Heat 2

Sequel? Prequel? Hard to say since this book describes the exploits of the main characters in Heat both before and after the events of that film. Before, we have Vincent Hanna tracking down a vicious gang of home invaders in Chicago and Neil McAuley carrying out a raid on a drug cartel in Mexico. After follows Chris Shiherlis building a new (criminal) life in a free trade city in Paraguay. Other characters pop in and out – with only the barest reference to Eady, which is my one regret – in both time lines.

It's a scorching read. Sorry if that sounds like a back cover copywriter cliché, but I can’t think of a better word to describe the headlong pace, the crackling dialogue and the actions of all involved. It all builds to a frantic climax that had me reading the last 120 pages in one sitting. Honestly, if you liked the film, I’d be startled to hear you say you didn’t also like this.

If I’ve got a quibble, it’s this: it’s very much written in the modern style. Present tense, lots of short paragraphs and even shorter sentences. Not always, but often so staccato it can grate. On the other hand, once you’re tuned into the style, it does fit the story and there’s no denying the force it adds to the narrative. But sometimes I do miss a well-crafted sentence, rather than one that reads as though it were banged out at the tail end of a 24-hour coffee-fueled writing blitz.