THIRTEEN HOURS by Deon Meyer, described as 'the best crime novel of the year', has been shortlisted for the CWA International Dagger. The shortlist of 6 also features Arnaldur Indriðason, Johan Theorin, Andrea Camilleri, Tonino Benacquista and Stieg Larsson. The prize, which is awarded to the best thriller, crime, suspense or spy fiction translated into English for UK publication, recognises both author and translator with the winner to be announced on 23 July at the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. THIRTEEN HOURS is translated from Afrikaans by K. L. Seegers.

Chair of judges Tom Harper said of the shortlist: "Our shortlists this year reflect the extraordinary breadth and quality of modern crime writing. Whether you like it long or short, fact or fiction, around the corner or on the far side of the world - these awards recognise the best of the genre, from established masters to tomorrow's bestsellers."

The CWA International Dagger was founded in 2006 when translated titles were made ineligible for the CWA Gold Dagger. Since its inception the prize has been won in three of the four years by French author Fred Vargas and translator Sian Reynolds. For more information on the CWA International Dagger, as well as the novel's entry on the CWA website, click here

THIRTEEN HOURS is 'the king of South African crime fiction' Deon Meyer's sixth novel, and is published in the UK by Hodder (April 2010) and in Canada by Random House (April 2010), with US release slated for September (Grove Atlantic). The title is also sold in seven other territories and translated from the Afrikaans into eight languages (English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Russian and Swedish).

The novel has been praised both in the UK and further afield, with Joan Smith of the Sunday Times writing: 'Some of the best crime fiction is rooted in contemporary events. Twenty years after the release of Nelson Mandela, South Africa remains a troubled place, and Meyer's novels give rare insight into the texture of everyday life. Above all though, this is a vigorous, exciting novel that combines memorable characters and plot with edge-of-the-seat suspense.' Margaret Cannon of the Globe and Mail (Canada) is also a fan, and said: 'There have been other South African crime novelists, but none are as deft at place as Deon Meyer. THIRTEEN HOURS is Cape Town today, with all its exquisite beauty, tribal conflicts, loyalties and corruptions.Meyer weaves all this into a tightly plotted story - with a twist that works beautifully - and unforgettable characters.'

More Praise for Deon Meyer:

'Deon Meyer is one of the unsung masters. THIRTEEN HOURS proves he should be on everyone's reading list. This book is great!'  

--Michael Connelly

'THIRTEEN HOURS has breathtaking suspense, psychological understanding, and one of the most inspiring detectives ever. Deon Meyer deserves his international reputation.'         

--Thomas Perry

'Meyer is a writer to take seriously - the best crime writer out of South Africa."

--Crime Time

 
'If you want a glimpse of the soul of the new South Africa in all its glory, and with all the gory details of its problems and corruption, Meyer is your man.'

--Matthew Lewin, Guardian

'I've been reading a new book by Deon Meyer, a South African writer of crime fiction, set in his homeland. I love crime fiction and I'm always on the lookout for a new talent and Mr Meyer certainly fits the bill.'                      

--Michael Parkinson, from his website

'Deon Meyer is...one of the sharpest and most perceptive thriller writers around...Think of Meyer in the way that you might have regarded a bottle of Cape red a dozen years ago - dark, strong with an unusual but beguilingly moreish taste. If it can produce popular literature as good as this, the new South Africa has a lot going for it.'

--Peter Millar, The Times