Frozen Heat

The fourth novel in Castle’s Nikki Heat series—an offshoot of ABC’s Castle, about a bestselling Manhattan-based crime novelist (Jameson Rook) paired with an NYPD homicide-squad detective—follows Heat’s investigation of the murder of her mother and the recent killing of a family friend. Narrator Johnny Heller offers up a winning rat-a-tat delivery that perfectly captures the spirit of the novel. His Heat is a combination of a by-the-book tough copper and a starry-eyed lady in love. The installment’s introduction of an assortment of international characters allows Heller to demonstrate his vocal range, but this is icing on the cake. His performance is entertaining enough to satisfy fans of the TV series, and even mystery fans who’ve never tuned in before. A Hyperion hardcover. (Sept.)