Castle Fans Read On

I discovered the TV series Castle about a month ago. I quickly caught up on all the episodes by going here (you'll see that you can watch many other shows online here, as well).

Like many others, I grew fascinated with the tension presented by Richard Castle (played by Nathan Fillion) and Detective Kate Beckett (played by Stana Katic). I guess this is the usual formula for TV, but the fact that Castle is an author makes it a bit more interesting to me than say, The Mentalist, which is also about a female detective saddled with a male sidekick "consultant." (Although I like The Mentalist also!)

Recently, though, I found out that "Richard Castle" has two books out: Heat Wave and Naked Heat, both of which have been referenced in the television series as books Castle authored based on his research following Beckett and her detectives around.

I purchased Heat Wave, the first book in Castle's new series, following his "wildly successful Derek Storm books." I was instantly engaged, as ABC has put a new spin on advertising with these books! And how enchanting, for a part of my imagination (and millions of other viewers) to come alive on my Kindle screen, as I actually read about Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook, characters based off the imagination of characters!

If you are a fan of the show, you've got to get this book. I've already gotten the second book, Naked Heat, and I'm looking forward to reading it while I have a long Thanksgiving weekend at home. But I couldn't put it down. The reason?

Well, the writing's tight, the pace fast, the tension and one-liners just as taut and dry as they are on the show. But it was like extending the pleasure of the show, because each episode lasts roughly 40 minutes but this book lasts much longer, like reading the original script behind one of the episodes.

And the author doesn't stop with just tension between Rook and Heat, translated Castle and Beckett. For all of you out there who wish the producers at ABC would throw you a romantic Castle-Beckett bone, this book is for you! It's not hard at all to read Castle and Beckett into Heat and Rook's relationship, and it doesn't impact the series at all, the success of which many say hinges on Beckett and Castle not solidifying anything.

I did try to find out who the real author of these books is. (No, I don't believe it's Nathan Fillion, although it's Nathan's picture on Richard Castle's Amazon author page.) I got several websites saying James Patterson is the likely candidate, others Michael Connelly, based on the fact that both of them have appeared as poker playing buddies of Richard Castle's in the series. You know what? I kinda like the mystery of not knowing.


Q4U: Any of you out there have a special connection with this show? Does Richard Castle's writer's mind not strike a chord and resonate with you?