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book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Digital audiobook performed by Simon Vance
From the book jacket: Morning dawns in Cape Town, South Africa. A teenage girl’s body has been found on the street, her throat cut. She was an American. Somewhere in Cpae Town her friend, Rachel Anderson is, hopefully, still alive. Rachel is terrified, unsure of where to turn in the unknown city. Who can she trust? How long can she stay ahead of her relentless pursuers? Racing against the clock, Detective Benny Griessel desperately tries to solve the murder and bring Rachel home safe, all in a single day.
My reactions:
This is a hard-hitting, fast-paced, police procedural with a complicated plot, a second, unrelated (or is it?) killing, and multiple twists: drugs, human trafficking, the music industry, and, of course, Benny’s continuing struggle as a recovering alcoholic.
He's also been named as a mentor to a group of younger investigators, and Griessel is having a hard time with his recent assignment: Inspector Mbali Kaleni, a black woman, a Zulu, a feminist. She’s eager and intelligent, but lacks the experience of Griessel and his previous partners. And she has her own agenda: trying to equate the effort expended by the police investigating cases of dead black women with that expended in the cases of missing white women. This is an interesting pairing, and I’d like to see it continue in future books.
Simon Vance is marvelous, as usual, performing the audiobook.
From the book jacket: Morning dawns in Cape Town, South Africa. A teenage girl’s body has been found on the street, her throat cut. She was an American. Somewhere in Cpae Town her friend, Rachel Anderson is, hopefully, still alive. Rachel is terrified, unsure of where to turn in the unknown city. Who can she trust? How long can she stay ahead of her relentless pursuers? Racing against the clock, Detective Benny Griessel desperately tries to solve the murder and bring Rachel home safe, all in a single day.
My reactions:
This is a hard-hitting, fast-paced, police procedural with a complicated plot, a second, unrelated (or is it?) killing, and multiple twists: drugs, human trafficking, the music industry, and, of course, Benny’s continuing struggle as a recovering alcoholic.
He's also been named as a mentor to a group of younger investigators, and Griessel is having a hard time with his recent assignment: Inspector Mbali Kaleni, a black woman, a Zulu, a feminist. She’s eager and intelligent, but lacks the experience of Griessel and his previous partners. And she has her own agenda: trying to equate the effort expended by the police investigating cases of dead black women with that expended in the cases of missing white women. This is an interesting pairing, and I’d like to see it continue in future books.
Simon Vance is marvelous, as usual, performing the audiobook.
pannapark's review against another edition
5.0
Benny Griessel, aging alcoholic Cape Town detective, has been tasked with mentoring less experienced detectives. This puts him in the position of running two different murder cases. Swear words, fists, interracial conflicts, plot lines and bullets fly as Benny, Vusi, Dekker and Mbali follow seemingly unconnected crimes and corruption in the city. The pace of Thirteen Hours ramps up to a thundering end. I couldn’t put it down!
brisbookreviews's review
4.0
I won a copy from the first reads giveaway.
This was a good well written mystery. Fast-paced and held my interest. I could definitely see this become a movie!
This was a good well written mystery. Fast-paced and held my interest. I could definitely see this become a movie!
jacki_f's review against another edition
4.0
A fast paced South African crime novel that reads like a cross between Peter Temple and the TV series 24. Benny Griessel is a homicide detective, a recovering alcoholic who is hoping to win his wife back. He is woken early with the news that a American teenage girl's body has been found on the street. He quickly realizes that a second teenage girl is on the run, in fear of her life. His day gets more complicated by a second murder, the husband of a prominent singer. He needs to oversee both criminal investigations. The story takes place over the course of one day and is broken into segments of approximately an hour.
The book is set in Cape Town and the city and its problems - power cuts, heavy traffic, bureaucracy - are an intrinsic part of the novel. There are racial tensions between whites, coloureds, Zulus and Xhosas. There is a large and complicated cast of characters, but they are all interesting, rounded and believable.
My only critique is that the pace is somewhat erratic, swinging between breathless action, grinding criminal investigation and social commentary. However the real time element keeps the tension up. This is highly recommended.
The book is set in Cape Town and the city and its problems - power cuts, heavy traffic, bureaucracy - are an intrinsic part of the novel. There are racial tensions between whites, coloureds, Zulus and Xhosas. There is a large and complicated cast of characters, but they are all interesting, rounded and believable.
My only critique is that the pace is somewhat erratic, swinging between breathless action, grinding criminal investigation and social commentary. However the real time element keeps the tension up. This is highly recommended.
sandin954's review against another edition
5.0
A well written police thriller set in South Africa. Lots of suspense and tension, as the story took place in real time over the 13 hours of the title, but also had great characterizations and gave a vivid picture of the New South Africa.
reneeemilie's review against another edition
5.0
Un livre qui se vit comme un film d'action. On s'inquiète pour les personnages tout au long de l'histoire. Je ne me suis jamais autant attachée a des personnages secondaires!
liberrydude's review against another edition
5.0
Another super thriller that tested my powers of self-restraint from reading in less than 13 hours, as I wanted to savor it. Life and death struggle to find a missing girl. Two murders. The chief investigator, Griessel, is a familiar face struggling with personal demons. We are introduced to some new subordinates who are trying to figure out just who this burned out white guy in charge of them is. Lots of suspense and twists in this one-the motives are a complete surprise. Should be a movie just like the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Looking forward to seeing future stories about these new Griessel mentored cops from Meyer.
marshaskrypuch's review against another edition
2.0
I abandoned it on about page 100. Story was interesting but not outstanding.