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Cobra

by Deon Meyer

Publishers Weekly Meyers assured fourth Bennie Greissel thriller (after 2012s Seven Days) takes the Cape Town homicide detective to South African wine country, where the British citizen Paul Morris has been kidnapped. At the guesthouse where Morris was staying, his two bodyguards lie dead, each of them shot in the head. Near the bodies are shell casings, each etched with the head of a cobra. Back in Cape Town, the amiable cutpurse Tyrone Kleinbooi, whos devoted to putting his sister through medical school, becomes a target of the same cobra killers after picking the wrong pocket. Suspense builds as the action shifts between Greissels and Tyrones increasingly life-threatening exploits. On a lighter note, Afrikaans expressions season the story (a glossary is included), and there are practical lessons in the art of pickpocketing. The novels only flaw is the abrupt ending, which leaves at least one characters fate unresolved. Agent: Richard Pine, Inkwell Management. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Book list South African crime novelist Meyer combines intricate plotting, a compelling cast, and timely themes in this fourth novel featuring Captain Benny Griessel as the lead. A brilliant mathematician has been kidnapped at a guesthouse in South Africa's wine country, and his bodyguards have been assassinated; the only clues are bullet casings at the scene that sport the head of a cobra. The mathematician has invented an algorithm that can detect the fraudulent movement of large amounts of cash, and now someone may be pressuring him to change that algorithm. Possible culprits include corrupt politicians, drug cartels, and financial institutions. Recovering alcoholic Benny, who has only recently become familiar with cell phones, needs all of his wits about him to understand the implications of cybercrimes, and he is seriously distracted by his beautiful new roommate, an accomplished jazz singer. Meanwhile, a young pickpocket has targeted the wrong mark and soon finds himself in danger. As the two cases converge, Benny and his elite investigative unit, the Hawks, must also play politics while trying to track the kidnappers. Meyer has added another provocative novel to his impressive oeuvre.--Wilkinson, Joanne Copyright 2014 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.