Dead at Daybreak: Amazon.co.uk: Deon Meyer: Books

Amazon.co.uk Review

A provocative thriller of the new South Africa, Deon Meyer's Dead at Daybreak is set in a society where there are a new set of rules and people are still discovering the hidden depths of the old set. Ex-policeman Zed van Heerden is caught up in the betrayals of his own past, betrayals with which he has still to come to terms, when he is called in to look for a will, missing after the execution-style murder of a suburban antique dealer. Who tortured and killed Smit and who was he in the first place? Not the man whose papers he carries, that much is certain. Van Heerden can never be certain of the loyalties of the people with whom he is dealing--his own past reputation makes certain of that--and he soon finds himself uncovering secrets that the security services of more than one nation would like left well alone. Deon Meyer provides us with a gripping mystery solved by dogged legwork and occasional flashes of insight, and with a telling psychological portrait of a man and a nation haunted by a past that combines brilliance with much to be ashamed of. --Roz Kaveney --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

'Deon Meyer recreates the beauty, wildness, and danger of modern Africa with an immediacy and force no other writer has achieved . . . his work is undeniably "a cause for celebration"' (Sunday Telegraph )

'If DEAD AT DAYBREAK is anything to go by, we are seeing the rise of a major new, international writing talent. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.' (The Big Issue )

'A highly entertaining, page-turning transposition of the American private eye genre to an exotic and vibrant setting...a terrific new talent' (Irish Independent )

'Deon Meyer provides us with a gripping mystery solved by dogged legwork and occasional flashes of insight, and with a telling psychological portrait of a man and a nation haunted by a past that combines brilliance with much to be ashamed of'

(Amazon.co.uk )

'Deon Meyer's second foray into the crime thriller genre offers a slick plot, strong characters and a subtle insight into a changing country'

(Southern Cross )

'Meyer weaves an impressively tangled web and taut narrative keeps the reader guessing until the last couple of pages' (Heat*** on DEAD BEFORE DYING )

'A brilliant book. Deon Meyer does an excellent job of developing a whole range of characters who are affected by the changes in South Africa in different ways. And Thobela, a giant of a man in search of redemption, is a wonderful hero.' (Michael Ridpath, author of THE PREDATOR, on HEART OF THE HUNTER )

'A plot-driven page-turner, but clear attention has been paid to character development, motivations and dialogue as well. Joubert is a haunted yet sympathetic protagonist; his character fairly begs for a sequel.' (Bookpage on DEAD BEFORE DYING )

'Hooked me right from the start...a thriller with some weight attached and that is a rare find.' (Michael Connelly on HEART OF THE HUNTER )

'Out of post-apartheid South Africa comes a thriller good enough to nip at the heels of le Carré ... Wonderful setting; rich, colourful cast, headed by a valiant/vulnerable protagonist.' (Kirkus Reviews*, on HEART OF THE HUNTER )

'Like post-war Germany, post-apartheid South Africa offers fertile ground for reflective fiction ... Senior editor at Little, Brown, Judy Clain, a fellow South African, says, "Meyer has an extraordinary landscape - a changed world where the ghosts of the past play a huge role." ' (Publishers Weekly, on HEART OF THE HUNTER )

'With simmering racial tensions, a bounty of natural resources, and a government whose members worked both sides of the cold-war fence, South Africa should prove fertile ground for many fine spy thrillers to come. Don't be surprised if quite a few of them are written by Meyer.' (Booklist*, on HEART OF THE HUNTER )

'Meyer subtly juxtaposes the heartbreak of the victims' families with the heartbroken detective assigned to their cases. Using humour and pathos in equal measure, Meyer builds a deeply moving portrait of a man in search of his own dignity, reclaiming his life one pool lap at a time.' (Booklist (Starred Review) on DEAD BEFORE DYING )

'DEAD AT DAYBREAK is a gripping read with a flawed but human protagonist who invites our compassion. This is the second novel by Deon Meyer, a fresh voice and a compelling storyteller'

(Manchester Evening News )

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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

"What had driven him to take the wrong turnings to nowhere?" 27 Aug 2005

By Mary Whipple HALL OF FAME TOP 100 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

Zapotek "Zet" van Heerden is beaten, bruised, and sleeping off a drinking binge in a South African jail when he is hired to work as a private detective for attorney Hope Beneke. Hope's client is the lover of Johannes Jacobus Smit, an antiques dealer who was tortured with a blowtorch before being shot and killed. His safe, reportedly containing two million dollars, has been emptied, and his will, purportedly leaving everything to his lover, has been stolen. If it cannot be found within a week, everything will go to the state.

Living on the edge and decidedly antisocial, Zet van Heerden is fighting numerous personal demons. Once honored as an intelligent and resourceful crime fighter, he feels responsible for the death of his mentor, Nagel, who was shot in front of him. Filled with rage which he does not even try to control, he now lashes out at the world and then escapes into an alcoholic stupor.

As van Heerden tries to unearth the will and information about Smit's past, he also investigates events from 1976, when Smit was in the army, and from 1983, when Smit accumulated an enormous amount of cash. During his research, Zet is haunted by two other cases--one from 1991, involving the murder and mutilation of a woman who lived behind him when he was a teenager, the event which led him to join the police force, and the recent tragedy involving Nagel's death, which led him to leave the force.

As van Heerden's family background, his past love life, and the events which have brought him to his present state unfold, the reader comes to appreciate how disturbed van Heerden really is and to feel sympathy for him. A wide variety of peripheral characters in various police organizations add to the depth of the novel and expand its scope, as van Heerden must deal with the Murder and Robbery division, a "friendly" gangster with a large security force, the Urban Anti-Terrorist Force, the military Defense Force, and the American consular office.

Meyer resists the temptation to turn this compelling psychological mystery and character study into a quasi-love story, involving the reader less through romance than through intriguing and alternating stories, time periods, and points of view. Details about South African life and the individual characters give immediacy and emotional intensity to the action, and Meyer's deliberate withholding of key information keeps the various mysteries fresh and exciting. The conclusion is satisfying on all levels, making this unusual and psychologically astute mystery far more intriguing than the typical police procedural. Mary Whipple

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Fast-paced, exciting. Worthwhile read 30 April 2001

By A Customer

Thriller which reminded me a bit of Ed McBain. The story was totally believable and illustrated the complexities of modern South Africa but still giving hope for the future. Easily identified with van Heerden as the 'bad' good buy. Had me hooked until I finished the last page

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

A sensitive, gripping and believable thriller! 9 April 2001

By Nicky Weber

What a wonderful journey into Van Heerden's world and personality. Van Heerden's sensitivity and intelligence shine through in this book. Deon Meyer has written a truly gripping thriller which not only gives the reader an insight into Van Heerden's world, but also that of the police force in South Africa. The chapters alternate between the present, pacy action and an autobiography by Van Heerden. This is definitely a book worth buying.