Three BFLA authors among the Top 20 South African Books 1994-2014

Four books by Blake Friedmann authors have been picked by librarians as some of the Top 20 South African Books of the last twenty years. Zakes Mda has two books on the list, THE MADONNA OF EXCELSIOR and HEART OF REDNESS, and Deon Meyer’s THIRTEEN HOURS and Marlene Van  Niekerk’s AGAAT were also both chosen.

The list was put together to celebrate 20 years of South African democracy. It also features South African classics such as Nelson Mandela’s A LONG WALK TO FREEDOM and DISGRACE by J M Coetzee. You can see the complete list here.

For more information on Zakes Mda, click here. You can also follow him on twitter.

For more information on Deon Meyer, click here. You can also follow him on twitter.

See Marlene's author page here.

13 HOURS named Best Thriller of the Year in Holland's Vrij Nederland Magazine

One of seven titles to be awarded the maximum five star rating, 13 HOURS was voted by a jury headed by Frits van Exter as Vrij Nederland Thriller of the Year in their Thriller and Detective Guide - the reference book for lovers of the genre in the Netherlands.

The King of South African Crime Fiction beat off the likes of RJ Ellory, Jo Nesbo and Stephen King to take the crown.

The honour is another accolade added to the already extensive list 13 HOURS has built up internationally, including winning the Barry Award Best Thriller 2011 and being shortlisted for the Macavity Award and CWA International Dagger in 2010.

For more info, click here. (Dutch)

Praise for 13 HOURS:
Winner of The Barry Award in the Best Thriller category 2011
Shortlisted for the Macavity Award in the Best Mystery Novel category 2011.
Shortlisted for the CWA International Dagger 2010.
Shortlisted for the Boeke Prize 2011.
Winner of the ATKV prize for suspense fiction 2009
Shortlisted for the Svenska Oversatta Kriminalroman (Martin Beck) Award 2011

'Deon Meyer has written six novels and THIRTEEN HOURS is probably the best (not taking anything away from its predecessors). It is taut, moving and deeply memorable, and is highly recommended.' -- Theodore Feit, Crimespree and Spinetingler Magazines

'Superbly accomplished chase thriller by a South African writer now gaining deserved international recognition.' -- Financial Times

'Meyer's powerful work, set in a violent, post-apartheid South Africa combines edge-of-seat suspense with memorable characters and plot.' -- The Sunday Times

'This terrific, action-packed thriller has superbly drawn characters and an enthralling setting. Deon Meyer is one of the best crime writers on the planet.' -- Mail on Sunday

'Deon Meyer's novel is one of the most exciting thrillers I've read for a long time. Take it on a journey which may involve delays, but you won't even notice them as THIRTEEN HOURS, as it were, passes in a flash...You get insight into the political situation quite apart from an exceptional narrative...I shall look out for Deon Meyer in future, and meanwhile, the tapestry that is South Africa has gained in richness for me.' -- Antonia Fraser, The Lady

'THIRTEEN HOURS has breathtaking suspense, psychological understanding, and one of the most inspiring detectives ever. Deon Meyer deserves his international reputation.' -- Thomas Perry

'Try picking up THIRTEEN HOURS and setting it down. Try. You can't do it. I'm a pro, and I couldn't do it.' -- Don Winslow, author of THE POWER OF THE DOG and SAVAGES

Praise for Deon:
'Deon Meyer is one of the best crime writers on the planet.' -- Mail on Sunday

'Deon Meyer's novels...are absolutely worthy of Hammett and Chandler, the great North American Masters of the Thirties and the Forties' -- Carmen Méndez, Expansión

'Deon Meyer is one of the giants of crime fiction.' -- Emma Rodriguez, El Mundo

'Without a doubt, Deon Meyer is one of the greatest contemporary crime novelists.' -- Alexandre Fillion, Livres Hebdo

'In his native South Africa…Meyer is a bigger hitter than his namesake TWILIGHT author…His books regularly slay the vampire romances in the charts, with their gritty realisations of the seamier side of South African life.' -- Catherine Neilan, The Bookseller Blog

'Deon Meyer is the best of the best.' -- The Mail & Guardian

'I've been reading a new book by Deon Meyer, a South African, writer of crime fiction, set in his homeland. I love crime fiction and I'm always on the lookout for a new talent and Mr Meyer certainly fits the bill.' -- Michael Parkinson

THIRTEEN HOURS on Barry Awards Best Thriller shortlist

Deon Meyer's THIRTEEN HOURS has been shortlisted for The Barry Award in the Best Thriller category. Named after book reviewer Barry Gardner and supported by Deadly Pleasures magazine, The Barry Award for Best Thriller Category showcases the best works that are published in the field of crime fiction every year and is a coveted prize among crime writers. Previous winners include Barry Eisler and Val McDermid and this year's list features Daniel Silva, Vince Flynn, Noah Boyd, Charles Charters and Mark Greaney. The winner will be announced during the Bouchercon mystery and crime writing convention in St Louis, Missouri, 15-18 September 2011.

With his books sold in 23 countries, Deon Meyer has received wide recognition for THIRTEEN HOURS, originally published in Afrikaans in South Africa by Human & Rousseau, and in the UK by Hodder, in Canada by Random and in the US by Grove Atlantic. THIRTEEN HOURS won the ATVK Prize in South Africa in 2009, was shortlisted for the CWA International Dagger Award in 2010 and is optioned for film by Malcolm Kohll and Robert Fig.

Deon Meyer will be a featured guest author at Crimefest in Bristol in the UK, 19-22 May 2011. 

 
Praise for Deon Meyer:

'THIRTEEN HOURS proves Deon Meyer should be on everyone's reading list. This book is great!' -- Michael Connelly

'THIRTEEN HOURS has breathtaking suspense, psychological understanding, and one of the most inspiring detectives ever. Deon Meyer deserves his international reputation.' -- Thomas Perry

 'I look at this wonderfully realized book as a two-for-one - an exciting chase thriller and a puzzling murder mystery. This is my favorite novel of the year.' -- George Easter, Deadly Pleasures

'Meyer is a writer to take seriously - the best crime writer out of South Africa."  -- Crime Time

'If you want a glimpse of the soul of the new South Africa in all its glory, and with all the gory details of its problems and corruption, Meyer is your man.' -- Matthew Lewin, Guardian

'I've been reading a new book by Deon Meyer, a South African writer of crime fiction, set in his homeland. I love crime fiction and I'm always on the lookout for a new talent and Mr Meyer certainly fits the bill.' -- Michael Parkinson, from his website