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Deon Meyer

デオン・マイヤー

Deon Maiyā

Aliases: デオン・メイヤー

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1958-07-04 （Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa）
Nationality
South Africa
Languages
Afrikaans, English
Residence History
Paarl (birthplace) → Klerksdorp (grew up) → Melkbosstrand (current residence)

Career

Occupations
Screenwriter, Novelist, Journalist (former), Copywriter (former)
Active Years
1994-
Nominations
CWA International Dagger – nomination, Macavity Award – nomination (Best Novel), CWA International Dagger – nomination (Trackers)

Education

Potchefstroom University (Christian Higher Education)
Faculty of Arts / English and History
Country: South Africa
Studied English and History
University of the Free State
Country: South Africa

Awards

Grand Prix de Littérature Policière (Translated Novel Award)
2003
Work: Dead before Dying
Organization: Grand Prix de Littérature Policière
Result: 受賞
ATKV Prose Prize
2000
Work: Dead at Daybreak
Organization: ATKV
Result: 受賞
ATKV Prose Prize
2003
Work: Heart of the Hunter
Organization: ATKV
Result: 受賞
German Crime Fiction Prize (Translated Works)
2006
Work: Heart of the Hunter
Category: 翻訳作品部門（第2位）
Organization: German Crime Fiction Prize
Result: 受賞（第2位）
Inaugural ATKV Prize for Best Suspense Fiction
2008
Work: Blood Safari
Organization: ATKV
Result: 受賞
German Crime Fiction Prize (Translated Works)
2009
Work: Blood Safari
Category: 翻訳作品部門（第3位）
Organization: German Crime Fiction Prize
Result: 受賞（第3位）
ATKV Prose Prize
2004
Work: Devil's Peak
Organization: ATKV
Result: 受賞
Martin Beck Award
2010
Work: Devil's Peak
Organization: Swedish Crime Writers' Academy (Martin Beck Award)
Result: 受賞
CWA International Dagger (nomination)
2010
Organization: Crime Writers' Association
Result: ノミネート
Macavity Award (nomination)
2011
Organization: Mystery Readers International
Result: ノミネート

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Dead before Dying

1996 Crime fiction / Thriller

An early novel that helped bring international attention through translations.

crimesocial issues
Translations
  • Translated into English

Dead at Daybreak

2000 Crime fiction

A police procedural novel; winner of the ATKV Prose Prize.

policeinvestigation

Heart of the Hunter

2002 Thriller

A tense thriller; awarded the ATKV prize and recognized in German crime fiction awards.

pursuitviolence

Devil's Peak

2004 Crime / Suspense

One of his major works; part of a trilogy (with 13 Hours and 7 Days) that was announced for film adaptation starring Sean Bean. Winner of the Martin Beck Award (in translation).

crimemoral ambiguity
Adaptations
  • [Film (planned)] Devil's Peak
Translations
  • Translated into English, French, German and many other languages

Blood Safari

2007 Suspense / Thriller

A suspense novel reflecting South African social contexts; recipient of ATKV awards.

social contextsuspense

Thirteen Hours

2009 Thriller

Part of the trilogy; noted for its fast-paced plot.

time pressuretension

Trackers

2010 Crime / Techno-thriller

A multi-perspective crime novel; adapted into a television series.

surveillancetechnology
Adaptations
  • [Television series] Trackers (TV series) (2019)

7 Days

2011 Suspense

Part of the trilogy; delivers tense suspense.

revengeurgency

Fever

2016 Thriller

A more recent thriller; detailed information not provided here.

crisispsychology

Bibliography

  • Wie met vuur speel (1994)
  • Feniks (Dead before Dying) (1996)
  • Bottervisse in die jêm (short stories) (1997)
  • Orion (Dead at Daybreak) (2000)
  • Proteus (Heart of the Hunter) (2002)
  • Infanta (Devil's Peak) (2004)
  • Onsigbaar (Blood Safari) (2007)
  • 13 Uur (Thirteen Hours) (2009)
  • Spoor (Trackers) (2010)
  • 7 Dae (7 Days) (2011)
  • Koors (Fever) (2016)

Adaptations

  • Trackers (TV series)
  • Devil's Peak / 13 Hours / 7 Days (trilogy planned for film adaptation)

Translations of Works

  • Works translated into many languages (English, French, German, Swedish, Russian, etc.)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Realistic, hard‑boiled proseDetailed procedural and technical descriptions of police workSocial realism reflecting contemporary South African issues
Recurring Motifs
South African social and political contextRelationships between police and crimeMoral ambiguity

Legacy

Deon Meyer is one of South Africa's leading crime and thriller writers. Writing primarily in Afrikaans, his novels have been translated into many languages, earned international awards, and are praised for detailed procedural depiction and engagement with social themes.

Archives

  • National library and authority records (listed in various countries' authority databases)

In Popular Culture

  • Adaptation of Trackers into a television series
  • Announcement of film adaptations of the Devil's Peak trilogy (Sean Bean attached)

Trivia

  • Wrote his first novel at age 14
  • Hobbies include motorcycling/touring, music (from Mozart to rock), reading, cooking and rugby
  • Works have been translated into over 20 languages (about 25 at time of sources)