Heat 2: A Novel

Michael Mann’s first novel - co-authored by Megan Gardiner - is fantastic! If you’re a fan of Mann’s original film HEAT or crime dramas in general, you will love this one. HEAT is in my top 5 favorite crime drama films, and Mann is somehow still able to capture the magic of what made that film special in his expansion of the story and the characters, doing so brilliantly in this different medium.Mann takes an approach akin to THE GODFATHER Part 2, in that the book is both a prequel and a sequel for the characters from the film. The “present-day” storyline picks up with Vincent Hannah finalizing his investigation into Neil McCauley’s crew, while Chris Shihirlis attempts to flee Los Angeles, finding a new life and purpose on the run. The story then moves back and forth between 1988, 1996, and eventually 2000. Despite the time jumps, no momentum is lost in the storytelling. Just as in the original film, where Mann introduced multiple plot points that didn’t intersect until the third act of the film, Mann replicates that same result here brilliantly. The action-heavy climax in this story is very different from the classic bank heist scene and shootout from the film, but it is equally thrilling and intense.Everything I knew and loved about Al Pacino’s Vincent Hannah and Robert DeNiro’s Neil Mccauley is brought to life on the page. The amazing fiery dialogue from Hannah when he is interrogating a suspect is just as electric and entertaining on the page as it is on the film screen. Likewise, McCauley’s cool and calculating approach to the planning and execution of his heists is ever present here just as it was in the film. Spending more time with these two lead characters was fully enjoyable for me.While Val Kilmer’s character Chris Shihirlis played sort of “second-fiddle” to McCauley in the original film, his role is far more prominent here. I ended up really enjoying the arc of this character far more than I thought I would, based on what we knew of him from the film. Likewise, both Vincent Hannah’s and Neil McCauley’s stories in the past provide new insights into their characters, feeding into where we first meet them in the film.To make this story distinct from the original film, however, Mann provides a straight-up villain whose path intersects with all of the characters, old and new. While McCauley and his crew were the clear antagonists of the original film, Mann still injected them with just enough humanity so they felt real and relatable. You could sympathize with them to a small extent, getting a window into the personal lives of Neil McCauley and Chris Shihirlis. Not so with this new villain! He is menacing, scary, mysterious, and incredibly smart, making him a force to be reckoned with by all of the characters, present in almost every setting of the story.The conclusion to the story is quite satisfying while still leaving the door open for more to be told between two of the main characters. So I wonder if there will eventually be a HEAT 3 in some form. A part of me wishes that I could see this prequel/sequel brought to life on film, but this book is more than enough to satisfy that itch for more from Mann’s original masterpiece. I knew Mann was a brilliant screenplay writer on his own, but paired with Gardiner he shows he is just as good of a storyteller regardless of the medium.

Heat 2Michael Mann and Meg GardinerIf you have ever thought about robbing a bank or stealing millions of dollars, read this book. You will get the same rush. Plus, you will still be breathing when you turn the last page.This might be the best book I’ve ever read. Top 5, for sure. It will be placed next to The Godfather on my bookshelf.I loved watching the movie growing up, and I watched it twice a few weeks before reading this book.I could not put this book down. It has every main character from the movie, along with some new ones. And they are all awesome.The timeline goes back to events that happened before the movie takes place and to events that occurred after the film takes place.It has multiple action scenes that feel very real. If you are a fan of the first movie or just a great crime read, check this out! It will make you want to rob a bank.

Despite stretching out to unbelievable coincidences with both parties almost crossing paths in early Chicago and later in LA, the storyline is thorough and windy. The prequel setup is an excellent look at both Vincent Hannah and Neal McCauley's crew in the years before the original Heat, but intertwining them with other cases Hannah is on during those years becomes a bridge too far.Despite the far-fetched cross threads, every chapter holds a meaningful piece of the background and later sequel to the masterpiece. Characters are as vivid and explosive as the story. Back stories fit together and expand on each other, but jump through too many hoops as they form a tall tale surrounding the cops and highline crew nearly coming together in Chicago amd again later on post bank shootout in LA.

This novel will not disappoint those who have seen the original movie Heat. This one is both a pre-sequel and sequel, spanning a couple of decades. The writing is superb, and the characters are carefully woven to depict the original with the addition of true psychopaths. The story itself is trifurcated, but what they all have in common is a stark brutality of criminal gang organizations. The writing, tone, and atmosphere are intense. The action is at times almost unbearable to read. There are true bad guys, and then there are those with nuance. Some, you will almost root for, despite their thuggery. The cops are obsessed, and laser focused, especially Vincent Hanna, although his methods are quite often illegal, who else would you want on the job than Hanna and his crew. This was worth every minute of my reading time.

I've always lived the movie Heat. There was something different about it. Not your regular action crime thriller. The actors brought the characters to life and that made this book better. Expands on the characters, backgrounds, motivations etc. It also brings closure to those characters. One character's storyline gets a little far fetched in my opinion but it was decently done. The main antagonist in the story is a bit much and almost unrealistic. The rest of the story is grounded and gritty. Vincent Hanna's narrations in the audiobook are spot on. I fully envisioned Al Pacino saying those lines.Overall a really good sequel. Can't wait to see the movie that has been said to be a go in the next couple years.

Exceeded all expectations that I had. The movie is a classic. I thought the idea of a book to follow it up all of these years later was perhaps just a novel one. I was wrong. It is an amazing direct sequel and prequel that continues the classic tradition. If you loved the movie as I did and enjoy reading, this is one of the easiest book recommendations I could ever make.

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Perfeito. Obrigatório pra fãs do Michael Mann

I will say up front I loved the movie heat. I have seen it several times and it always works for me. I Am a pessimistic guy by nature but I thought what the heck I will give it a shot. I am blown away. If I could give this reading experience 6 stars I would. Everything worked for me. The bad guys and the even worse guys. The ladies who loved them. The action don't get me started on the action. I even shed a few tears at one point. I did take a look at the one star reviews as I usually do and found them totally off base which is usually not the case for me. To each his own I guess.I am a fast reader so I would usually go through a book like this pretty quickly. For the first time in 20 years I found myself not wanting a book to end. I Wanted to keep immersed in the story. So I would actually take a break for a day or two before picking it up again. I don't even care if they turned This into a movie. I don't think they will.It had all the nihilism of the movie which I loved. All I can say is buy it. I bought it on Kindle and was very glad I did. Highly recommended.

The book will keep the reader in suspense till the end. The book spans the period from 1988 to (2) 2000 and has two or three stories running parallel which can be a bit off-putting for when you get to a point like the end of a chapter and expect the story to continue you are taken to another developping story with no apparent connection which in turn will go on over a number of pages to be interrupted suddenly to go back to the previous one and so on . The link between the stories are the characters. The reader then has to adjust to this combination or intermingling of stories happening in different places ,at different times knowing that everything will be resolved in the end.

What a fantastic book.This reads like a script for Heat 2. Such a magnificent film I never thought it would be matched by a book… But it has.The text is written with such cadence and style and rhythm that it’s like being inside Michael Mann’s head and Neil McCauley/Robert De Niro mind.Loads of backstory to Val Kilmer’s character from the film which makes him such an amazing part of the story.Meg Gardiner is an amazing author, she has such skill and drives this book from start to finishI read it in such a short space of time that I was in bed late at night until about 2 am finishing the chaptersNeil McCauley is such an iconic figure, if he was the CEO of a legitimate company he would be a multimillionaire with his planning and project skills and malice aforethoughtIt has Flashbacks to sections of the Heat film and then flashes forward to after the end of the filmThis is magnificent reading, people. 10 out of 10