Something of a mixed review in this case. In places, Tim Weaver writes convincingly and carries his narrative skilful;y. At times, however, the story falters and drifts with a sense of repetition.\ In fairness, I have to concede that I wanted to learn what happened and read quickly to the unfolding conclusion. For this reader, however, there were perhaps too many contrived elements that enabled the different story lines to be brought to something close to a coherent conclusion. There was also what seemed to me to be an unnecessarily salacious element to the main storyline involving the possibility of the abductor/killer having had inappropriately intimate contact with the dead wife of the lead character. So, overall, a sense of partially unfulfilled promise, although this was still a book that kept me reading until the end - my overall impression, therefore, is that it's certainly better than OK, but it could have been so much better.

This novel has lots of twists, turns and intrigue. It kept me guessing until very close to the the end, I was completely baffled as to how the plot could be so plausible, but I enjoyed every word. I've recommended it to several friends already!

I was fortunate to have the opportunity of reading an advanced copy of this book. I loved it. Great characters, lots of twists and turns. A unique plot-line and an unexpected ending. Most definitely recommended.

I really loved You Were Gone (David Raker #9) like so much more than I was originally expecting, but had absolutely no bloody idea it was part of an ongoing series; no matter this can totally be read as a standalone no issues whatsoever.
So this was a mind-Eff of epic proportions and I couldn't put it down such an engrossing read this was.
This had me second guessing along with Raker everything I thought I knew to be true.
Could it be true? was David losing the threads of his very sanity? Who was this woman who claimed to be his wife? Where had she come from?
This had so many twists and turns throughout I felt lost in a maze with no clear exit.
So cleverly executed and with such finesse, this was a pleasure from start to finish.
Not my usual genre but so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone.
This will have you psychoanalysing and dissecting every actuality for hidden messages and meanings and when events eventually reached a conclusion I was seriously shocked at the identity of the puppet master himself.
This was a fabulous addictive Crime Mystery that was glued to my hand till the final curtain.
A complete surprise hit for me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of "You Were Gone (David Raker #9)" of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

A truly great psychological thriller. This is the first book I have read by Tim Weaver and I will definetly be reading more. This book was full of twists and turns.
I believe that David Raker, the main character focuses in all of Tim's novels. You learn that he has been widowed for eight years and then a woman walks into a police station claiming to be his wife. The story takes you on a rollercoaster of a ride and every time I thought I had worked it out I hadn't! I cannot recommend this book enough, the only comment I can make is that you need time to read this from beginning to end as it is hard to put down.
I look forward to my next Tom Weaver fix.

You Were Gone is 9th in the David Raker Missing Persons series, but all of these books work very well as stand-alone. I only discovered Tim Weaver’s number 8, ‘I Am Missing’ last year, but really enjoyed how David Raker had cracked what appeared to be a well nigh impossible case. You Were Gone is even better and I was immediately drawn to its premise. Private Investigator, David Raker, is renowned for his expertise in finding missing people, but in You Were Gone he finds himself forced to solve a new case, and one that doesn’t get more personal than this, one that involves a reappearance of someone from the dead. But that person is not just anyone. To all intents and purposes, it’s his wife who died eight years ago, the wife he buried after a long illness and spent years grieving for. As far-fetched as this might sound, Tim Weaver hooks us in and soon has us believing that not only is this possible, but that stranger things have been known to happen in real life.

The story begins with a woman walking into a police station carrying a piece of paper with David Raker’s name on it, telling officers that Raker is her husband. The woman looks exactly like his wife. She knows all about their marriage, their history, even private conversations the two of them had. The woman tells the police that Raker had had a breakdown, which is backed up by a respected psychiatrist. Raker cannot find his wife’s death certificate to prove his side of the story. In the interim, the woman disappears and soon after Raker becomes the prime suspect in her disappearance.

This ‘case’ is Raker’s biggest challenge yet. The story shows him at his most vulnerable and dwells on his emotions, his confusion and the devastating effects it has on him, nearly bringing him to his knees. He struggles to salvage any objectivity and finds himself fighting not only for his own innocence and sanity, but even to keep his memories of his wife intact. Parts were so painful to read that I couldn’t wait to get the old, strong Raker back, the detective with the meticulous and systematic powers of deduction and to see him fight back against all odds. His saving grace is always his ability to hone in on any odd facts or anomalies and follow them through, regardless of where they’ll lead.

I like the way parts of the jigsaw are revealed throughout the story and that everything isn’t saved until the bitter end to be explained, which often seems to happen in the exposition of detective crime stories. But the author does leave us one last surprise, which I didn’t foresee in the finale. His plots are quite complex and devilishly clever, but every thread is neatly drawn together. I like David’s ‘voice’ as the narrator, quiet, patient, sad and intimate. I eagerly await number 10 in the series.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and to Tim Weaver for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

I really loved this story of a private investigator left questioning his sanity after his wife walks into a police station. The only problem is that she's been dead for eight years.

Twists and turns abound as David Raker tries to determine who the woman really is and why she's turned up now.

A real page turner, I had to read this in one sitting. It was just that good!

He's mourned her, he knows she died. But she's back! An interesting tale which keeps you guessing and the ending wasn't what I expected. Is he ill? Is it in his mind? I so didn't want that to be it!! No clues though, intriguing and worth a read. My first read from this author but sure I will read more.

What a blinking great r as, I can't believe this is the first one in the series I've read, breakneck speed from start to finish, struggled to put this down

Is he mad or isn't he?? Having never read any of the Raker series, there were times during this read where I seriously doubted his sanity! Gripping story, kept me guessing throughout and the final twist was a great surprise! Would definitely recommend!!

This is a modern thriller. The story was really interesting and easy to follow. David Raker has been a widower for eight years. A woman turns up at a police station claiming to be his dead wife, Derryn. Good writing, this is the ninth book featuring David Raker.

Another great read from a really talented author. Plot was a little far fetched but I really enjoyed it

This book started out well, and in the middle it had me second-guessing myself. However, it plateaued, and there was writing without any progress being made in the storyline, and I got bored with it. It may be something I come back to, but I so rarely cannot finish books that it is unlikely - there are so many other books out there to read.

Hooked from the minute I started this book!!
This is the first book I have read by Tim Weaver and now that I know it's part of a series I will be sure to buy them all.
The twists turns and revelations where amazingly written. Somewhat far-fetched in places but the overall premise was well thought-out.
If you are a fan of this series- this is a must-read!

There are some crime authors who give their protagonists a little bit of background horror. A spot of childhood trauma. A psychotic sibling. An inability to connect to others. A paper cut or two. They suffer. Tim Weaver takes it all to a whole new level. He doesn’t just make David Raker suffer. He turns him inside out, upside down and psychologically smacks him in the mouth. Pure agony. Well done, Mr Weaver.

You Were Gone marks the ninth instalment, in this intelligent psychological missing persons series. We now have ten years of David Raker, our heroic fighter for the truth. What an achievement for Tim Weaver. Every single story has been of a very high standard and utterly bewitching. This is one of the best series out there.

This story takes us to the heart of Raker and his demons. Raker is a widower. His wife died from cancer, eight years ago. This has had a lasting effect on Raker. It has left him emotionally drained and alone. One day, a woman walks into a police station. She identifies herself as Derryn Raker. She has no identification on her. Raker ends up at the police station, staring at a woman he thought was long since deceased. This is the start of a nightmare for Raker, in which his love for his wife is tested to its limits and his sanity is questioned. To the police, Raker is a suspect. Raker just wants answers. Who is she? And how can Raker trace a woman who no longer exists?

What an emotional roller-coaster, for the reader and for Raker. No one suffers more. We feel for Raker and his inner anguish. He starts to doubt himself. We doubt him. We worry for him. Can no one help Raker? Weaver cleverly manipulates everything, as the story twists and turns. He turns up the mental torture, again and again. What a joy to read. I cannot praise this story enough.

Strong. Emotional. Powerful. Every word is perfection. Do not miss David Raker’s last traumatic adventure. Counselling recommended afterwards.

Totally and utterly recommended.

This book opened with a bang, with David's wife apparently back from the dead. The book is gripping from the word go, right up until the last page and you will not be able to guess who the baddie is. Keeps you glued to each chapter couldn't put it down

I have not read any of this authors work and did not realise it was number 9 in a series until I came to write my review. It was an odd one for me as I was hooked by the first few pages but then the story got very complicated with lots of mini storylines going on. I thought at the start I would be writing a five star review but I just got bored hence it taking so long for me to read. However I would definitely read another one in the series as I found the central character very likeable.

I found this book to be very far fetched and I didn't finish it . Not my kind of book . Sorry !

This book introduced me to Davis Raker, I hadn't realised there were other books but it didn't spoil my enjoyment. A woman walks into a police station and says she is lost and her name is Derryn and she was asking for David, when thy contacted him he was very confused as his wife Derryn died 8 years ago and when he gets to the station he is shown the woman on cctv from another room. He fully expected to be able to say that this woman was nothing like Derryn and she was obviously mistaken but to his surprise she was very much like his wife and to anyone who didn't know her they would assume it was her. He persisted with his story that she had died and she made him doubt his sanity and the police who already dislike Raker because of his work as a private eye dismiss his claims. It seems that his world is imploding and he doesn't know why this is happening. It's very difficult to give more detail without spoilers and I don't do that but suffice it to say I was on the edge of my seat and wondering who to trust and who is telling the truth. I loved this book and I am looking at the rest of the series.
.

This was the first Tim Weaver/David Raker book for me and I must admit I found the writing to be a tad slow going and repetitive. It didn’t grab me or hook me in so I gave up and didn't finish it