Library Journal Review

PI Derrick Storm is shot at during surveillance on an allegedly missing (and presumed cheating) husband. Derrick escapes but discovers that the woman who hired him is not really his suspect's wife, and the man he has been following is actually rogue CIA agent Daniel Sanchez. Derrick is then hired by Clara Strike, another CIA agent looking to nail Sanchez and two others, Bauer and Urso, who stole money from Iranian arms sales to the Contras during the 1980s. Derrick winds up in Nicaragua without ID, money, or a safety network and then teams up with Clara to pursue Urso and Sanchez, a chase that concludes with a chaotic shootout. A violent yet somber surprise ending lends this humorous, jaunty tale a poignant final note. Verdict Featuring trademark Bendis (Avengers; Ultimate Comics Spider-Man) dialog, puns, and fast-moving plot and clear, crisp, and lively illustrations that efficiently convey mood and action, this graphic novel spins off of the ABC television show Castle; the protagonist writes best-selling novels starring a character named Derrick Storm, and several Derrick Storm novels have been published (e.g., Richard Castle's Heat Wave).-Jeff Hunter, Royal Oak, MI (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.