A headspinning thriller from crime writer Deon Meyer: the story of an ex-cop who has seven days to solve a seemingly unsolvable crime--the answer to which lies in his own dark past.
"Exciting....A terrific ride on almost every level." --Chicago Tribune
When Johannes Jacobus Smit, an antiques dealer, is found burned with a blowtorch and killed execution-style with a single shot to the back of the head, former cop Zatopek "Zed" van Heerden is called in to investigate the unusual circumstances of the murder. Zed is still obsessed with the betrayals of his own past but must fill in the blanks of this victim's life. Who tortured and killed Smit, and who was Smit in the first place? Not the man whose papers he carries, that much is certain. Zed can never be sure of the loyalties of the people with whom he is dealing--his own past reputation ensures that--and he soon finds himself uncovering secrets that the security services of many countries would like left alone.
This one hit several buttons for me, rare books, murder, rare maps, obsessive collectors, and libraries. When a woman is attacked and refuses to come for help, Alexandra Cooper, Manhattan's Assistant DA is called to help. Within a day she and Detective Mike Chapman are back, and there's a different woman in the same apartment, this time dead and beside her is a jewel-encrusted book. This brings them into the murky world of rare books, maps and rare book thieves, the people in this world are rich and willing to do almost anything to get the book or map they want. Alex and Mike have to uncover the reasons for the death before too many bodies turn up.
I liked it, didn't feel too lost by the story, even if it is book 11, enjoyed the read and reckon severl of my book-loving friends would too.
Reading updates
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9 July, 2013:
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9 July, 2013:
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