Deon Meyer Reading Order
6 series · 19 books · Born 1958
Deon Meyer is a South African crime novelist whose gritty thrillers explore violence and moral ambiguity through multiple interconnected series set in contemporary Cape Town and beyond. Writing primarily in Afrikaans before finding international audiences through translation, Meyer has developed a reputation for psychologically complex characters like detective Benny Griessel and the mysterious fixer Lemmer, whose stories span dozens of interconnected novels. Beyond his prolific fiction output, Meyer has contributed extensively to television and film scripts, bringing his dark, character-driven storytelling across multiple mediums.
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Benny Griessel Series
Ongoing11 books (1999–2026)
The Benny Griessel series is an ongoing mystery thriller sequence by Deon Meyer spanning ten novels from 1999 to 2024. These books follow detective Benny Griessel through various cases in South Africa and should be read in publication order, beginning with Dead Before Dying and continuing through Devil's Peak, Thirteen Hours, Seven Days, Cobra, Icarus, The Woman in the Blue Cloak, The Last Hunt, The Dark Flood, and Leo. The series remains active with Meyer continuing to develop his protagonist's character arc across the expanding collection.
Start with Dead Before Dying, the first of 10 books in the Benny Griessel series.
Start this series with Dead Before Dying
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Lemmer Series
Complete2 books (2007–2010)
Deon Meyer's Lemmer series comprises two thrillers featuring the same protagonist, published between 2007 and 2010. The complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with Blood Safari followed by Trackers. Both novels follow the intense investigations of a skilled operative navigating the dangerous landscapes of contemporary South Africa.
Start with Blood Safari and read in order.
Start this series with Blood Safari
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Mat Joubert Series
Complete3 books (1999–2010)
Deon Meyer's Mat Joubert series comprises three crime thrillers published between 1999 and 2010, beginning with Dead Before Dying and concluding with Trackers. This complete series should be read in publication order to follow the detective's investigations across the books. Meyer, known for his mystery and thriller work, crafted this South African crime saga as a finished trilogy rather than an ongoing sequence.
Start with Dead Before Dying and read in order.
Start this series with Dead Before Dying
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on AudibleNon-Fiction Series
Complete1 book (2012–2012)
Standalone Novels Series
Complete1 book (2016–2016)
Thobela Mpayipheli Series
Complete1 book (2003–2003)
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Deon Meyer written?
- Deon Meyer has written 19 books across 6 series. Their published works span from 1999 to 2026.
- What is the first book in each Deon Meyer series?
- Here are the first books in Deon Meyer's series: Benny Griessel: Dead Before Dying; Lemmer: Blood Safari; Mat Joubert: Dead Before Dying.
- What order should I read Deon Meyer's books?
- We recommend reading Deon Meyer's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Deon Meyer still writing new books?
- Yes, Deon Meyer has 1 ongoing series: Benny Griessel.