Crashing Heat by Richard Castle (Review)

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I recently finished reading the most recent book in the Nikki Heat series by Richard Castle – Crashing Heat. It’s a series I’ve really enjoyed over the years so I was really excited to get it. Each book has the word Heat somewhere in the title because the main character is, of course, Nikki Heat.

This series is written by “Richard Castle.” Yes, the very same Richard Castle from the show Castle formerly on ABC. His photo is even on the back cover. Very clever, whoever you really are.

The Nikki Heat Series

Heat is a New York City detective (and now in the last couple of books, Captain) whose tragic past caused her to change her career path to law enforcement. And really, it was an excellent move because she does an outstanding job of solving crimes while respecting the victim’s memory in the process.

Nikki’s team of detectives at the twentieth precinct is an eclectic mixture of competent and trustworthy officers who are like a crazy family but also solve crimes efficiently and competently. Well, mostly.

And what good series is complete without an epic love interest? Jameson Rook is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who adds his unique perspective and journalist’s brain to Nikki’s team’s crime-solving efforts. Rook and Heat are very different so they’ve got the “opposites attract” thing going for them. A bit cliché perhaps, but it works. He’s intelligent, charismatic, and funny. Practically the ideal man, right? Thankfully, he’s also charmingly annoying at times which makes him a much more realistic character. Don’t want him to be too perfect, now do we?

I won’t say more than this because (channeling my inner River Song) – spoilers.

So Close, Yet So Far…

For years, the books in the Nikki Heat series have been some of my go-to books when I want something fun that I’m sure I’ll like. The books are fast-paced and easy to read. In fact, I was so looking forward to reading Crashing Heat that I requested it from the library the day it was released.

In Crashing Heat, Rook gets the opportunity to be a visiting instructor at his alma mater. Unfortunately for him, one of his students is found dead in his bed, and he becomes the prime suspect in her murder. This book is full of conspiracies, secret societies, and deception.

But not full enough. This book just didn’t live up to its elder siblings. It feels like Mr. Castle was only making sure there was a book out there by the deadline, neglecting the finer points of the story in order to “be done” on time. Crashing Heat was relatively short at 235 pages. The storyline has good bones, but there was so much going on, and none of it was expanded upon fully that the book really needed to be longer to do justice to the story. If the author had taken the time to embellish some of the details, Crashing Heat could have been an outstanding thriller.

Sadly, the author just didn’t achieve his full potential here, unlike past books where he proved himself to be a wonderful storyteller. I truly hope that if there is another book in the series, he will put more effort into developing the story into the exciting mystery I know he can write, instead of just adding “romantic” filler and borderline unbelievable storylines.

Looking for more great books to read? The Monkeewrench series is phenomenal!

Nikki Heat Series – in chronological order

1. Heat Wave
2. Naked Heat
3. Heat Rises
4. Frozen Heat
5. Deadly Heat
6. Raging Heat
7. Driving Heat
8. High Heat
9. Heat Storm
10. Crashing Heat