De Niro had a great year in 1995 with Casino and Heat. When you look at his filmography, his last Great roles where he fully disappeared into the characters in my opinion.

Heat 2 - simply the best prequel and sequel that Ive read. I think the stage is set for Heat 3.

I did the audiobook. The narrator does amazing Al Pacino/ Robert De Niro voice characterizations as well as even side characters like Trejo and Nate.

Great story, I can’t wait for more releases from the Michael Mann Books label. Hopefully we can get a novel follow up to Thief. I had a hopes that Frank from Thief would be mentioned in this novel since part of it took place in Chicago and with it being established in Heat that he crossed paths with Hanna in Chicago.

I read it and it definitely exceeded my expectations. You could definitely hear Hanna's voice in the movie when he says a few lines. Im not a reader & it finished it about 9 days. I couldnt put it down. You're reviiew is spot on btw.

Great review. I just finished reading the book today and am still vibrating from it. I can't believe how well the different storylines tie together, even to the very end.

Sold! Ready to get my copy. Heat is a masterpiece. Michael Mann can shoot downtown LA like no one's business. My only disappointment is that we didn't get this sequel back when Val Kilmer & the crew might've been able to carry out this inspired piece.

When I was in basic training in 06' we were shown the LA shootout scene as part of a lecture on the mechanics pairs fire and manoeuvre.

"In any medium so far this year.." Now that's a phrase you definitely just don't throw around and really means it was so good as a literary work for you personally, that you right now of course cannot envision it being as great as what might hopefully be adapted to script and screen. And that makes me want to read it even more for myself. Thanks so much for this brief summary and post about the book. It's truly appreciated. I myself can't wait to get my hands on a copy now . Friendly greets.✌️

I finished it last week and the 2nd half of the book, like the last 200 pages, it was non-stop unbelievable. I could not put it down. Amazing. A great, great read. It will be interesting to see IF Michael Mann decides to move forward with the movie since it's a prequel & sequel. Who will play the younger Neil, Chris, Michael, and Vincent characters? Not only that, but who will play the Chris character post the LA heist? Val is unfortunately not doing well health-wise. I can see his son Jack playing him tho. He looks a lot like him. Gonna be interesting for sure. But yeah, a great read. You're right, the villain (Otis) is way more sinister than Waingro. This guy is NO JOKE. A real piece of s*it. Whoever lands THAT role has got to bring it.

Great review, James. My Christmas list just a little longer. Finding a really good book is getting harder to find.

Fantastic review, I i loved the book so much and you really hit the nail on the head with how cool it was to experience this and feel such a brilliant deepening of the mythology for one of the most iconic films ever made! Mann's just said in an interview he'll be filming Heat 2 this year, with Adam Driver as the young Neil McCauley - I'm giddy with excitement! Especially seeing that motel heist on screen, as it's one of the just riveting and cinematic sections of a book I've ever read..

Great summary. Thank you. I look forward to reading it

The end of the Chicago saga was painfully detailed. But I swear, I was sweating and on edge when Otis was in the stash house with Gabriella. What a masterpiece. Can't imagine how they will cast this movie.

Finished it the other day. Riveting read - dark and beautiful and epic. Can’t wait for the movie.

I got my copy and I'm really excited to start it over the weekend. Heat is easily in my top 10 favorite movies of all time and I love the 70's/early 80's movies from both these guys but Heat is my favorite movie for Deniro and Pacino.

Terrific review. Thank you!

Thanks for the enthusiasm without any spoilers. Cheers, mate!

I actually saw this book the other day at a Walmart and had no idea it was coming out. I was like what the hell is this and instantly picked it up to inspect it. I've been on the fence to buy or not but I'm sold now! Thanks for this review.

Thank you for an interesting review. See you next review.

i just finished the audiobook! so good!

I got mine waiting on me to arrive and pick it up. I’m getting the hardcover myself.

Just finished last night. Absolutely loved it. New subscriber now so thanks for great review. My only issue with the book is a plot hole. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it. Why didn’t Neil track down Wardell? Between 1988 - 1995, with the resources at his disposal and Kelso for help, he definitely should have and would have found Wardell and killed him. Do you agree? Also, the ending with the characters converging in L.A. is preposterous but it was cinematic as hell and I enjoyed it.

This must be good because it’s seems virtually impossible for sequels or inspired works this day & age to actually satisfy. Your rave review makes me super curious to search this out & read it.

Agree with the review. Great read. Only one question I had - how did Vincent end up at Neil's beach condo? Did they explain that?

Good book. My main nitpick with it is that I think, in places, it tries too hard to be too cinematic. The most glaring example is on page 73 where it reads, "In the background, in the corner office, the other young man . . ." In the exposition, it actually says, "In the background." Wow! It tries so hard to be so cinematic that it almost reads like a prose screenplay. Still a good book, though.

Hey James you gonna do any reviews of the new Primal episodes? Would love your thoughts.

Heat is one of the greatest movies of all time and has the best movie ending ever

Great in depth review. I'm hoping they can do the sequel justice. Heat is one of my all time favorites. And I loved the Heat 2 novel. Pulling off the Otis character will be difficult without a. NC17 rating

The Chris storyline is soo intriguing. Also I wonder if Nate is attending Trump rallies by 2016 lol

Order it from Amazon, but since it takes too long for it to arrive and after watching your review, I’ll have to buy the kindle version. Can you imagine if Mr Mann writes a pre Collateral story of Vincent?, I can only imagine a younger Tom Cruise doing all those jobs for the cartels. Anyway, always a blast watching your reviews, big fan from Nicaragua. Ps. Why you didn’t do Tokyo Vice reviews?

Holy shit I gotta get this! Just ordered it now.

I’m absolutely loving the novel, about half way through

I need to get this book right now

James looking at your bookshelf behind you what do you read what genres

Good review! Great book. We are diehard HEAT fans!!! The book is a good read. How they are gonna do the movie, don't know, Can't wait!!! 👍👍👍👍💪💪💪💪

I just finished the book, really enjoyed it, especially the 1980s storyline. The best format for this adaptation would be a miniseries. It does feel contrived with how everything connects, makes the sprawling universe feel small.

If you happen to like the show 'Justified' I think you'll like the books Raylan is taken from along with the state of Kentucky which feels like it's own character. They're hy the author Elmore Leonard a legendary figure in the crime novel genre

Good review. In terms of making this into a movie, I feel the movies have already been made. Thief, Crime Story, LA Takedown, Collateral, and Blackhat all have elements of Heat 2.

I had no idea this existed! I amso checking this out, hell even if u had said it wasn't that good - I'd still read it! "Heat" is literally my number one fav crime film of all time, and yes - even ahead of other masterpieces like "Godfather" 1 and 2. It was so good thst even the 50 Cent rendition was outstanding as well despite being so effin somilar lol. I know people hated "Miami Vice," (which I think largely that's due to the many differences - especially the tonal difference from the series its based on), but watchin it from the perspective of someone who never saw the show, I thought it was great. Still not as good as Mann's top 3 - "Last.of the Mohicans", "Collateral," and "Heat" of course, but still phenomenal imo. And the final shootout was nearly at the same level as the one at the end "Heat".

Just viewed Heat at Paris Theater in NYC tonight and was informed beforehand that Heat 2 was a novel and in world for a film adaptation. First time watching Heat and I must say, this movie was nothing short of amazing!!!

I just finished it . And I thought it was absolutely fantastic. I could also hear Pacino and Dinero voice in my head 😂. I agree I prefer movies or series to books . I think it should be a limited series similar to True detective . Too much good stuff not to get on screen. I could see Oscar Isaac playing a younger Vincent Hana.

I just finished the book. Unbelievable.

How does Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ALMOST fill in the Gaps around HEAT?

I seen this at Walmart too and I was to cheap to buy it! I should have but I got so many books I haven't read and I need to read at least half of what I haven't read now to justify even buying another book.

How do you feel about Austin Butler playing a young Chris Shiherlis? Did you see his gun training video at Taran Tactical? The book has me ready for next film and maybe another follow up.

This book was outstanding. I thought it was going to be a cash-grab hack job (like Ridley Scott's and Alien sequels), but this was anything but. I can't wait to see this as a movie or a miniseries.

I saw this at a grocery store and thought heat 2 I was skeptical to buy and read but now I must I just watched heat again haha I love this movie

Nice work 👍

Great book! I loved it.

Michael Mann finest 💎

The audiobook version is excellent too! Guy reading it does a great job.

I bought it as soon as I could and man it was AMAZING… best line “April Fool’s Motherfucker!”

Just finished it. Took my time because it was brilliant. Love to see this as a movie one day. Heat is my favourite movie of all time

This is my book of the year

I wonder if collateral and heat take place in the same universe since he directed both and L.A. is the background for both 🧐🤔💊🥃💯🃏

Does Donald Breedan come up in the novel? Felt like he came and went so tragically in the film

Amazing review! You really hit the nail on the head describing this and I loved every minute of the read. I just started to get back into books and I did with this one and I have to say , just like you mentioned at the end of the video BRING ON HEAT 3 ! The way the words come to life and pop out of the pages in my imagination is so awesome and was so satisfying. There was moments when my heart was literally pulsing and I got an adrenaline rush from a book...for everyone on the fence with this one do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book

I need suggestions for books similar to this.. Can anyone offer up anything good?

The receipt in the book. That is really weird for Neil . That is my only criticism . Heat and The Thing are my absolute favourite movies and this book is standing tall next to Heat. It's stunning.

I can't even remember how I found this book. Incredible. Such a great story. The only way I could picture this as a movie if it was kinda structured like Pulp Fiction. But I really hope it never happens. Val Kilmer IS Chris. Pacino & Deniro ARE Vincent & Neil. So, Hollywood, Don't waste my motHERFUCKING TIME!!

Can't wait for the movie

Check out City on Fire by Don Winslow

why you not doing better call saul????

James, I'm guessing you've never watched the TV show Luther? Neil Cross continued the story in a book.

For the sake of symmetry and hot-blooded justice, we need a Heat 3, wherein Vince Hanna gets the bad guy.

I just finished reading it, and I can confirm that the main antagonist is legit evil.

Would you re-watch Heat prior to reading Heat 2 or after?

Smart choice to do all this heavy lifting in a novel.

3:40 ok. Don’t think heat will help you out with that 🥴

I miss The Expanse

Whaaaat? This is a thing?

Haven't read this but if they cast Driver as the younger version of McCauley 💀 Most wooden actor ever.

I thought it was a great book. But there's a big problem that I have with it. SOILER ALERT!!!!! It's diverges about halfway through into a feminist fantasy. The kingpin boss has a son and a daughter. And of course the son is a bumbling moron and the daughter is a "strong independent woman" who goes on a journey to become the queenpin with Chris coming along for the ride as her 2nd in command/"partner". This is absolutely a ridiculous feminist fantasy. Hyper aggressive dominant criminals don't follow their girlfriends around handling business. They handle their own business with their band of brothers not their wives and girlfriends. It's a ridiculous feminist fantasy

Wingman. Lol.

You talk to much