A Real Book by a Fictional Author: Books I Read in 2025, Vol. XII

 

DRIVING HEAT
Richard Castle

“Nikki Heat, the NYPD’s top homicide detective, has been promoted to captain just in time to face a thrilling case with a very personal twist. In this gripping follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Raging Heat, Captain Heat’s job is compromised when her fiancé, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Jameson Rook becomes a distraction at best, and an obstacle at worst, as their parallel lives not only cross, but collide.”

Once upon a time, there was a dramedy TV series on ABC titled “Castle” about a mystery novelist named Richard Castle who was “attached” to an NYPD homicide squad to aid in his research. (He was friends with the mayor.) He, of course, was not a silent observer, and actually ended up helping several cases get solved…and fell in love with the implausibly beautiful and high-heeled leader of the squad. In the show, it all resulted in a best-selling series of novels about an implausibly beautiful and high-heeled Nikki Heat and an investigative journalist, Jameson Rook (chess players will get the joke).

[Take a breath.]

This book is, supposedly, one of those novels. And it reads pretty much like an episode, or more appropriately, several episodes of the TV series. Same witty repartee, same bursts of action…but with the addition of (unnecessary, in my view) several instances of PG-13 language (and just enough instances of the F-bomb to bump it to R).

All that said, I really enjoyed this and will be browsing the library for more titles in the series.

First Line: The last thing Nikki Heat expected when she received her promotion to captain of the NYPD was how much the proud expression on Rook’s face in the audience would make her want him.

Page 56 / Line 5: When was the last time you fired one of your weapons?

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: Detective Ramey laughed. “Jealousy’s an ugly thing, Randall.” “Which explains your face,” said Ochoa.

Last Line: All in

Local Free Spirit Tells All: Books I Read in 2025, Vol. XI

 

OLD SHORTS AND POETREE: Book One
Ron Runeborg

“An anthology of short stories and poetry; some factual, some fiction, and some trueish." From Bookscape: "[This book,] published by Lulu Press, stands as a beacon of knowledge and inspiration. With its insightful content and engaging narrative style, this book transcends genres, offering something valuable for every reader." From the back cover: "Ron Runeborg writes for the love of the craft. He lives in Lakeville Minnesota where his lovely wife Linda and little dog-child Montague work tirelessly to appreciate his many eccentricities."

This guy's self-description and a quick glance at the contents persuaded me to spend the quarter (library book sale!) and take this home. It's a wide-ranging collection of short stories, poems, smatterings of thoughts, and autobiographical verbal sketches. As to be expected, some are amusing, some are disturbing, some are thoughtful, and some are absurd. There's a bit of PG-13 language widely scattered throughout, but not enough to make me go "Eww." I'm giving it 3 out of 4 stars.

First Line: This book is an anthology, a smattering, a hodgepodge, a text melange of the stuff that wanders around in the dark recesses of my rather odd brain.

Page 56 / Line 5: Jack started waving his arms as he did every time he had a light bulb.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: The guy never knows what he's sayin'; he just babbles off some story like his lips are a nail gun and he's building a house.

Last Line: Once comes my reawakening, I'll tell you all I've known.