To Terri E. Miller, my co-conspirator, and to Nathan, Stana, Seamus, Jon, Ruben, Molly, Susan and Tamala—your tireless professionalism makes every day a joy.
Thanks to Richard Johnson of the The New York Post’s “Page Six” for generously sharing his time and expertise in my background research. For the parts of covering the celebrity journalism beat I got right, I owe gratitude to Richard and thank him for his kindness.
Many thanks to my friends at Black Pawn Publishing, especially Gina Cowell for staying on top of me through the final stages of writing. A huge tip of the hat to my editor, Gretchen Young, for her insight and patience, to Elizabeth Sabo Morick and the crew at Hyperion for all their support, and to Melissa Harling-Walendy at ABC for her guidance along the way.
Thanks to my agent, Sloan Harris at ICM. He’s taken many a bullet for me in his time, and shot quite a few back, I dare say.
My deepest gratitude goes to my lovely and loving daughter, Alexis. You are my greatest joy and the source of so much of my strength. And thanks to my mother, Martha Rodgers, as well, for providing me with the sort of fiery childhood that inevitably forges novelists.
This book would not be what it is without two very dear friends. Andrew Marlowe guided, led, held both compass and flashlight, and steered me from cliff and ditch. His inspiration is cherished as much as his friendship. Somehow he even managed to make confetti and streamers shower down at the conclusion of that first story conference. And Tom was there early morning and late at night, helping me confront the terror of the blank page and inspiring my pen to work whatever magic is found within these pages.
To the remarkable Jennifer Allen, I can only say it’s such a lovely ride-along.
And to you, the fans, my very special appreciation. Your belief and your standards bring the heat to every page.
RC
The Hamptons, July 2010
About the Author
Richard Castle is the author of numerous bestsellers, including the critically acclaimed Derrick Storm series. His first novel, In a Hail of Bullets, published while he was still in college, received the Nom DePlume Society’s prestigious Tom Straw Award for Mystery Literature. Castle currently lives in Manhattan with his daughter and mother, both of whom infuse his life with humor and inspiration.
Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook are together again in Richard Castle’s thrilling follow-up to his New York Times bestseller, Heat Wave.
When New York’s most vicious gossip columnist, Cassidy Towne, is found dead, Heat uncovers a gallery of high profile suspects, all with compelling motives for killing the most feared muckraker in Manhattan.
Heat’s murder investigation is complicated by her surprise reunion with superstar magazine journalist Jameson Rook. In the wake of their recent breakup, Nikki would rather not deal with their raw emotional baggage. But the handsome, wise-cracking Pulitzer Prize-winning writer’s personal involvement in the case forces her to team up with Rook anyway. The residue of their unresolved romantic conflict and crackling sexual tension fills the air as Heat and Rook embark on a search for a killer among celebrities and mobsters, singers and hookers, pro athletes and shamed politicians.
This new, explosive case brings on the heat in the glittery world of secrets, cover-ups, and scandals.