helensparrow's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
the_bookbasket's review against another edition
4.0
“Slaan my plat met ’n vars snoek.”
Yep, that's the quote I'm going with, because man it took me by surprise I burst out laughing.
How far are you willing to go for greed?
Maybe that should have been the blurp... Yes, just that.
When you have read a number of Meyer's books, you start to see that there is a sort of pattern he follows - two entirely different crime cases linking into one another, somewhere, somehow..
And then you get Donkerdrif... This was a book that caught me by surprise because I did not expect the ending. Maybe I should read more crime novels, I don't know, but I was waiting for the hammer on the head, to sing my dues and earn my podium as someone who solved the mystery with the characters, and then I just ... lost.
To give some background, detectives Bennie Griessal and Vaughn Cipudo have been demoted to warrant officers (it's a long story). By some wild card, they are relocated to Stellenbosch to do some low-level fieldwork for a year before they can even think of being reinstated to their former glory. But then a young police officer is killed in broad daylight. On top of that, they are now looking for a missing person - a young man who is believed to be a genius is hacking. They are trying to solve these incidents and find the young man before he is killed, but some things just don't add up.
Later, they take the trail of the real estate agent who handled the purchase transaction of Donkerdrif - an expensive wine farm that belongs to a corporate scammer Jasper Boonstra.
This all seems fine and well, until you start hoping the bad guy wins and runs away claiming victory... Have I sold it to you? I hope so.
With good jokes and non-stop detective work, Meyer really managed to keep me glued to my seat.
Yep, that's the quote I'm going with, because man it took me by surprise I burst out laughing.
How far are you willing to go for greed?
Maybe that should have been the blurp... Yes, just that.
When you have read a number of Meyer's books, you start to see that there is a sort of pattern he follows - two entirely different crime cases linking into one another, somewhere, somehow..
And then you get Donkerdrif... This was a book that caught me by surprise because I did not expect the ending. Maybe I should read more crime novels, I don't know, but I was waiting for the hammer on the head, to sing my dues and earn my podium as someone who solved the mystery with the characters, and then I just ... lost.
To give some background, detectives Bennie Griessal and Vaughn Cipudo have been demoted to warrant officers (it's a long story). By some wild card, they are relocated to Stellenbosch to do some low-level fieldwork for a year before they can even think of being reinstated to their former glory. But then a young police officer is killed in broad daylight. On top of that, they are now looking for a missing person - a young man who is believed to be a genius is hacking. They are trying to solve these incidents and find the young man before he is killed, but some things just don't add up.
Later, they take the trail of the real estate agent who handled the purchase transaction of Donkerdrif - an expensive wine farm that belongs to a corporate scammer Jasper Boonstra.
This all seems fine and well, until you start hoping the bad guy wins and runs away claiming victory... Have I sold it to you? I hope so.
With good jokes and non-stop detective work, Meyer really managed to keep me glued to my seat.
bjhg5053's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.75
ajnel's review against another edition
4.0
A fast paced crime thriller and whodunit, where a number of stories meet in well-developed twists and turns. As always Deon Meyer does not dissapoint.
tracymaybe's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed the pace. The transitions between characters' point of view reminded me of Pratchett. Solid writing, solid story. Acknowledging our country's shortcomings, and the dismal state of it's state-owned entities. Our unlikely protagonist. Our Sam Vimes is Bennie Griessel.
Stories like this are not pure fiction. I HAS to be inspired by true events. Along the lines of "you can't make this stuff up". And our SAPS dockets are full of these stories.
Stories like this are not pure fiction. I HAS to be inspired by true events. Along the lines of "you can't make this stuff up". And our SAPS dockets are full of these stories.
taniabotes's review against another edition
5.0
Elke jaar kan ek nie wag vir die nuwe Deon Meyer publikasie nie, maar maak nie saak hoe hoog my verwagtinge is nie, ek word nooit teleurgestel nie. Donkerdrif is nog 'n eksie-perfeksie hoofstuk in die Bennie Griessel reeks, en ek was vasgevang van die aksiebelaaide opening tot die laaste bladsy.
Eerstens is ek gek oor Bennie en Cupido. Hulle hegte vriendskap was regtig goed in hierdie boek uitgebeeld. Die dialoog tussen die twee partners voel baie eg en het my gereeld hardop laat skater.
Suid-Afrika met al sy probleme - veral die ewige korrupsie - word perfek beskryf. Alhoewel ons almal moedeloos voel, herinner Deon ons dat daar nog miljoene goeie, eerlike en hardwerkende mense in ons mooie land is.
Laastens het ek die feit dat die idees vir die sake in Donkerdrif gebaseer is op regte gebeurtenisse (Steinhoff en Christian Lodewyk Prinsloo) verskriklik geniet, en het ek amper soveel gegoogle as wat ek gelees het om uit te vind wat is fiksie en wat is feit. Maar wat hierdie outeur een van die bestes in die wereld maak is nie net sy karakters, sy humor, sy zeitgeist of sy navorsing oor historiese sake nie, maar hoe hy hierdie sake aan mekaar kan verbind, met uiteindes wat niemand ooit kon voorspel het nie.
Deon Meyer is in 'n klas van sy eie. En nou begin die laaang wag tot einde 2021...
Eerstens is ek gek oor Bennie en Cupido. Hulle hegte vriendskap was regtig goed in hierdie boek uitgebeeld. Die dialoog tussen die twee partners voel baie eg en het my gereeld hardop laat skater.
Suid-Afrika met al sy probleme - veral die ewige korrupsie - word perfek beskryf. Alhoewel ons almal moedeloos voel, herinner Deon ons dat daar nog miljoene goeie, eerlike en hardwerkende mense in ons mooie land is.
Laastens het ek die feit dat die idees vir die sake in Donkerdrif gebaseer is op regte gebeurtenisse (Steinhoff en Christian Lodewyk Prinsloo) verskriklik geniet, en het ek amper soveel gegoogle as wat ek gelees het om uit te vind wat is fiksie en wat is feit. Maar wat hierdie outeur een van die bestes in die wereld maak is nie net sy karakters, sy humor, sy zeitgeist of sy navorsing oor historiese sake nie, maar hoe hy hierdie sake aan mekaar kan verbind, met uiteindes wat niemand ooit kon voorspel het nie.
Deon Meyer is in 'n klas van sy eie. En nou begin die laaang wag tot einde 2021...
emilyshuttleworth05's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
lindy82's review against another edition
5.0
You can never go wrong with a Deon Meyer book! As always Bennie and Vaughn take us on a rollercoaster ride of crime, mystery and intrigue. I am already looking forward to the new Bennie Griesel book available on 2021!
eugenie's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
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