Deon Meyer

Deon Meyer studied at Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education. The recorded working language is Afrikaans and English. The field of work recorded is journalism, television screenwriting and motorcycle industry. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are thriller, science fiction and crime. Distinctions recorded are Grand Prix de Littérature Policière, Prix Mystère de la Critique, Trophées 813 and Barry Award for Best Thriller.

• Birthplace — Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa • Occupation — Novelist, screenwriter • Language — Afrikaans • Education — University of Potchefstroom • Period — 1999 – present • Genre — Crime/thriller fiction • Awards — Grand prix de littérature policière 2003 Prix Mystère de la critique 2004 • Website — https: deonmeyer.com/

Deon Meyer was born in Paarl, South Africa. He matriculated in 1976 at the Schoonspruit High School in Klerksdorp. He then attended Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, where he gained a BA with English and History as majors. He later obtained an honours degree at the University of the Free State.

In the 1980s he worked as a journalist at Die Volksblad, at the public relations office of the University of the Free State, and began work as advertising copy writer at Sanlam. In 1991 he was appointed manager of Internal Communication and creative director of Sanlam's publicity department. After leaving Sanlam, he started his own business specialising in the creation and management of virtual communities on the internet. He then worked as manager of special projects at BMW motorcycles. He currently writes full-time.[1]

Meyer was a long-time resident of historical coastal resort of Melkbosstrand, where he wrote most of his novels. His hobbies include touring Southern Africa on a motorcycle.[2]

Deon Meyer's novel-writing career started when the Afrikaans magazine, Huisgenoot, published a short story he had submitted.[3] Since then, he has written fifteen novels and two short story collections. His novels reflect current social issues in South Africa,[4] including that of the apartheid system.[6] His main characters are flawed but empathetic cops.[7]

• (2004) Infanta (English title: Devil's Peak — published in 2007) • (2008) 13 Uur (English title: Thirteen Hours — published in 2010) • (2011) 7 Dae (English title: Seven Days — published in 2012) • (2013) Kobra (English title: Cobra — published in 2014) • (2015) Ikarus (English title: Icarus — published in 2015) • (2017) Die vrou in die blou mantel (English title: The Woman in the Blue Cloak - published in 2018) • (2018) Prooi (English title: The Last Hunt — published in 2019) • (2020) Donkerdrif (English title: The Dark Flood — published in 2021) • (2023) Leo — (English title: Leo — published in 2024) • (2025) Skorpio — (English title: Scorpio Rising — to be published)

Deon Meyer is recorded as having received Grand Prix de Littérature Policière, Prix Mystère de la Critique and Trophées 813.