Naked Heat, Richard Castle's Second Nikki Heat Crime Thriller

The season finale of Castle this evening showed a brief glimpse of the cover of the (fictional) mystery writer's next novel. And sure enough, it's already listed on Amazon and available for pre-order.

Titled Naked Heat, it is the sequel to the crime thriller Heat Wave, which ABC had pseudonymously written and published through Disney's Hyperion unit to promote the second season of the series, probably not realizing it would become a runaway bestseller in the process. So it makes sense that a new book will introduce the third season of the popular series, which has already been renewed by the network. Naked Heat has a scheduled publication date of September 28th, 2010.

At present, there is no plotline available for Naked Heat, which is consistent with what Castle says -- and does -- during tonight's episode.

About Naked Heat (from the publisher): Tough, sexy, professional, NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat carries a passion for justice as she leads one of New York City's top homicide squads. In what's sure to be another smash sensation by blockbuster author Richard Castle, readers will once again follow Nikki Heat and hotshot reporter Jameson Rook as they trade barbs and innuendos all while on the trail of a murderer!