Heat Wave

Television and novels have always gone hand in hand. But Heat Wave by "Richard Castle" takes this a step further. The TV series Castle on ABC on Monday nights is the basis of this novel. Or the novel is part of the series. Or something along those lines. The character of Richard Castle is writing a novel based on Becket, the police detective he follows during his research. They solve several murders, etc., her using her honed police skills and him using his ability to visualize plots and characters. The conceit of this book is that it's supposedly the book he's writing in the TV series, right down to the picture of the actor who plays Castle on the back cover of the novel. The actual novel is not nearly as entertaining as the TV series. The series has two characters who have the chemistry to keep the story line moving along. The novel has two lead characters based on Becket and on Castle himself who don't have that same chemistry. I didn't get the sexual tension that is so evident in the series. Granted the character based on Castle is just as obnoxious as the television Castle. That's not enough to hang a novel on. I didn't like the book much, but then I'm not a fan of muscular thrillers (brutal violence and aggressive sex with smart mouth women). I don't know who ghost wrote this book; I suspect James Patterson, who can churn out novels like rabbits. However, Patterson's novels are much better than this. This book has a hack writer feel. If you need a junk read on a trip, this would be okay. Otherwise, I'd take a pass.