deonmeyer.

Choas unleashed.

A student's death in Stellenbosch mountain wasn't an accident.

A former special forces soldier killed as a message. To someone: "Keep your trap shut."

A corrupt politician's body found in the bunker on the sixtreenth green of the Arabella golf estate. With a mysterious message written in the sand.

A sensual game ranger, recruited as a honey trap for the biggest dollar heist in the country's history. And dark froces lurking in the halls of power trying to sabotage Benny Griessel and Vaughn Cupido's every move.

You need a cool head to untangle this web of deceit, to manage the incessant pressure. You have to be calm and focused. And sober.

But Benny Griessel's head isn't cool. He's worried. Anxious. And a little bit scared. Because he is getting married on 12 June, a date roaring down on him like a bullet train. And he isn't remotely ready for it.

Chaos is coming.

“A masterfully crafted police thriller . . . Deon Meyer proves once again that he is a master storyteller. His ability to blend suspense, character development, and social commentary is unparalleled. Leo is a must-read for fans of the genre and anyone looking for a gripping, thought-provoking thriller.”

— Steve Thomas, Best Thriller Books (USA).

“Another outstanding crime novel by Meyer . . . [His] characterisations are rich and convincing . . . One of my favourite books of the year!”

— Jeff Popple, Murder, Mayhem, and Long Dogs (USA).

“A roller-coaster ride of action, intrigue and revenge . . . As always, Meyer delivers an engaging story with the use of short, economical sentences, a decent pace despite its length and a lot of humour. Bring on the next Griessel”

— Sonja van der Westhuizen, Crime Fiction Lover.

“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 (USA).

“Crime fiction doesn’t get any better than LEO by Deon Meyer.”

— George Easter in Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine (USA).

“Meyer is unusually adept at weaving plotlines together and making them all equally engaging . . . You’ve got to love a thriller that devotes as much attention to Lindsey Buckingham’s fingerpicking technique as it does to the best way to attach a plastic explosive to a car door.”

— Lisa Henricksson in Air Mail (USA).

“Crime, and an angst-inducing wedding - the new Deon Meyer thriller is a bull's eye.”

— John Vervoort in De Standaard (Belgium).

“Central to the book is the suspense. It is a thriller in every sense, and Meyer shows why he belongs in the top echelon of the genre. His style is unique, infectious and so easily accessible. In addition to Benny, there’s a special place for Vaughn Cupido’s character. This big, dark detective is an absolute star in LEO. His humour and temper are delightful, his dialogue sharp. LEO perfectly hits the mark. Deon Meyer is an undisputed star in thrillerland. Any criticism? It is over too soon.”

— Marinus van de Velde in Thrill Zone.

“This is world-class fiction that once again proves that Meyer thouroughly deserves all his accolades and sales figures.”

— Marni Bonthuys on Netwerk24.

“As always, Meyer masterfully weaves a complex narrative filled with rich sociopolitical commentary, painting a vivid picture of contemporary SA in a captivating mix of action, suspense, and meticulous detail.”

— Monique Verduyn in BusinessDay.

“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. Highly recommended.”

— Ali Karim in Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine.

“One of the Best Thrillers of 2024: A masterly portrait of a nation in deep crisis. Despite his unsentimental eye, Meyer makes you care for his characters’ fates.”

— James Owen in The Sunday Times (London).

“Meyer’s books ... are as entertaining as they are thought-provoking. LEO, with its daring heist plot strand, has already been described as 'the African Job'.”

— Matt Nixson in The Daily Express (London).

“The master of the South African thriller renews himself with a heist scenario! Leo is the most cinematic thriller of the series with ultra-precise timing, perfectly mastered by a scriptwriter doped with adrenaline.”

—Benzine Magazine (France).

“Meyer reconnects with a powerful verve through Leo, a tome that is devoured at 200 km/h and where we find the recurring theme of endemic corruption that devours this immense country.”

— Midi libre (France).

“It is a pleasure to immerse oneself in South Africa under the addictive pen of Deon Meyer.”

— Focus Vif (France).

“Two plots, several subplots, alternations between the protagonists, actions galore. A chorus as big as that.”

— Lire Magazine (France).

“A skillful and sincere storyteller, Meyer manages to touch us before pointing out the endemic corruption of his South Africa and its blind violence.”

— Libération (France).

"Meyer draws from South Africa’s recent political turmoil in this 8th Benny Griessel procedural, expertly crafting parallel plots that explore binding loyalty ... Meyer blends riveting plots at the perfect moment here: a series standout."

— Christine Tran, Booklist (USA).

Stellenbosch mountain: The fire hut ruins where Le-Lanie Leibrandt's body was found.

Bull Pen: The HQ of the SAPS detectives in Stellenbosch, where Benny and Vaughn have an office.

Gate crasher: The entrance to Stellenbosch mountain reserve. Note the dog sign that gave Benny his first real clue.

Mountain bike heaven: Stellenbosch mountain, where Le-Lanie Leibrandt went for her last ride.

Gold heist: The Basler BT-67, used by the team to fly the gold out of Calvinia.

LHeist HQ: Calvinia airport, photographed when Deon flew in to do research for the book..

Landing strip: The airfield at Skoorsteenberg in the Tankwa-Karoo. Jericho Yon will land here.

Poggio Nativo: The Italian village in the Sabine hills where Chrissie bought an apartment.

Town gate: The front door and porch of Chrissie's apartment. The ancient town gate is to the right.

Square One: The small sqaure in front of Chrissie's apartment, where she sees the two cats for the first time.

Catwalk: The two very real cats that inspired Chrissi'e feline friends Katse and Sebini. They seduced the author and his wife Marianne during their stay in Poggio Nativo.