Icarus: A Novel

This series featuring South African detective Benny Griessel “is one of the high points of contemporary crime fiction” and “Icarus is his best yet” (The Guardian).

When a plastic-wrapped corpse is found amidst the sand dunes north of Cape Town, it doesn’t take long for the police to identify the body as Ernst Richter—the tech whiz behind MyAlibi, an Internet service that provides unfaithful partners with sophisticated cover stories to hide their affairs.

The murder quickly becomes the subject of fierce media speculation, with questions swirling about potential motives and perpetrators. Maybe it was one of MyAlibi’s countless jilted spouses, or perhaps an aggrieved client. With a spotlight shining on the investigation, detective Benny Griessel’s boss wants him on the case—and he won’t take no for an answer.

Before the week is out, a connection to a storied family winery comes to light and adds another layer of tension. But Griessel will have to make sure his suspicions are beyond the shadow of a doubt—or it might be his head on the chopping block.

“Meyer … has long been hailed as South Africa’s greatest crime writer. Icarus places him firmly in the top international league. ” —The Times (London)

“Meyer has perfected structure and pace, reveals and red herrings, chapter beats, plot and subplot but he enriches the story with fascinating detail. ” —The Sunday Times

“A meticulously crafted portrait of modern-day South Africa, Icarus is a spellbinding tour de force. ” —New York Journal of Books

© 2015 Atlantic Monthly Press (Ebook): 9780802190918

Release date

Ebook: October 6, 2015