Cobra

By: Deon Meyer

Narrated by: Saul Reichlin

Length: 12 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's Summary

Why would a mathematics professor from Cambridge University, renting a holiday home outside Cape Town, require a false identity and three bodyguards? And where is he, now that they are dead? The only clue to the bodyguards' murder is the snake engraved on the shell casings of the bullets that killed them.

Investigating the massacre, Benny Griessel and his team find themselves being drawn into an international conspiracy with shocking implications. It seems it is not just the terrorists and criminals of Britain and South Africa who may fear the Professor's work, but the politicians too.

As the body count begins to spiral viciously, Benny must put his new-found love life aside and focus on finding the one person who could give him a break in the case: a teenage pickpocket on the run in the city. But Benny is not the only person hunting for Tyrone Kleinbooi...

Relentlessly suspenseful, topical, hard-hitting and richly rewarding, Cobra is a superb novel from an author who is acclaimed around the world as a brilliant voice in crime fiction.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2014 Deon Meyer; English translation © K. L. Seegers. Originally published in Afrikaans in 2013 as Kobra by Human & Rousseau. (P)2014 Hodder & Stoughton

Critic Reviews

"South Africa is the new Scandinavia when it comes to crime writing, and Deon Meyer 'pulls the reader into the melee of modern South Africa . . . tells a cracking story and captures the criminal kaleidoscope of a nation' "(Times Literary Supplement)
"Each new thriller from 'one of the very best crime fiction authors in the world today' (Eurocrime) plunges you into a 'maelstrom of murder investigation, political corruption, racial tension . . . Deon Meyer is a top notch plotter and has created one of the best ensemble (and multi-racial) casts of any modern police procedural series'" (Shots)

How good is Deon Meyer

What did you love best about Cobra?

Deon Meyer Saul Reichlin,Unbelievable , go together like Jo Nesbo and Sean Barret .
Great story .

What was one of the most memorable moments of Cobra?

The Boy And his Hard earned spoils

What about Saul Reichlin’s performance did you like?

One of the best in the business .

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

persistance , justice, and dont you love our politicians and BANKS

Well written and well read

This is one of the best audiobooks I have listened to.

South African accents are really hard to replicate, especially those of the various groups within the country. Saul Reichlin absolutely nails it!

Deon Meyer is one of the best thriller writers around and he does not disappoint. I can unreservedly recommend this audiobook

Fabulous novel read brilliantly

The novel itself is exciting and with a clever plot. My favourite character is definitely the feisty feminist Mbali . Dear old Benny does get a little whiny at times, so here's hoping he de elops a bit of self esteem soon.
The reading of the novel is superb -
good accents, pace excellent , a credible South African accent.

Buy this book pappie!

Loved this book.

I lived in Cape Town for 10 years and reading this it bought back so many good memories of the places and the people.

Meyer does an excellent job of not only telling a great yarn but also hits the mark with the depth and variety of characters.

Saul Reichlin does an excellent job of bring all the characters to life. I very rarely laugh out loud reading a book but I couldn't help myself with this one.

I'm already looking for my next Meyer book. Well done.

Enjoyable but unmemorable

As I write it is over two weeks since I finished this audio book. While it may say more about my memory, I remember little of this book. In saying that, it kept me listening until the end. Good narration and accents made the story, otherwise I would have switched off.

Deon Meyer can play in the top league........

A very complex plot set in the South Africa , a vibrant country full of contrasts and charms. Deon Meyer delivers yet a very readable and enjoyable book. Having been a fan of Deon Meyer from his beginning, i have however a couple of criticisms to make. First, it seems that too much emphasis is made on keeping the story moving fast ,upbeat, at all the time tense. Second, Meyer seems to focus more on engineering a complex and articulated plot than on developing the characters. The first Meyer's books were perhaps slow moving , but the reader would enter into the atmosphere of the country and the depth of the characters. This is what am looking for (even in a thriller book) and , ultimately, what makes the difference between a "good" and a "great" book.

Really enjoyable story

Well paced and interesting story, a real pleasure too listen too. Excellent characters and excellent narration.

excellent! storyline brilliant from opening line

Capt Bennie Griesel and his team are faced with an international killer in this very fast paced, heart stopping case. The mutders mount up as he and the team try to find a kidnapped professor.

Loved it

Intense and enjoyable story of the detective sequel. I like the narrator as well - this is his 4th book I have listened to.

An absorbing listen.

Where does Cobra rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very high. It is the combination of a really good story read by a narrator who evokes a real sense of "being there".

Who was your favorite character and why?

Benny. Why, because he is a character who has pathos and humour in equal proportions.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Trite to say, but all of them. No one scene stands out as better just a natural flow of tension and excitement.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Follow the money and watch for The Cobra......

First adventure with Meyer

What did you like most about Cobra?

the multi layers building

What other book might you compare Cobra to, and why?

Not read a police type thriller in a while. Better than McBain by a long chalk

Have you listened to any of Saul Reichlin’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No,
But love the south african voice and tone

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

just wanted to keep listerning

A new discovery

This is a thrilling and intricately plotted tale . The characters are well drawn and the momentum never falters. Sean Reichlin is one of the most gifted readers and gives a fantastic performance, negotiating a wide range of accents. This is the first time I've heard a novel translated from Afrikaans. The text retains many colourful expressions in different South African dialects which give the story a unique local colour. I found this audio book very gripping and will seek other books from this author.

Nice read

The reader did a great job with the many accents he had to deal with. Deon meyers style of Flipping from one set of characters to the next in each chapter is great.
He deals with current affairs in south Africa masterfully.