Devil's Peak's sequels?

So as I mentioned last Wednesday, I found on Channel 4 the TV series adaptation of Deon Meyer's Devil's Peak. And I binge watched it from Wednesday until tonight. As you can guess, I was thoroughly entertained and enjoyed it a lot. I recommend it. It's substantially different from the original novel, but it is faithful to its spirit. And it keeps you hooked until the last minute. Better still: I won't give anything away, but there is a sequel hook, so I think there might be more seasons. In the original, the characters of Bennie Griessel and Thobela Mpayipheli show up in future novels, so there is more source material to work on. I hope to see more.

Finding Devil's Peak

I have some good news for crime fiction aficionados living in the UK, especially if you love South Africa and its culture(s). It's good news for me anyway. So you may remember that I was looking for the TV series adaptation of Deon Meyer's Devil's Peak.Well, it's been released on Channel 4. So I started watching it today. So far, so great, although it's freely adapted from the novel. But it's quite gripping. Of course it's not exactly like I imagined it, but I can have a better picture of the novels' setting. Anyway, in any case, I'm so very glad I can finally watch it. I was getting desperate.

To Watch The Invisible

I have some exciting (yet somewhat frustrating) crime fiction news. Yopu may remember that back in August 2025 I mentioned that South African crime writer Deon Meyer's novel Blood Safari, which I reread late last year and early this year, was being adapted into a TV series. It was being retitled The Invisible. Or Invisible, I'm not sure, I have seen both. Anyway, I have recently seen the trailer on social media. And it looks really exciting. The only problem is: I have no idea where, if anywhere, it will be available to watch in the UK. Story of my life for any adaptations of Meyer novels, and there are quite a few. Anyway, that's my new crime fiction aficionado mission: finding a streaming service where I can watch it.

Scorpio Rising (crime fiction)

 I blogged a few times already about South African crime writer Deon Meyer's latest novel Skorpio. I was hoping to get its translation in English this year, but sadly not. I did a bit of research recently and learned that it's going to be available in... February 2027. That's late, but never mind. I pre-ordered it already. Its English title is Scorpio Rising and, well, scorpions, or a scorpion might be involved. I don't know, it might just be a symbolic association, but all the same, I love when there's the word scorpion in the title of a book, just because. It just sounds dangerous and cool, and kind of nasty in a scary way.

Looking for Devil's Peak

You may remember that I have been desperately looking for the TV series adaptation of Deon Meyer's Devil's Peak. I love his crime thrillers and of course I want to see all the adaptations of his work on the screen, whether they are movies or series. South Africa is such a great atmospheric setting for crime dramas and seeing it on screen adds a new perspective to the experience, like an extra layer. I thought it would screen on the BBC, eventually, but apparently it never did. I recently did a Google search and thought I could find it on Tubi, but again, no: it's available in the US and Canada, but not in the UK. I have started to wonder whether I should just subscribe to a streaming service that has it.

Knobkerrie (Signature Weapon)

 This post is one of my new Signature Weapons series, where I reflect (or ramble) about specific weapons and their potential use as signature weapons for characters, heroes or villains, in genre stories, especially crime fiction. So yes, I blogged before about the knobkerrie, this South African walking stick that can easily be used (and often is) as a blunt weapon. It has the advantage of being kind of inconspicuous, since it can easily be concealed in plain sight as, well, a walking stick. You know my love for South Africa and South African crime fiction. I am surprised that I have never yet seen a knobkerrie in any of the works of fiction from there I saw, at least not as a weapon. I think it would be a great signature weapon. It's already been used by the hero of this horror gamebook series, but it's a fairly obscure series, and a very old one. I think it's time the knobkerrie makes a comeback for a proper modern crime thriller.

The Hunter

Sometimes, there are dreams that I don't have that come true. So a few days ago, I learn in this Variety article that the crime novel The Last Hunt by South African writer Deon Meyer will be adapted into a TV series. But that's not all: Israeli scriptwriter Noah Stollman, who is also one of the scriptwriters of the spy thriller series Fauda, will do the adaptation. And you know how much I love Fauda. So for me, it is like the meeting of two great creative minds, from two cultures I love. Now Meyer has been adapted before and I have rarely been able to find these adaptations on streaming or on television, but it's good news all the same. The article says it is a spy thriller, which is true of this novel and many other works of Deon Meyer. Anyway, the adaptation is titled The Hunter (working title?) and I will be on the lookout for it. If you are interested, watch this space.

Leo (crime fiction in a local shop)

There are times I am just happy to see that my favourite writers' novels are available locally, and in the most unexpected places. It happened a few months ago: I went to a local gifts shop and lo and behold, I saw Deon Meyer's Leo, in paperback format. I was very surprised: it usually only sells children classics, travel guides and the odd whodunit. But this proper gritty crime fiction. I should not have been surprised: it's the same gift shop where I found another dark thriller. Still, if I hadn't have bought it already, I might have had done it then. And I can always buy it as a present to a friend or family to encourage a local business.

Skorpio

 Here is a reminder to myself and others among you who love crime fiction: South African  Deon Meyer's latest novel Skorpio should be released translated at some point this year. I saw this new cover (paperback?) on social media. A great cover, giving some idea of African heat and merciless light. It's sober, simple, but it says so much. There's just something about a vehicle driving fast on a dusty road. I have been eager to get back to the world of Meyer's novels. I cannot wait to buy the translation, hopefully soon. I encourage you to do the same.

Tracking Trackers

 I am finishing for the second time South African crime writer Deon Meyer's novel Blood Safari.It is just as good as I remembered it and it made me eager for more. The hero appears in another novel, Trackers, which was adapted into a TV series of the same name (and not to be confuse with this one, same title except without an s). So yeah, I have beend esperate to find it. It's not on Netflix, but apparently (as far as I understand from the researches I made) it's on Sky TV, on Apple TV and on Amazon Prime. Just not the streaming services I am subscribed to. This is really frustrating. I was hoping to find it on BBC iPlayer, but no luck there either. This is very frustrating. I am kind of tempted to get Prime, but not sure it is worth it. I will be patient.

Safari Outfits in South Africa

At the moment, I am rereading South African crime writer Deon Meyer's novel Blood Safari. I know I have a huge pile of TBR, however I was in the mood to revisit this novel as it features one of my favourite characters of Meyer, troubled bodyguard and sort of private eye Martin Lemmer. And sometimes rediscovering novels you enjoyed years ago (more than a decade for this particular one) is just what you need. Anyway, so rereading Blood Safari, I discovered that one of the characters, a middle aged barmaid who is attracted to Lemmer, makes an observation about tourists in South Africa, the very same another character of Meyer made in another novel (more details in this post from 2016). She notices that among tourists, "(...) the foreigners wear safari outfits." Ouch. If I ever visit South Africa, which I hope to do one day, I swear I will not commit that faux pas.

Christmas/Winter Wolfism

 Here is one Wolfism from yesterday, as we were walking in the snow. Veggie Carrie was holding my arm to dear life, wobbly feet on snowy and icy grounds. I teased her, saying it must be her South African side. She used to do this when we ice skated together. Noticing Wolfie being far more comfortable, as if he's been living here his whole life, she said her son had definitely Québécois blood. Then came Wolfie's remark: "It's because I'm ice and fire!" Best Wolfism yet, I think.

Two Spoons Tea (and rooibos)

 You may remember that I blogged before, back in February, about  Two Spoons Tea, a fairly local tea company I have been wanting to discover. Well, it turns out that this is the brand that one of our local coffee shops offers. So since then, I had the chance to drink their teas a couple of times. And their rooibos too, which I believe is what you can see on the picture. I drink rooibos for two reasons: it tastes strong like a black tea, but has no caffeine, so it does not trouble my sleep when I drink it late and my father-in-law is South African. I feel like I'm connecting to some of the culture of his country. Anyway, I now know another tea company to enjoy.

Skorpio for Noirvember

I have the perfect book to read for this year's #Noirvember: South African crime writer Deon Meyer's latest novel Skorpio. It's being released this month, for all I know it might be out already. The only problem is that it's in Afrikaans. So I will have to wait until it's translated. But hey, if there are any Afrikaans readers among my readers (you never know), buy it, lucky you, and enjoy it. Thankfully I have a big TBR list (well of course I do), so it's not like I have nothing to read at the moment. But there's just something about Meyer that just fits Noirvember perfectly.

"Bokke"

 A few days ago, my wife and I were on our way to pick up Wolfie from school when I saw a man walking on the other side of the street. He was wearing a green hoodie with the words Bokk printed on it. So I recognised right away the nickname of the Springboks. I was happy that I picked it up. I know nothing about rugby, far too little for my taste in fact, but at least I know about the Springboks. It's sort of my team, even though I don't follow rugby: my father-in-law is South African and he is of course a massive Springboks supporter. So is his son. Therefore out of family solidarity, I support the South African team. To my wife's dismay, as she is English and, well, she supports the English team. So anyway, I did not shout "Go Bokke!" to him. Maybe I should have had.

Skorpio, the South African Scorpion

Great news for me, who loves crime fiction and who really enjoys the work of South African crime writer Deon Meyer: there is more news about his new novel: it will be released in Afrikaans in November 2025, then translated at some point in 2026. It will feature Benny Griessel and Vaugh Cupido. Furthermore, from what I understand of this cover, explosives will be part of the plot. Its original title will be Skorpio, which I guess will be Scorpion. Although with a k and wihtout the n, it sounds more menacing. I'm excited.

Blood Safari/The Invisible

I learned some very exciting news from the newsletter of South African crime writer Deon Meyer: there will be a TV series adaptation of his novel Blood Safari. Incidentally one of my favourite novels of his, with maybe my favourite character, Martin Lemmer. Except that he will not be named Lemmer. I don't know much about it, except some of the confirmed casting (promising) and that it will be called The Invisible, as per the original title of the novel in Afrikaans. I must confess, I prefer the English title, which ismore violent, nasty and well, bloody, but hey. Now I just hope when it will be released, I can find a it streaming somewhere here. In any case, it is something to look forward to, crime fiction wise.

Tracker VS Trackers

You may remember that I got excited when I learned that a they had made a TV adaptation of  the novel Trackers by South African crime writer Deon Meyer. It was a great novel, mostly crime fiction, but partly spy thriller. I have been desperate to watch it since its release in 2019. I haven't had the chance yet. Well, I recently discovered (as in: I found out today)  that there is another drama titled... Tracker, without an s, an American one this time and totally not related to its almost namesake. And it's also crime fiction. I'm not sure if I will like it, but I am curious to watch it. Apparently, it's quite popular. Which actually is not good news for Trackers, as both can easily be confused for the other. I'd rather watch the South African drama, but hey, let's see what the other has to offer.

A Springboks supporter

We went downtown yesterday, to run some errands (among them getting Wolfie a haircut, he looked like a darn hippy) and just as we were getting in the high street I saw a man crossing our path, wearing a Springbok jersey. I didn't say a word, but I regret it. I wish I had said hello. I know very little, if anything about rugby. But my father-in-law is South African, a rugby fan, and more importantly a die hard Bokke supporter. Therefore I have decided a few years ago that the Sprinboks were my rugby team too. I didn't stop the guy to strike up a conversation and tell him that, but I wish I had. Although if I had done he might have thought I'm such a weirdo, especially since I know diddly squat about rugby. But hey, I understand South Africans are friendly and chatty people, so maybe I missed an opportunity to make an acquaintance.

Bobotie

 During our last time in York, we stumbled on arestaurant called Karoo. A South African restaurant. As my wife is half South African from her father's side, we thought we had to try it. I also love to try new sorts of food. I ordered a bobotie and fell in love wiht it. It's a sort of pie with spiced mince meat as a base and an egg topping. You have it with rice on the side and chutney for seasoning. It tastes delicious, the kind of simple, hearty food that fills you up, but make you wish you had enough appetite for more. It is seriously good. Enough so I want to try baking a vegetarian verison that my wife can enjoy. I told my father-in-law that I discovered one of his national dishes. Surprisingly, he was not particularly impressed. His words: "I never liked bobotie much as a child." Oh well, I reckon he never washed it down with beer.