BOOK EXCERPT: Scorpio Rising — The latest thriller from SA’s master of crime fiction
From bestselling South African crime fiction author Deon Meyer comes a thriller that perilously entwines local and international threats.
South African crime fiction author Deon Meyer released the latest thriller titled "Scorpio Rising." Detective Benny Griessel, a key character, is assigned the case of a private investigator who died under mysterious circumstances. Initially, it seems like a suicide, but Detective Vaughn Cupido, a close associate of Griessel, suspects foul play. The tension escalates when a caravan explodes nearby, just a week before an international security forum is set to take place.
Griessel's investigation becomes personal as he faces dead-end cases that not only threaten their careers but also the people they hold dear. The story begins with Griessel entering a pharmacy in the Kloof Street shopping center, surrounded by a busy crowd. As he waits in line, he notices a man standing with his back against the shop, displaying unusual behavior.
The man, later identified as Blue Beanie, a member of the Restless Ravens gang, is wearing conspicuous clothing, including a blue beanie that catches Griessel's attention. He observes that Blue Beanie is staring at a jeweler's shop across the shopping center, indicating that he is waiting for something to happen. His heightened senses lead him to believe that Blue Beanie is concealing a handgun.
As the tension builds, Griessel discreetly retrieves his service pistol from his belt and confronts Blue Beanie. Despite the man's initial aggression, Griessel manages to calm him down by presenting a sympathetic front, explaining his role as a detective and his intentions to pick up his wife's medicine. Blue Beanie reveals that his wife is sick, providing further context to the man's actions.
The excerpt ends with Blue Beanie revealing that he has a text message waiting for him regarding the jeweler's closing time. Griessel recognizes that Blue Beanie is waiting for something—a potential signal from an accomplice. The atmosphere is tense, and the stakes are high as the narrative sets the stage for the escalating danger surrounding Griessel and his associates.
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