The Dark Flood

'The undisputed champion of South African crime' - Wilbur Smith

A Financial Times Book of the Year 2022

One last chance. Almost fired for insubordination, detectives Benny Griessel and Vaughn Cupido find themselves demoted, exiled from the elite Hawks unit and dispatched to the leafy streets of Stellenbosch. Working a missing persons report on student Callie de Bruin is not the level of work they are used to, but it's all they get. And soon, it takes a dangerous, deeply disturbing turn.

One last chance. Stellenbosch is beautiful, but its economy has been ruined by one man. Jasper Boonstra and his gigantic corporate fraud have crashed the local property market, just when estate agent Sandra Steenberg desperately needs a big sale. Bringing up twins and supporting her academic husband, she is facing disaster. Then she gets a call. From Jasper Boonstra, fraudster, sexual predator and owner of a superb property worth millions, even now.

For Sandra, the stakes are high and about to get way higher.

For Benny Griessel, clinging to sobriety and the relationship that saved his life, the truth about Callie can only lead to more trouble.

Taut with intrigue, murder and suspense, exploding with action and excitement, The Dark Flood is a masterpiece from the author of Trackers and The Last Hunt.

'One of the best crime writers on the planet' - Daily Mail

“PRAISE FOR DEON MEYER: Up there with the best in the world - The TimesThe undisputed champion of South African crime - Wilbur SmithMeyer's humane and engaging characters are indeed among "the best of the best" - Wall Street JournalA powerful exploration of humanity at its best and worst . . . simply stunning - Daily ExpressMany writers treat character and context as window-dressing for their plots. Meyer roots his novels in them. This makes Griessel's fate important to the reader and gives Meyer's writing the heft of Table Mountain, as well as its ability to take your breath away - The Times, Thriller of the MonthDeon Meyer's Benny Griessel novels, featuring a detective in an elite crime squad in Cape Town, are a joy to read ... Meyer has become an outstanding chronicler of South Africa's corruption - The Sunday TimesGreat stuff - Stephen King”

Many writers treat character and context as window-dressing for their plots. Meyer roots his novels in them. This makes Griessel's fate important to the reader and gives Meyer's writing the heft of Table Mountain, as well as its ability to take your breath away The Times, Thriller of the Month
Deon Meyer's Benny Griessel novels, featuring a detective in an elite crime squad in Cape Town, are a joy to read... Meyer has become an outstanding chronicler of South Africa's corruption The Sunday Times
Is Deon Meyer the most accomplished South African crime novelist in the history of the genre? The Dark Flood is further evidence of that assertion...every word earns its place, and there's no stinting on the usual nuanced critique of South African politics Financial Times
In a thriller packed with intrigue and biting social commentary, Meyer proves he is South Africa's finest crime writer Sunday Express
Stellar ... [a] wholly satisfying conclusion. This is the best work yet from this gifted author Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Meyer handles the complicated plot with panache Literary Review
A fast-moving South African police procedural . . . The plotlines are tightly knitted together, and the story ends with a nifty twist. A well-crafted blend of suspense, culture, and humour. Meyer is terrific Kirkus, Starred Review
A slick thriller full of acid commentary on corruption in modern SA Sun
Achieves a fine mix of suspense, action, political intrigue and personal revelation Wall Street Journal
Fans of Jo Nesbø's similarly character-driven Harry Hole mysteries will find lots to like here BookPage
Meyer brings readers another tense thriller with meticulous plotting, delving into corruption in South Africa's power structures, police abuses, and land schemes . . . Meyer is one of today's most skilled crime craftsmen Crime Reads
Absorbing procedural details lead to an explosive confrontation with a ruthless street gang and a police-corruption scheme that links SAPS to the country's devastating political scandals. It's a grim period for South Africa, but Griessel and Caputo remain loyal to justice and to each other. A gritty but surprisingly hopeful instalment in Meyer's immensely popular series Booklist
Tense and compelling, this is classic Meyer -- Sarah Ward, author of the DC Childs series
PRAISE FOR DEON MEYER:
Up there with the best in the world The Times
The undisputed champion of South African crime Wilbur Smith
Meyer's humane and engaging characters are indeed among "the best of the best" Wall Street Journal
A powerful exploration of humanity at its best and worst . . . simply stunning Daily Express
Great stuff Stephen King
One of the best crime writers on the planet Daily Mail
Meyer is the Monarch of South African crime novelists. Financial Times

Born in South Africa in 1958, Deon Meyer was a journalist, advertising copywriter, Internet manager and brand strategist before he became a novelist. Meyer has published fifteen novels and two short story collections. His books have been translated into 28 languages in more than 40 countries worldwide.

Meyer has written several series for television, six screenplays for feature films, and produced and directed movies. Dead Before Dying and Trackers have both been made into TV series in South Africa, and in 2023 the Benny Griessel series premiered under the name Devil's Peak on M-Net. Heart of the Hunter was released worldwide as a Netflix Original in March 2024 and was Netflix's number one streamed film for two consecutive weeks, with 25 million views globally in the first three weeks.

Meyer was knighted by France in 2021 as Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. He lives with his family in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

'The undisputed champion of South African crime' - Wilbur Smith One last chance. Almost fired for insubordination, detectives Benny Griessel and Vaughn Cupido find themselves demoted, exiled from the elite Hawks unit and dispatched to the leafy streets of Stellenbosch. Working a missing persons report on student Callie de Bruin is not the level of work they are used to, but it's all they get. And soon, it takes a dangerous, deeply disturbing turn.One last chance. Stellenbosch is beautiful, but its economy has been ruined by one man. Jasper Boonstra and his gigantic corporate fraud have crashed the local property market, just when estate agent Sandra Steenberg desperately needs a big sale. Bringing up twins and supporting her academic husband, she is facing disaster. Then she gets a call. From Jasper Boonstra, fraudster, sexual predator and owner of a superb property worth millions, even now.For Sandra, the stakes are high and about to get way higher. For Benny Griessel, clinging to sobriety and the relationship that saved his life, the truth about Callie can only lead to more trouble.Taut with intrigue, murder and suspense, exploding with action and excitement, The Dark Flood is a masterpiece from the author of Trackers and The Last Hunt . 'One of the best crime writers on the planet' - Daily Mail

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