I confess . . . police procedurals/thrillers/mysteries are not my favorite reading (or audio) genre. I'm just not a huge fan of plot-driven novels, no matter how clever the plotting.

So I was particularly pleased to discover the audio version of Deon Meyer's 1996 novel, Dead Before Dying. A killer armed with a century-old German handgun is stalking Cape Town. The victims seemingly have no connection to one another . . . or do they? Captain Mat Joubert (his first name is a private acronym) of the Murder and Robbery Squad must decipher the pattern of the killings while dealing with a series of high stakes bank robberies that may--or may not be--related.

Murder, an odd weapon, mysterious disguises, a parallel subplot. These are plot standards of detective fiction. What sets this story apart is the excellent character study of the troubled Captain Joubert. "Troubled" is a generous description--this detective is in serious need of psychological help--so much so that his brash new boss sends him off to a psychologist's couch. And that's where the story rises above the norm. Joubert is a thoroughly engaging character. Visually, he's a hulking big bear of a man who's still recovering (another generous term) from the tragic (and tarnished) death of his wife, Lara. Two years later, Joubert is still struggling, not only with his slipping job performance, but with dating, dieting, drinking, and smoking. (His dieting struggles are particularly entertaining.) You're routing for Joubert not only to catch the killer (of course), but on a personal level as well. You want this bumbling beast of a man to succeed in at least one arena in his tragicomic life. Will he?

The setting in South Africa adds a welcome alternative to the traditional London/New York City scenario. Simon Vance delivers yet another exceptional performance, tackling several particularly challenging characters with ease. The audio production is equally well done. Dead Before Dying is an excellent audio experience, highly recommended for readers and listeners who are fans of the police thriller genre--and those who aren't. (Posted on 11/23/12)