TV series PLAN B, adapted from Deon Meyer’s WIE MET VUUR SPEEL, now available on Showmax

Hollywood star Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan) returns to his Afrikaans roots with the crime caper Plan B. 

The story follows ex-military man Ivan Malan (Tim Theron from Heart of the Hunter) and his partner, Paul Schmidt (Vosloo), who plan to rob a gang boss and steal the Flame Maiden, a painting by master artist Vermeer, worth €30 million. 

Meanwhile, Ragel Bergh (Amalia Uys from Die Byl) is swindled out of her inheritance by slick conman Joshua Lansky (Armand Aucamp from Trompoppie and One Piece). When she meets Ivan and Paul, she discovers they all want the same thing…

Filmed in Cape Town and Stellenbosch, the five-part kykNET series is based on the novel Wie Met Vuur Speel by best-selling crime writer Deon Meyer, who was also executive producer on the show. SAFTA winners Jozua Malherbe (Griekwastad, Devil’s Peak) and Tertius Kapp (Gaia) write and direct respectively.

Deon Meyer’s LEO awarded Best Adult Fiction and Book of the Year at the SA Book Awards

UPDATE: we are thrilled to announce that, following the announcement of the SA Book Award winners yesterday (18 December 2024), Deon has been awarded not only the prize for Best Adult Fiction, but also the overall Book of the Year honour – as voted for by booksellers from across South Africa. Congratulations to Deon and LEO!

Upon receiving the award Deon said: ‘I am deeply honoured and grateful to receive the two awards bestowed by the South African booksellers. This recognition means the world to me, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to the association’s members who have supported my journey as an author over the past thirty years. Their acknowledgment inspires me to keep telling stories that connect and resonate.’

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Bestselling crime sensation Deon Meyer has been shortlisted for the 2024 SA Book Awards in the Fiction category with LEO. Celebrating the best books written and published in South Africa, and voted for by booksellers from across South Africa, the nomination comes as the latest honour for Deon’s newest hit book, following the awarding of the ATKV-Woordveertjies Prize for best Afrikaans Thriller, and its domination of the bestseller lists in both its English and Afrikaans editions. The winners of the awards will be announced once voting closes on 8 December 2024.

Meanwhile, in the UK, LEO has also been named one of the Best Thrillers of 2024 by The Sunday Times, with critic James Owen describing the book as ‘a masterly portrait of a nation in deep crisis’. ‘Despite his unsentimental eye, Meyer makes you care for his characters’ fates,’ wrote Owen in his initial review for the paper; ‘LEO may be his best yet.’ While in the UK last month, Deon also gave an exclusive feature interview with Matt Nixson for the Daily Express, reflecting on South Africa and the writing of LEO. In praise of Deon’s works, Nixson said that ‘Meyer’s books… are as entertaining as they are thought-provoking’, adding that LEO, with its daring heist plot strand, ‘has already been described as “the African Job”, in a nod to the classic Turin-set Michael Caine movie’.

LEO was first published in South Africa, in Afrikaans, by Human and Rousseau in October 2023, with the English-language edition (translated by K.L. Seegers) from Hodder and Stoughton, in partnership with Jonathan Ball Publishers, launched in October this year. Grove Atlantic will publish in the US and Canada on 18 February 2025, and LEO is already out in France (Editions Gallimard), the Netherlands (A W Bruna) and Germany (Aufbau), where Deon recently completed a multi-city author tour.

LEO picks up the story of Meyer’s heroes Detectives Benny Griessel – now the star of M-Net (South Africa) and Tubi (US) series DEVIL’S PEAK – and Vaughn Cupido. Following the explosive events of THE DARK FLOOD, the detectives are now languishing in Stellenbosch. Run-of-the-mill police work in the leafy university town is a far cry from their previous life in Cape Town fighting crime and government corruption at the highest level. Then a student is found dead on a mountain trail, and the key suspect, a local businessman, is found murdered in what looks like a professional hit delivering a message – suffocated by fast-action filler foam sprayed down his throat.

On the other side of the country, a beautiful wildlife guide is recruited by a group of special forces soldiers to act as a honeytrap, part of a dangerous multi-million-dollar heist that goes tragically wrong. A single link connects the murdered businessman to the special forces, making Benny and Vaughn’s case all the more mysterious. Another former soldier is soon killed, as is an agent of the country’s disgraced former president; and then the heist crew reorganizes with an even more audacious theft in mind.

Following leads as they fly at them, not sure exactly who to trust and struggling to connect the dots as the motives don’t seem to add up, Benny and Vaughn find their case increasingly points to the corruption polluting the country. They know the clock is ticking – and Benny also has to be at the altar on time for his very anxiously-anticipated wedding day…

About Deon Meyer

Deon Meyer lives in Stellenbosch. His books are sold in 31 countries, and have been awarded many prizes around the world: the Deutsche Krimi Prize in Germany, the ATKV Prize in South Africa, the Martin Beck Award in Sweden and Le Grand Prix de Littérature Policière and Le Prix Mystère de la Critique in France. COBRA was shortlisted for the 2015 CWA International Dagger, THIRTEEN HOURS was shortlisted for the 2010 CWA International Dagger, and HEART OF THE HUNTER, was longlisted for the 2005 IMPAC Prize and selected as one of Chicago Tribune’s ‘10 best mysteries and thrillers of 2004’. THE DARK FLOOD was longlisted for the 2023 CWA Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation. His latest novel LEO, a new Benny Griessel thriller, enjoyed ten weeks at the top of the South African bestseller lists, Number One in all categories.

Adaptations of Deon’s novels have recently had great success on screen: in April 2024, HEART OF THE HUNTER topped the global Netflix film charts, becoming the first African film to do so, with over 11 million views in its first two days alone. DEVIL’S PEAK was also adapted for a miniseries by Lookout Point and Expanded Media Productions, premiering on M-Net in South Africa in 2023 before reaching audiences in the USA, New Zealand, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg. In 2020, TRACKERS, produced by Three River Fiction and Scene 23, aired on Sky Atlantic in the UK and HBO in the USA, as well as Australia and New Zealand, and across the Nordic countries and Europe.

Praise for LEO

‘Deon Meyer, who is not just the finest crime writer in South Africa but one of the best anywhere, juggles labyrinthine plot strands with a mass of local detail and sociopolitical commentary… with Meyer supplying the usual panoramic canvas of post-apartheid South Africa. The plotting is nonpareil, but it’s the two bloody-minded detectives who grip our attention.’ – Barry Forshaw, Financial Times

‘Meyer expertly interlaces his main narrative threads in shrewd and unpredictable ways, remaining one step ahead of readers as he ushers the plot to a rollicking conclusion. This intelligent page-turner confirms Meyer’s reputation as a master of the police procedural." – Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

‘Despite his unsentimental eye, Meyer makes you care for his characters’ fates as they face ambushes and double-crosses before an Italian Job-style climax in the bush. His thrillers are portraits of a country in deep crisis and LEO may be his best yet.’ – James Owen, The Times

‘When a new Deon Meyer lands on the shelves, I feel like WH Auden: “Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone / Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone.” All 490 pages of such a book have to be devoured in one sitting. Keep it for the holidays, or for a weekend when you have nothing planned… You’ll be on the edge of your seat, chewing your nails… Modern-day Afrikaans struts its stuff in all its different dresses. Our language has excellent crime writers. Meyer is the best, if you ask me... Buy LEO and take a day or two off work.’ – Deborah Steinmair, Vrye Weekblad

‘With blistering set pieces, a keen eye for dialogue – Meyer weaves a dramatic and powerful narrative with a vivid [and colourfully ‘alien’] backdrop that is literary escapism at its absolute zenith. To miss the return of our South African detectives would be a crime.’ – Ali Karim, Shots Mag

Praise for Deon Meyer

‘He’s up there with the best in the world.’ – Marcel Berlins, The Times

‘I love Deon Meyer novels. It’s global storytelling at its best, with the undeniable hallmarks of gritty realism and deep character building.’ – Michael Connelly

‘Deon Meyer's name on the cover is a guarantee of crime writing at its best.’ – Tess Gerritsen

‘Deon Meyer is one of the giants of crime fiction.’ – El Mundo

‘One of the best crime writers on the planet.’ – Mail on Sunday

Visit Deon’s website

Follow Deon on Twitter

Deon Meyer’s LEO returns to the top of the South Africa charts with English-language edition

Fresh from his recent London visit for the publication of LEO, Deon Meyer has continued his domination of the South African bestseller lists, with the new English-language edition flying straight to the top in its first week on sale. Translated by K.L. Seegers, LEO was published on 10 October by Hodder and Stoughton, in partnership in South Africa with Jonathan Ball Publishers.

This latest chart-topper follows the success of the Afrikaans edition, published by Human & Rousseau in October last year. It celebrated ten weeks at the top of the charts, with longer runs still in the Afrikaans-language and South African Authors charts.

Grove Atlantic will publish in the US and Canada on 18 February 2025. LEO is already out in France (Editions Gallimard), the Netherlands (A W Bruna) and Germany (Aufbau), where Deon has just begun an extensive reading tour. Deon’s Afrikaans-speaking fans can also look forward to a brand-new audiobook of FENIKS (original title of DEAD BEFORE DYING) – available in the format for the first time, published by NB this November.

LEO picks up the story of Meyer’s heroes Detectives Benny Griessel and Vaughn Cupido – now stars of M-Net (South Africa) and Tubi (US) series DEVIL’S PEAK. Following the explosive events of THE DARK FLOOD, the detectives are now languishing in Stellenbosch. Run-of-the-mill police work in the leafy university town is a far cry from their previous life in Cape Town fighting crime and government corruption at the highest level. Then a student is found dead on a mountain trail, and the key suspect, a local businessman, is found murdered in what looks like a professional hit delivering a message – suffocated by fast-action filler foam sprayed down his throat.

On the other side of the country, a beautiful wildlife guide is recruited by a group of special forces soldiers to act as a honeytrap, part of a dangerous multi-million-dollar heist that goes tragically wrong. A single link connects the murdered businessman to the special forces, making Benny and Vaughn’s case all the more mysterious. Another former soldier is soon killed, as is an agent of the country’s disgraced former president; and then the heist crew reorganizes with an even more audacious theft in mind.

Following leads as they fly at them, not sure exactly who to trust and struggling to connect the dots as the motives don’t seem to add up, Benny and Vaughn find their case increasingly points to the corruption polluting the country. They know the clock is ticking – and Benny also has to be at the altar on time for his very anxiously-anticipated wedding day.

About Deon Meyer

Deon Meyer lives in Stellenbosch. His books are sold in 31 countries, and have been awarded many prizes around the world: the Deutsche Krimi Prize in Germany, the ATKV Prize in South Africa, the Martin Beck Award in Sweden and Le Grand Prix de Littérature Policière and Le Prix Mystère de la Critique in France. COBRA was shortlisted for the 2015 CWA International Dagger, THIRTEEN HOURS was shortlisted for the 2010 CWA International Dagger, and HEART OF THE HUNTER, was longlisted for the 2005 IMPAC Prize and selected as one of Chicago Tribune’s ‘10 best mysteries and thrillers of 2004’. THE DARK FLOOD was longlisted for the 2023 CWA Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation. His latest novel LEO, a new Benny Griessel thriller, enjoyed ten weeks at the top of the South African bestseller lists, Number One in all categories.

Adaptations of Deon’s novels have recently had great success on screen: in April 2024, HEART OF THE HUNTER topped the global Netflix film charts, becoming the first African film to do so, with over 11 million views in its first two days alone. DEVIL’S PEAK was also adapted for a miniseries by Lookout Point and Expanded Media Productions, premiering on M-Net in South Africa in 2023 before reaching audiences in the USA, New Zealand, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg. In 2020, TRACKERS, produced by Three River Fiction and Scene 23, aired on Sky Atlantic in the UK and HBO in the USA, as well as Australia and New Zealand, and across the Nordic countries and Europe.

Praise for LEO

‘Meyer is not just the finest crime writer in South Africa but one of the best anywhere; he juggles labyrinthine plot strands with a mass of local detail and socio-political commentary.’ – Barry Forshaw, Financial Times

‘When a new Deon Meyer lands on the shelves, I feel like W.H. Auden: “Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone / Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone.” All 490 pages of such a book have to be devoured in one sitting. Keep it for the holidays, or for a weekend when you have nothing planned… You’ll be on the edge of your seat, chewing your nails… Meyer is the best, if you ask me... Buy LEO and take a day or two off work.’ – Deborah Steinmair, Vrye Weekblad

Praise for Deon Meyer

‘He’s up there with the best in the world.’ – Marcel Berlins, The Times

‘I love Deon Meyer novels. It’s global storytelling at its best, with the undeniable hallmarks of gritty realism and deep character building.’ – Michael Connelly

‘Deon Meyer's name on the cover is a guarantee of crime writing at its best.’ – Tess Gerritsen

‘Deon Meyer is one of the giants of crime fiction.’ – El Mundo

‘One of the best crime writers on the planet.’ – Mail on Sunday

Visit Deon’s website

Follow Deon on Twitter

Deon Meyer’s LEO awarded ATKV-Woordveertjies Prize for best Afrikaans Thriller

We are delighted to announce that Deon Meyer – author of the blockbuster Benny Griessel series – has been awarded the 2024 ATKV-Woordveertjies Prize, celebrating exceptional achievement in Afrikaans literature, in the thriller category for his latest novel LEO. Published by Human & Rousseau in October last year, the book took South Africa by storm, enjoying a ten-week run at the top of the bestseller list on its way to becoming South Africa’s bestselling fiction book of 2023.

English-speaking readers of Deon’s work do not have long to wait to discover LEO’s thrills either, with Hodder and Stoughton publishing K.L. Seegers’ translation in the UK, South Africa and the British Commonwealth on 10 October 2024.

Deon will be making a rare UK appearance tomorrow (Wednesday 9 October, 19:00) for a Wine and Crime Night at the French Institute in South Kensington, with tickets for the event still available. The event will be hosted by translator and editor Georges Lory, and all ticket include a complimentary glass of wine – a truly unmissable evening.

Grove Atlantic will publish in the US and Canada on 18 February 2025. The book is already out in Germany (Aufbau), France (Editions Gallimard) and the Netherlands (A W Bruna). Back in South Africa, Afrikaans fans of Deon can also look forward to a brand-new audiobook of FENIKS – available in the format for the first time – published by NB this November.

LEO picks up the story of Meyer’s heroes Detectives Benny Griessel and Vaughn Cupido – now stars of M-Net (South Africa) and Tubi (US) series DEVIL’S PEAK. Following the explosive events of THE DARK FLOOD, the detectives are now languishing in Stellenbosch. Run-of-the-mill police work in the leafy university town is a far cry from their previous life in Cape Town fighting crime and government corruption at the highest level. Then a student is found dead on a mountain trail, and the key suspect, a local businessman, is found murdered in what looks like a professional hit delivering a message – suffocated by fast-action filler foam sprayed down his throat.

On the other side of the country, a beautiful wildlife guide is recruited by a group of special forces soldiers to act as a honeytrap, part of a dangerous multi-million-dollar heist that goes tragically wrong. A single link connects the murdered businessman to the special forces, making Benny and Vaughn’s case all the more mysterious. Another former soldier is soon killed, as is an agent of the country’s disgraced former president; and then the heist crew reorganizes with an even more audacious theft in mind.

Following leads as they fly at them, not sure exactly who to trust and struggling to connect the dots as the motives don’t seem to add up, Benny and Vaughn find their case increasingly points to the corruption polluting the country. They know the clock is ticking – and Benny also has to be at the altar on time for his very anxiously-anticipated wedding day.

About Deon Meyer

Deon Meyer lives in Stellenbosch. His books are sold in 23 countries, and have been awarded many prizes around the world: the Deutsche Krimi Prize in Germany, the ATKV Prize in South Africa, the Martin Beck Award in Sweden and Le Grand Prix de Littérature Policière and Le Prix Mystère de la Critique in France. COBRA was shortlisted for the 2015 CWA International Dagger, THIRTEEN HOURS was shortlisted for the 2010 CWA International Dagger, and HEART OF THE HUNTER, was longlisted for the 2005 IMPAC Prize and selected as one of Chicago Tribune’s ‘10 best mysteries and thrillers of 2004’. THE DARK FLOOD was longlisted for the 2023 CWA Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation. His latest novel LEO, a new Benny Griessel thriller, enjoyed ten weeks at the top of the South African bestseller lists, Number One in all categories.

Adaptations of Deon’s novels have recently had great success on screen: in April 2024, HEART OF THE HUNTER topped the global Netflix film charts, becoming the first African film to do so, with over 11 million views in its first two days alone. DEVIL’S PEAK was also adapted for a miniseries by Lookout Point and Expanded Media Productions, premiering on M-Net in South Africa in 2023 before reaching audiences in the USA, New Zealand, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg. In 2020, TRACKERS, produced by Three River Fiction and Scene 23, aired on Sky Atlantic in the UK and HBO in the USA, as well as Australia and New Zealand, and across the Nordic countries and Europe.

Praise for LEO

‘When a new Deon Meyer lands on the shelves, I feel like W.H. Auden: “Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone / Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone.” All 490 pages of such a book have to be devoured in one sitting. Keep it for the holidays, or for a weekend when you have nothing planned… You’ll be on the edge of your seat, chewing your nails… Meyer is the best, if you ask me... Buy LEO and take a day or two off work.’ – Deborah Steinmair, Vrye Weekblad

Praise for Deon Meyer

‘He’s up there with the best in the world.’ – Marcel Berlins, The Times

‘I love Deon Meyer novels. It’s global storytelling at its best, with the undeniable hallmarks of gritty realism and deep character building.’ – Michael Connelly

‘Deon Meyer's name on the cover is a guarantee of crime writing at its best.’ – Tess Gerritsen

‘Deon Meyer is one of the giants of crime fiction.’ – El Mundo

‘One of the best crime writers on the planet.’ – Mail on Sunday

Visit Deon’s website

Follow Deon on Twitter