Hectic missing persons investigation.

When I was offered the chance to read a pre publication copy of No One Home I recognised the author, Tim Weaver, but could not remember why. On checking my book log, however I found that I had read the forth David Raker book back in October 2014 and had given it 5 stars (which is rare for me) and not only that I had bought books 1 to 3 on the strength of it, so I must have been impressed! The odd thing is that I have not subsequently read books 1 to 3 probably because with other purchases they had got pushed to the back of my Kindle library!

Suffice to say that I have now read No One Home, which apparently is book 10 in the series. Tim Weaver has certainly not lost his touch and it is a story with so many twists and turns and characters that one can so easily get giddy with it. The story is centred around the overnight disappearance of the entire population of a ‘village’ - I put ‘village’ in inverted commas as this is how it is referred to throughout the book, but in fact it is only a farmhouse and three houses with a total population of nine, which in my book doesn’t really justify the description even of of ‘hamlet’, but this really is the only criticism. The story unfolds in two parts, one being the UK side of the story set in the present day, the other being an apparently unrelated story starting in 1980’s Los Angeles. Eventually, the connection is revealed, of course and the two stories merge.

I won’t reveal anything further about the story, but it is well written and very fast paced. Quite a long book at over 500 pages, but I found myself so gripped by the evolving plot that I hardly noticed, and indeed did not want it to end.

Now that I have finished, however, I do have the opportunity to go to the three books that await me on my Kindle, and then there are five more that I can invest in when I have read those!

10th in the David Raker series and equally as exciting as the rest, in fact each book in the David Raker series just gets better and better.

9 people go missing during a late night Halloween game of hide and seek, never to be seen again, years later the mystery is revisited and David and his team are sent in to try and solve this head scratcher of a mystery.

A really dark and twisty, exciting and thrilling read, I loved every single page I read.

I really enjoy being able to catch up with a regular character, like an old friend I’ve not seen in a while, and I look forward to the next time we meet again.

Sensational! I knew I was in for a treat when I had the latest Tim Weaver novel on my tbr, but never in my wildest dreams could I have predicted such a magnificent, all-consuming read!

Nine people don't just disappear into thin air. There must be a plausible explanation, but after two and a half years that's exactly what seems to have happened. Enter David Raker, an expert in finding missing persons. Despite digging deep, there is no evidence as to what happened, so Raker does what he does best - and keeps digging.

Ever since reading book four for Book Club, I have enjoyed this series - quite possibly like no other. Each novel is an entirely new story; there is no 'formula' - every book is a fresh and new mystery but with this one I feel the author has excelled himself. What a read! Having reached the final page, I felt quite awe-struck at the sheer brilliance of the plot. Quite possibly one of the best planned thrillers I have ever come across, with carefully structured writing to keep the reader absolutely mesmerised and mystified from first word til last. A highly original and exquisite novel which I cannot recommend highly enough, and one I'm thrilled and excited to give a full five shining, sparkling stars and - trust me - it's easily worth twice that!

My grateful thanks to publisher Michael Joseph at Penguin for approving my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

This was my second David Raker story (being late to the books I will catch up & backfill sometime!) and I read this story avidly! Raker is a complex, clever character.Although he is tough, you see a vulnerable side and I could empathise easily with him. Healy, his trusty sidekick, although less prominent, is an integral part of the characters portrayals. Jo Kader, a LA detective, adds a different perspective and her story, from years ago, gradually develops to entwine with the present day mysteries.
The scenes all appeared clearly in my mind and I feel like I have lived through the tension, the questions, the frustrations, along with Raker and Kader. What brilliant story-telling! I’m left with just a couple of questions unanswered - but no spoilers here! I’ll await the next book (im)patiently!

This is a great mystery crime thriller.
Nine people go missing from a village one night and there’s no trace of them.
David Raker is approached by the relatives of the missing people a couple of years later, and asked to help find out what happened.
Raker starts digging into their lives but at first cannot understand how they could all just disappear.
The story then moves to California thirty years earlier, with Detective Jo Kader trying to find a murderer.
The two stories eventually link up and what follows is an action packed ending to both stories.
Thanks to Penguin UK-Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

No One Home is due for release tomorrow and I highly recommend it.
In the past I've read a few Tim Weaver books featuring David Raker, and throughly enjoyed them. However, I've missed out on reading the couple before No One Home ... rest assured that, although probably best to read in order, Weaver very skillfully sketches in enough of a backstory to fill in pertinent information. No One Home read perfectly well as a standalone.

The fact that No One Home is set in Yorkshire, visiting Keighley, York, Skipton and Bradford is an added bonus for me as an honorary Bradfordian. The bleak moorish settings, the haunging Marie Celeste type village and the relatives' grief are palpable.

I love the concept of a PI focussing on finding missing persons and that is what David Raker has focussed his entire career on. Raker is one of those nuanced characters whose dogged perseverance is juxtaposed by his empathy. When he's enlisted to investigate the enigmatic disappearance of an entire village, Raker's first instinct is to breathe in the essence of the deserted village, the diappeared people's homes and the surrounding area.

Whilst Raker delves deeper into the mystery of the disappeared families, he is aware of avery real and present threat. As his investigation leads him back in time to the late 1980's and another disappearance, Raker struggles to link the two investigations.

Meanwhile, a dual narrative takes us to 1980's Los Angeles where, a female homicide detective is not only battling the innate sexism within the department, but is also investigating the case that just won't let her go ... that unsolved one that she keeps revisiting ... the one that haunts her dreams and steals her thoughts.

So .. what links the two narratives?

This is a tricksy, twisty novel with characters that keep you guessing and two plotlines that are equally compleeing . Weaver has that knack of using few words wisely and it is that skill that had me completely hooked. Whilst reading the Raker narrative, I didn't want it to end and whilst reading the LA narratives, I din't want those to end either. So, this was one of these books that you just sail through. The pages kept turning and I read it in no time.

The ending was explosive on so many levels and although completely satisifed, i now find myself wishing that David Raker Book 11 was sitting in my kindle. However, I know from the crumbs dropped so tantalisingly that there will be a Raker Book 11 in the future.

Nine people go missing from a remote village. No trace is found, no clues, no signs. Two and a half years later David Raker is approached by the relatives who ask if he will investigate as the official police investigation had stalled some time ago. Understanding how the family’s need answers he takes on the case, delving into each of their lives to try and solve the mystery. The story then bizarrely switches to California some thirty years earlier and follows Detective Jo Kader as she tries to solve an unusual murder. As each part of the story unfolds both Raker and Jo find themselves in difficult and dangerous situations that has the reader as desparate for answers as they are. This gripping, dramatic book instills fear and trepidation with many twists and a finale that makes me want to read the next in the series right now. A good, long read that reels you in with a great storyline and believable characters.

I was hooked from the beginning. It was a dark read which had lots of twists and turns. Didn't want it to finish.

# No One Home # Netgally
A pretty awesome book, and extra intriguing for a entire community to go missing, no matter how small of a community it is. At first when I actually read the synopsis I was not too sure. However once I started the book I was hooked very early on into it. I do recommend the book its a genuinely good book, the only thing I think could have been better for me personally and that was to have read the other books. I all in all I will have to go back and read from number 1 being honest it's not the first time I have come across a book in a series that no matter what number I read. If that book as really caught my attention in a big way like this one did. I do go back to read the others that came before. I have done this about 3 to 4 times now. where some I have spread so many books into a series and not gone back to read the rest. This series I definitely will be going back to number one and read in order. That's says in itself how God the book is. Highly recommended

I was drawn to this book by the premise of an abandoned village and to start with, this premise was very good. How can the whole of a village just disappear one night and no trace ever be found? But this was such a long and drawn out story and even now I’ve finished it I’m not sure what the conclusion was.
There were 2 different stories in 2 different eras in this book which you know are going to tie up at the end but they take a long time to get there.
So I’m slightly disappointed that this wasn’t more of a thrilling read

I loved the blurb for this book, sounded very much like an Agatha Christie. What happened to the residents of Black Gale that Halloween?

The investigation led by David Raker takes the reader on a powerful journey with many twists and turns.

I will read more by this author.

This is the first book I have read in this series and it was ok for a stand-alone. I liked the premise and thought it unique but that said it started well but slowed right down for a good part in the middle and the way it ended for me was far fetched and confusing and left me feeling not all was explained . Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

The premise of this book really intrigued me - a whole village of people goes missing overnight. It sounded spooky and strange. The village turns out to be more of a hamlet (nine people), but that’s still compelling.

I’ve read one David Raker book in the past and I do think the author does a great job of making each one feel like a stand alone. You might occasionally wonder if you’re missing the thriller equivalent of an in-joke, but the novel is self contained and can be enjoyed whether or not you’ve read the others.

David Raker is hired to look into the mysterious disappearance of the residents of Black Gale, but in the end his investigation leads him in quite a different direction and the missing villagers become almost secondary. It works as a gripping opening to a more typical mystery/thriller. It does have good elements and I was keen to find out what happened, but I expected more of it to be about the missing village.

This book had me hooked from the beginning. The whole storyline gripped me. Why would eight middle aged to elderly people, and one teenager, all go off together, leaving an empty village? If they were kidnapped, again why all nine?

Loved it enough to stay up late to finish it.

ANOTHER IN the David Raker series YIPPEE!!!!
How can nine people disappear from a village never to be seen again???
It is now upto our intrepid Raker to get the answers.
Well written, fast paced and action packed to the rafters. This book kept reading and guessing late into the night. This author knows how to hook the reader and will not let you go until you have turned the last page. This book can be read as a stand alone but I am sure you will want to read the series from the start. Almost five stars and highly recommended.
I would like to thank the author, Penguin UK and Michael Joseph and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

I haven't come across Mr Weaver's books before, but he has just found a new fan!
A long, labyrinthine tale of twisted plots and people which cleverly brings together various strands and solves the disappearance of 9 neighbours, but leaves a loose end to have his readers waiting impatiently for the next book! I think I will use that time to catch up on the past history of David Raker.
Thank you to netgalley and Michael Joseph for an advance copy of this book

I am a fan of Tim Weaver and have read some of the previous books featuring David Raker, so was really looking forward to reading his latest.

I liked the premise of this story and it started really well, did find it a little confusing at first when we went back in time, and also went to a different country but it did eventually all fit together. I do find it a little unbelievable that police would just give up looking for 9 people who went missing, but sometimes you have to suspend reality when reading fiction!

I enjoyed the book, but to be honest guessed who the protagonist was, I was also slightly puzzled at the ending which seemed to end, then you turned the page and you find it has gone back a few days/weeks who knows. I didn't think that bit made sense, and for a book which was quite drawn out, seemed to end abruptly.

On the whole a good read, but not the best one.

Would recommend

Brilliant. Tim Weaver really knows how to write a gripping thriller. There are so many layers to this story and every part of the story is brilliantly written. The pieces slot into place as the story continues. This book had me gripped the whole way through. There are twists and shocks. The characters are really good and kept me reading. I hope the next book comes out soon.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Three years previously the nine inhabitants of a small, new-build village go missing on Hallowe’en evening. No clues are left, the houses are left neat and tidy; the neighbours had been all together for an evening dinner. The official police investigation has ground to a halt. Then, missing persons investigator David Raker, on the request of Ross Perry the son of one of the missing couples, arrives to try and solve the mystery.

Parallel to this tale, we meet Joline Kader, a LA police detective whose story begins in the 1980s where she is making her way in a sexist working environment at the time of the LA ‘Night Stalker’, an horrific serial killer. She is kept well away from this case and is given less ‘important’ investigations; her work easily dismissed and disregarded by her superiors, to her frustration. Everything else pales in the excess and horror of the Night Stalker’s work…

This book became an absolutely obsessive read for me – a fascinating story and so chilling at times I could barely move while reading! The plot moves fast and eventually the link between the 2 investigators becomes clear. The story doesn’t end when you suspect it will either, more horror keeps coming! - There’s a truly chilling perp, and a totally compelling tale.

Tim Weaver has an incredible talent for drawing you in from the first page and refusing to let you go until you have turned over the last. This is the latest in the David Raker – Missing Persons series. It plays out nicely as a standalone but if you haven’t read any of the previous novels in the series I wouldn’t mind betting that you will seek them out to find out more about David Raker.

The nine residents of the very isolated Black Gale have gathered for a dinner party on Halloween, they are good friends as well as neighbours. The following morning they have vanished without trace. The police can find no explanation for the disappearances and the case has gone cold. Two years later, Raker’s attention is drawn to the case and he starts to dig into the lives of all the residents of Black Gale. Are they dead or alive? How can so many people disappear during the course of one evening?

In parallel to Raker’s investigations, we step back to 1985 where Jo Kader is the only female homicide detective working for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, where she has to battle discrimination and misogyny. It was at that time that The Night Stalker (a true case) was terrorising Los Angeles and all police resources were poured into tracking down this killer. Jo’s own investigation into a death in an acid bath and an apparent suicide is shut down by her superiors but she has never given up trying to resolve what she believes is not a closed case. How can incidents America in the 1980s be linked to disappearances in the UK so many years later? Well that’s the very clever bit and you’ll have to read the novel to find out.

This is an expertly told novel with an excellent premise and plenty of layers and twists. David Raker and Jo Kader are authentic and believable characters. The tension and pace of the narrative are skilfully handled and I thought the ending was excellent. I do like a bit of unfinished business and I wonder what book number eleven will bring.

This is a must for lovers of the crime and thriller genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Michael J Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.