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Benny Griessel #3
7 Days
I'll shoot a policeman every day until you arrest the murderer of Hanneke Sloet.
Shortly after the South African Police Services receive this threatening email, a policeman is shot by a sniper and recovering alcoholic Benny Griessel is ordered to reopen the Sloet case.
Hanneke Sloet was a sensual and ambitious lawyer. At the time of her murder she was working on one of the biggest Black Empowerment deals in South African history. She was found dead in her luxury Cape Town apartment, a single stab wound to her chest.
After forty days, the trail has gone cold. The first investigation could find no motive and no leads, only a set of nude photographs, an ex-boyfriend with a rock-solid alibi, conniving attorneys and financial double-dealing.
Benny has to deal with immense pressure from his superiors, the media and the unfathomable sniper, whose emails keep coming and who won't stop shooting. And then there's Benny's love interest, former pop sensation Alexa Barnard, who is also trying to rebuild her life after the ravages of alcohol, and Benny has to make sure she stays sober for her comeback.
At the same time, Benny's feisty colleague, Captain Mbali Kaleni, is hunting the shooter, trying desperately to find what connects him to Hanneke Sloet.
Both Benny and Mbali are about to endure seven days of hell.
Shortly after the South African Police Services receive this threatening email, a policeman is shot by a sniper and recovering alcoholic Benny Griessel is ordered to reopen the Sloet case.
Hanneke Sloet was a sensual and ambitious lawyer. At the time of her murder she was working on one of the biggest Black Empowerment deals in South African history. She was found dead in her luxury Cape Town apartment, a single stab wound to her chest.
After forty days, the trail has gone cold. The first investigation could find no motive and no leads, only a set of nude photographs, an ex-boyfriend with a rock-solid alibi, conniving attorneys and financial double-dealing.
Benny has to deal with immense pressure from his superiors, the media and the unfathomable sniper, whose emails keep coming and who won't stop shooting. And then there's Benny's love interest, former pop sensation Alexa Barnard, who is also trying to rebuild her life after the ravages of alcohol, and Benny has to make sure she stays sober for her comeback.
At the same time, Benny's feisty colleague, Captain Mbali Kaleni, is hunting the shooter, trying desperately to find what connects him to Hanneke Sloet.
Both Benny and Mbali are about to endure seven days of hell.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2011
343 people are currently reading
1594 people want to read
About the author
Deon Meyer
57 books1,247 followersDeon Meyer was born in the South African town of Paarl in the winelands of the Western Cape in 1958, and grew up in Klerksdorp, in the gold mining region of Northwest Province.
After military duty and studying at the Potchefstroom University, he joined Die Volksblad, a daily newspaper in Bloemfontein as a reporter. Since then, he has worked as press liaison, advertising copywriter, creative director, web manager, Internet strategist, and brand consultant.
Deon wrote his first book when he was 14 years old, and bribed and blackmailed his two brothers into reading it. They were not impressed (hey, everybody is a critic ...)
Deon Meyer
Heeding their wisdom, he did not write fiction again until he was in his early thirties, when he started publishing short stories in South African magazines.
"I still believe that is the best way to learn the craft of writing. Short stories teach you a lot about story structure - and you have limited space to develop character and plot," says Deon.
In 1994 he published his first Afrikaans novel, which has not been translated, "simply because it was not good enough to compete on the international market. However, it was a wonderful learning experience".
All later novels have been translated into several languages, including English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Russian, Finnish, Czech, Romanian, Slovakian and Bulgarian.
Deon lives in Melkbosstrand on the South African West Coast with his wife, Anita, and they have four children to keep them busy: Lida, Liam, Johan and Konstanz.
Other than his family, his big passions are motorcycling, music (he is a Mozart fanatic, but loves rock 'n roll too), reading, cooking and rugby (he unconditionally supports the national Springbok team and the Free State Cheetahs provincial team).
After military duty and studying at the Potchefstroom University, he joined Die Volksblad, a daily newspaper in Bloemfontein as a reporter. Since then, he has worked as press liaison, advertising copywriter, creative director, web manager, Internet strategist, and brand consultant.
Deon wrote his first book when he was 14 years old, and bribed and blackmailed his two brothers into reading it. They were not impressed (hey, everybody is a critic ...)
Deon Meyer
Heeding their wisdom, he did not write fiction again until he was in his early thirties, when he started publishing short stories in South African magazines.
"I still believe that is the best way to learn the craft of writing. Short stories teach you a lot about story structure - and you have limited space to develop character and plot," says Deon.
In 1994 he published his first Afrikaans novel, which has not been translated, "simply because it was not good enough to compete on the international market. However, it was a wonderful learning experience".
All later novels have been translated into several languages, including English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Russian, Finnish, Czech, Romanian, Slovakian and Bulgarian.
Deon lives in Melkbosstrand on the South African West Coast with his wife, Anita, and they have four children to keep them busy: Lida, Liam, Johan and Konstanz.
Other than his family, his big passions are motorcycling, music (he is a Mozart fanatic, but loves rock 'n roll too), reading, cooking and rugby (he unconditionally supports the national Springbok team and the Free State Cheetahs provincial team).
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May 29, 2024
I FALCHI
La sede dei Falchi-Hawks a Città del Capo.
Lo stesso protagonista di ‘Cobra’, che era l’avventura numero quattro, e questa è quella precedente, la numero tre: un capitano di una squadra d’eccellenza della polizia di Città del Capo, gli Hawks, i Falchi, che piombano sui casi da risolvere.
Il caso in questione è un omicidio eccellente, una donna avvocata, bella e seducente, molto lanciata nella sua professione.
Sean Bean, che dovrebbe/potrebbe interpretare Bennie Griessel nel film.
Il nostro capitano, Bennie Griessel, è un ex alcolista e sono duecentotrentatre giorni che ha iniziato la disintossicazione, una lotta quotidiana, attimo per attimo, di quelle 24/7.
Per risolvere il caso solo sette giorni. E qui si è tentati di pensare che sarà una lunga cavalcata incessante piena di colpi di scena, di azione serrata con il fiato sul collo.
L’edificio a Rose Street, nel quartiere Bo-Kaap, che ha ispirato quello in cui Hanneke Sloet viene assassinata.
Così è: ma non mancano le soste, i momenti di riflessione del narratore, di elaborazione del protagonista, lo studio dei personaggi, l’arricchimento dei caratteri, il dettaglio delle situazioni piene di pennellate. Il che consente di seguire tutto al contempo con calma e profondità e fiato sospeso.
Un mix tossico: perché questo è uno di quei libri che non si scollano dalle dita.
Il quartiere Bo-Kaap a Cape Town.
È bello come la vittima, che all’inizio della narrazione è già morta da un mese, diventi piano piano quasi protagonista, personaggio dominante attorno al quale tutto ruota.
Un personaggio pressoché antitetico al capitano che risolverà il caso legato alla sua morte: lei ambiziosa, di successo, determinata, dotata di gran forza di carattere e grande volontà, punta al successo e ce l’ha a portata di mano – lui sempre in lotta contro la tentazione di dimenticare le pressioni del suo lavoro nell’alcol e consapevole di quanto sia sbagliato chiudere dentro di sé la visione del Male che deve affrontare quotidianamente, lotta che lo ha condotto al divorzio.
Il deli 'Catch of the Day' a Voortrekker Street, quartiere di Bellville, dietro la sede dei Falchi.
E poi, il Sudafrica, senza nessuna tentazione di colore locale, di esotismo, di cartolina, di pittoresco: un paese che lotta e cambia, con il suo problema d’integrazione, di corruzione, con la crisi economica e i suoi effetti, un paese moderno, un paese di grande fascino.
Deon Meyer sta per venire a Roma: il 24 giugno presenterà il suo nuovo romanzo appena pubblicato in Italia (Cobra) a Roma, e io non me lo perderò, voglio chiedergli qualcosa sulla naja mossambica, che non è un nuovo servizio segreto, ma un serpente, un cobra.
La sede dei Falchi-Hawks a Città del Capo.
Lo stesso protagonista di ‘Cobra’, che era l’avventura numero quattro, e questa è quella precedente, la numero tre: un capitano di una squadra d’eccellenza della polizia di Città del Capo, gli Hawks, i Falchi, che piombano sui casi da risolvere.
Il caso in questione è un omicidio eccellente, una donna avvocata, bella e seducente, molto lanciata nella sua professione.
Sean Bean, che dovrebbe/potrebbe interpretare Bennie Griessel nel film.
Il nostro capitano, Bennie Griessel, è un ex alcolista e sono duecentotrentatre giorni che ha iniziato la disintossicazione, una lotta quotidiana, attimo per attimo, di quelle 24/7.
Per risolvere il caso solo sette giorni. E qui si è tentati di pensare che sarà una lunga cavalcata incessante piena di colpi di scena, di azione serrata con il fiato sul collo.
L’edificio a Rose Street, nel quartiere Bo-Kaap, che ha ispirato quello in cui Hanneke Sloet viene assassinata.
Così è: ma non mancano le soste, i momenti di riflessione del narratore, di elaborazione del protagonista, lo studio dei personaggi, l’arricchimento dei caratteri, il dettaglio delle situazioni piene di pennellate. Il che consente di seguire tutto al contempo con calma e profondità e fiato sospeso.
Un mix tossico: perché questo è uno di quei libri che non si scollano dalle dita.
Il quartiere Bo-Kaap a Cape Town.
È bello come la vittima, che all’inizio della narrazione è già morta da un mese, diventi piano piano quasi protagonista, personaggio dominante attorno al quale tutto ruota.
Un personaggio pressoché antitetico al capitano che risolverà il caso legato alla sua morte: lei ambiziosa, di successo, determinata, dotata di gran forza di carattere e grande volontà, punta al successo e ce l’ha a portata di mano – lui sempre in lotta contro la tentazione di dimenticare le pressioni del suo lavoro nell’alcol e consapevole di quanto sia sbagliato chiudere dentro di sé la visione del Male che deve affrontare quotidianamente, lotta che lo ha condotto al divorzio.
Il deli 'Catch of the Day' a Voortrekker Street, quartiere di Bellville, dietro la sede dei Falchi.
E poi, il Sudafrica, senza nessuna tentazione di colore locale, di esotismo, di cartolina, di pittoresco: un paese che lotta e cambia, con il suo problema d’integrazione, di corruzione, con la crisi economica e i suoi effetti, un paese moderno, un paese di grande fascino.
Deon Meyer sta per venire a Roma: il 24 giugno presenterà il suo nuovo romanzo appena pubblicato in Italia (Cobra) a Roma, e io non me lo perderò, voglio chiedergli qualcosa sulla naja mossambica, che non è un nuovo servizio segreto, ma un serpente, un cobra.
February 4, 2025
Originally written and published in Afrikaans, this police thriller set in the still transitioning world of South Africa is centred around a shooter targeting police! Before each shooting they send an email demanding that the closed case of a murdered white female lawyer be reopened, claiming a police cover-up. The police under immense internal pressure set up a diverse group of detectives to both investigate the shooter and the cold case. What progresses is a desperate race for the truth as each day the murder case remains unsolved another officer is shot at or shot! A well deserved 8 out of 12, Four Stars for this compelling and interesting, slightly sanitised(?) take on modern South African. Get stuck in!
2025 read
2025 read
May 28, 2017
I stayed up really late to finish this one. Towards the end it was absolutely impossible to put down because the need to discover who the sniper was became overwhelming.
Deon Meyer is a brilliant author and I really wish I remembered enough of the Afrikaans I once knew to be able to read his books in their original language. As it is in translation they create such a good picture of South Africa as it really is.
In this, the third in the Benny Griessel series, he writes a very strong police procedural. There is less action than the previous two books, more detective work but still a fair bit of tension. Side issues such as Benny's relationships and his children take up just a few pages, but are interesting as they relate to his character.
The answers to who the sniper was and why came completely out of left field, but with hindsight all the clues were there. I just missed them. Deon Meyer is a lot smarter than me which is why he writes books and I read them. Long may he continue to do so!
Deon Meyer is a brilliant author and I really wish I remembered enough of the Afrikaans I once knew to be able to read his books in their original language. As it is in translation they create such a good picture of South Africa as it really is.
In this, the third in the Benny Griessel series, he writes a very strong police procedural. There is less action than the previous two books, more detective work but still a fair bit of tension. Side issues such as Benny's relationships and his children take up just a few pages, but are interesting as they relate to his character.
The answers to who the sniper was and why came completely out of left field, but with hindsight all the clues were there. I just missed them. Deon Meyer is a lot smarter than me which is why he writes books and I read them. Long may he continue to do so!
February 27, 2020
Deon Meyer writes superb, complex crime novels about life and death in the Cape Town area. These books are originally written in Afrikaans and translated into English and other languages. His powerful stories paint a seemingly authentic portrait of the location, the post-apartheid turmoil, and his perception of crime and corruption within the political structure and the police force. The author’s website contains photos taken to illustrate the sites mentioned in his books.
This is the 4th mystery thriller featuring Detective Benny Griessel that I have read recently, and I have a 5th one waiting. These are intricately plotted, fast-paced police procedurals, but with a human touch. The characters and their emotions are vividly developed and they come alive on the page.
An unknown man is threatening to shoot a policeman every day until the police solve a cold case. He refers to the killing of Hanneke Sloet, an upcoming female lawyer with some very complicated business dealings. Benny is dealing with a lot of pressure to solve the murder before more police get injured or killed by the sniper. The threats are emailed to police headquarters and contain a lot of Biblical passages, rantings about Communists, and coverups within the police force. They also include much misdirection, making the case difficult to solve.
Benny is called in to lead the cold case and is working within a newly restructured police force made up of Blacks, Coloureds, and with a disliked and ridiculed female playing a leading role in the investigation. The case involves complex trails of financial fraud, money laundering, money trails, and hidden bank accounts. He is also fighting the demons of alcoholism and has remained sober for over 200 days, but still struggles with the urge to drink. He has a new love in his life, a beautiful insecure alcoholic who was once a famous singer. He is also involved in the problems of his two older teenaged children. His personal life is a distraction, and he is troubled by his lack of tech-savvy in a case that relies heavily on cell phones and computer knowledge.
My low score compared with the other books in the series has nothing to do with the well written, twisty plot and the great character development. I have never been a fan of mysteries involving financial crime, and I found the intricacies of this part of the book very difficult for my brain to entirely absorb. In compensation, Benny and his team were often coming up with wrong theories, following wrong leads, and struggling with the solution to the murder, as well as the identity of the sniper and his motivation.
Like the other books in the series, it moved at a frantic and thrilling pace.
This is the 4th mystery thriller featuring Detective Benny Griessel that I have read recently, and I have a 5th one waiting. These are intricately plotted, fast-paced police procedurals, but with a human touch. The characters and their emotions are vividly developed and they come alive on the page.
An unknown man is threatening to shoot a policeman every day until the police solve a cold case. He refers to the killing of Hanneke Sloet, an upcoming female lawyer with some very complicated business dealings. Benny is dealing with a lot of pressure to solve the murder before more police get injured or killed by the sniper. The threats are emailed to police headquarters and contain a lot of Biblical passages, rantings about Communists, and coverups within the police force. They also include much misdirection, making the case difficult to solve.
Benny is called in to lead the cold case and is working within a newly restructured police force made up of Blacks, Coloureds, and with a disliked and ridiculed female playing a leading role in the investigation. The case involves complex trails of financial fraud, money laundering, money trails, and hidden bank accounts. He is also fighting the demons of alcoholism and has remained sober for over 200 days, but still struggles with the urge to drink. He has a new love in his life, a beautiful insecure alcoholic who was once a famous singer. He is also involved in the problems of his two older teenaged children. His personal life is a distraction, and he is troubled by his lack of tech-savvy in a case that relies heavily on cell phones and computer knowledge.
My low score compared with the other books in the series has nothing to do with the well written, twisty plot and the great character development. I have never been a fan of mysteries involving financial crime, and I found the intricacies of this part of the book very difficult for my brain to entirely absorb. In compensation, Benny and his team were often coming up with wrong theories, following wrong leads, and struggling with the solution to the murder, as well as the identity of the sniper and his motivation.
Like the other books in the series, it moved at a frantic and thrilling pace.
May 7, 2019
I listened to the audiobook is wonderfully narrated by Simon Vance.
Whenever I feel like I need a faster paced police procedural with well fleshed out characters and a wonderful sense of place I turn to the Benny Griessel books by Deon Meyer.
In this third installment a sniper is taking shots at the South Africa police, and threatens that the shootings will continue daily until the corrupt SA cops solve a cold case. Grissel is brought in to head up the investigation team, and the chase is on. There are multiple interesting story lines, I continued to enjoy the bad choices that test Benny's sobriety, and the politics of the new South Africa, but this one lacked something for me. The plot felt untidy with lots of loose ends that frustrated both Benny and me, and the pacing seemed off. There wasn't much character development in this one either, and that's very unlike Meyer's story telling style. So, while I enjoyed it, I think this book the weakest of the series so far.
Whenever I feel like I need a faster paced police procedural with well fleshed out characters and a wonderful sense of place I turn to the Benny Griessel books by Deon Meyer.
In this third installment a sniper is taking shots at the South Africa police, and threatens that the shootings will continue daily until the corrupt SA cops solve a cold case. Grissel is brought in to head up the investigation team, and the chase is on. There are multiple interesting story lines, I continued to enjoy the bad choices that test Benny's sobriety, and the politics of the new South Africa, but this one lacked something for me. The plot felt untidy with lots of loose ends that frustrated both Benny and me, and the pacing seemed off. There wasn't much character development in this one either, and that's very unlike Meyer's story telling style. So, while I enjoyed it, I think this book the weakest of the series so far.
November 23, 2025
This is so much more than just a crime novel; it also gives a glimpse of South African society in the present time. I enjoyed the wide variety of interesting and realistic characters and all the interactions between them. Meyer is very successful at showing the animosities between the different race groups, who in spite of their prejudices and dislikes try so hard to cooperate and get along with each other. I love the way he alternates between Afrikaans and English; reflecting the way South Africans really speak to each other.
August 26, 2022
Back with Bernie in Cape Town. And he’s sober.
I like Bernie, he’s flawed, he knows he’s flawed too but is making the effort to become a better man albeit in his eyes he should already have all his shit together by his age, 45, as we’re supposed to, he’s forever berating himself, in fact he’s far too hard on himself at times, which is all part of the process of age & acceptance & such things as you go through life. This character has a lot to offer a reader both in terms of story & life experience.
So what else do we have…. Well Im guessing Bernie’s got 7 days to solve this crime……? No brainer that one! Early doors we find out It’s about a criminal who is shooting cops which will escalate unless they solve a crime which has been “pushed aside” in the eyes of the cop shooter (I’ll call him). Bernie is assigned the case & has everything at his disposal. And then there’s his private life with Alexa, an ex-singer who is also an alcoholic like Bernie, will she stay dry?
So, Strap yerself in!
I say that in anticipation as we only have 7 days as the book title alludes to, however what you get instead is a fairly slow burn at times, Bernie is methodical, reviewing the case, re-interviewing key witnesses & even though the clock is ticking I felt our man was always in control juggling so many balls (fellow officers, subordinates & bosses) in the air, not going off half cocked.
It’s a clever story, the layers of the victim’s life peeled away by Bernie so we get to the nub of the why, which was never properly investigated. The financial contract that she was working on is delved into & it’s more about procedure than his last book, 13 hours, which was all action, good to see the author can do different tricks, as all three books Ive read of his so far have been diffo in style/content.
I must mention the officers that support Bernie, “The Hawks”, Mbali Kaleni, Fanie Fick & Vaughan Cupido who all have roles to play too in solving the case each bringing their own unique insight to the case.
The pieces fall into place sublimely, cleverly done
A great story, 4.5 stars rounded to a four.
I like Bernie, he’s flawed, he knows he’s flawed too but is making the effort to become a better man albeit in his eyes he should already have all his shit together by his age, 45, as we’re supposed to, he’s forever berating himself, in fact he’s far too hard on himself at times, which is all part of the process of age & acceptance & such things as you go through life. This character has a lot to offer a reader both in terms of story & life experience.
So what else do we have…. Well Im guessing Bernie’s got 7 days to solve this crime……? No brainer that one! Early doors we find out It’s about a criminal who is shooting cops which will escalate unless they solve a crime which has been “pushed aside” in the eyes of the cop shooter (I’ll call him). Bernie is assigned the case & has everything at his disposal. And then there’s his private life with Alexa, an ex-singer who is also an alcoholic like Bernie, will she stay dry?
So, Strap yerself in!
I say that in anticipation as we only have 7 days as the book title alludes to, however what you get instead is a fairly slow burn at times, Bernie is methodical, reviewing the case, re-interviewing key witnesses & even though the clock is ticking I felt our man was always in control juggling so many balls (fellow officers, subordinates & bosses) in the air, not going off half cocked.
It’s a clever story, the layers of the victim’s life peeled away by Bernie so we get to the nub of the why, which was never properly investigated. The financial contract that she was working on is delved into & it’s more about procedure than his last book, 13 hours, which was all action, good to see the author can do different tricks, as all three books Ive read of his so far have been diffo in style/content.
I must mention the officers that support Bernie, “The Hawks”, Mbali Kaleni, Fanie Fick & Vaughan Cupido who all have roles to play too in solving the case each bringing their own unique insight to the case.
The pieces fall into place sublimely, cleverly done
A great story, 4.5 stars rounded to a four.
June 26, 2022
Meyer’s third offering in the Detective Benny Griessel police procedural series has two plots running side-by-side. First, there is the murder of Hanneke Sloet, a lawyer working in the complex financial investment world. The second involves a sniper demanding that Sloet’s murder be solved or he will shoot a policeman every day until they do. It is a fast-moving plot involving a large cast of fascinating characters. Meyer treats the reader with the return of Captain Mbali Kaleni, the brilliant female detective that works with Benny.
Detective Captain Benny Griessel of the Hawks—the Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigations—is a mixture of professional competence and personal anxiety which makes him an engaging character. In addition to the plot, Meyer provides an ongoing social commentary on modern South Africa with its mixture of languages, standards of living, culture and attitudes.
Meyer is an excellent writer and we are blessed that more of his body of work is being translated from Afrikaans to English.
Detective Captain Benny Griessel of the Hawks—the Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigations—is a mixture of professional competence and personal anxiety which makes him an engaging character. In addition to the plot, Meyer provides an ongoing social commentary on modern South Africa with its mixture of languages, standards of living, culture and attitudes.
Meyer is an excellent writer and we are blessed that more of his body of work is being translated from Afrikaans to English.
December 19, 2015
I bought this book during a mammoth sale this spring. Like most of the books bought then, it was collecting dust on my shelf for a considerable amount of time. Unlike the others, I actually picked it up the same year I bought it. Now that I have read it, I wonder what took me so long.
Even before the sale, I had staked out Deon Meyer as an author I would eventually read. As soon as I started reading, I knew I had hit the jackpot. This is definitely one of the ten best books I have read this year.
Someone is shooting police men to get attention to the murder of Hanneke Sloet. He claims that the police knows who the murderer is and is trying to cover it up. Detective inspector Benny Griessel is in for a lot of pressure, trying to find out who killed the succesful young lawyer before any more of his colleagues get hurt.
Benny has his own troubles. He is a recovering alcoholic and falling in love with a woman who has the same problem, Alexa. I liket this personal story very much, as well as Benny's relationship with his grown children. The second half of the book leaves these interesting side plots mostly by the wayside. At that point the chase is what fascinates most anyway.
I had absolutely no idea about "whodunnit", not even the tiniest little bit of suspicion until the big reveal. Brilliantly plotted, intelligently and heart-warmingly told. I can absolutely recommend this for any lover of crime novels!
Even before the sale, I had staked out Deon Meyer as an author I would eventually read. As soon as I started reading, I knew I had hit the jackpot. This is definitely one of the ten best books I have read this year.
Someone is shooting police men to get attention to the murder of Hanneke Sloet. He claims that the police knows who the murderer is and is trying to cover it up. Detective inspector Benny Griessel is in for a lot of pressure, trying to find out who killed the succesful young lawyer before any more of his colleagues get hurt.
Benny has his own troubles. He is a recovering alcoholic and falling in love with a woman who has the same problem, Alexa. I liket this personal story very much, as well as Benny's relationship with his grown children. The second half of the book leaves these interesting side plots mostly by the wayside. At that point the chase is what fascinates most anyway.
I had absolutely no idea about "whodunnit", not even the tiniest little bit of suspicion until the big reveal. Brilliantly plotted, intelligently and heart-warmingly told. I can absolutely recommend this for any lover of crime novels!
November 7, 2011
Not many writers inspire me to pull an all-nighter, but Deon Meyer is in that category. His newest Bennie Griessel novel is a richly rewarding read: a complex plot, believable characters and a stunning finale. Worth sacrificing some sleep for this excitement!
Deon Meyer se nuutste Bennie Griessel-roman maak dit heeltemal die moeite werd om 'n nag se slaap daarvoor op te gee. 'n Pakkende, boeiende verhaal vol geloofwaardige karakters vir wie 'n mens meer en meer omgee. Dis Meyer se negende roman, en hy bewys telkens sy meesterskap. Dit mag maar so voortgaan!
Deon Meyer se nuutste Bennie Griessel-roman maak dit heeltemal die moeite werd om 'n nag se slaap daarvoor op te gee. 'n Pakkende, boeiende verhaal vol geloofwaardige karakters vir wie 'n mens meer en meer omgee. Dis Meyer se negende roman, en hy bewys telkens sy meesterskap. Dit mag maar so voortgaan!
January 5, 2016
Wat is nou lekkerder as om langs die swembad te le, waartlemoen te eet en Deon Meyer te lees?
“Ek is Bennie Griesel. Ek is ‘n alkoholis. ‘n Man wat ‘n doos van himself maak. Gereeld. ‘n Old school-polisieman wat te min geslaap het”
Arme Bennie ‘n week van hel, by die werk en in sy persoonlike lewe. Die boek beeld die spanning tussen die lands politiek, interne polisie politiek en die media so goed uit dat ek dit kan vergewe dat die storie so bietjie stadig vir my begin het.
Ek begin ook al meer van Mbali hou want sy is op haar eie maneer ook bietjie soos Bennie. Hardegat, bitsig en baie skerp en sy het ook haar eie ongesonde kruk wat sy gebruik wanneer die druk te veel raak.
Hierdie is my 2de Deon Meyer maar virseker nie my laaste nie.
“Ek is Bennie Griesel. Ek is ‘n alkoholis. ‘n Man wat ‘n doos van himself maak. Gereeld. ‘n Old school-polisieman wat te min geslaap het”
Arme Bennie ‘n week van hel, by die werk en in sy persoonlike lewe. Die boek beeld die spanning tussen die lands politiek, interne polisie politiek en die media so goed uit dat ek dit kan vergewe dat die storie so bietjie stadig vir my begin het.
Ek begin ook al meer van Mbali hou want sy is op haar eie maneer ook bietjie soos Bennie. Hardegat, bitsig en baie skerp en sy het ook haar eie ongesonde kruk wat sy gebruik wanneer die druk te veel raak.
Hierdie is my 2de Deon Meyer maar virseker nie my laaste nie.
August 12, 2020
Exciting, nail-biting police procedural set in post-apartheid South Africa. The racially-integrated "Hawks" and other police divisions set out to solve the cold-case murder of a woman lawyer who was involved in a complicated business deal. Against them is a sniper who is picking off policemen one by one. Race against the clock to outwit the sniper and solve the crime. I just had to keep reading to find out who the sniper was.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
February 16, 2025
4½✨
Ek het vergeet hoe boeiend Meyer skryf.
Ek het belpan om vir ñ week lank elke dag ñ bietjie te lees, want ek lees nie meer genoeg Afrikaans nie, so dit het uiters stadig begin. Toe vee ek my oë drie dae laater uit en ek is klaar.
Stukkende karakters, wat altyd net hulle beste probeer. Spanning, drama en politiek. Alles wat ñ goeie riller maak! My enigste klag is die taal gebruik, ek voel soos Mbali: “When a man uses profanity to support an argument, either the man or the argument is weak.”
Ek sal nooit weer myself indoen en Meyer se boeke in enige taal as Afrikaans lees nie.
Ek het vergeet hoe boeiend Meyer skryf.
Ek het belpan om vir ñ week lank elke dag ñ bietjie te lees, want ek lees nie meer genoeg Afrikaans nie, so dit het uiters stadig begin. Toe vee ek my oë drie dae laater uit en ek is klaar.
Stukkende karakters, wat altyd net hulle beste probeer. Spanning, drama en politiek. Alles wat ñ goeie riller maak! My enigste klag is die taal gebruik, ek voel soos Mbali: “When a man uses profanity to support an argument, either the man or the argument is weak.”
Ek sal nooit weer myself indoen en Meyer se boeke in enige taal as Afrikaans lees nie.
July 17, 2021
Deon Meyer writes books that so beautifully reflect the political and social climate of South Africa. But he does so in books that are so ENJOYABLE to read. No racial angst, no social apologism - just really good detective novels.
In "7 Days" we meet up with flawed police detective Benny Griessel again, not to mention the fiery, irritable Captain Mbali Kaleni. Over a period of seven days, Griessel will race the clock to solve the homicide of a beautiful young lawyer, while Kaleni will bicker and battle her way to finding an anonymous sniper who has shot a policeman.
Reading late into the night, I was struck by Meyer's deft characterisation; one really likes his characters without falling into that saccharine comfort zone where one enjoys characters just because they are familiar. Rather, in "7 Days" one likes Meyer's complex characters because of their flaws, flaws which ensure one never gets too comfortable with them.
As a South African reader, I particularly enjoy reading books based in a setting that I know and in an environment that I am familiar with. There are many SA authors that could provide this for me, of course, but Meyer is my go-to guy because there is none of the pseudo-philosophical meanderings that are a feature of so many SA authors.
Having said this - if you are not South African, "7 Days" is a pretty good way to find out a bit more about the country. And you'll enjoy the trip - Meyer makes sure of that.
In "7 Days" we meet up with flawed police detective Benny Griessel again, not to mention the fiery, irritable Captain Mbali Kaleni. Over a period of seven days, Griessel will race the clock to solve the homicide of a beautiful young lawyer, while Kaleni will bicker and battle her way to finding an anonymous sniper who has shot a policeman.
Reading late into the night, I was struck by Meyer's deft characterisation; one really likes his characters without falling into that saccharine comfort zone where one enjoys characters just because they are familiar. Rather, in "7 Days" one likes Meyer's complex characters because of their flaws, flaws which ensure one never gets too comfortable with them.
As a South African reader, I particularly enjoy reading books based in a setting that I know and in an environment that I am familiar with. There are many SA authors that could provide this for me, of course, but Meyer is my go-to guy because there is none of the pseudo-philosophical meanderings that are a feature of so many SA authors.
Having said this - if you are not South African, "7 Days" is a pretty good way to find out a bit more about the country. And you'll enjoy the trip - Meyer makes sure of that.
July 22, 2022
Enjoyed it. Probably a little less than the previous books in the series though.
Narration by Saul Reichlin was superb. He got the pronunciation of Afrikaans / African words correct, which was my gripe with Simon Vance in the previous book.
Still enjoying the "life of Bennie Griesel" series. In this book he seemed a bit more mopy than usual.
The detective/mystery/crime side of things weren't as engaging in this book. Things were a bit predictable at times.
Still love the setting and atmosphere in these books. Will be continuing with the series.
Narration by Saul Reichlin was superb. He got the pronunciation of Afrikaans / African words correct, which was my gripe with Simon Vance in the previous book.
Still enjoying the "life of Bennie Griesel" series. In this book he seemed a bit more mopy than usual.
The detective/mystery/crime side of things weren't as engaging in this book. Things were a bit predictable at times.
Still love the setting and atmosphere in these books. Will be continuing with the series.
July 5, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
De mémoire, je crois qu’il s’agit du premier roman policier que j’ai lu où l’action se passe en Afrique du Sud. J’ai apprécié ma découverte, même si mes connaissances limitées sur le pays ont nui à ma compréhension de l’intrigue.
Mais au final, j’ai rencontré Benny, un policier torturé, mais somme toute sympathique, armé de la volonté de ne pas retomber dans l’alcoolisme. Sous la menace d’un snipeur fou qui tire sur un policier par jour pour forcer la police à découvrir le meurtrier d’une femme blanche, lui et son équipe se lancent dans une course contre la montre pour résoudre le meurtre et arrêter le tireur.
Le dénouement est inattendu – j’adore ce genre de surprise.
Je retiens le nom de Don Meyer… il est fort possible que je veuille lire les autres aventures de Benny.
De mémoire, je crois qu’il s’agit du premier roman policier que j’ai lu où l’action se passe en Afrique du Sud. J’ai apprécié ma découverte, même si mes connaissances limitées sur le pays ont nui à ma compréhension de l’intrigue.
Mais au final, j’ai rencontré Benny, un policier torturé, mais somme toute sympathique, armé de la volonté de ne pas retomber dans l’alcoolisme. Sous la menace d’un snipeur fou qui tire sur un policier par jour pour forcer la police à découvrir le meurtrier d’une femme blanche, lui et son équipe se lancent dans une course contre la montre pour résoudre le meurtre et arrêter le tireur.
Le dénouement est inattendu – j’adore ce genre de surprise.
Je retiens le nom de Don Meyer… il est fort possible que je veuille lire les autres aventures de Benny.
December 14, 2017
You cant go wrong with a Deon Meyer
October 8, 2022
The weakest in the series for me until now.
Well written but a mystery plot that mainly deals with an economic crime doesn't belong to my favourite ones.
There is one more (personal) reason to complain: to watch one main character to struggle with his alcoholism could be demanding, to have two of them in one book is very exhausting.
August 28, 2012
Deon Meyer is a story teller. His descriptions of South African life and philosophy are well described in "Seven Days."
The story begins when someone is accusing the police department of covering up the murder of Henneke Sloet, an attractive attorney who was stabbed to death in her luxury apartment.
With the delay in investigations, a sniper begins shooting policemen. The sniper sends emails quoting the bible and stating that he will continue to shoot police officers until they arrest the person who killed Sloet.
Benny Griessel is assigned to the case. He's a member of the Hawks. An exclusive group of police officers who are assigned high profile cases.
Benny is an alcoholic and dating a woman named Alexia. She is also an alcoholic and Benny has been trying to keep her on the wagon. Benny needs to spend more time to help Alexia but the case is too demanding and he fears for her sobriety.
Benny's team learns that Henneke had a dealing with a black-only owned business. There was something suspicious in a business transaction. The police checked on the use of Public Pension funds and how people could be put on the board of these pensions to ensure a favorable vote on investments.
The case continues with Benny trying to find Henneke's killer and the police trying to discover who the sniper is and stop him.
The story is told at a leisurely pace and it seems to represent the style of life in South Africa but underneath that relaxed pace is the heart pounding effort to find a killer and discover the motives of why someone would want to kill a person as well thought of as Henneke Sloet.
The story begins when someone is accusing the police department of covering up the murder of Henneke Sloet, an attractive attorney who was stabbed to death in her luxury apartment.
With the delay in investigations, a sniper begins shooting policemen. The sniper sends emails quoting the bible and stating that he will continue to shoot police officers until they arrest the person who killed Sloet.
Benny Griessel is assigned to the case. He's a member of the Hawks. An exclusive group of police officers who are assigned high profile cases.
Benny is an alcoholic and dating a woman named Alexia. She is also an alcoholic and Benny has been trying to keep her on the wagon. Benny needs to spend more time to help Alexia but the case is too demanding and he fears for her sobriety.
Benny's team learns that Henneke had a dealing with a black-only owned business. There was something suspicious in a business transaction. The police checked on the use of Public Pension funds and how people could be put on the board of these pensions to ensure a favorable vote on investments.
The case continues with Benny trying to find Henneke's killer and the police trying to discover who the sniper is and stop him.
The story is told at a leisurely pace and it seems to represent the style of life in South Africa but underneath that relaxed pace is the heart pounding effort to find a killer and discover the motives of why someone would want to kill a person as well thought of as Henneke Sloet.
April 6, 2013
Detective Bennie Griessel returns in this allegedly intense thriller. A woman lawyer was murdered and now a mysterious sniper is stalking the police for their incompetence in finding the murderer or their perceived collusion in protecting the politically connected murderer. Bennie is called in for a fresh look even though his personal life is in chaos as he courts an alcoholic celebrity/singer. I had a hard time engaging with the plot and wasn't connecting with all the South African cultural allusions and politics-wish they did footnotes. Even when the perp or perps is/are apprehended there isn't much excitement, only relief the book is over. Meyer throws a lot of twists and turns in at the end and the ending is certainly a surprise( like something out of Clue) but something was missing in this one. The whole premise of the sniper shooting at the police for their inability to solve the murder seemed unreal and sort of absurd. There wasn't a lot of kinetic energy in connecting the dots-but that might have been my fault-too many distractions while I was reading this book.
February 8, 2017
I enjoyed this Deon Meyer thriller. He gives an insight into African culture. I have two more to read to finish the series.
September 12, 2014
I am a big Deon Meyer fan, and as always enjoyed hiw work. The pace is much slower than previous titles, but keeps you guessing until the last page. I also love his characters
March 15, 2021
Deon Meyer überzeugt einfach immer wieder. Sehr spannende Geschichte mit Bennie Griessel als Hauptcharakter. Knüpft direkt an das vorherige Buch an. Kann den nächsten Teil kaum erwarten.
August 31, 2021
Bennie het nie 'n lekker tyd gehad in hierdie boek nie, maar dis oukei. Hy bly baas! En ek dink steeds ou Mbali Kaleni kan maar gerus haar eie spin-off kry en die land red terwyl sy slaptjips by haar lessenaar eet. Wat 'n karakter.
Ek sukkel om Deon Meyer se boeke neer te sit en wanneer ek een lees, gaan hy oral saam met my. 7 Dae was so verslawend soos die voriges, en alhoewel ek nie mal was oor die Alexa storielyn nie, was daar meer as genoeg ander dinge wat my laat aanhou blaai het. Net nog enetjie! Jy hoef nie nou al te gaan slaap nie!
Ek sukkel om Deon Meyer se boeke neer te sit en wanneer ek een lees, gaan hy oral saam met my. 7 Dae was so verslawend soos die voriges, en alhoewel ek nie mal was oor die Alexa storielyn nie, was daar meer as genoeg ander dinge wat my laat aanhou blaai het. Net nog enetjie! Jy hoef nie nou al te gaan slaap nie!
September 6, 2020
Fast paced, interesting, good story with characters that come to life for me. I really enjoyed this book, that showed how frustrating police work can be, and how the old motives (passion, revenge, hate) are still very powerful and must not be ruled out, even in this modern world of Facebook, Twitter & Linked in, up or something, a world Griessel is not familiar with at all.
January 29, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this book ! tough to put down but easy to follow and the plot just thickened as i went !
February 8, 2023
Luisterboek: iets minder aangrijpend dan de vorige, maar desalniettemin spannend. Mooi geschreven, goed voorgelezen.
April 10, 2024
Diese Serie gefällt mir wirklich gut!
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