Her brother is either lost or dead and Bek is forced to hide and scavenge for food on a deserted island whilst hiding from two men intent on killing her. An atmospheric thriller with a mother of two trying to figure what she's missing and who's trying to kill her while she fights to get back to her children.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. Never read anything by Tim before. The book wasn’t bad but it was too long for me. Found myself skimming more to finish it. Not sure I would read more by him.

A compelling and tense thriller.

This book is one of those rare creatures where the reader is kept guessing till the very end, but the end is still coherent.

The story is told from two perspectives, and in flashbacks, but unusually it works very well, as the characters are well drawn and believable.

Highly recommended for thriller fans everywhere.

Wow!
This was different, engaging and utterly thrilling. I was on the edge of my seat, reading this, and my heart was leaping out of my chest most of the time in fear. I thought it would take me ages to read this with it being a bit of a beast at 512 pages long. However, I literally devoured it. I just couldn’t put it down; I shirked all my responsibilities for a few days to get this read.
I know a lot of people will say that the various time jumps could be confusing. However, I really enjoyed them; the sections were concise and fast-paced. You were jumping all over the place, but at the same time, the reality was unfolding at the same pace. It did get confusing at some points as the book’s formatting hadn’t been completed (as I read it as an ARC), so there were times when a new paragraph hadn’t been started, yet we were in a different time and place. However, this didn’t ruin my reading experience, and I’m sure this will be sorted for the final proof.
The story was really different from anything I’ve read before, and I loved imagining Crow Island. I don’t think I could quite get my head around the size of it. It was only when Rebekah says she ran a loop of 26 miles that I really fathom its enormity.
There are small cliff hangers at the end of some sections, really making you rush through the book so you could be back in that time frame and learn more.
I had no idea why anything was happening or how all the different threads would come together. They do. Everything is tied up at the end, and even though it is quite overcomplicated, it does all settle down to a full conclusion. I was a little disappointed in the reasoning behind everything; I think I wanted something a little more sinister as compensation for what Rebekah had endured. However, I did enjoy the book as a whole. The characters are very well developed and interesting. Rebekah’s strength never ceased to amaze me.
I’ve only read one other book by Tim Weaver, book 10 in his David Raker series, and I’ve not had the chance yet to go back to the beginning. So I was really excited that he had brought out a stand-alone novel that I could request on NetGalley. It gave me the chance to experience this fantastic author once again. I highly recommend this book, and I really must find the time to start the Raker series from the beginning!

This was the first book from Tim Weaver I've read and definitely won't be the last!

The story kept me guessing and it was very well developed. However sometimes the descriptive parts were a bit too long and repetitive and it was an anticlimax for me. I loved the several twists, some were very unpredictable; the threads running through the story all find a clever and satisfactory connection at the end.

Overall I enjoyed this book, although it was not the page turner I thought it would be; however it is a book that I would definitely recommend.

I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGallery for this advance copy in exchange of an honest review.

This is my first book by Tim Weaver so I had no idea what to expect. What I discovered was a steady paced storyline that kept me interested but it wasn't one that had me furiously turning the pages to see what happened next. It has however, piqued my interest enough to search out the David Raker books.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Another riveting read from Tim, this time a stand alone, though David [Raker] does make a Hitchcock style appearance which I loved. Nice touch Tim.
Relatable characters and a plot that keeps you guessing all the way through. Love Rebekah though I’m sure I would not have been as resourceful and brave as her. The only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is ‘cos there were a lot of names and characters and I kept getting confused, that might be just me though lol.
This is Tim’s first stand alone and I really hope he does more even though I’m also a massive fan of his David Raker books too. Highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for my ARC in return for an honest review.

This is an outstanding book and absolutely superb reading.
The book I reviewed prior to this one was one of those rare ones that I had to give up on. It was so, so slow and nothing was really happening. So I approached my review of Missing Pieces with some trepidation.
Didn't last long though - I was hooked after the first few pages
Book 1 is predominantly a 21st century Robinson Crusoe story with flashback chapters on the build up to why Rebekah and Johnny are on Crow Island and what happened just before the first chapter in this book. There are also several shorter chapters about police activity on a related case and you know that this police involvement will/must increase in Book 2.
Hard to do justice in words to Book 2. You sort of know what happened on the island but you have no real idea why it happened. As 'why' is explained it reminded me of a Russian Doll where you take one apart to find another one (or ones) still to be opened until you reach the tiny (and in this case) very important doll.
As usual I thought I had the ending worked out and as usual I was wrong - following yet another red herring!
So, if you love a mystery whodunnit and why mixed with isolation and self preservation when don't miss this book. You will not be disappointed.

A new author for me and I really enjoyed it, very well written and all the characters were well developed. For me personally it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat and wasn't a page turner but a thoroughly good read which I can recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Books (Michael Joseph) for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

3.5 rounded up

Rebekah is trapped on Crow Island and is 101 miles from the US mainland. Much of the island was destroyed by Hurricane Gloria in 1987 and has few facilities. How and why is she trapped? Meanwhile, soon to be retired Detective Frank Travis is searching for missing artist Louise Mason. How do these seemingly disparate stories connect? The story is told in different timelines principally by Rebekah and Travis.

The start of the novel is exciting though puzzling which does pull you into the storyline. The mystery of how Rebekah is stuck on the island, her feelings, her sense of panic, growing despair, the claustrophobia of being trapped and abandoned is conveyed well. The island setting creates a good atmosphere reinforced by the winter conditions. There are moments of terror and tension as she struggles to survive and becomes increasingly paranoid by repeatedly going over her memories and recollections which generates suspicion of all those close to her. The plot is very twisty, the format releases ‘missing pieces’, little nuggets a bit at a time and some of those are jaw dropping, pulse pounding shocks and there are a number of intervals of tense excitement. The plot threads connect cleverly as the novel reaches the conclusion.

However, I feel the sections on the island become overlong, there’s too much detail so it becomes repetitious and thus the attention wanders and it loses impetus. The format, though it does have many positives, is extremely confusing to start with and there’s a lot of backtracking. Some characters feel stereotypical especially those on the wrong side of the law. The conclusion feels s bit of a stretch, it’s somewhat surreal and the emotion that is conveyed on the island has gone making it hard to buy into it.

Overall though, despite the negatives, this is a good, solid thriller which is well written and well worth reading.

With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for the arc for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s fast paced and written very well!

There were lots of clever twists and turns, some I saw coming.. others I most certainly did not!

My first book by this author and I’m keen to read more now.

📚BOOK REVIEW📚⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
#missingpieces by @timweaverbooks @michaeljbooks @penguinukbooks @netgalley

To me, anything this man write’s is golden!

I must say I was a little bit nervous with this one, as it was his first standalone and breaking away from my beloved #davidraker.

I needn’t have worried however as this was a thriller of a ride with all the hallmarks of the author. It was laced with twists and turns, red herrings and cliffhanger chapters that just kept you desperately racing through the pages.

The book was pacy with a story that was interesting and unique. The swapping of perspectives and short chapters really kept the tension up and the plot purposely confusing. The story was plotted perfectly to come to a satisfying conclusion at the end. I also loved the mixing of time frames and parts of police investigation - if I was being critical I would have liked a little bit more of this.

I really enjoyed all of the characters, especially Rebekah and Roxie and their story and police officer Travis. Both had creditable and interesting backstories and were relatable.

And the ending... if you know then you know! YES YES YES! I hope that means what I think it means!!!

My only criticism would be I found the beginning a little confusing... I’m not sure if this is the fault of a proof read or it was intentional but sometimes there were jumps in time frames or perspectives between sentences and I’d find myself going what... and then having to go back to work out what I had missed. I just felt it prevented me from getting into the story easily straight away but as the book continued this resolved. I also found in places the plot was a little long winded and drawn out, but could see the relevance of this later on as the story concluded.

I definitely recommend reading this book and all of the David Raker series! You won’t regret it!

➡️for synopsis

As this was an #arcread thanks to author #timweaver #michaeljbooks #penguinbooks and #netgalley for allowing me to read this one early!

Published: April 1st

-Emily

@the_book_girls_1

You know I thought I'd miss Raker, this being a standalone, but actually I didn't give him a second thought..

Missing Pieces may be a standalone from Tim Weaver but it includes his writing super power - that of bringing emotional resonance to the fictional vanished - however in this novel we are seeing the point of view of a missing person- the intrepid, resourceful and utterly lost Rebekah, a character you will take to your heart within the first few pages.

Stranded, no hope of escape, wondering what has brought her to this moment, Rebekah struggles for survival on a remote island. Tim Weaver brings the sense of isolation, the terror, the bleak landscape to vivid, stark life with his brilliant writing and the entire read is edge of the seat fantastic.

Meanwhile back in the world, a detective on the brink of retirement searches for another missing woman, he has 5 days and an instinctual determination to bring her home before he leaves- but as connections are made, the mystery deepens and time is running out...

Gosh I devoured this. Utterly addictive, moving between before and now, it is completely unpredictable throughout, you never know quite what will happen next. As all the missing pieces of the title start coming together to form a cohesive reality, the plotting is genius and the truth is stunning in its complexity.

Rebekah is the glue that holds the reader together, a layered, nuanced and completely realistic protagonist - the sheer joy of reading a woman in trouble who has no cliched issues and only realistically falters within her untenable position was the thing that puts missing pieces firmly in the running to be my book of the year. Yes even though its only January. Anyone who thinks men can't write women should read Tim Weaver.

For anyone new this is a good shoe in to going back and reading the Raker series. For fans it pitch perfect Weaver.

Absolutely highly recommended.

This is one of the most chilling books I’ve ever read. Chilling for different reasons. The thought of being left alone for months, like a female Robinson Crusoe, made my blood run cold.
There was so much in this story ; so many mysteries and dark evil characters. I found it impossible to sort out who was trustworthy and who Bek should be afraid of. Had her brother led her to the island to bring her harm, who were the two men who tried to kill her!?
Would she ever get off the island alive and home to her daughters?
This story really stirred up that primal fear of being alone. It’s an excellent story. I couldn’t read it quickly enough but was that because I wanted to get off that lonely island!? Read it and see what you think.

As a fan of the David Raker series a stand alone thriller seemed a winner. I’m glad I stuck with this as for the first third of the book I couldn’t work it out at all. A woman seemingly abandoned on an island alone after a murder attempt what’s going on? I don’t know but gradually a feasible tale emerges and the pace picks up to breakneck speed with lots of twists and turns. Worth persevering with and David Raker appears at the end which maybe promises more answers to the mystery in the next episode.

Rebekka is Injured and trapped on an island with no way to communicate with anyone and no hope of anyone coming anywhere near the island for months after it has closed for the season. She must survive the experience and the two killers that she knows will be the first to visit the island when the season while wondering who wants a mother with two young children dead and why.

An excellent thriller with many twists and turns and the mystery successfully revealed at the end.

I have loved reading the David Raker series so was looking forward to reading this standalone book by Tim Weaver and I wasn't disappointed .Though a little slow at the beginning the story soon gripped me with it's intriguing premise .Rebekka is trapped and alone on an island that has shut for winter and she is being hunted by two killers and she doesn't know why .All she wants to do is get back to her children .This story is so well written set in America you don't know what is going to happen next .Slowly the pieces all fall into place and the ending is very satisfactory .Many thanks to the Publisher the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review .

3.5 stars

Tim Weaver is an auto buy author for me,so it was interesting to get my hands on his stand alone book.
It's a great big jigsaw,why Rebekah is being hunted down,how the other storyline fits in,how she will survive on the island. Who is doing this?

There were times I lost the time frame completely,never quite working out how long she had been there,but that probably just me!

Slowly the pieces fall into place,and you're left with a satisfactory conclusion to it all.
I stayed up late to finish it.
As always I'd not have guessed the who,why or what

What could be worse than lockdown? Being injured, the only person on an island apart from someone who is trying to kill you. A very tense novel. Each time Rebekah achieves a small victory over her situation she encounters another problem. She worries bout her two daughters and why no one is searching for her and Johnny, her brother. She cannot make sense of why she is being targeted. I have read all the David Raker books and while this wasn't as outstanding as them it was still an excellent read.

I love Tim Weaver and have read his David Raker books several times. This book for me was a little confusing to start with and I kept having to go back and re read for the first several chapters thinking I had missed something !
Then all of a sudden the penny dropped.
Detective Travis who is nearing retirement has one last case which he has been unable to solve. That is the disappearance of Louise Mason, she vanished months ago and there is no trace or clues. Now it gets interesting !.
I did enjoy the book as a stand alone but I will look forward to more David Raker books hopefully.
Thanks to NetGalley for the read