I’ve never read this author before but the title and synopsis of this book really intrigued me. What an amazing read. There was sadness throughout, a few chuckles and most of all fear and intrigue. There were so many possible outcomes to this that the guesses were coming thick and fast. A fantastic read that I couldn’t put down.

High octane, twist a minute, descent into emotional nightmare. The construction cleverly straddles a police procedural and a lone detective with skeletons and war stories a-plenty to share from previous cases.

It some ways reminded me of James Lee Burke - although the setting is obviously completely different. Not just for the hero, iconoclastic detective David Raker. But also the almost everyone gets put through the wringer here in this taut thriller.

I’m grateful to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me my first glimpse into David Raker’s world.

I have read one Tim Weaver book before - Vanished, and I found it quite gruesome and not to my taste. However, the description of this one intrigued me, so I gave it a go. Tim Weaver has written a whole string of books featuring David Raker, who investigates missing people cases. However, in this one it is a found person in the shape of his deceased wife who turns up, making him doubt his sanity. As usual, he clashes with the police. Spike turns up again as his very convenient tame hacker, and there is another person called Harrison who he has hidden away down south somewhere. This character must have been in a previous novel, but we are not given much background. He also hinted at past events in Vanished, which is a little puzzling for the reader who just picks one at random. The plot relies very little on action and much on explanations, and is extremely convoluted, Churning out books in quick succession always means lack of quality. Tim Weaver has a lot of fans, and there are some good aspects to his work, so good luck to him, but i prefer more considered work.

I have read a few of Tim weaver’s books so when I saw this on NetGalley and jumped at the chance to read it. The first thing I like about David Raker series as, even though it’s part of a series you can still read it as a standalone.
David Raker is a Missing Persons Investigator, quite an unorthodox one, but a good one. He never got over the death of his wife who died 8 years previously with cancer. So when David gets a call 3 days after Christmas that a woman has turned up at a Police station claiming to be the dead wife Derryn. David rushes down to the station to see what the hell is going on. David claims she’s dead but the police doesn’t believe him as she says that David Has been ill and he has been treated by a Doctor Erik McMillian, when the police investigate the doctor backs up the story. Is he losing his mind. Or she lying, who is telling the truth? Even in some instances David sometimes thinks that Derryn is still alive.
All I can say is that I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down from start to finish. It was very well planned out, great characters and good twists and turns in this book. I highly recommend.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC of this book.

This is the first David Raker book that I've read and I absolutely loved it. Can't wait to read the rest of them as well! It kept me guessing, made me impatient to know what happens next and really just pulled me in. I found the characters easy to get comfortable with and the story line was something I haven't come across before. I would recommend this book whether you're already familiar with Tim Weaver's work or, like me, have only just discovered him.

While spending some time away with his daughter missing persons investigator David Raker gets a phone call from the police to say his wife has come into the station in a distressed state. She's claiming she's been missing for eight years. Apart from a piece of paper with his name on she had no ID or anything else to back up her claim that she's who she says she is. The trouble is, David's wife died eight years ago. When he sees her he's confused as she certainly looks like his beloved wife Derryn. She says he's been ill and has been treated by a doctor called Erik McMillan, who when the police make inquires backs up her story.
Is he really ill or is this woman an imposter? As both the police and David look for answers, lives are at stake. There's loads of twists and turns along the way in this thriller and an outcome I didn't see coming at all. Through most of the book I kept changing my mind, yes she's an imposter, then no it's David who's ill. What a fabulous read and one I have no hesitation in recommending. It gets a full five stars from me. Many thanks to Penguin UK for my ARC copy via NetGalley. This is my honest and unbiased review

Having read a previous David Raker book and enjoyed it, when Netgalley asked me to review this latest one, I was happy to do so. A woman turns up at a police station claiming to be David Rakers wife, he turns up at the police station saying that his wife died 8 years previously, although he has to admit that she does look like his wife. She tells the police that she has been living with him during this time, that he has had a breakdown, mistreats her and she tells the police so many details of their life together that they are inclined to believe her. Incredibly, Raker can’t prove that his wife died as her death certificate has gone missing - really?? How about checking the electoral register, or questioning his neighbours and friends, family, or the family doctor all of whom will know the truth and will confirm that his wife did die and that he’s lived alone ever since.
I’m sorry, that is just too far fetched. The book gets ever more fanciful and is too wordy and descriptive in what seems like an attempt to pad the book out.
There wasn’t a character in the book to like, which I think you really need, and if I hadn’t said that I’d review it, I certainly wouldn’t have finished it.

Another great book from Tim Weaver, A bit of a shock for anyone when your partner in this case Dave Rakers wife turns up at a Police Station 8years after she has been buried. How do you do with that, had he gone mad well a renown Doctor says yes he is mad. Sure there is a pc way to put that but it's the words Mr Raker uses so feel safe on this occasion.
This is one of those books I could not put down till the end, it has twists and turns that you won't see coming, in fact I love the way Tim takes you on a road you think I know what's coming but then he turns in a completely different direction. I do recommend this book i don't think you will be disappointed.
I have given a free copy of this book from NetGalley in return for a honest review.

Gosh. This is total high intensity, page-turning stuff that had me gripped from the start. I am new to David Raker so I wasn't sure how much of a reliable narrator he was, but the book worked fine as a stand-alone. I find that thrillers either grip me from the start or I spend the entire book thinking why would you do that? that really wouldn't happen in real life. This one had me in its spell and I happily suspended all reality to enjoy the ride. Its a really intriguing plot-line - the woman Raker loved, cherished and was married to for years had died a horrid death from cancer 8 years ago but someone who looked, spoke and moved just like her had turned up at a police station claiming to be his wife. The plot thickened as Raker felt the evidence stacking up against him that he was severely mentally ill and was keeping Derryn prisoner in his home. Tim Weaver is a literary Houdini - get out of that one if you can. Thoroughly entertaining read, sit back and enjoy. There is plenty of time afterwards to pick holes in the plot if you want to.

This book truly belongs in the psychological thriller genre for so many reasons. The main one being the way in which the events finally get into the protagonist's psyche and give him cause to doubt his own sanity at times. As a reader one is also led to wonder about that at times.
The author has spun a web so dense that it is hard to see how it can ever be untangled, despite a couple of obvious holes, but there has to be some licence or the story would not work quite as well as it does. Trying to work out who might be behind the events as they unfold is like trying to knit fog, you just can't quite grasp it! When the major twist comes towards the end of the story, it is a shock until you realise that it does add up and the hints were there but shrouded by other possibilities.

This is one of those paradoxical books which you don't want to put down but at the same time, you find the need to take a short break occasionally to deal with the intensity of it.

I have tried to put it down to go to sleep but it wasn't letting go of my mind whilst it was unfinished so I ended up putting the light back on! As far as I can recall,I haven't read any of this author's other work but I certainly will do so. I highly recommend it and give it one of my very rare five star ratings

I haven't read any books by this author before and therefore was not familiar with the main character.I would say this could be read as a stand alone book though,in fact not being familiar with the main character David meant that I didn't know if he was a trustworthy narrator and that added to the story for me. Was he being honest or was he having psychological problems and whose reality was really true.I am not giving anything away, but this book is well worth a read and it kept me guessing.Thanks to the Publishers and Netgalley for an ARC.

I enjoyed this book. It’s the first Tim Weaver book that I’ve read and I’ll certainly read more.
The plot was very clever, the writing smart and the story kept me on edge the whole way through.
I liked that it wasn’t predictable like so many other books of this genre have been recently.

Tim Weaver is an author whose work I really enjoy. His writing is precise reminiscent of storytelling from a bygone era, at times displaying shades of Agatha Christie but with a modern feel. The central character in his novels is David Raker, an investigator who markets himself as a locator of lost persons, those individuals who for their own personal reasons wish to disappear....or do they? Weaver uses real and imagined locations throughout London often creating a haunted or sinister backdrop adding to the mystical quality of his prose. Think of old wooden piers and the thrills and sounds of Victorian amusement arcades (What Remains, David Raker book 6) and underground abandoned tube/rail stations (Vanished, David Raker book 3)

Nine years ago Raker sadly lost his wife Derryn to cancer. He is naturally astounded when he receives a call from a local police station informing him that a woman purporting to be his wife has just presented herself at reception. Who is this woman? Is Raker's mind unravelling? Did the last 9 years never happen? What appears to be a simple case of I.D becomes something altogether more disturbing when the lady in question mysteriously disappears after visiting a flat in Chalks Farm. From this point in the novel the events that unravel become increasingly dark and threatening. As our investigator himself is drugged a race against time follows to locate the whereabouts of the missing woman. Raker is horrified to learn that both himself and his wife have been the subject of "stalking" for many years and unfortunately it appears the perpetrator is still active posing a very real and present threat. When the identity of the stalker is revealed the resulting shock and fallout will amaze not only those involved in the hunt but an unsuspecting reader!

I must admit that "You were gone" is not my favourite novel in the David Raker series. The plot is overly complex and at a page count of just under 500 it might have benefited from some close editing as I found myself really struggling to complete the last 20%. Having said that I am a great admirer of the writing of Tim Weaver and this is still a solid contender in the series. Many thanks to the good people at netgalley and the publisher Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.

Nail biting! My first David Raker book, sure it won't be my last. Who is telling the truth and who is telling lies? A gripping story to the last page

Wow. Love Tim weaver books and this one didn’t disappoint at all. Even with previous knowledge of the other David Raker books, it was hard not to become as confused as David with the Derryn storyline

Oh this book.

I love the Raker series – I tell anyone that listens that it is the best crime series out there that doesn’t involve Charlie Parker, how great it is to have a very different and highly engaging main protagonist and how each book gets better than the last with the twistiest plots, the most emotionally traumatic rollercoaster moments and well just really really good. Every time I read them so fast I can’t even think about anything else until I’m done because that’s how they get you. Then I’m cross with myself because I’m having to wait again.

This one though. Addictive much. I didn’t so much read it as I did devour it, kind of peeking through my fingers not sure if I wanted to know or not. Could our hero, patron (fictional) saint of the missing, actually be not so much saintly (a dark side kind of saintly) as quite quite mad? I couldn’t cope. His wife is dead. It has informed so much of his character, given us so much of his reality – BUT WHAT IF HE IS DELUSIONAL?? Seriously, having read the entire series so far and knowing how sneaky Mr Weaver is, it was entirely possible – it’s not like he wouldn’t go there…

Well I won’t tell you if he does or not but honestly this just rocks along with poor David doubting everyone and everything around him but still, even with all that, he’s going to get to the truth no matter what. Just as he always does. Once again you are pulled into his gravity and live there right with him for the entirety of the read – it is brilliantly plotted and always beautifully written. I loved it.

With an ending that promises so much and a distinctly edgy feel to it, You Were Gone is possibly the twistiest Raker novel yet and that is really saying something.

Highly Recommended. HIGHLY.

I really loved this book! Excellent story with brilliant main characters. I would recommend this book.

I have read all the David Raker series over the last couple of years so was excited to see this pop up for review on NetGalley.
David Raker is a missing persons investigator who has a good track record of finding people, sometimes using slightly unorthodox methods so he is not well liked within police circles. Often he succeeds where they fail which does not help.
One day he receives a call from Charring Cross Police station: a woman claiming to be Raker’s dead wife has turned up and is asking for him. Raker knows that this is impossible as his wife Derryn died 8 years previously after a long illness so he is not sure what to expect. When he walks into the police station he is shown footage of a woman who is the image of his wife and it affects him profoundly. In his head he knows it cannot be true but in his heart he starts to believe.
Raker and the police start to investigate but the woman disappears and he becomes a suspect. He feels helpless and emotional as her appearance brings back all the bad memories of his wife’s last months.
This book has an interesting plot as it flashes backwards and forwards between the present and the past as seen by another character. Is it David himself or someone else.? At times the reader begins to suspect that Raker might be having some sort of breakdown.
There are several twists as the investigation gathers speed and the final denoument is completely unexpected.
I enjoyed this book and read it over the course of a couple of days. It is different from the other books in the series in that it focuses on Raker himself so the reader learns a lot about his history.
I would suggest that it is better to read the earlier novels first as it would give this book more meaning.
A great read and the series itself is highly recommended for crime thriller fans.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin UK for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let me take you back to Christmas 2017. My boyfriend got me an amazon gift card so I could buy a bunch of books for my kindle, since I am quite the avid reader.
I was browsing the website looking for a new series to dig my teeth into and I stumbled upon the David Raker series. I read a couple of descriptions, some reviews and decided to buy the entire series in one go.

I started reading straight away and I read all the books without stopping. I loved them. I love every single book.

So, when I saw that this book was available, I immediately went for it. I got the book a couple of hours ago and I read it, in one go, start to finish.

David Raker is a man that has been through a lot. 8 years ago he lost his wife Derryn to cancer and this is something that still haunts him to this day. In his daily life, David is a missing persons investigator, before this he was a journalist.
One day, David gets a phone call. It is the police station and they say that a woman walked in claiming to be Derryn. She is asking for them to get David and have him talk to her.
David is shocked and immediately goes over to the police station.

This is where the story really picks up. I won't give away any spoilers, but I can tell you that it is a really fast paced book.
The conclusion is quite shocking and I did not see it coming. In the end, there is a nice little build up towards the next book in the series.

All in all, I can highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys good crime thrillers with a very deep plot and greatly developed characters. You can read this book on its own, but I would suggest you start at the beginning of the series and go from there,