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.

The Last Hunt in September

Fair warming: today's post is another piece of autumnal chronicle. This is the case for pretty much all of Vraie Fiction when September arrives, but hey. I make the most of my favourite season. This post will also be about The Last Hunt, crime fiction novel by South African crime writer Deon Meyer, often mentionned here. There is a line that struck me when I first read it four years ago and that has remained in my mind since then. This line, in chapter 71, which starts Friday 1 September: "It was cool and overcast, as if autumn was recognising this offical date for change." You will have guessed that this part of the plot is not set in South Africa, as this would be the southern emisphere and the beginning of spring. But it just made me happy as the character whose point of view we are following this considers autumn to start with the first of September. Daniel Darret, you are a an after my own heart.

Last Day of #Noirvember

I know I plugged it before, but today is the last day of #Noirvember, so if you're looking for a crime book for the month, ot maybe this month next year, I suggest The Last Hunt, by South African writer Deon Meyer. It is very dark, it has suspense, violence, political intrigue, in fact like many novels of Meyer, it mixes crime fiction with espionage, so it could just as easily be considered a spy thriller. Oh and it made me discover Rovos Rail, the luxury South African train company. I now want to travel the country in one of their trains. If only I had the money... But I digress: while the novel has a good deal of glamour (because said Rovos Rail), it is nevertheless very gritty, often grim, sometimes gloomy. Nevertheless, and again this is a staple of Meyer, there are as many good men (and women) as there are scheming, heartless bastards in The Last Hunt. It may be Noir, but there are lights that shine through.

"The Ultimate Hunt"

What you see here is the cover for the recent Italian edition of The Last Hunt by South African crime writer Deon Meyer. One of my favourite crime writers and one of my favourite novels of his, for many reasons, which you can read here. Now I wanted to make to observation about this cover: 1)it looks like an Italian fumetto (comic book), and by the way it would be great to have graphic novel adaptations of Meyer's books. 2)The title, L'Ultima caccia, sounds very dramatic, far more infact than the English or the French title of the same novel. Not merely the last hunt, but the ultimate one. Is it me or do Italian titles often sound more dramatic? Something to do with the Italian people perhaps. In any case, it is a pretty cool book cover.

"La Proie"

Bonne nouvelle pour les amateurs de polars exotiques francophones: le dernier Deon Meyer est sorti hier en France. Son titre français est La proie, wui est pas mal plus fidèle au titre sud africain que la traduction anglaise. Publiée par Série noire, rien que ça. Moi je l'ai déjà lu dans sa traduction anglaise, mais je serais tenté de l'acheter encore une fois rien que pour sa couverture. À la fin de l'année dernière, ça a été ma découverte littéraire policière. Il y a tout à aimer dans le roman: de la violence, de la procédure comme dans un Ed McBain, des (anti)héros troublés, les fantômes de l'Apartheid, une conspiration politique dont les ramifications s'étendent jusqu'au plus haut sommet de l'État, avec en plus une portée internationale, même un train de luxe comme dans les vieux romans à clé. Mais le train de luxe, il est 100% authentique et 100% sud africain. Enfin bref, lisez-le.

The Last Hunt

Here is a bit of news that I did not mention last week, and I thought I should: The Last Hunt by South African crime writer Deon Meyer has been released in the US. Great cover, as you can see. I read the novel last year and it was maybe the best crime novel I discovered. It was certainly the one I enjoyed the most. Therefore, for my US readers, if you are looking for some serious but intelligent escapism during these difficult times, I suggest you read this book. On a side note, it also features Rovos Rail, a company that allegedly provides the most luxurious trains and the most picturesque journeys in the world. You will feel like you are travelling.

The Last Hunt for #Noirvember

Cool news for my #Noirvember read: I received yesterday The Last Hunt, which is the latest Deon Meyer novel! I started reading it almost as early as I got in. Well, as soon as we could put Wolfie to bed at least. It is the latest novel featuring Bennie Griessel, which is great news in itself, but there is something else that makes it an exciting read for me: it also features Rovos Rail, a luxury train company. I did not know anything about it, until I started reading. Trains, crime, violence, a modern setting, it's just so perfect for my #Noirvember read, it's like the book I was hoping to find this year.