Overall, the story redeemed itself as it continued, it was a slow start, but eventually picked up a few more twists but ultimately it was predictable- but enjoyable.
August 26, 2017
I miss Castle on tv. This series is great but this book isn't my favorite. I'll still be reading the next one!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 313 reviews