If you love Neo-noir -like I do- It doesn't get any better than this. If you don't, then I'd give it a hard pass. No one in this book walks, they all glide or cruise. No one gets in and out of cars, they all "slide in" and "roll out", etc. If dude-lit was a thing - this would be the definition of It. Michael Mann, four-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker and writer-director of Heat, Collateral, Thief, Manhunter, and Miami Vice, teams up with Edgar Award-winning author Meg Gardiner to deliver Mann’s first crime novel—an explosive return to the world and characters of his classic film Heat—an all-new story that illuminates what happened before and after the iconic film.

So a book that is a sequel/prequel to a movie and is co-written by its director. I have to say I was intrigued but slightly skeptical.Since the top of the year, rumors have been swirling over what talent would either return or which new actors would take on younger version of these roles that have since become iconic. From Al Pacino returning to play Hanna in present times to Ana de Armas playing McCauley’s love interest in the 1988 timeline, there are many hoping to join, but Driver is the one we hear is firmly attached. Operatic in scope, HEAT 2 is engrossing, moving, and tragic - a masterpiece of crime fiction from one of the most innovative and influential filmmakers in American cinema. Mit seinen Actionfilmen begeisterte Michael Mann während vielen Jahren, das Paradebeispiel des Genres "Heat" ist bis heute ein wichtiger und mitreissender Film. Die Fortsetzung zu diesem harten Thriller erfolgt aber nicht auf der Leinwand, sondern als Roman. Described by Michael Mann as both a prequel and sequel to the renowned, critically acclaimed film of the same name, HEAT 2 covers the formative years of homicide detective Vincent Hanna (Oscar winner Al Pacino) and elite criminals Neil McCauley (Oscar winner Robert De Niro), Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer), and Nate (Oscar winner Jon Voight), and features the same extraordinary ambition, scope, rich characterizations, and attention to detail as the epic film. Still in progress. I was really looking forward to this book as I love the movie. Exceeding my expectations so far.

Michael Mann confirmed his storyline for a “ Heat” sequel will not be a “very expensive series” like HBO’s “Tokyo Vice.” FX Developing Series Based On ‘This American Life’ Segment “I Was A Teenage Smuggler” From ‘The Bear’s Joanna Calo & Carlos López Estrada The fallout from McCauley’s scores and Hanna’s pursuit cause unexpected repercussions in a parallel narrative. And while the characters are mostly super well written, there were specific moments that didn't meet my movie-expectations. Look, Heat might be famous for the real life robberies it inspired and for *that* shooting scene that’s apparently shown to Marines as part of their training - but what always stands out to me is how the movie succeeds in humanizing fairly violent ‘bad guys’ without ever glamorising or romanticising them. Unfortunatley that approach is not always there in Shiherlis’s sequel story (a bit too much heroism for my taste) - and especially not in McCauley’s origin story, which I found unconvincing and overly romanticised (it reads more like run-of-the-mill fan fiction than anything).

Mann said that the “ability to which you can deep-dive into the internal world is fascinating, and you can do that best in a novel.” The book no doubt will be a run-through for the script for an impending upcoming sequel. There's a hell of a lot going on in this book- and just like the movie - It's heavily character-driven. First things first: if you haven’t seen Michael Mann’s 1995 unhinged, 3h long heist movie, you probably won't get much out of the book (although I’d love to be proven wrong!). It’s a solid crime novel with great plot and pacing, but relies on readers being familiar with the actors’ (superb) portrayal of the main characters. So good. Just amazing. Fans of Heat will not be disappointed at all. Part prequel, part sequel, this novel absolutely delivers. It is also about Vincent Hanna who has become a captain of police in LAPD who is driven as always. He has a past in Chicago in which he could have met MacCauleys crew but most definitely has run into the sadistic killer and rapist that will play a role in several lives.

Michael Mann's HEAT is one of my all-time favourite movies. HEAT 2 is now one of my favourite suspense novels' JAMES PATTERSON

Al Pacino’s idea for his successor in “Heat 2”? Timothée Chalamet

Have not seen the movie, ga and watch that first and then read the book, otherwise you’ll shortchange yourself in the total experience. Guys will literally watch Heat instead of going to therapy. Trust me on this, I'm guys. Heat is a fantastic movie, Mann an incredible director of crime and action, and the movie is gorgeously shot and full of top-tier performances, from Pacino's deranged detective Vincent Hanna, to De Niro's professional and tactical criminal mastermind Neil McCauley, and Val Kilmer's icy gunman Chris Shiherlis. The movie is perfect and self contained, and doesn't really need a sequel. In 1995, Michael Mann’s Heat made its mark on cinema, as what would become one of the preeminent heist movies for years to come. With an outstanding cast, including Al Pacino, Robert Deniro, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Jon Voight, Danny Trejo, and Natalie Portman, among others, the film included, not just solid acting performances across the board and smart writing, but also four very memorable action set pieces, and arguably one of the most iconic Scenes from a Diner of all time. We get three time periods - Before, during, and after the movie. All of the character arcs are solid. There's a surprising amount of depth to all of them, and some scenes are particularly moving. If you haven't seen the movie, then you're going to struggle with this one.

The Edgar-winning thriller author talks serial killers, archetypes, Nine Inch Nails, and the city of Los Angeles. August 1, 2022 If, however, you have seen the film, then the book is GREAT. The writing does a spectacular job of capturing Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino), Neil McCauley (DeNiro) and Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) - both before and after the movie events. In particular I LOVED Hanna’s early story set in 80s Chicago: the chapters where he visits a victim in the hospital were absolutely beautiful, provide great insight into the character and drop little clues that make his evolution into movie-Hanna believable. I challenge you to read his lines and not hear Al Pacino’s memorably unhinged delivery, every single time.The Audiobook - Peter Giles's narration is fantastic considering the extremely difficult set of roles he has to play. Yes, he sounds like 'the trailer guy - Don LaFontaine' a lot of the time, but his Pacino accent is phenomenal! All the scenes with Vincent Hanna shine. Tom Sizemore and Val Kilmer get the same treatment. It's extremely well done, albeit a little over the top at times. As Actors Strike Drags On, NY Film Festival Offers A Tale Of Two Premieres: ‘Ferrari’ Brings Adam Driver & Penélope Cruz, While ‘The Curse’ Duo Benny Safdie & Nathan Fielder Dodge Spotlight Mann co-wrote “ Heat 2” with Edgar-winning crime writer Meg Gardiner. The novel includes events both before and after the first film, including an origin story for Neil as a rising criminal battling PTSD after returning from serving in the Vietnam War. I read this in one bite. The book moves at a feverish pace, and there are three set pieces -- a fight between cops and crooks in a Chicago home, a robbery at a Mexican count house, and a shootout on the streets of Los Angeles -- that I can't wait to see on screen. I also will give the authors credit for creating a villain that comes as close to being as hissable as anything in recent crime fiction.