13 Uur | Crime & Thriller

Deon Meyer

ATKV Prize for Best Suspense Fiction (2009)
M-Net Award in the Film Category (2009)
Barry Award for Best Thriller, USA (2011)
Boeke Prize Fanatics Choice Award (2011)

Inspector Bennie Griessel’s life isn’t exactly uncomplicated. Apart from two investigations – into the grizzly murder of a young American girl, a backpacker, whose body was found next to a Lutheran church in Long Street, and the killing of a powerful figure in the Afrikaans music industry – it’s a tough burden being mentor to a group of young coloured and black detectives.

He’s also involved in a race against time to prevent another American girl from meeting the same terrible fate as her backpacker friend.

To compound matters, his private life is a total shambles. His bank account is in the red, he’s still battling his drinking problem and last night he simply couldn’t resist the ample charms of a twenty-six year old computer technician. And tonight his estranged wife, Anna, want’s to talk to him about their future . . .

Just when he assumes things can’t get any worse, and just when he’s about to save the life of the American girl, he gets shot . . . Right in the heart.

Yep, just your average, everyday 13 hours when you’re a law enforcer in South Africa.