Comment

Jan 16, 2011AnneDromeda rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Oh my God, these books are so much fun. If you aren't familiar with the author Richard Castle, that's probably because he's actually a fictional character from a TV series called *Castle.* The show's premise has its eponymous author - a wealthy, dashing and famous mystery writer in TV-Land - tracking an NYPD homicide detective in order to perform research for his Nikki Heat series of novels. Regular viewers were delighted when Castle's novels appeared on library and bookstore shelves shortly after their imaginary TV publication date. Fans of the show are already familiar with its wealth of post-modern pop culture references, including: an entire episode done in homage to the *X-Files*; a poker club that includes real-life writers James Patterson, Michael Connelly, and Stephen J Cannell (any of whom may be the writer behind author "Richard Castle"); and a tendency for characters to show up to costume parties wearing costumes the actors last wore in a former role - see Castle's Space Cowboy Halloween costume. *Firefly*'s Captain Mal makes another subtle appearance in *Naked Heat* as a pair of detectives named Malcolm and Reynolds. Myriad little nods to Star Wars, Perez Hilton and other pop fixtures are laced through the text, too. In fact, this novel is inspired by the mystery surrounding the death of Heath Ledger. A talented movie actor dies alone in a hotel room of an accidental overdose. Months later, a number of people with celebrity connections in New York start turning up dead. Nikki Heat has to find out what the connection is, or risk death herself. More intricately plotted than *Heat Wave*, this is a quick, fun read for anyone who loves a good mystery, and especially those who love the TV show.