SA’s acclaimed crime novelist Deon Meyer returns with 'Leo', talks about how he creates his villains
Meyer jokes that if someone wrongs him, they might find themselves transformed into a character – one who meets a dramatic end in his stories.
Pippa Hudson interviews Author Deon Meyer.
Listen below.
Dubbed by Pippa Hudson as the country’s most acclaimed crime novelist, Deon Meyer captivates readers once again in his latest novel, Leo.
This gripping story follows Detectives Benny Griessel and Vaughn Cupido, who are now stationed in the picturesque town of Stellenbosch.
However, their routine police work in this charming university town, known for its vineyards, starkly contrasts with their former high-stakes crime-fighting days in Cape Town.
"I tried to convey Benny and Vaughn's perceptions of Stellenbosch – Vaughn coming from the Cape Flats will have a very different view of Stellenbosch. Benny coming from Parow will look at it another way. I tried to keep my own perspective out of it."
- Deon Meyer, Author
As Griessel navigates the countdown to his wedding on 12 June, he is confronted with a pressing mystery: a student is discovered dead on a mountain trail, and the prime suspect – a local businessman – turns up murdered in a brutal execution-style hit, with fast-acting filler foam suffocating him.
Griessel and Cupido quickly realise they are up against a professional adversary.
Amid the rising tension and mounting pressure, Griessel understands that he must maintain a clear head to untangle the intricate web of deceit surrounding these crimes.
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Meyer reflects on the beauty of writing novels, emphasising how he draws inspiration from real-life experiences, people, and places.
With a touch of humour, he adds that if someone wrongs him, they might find themselves transformed into a character – one who meets a dramatic end in his stories.
"I used to work at the University of the Free State and there was an administrator there who was very much a typical of his generation and I really disliked the guy. I created him as a character in my second novel and I had him die a horrible death."
- Deon Meyer, Author
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