The finest novel yet from the undisputed king of South African crime writing.
Shortlisted for the CWA International Dagger Award 2010.
They killed her best friend. Now they are chasing Rachel Anderson through the streets of Cape Town. The young tourist doesn t dare trust anyone except her father, back home in America. When he puts pressure on the politicians, they know that to protect their country s image, they must find Rachel s hiding place before the killers.
And so it is that detective Benny Griessel recovering alcoholic and a man way past his last chance has just 13 hours to crack open a conspiracy which threatens the whole nation.
This terrific, action-packed thriller has superbly drawn characters and an enthralling setting. Deon Meyer is one of the best crime writers on the planet. - Mail on Sunday
Deon Meyer is the undisputed king of South African crime fiction, and THIRTEEN HOURS demonstrates why. - The Times
South African thrillers arrive with racial baggage, and it's a mark of Meyer's talent to see just how well the issues are balanced with a smashing story. Imposing a strict time limit and a tight location on his plot, he ramps up the suspense to an unbearable degree. Best of all, his sharply drawn characters really feel part of the new South Africa, where loyalties and beliefs must always be questioned. - Financial Times
What makes this novel so outstanding is its setting... and Meyer's superlative talent for suspense... This is a vigorous, exciting novel that combines memorable characters and plot with edge-of-the-seat suspense. - The Sunday Times
Far and away South Africa's best crime writer - The Times
gripping and suspenseful crime novel set in a violent, post-apartheid South Africa - Culture Magazine (The Sunday Times)
A cracking read from one of Africa's finest - Shots ezine
One of the sharpest and most perceptive thriller writers around - Peter Millar, The Times, on DEVIL'S PEAK
Born in South Africa in 1958, Deon Meyer was a journalist, advertising copywriter, Internet manager and brand strategist before he became a novelist. Meyer has published fifteen novels and two short story collections. His books have been translated into 28 languages in more than 40 countries worldwide.
Meyer has written several series for television, six screenplays for feature films, and produced and directed movies. Dead Before Dying and Trackers have both been made into TV series in South Africa, and in 2023 the Benny Griessel series premiered under the name Devil's Peak on M-Net. Heart of the Hunter was released worldwide as a Netflix Original in March 2024 and was Netflix's number one streamed film for two consecutive weeks, with 25 million views globally in the first three weeks.
Meyer was knighted by France in 2021 as Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. He lives with his family in Stellenbosch, South Africa.