Hype can be a dangerous notion. Some books suffer from being hyped up beyond their true offerings. It’s the rare few ones that blow past the highest levels of hype to set new standards of excellence by which every subsequent reading experience is measured. Hand on heart, Heat 2 is undoubtedly a shining example of the latter. To not only match up to the first movie but also enrich the characters beyond it, takes insurmountable brilliance from the dynamic duo of Meg Gardiner and Michael Mann.
The precocious narrative shifts between 1988 and 1995-2000, alternating between character-focused spotlights on Vincent Hanna, Neil McCauely, and Chris Shiherlis as a violent thread of heartbreak and darkness links them all together, providing a strong origin foundation for each character as well as successfully resolving their story arcs after the events of the movie. Meg Gardiner’s flair for grizzled, intense, and charming characters is displayed in all its majestic beauty.
Although each of the three main characters is an absolute delight to read, my favorite has to be Hanna. There’s no mistaking the influence of Al Pacino’s stellar acting in this further fleshed-out characterization of Hanna Vincent as his rogue and volatile nature makes for a somewhat hilarious and downright intense reading experience while he pursues a despicable criminal with a burning desire for justice and retribution, a gray area that Hanna crosses back and forth into.
The dialogue is some of the most memorable and impactful I’ve read with gritty disposition and somber topics. The intensity flows through the pages, relentlessly seeping into the reader, causing extreme perspiration even with the A/C on high.
In the vein of Michael Mann’s supreme cinematic action, Heat 2 exemplifies the realistic, heart-thumping, and blood-rushing shootouts that beautifully balance the fine line between tactical and technical details without overloading or skipping over any of the necessary elements in a firefight that action fans have come to appreciate and crave from top-notch action thrillers.
Heat 2 is a dark and bold crime drama, grand in ambition and scope with subtle life lessons embedded and conveyed through engaging conversations, philosophical conundrums, and lifelike characters that push the envelope of grounded storytelling. It’s the book you don’t put down until you’ve read it cover to cover.
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Purchase Heat 2
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