Emotional journey- imagine losing a spouse to cancer, only for them to turn up 8 years later not dead and demanding to see you.
First one of the Raker series I've read, yes i was impressed and would like to read more of this series. The way the novel was crafted was with great skill, I just couldnt guess what was going to happen next or how the story was going to end. Would make a great psycho film, very imaginative and well plotted. Reminded me of James Patterson's books. 5 stars for the storyline.

This book was totally riveting. It had me hooked from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended. Five stars

Many thanks to Netgalley and Tim Weaver for the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

I would like to thank Penguin UK-Michael Joseph and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘You Were Gone’ written by Tim Weaver in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
A woman walks into a London police station and says she’s David Raker’s wife Derryn. The woman looks exactly like Derryn, she knows everything about David and their marriage, but David’s convinced she isn’t Derryn, and he should know as she died eight years ago and he buried her. David starts to doubt his own sanity but if he’s to be believed he must discover the identity of this woman.
‘You Were Gone’ is an exciting and tense crime thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. It’s been well-written with plenty of intrigue, suspense and excitement, and a chilling conclusion that exceeded my expectations. This is a novel I can definitely recommend.

I've never read Tim weaver before but the blurb and the cover really appealed to me so thought I'd give it ago, well I'm so glad I did, I read loads of these kind of books and was wondering how he can b different. From start to finish in takes you in so even when you not reading the book you still thinking you are. From field to Kent it keep you turning the pages so b prepared not to do anything but read .

I found this book totally engrossing, we’ll written and easy to read.
A woman walks into a police station and claims she is the wife of David Raker and has been missing for 8 years. The police contact David, who happens to be an ex journalist who now investigates missing persons. He is appalled to hear what this woman claims as his wife died 8 years previously of breast cancer.
The police do not seem to believe him and there are allegations about his mental health. As events seem to spiral out of his control he feels helpless but is determined to prove he is right.
For those who like this genre you’ll love this. Can’t wait for the next book in this series - there is a back story that is not concluded.

This is the author's ninth David Raker book and is the most personal and challenging! Raker has spent Christmas with his newly discovered daughter Annabel and her family in South Devon. He gets a phone call from the Police in a London station to ask him to attend as his wife has suddenly appeared, and she has been badly injured by him! Raker is devasted and shocked as he buried his wife Derryn eight years ago. He can't seem to prove that his wife is dead and then the woman claiming to be Derryn vanishes. The Police suspect Raker and he is still reeling from the shocking discovery. Is Raker losing his mind? How has his deceased wife returned? A very involved novel you have to read it to discover what is happening. Read also my review on the Euro-Crime blog.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.

Wow! This book is amazing; so full of twists and turns, I didn't know what was around the next corner. I felt like I was on a roller coaster!

When missing person investigator Raker's wife turns up at a police station asking for him, saying she has been missing for eight years, there's one problem... she's been dead for eight years. Before Raker knows it, he's the main suspect and finds out he's had blackouts and breakdowns, with a respected doctor treating him...but is this the truth?

When I requested this book from Netgalley, I didn't know it was the ninth book of a series, and hadn't read any of Weaver's other books. Because of this, I didn't know what Raker was like as a character, which meant when he was portrayed as 'mad' by other characters in the story, I felt like I should believe them!

The story was fast paced and drew me in. I loved trying to piece together the evidence and trying to work out exactly who was telling the truth.

I highly recommend this book!

I have not read a Tim Weaver book before but I definitely will be in the future. A gripping story with a storyline that can only hold your attention throughout. I found myself totally absorbed in the story from the beginning when Raker's wife, who has been dead for several years, suddenly presents herself at a police station. Who is telling the truth? Did she die or is Raker suffering mental health problems and in denial? I really wasn't sure throughout who was genuine and the twists - yes more than one! - at the end really took me by surprise. I had no idea that this book is part of a series and it didn't matter as it is a solid, stand alone story that I didn't want to put down

This is another instalment in the David Raker series by Tim Weaver. Usually I find that when you so many books into a series that the story can be a little fragmented, as it reminds you of previous books or alludes to things you should know but only if you ve read the other books. I didn’t realise You Were Gone was part of a series until I read the acknowledgments at the end, which shows how good the writing is.
This instalment is around Raker personal life. He lost his wife 8 years ago to cancer but now theres someone who looks like her, acts like her, and tells the police that hes her husband. The local specialist confirms he has a history of blacking out and memory loss, which lead Raker to question his sanity. Is she really dead, or is he crazy?
I didn’t find the book fast paced, or a gripping page turner. It was slow and steady in a good way. Looking back I don’t think there were any clues to the ending, no obvious villain in the ‘whodunit’ and because it’s a series the conclusion isn’t complete., there’s definitely a lot more to come.

I love books about imposters especially if it involves someone seemingly coming back from the dead. Think Martin Guerre, the story of a French peasant who assumes a dead man's identity or Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr Ripley or (my favourite) The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart. I loved all of these stories so when I was offered this to review I was delighted. David Raker is a private investigator. His wife died of cancer 8 years ago so when he receives a phone call from the police saying his wife has appeared at the local station in a dishevelled state, he is understandably perplexed. I enjoyed the first few pages of the book but very soon I became exasperated with it. I do understand that you have to suspend disbelief with thrillers but this one is just too incredible for me. I can't say too much without using spoilers but as soon as the police started to doubt Raker's word that his wife was dead I was lost. It is completely beyond belief that they would not check with Registrars, Funeral Directors, Crematoria etc if they really doubted that someone was dead. And believe me this was the least of this book's problems. The plot is not at all believable and at almost 500 pages the book could do with a good edit. There is far too much repetition and this should have been dealt with. I hadn't read any of the author's books before this one and I see from some comments that from other reviewers that they believe this one is comparatively weak in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. I'm sorry I couldn't be more positive about the book.

Whilst ‘You Were Gone’ can be read as a standalone, the sheer horror of what David Raker has to go through in this story is better appreciated if the reader is familiar with his backstory, not least his unwavering love for his dead wife, Derryn, an emotion which is present in all of Tim Weaver’s previous Raker novels.
The opening chapter is certainly attention grabbing. It seems that Derryn has walked into a police station asking for help in finding her husband, David, even though the latter believes that she has been dead for eight years having devotedly nursed her through the final stages of cancer, buried her and mourned her. Early in the novel, whilst Raker can see a very clear physical likeness between the mystery woman and Derryn, he does wonder if he is entirely sane but mostly manages to dismiss his doubts even though he is put in some very testing situations.
After a great deal of behind-the-scenes work, as usual, Raker is several steps ahead of the police who are watching him carefully, suspicious that he might have kept Derryn prisoner somewhere for many years. This line of enquiry is not really very convincing though as there is little motivation unless one believes the premise that Raker is mentally ill – and, were that the case, could he actually have behaved as he does in previous novels?
Whilst the ending satisfies the reader in that all loose ends are tied up and we are left with a ‘teaser’ which will no doubt be followed up in the next novel, there are moments in ‘You Were Gone’ when the pace feels a bit sluggish – some unnecessary details could have been better edited. That said, there are also elements of the storyline that could have done with further exploration, in particular the psychological motivation of some of the central characters.
Tim Weaver has created a very likeable and interesting central character but it seems that the more recent stories in this series have become a little more plot-focused at the expense of Raker’s personal development. A pity!
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

Weaver is back on form in the 9th David Raker novel. Raker investigates missing persons and annoys the police because he solves crimes and makes them look stupid. He’s done this since his wife died of cancer but he’s finally coming to terms with her death and beginning to enjoy life again. Then he gets a phone call to say his wife has turned up at a police station and is claiming he’s held her captive for years. She looks like his wife. She knows things about him his wife knew. She claims he was hospitalised for mental problems including denying her existence. The hospital backs her up and then she disappears, leaving him as number one suspect and even worse someone has been in his house and her death certificate has disappeared. Obviously he can’t trust the police to help him here so he’s going to have to rely on himself to ge him out of this mess. The only trouble is, this is seriously messing with his mind and he’s no longer sure what the truth is. Fast-paced thriller with some real lump in the throat moments as Weaver describes the range of emotions he goes through on seeing a woman who looks so much like his beloved wife.

Another gripping Tim Weaver of whom I am a big fan. This book conveyed a real sense of turmoil and raking up of feelings for his wife. It could really make you feel you had indeed gone mad! It was backed up by thorough research of mental illness. Thank you NetGalley.

This is the first David Raker book that I've read and I absolutely loved it.

I am off to go back and read them all now.

David Raker is a PI for missing persons and he gets a call to say that his wife whom he buried 8 years ago has turned up at a police station!

Wow what a fast paced read with loads of twists and turns. I loved the characters and the story line was really engaging. I can't wait to read the rest of the series

Another good tale in the David Raker series this time trying to find himself rather than a missing person. A clever convoluted plot makes one suspicious of our hero to start with and then gradually the truth outs in a welter of violence. The usual excellent characterisations drive it along at breakneck speed making for a recommended read!

You Were Gone is a brilliantly constructed psychological thriller. A woman walks into a police station claiming to be the wife of Private investigator David Raker. She is able to give full details of their marriage and private facts that only his wife would know, the problem with this is that Davids wife died of cancer 8 years previously. When the police question David they appear suspicious of him rather than this so called wife. Finding this unbelievable and infuriating David uses his investigative skills to prove this woman is lying, unfortunately her story is so well constructed he starts to doubt himself, particularly when a Psychiatrist says he has treated David in the past for blackouts, where he looses time and a grasp of events.
As this story unfolds with its twists and turns you wonder who is telling the truth and having not read previous books in the David Raker series (which I will rectify!) I came with no background knowledge.
Such a good read, thoroughly enjoyable, keeps you guessing and on tenterhooks, a great ending. What more could you wish for!
My thanks to net galley and publisher for opportunity to review this book honestly

Oh my word! What a book. It had me on the edge of my seat, gnawing my fingernails, while jumping at the slightest noise. This is the first book I have read by Tim Weaver. Tim, where have you been all my life? The fact that I woke at 3am with the single aim of finishing this novel might tell you how good I thought it was. It is very clever, extremely sinister and just a damn fine read.

David Raker is a private investigator who specialises in finding missing people. His wife died eight years ago and he still mourns her. Unexpectedly he receives a phone call from a police officer who tells him a woman has walked into Charing Cross Police Station and claims to be his wife. Is she telling the truth? Is he suffering some kind of mental illness or delusion? That you will have to find out for yourself by reading this extraordinary book.

This is my book of 2018 so far. Heart stopping.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

Absolutely love Tim weaver books and wasn't disappointed..highly recomnend

David Raker buried his wife who died from breast cancer 8 years ago. Derryn Raker claims she did not die and David has mental problems for which he was hospitalised. He claims she is lying, she claims he is lying. I found myself believing each of them in parts as the story went on. Is David delusional? Is Derryn an imposter?
Brilliant story with great characters, Tim Weaver knows how to rack up the tension with the who, why and how.
You will be hooked, a real page turner.

Wow ! I couldn’t believe that I was being offered an ARC of “You Were Gone“, the latest David Raker book by Tim Weaver. Huge thanks to Netgalley.. I’ve mentioned this so that it’s understood that I’m very biased. Ever since I was sent a paperback version of his third book and was blown away and quickly caught up with the previous editions, I haven’t missed one . Tim Weaver has to be one of the best British thriller writers around today. But his latest offering turned out to be, for me, a huge disappointment.

We have the same hero, David Raker, a former journalist, who now specialises in finding missing people. Like all the best protagonists he has a messy and complicated back story that we learn about in previous novels although this book will stand alone. Raker’s beloved wife, Derryn, died eight years ago of cancer and he has been working, often dangerous missing person cases ever since, in an attempt to come to terms with her loss. Suddenly he gets a call from the police to say that a woman has walked into the station claiming to be his wife.. From then on the story just gets dafter and dafter. There is a fine line running through it that says that there’s an outside chance that these events or at least some of them could have happened. But it’s highly unlikely. I ‘m just thankful that I was reading a kindle version or I would probably have started scribbling angry notes in red all over a paper edition, something I would normally regard as sacrilege, Time and again improbable things happen that would constitute spoilers if I started listing them. But the worst has to be the savvy, astute, experienced David Raker agreeing to meet alone, an unknown psychiatric consultant, at night, in his hospital, when staff will have gone home, because this doctor is claiming that he has treated Raker as an in patient at his hospital for a serious condition. He is now offering to show him his patient record if he will come in. Well surprise, surprise ! Raker is captured. Take that episode out and the story would have a massive gapping hole in it. Tim Weaver says that he‘s been playing with Raker‘s mind. He‘s been playing with that of his readers too. I‘m angry that an author that I respected was expecting his readers to believe this rubbish. If I weren‘t reading it for review I would probably have given it up after checking the end to see what it was all supposed to be about..

The page or so in italics that appears every so often and runs through the book is a clever device that I appreciate. The author‘s writing is up to it‘s usual high standard with some wonderful descriptive passages that one has come to expect from him. A lesser writer couldn‘t have carried his reader into the heart of the action every time.. At the end the scene appears to be set for the next novel.. Kennedy, an ex policeman and long time friend of Rankers whom he has allowed to live in his parents old bungalow in hiding, says that he has found something that is really big. Let‘s hope it‘s a bit saner than this story. Mr Weaver really has gone too far this time..