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Lemmer #1
Onsigbaar
Lemmer se Eerste Algemene Wet: Moenie betrokke raak nie. Hy pas dit veral toe in sy werk as vryskut-lyfwag by Body Armour, waar hy laag af is op die pryslys, want hy’s die een met die kriminele rekord, die gebrekkige sosiale vaardighede en die baie kort humeur. Wanneer die mooi, ryk Emma le Roux hom huur en begin vertel van onwaarskynlike bedreigings en ’n broer wat sy vas glo ná twintig jaar soos ’n Lasarus uit die dood uit opgestaan het, stof hy ook ’n ander ou Wet af: Moenie klein vroue vertrou nie. Maar wat, welvarende mense lieg en as dit ál gevaar is wat hy moet hanteer, dan vat hy die geld, baie dankie. Daarom vlieg hy op 26 Desember saam met haar Laeveld toe – en só begin ’n koorsagtige tog deur ’n wêreld van gierigheid en korrupsie, ekologiese stryde en sameswerings . . . en moord. In ’n lokval skiet hulle boonop vir Emma. Lemmer het nog nooit as ’n lyfwag gefaal nie, en om sy vyande te identifiseer gaan lewensgevaarlik wees, want hul ontmaskering gaan internasionale implikasies hê. Maar Lemmer is siek en sat daarvoor om onsigbaar te wees. Iemand moet betaal – en hy gaan nie rus voor dié rekening nie vereffen is nie.
427 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
About the author
Deon Meyer
67 books1,288 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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September 23, 2015
LA LEGGE DI LEMMER
Copertina
Il protagonista entra in scena subito, è lui che parla pensa e racconta in prima persona.
Preferisce farsi chiamare semplicemente col cognome, Lemmer: quello che precede, Martin Fitzroy, non gli piace.
È un afrikaaner, il che vuol dire di discendenza europea (ma non inglese).
Di sfuggita si definisce il sosia brutto di Brad Pitt. Tanto brutto però non è, alle donne piace, a meno che non si voglia credere alla teoria che le donne preferiscono i brutti.
Nel suo passato, anni di lavoro come guardia del corpo, e anche quattro di prigione per omicidio colposo.
Veld
Viene ingaggiato da Emma Le Roux, anche lei afrikaaner (le razze e le etnie in Sudafrica contano ancora, hanno sempre fatto la differenza). Al contrario di Lemmer, lei è ricca e colta.
E qui Lemmer-Meyer ci regala un piccolo pezzo esilarante: la Legge di Lemmer sulle Donne Piccole (mai fidarti di loro, ecc. ecc.).
Emma ha subito un’aggressione, tre uomini mascherati hanno fatto irruzione in casa sua a Cape Town cercando di ucciderla: si è salvata solo grazie a una fuga precipitosa. Assume una guardia del corpo, Lemmer, perché vuole essere protetta nel suo viaggio all’interno del paese alla ricerca del fratello scomparso misteriosamente vent’anni prima, senza che sia mai stato ritrovato il corpo.
Incontri
Il fratello Jacobus era un militante ambientalista, secondo la polizia un ecoterrorista, capace di uccidere quattro uomini per la sua lotta a difesa dell’ambiente e degli animali, siano essi gli avvoltoi o il tasso del miele.
Inizia il viaggio nel basso Veld, zona interna dalle temperature micidiali, ricca di parchi naturali, abitata da etnie con nomi impronunciabili, un mondo fatto di violenza e bellezza naturale.
Come sempre, Meyer è una lettura avvincente, di quelle da trattenere il fiato, di quelle che non si mettono giù, e insieme un viaggio in un paese complesso e sconosciuto, nei suoi problemi, le sue contraddizioni, le sue speranze, le sue piaghe…
Come sempre, Meyer vuol dire emozionanti storie di crimine, conflitti e vendette, insieme al ritratto di una realtà grande e dolorosa, una nazione giovanissima e molto tempestosa.
Mi piace come Meyer risolve un problema di molti romanzi di genere: lo spiegone.
Qui Meyer lo fa pronunciare a Lemmer accanto a Emma in coma: per aiutarla a uscire dal coma, le parla, e racconta di sé - come in una seduta psicanalitica, progressivamente tranquillizzato dal fatto che Emma non lo sente, e se mai si sveglierà non ricorderà nulla.
Mi piace come Meyer conclude i capitoli, senza mai terminarli davvero, piuttosto spezzandoli: sul più bello, su un momento di salita, senza mai aspettare che la trama raggiunga un punto statico, collezionando cliffhanger, Meyer si sposta al capitolo seguente, che comincia sempre già in corsa, senza necessità di costruire, partendo già in un momento alto, teso.
Mi piace la confessione di Jacobus: Meyer trasmette l’enorme dolore che si è portato dentro chiuso nella cassaforte del suo cuore per vent’anni. Lo fa sentire e capire senza raccontare nulla, lasciando tutto in sospeso. Un momento di grande intensità emotiva.
Mi piacciono le Leggi di Lemmer, mi fanno sorridere.
Deon Meyer
Copertina
Il protagonista entra in scena subito, è lui che parla pensa e racconta in prima persona.
Preferisce farsi chiamare semplicemente col cognome, Lemmer: quello che precede, Martin Fitzroy, non gli piace.
È un afrikaaner, il che vuol dire di discendenza europea (ma non inglese).
Di sfuggita si definisce il sosia brutto di Brad Pitt. Tanto brutto però non è, alle donne piace, a meno che non si voglia credere alla teoria che le donne preferiscono i brutti.
Nel suo passato, anni di lavoro come guardia del corpo, e anche quattro di prigione per omicidio colposo.
Veld
Viene ingaggiato da Emma Le Roux, anche lei afrikaaner (le razze e le etnie in Sudafrica contano ancora, hanno sempre fatto la differenza). Al contrario di Lemmer, lei è ricca e colta.
E qui Lemmer-Meyer ci regala un piccolo pezzo esilarante: la Legge di Lemmer sulle Donne Piccole (mai fidarti di loro, ecc. ecc.).
Emma ha subito un’aggressione, tre uomini mascherati hanno fatto irruzione in casa sua a Cape Town cercando di ucciderla: si è salvata solo grazie a una fuga precipitosa. Assume una guardia del corpo, Lemmer, perché vuole essere protetta nel suo viaggio all’interno del paese alla ricerca del fratello scomparso misteriosamente vent’anni prima, senza che sia mai stato ritrovato il corpo.
Incontri
Il fratello Jacobus era un militante ambientalista, secondo la polizia un ecoterrorista, capace di uccidere quattro uomini per la sua lotta a difesa dell’ambiente e degli animali, siano essi gli avvoltoi o il tasso del miele.
Inizia il viaggio nel basso Veld, zona interna dalle temperature micidiali, ricca di parchi naturali, abitata da etnie con nomi impronunciabili, un mondo fatto di violenza e bellezza naturale.
Come sempre, Meyer è una lettura avvincente, di quelle da trattenere il fiato, di quelle che non si mettono giù, e insieme un viaggio in un paese complesso e sconosciuto, nei suoi problemi, le sue contraddizioni, le sue speranze, le sue piaghe…
Come sempre, Meyer vuol dire emozionanti storie di crimine, conflitti e vendette, insieme al ritratto di una realtà grande e dolorosa, una nazione giovanissima e molto tempestosa.
Mi piace come Meyer risolve un problema di molti romanzi di genere: lo spiegone.
Qui Meyer lo fa pronunciare a Lemmer accanto a Emma in coma: per aiutarla a uscire dal coma, le parla, e racconta di sé - come in una seduta psicanalitica, progressivamente tranquillizzato dal fatto che Emma non lo sente, e se mai si sveglierà non ricorderà nulla.
Mi piace come Meyer conclude i capitoli, senza mai terminarli davvero, piuttosto spezzandoli: sul più bello, su un momento di salita, senza mai aspettare che la trama raggiunga un punto statico, collezionando cliffhanger, Meyer si sposta al capitolo seguente, che comincia sempre già in corsa, senza necessità di costruire, partendo già in un momento alto, teso.
Mi piace la confessione di Jacobus: Meyer trasmette l’enorme dolore che si è portato dentro chiuso nella cassaforte del suo cuore per vent’anni. Lo fa sentire e capire senza raccontare nulla, lasciando tutto in sospeso. Un momento di grande intensità emotiva.
Mi piacciono le Leggi di Lemmer, mi fanno sorridere.
Deon Meyer
April 2, 2017
THE BLURB
When the rich and famous visit South Africa, their first port of call is often Body Armor, the personal security company offering two types of protection: the big and intimidating muscle men called Gorillas or the lean and hungry former government body guards, referred to as Invisibles. Lemmer is a freelance Invisible. The tiny and beautiful Emma le Roux, a brand consultant from Cape Town, wants to hire him. He needs the money, so he listens to her story. Lemmer's First General Law is: Don't get involved. But he has never failed as a body guard and he's also grown a little too fond of Emma. He uncovers simmering racial and political tensions, greed, corruption, and a network of eco-terrorists. He follows the leads until he finds what he's after: The people who attacked Emma. Getting to them will be extremely dangerous, and exposing them could have international political implications. If he fails, both he and Emma will end up dead. But Lemmer is sick and tired of being invisible. He goes after them, against all odds.
COMMENTS
This is another suspense thriller from Deon Meyer, the internationally award-winning crime writer. With his books already being translated into more than 20 languages, he has been crowned as one of the top crime and thriller writers in the world.
Endearing should not be a word used in any crime novel, yet, the main characters were presented with so much empathy and soul. South Africa has a long history of suffering, of power play and greed, which manifested itself in different ways in the different inhabitants. Lemmer, our hero and protagonist, moved from the one extremist group to the next, while trying to protect an innocent client against the dark forces at play in government, the establishment and conservation.
This is a high-voltage story; a fascinating read. Action-packed, introspective, and thrilling.
I was unknowingly fortunate to provide lunch for the author and a group of motorbikers when he visited our region. He looked familiar, and his name rang a thousand bells in my mind, but the light bulb moment only came after they left. I even had a long conversations with him that day about our region, its history and cultures. Imagine my own feeling of stupidity when I finally realized why I was suppose to know him. I already read four of his first books at the time! And he already was a highly popular author in South Africa and abroad. But when you have to run around and keep 40 people happy for an hour or two, there's not enough time to think much. Well, that's my excuse, anyway. Oy! He could have autographed all my books! :-))
Nevertheless, he was already one of my favorite authors anyway before I met him and I can recommend his crime thrillers to all my friends enjoying a touch of adventure and an interest in the wider world out there. His books are always informative, unbiased, well-researched and gripping tales with the people, lives and cultures of Southern Africa as his muse.
Yes, and you do lose sleep when you start one of his novels. His humbleness reflects in his characters. Yet he is fast becoming the next best thing after Wilbur Smith. He probably will surpass Wilbur Smith very soon.
When the rich and famous visit South Africa, their first port of call is often Body Armor, the personal security company offering two types of protection: the big and intimidating muscle men called Gorillas or the lean and hungry former government body guards, referred to as Invisibles. Lemmer is a freelance Invisible. The tiny and beautiful Emma le Roux, a brand consultant from Cape Town, wants to hire him. He needs the money, so he listens to her story. Lemmer's First General Law is: Don't get involved. But he has never failed as a body guard and he's also grown a little too fond of Emma. He uncovers simmering racial and political tensions, greed, corruption, and a network of eco-terrorists. He follows the leads until he finds what he's after: The people who attacked Emma. Getting to them will be extremely dangerous, and exposing them could have international political implications. If he fails, both he and Emma will end up dead. But Lemmer is sick and tired of being invisible. He goes after them, against all odds.
COMMENTS
This is another suspense thriller from Deon Meyer, the internationally award-winning crime writer. With his books already being translated into more than 20 languages, he has been crowned as one of the top crime and thriller writers in the world.
Endearing should not be a word used in any crime novel, yet, the main characters were presented with so much empathy and soul. South Africa has a long history of suffering, of power play and greed, which manifested itself in different ways in the different inhabitants. Lemmer, our hero and protagonist, moved from the one extremist group to the next, while trying to protect an innocent client against the dark forces at play in government, the establishment and conservation.
This is a high-voltage story; a fascinating read. Action-packed, introspective, and thrilling.
I was unknowingly fortunate to provide lunch for the author and a group of motorbikers when he visited our region. He looked familiar, and his name rang a thousand bells in my mind, but the light bulb moment only came after they left. I even had a long conversations with him that day about our region, its history and cultures. Imagine my own feeling of stupidity when I finally realized why I was suppose to know him. I already read four of his first books at the time! And he already was a highly popular author in South Africa and abroad. But when you have to run around and keep 40 people happy for an hour or two, there's not enough time to think much. Well, that's my excuse, anyway. Oy! He could have autographed all my books! :-))
Nevertheless, he was already one of my favorite authors anyway before I met him and I can recommend his crime thrillers to all my friends enjoying a touch of adventure and an interest in the wider world out there. His books are always informative, unbiased, well-researched and gripping tales with the people, lives and cultures of Southern Africa as his muse.
Yes, and you do lose sleep when you start one of his novels. His humbleness reflects in his characters. Yet he is fast becoming the next best thing after Wilbur Smith. He probably will surpass Wilbur Smith very soon.
June 6, 2021
A very good book by Deon Meyer. In this we deal with a new character named Lemmer who works for a bodyguard company. We also have a wealthy and attractive client named Emma le Roux who is need of protection after a home invasion which was focused upon her and which occurred at a friends home where she was visiting for the Christmas holidays. Lemmer is given the assignment to guard Emma and she tells him a story that will include a missing brother of over 20 years, the deaths of protected vultures and the resulting deaths of those who killed the animals, deceased parents who died tragically and no real reason why all this should involved Emma. Along the way Meyer uses about 3 or 4 chapters to reveal Lemmer's background, South African politics, eco-terrorism and a host of other issues that gives us insight into both the characters and the issues surrounding South Africa as of the date of the books publication (and which probably continue to present day!).
Meyer has a deep love of his home country, and it shows in the way his characters passionately feel about their efforts to right many of their past wrongs, and the wildlife issues that are part of this book are real even today. It is a another wonderful effort and worth reading. It also is good for fans of mysteries to get a chance to read a native South African author and to develop an appreciation for Africa, South Africa and the author himself. Top Notch, as alway, Deon!!
Meyer has a deep love of his home country, and it shows in the way his characters passionately feel about their efforts to right many of their past wrongs, and the wildlife issues that are part of this book are real even today. It is a another wonderful effort and worth reading. It also is good for fans of mysteries to get a chance to read a native South African author and to develop an appreciation for Africa, South Africa and the author himself. Top Notch, as alway, Deon!!
March 26, 2020
This is my first Deon Meyer book I have read, and it did not disappoint!! Being South African I may be a bit biased, but I liked the fact that I could relate to the environment and the author's take on South African life, politics and conservationism. The main character Lemmer is great and the story-line has loads of angle, from eco-terrorism to old conspiracies. A must read for South Africans!!
May 5, 2019
4,25 sterren - Nederlandse paperback 🌸🌸🌸
Stond al en tijdje op de plank te “roepen “ naar mij. En reis naar Zuid Afrika, ik heb er van genoten. En weer veel van geleerd. De karakters zijn breed uitgeschreven en dragen het verhaal voor mij. 🦋🦋🦋
Stond al en tijdje op de plank te “roepen “ naar mij. En reis naar Zuid Afrika, ik heb er van genoten. En weer veel van geleerd. De karakters zijn breed uitgeschreven en dragen het verhaal voor mij. 🦋🦋🦋
February 25, 2021
Bodyguard and client in circa 2007 South Africa.
South African Bodyguard for hire ends up as a detective trying to determine who shot his client and why. Which by necessity includes inquiring into the fate of the client's brother.
While continuing to advance the storyline, Deon Meyer also tells of modern South Africa as well as a little history from different points of view. I am no expert on South Africa but his presentation seems plausible to me. Interestingly, he presents reasonable sounding points of view through the eyes of some of his characters then presents opposing, but still reasonable sounding, viewpoints from other characters. He seems to me to present a fairly even handed take on conservation vs poverty vs greed.
The author writes a good story in prose, which despite being choppy in some places, intrigued me and held my interest.
South African Bodyguard for hire ends up as a detective trying to determine who shot his client and why. Which by necessity includes inquiring into the fate of the client's brother.
While continuing to advance the storyline, Deon Meyer also tells of modern South Africa as well as a little history from different points of view. I am no expert on South Africa but his presentation seems plausible to me. Interestingly, he presents reasonable sounding points of view through the eyes of some of his characters then presents opposing, but still reasonable sounding, viewpoints from other characters. He seems to me to present a fairly even handed take on conservation vs poverty vs greed.
The author writes a good story in prose, which despite being choppy in some places, intrigued me and held my interest.
September 19, 2013
Emma Le Roux's brother disappeared twenty years ago and has long been presumed dead. Imagine her surprise, then, when she sees a photo on the television news of a man suspected of murder and recognizes him as her long-lost brother. Emma contacts the police and shortly thereafter, three assassins show up at her house and she narrowly escapes being killed.
Emma turns for help to Body Armor, one of South Africa's premier personal protection companies. Martin Lemmer, a man with a troubled past, is thus assigned the task of guarding Emma's lovely body as she traipses around South Africa, searching for the man who might be her brother and stirring up trouble at every turn. The two put together an increasingly complex picture of the alleged killer who was a radical environmentalist. Along the way, Emma and Martin (and the reader as well, of course) are also subjected to any number of lectures about the ways in which greedy, thoughtless human beings are destroying the only planet that they have.
The mysterious villains who want Emma dead and out of their hair do not give up easily, and Martin will have his hands full trying to keep her safe. Along the way, he will uncover all sorts of nefarious plots and put his own safety at serious risk.
Lurking somewhere in this book is a reasonably decent thriller. But reading it, it's hard to decide what Meyer's real objective might be. Is he attempting to write a straightforward thriller? Is this primarily an urgent warning about the serious environmental damage that is being done in South Africa? Is it supposed to be a character study of Lemmer, the narrator, whose past is slowly revealed as the book progresses?
Virtually every time the story begins to build up a head of steam, Meyer brings it to a screeching halt and drops in a lecture about environmental matters. There is also a significant development near the middle of the book after which the narrator goes on for pages and pages describing his past life to the point where the reader is virtually pleading with the author to just get on with the story.
This is a very long book, and Meyer is obviously sincere in his concern for the environment. The latter is all to the good, at least as far as I'm concerned. But he could have told this story in a much more economical fashion and maintained the suspense he was attempting to build, rather than letting it dissipate away on way too many occasions. And in the process, he could have still gotten his message across without beating the reader over the head with it.
Emma turns for help to Body Armor, one of South Africa's premier personal protection companies. Martin Lemmer, a man with a troubled past, is thus assigned the task of guarding Emma's lovely body as she traipses around South Africa, searching for the man who might be her brother and stirring up trouble at every turn. The two put together an increasingly complex picture of the alleged killer who was a radical environmentalist. Along the way, Emma and Martin (and the reader as well, of course) are also subjected to any number of lectures about the ways in which greedy, thoughtless human beings are destroying the only planet that they have.
The mysterious villains who want Emma dead and out of their hair do not give up easily, and Martin will have his hands full trying to keep her safe. Along the way, he will uncover all sorts of nefarious plots and put his own safety at serious risk.
Lurking somewhere in this book is a reasonably decent thriller. But reading it, it's hard to decide what Meyer's real objective might be. Is he attempting to write a straightforward thriller? Is this primarily an urgent warning about the serious environmental damage that is being done in South Africa? Is it supposed to be a character study of Lemmer, the narrator, whose past is slowly revealed as the book progresses?
Virtually every time the story begins to build up a head of steam, Meyer brings it to a screeching halt and drops in a lecture about environmental matters. There is also a significant development near the middle of the book after which the narrator goes on for pages and pages describing his past life to the point where the reader is virtually pleading with the author to just get on with the story.
This is a very long book, and Meyer is obviously sincere in his concern for the environment. The latter is all to the good, at least as far as I'm concerned. But he could have told this story in a much more economical fashion and maintained the suspense he was attempting to build, rather than letting it dissipate away on way too many occasions. And in the process, he could have still gotten his message across without beating the reader over the head with it.
July 4, 2018
Dit voel asof hierdie boek heel aan die begin van Deon Meyer se skryf loopbaan gepen was want die kwaliteit was nie so goed soos sy Griesel reeks nie.
Ek dink die probleem was Lemmer – hy het my van die begin af verkeerd opgevryf met sy Lemmer Wette. Dit het hom na ‘n poepol laat klink. Soos daai mense wat met help-my-fris-lyk hempies in warm gemaakte karre rondjaag.
Die basiese storie is ook bietjie stereotipies – lyfwag wat gevoelens kry vir sy klient – lang gaap – dis nie baie oorspronklik nie.
Maar dis altyd ‘n plesier om in my moedertaal te lees en ek HET van die konservasie tema en die laaste 25% van die boek gehou.
Ek sal veel eerder die Bennie Griesel reeks aanbeveel vir lesers wat Deon Meyer wil probeer.
Ek dink die probleem was Lemmer – hy het my van die begin af verkeerd opgevryf met sy Lemmer Wette. Dit het hom na ‘n poepol laat klink. Soos daai mense wat met help-my-fris-lyk hempies in warm gemaakte karre rondjaag.
Die basiese storie is ook bietjie stereotipies – lyfwag wat gevoelens kry vir sy klient – lang gaap – dis nie baie oorspronklik nie.
Maar dis altyd ‘n plesier om in my moedertaal te lees en ek HET van die konservasie tema en die laaste 25% van die boek gehou.
Ek sal veel eerder die Bennie Griesel reeks aanbeveel vir lesers wat Deon Meyer wil probeer.
December 6, 2018
Not necessarily the most amazing book, but I have to defend Mr. Meyer and his marvelous "Thirteen hours", that is one of the best novels I've recently met.
The story is ok, but somehow too long and slow and at least two scenes are unconvincing: the fall from the train and Lemmer's fight with Jacobus. So, four stars are a little more than the book deserves and Mr. Meyer owes me one.
But no problem with that...
The story is ok, but somehow too long and slow and at least two scenes are unconvincing: the fall from the train and Lemmer's fight with Jacobus. So, four stars are a little more than the book deserves and Mr. Meyer owes me one.
But no problem with that...
August 20, 2009
Deon Meyer mysteries are a special treat. The women are strong, the men sexy, the land distinctive. Meyer's latest title, Blood Safari, is especially fascinating for defining at least two sides to the wildlife crisis in the parks areas of southern Africa up through Kenya. His website shows photos of some places he describes in the book, and they are truly magical, places like none others. Photo Gallery
There is always something untamed about a Meyer book...his characters are sometimes barely in control of themselves, their emotions, their physicality. They are real, immediate. I think we identify with their frustration at the evil in people, and wish we could be as edgy. While I have enjoyed all of Meyer's books, I especially enjoyed Heart of the Hunter, one of his first.
There is always something untamed about a Meyer book...his characters are sometimes barely in control of themselves, their emotions, their physicality. They are real, immediate. I think we identify with their frustration at the evil in people, and wish we could be as edgy. While I have enjoyed all of Meyer's books, I especially enjoyed Heart of the Hunter, one of his first.
September 24, 2017
Lemmer's First Law: Don't get involved. Lemmer's Second Law: Don't trust anybody. Lemmer's Law of Small Women: Never trust them. Lemmer's One-Night Law of Quasi-Artistic Women: More than one night and you became an insect in a spiderweb. Blood Safari is littered with these little axioms. The most important one missing? Lemmer's Law of Thriller Writing: If your novel involves incendiary issues such as land claim disputes, animal conservation, tribal turmoil, despoliation of natural resources, the Liberation of Mozambique, etc., learn how to keep the reader interested in turning the pages. Does not happen here.
September 8, 2020
Exista unele serii de romane in care te indragostesti de personajul principal, fiind in asa maniera conturat incat sa poti empatiza cu el si astfel sa ajungi sa cumperi si sa citesti toate cartile care apar in respectiva serie. Mai este si cazul, mai rar, in care maniera de a scrie si modul in care se desfasoara actiunea romanului sunt cele care te atrag, insa nu reusesti sa te atasezi de eroul cartii, ba mai mult ajunge sa-ti fie total antipatic. In ceea ce priveste acest roman, eu ma regasesc in cea de-a doua categorie.
In romanele si filmele contemporane este foarte la moda sa ai ca personaj principal un tip dur, capabil sa schimbe cursul actiunii, sa imparta cativa pumni in stanga si in dreapta, sa scape la mustata in situatii critice si desigur sa salveze o femeie frumoasa. De la James Bond, Philip Marlowe, Indiana Jones, Jason Bourne, Ethan Hunt ori Jack Reacher, toate s-au bazat pe un erou puternic si carismatic, de cursa lunga care sa ofere multe continuari si sa aiba si un caracter comercial.
In "Safari insangerat" il avem pe Lemmer, un bodyguard profesionist foarte dur, tacut, rece si cinic caruia ii place sa rezolve treburile in maniera sa personala si sa nu se implice niciodata emotional. Ceea ce m-a deranjat este ca, pe langa faptul ca se crede invincibil si ca are dreptate mereu, se considera si un fin psiholog in special in ceea ce priveste femeile dar in acelasi timp uraste barbatii aratosi si inalti. Pare sa stie totul despre doamne ceea ce devine enervant pentru ca cititorul incearca sa se concentreze pe actiune si nu pe divagatii misogine. Iar ca totul sa fie si mai iritant, protagonistul a formulat si asa numitele "Legi ale lui Lemmer" in ceea ce priveste femeile. Acestea echivaleaza pentru el cu legile lui Murphy caci tinde sa-si ghideze viata dupa ele. Sa ne delectam cu cateva:
Prima lege a lui Lemmer: "Nu te implica niciodata."
A doua lege a lui Lemmer: "Sa n-ai incredere in nimeni."
Legea lui Lemmer cu privire la Femeile Minione: "Sa nu te increzi niciodata in ele. Nici profesional nici personal."
Legea lui Lemmer cu privire la Aventura de o Noapte cu o Pseudoartista: "Dupa mai mult de o noapte, riscai sa devii o insecta prinsa intr-o panza de paianjen."
Ceea ce mi-a placut la roman a fost ca pentru prima data am citit o actiune plasata in Africa si am aflat foarte multe informatii despre orasele si dialectele de acolo, despre peisaje si munti si despre animalele cum ar fi caprioarele impala, vulturii, viezurii si importanta de a proteja aceste specii.
Avem de-a face asadar cu un roman interesant cu o actiune fluida, captivanta care ar putea sa va placa daca reusiti sa depasiti prejudecatile si limitarile personajului principal.
In romanele si filmele contemporane este foarte la moda sa ai ca personaj principal un tip dur, capabil sa schimbe cursul actiunii, sa imparta cativa pumni in stanga si in dreapta, sa scape la mustata in situatii critice si desigur sa salveze o femeie frumoasa. De la James Bond, Philip Marlowe, Indiana Jones, Jason Bourne, Ethan Hunt ori Jack Reacher, toate s-au bazat pe un erou puternic si carismatic, de cursa lunga care sa ofere multe continuari si sa aiba si un caracter comercial.
In "Safari insangerat" il avem pe Lemmer, un bodyguard profesionist foarte dur, tacut, rece si cinic caruia ii place sa rezolve treburile in maniera sa personala si sa nu se implice niciodata emotional. Ceea ce m-a deranjat este ca, pe langa faptul ca se crede invincibil si ca are dreptate mereu, se considera si un fin psiholog in special in ceea ce priveste femeile dar in acelasi timp uraste barbatii aratosi si inalti. Pare sa stie totul despre doamne ceea ce devine enervant pentru ca cititorul incearca sa se concentreze pe actiune si nu pe divagatii misogine. Iar ca totul sa fie si mai iritant, protagonistul a formulat si asa numitele "Legi ale lui Lemmer" in ceea ce priveste femeile. Acestea echivaleaza pentru el cu legile lui Murphy caci tinde sa-si ghideze viata dupa ele. Sa ne delectam cu cateva:
Prima lege a lui Lemmer: "Nu te implica niciodata."
A doua lege a lui Lemmer: "Sa n-ai incredere in nimeni."
Legea lui Lemmer cu privire la Femeile Minione: "Sa nu te increzi niciodata in ele. Nici profesional nici personal."
Legea lui Lemmer cu privire la Aventura de o Noapte cu o Pseudoartista: "Dupa mai mult de o noapte, riscai sa devii o insecta prinsa intr-o panza de paianjen."
Ceea ce mi-a placut la roman a fost ca pentru prima data am citit o actiune plasata in Africa si am aflat foarte multe informatii despre orasele si dialectele de acolo, despre peisaje si munti si despre animalele cum ar fi caprioarele impala, vulturii, viezurii si importanta de a proteja aceste specii.
Avem de-a face asadar cu un roman interesant cu o actiune fluida, captivanta care ar putea sa va placa daca reusiti sa depasiti prejudecatile si limitarile personajului principal.
August 27, 2013
Dit boek stond al ruim 2 jaar op mijn to-read-list. Ik kan me echt niet meer herinneren waarom ik deze erop heb gezet, maar toen ik hem laatst zag in de bibliotheek dacht ik: waarom ook eigenlijk niet? Ik vind het altijd fijn om een standalone te lezen, aangezien er dan ook echt werkelijk een boek van je lijst verdwijnt, in plaats van dat deel 2, 3, 4 etc. er gelijk terug op worden geplaatst.
Onzichtbaar neemt je mee naar Zuid-Afrika. Perfect dus voor mijn reading challenge: 'a book set in a different country'. In Zuid-Afrika is Emma le Roux op zoek naar haar vermiste broer. Hij is al 20 jaar van de aardbodem verdwenen, maar na een nieuwsbericht is Emma er van overtuigd dat ze haar broer gevonden heeft. Ze begint vragen te stellen en naar antwoorden te zoeken, maar dit wordt niet gewaardeerd. Al snel is ze zelfs in haar eigen huis niet meer veilig en besluit ze een lijfwacht in te huren, Lemmer. Samen met Lemmer zet ze alles op alles om de waarheid te achterhalen.
Heerlijk genoten heb ik van dit verhaal. Even lastig om door de eerste bladzijdes heen te komen, maar toen ik er eenmaal in zat wilde ik maar door blijven lezen. Emma is een heerlijk hoofdpersoon met een onuitputtelijke nieuwsgierigheid. Lemmer is heel teruggetrokken en ik denk dat veel mensen hem niet zullen waarderen als hoofdpersoon, maar ik vond hem juist geweldig! Heerlijk karakter.
Ik vond het geweldig om doorheen dit verhaal je helemaal in Zuid-Afrika te wanen en meegesleurd te worden in dit mysterie. Toch heb ik dit boek uiteindelijk maar 3 sterren gegeven, omdat het einde me behoorlijk tegen viel. Behoorlijk ongeloofwaardig voor mijn gevoel. Ik had continue het idee dat ik iets over het hoofd zag, iets wat het verhaal logischer en ingewikkelder zou maken. .
Toch heb ik ontzettend genoten van het verhaal op zich, dus ik zal een volgend boek van Deon Meyer zeker niet uit de weg gaan!
Onzichtbaar neemt je mee naar Zuid-Afrika. Perfect dus voor mijn reading challenge: 'a book set in a different country'. In Zuid-Afrika is Emma le Roux op zoek naar haar vermiste broer. Hij is al 20 jaar van de aardbodem verdwenen, maar na een nieuwsbericht is Emma er van overtuigd dat ze haar broer gevonden heeft. Ze begint vragen te stellen en naar antwoorden te zoeken, maar dit wordt niet gewaardeerd. Al snel is ze zelfs in haar eigen huis niet meer veilig en besluit ze een lijfwacht in te huren, Lemmer. Samen met Lemmer zet ze alles op alles om de waarheid te achterhalen.
Heerlijk genoten heb ik van dit verhaal. Even lastig om door de eerste bladzijdes heen te komen, maar toen ik er eenmaal in zat wilde ik maar door blijven lezen. Emma is een heerlijk hoofdpersoon met een onuitputtelijke nieuwsgierigheid. Lemmer is heel teruggetrokken en ik denk dat veel mensen hem niet zullen waarderen als hoofdpersoon, maar ik vond hem juist geweldig! Heerlijk karakter.
Ik vond het geweldig om doorheen dit verhaal je helemaal in Zuid-Afrika te wanen en meegesleurd te worden in dit mysterie. Toch heb ik dit boek uiteindelijk maar 3 sterren gegeven, omdat het einde me behoorlijk tegen viel. Behoorlijk ongeloofwaardig voor mijn gevoel. Ik had continue het idee dat ik iets over het hoofd zag, iets wat het verhaal logischer en ingewikkelder zou maken. .
Toch heb ik ontzettend genoten van het verhaal op zich, dus ik zal een volgend boek van Deon Meyer zeker niet uit de weg gaan!
December 30, 2016
I listened to this via audiobook. The reader was very good, with (as far as I know) various South African accents and intonation that gave the story a human, authentic touch.
I found the novel interesting in background and in Lemmer's unique perspective, but the plot was meandering and quite confusing in places. I couldn't get a clear sense of what was happening for stretches at a time, the names blurred together (but the unique accents the reader gave them helped somewhat), and there was several iteration of endings.
I also hated the clichéd ending. Of course he would run toward the car in his driveway, pfft, like the final 5 minutes of a sentimental romantic movie.
I found the novel interesting in background and in Lemmer's unique perspective, but the plot was meandering and quite confusing in places. I couldn't get a clear sense of what was happening for stretches at a time, the names blurred together (but the unique accents the reader gave them helped somewhat), and there was several iteration of endings.
I also hated the clichéd ending. Of course he would run toward the car in his driveway, pfft, like the final 5 minutes of a sentimental romantic movie.
November 8, 2016
My first book by Deon Meyer. I enjoyed it. I would really like to see it adapted to the cinema with Natalie Portman as Emma Le Roux...
July 3, 2012
In 2009, Patrick Anderson wrote in The Washington Post: "Often, the best fiction doesn't take us back to our unhappy childhoods or our depressing home towns but into new worlds we've not known before. Deon Meyer's novels explore the complex reality of South Africa, a world little known to many of us. At the most obvious level, they are exciting stories of crime, conflict and revenge, but they are more than that: ambitious attempts to show us the pain and greatness of a troubled nation that is still being born."
As a South African expatriate living in the United States, I'm inclined to state the opposite: Meyers fiction (7 books so far) does take me back to a troubled adolescence during the black uprising in the 70s, trying to piece together the past (a child oblivious of apartheid) and the racial tensions of the present, let alone fret about the future prospect of civil war in my country. But Anderson couldn't be more right about Meyer's fiction illuminating "the pain and greatness of a troubled nation that is still being born."
In Blood Safari you come across a cast of characters in situations and relationships that are evident of the 'new' South Africa: whites, blacks, men, and women in different power struggles, first-world mindsets vs. tribalism, different racial and political tensions, selfsame greed and corruption. The story is a page-turned for sure: fast-paced and great dialogue.
A distinct trait of Deon Meyer's writing - and my favorite - is roving points-of-view: each chapter told from the perspective of different characters. But while he switches back and forth, he maintains the suspense, and progresses the story without missing a beat.
A great read!
As a South African expatriate living in the United States, I'm inclined to state the opposite: Meyers fiction (7 books so far) does take me back to a troubled adolescence during the black uprising in the 70s, trying to piece together the past (a child oblivious of apartheid) and the racial tensions of the present, let alone fret about the future prospect of civil war in my country. But Anderson couldn't be more right about Meyer's fiction illuminating "the pain and greatness of a troubled nation that is still being born."
In Blood Safari you come across a cast of characters in situations and relationships that are evident of the 'new' South Africa: whites, blacks, men, and women in different power struggles, first-world mindsets vs. tribalism, different racial and political tensions, selfsame greed and corruption. The story is a page-turned for sure: fast-paced and great dialogue.
A distinct trait of Deon Meyer's writing - and my favorite - is roving points-of-view: each chapter told from the perspective of different characters. But while he switches back and forth, he maintains the suspense, and progresses the story without missing a beat.
A great read!
June 20, 2015
I have actually read the two novels featuring the character of "Lemmer" in the wrong order, since I had previously picked up and read "Trackers" without realising that it was the second in the series. I enjoyed "Trackers" enough to want to read the first of the series and to get Lemmer's backstory, but I think having read the second book already somewhat spoiled this one for me, since to an extent I was aware of what the outcome would be. Even taking that into account, I didn't enjoy this as much as the other Deon Meyer books I have read, primarily because I personally found the plot a little too implausible. On the other hand, it's well-written, as is always the case with Deon Meyer, and it gives the impression of being well researched in terms of the locations featured. The plot features Lemmer taking a job as bodyguard to a wealthy young woman investigating the disappearance of her older brother some years previously, and Lemmer is dragged into murky business involving hard line environmentalists, tribal land claims affecting nature reserves, and some people who want a buried secret to stay buried. I liked the way the author used the characters to set out both sides of the land claims/nature reserves dispute. A decent enough thriller, but I think I prefer the Benny Griessel series.
November 3, 2020
Dit boek was mijn kennismaking met Deon Meyer, een Zuid-Afrikaanse auteur, omschreven als vakman binnen het misdaadgenre, die mij op een zeer aangename manier meenam in een mij volstrekt onbekende wereld van wildreservaten en zijn scherpe belangentegenstellingen.
Ik heb het over het algemeen niet zo op actiethrillers waarbij vaak het heldendom er als mierzoete honing vanaf druipt. Niet in dit boek, al schurkte het er bij sommige fragmenten wel tegenaan. Dat dit niet stoorde was vooral te danken aan Meyer's schrijfstijl en de verrassend sterk beschreven inzichten waar hij de tijd voor neemt. Ook smulde ik van de manier waarop hij zeer geïnspireerd over gieren schreef. Zijn uitweidingen maken het verhaal weliswaar traag, maar ook interessant, juist ook omdat je op voorhand al weet dat de hoofdpersoon Lemmer uiteraard gaat zegevieren.
Ik heb het over het algemeen niet zo op actiethrillers waarbij vaak het heldendom er als mierzoete honing vanaf druipt. Niet in dit boek, al schurkte het er bij sommige fragmenten wel tegenaan. Dat dit niet stoorde was vooral te danken aan Meyer's schrijfstijl en de verrassend sterk beschreven inzichten waar hij de tijd voor neemt. Ook smulde ik van de manier waarop hij zeer geïnspireerd over gieren schreef. Zijn uitweidingen maken het verhaal weliswaar traag, maar ook interessant, juist ook omdat je op voorhand al weet dat de hoofdpersoon Lemmer uiteraard gaat zegevieren.
November 8, 2015
A decent read but not up to par with the author's previous works. I did enjoy the main character, the rural South African setting, and I learned quite a bit about the environmental issues facing South Africa. Unfortunately the resolution of the plot was overly complicated and too unrealistic for my tastes and the book was a bit overlong.
March 9, 2017
This ticked lots of boxes for me - a gripping plot, a fascinating hero, Lemmer, and a real insight into modern life in post-Apartheid South Africa as well the echoes of past horrors. Beautifully written (and translated), I went right out and bought some more of Meyer's books!
November 3, 2020
Interessante tweede lees. Lemmer is basies die Afrikaanse antwoord op Jack Reacher. Ek sal Onsigbaar altyd onthou vir die agtergrondstorie - terwyl ek meeste van die res van die boek vergeet het, bly dit my steeds by. Iets wat my wel opgeval het hierdie keer is dat die boek op 'n paar plekke aan onewe tempo ly, waar veral uitgebreide karaktersketse die momentum stuit. Hierdie kon dalk bietjie meer natuurlik in die verloop van sake ingemeng gewees het. Maar, ten spyte daarvan bly dit 'n goeie aksieriller wat ek vir 'n tweede keer kon geniet het nadat Donkerdrif my Deon Meyer-lus laat opvlam het.
August 7, 2020
3.5
Migliora molto nella seconda e terza parte, all’inizio non sapevo chi mi stesse più sulle croste.
Una dura lotta.
Migliora molto nella seconda e terza parte, all’inizio non sapevo chi mi stesse più sulle croste.
Una dura lotta.
April 26, 2013
It's not often one hears of crime fiction from Africa that is written in a non-native language, although now that Afrikaans has been spoken in South Africa for close to 300 years, perhaps it is as native a tongue as any other. Deon Meyer is a successful author of thrillers set in that country, and he uses the medium to explore several unsavoury aspects of South African history. The nexus between the apartheid regime and the vastly influential military-industrial complex is reasonably well-known; what is perhaps less known is its constant interference in the affairs of neighbouring countries, either on the pretext of containing Communism, or to co-opt corrupt Black leaders of those countries. The story in Blood Safari is, as far as thrillers go, fairly faithful to the genre: a rich young woman thinks she has seen her long-dead brother on TV, her house is firebombed, she buys the services of a top-notch bodyguard (named Lemmer) who helps her in her search for her brother. Of course, the enemies are many and vicious, and when both get injured in an attack, Lemmer decides to go on the offensive himself. He is a man with a short fuse and can be indescribably vicious himself, so when the villains meet their comeuppance, they don't go gently into the unknown. Meyer throws in social commentary on present-day South Africa as well. There is corruption at higher levels that thwarts honest policemen, there are social schisms between the Afrikaners and the English-speakers; there is suspicion at every level between the blacks and whites; and there are tensions between the various nations of blacks, too, as they scramble for economic advancement and funding from an impoverished state. Underlying this all is a passionate cry to save Africa's wildlife as well, not just the popular creatures of tourist imagination, but also birds such as vultures that are held in such distaste by everyone.
October 11, 2011
This was a free Nookbook download from Barnes & Noble. I was attracted to the idea of reading a mystery/thriller set in South Africa and written by a South African ... and not only a South African, but a Boer, a Dutch Afrikaner ... a country and a people I know next to nothing about.
It's a more than decent thriller, well written and plotted. The story carried me from page to page, and that's what you want in a thriller. The plot centers around a mysterious ecological activist who is murdering poachers on big game reserves upcountry. When a brief item about him appears on the nightly TV news in Johannesburg, a woman recognizes her long-lost brother, whom everyone thought was dead. She hires a bodyguard from a private security service and sets off in pursuit, awakening the enmity of shadowy forces who try repeatedly to kill her and her bodyguard. The story, interestingly, is told from the POV of the bodyguard, a man with plenty of secrets in his own past.
When I first read Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I had a stong "Wow, this is different" reaction to the Swedish settings, characters, and outlook on life. I had hoped for something like that with this, and I did get a whiff of it, but nowhere near as much as with Larsson. I don't think that's any fault of the author, Deon Meyer ... modern-day Afrikaners and Afrikaner society is just not that different, I guess.
Like I said, a more than decent thriller. If you like these kinds of stories, you'll enjoy Blood Safari.
It's a more than decent thriller, well written and plotted. The story carried me from page to page, and that's what you want in a thriller. The plot centers around a mysterious ecological activist who is murdering poachers on big game reserves upcountry. When a brief item about him appears on the nightly TV news in Johannesburg, a woman recognizes her long-lost brother, whom everyone thought was dead. She hires a bodyguard from a private security service and sets off in pursuit, awakening the enmity of shadowy forces who try repeatedly to kill her and her bodyguard. The story, interestingly, is told from the POV of the bodyguard, a man with plenty of secrets in his own past.
When I first read Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I had a stong "Wow, this is different" reaction to the Swedish settings, characters, and outlook on life. I had hoped for something like that with this, and I did get a whiff of it, but nowhere near as much as with Larsson. I don't think that's any fault of the author, Deon Meyer ... modern-day Afrikaners and Afrikaner society is just not that different, I guess.
Like I said, a more than decent thriller. If you like these kinds of stories, you'll enjoy Blood Safari.
August 24, 2014
Book blurb: Lemmer is a professional bodyguard. Silent, invisible, he never gets involved. Emma le Roux is convinced she's seen her brother on the news as a suspect in the recent killing of four poachers. But her brother is supposed to have died twenty years ago. When le Roux hires Lemmer to watch her back while she goes looking for answers, it becomes clear someone wants to keep them in the dark. And when that someone tries to murder them both, for once in his life Lemmer steps out of the shadows.
I listened to the audiobook, which is wonderfully narrated by Simon Vance. This mystery/crime novel is set in South Africa, and introduces us to Lemmer in this first book of a two book series. This is not really a thriller of a read, but more of a meditation on the many issues faced by the people and animals of South Africa. Don't get me wrong, there is some action, but I did not find the mystery itself really compelling. I did however enjoy the setting and the well developed characters. I also liked how the author weaved in political, environmental, conservation and poaching issues into the story. This is the first time I have read anything by the author, and I enjoyed it enough that I will try his other books.
I listened to the audiobook, which is wonderfully narrated by Simon Vance. This mystery/crime novel is set in South Africa, and introduces us to Lemmer in this first book of a two book series. This is not really a thriller of a read, but more of a meditation on the many issues faced by the people and animals of South Africa. Don't get me wrong, there is some action, but I did not find the mystery itself really compelling. I did however enjoy the setting and the well developed characters. I also liked how the author weaved in political, environmental, conservation and poaching issues into the story. This is the first time I have read anything by the author, and I enjoyed it enough that I will try his other books.
August 10, 2018
Trigger warnings: violence, gun violence, car accident, snake attack, probably other stuff but it's late and I'm tired and my brain is mush.
I read and LOVED Deon Meyer's Fever back at the start of the year, so when I saw that my library had more of his books I figured it was about time I picked them up. And this was...fine? It still did a great job of capturing the intricacies and political complications of South Africa. It was still a compelling and gripping story. It still had solid characters that I cared about.
But it was REALLY long (over 500 pages long) and I.......yeah, there were times when I found it confusing because we were over 400 pages in and suddenly something from the first 50 pages became relevant again and I didn't remember what it was.
Still, it was engaging and fast paced, so.........what more can you ask?
I read and LOVED Deon Meyer's Fever back at the start of the year, so when I saw that my library had more of his books I figured it was about time I picked them up. And this was...fine? It still did a great job of capturing the intricacies and political complications of South Africa. It was still a compelling and gripping story. It still had solid characters that I cared about.
But it was REALLY long (over 500 pages long) and I.......yeah, there were times when I found it confusing because we were over 400 pages in and suddenly something from the first 50 pages became relevant again and I didn't remember what it was.
Still, it was engaging and fast paced, so.........what more can you ask?
January 6, 2017
The more I read of Meyer, the more I like his books. I feel like he is contributing to the rehabilitation of Afrikaners post apartheid. I find that he describes South Africans of all colours quite well, without a lot of judgement, and opens the door towards a rather unpretty but probably quite realistic rapprochement between many different people in this divided society.
Blood Safari is one of his early books and I didn't find his Lemmer bodyguard character very attractive, but nonetheless got drawn into this exciting tale set in the bush-encroached ruins of the apartheid military-industrial complex.
Blood Safari is one of his early books and I didn't find his Lemmer bodyguard character very attractive, but nonetheless got drawn into this exciting tale set in the bush-encroached ruins of the apartheid military-industrial complex.
February 28, 2017
On a visit to South Africa I was keen to find a local author to bring the country alive for me. Meyer is a thriller writer - and that's a genre I read a lot. This was my first Meyer novel - truly enjoyable and well grounded in the real South Africa. Read it quickly and now have a second on the go and a 3rd in the queue. This author is well represented in the UK and his books are easy to find there (oddly the one I bought in SA was printed in England shipped out there!). The other unusual factor is that these books were not originally written in English yet they are very literate. So congratulations also to the translator.
November 8, 2017
A suspenseful thriller set in South Africa that touches upon the country’s complex problems of economic and social tensions between wildlife conservation, developers, local tribes, the rich versus the poor and even the police. The stories main character, a personal body guard with a somewhat questionable past, weaves a fairly intricate storyline involving revenge, blackmail, payoffs and some good old fashion violence to go along with his short temper. The interesting story develops at a good pace, but the ending is wrapped up into a neat little package that is maybe too good to be true. Not as good as Fever, but definitely worth reading.
July 1, 2019
I loved this book. It was a fascinating mystery that takes place in a fascinating location, South Africa. I learned a lot about the people and the politics of South Africa. I will definitely read the next book in the series.
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