Rating: 4/5
Review:
Gripping and intelligent
I thought that this was a very enjoyable, well written and engrossing thriller which ended up being two almost separate books which didn't quite mesh together in the end.
The plot revolves around a web of suspected terrorism, smuggling, gangs and organised crime. Deon Meyer is a very talented writer (excellently translated here) who can tell a terrific story full of fascinating and convincing insights into modern South Africa - a really strong feature of the book which never become dull or intrusive. His characters are well drawn and convincing and I found the whole book thoroughly gripping.
My reservations lie in the structure, which didn't quite work for me. The book is in four sections and the first three fit together excellently. However, we leave this story at a (slightly unconvincing) climax and jump forward a few months to a completely new group of characters and a seemingly unrelated missing person investigation. Although the connection to the previous narrative eventually becomes clear, I thought that the dénoument, such as it is, felt rather rushed and unresolved and I felt a little disappointed in the end of the book.
Despite this, Trackers is a gripping and intelligent read. Meyer seems to be setting us up for at least one sequel, and I will certainly look out for it. Recommended.
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