Iconic is a word that is tossed around too freely these days. To be iconic, to truly be a representative symbol for a greater whole, to be worthy of praise and veneration is no small task. In 1995, Michael Mann’s film Heat released into theaters and immediately proved it deserved to be described as ‘iconic’. Every fan of action movies remembers the first time they saw it, remembers the feeling of watching the shootout on the streets of L.A., and remember the sense of dread at the end of that runway at LAX. Those same emotions will be evoked and rekindled in Heat 2 and that should excite everyone.
This is a sweeping, multi-layered masterpiece of fiction and storytelling. The grandiose universe Michael Mann created is enriched by the writing of Meg Gardiner. She was the perfect partner to continue this legacy in the written form.
While the title might indicate that the story picks up after the end of the original movie, Michael Mann and Meg Gardiner have decided to include a prequel story as well. The duo takes us back to the streets of Chicago and beyond. The unfolding events have a lasting impact on detective Vincent Hanna, as well as Neil McCauley and his elite crew. It is a surreal experience as we know how the story ends between Hanna and Neil, but knowing what happened back in the Midwest makes their exchange on the big screen so much more rich, meaningful, and devastating looking back now.
The sequel portion of this novel is every bit as action packed, tension filled, and dangerous as the previous portions. After the fallout of the heist gone wrong, Chris Shiherlis is on the run, severely wounded, and has just lost everything he holds dear. When he ends up in one of the most dangerous places in the world, he has only one thing in mind; get back to his wife and child. Despite the less than ideal surroundings, it is no surprise that he thrives and begins to evolve both personally and professionally. Living in the Triple Frontier, you must be ready to burn it all down to get what you want.
I cannot ever recall not agreeing with the old maxim stating that “the book is better than the movie”. Well, with Heat 2 the book is better BECAUSE of the movie. Being able to visualize the character and having gotten to know them on the screen did nothing but enhance the reading experience for me. The fact that Gardiner is one of the finest writers in the genre doesn’t hurt either. I re-watched the movie prior to diving into this book and I recommend every reader do the same.
To say I slammed through this book is an understatement. I pulled the book from its package, cleared my schedule, and did nothing but read until I had finished it. Then I went back and read some parts again to savor them at a slower pace. This book demands you make time for it, and you should. Once the front cover is open, you will burn through the pages.
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