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David Raker #2
The Dead Tracks
"The Dead Tracks" is the second in the David Raker series from Tim Weaver.
A serial killer more terrifying than you could ever imagine...
Seventeen-year-old Megan Carver was an unlikely runaway. A straight - a student from a happy home, she studied hard and rarely got into trouble. Six months on, she's never been found.
Missing persons investigator David Raker knows what it's like to grieve. He knows the shadowy world of the lost too. So, when he's hired by Megan's parents to find out what happened, he recognizes their pain - but knows that the darkest secrets can be buried deep. And Megan's secrets could cost him his life.
Because as Raker investigates her disappearance, he realizes everything is a lie. People close to her are dead. Others are too terrified to talk. And soon the conspiracy of silence leads Raker towards a forest on the edge of the city. A place with a horrifying history - which was once the hunting ground for a brutal, twisted serial killer. A place known as the Dead Tracks...
A serial killer more terrifying than you could ever imagine...
Seventeen-year-old Megan Carver was an unlikely runaway. A straight - a student from a happy home, she studied hard and rarely got into trouble. Six months on, she's never been found.
Missing persons investigator David Raker knows what it's like to grieve. He knows the shadowy world of the lost too. So, when he's hired by Megan's parents to find out what happened, he recognizes their pain - but knows that the darkest secrets can be buried deep. And Megan's secrets could cost him his life.
Because as Raker investigates her disappearance, he realizes everything is a lie. People close to her are dead. Others are too terrified to talk. And soon the conspiracy of silence leads Raker towards a forest on the edge of the city. A place with a horrifying history - which was once the hunting ground for a brutal, twisted serial killer. A place known as the Dead Tracks...
550 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
207 people are currently reading
2416 people want to read
About the author
Tim Weaver
56 books1,602 followersTim Weaver is the Sunday Times Top 3 bestselling author of the David Raker missing persons series, the standalone thriller, Missing Pieces, and the novella collection, The Shadow at the Door. His novels have been selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club four times, and his work has been nominated for a National Book Award and the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger. He is currently developing an original TV drama with the team behind Line of Duty. He lives near Bath in the UK. Find out more about Tim and his writing at www.timweaverbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 340 reviews
August 3, 2019
This is the 2nd book in the David Raker series by author Tim Weaver. Normally I read series in order but with this one for some reason I have had a scatter gun approach. Generally this hasn't been a problem but I would recommend reading this book before the 3rd in the series 'Vanished'.
Lead character David Raker specialises in finding missing people and in this book is asked to track down Megan, a young girl who has gone missing and police enquiries appear to have hit a brick wall. David is approached by her parents to find her but David finds himself involved with an historical serial killer, a police cover up and more missing girls.
This is an excellent series that I feel is a little bit different to other thrillers. The books are well written and in David Raker we have an excellent character with the usual personal issues and an eerie skill of uncovering the truth.
Great series that I am thoroughly enjoying and have all the other books ready to read.
Lead character David Raker specialises in finding missing people and in this book is asked to track down Megan, a young girl who has gone missing and police enquiries appear to have hit a brick wall. David is approached by her parents to find her but David finds himself involved with an historical serial killer, a police cover up and more missing girls.
This is an excellent series that I feel is a little bit different to other thrillers. The books are well written and in David Raker we have an excellent character with the usual personal issues and an eerie skill of uncovering the truth.
Great series that I am thoroughly enjoying and have all the other books ready to read.
December 6, 2024
“The Dead Tracks” (David Racker #2), by Tim Weaver
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Another brilliantly written book by Tim Weaver.
I do love his writing and his main character.
The storyline was complexed, but well conceived, but here, once again he goes over the top, especially with the gory details, hence my ratings.
I listened to the audiobook while simultaneously reading the ebook. This time, unlikely the first book, both platforms were identical, but the audiobook was from 11 CDs, and although the narration was excellent, the sound quality was not.
e-book (Kobo): 400 pages (default), 127k words (this book is divided into 5 parts and a total of 77 chapters)
audiobook narrated by Joe Coen: 13 hours (normal speed), unabridged
PS. I recently discovered this author and this was my second book, and although I have rated each with a 3.5 out of 5 stars, I’m looking forward to reading the next installment, “Vanished”.
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Another brilliantly written book by Tim Weaver.
I do love his writing and his main character.
The storyline was complexed, but well conceived, but here, once again he goes over the top, especially with the gory details, hence my ratings.
I listened to the audiobook while simultaneously reading the ebook. This time, unlikely the first book, both platforms were identical, but the audiobook was from 11 CDs, and although the narration was excellent, the sound quality was not.
e-book (Kobo): 400 pages (default), 127k words (this book is divided into 5 parts and a total of 77 chapters)
audiobook narrated by Joe Coen: 13 hours (normal speed), unabridged
PS. I recently discovered this author and this was my second book, and although I have rated each with a 3.5 out of 5 stars, I’m looking forward to reading the next installment, “Vanished”.
October 22, 2024
This 14.5-hour audiobook was waaaaaay too long.
Even though "The Dead Tracks" is the second book in Tim Weaver's David Raker series, it is also a standalone read.
The book's "What Happened to Missing Seventeen-year-old Megan Carver?" was intriguing.
Was she abducted or did she run away?
The first half was strong but as the book progressed, I lost interest and fast-forwarded to the book's final chapters.
I listened to the audiobook read by Michael Healy, who did an outstanding job with the narration.
November 6, 2015
The Dead Tracks is the second book in the amazing David Raker series. This book is a quite important book if you’re looking to read the whole series as it introduces a number of characters who make reappearances throughout the series, giving you information to their backstory along with showing you how they came to interact with David. Whilst I would not say it is necessary to have read the prior books in this series – you can read them as standalone books if you want to – I really would recommend working your way through the books as there is an interesting continuous story throughout.
The Dead Tracks starts off slower than I would have liked, but once the ball gets rolling it is nonstop action throughout as David uncovers the many different layers to his most recent case. Whilst it is not quite as good as the first book, in my opinion, it does contain the many good twists necessary to keep an individual gripped throughout as David tries to find out the truth behind the missing teenage girl he has been hired to find.
Whilst not my favourite in the series it was still a good read and I would most certainly recommend the David Raker novels to others.
The Dead Tracks starts off slower than I would have liked, but once the ball gets rolling it is nonstop action throughout as David uncovers the many different layers to his most recent case. Whilst it is not quite as good as the first book, in my opinion, it does contain the many good twists necessary to keep an individual gripped throughout as David tries to find out the truth behind the missing teenage girl he has been hired to find.
Whilst not my favourite in the series it was still a good read and I would most certainly recommend the David Raker novels to others.
September 25, 2019
EXCERPT: We met in a restaurant on the Thames called Boneacres. They were sitting in a booth at the back. Rain was running down the windows and both of them were staring out at a queue of people waiting in line for the Eye. The woman looked up first. Caroline Carver. She'd been crying. The whites of her eyes were stained red, and some of her makeup had run. She was slim and well dressed, in her mid-forties, but didn't wear it well: there were lines in her face - thick and dark like oil paint - that looked as if they'd been carved with a scalpel, and though she smiled as I approached, it wasn't warm. She'd been past warm. Most of the parents I dealt with were like that. The longer their kids were missing, the colder their lives became.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Seventeen-year-old Megan Carver was an unlikely runaway. A straight - A student from a happy home, she studied hard and rarely got into trouble. Six months on, she's never been found. Missing persons investigator David Raker knows what it's like to grieve. He knows the shadowy world of the lost too. So, when he's hired by Megan's parents to find out what happened, he recognizes their pain - but knows that the darkest secrets can be buried deep. And Megan's secrets could cost him his life. Because as Raker investigates her disappearance, he realizes everything is a lie. People close to her are dead. Others are too terrified to talk. And soon the conspiracy of silence leads Raker towards a forest on the edge of the city. A place with a horrifying history - which was once the hunting ground for a brutal, twisted serial killer. A place known as the Dead Tracks...
MY THOUGHTS: I was expecting great things from this book. I didn't get them. That may be because I was expecting great things. These days I find that my best reads are the ones that sneak up on me quietly, with little fanfare.
Then again, this may be one of those books that is better read than listened to. Some are.
But whatever the reason, I found it increasingly difficult to maintain any constant level of interest. I struggled to finish, and once I had, felt relieved to have done so.
Overall, I thought it was all a bit OTT, and I failed totally to connect with the main character. I could not follow his thought processes, could not understand why he made the decisions he did.
😔😔
THE AUTHOR: Tim Weaver is the bestselling author of the David Raker missing persons series. His fourth novel, Never Coming Back, was selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club, and his work has been nominated for a National Book Award. A former journalist and magazine editor, he lives near Bath with his wife and daughter.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of The Dead Tracks written and narrated by Tim Weaver, also narrated by Joe Coen and Hannah Arterton, and published by Penguin Books, via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Seventeen-year-old Megan Carver was an unlikely runaway. A straight - A student from a happy home, she studied hard and rarely got into trouble. Six months on, she's never been found. Missing persons investigator David Raker knows what it's like to grieve. He knows the shadowy world of the lost too. So, when he's hired by Megan's parents to find out what happened, he recognizes their pain - but knows that the darkest secrets can be buried deep. And Megan's secrets could cost him his life. Because as Raker investigates her disappearance, he realizes everything is a lie. People close to her are dead. Others are too terrified to talk. And soon the conspiracy of silence leads Raker towards a forest on the edge of the city. A place with a horrifying history - which was once the hunting ground for a brutal, twisted serial killer. A place known as the Dead Tracks...
MY THOUGHTS: I was expecting great things from this book. I didn't get them. That may be because I was expecting great things. These days I find that my best reads are the ones that sneak up on me quietly, with little fanfare.
Then again, this may be one of those books that is better read than listened to. Some are.
But whatever the reason, I found it increasingly difficult to maintain any constant level of interest. I struggled to finish, and once I had, felt relieved to have done so.
Overall, I thought it was all a bit OTT, and I failed totally to connect with the main character. I could not follow his thought processes, could not understand why he made the decisions he did.
😔😔
THE AUTHOR: Tim Weaver is the bestselling author of the David Raker missing persons series. His fourth novel, Never Coming Back, was selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club, and his work has been nominated for a National Book Award. A former journalist and magazine editor, he lives near Bath with his wife and daughter.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of The Dead Tracks written and narrated by Tim Weaver, also narrated by Joe Coen and Hannah Arterton, and published by Penguin Books, via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
August 17, 2023
That was so good! Dark, well paced, gruesome, simply brilliant.
David Raker is fast becoming a favourite of mine. A complex man with a heartbreaking past, flawed yet likeable and truly fascinating.
I cannot wait to read the next instalment in that series. Highly recommmended!
David Raker is fast becoming a favourite of mine. A complex man with a heartbreaking past, flawed yet likeable and truly fascinating.
I cannot wait to read the next instalment in that series. Highly recommmended!
October 20, 2020
4,5 / 5
June 27, 2013
So, having loved “Chasing the Dead” the first in the David Raker series from Tim Weaver I started in on The Dead Tracks with a great sense of anticipation. I wasnt even anywhere near that place called disappointed. Weaver is actually an excellent surname for this particular author – he weaves an intricate and twisted tale that swallows you up until it finally spits you out satisfied and wanting more.
In this instalment, David is asked to track down a young girl called Megan..the police enquiry into her disappearance has stalled and her parents are desperate. As he investigates he is drawn into a dark place and finds himself involved with a historical serial killer, a police cover up and more missing girls – and finally he finds himself heading for the dead tracks…..
David Raker really is a superb creation. Suffering after the loss of his wife, he is bound and determined that no-one should go through that and it drives him determinedly on towards his goal despite personal danger and heartache. The story itself is terrific – it flows beautifully with such page turning influence that you will find yourself reading into the early hours simply to discover the next clue…3AM today found me finishing this tale, bleary eyed but happy. Chasing the Dead had a wonderful solution – The Dead Tracks manages to pull this off again but in a very different way. I wasnt so much stunned by the ending as I was intrigued by one of the main characters and their psychology..I kind of hope we might find out more about them in future novels but I have a feeling that particular story is done.
Tim Weaver is fast heading up the list of my favourite must read authors – I am lucky enough to still have “Vanished” on my kindle, sadly sadly it will have to wait a little while due to my backlog although my backlog may well get more backlogged if I find I can’t wait…. and later this year “Never Coming Back” which is now very high on my list of priorities. You can find a review of “Chasing the Dead” in the Crime page of my website and I highly recommend you start there and don’t stop. Happy Reading folks!
In this instalment, David is asked to track down a young girl called Megan..the police enquiry into her disappearance has stalled and her parents are desperate. As he investigates he is drawn into a dark place and finds himself involved with a historical serial killer, a police cover up and more missing girls – and finally he finds himself heading for the dead tracks…..
David Raker really is a superb creation. Suffering after the loss of his wife, he is bound and determined that no-one should go through that and it drives him determinedly on towards his goal despite personal danger and heartache. The story itself is terrific – it flows beautifully with such page turning influence that you will find yourself reading into the early hours simply to discover the next clue…3AM today found me finishing this tale, bleary eyed but happy. Chasing the Dead had a wonderful solution – The Dead Tracks manages to pull this off again but in a very different way. I wasnt so much stunned by the ending as I was intrigued by one of the main characters and their psychology..I kind of hope we might find out more about them in future novels but I have a feeling that particular story is done.
Tim Weaver is fast heading up the list of my favourite must read authors – I am lucky enough to still have “Vanished” on my kindle, sadly sadly it will have to wait a little while due to my backlog although my backlog may well get more backlogged if I find I can’t wait…. and later this year “Never Coming Back” which is now very high on my list of priorities. You can find a review of “Chasing the Dead” in the Crime page of my website and I highly recommend you start there and don’t stop. Happy Reading folks!
May 5, 2015
Another awesome read. Tim Weaver is one to watch when it comes to hard, gritty thrillers.
As much as I dislike reading violence, I can't put these books down. They're brutal and shocking and even as I clench my fists and curl my toes and tense every muscle as I read I can't stop turning the pages. My heart races as I read faster and faster and there's always a twist somewhere in there that shocks me more than anything.
You very slowly learn more about David Raker while you read these books. I'd definitely suggest reading them in order to get the full bearing of this character. Raker's life itself is a pretty harrowing story. His losses, what's driven him to finding missing persons, it's all another addictive thread to these stories which reveal another side of the character.
As much as I dislike reading violence, I can't put these books down. They're brutal and shocking and even as I clench my fists and curl my toes and tense every muscle as I read I can't stop turning the pages. My heart races as I read faster and faster and there's always a twist somewhere in there that shocks me more than anything.
You very slowly learn more about David Raker while you read these books. I'd definitely suggest reading them in order to get the full bearing of this character. Raker's life itself is a pretty harrowing story. His losses, what's driven him to finding missing persons, it's all another addictive thread to these stories which reveal another side of the character.
May 29, 2022
Μια οικογένεια αναθέτει στον ερευνητή εξαφανισμένων προσώπων Ντέιβιντ Ρέικερ να βρει την κόρη τους, ένα δεκαεφτάχρονο κορίτσι χωρίς προσωπικά ή οικογενειακά προβλήματα. Γιατί η αστυνομία δεν προχωράει την υπόθεση; Με τι συνδέεται η εξαφάνιση της Μέγκαν Κάρβερ; Ταυτόχρονα, η Τζιλ Γουάιτ αποκαλύπτει στον Ρέικερ πως ο αστυνομικός σύζυγός της σκοτώθηκε στην προσπάθεια εντοπισμού ενός Ρώσου αρχιμαφιόζου, κάτι που του κινεί την περιέργεια, μόνο και μόνο για να διαπιστώσει πως τα βήματα των δύο διαφορετικών αυτών υποθέσεων συμπίπτουν! Τι σχέση έχουν όλα αυτά με τον Μίλτον Σάικς, κατά συρροή δολοφόνο του προηγούμενου αιώνα; Τι συμβαίνει στις Ράγες των Νεκρών, βαθιά μέσα στο δάσος του Χαρκ’ς Χιλ; Εκεί έθαψε τα θύματά του ο Σάικς ή συμβαίνει κάτι άλλο που γεννάει την ανατριχίλα που νιώθει κάποιος αν πάει εκεί;
Η δεύτερη υπόθεση του Ντέιβιντ Ρέικερ ακολουθεί τα κλασικά βήματα επίλυσης μιας εξαφάνισης και κατά την πορεία των ερευνών προκύπτουν η προβληματική προσωπικότητα ενός μέλους του ρωσικού υποκόσμου αλλά και ένας κατά συρροή δολοφό��ος που έδρασε στις αρχές του 20ού αιώνα. Όλα αυτά παρατίθενται με πολλές λεπτομέρειες γύρω από τα σημεία δράσης της ιστορίας, άφθονες περιγραφές ανθρώπων και τόπων και ψυχογραφήματα που, παρά τον όγκο τους, είναι αναπόσπαστο κομμάτι της αφήγησης και της ατμόσφαιρας που αναδύεται από τις εξελίξεις. Μου άρεσε πολύ η ιδέα και ο χειρισμός της πλοκής, πώς εμπλουτίστηκε, πώς κορυφώθηκε, πώς επιλύθηκε και οι συνέπειες που προέκυψαν από όλα αυτά, με μια τεχνική που μόνο στον Tim Weaver έχω συναντήσει. Μέχρι να καταλάβω πώς συνδέονται τα κομμάτια του παζλ, μέχρι να γνωρίσω τους νέους χαρακτήρες, μέχρι να φτάσω στο σημείο τομής ξεδιπλώθηκε μπροστά μου ένα κείμενο γεμάτο ενδιαφέροντες δισυπόστατους πρωταγωνιστές και κομπάρσους κι ένας κόσμος γεμάτος μυστικά και ψέματα, τα οποία ο ντετέκτιβ Ρέικερ αγωνίζεται να ξεδιαλύνει ώστε να ενώσει τα κομμάτια του παζλ και ταυτόχρονα να παραμείνει ακέραιος και ηθικός, παρά το βάρος που κουβαλάει.
Η πρωτοπρόσωπη αφήγηση μας βοηθάει να ζήσουμε τα γεγονότα από κοντά και ταυτόχρονα να κατανοήσουμε τη σύνθετη προσωπικότητα του πρωταγωνιστή. Ο Ρέικερ δεν έχει ξεπεράσει τον θάνατο της συζύγου του, Ντέριν, από καρκίνο μέσα σε πολύ λίγο διάστημα. Η ιστορία εκτυλίσσεται περίπου έναν χρόνο από την προηγούμενη υπόθεση, όπου ο Ρέικερ βρέθηκε πολύ κοντά στον θάνατο κι αυτήν τη φορά τον βλέπουμε να κάνει τα πρώτα του δειλά βήματα προς την Ελίζαμπεθ Φίνι, γειτόνισσα και δικηγόρο, που τον βοήθησε στην πρώτη υπόθεση. Αμφιβολίες, φόβοι κι ενοχή του προκαλούν προβλήματα, με αποτέλεσμα η Λίζι να ξεσπάσει κι εγώ να καταλάβω τα βαθύτερα κίνητρα της επαγγελματικής μεταστροφής του Ρέικερ: «-Βρίσκεις προβληματικούς ανθρώπους, Ντέιβιντ. Βάζεις τον εαυτό σου σε κίνδυνο, το σώμα σου σε κίνδυνο, κι ελπίζεις ότι θα καταφέρεις, με κάποιον τρόπο, να βγεις από την άλλη πλευρά ζωντανός… Αυτό που με νοιάζει είναι γιατί το κάνεις» και η έκρηξή της μεγαλώνει: «Δεν έχεις τον μηχανισμό που σου λέει «φτάνει». Δεν ξέρεις πότε να σταματήσεις. Προσπαθείς να βουλώσεις τρύπες στον κόσμο επειδή ξέρεις πώς είναι να χάνεις κάποιον και νομίζεις ότι είναι δουλειά σου να εμποδίσεις οποιονδήποτε άλλο να υποφέρει κατ’ αυτό τον τρόπο. Το κάνεις για εκείνη, Ντέιβιντ. Βουλώνεις την τρύπα που άφησε πίσω της σηκώνοντας τον πόνο άλλων ανθρώπων» (σελ. 388-389). Θα συνέλθει ο Ρέικερ από αυτήν την απώλεια; Θα τον αφήσουν τα γεγονότα να βρει χρόνο για τον εαυτό του και να διαπιστώσει πως πρέπει να προχωρήσει μπροστά;
Ταυτόχρονα, ο ντετέκτιβ συμμετέχει σε μια συμβουλευτική-υποστηρικτική ομάδα, όπου γνωρίζει την Τζιλ Γουάιτ, χήρα αστυνομικού που σκοτώθηκε στο καθήκον ως μέλος ειδικής ομάδας που ερευνούσε το ρωσικό οργανωμένο έγκλημα. Η ομάδα του Γουάιτ είχε σύνδεση με τη SOCA, την Υπηρεσία Δίωξης του Σοβαρού Οργανωμένου Εγκλήματος, τμήμα της οποίας είναι η NCIS, η Εθνική Υπηρεσία Εγκληματολογικών Πληροφοριών. Ο Επιθεωρητής Φρανκ Γουάιτ είχε πλησιάσει επικίνδυνα κοντά σ’ ένα μεγάλο κεφάλι ρωσικής συμμορίας, τον Ακίμ Γκόμπουλιεφ ή Φάντασμα, τον πλέον καταζητούμενο εγκληματία της SOCA. Ποιος σκότωσε λοιπόν τον Φρανκ και με ποια ταυτότητα βρίσκεται στην Αγγλία ο Γκόμπουλιεφ; Τα ερωτήματα ιντριγκάρουν τον Ρέικερ που βάζει κι άλλους μπελάδες στο κεφάλι του την ώρα που μπαίνει στο στόχαστρο και της αστυνομίας! Οι αρχιεπιθεωρητές Τζέιμι Χαρτ και Φίλιπς έχουν τους λόγους τους που δεν προχώρησαν την υπόθεση της Μέγκαν Κάρβερ κι όταν ο Ρέικερ παγιδεύεται για κάτι που δεν έκανε με μεγάλη χαρά τον συλλαμβάνουν, μόνο και μόνο για να αρχίσει ένα παιχνίδι γάτας και ποντικιού, μέχρι να μάθουν και οι δύο πλευρές τι ξέρουν ήδη, τι ψάχνουν, τι δεν πρέπει να βγει στο φως και για ποιους λόγους κι όλα αυτά όσο ο αρχιφύλακας Κολμ Χίλι, του οποίου η κόρη, Λιάν, εξαφανίστηκε τρεις μήνες πριν, κάνει τις δικές του παράλληλες έρευνες διψώντας για εκδίκηση.
Ξέροντας ο συγγραφέας πως 200.000 άνθρωποι εξαφανίζονται κάθε χρόνο στο Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο, 30.000 εκ των οποίων μόνο στο Λονδίνο, στήνει μια δυνατή, ανατρεπτική, πολυεπίπεδη υπόθεση εξαφάνισης με πολλά παρακλάδια, όπου η Μέγκαν Κάρβερ είναι μία κλωστή μόνο από τις χιλιάδες που συνθέτουν ένα δύσκολο και συναρπαστικό καμβά ρωσικής μαφίας, πλαστικής χειρουργικής, λαθρεμπορίας και κακοποίησης, όπου το τέλος θα ανατρέψει τις ισορροπίες, θα φέρει τους ήρωες αντιμέτωπους με σημαντικά διλήμματα και θα τους στιγματίσει για πάντα αν τα πράγματα πάνε κατ’ ευχήν. Η διεισδυτική ματιά, ο άψογος χειρισμός της πλοκής, η κεντρική ιδέα και πώς αυτή εμπλουτίζεται με σημαντικές περιφερειακές δράσεις που όμως κουμπώνουν απόλυτα σε αυτήν και η ένταση της αγωνίας που αναδύεται ανάμεσα στις γραμμές είναι μερικά μόνο από τα θετικά χαρακτηριστικά του βιβλίου που με κράτησαν σε εγρήγορση μέχρι να το τελειώσω.
Πρώτη δημοσίευση στο site μου: www.vivliokritikes.com/%cf%83%cf%84%c...
Η δεύτερη υπόθεση του Ντέιβιντ Ρέικερ ακολουθεί τα κλασικά βήματα επίλυσης μιας εξαφάνισης και κατά την πορεία των ερευνών προκύπτουν η προβληματική προσωπικότητα ενός μέλους του ρωσικού υποκόσμου αλλά και ένας κατά συρροή δολοφό��ος που έδρασε στις αρχές του 20ού αιώνα. Όλα αυτά παρατίθενται με πολλές λεπτομέρειες γύρω από τα σημεία δράσης της ιστορίας, άφθονες περιγραφές ανθρώπων και τόπων και ψυχογραφήματα που, παρά τον όγκο τους, είναι αναπόσπαστο κομμάτι της αφήγησης και της ατμόσφαιρας που αναδύεται από τις εξελίξεις. Μου άρεσε πολύ η ιδέα και ο χειρισμός της πλοκής, πώς εμπλουτίστηκε, πώς κορυφώθηκε, πώς επιλύθηκε και οι συνέπειες που προέκυψαν από όλα αυτά, με μια τεχνική που μόνο στον Tim Weaver έχω συναντήσει. Μέχρι να καταλάβω πώς συνδέονται τα κομμάτια του παζλ, μέχρι να γνωρίσω τους νέους χαρακτήρες, μέχρι να φτάσω στο σημείο τομής ξεδιπλώθηκε μπροστά μου ένα κείμενο γεμάτο ενδιαφέροντες δισυπόστατους πρωταγωνιστές και κομπάρσους κι ένας κόσμος γεμάτος μυστικά και ψέματα, τα οποία ο ντετέκτιβ Ρέικερ αγωνίζεται να ξεδιαλύνει ώστε να ενώσει τα κομμάτια του παζλ και ταυτόχρονα να παραμείνει ακέραιος και ηθικός, παρά το βάρος που κουβαλάει.
Η πρωτοπρόσωπη αφήγηση μας βοηθάει να ζήσουμε τα γεγονότα από κοντά και ταυτόχρονα να κατανοήσουμε τη σύνθετη προσωπικότητα του πρωταγωνιστή. Ο Ρέικερ δεν έχει ξεπεράσει τον θάνατο της συζύγου του, Ντέριν, από καρκίνο μέσα σε πολύ λίγο διάστημα. Η ιστορία εκτυλίσσεται περίπου έναν χρόνο από την προηγούμενη υπόθεση, όπου ο Ρέικερ βρέθηκε πολύ κοντά στον θάνατο κι αυτήν τη φορά τον βλέπουμε να κάνει τα πρώτα του δειλά βήματα προς την Ελίζαμπεθ Φίνι, γειτόνισσα και δικηγόρο, που τον βοήθησε στην πρώτη υπόθεση. Αμφιβολίες, φόβοι κι ενοχή του προκαλούν προβλήματα, με αποτέλεσμα η Λίζι να ξεσπάσει κι εγώ να καταλάβω τα βαθύτερα κίνητρα της επαγγελματικής μεταστροφής του Ρέικερ: «-Βρίσκεις προβληματικούς ανθρώπους, Ντέιβιντ. Βάζεις τον εαυτό σου σε κίνδυνο, το σώμα σου σε κίνδυνο, κι ελπίζεις ότι θα καταφέρεις, με κάποιον τρόπο, να βγεις από την άλλη πλευρά ζωντανός… Αυτό που με νοιάζει είναι γιατί το κάνεις» και η έκρηξή της μεγαλώνει: «Δεν έχεις τον μηχανισμό που σου λέει «φτάνει». Δεν ξέρεις πότε να σταματήσεις. Προσπαθείς να βουλώσεις τρύπες στον κόσμο επειδή ξέρεις πώς είναι να χάνεις κάποιον και νομίζεις ότι είναι δουλειά σου να εμποδίσεις οποιονδήποτε άλλο να υποφέρει κατ’ αυτό τον τρόπο. Το κάνεις για εκείνη, Ντέιβιντ. Βουλώνεις την τρύπα που άφησε πίσω της σηκώνοντας τον πόνο άλλων ανθρώπων» (σελ. 388-389). Θα συνέλθει ο Ρέικερ από αυτήν την απώλεια; Θα τον αφήσουν τα γεγονότα να βρει χρόνο για τον εαυτό του και να διαπιστώσει πως πρέπει να προχωρήσει μπροστά;
Ταυτόχρονα, ο ντετέκτιβ συμμετέχει σε μια συμβουλευτική-υποστηρικτική ομάδα, όπου γνωρίζει την Τζιλ Γουάιτ, χήρα αστυνομικού που σκοτώθηκε στο καθήκον ως μέλος ειδικής ομάδας που ερευνούσε το ρωσικό οργανωμένο έγκλημα. Η ομάδα του Γουάιτ είχε σύνδεση με τη SOCA, την Υπηρεσία Δίωξης του Σοβαρού Οργανωμένου Εγκλήματος, τμήμα της οποίας είναι η NCIS, η Εθνική Υπηρεσία Εγκληματολογικών Πληροφοριών. Ο Επιθεωρητής Φρανκ Γουάιτ είχε πλησιάσει επικίνδυνα κοντά σ’ ένα μεγάλο κεφάλι ρωσικής συμμορίας, τον Ακίμ Γκόμπουλιεφ ή Φάντασμα, τον πλέον καταζητούμενο εγκληματία της SOCA. Ποιος σκότωσε λοιπόν τον Φρανκ και με ποια ταυτότητα βρίσκεται στην Αγγλία ο Γκόμπουλιεφ; Τα ερωτήματα ιντριγκάρουν τον Ρέικερ που βάζει κι άλλους μπελάδες στο κεφάλι του την ώρα που μπαίνει στο στόχαστρο και της αστυνομίας! Οι αρχιεπιθεωρητές Τζέιμι Χαρτ και Φίλιπς έχουν τους λόγους τους που δεν προχώρησαν την υπόθεση της Μέγκαν Κάρβερ κι όταν ο Ρέικερ παγιδεύεται για κάτι που δεν έκανε με μεγάλη χαρά τον συλλαμβάνουν, μόνο και μόνο για να αρχίσει ένα παιχνίδι γάτας και ποντικιού, μέχρι να μάθουν και οι δύο πλευρές τι ξέρουν ήδη, τι ψάχνουν, τι δεν πρέπει να βγει στο φως και για ποιους λόγους κι όλα αυτά όσο ο αρχιφύλακας Κολμ Χίλι, του οποίου η κόρη, Λιάν, εξαφανίστηκε τρεις μήνες πριν, κάνει τις δικές του παράλληλες έρευνες διψώντας για εκδίκηση.
Ξέροντας ο συγγραφέας πως 200.000 άνθρωποι εξαφανίζονται κάθε χρόνο στο Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο, 30.000 εκ των οποίων μόνο στο Λονδίνο, στήνει μια δυνατή, ανατρεπτική, πολυεπίπεδη υπόθεση εξαφάνισης με πολλά παρακλάδια, όπου η Μέγκαν Κάρβερ είναι μία κλωστή μόνο από τις χιλιάδες που συνθέτουν ένα δύσκολο και συναρπαστικό καμβά ρωσικής μαφίας, πλαστικής χειρουργικής, λαθρεμπορίας και κακοποίησης, όπου το τέλος θα ανατρέψει τις ισορροπίες, θα φέρει τους ήρωες αντιμέτωπους με σημαντικά διλήμματα και θα τους στιγματίσει για πάντα αν τα πράγματα πάνε κατ’ ευχήν. Η διεισδυτική ματιά, ο άψογος χειρισμός της πλοκής, η κεντρική ιδέα και πώς αυτή εμπλουτίζεται με σημαντικές περιφερειακές δράσεις που όμως κουμπώνουν απόλυτα σε αυτήν και η ένταση της αγωνίας που αναδύεται ανάμεσα στις γραμμές είναι μερικά μόνο από τα θετικά χαρακτηριστικά του βιβλίου που με κράτησαν σε εγρήγορση μέχρι να το τελειώσω.
Πρώτη δημοσίευση στο site μου: www.vivliokritikes.com/%cf%83%cf%84%c...
February 19, 2020
David Raker serisinin ikinci kitabı yani bu kitap çok daha başarılıydı. Paravan’dan çok çok daha iyiydi bence. Hele son 300 sayfa uçtu diyebilirim. Heyecanı, temposu hiç düşmeden ilerlerken aksiyonu ve gerilimi de aynı tatla eklenince harika bir kurgu çıkmış ortaya. Kolay okunan, yormayan ve çok akıcı bir polisiye arayanlara tavsiyemdir. David Raker, bundan sonra sevdiğim karakterlerin üst sırasında yer alacaksın adamım 😁
March 14, 2021
Όταν διάβασα το Κυνηγώντας τους Νεκρούς του Tim Weaver, η πρώτη σκέψη που μου πέρασε από το μυαλό ήταν ότι αν το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς με πρωταγωνιστή τον ιδιωτικό ντεντέκτιβ Ντειβιντ Ρεικερ, ιδιωτικό ερευνητή εξαφανισμένων προσώπων, είναι τόσο καλό τα επόμενα πως θα είναι?
Διαβάζοντας το δεύτερο μέρος της σειράς Στις Ραγες των Νεκρών όχι μόνο έμεινα έκπληκτη με την εξέλιξης της γραφής του, αλλά και με την γρήγορη πλοκή του, σε σημείο που από την μέση και μετά δεν μπορείς να το αφήσεις από τα χέρια σου.
Ατμοσφαιρικό, σκοτεινό, με σκηνές που σοκάρουν.
Ο Ντέιβιντ Ρεικερ αναλαμβάνει μια υπόθεση ενός κοριτσιού 17 χρόνων, της Μέγκαν, η οποία είναι εξαφανισμένη εδώ και 7 μήνες. Βλέποντας ότι η αστυνομία έχει φτάσει σε αδιέξοδο, οι γονείς της του αναθέτουν την ανεύρεση της.
Η διαδρομή που ακολουθεί είναι για μια φορά ακόμα δύσκολη και αρκετά δύσβατη. Χωρίς πολλά στοιχεία στα χέρια του ο ιδιωτικός ερευνητής, ξεκινά μια αρκετά μπερδεμένη έρευνα καθώς βρίσκονται στον δρόμο του πολλά και περίεργα εμπόδια. Προχωροντας ανοίγονται πολλά μέτωπα, που ενώ δεν μπορείς να καταλάβεις την σύνδεση που έχουν μεταξύ τους, όταν φτάνεις στο τέλος όλα γίνονται ένα.
Όπως και στο πρώτο βιβλίο έτσι και τώρα απόλαυσα την ενδιαφέρουσα διαδικασία αναζήτησης ενός εξαφανισμένου προσώπου. Αλλά όχι μόνο αυτό. Το μεγαλύτερο ενδιαφέρον είναι το ότι όλοι οι χαρακτήρες του βιβλίου παίζουν τον δικό τους ρόλο, έστω και αν αυτό δεν φαίνεται από τις πρώτες σελίδες.
Οι Ράγες των Νεκρών είναι ένα βιβλίο με γρήγορη και εξαιρετική αστυνομική πλοκή, με σκηνές δράσεις που σε καθηλώνουν και με ένα ανατρεπτικό φινάλε που σε σοκάρει.
Ο Tim Weaver κατάφερε για δεύτερη φορά να με κάνει να ξενυχτήσω και αυτό το θεωρώ μεγάλη επιτυχία σε ένα βιβλίο.
Διαβάζοντας το δεύτερο μέρος της σειράς Στις Ραγες των Νεκρών όχι μόνο έμεινα έκπληκτη με την εξέλιξης της γραφής του, αλλά και με την γρήγορη πλοκή του, σε σημείο που από την μέση και μετά δεν μπορείς να το αφήσεις από τα χέρια σου.
Ατμοσφαιρικό, σκοτεινό, με σκηνές που σοκάρουν.
Ο Ντέιβιντ Ρεικερ αναλαμβάνει μια υπόθεση ενός κοριτσιού 17 χρόνων, της Μέγκαν, η οποία είναι εξαφανισμένη εδώ και 7 μήνες. Βλέποντας ότι η αστυνομία έχει φτάσει σε αδιέξοδο, οι γονείς της του αναθέτουν την ανεύρεση της.
Η διαδρομή που ακολουθεί είναι για μια φορά ακόμα δύσκολη και αρκετά δύσβατη. Χωρίς πολλά στοιχεία στα χέρια του ο ιδιωτικός ερευνητής, ξεκινά μια αρκετά μπερδεμένη έρευνα καθώς βρίσκονται στον δρόμο του πολλά και περίεργα εμπόδια. Προχωροντας ανοίγονται πολλά μέτωπα, που ενώ δεν μπορείς να καταλάβεις την σύνδεση που έχουν μεταξύ τους, όταν φτάνεις στο τέλος όλα γίνονται ένα.
Όπως και στο πρώτο βιβλίο έτσι και τώρα απόλαυσα την ενδιαφέρουσα διαδικασία αναζήτησης ενός εξαφανισμένου προσώπου. Αλλά όχι μόνο αυτό. Το μεγαλύτερο ενδιαφέρον είναι το ότι όλοι οι χαρακτήρες του βιβλίου παίζουν τον δικό τους ρόλο, έστω και αν αυτό δεν φαίνεται από τις πρώτες σελίδες.
Οι Ράγες των Νεκρών είναι ένα βιβλίο με γρήγορη και εξαιρετική αστυνομική πλοκή, με σκηνές δράσεις που σε καθηλώνουν και με ένα ανατρεπτικό φινάλε που σε σοκάρει.
Ο Tim Weaver κατάφερε για δεύτερη φορά να με κάνει να ξενυχτήσω και αυτό το θεωρώ μεγάλη επιτυχία σε ένα βιβλίο.
April 7, 2014
Seguendo TRACCE DI MORTE
Tim Weaver è un autore di thriller, ricchi di colpi di scena e suspense, il quale sin dal primo libro, TRACCE DI MORTE, ha provocato in me una sorta di dipendenza. Il merito va attribuito al personaggio, alla trama, all’intreccio, alle componenti del giallo, ecc. Avendolo letto nella traduzione italiana, forse un po’ del merito, per l’alto gradimento riscontrato, va attribuito anche al traduttore, che ha reso questo tsunami di emozioni e azione. È uno di quei romanzi che fra un po’ di anni si ha la voglia di rileggere e che si è fieri di sfoggiare nella propria libreria. È un autore che, per me, si è rivelato un’autentica scoperta. Le sue storie non hanno punti morti. L’indagine non annoia mai, anche quando sembra che non ci sia niente che possa accadere, giunge un elemento destabilizzante e si ricomincia daccapo. Lo stesso protagonista, David Raker, è costantemente in pericolo; è l’ex giornalista d’assalto che ora risolve misteri di scomparse inestricabili; è l’uomo, con un passato doloroso, che ancora incombe, ma è sempre un passo avanti agli altri, con un piede nel precipizio del pericolo e nell’universo della follia.
Di David Raker viene detto: “Ti manca quel meccanismo che avverte le persone quando il troppo è troppo. Non sai quando fermarti. Continui a tappare buchi in giro per il mondo solo perché sai cosa si prova a perdere una persona, e non vuoi che nessun altro debba sopportarlo. Lo stai facendo per LEI. Il caso dell’anno scorso era per LEI. E anche questo. Stai riempiendo il vuoto che si è lasciata dietro accollandoti le sofferenze degli altri. Io non posso competere con questo.”
È questo lato umano del nostro eroe che lo rende più interessante, affascinante ai nostri occhi e nel quale ci si affianca e ci si “immedesima”.
In TRACCE DI MORTE il lettore si ritrova, per la seconda volta, accanto al complesso protagonista di David Raker, convinto di conoscerne ogni aspetto psicologico, ma predisposto a scoprirne qualcosa di nuovo. Il lettore si trova a seguire i suoi passi nella nuova indagine relativa alla misteriosa scomparsa di una studentessa modello. Come ogni sparizione, anche quella di Megan Carver, è avvolta in un alone di mistero, ma nasconde più malvagità e follia di quelle che si riescano ad immaginare e sta al lettore scoprirlo, leggendone ogni pagina, mentre la narrazione lo coinvolge, con il suo ritmo serrato, avvincente, denso di colpi di scena e, allo stesso tempo, profondamente psicologico.
Un romanzo che gli amanti del genere thriller non potranno non apprezzare.
http://youtu.be/OA_6x5FYeUU
November 23, 2013
This review contains will spoil book one for those yet to read...
Wow. I read the first David Raker book, Chasing the Dead, only a few days ago and upon finishing it immediately started this, book two. After finishing it I can safely say that out of nearly 170 books read in 2013, this is one of my favourites. Tim Weaver is a fantastic writer and one hell of a storyteller. Much like Simon Kernick, the books pick up the pace very quickly and do not let up until the final page. In fact I'd say that this book and Chasing the Dead were better than any Kernick book I've read so far and I LOVE Kernick's books.
I felt like in book one that Raker was flawed. I thought this because he is portrayed as a man who had a good job as a journalist travelling around the world with his wife, he then became a missing persons investigator which became his sole focus after her death. Then, in Chasing the Dead he kills - albeit to survive - and it felt to me that Weaver was using tactics that other authors may use, eg. having characters kill and/or act out of character simply to enhance the story and make it more of a 'shocking' read but I felt in this book Raker's explanation for killing justified it for me and helped me find his character more believable and relatable than I did in the first book. Also in this book Raker finds himself on the run from the police so I think his character is always going to find himself in some sort of trouble!
The cases he is given start out quite simple but after a few chapters the action starts and you will find it hard to stop reading. At 87% on Kindle it felt like the book could've finished there but it went on for another 20 or so minutes which a few more shocks before the end of the book. The length of the book however didn't feel too long like some authors have a habit of doing and every page, every word was used to its full advantage. You can already see the change in Raker from the first book and I can't wait to see where Weaver is going to take him next. This book like book one takes place over a time period of less than two weeks and everything that goes on in that time is so action packed you feel like your head is going to explode. Overall yet another fantastic read from Tim Weaver who is fast becoming one if my favourite authors in this genre.
Wow. I read the first David Raker book, Chasing the Dead, only a few days ago and upon finishing it immediately started this, book two. After finishing it I can safely say that out of nearly 170 books read in 2013, this is one of my favourites. Tim Weaver is a fantastic writer and one hell of a storyteller. Much like Simon Kernick, the books pick up the pace very quickly and do not let up until the final page. In fact I'd say that this book and Chasing the Dead were better than any Kernick book I've read so far and I LOVE Kernick's books.
I felt like in book one that Raker was flawed. I thought this because he is portrayed as a man who had a good job as a journalist travelling around the world with his wife, he then became a missing persons investigator which became his sole focus after her death. Then, in Chasing the Dead he kills - albeit to survive - and it felt to me that Weaver was using tactics that other authors may use, eg. having characters kill and/or act out of character simply to enhance the story and make it more of a 'shocking' read but I felt in this book Raker's explanation for killing justified it for me and helped me find his character more believable and relatable than I did in the first book. Also in this book Raker finds himself on the run from the police so I think his character is always going to find himself in some sort of trouble!
The cases he is given start out quite simple but after a few chapters the action starts and you will find it hard to stop reading. At 87% on Kindle it felt like the book could've finished there but it went on for another 20 or so minutes which a few more shocks before the end of the book. The length of the book however didn't feel too long like some authors have a habit of doing and every page, every word was used to its full advantage. You can already see the change in Raker from the first book and I can't wait to see where Weaver is going to take him next. This book like book one takes place over a time period of less than two weeks and everything that goes on in that time is so action packed you feel like your head is going to explode. Overall yet another fantastic read from Tim Weaver who is fast becoming one if my favourite authors in this genre.
March 30, 2021
Θα ξεκινήσω την άποψή μου με μια διαπίστωση… Σε αυτό το δεύτερο βιβλίο του Tim Weaver, με ήρωα τον Ντέιβιντ Ρέικερ, ο «κακός» ανταγωνίζεται επάξια κι ίσως σε κάποια σημεία ξεπερνάει κιόλας, τους κακούς του Chris Carter! Ναι, σωστά διαβάσατε, μην απορείτε. Γιατί πρόκειται για ένα βαθιά διαταραγμένο άτομο, για το οποίο, η δολοφονία αθώων γυναικών είναι απλά θέμα διαδικαστικό, προκειμένου να φτάσει στο στόχο του. Ας πάρουμε τα πράγματα όμως από την αρχή…
Θυμάμαι όταν είχα διαβάσει το πρώτο του βιβλίο, το πόσο πολύ με είχε εντυπωσιάσει η γραφή του, όντας νεόκοπος συγγραφέας. Και να που, σε αυτόν το δεύτερο «φάκελο» της σειράς «Υποθέσεις Εξαφανισμένων Προσώπων», ο Weaver ξεπέρασε των εαυτό του. Η γραφή του εξελίχθηκε σοβαρά και κατάφερε να μας προσφέρει ένα θρίλερ που διαβάζεται απνευστί και σε αφήνει άναυδο. Η ιστορία συνοπτικά έχει ως εξής: Ο Ντέιβιντ Ρέικερ, πρώην δημοσιογράφος και νυν ερευνητής εξαφανισμένων προσώπων, προσλαμβάνεται από τους γονείς ενός 17χρονου κοριτσιού, της Μέγκαν, η οποία έχει εδώ και 7 μήνες εξαφανιστεί, χωρίς η αστυνομία να μπορεί να βρει το παραμικρό ίχνος για την τύχη της.
Ξεδιπλώνοντας λοιπόν την ιστορία του, ο Weaver ανοίγει συγχρόνως πολλαπλά «μέτωπα» αλλά ως δια μαγείας κατορθώνει και τα διαχειρίζεται όλα άριστα. Πραγματικά είναι αξιοθαύμαστο το πώς μπορεί και δουλεύει τόσες διαφορετικές πλοκές μεταξύ τους, χωρίς να δημιουργεί κομφούζιο στο μυαλό του αναγνώστη. Η ατμόσφαιρα είναι εξόχως σκοτεινή και στη διαδρομή συναντάμε σκηνές που μπορεί να σοκάρουν και τον πιο «σκληραγωγημένο» αναγνώστη. Απόλαυσα ιδιαίτερα την συγκροτημένη σκέψη του Ρέικερ και τις διαδικασίες που ακολουθεί, οι οποίες είχαν ύφος κι άρωμα true crime. Από πλευράς ανατροπών δε θα πω ότι έγινε ο κακός χαμός αλλά η μία που μας πρόσφερε ήταν πολύ δυνατή και φυσικά εντελώς απρόσμενη. Εγώ τουλάχιστον, δεν την είδα να έρχεται ποτέ!
Σε γενικές γραμμές, η δεύτερη περιπέτεια του Ντέιβιντ Ρέικερ, όχι μόνο με ικανοποίησε αλλά με έκανε να ανυπομονώ σαν τρελή για το τρίτο της σειράς, που φέρει τον τίτλο “Vanished” (Εξαφανισμένος/η). Κι ευτυχώς ακολουθούν πολλά ακόμη (11 στο σύνολο), για να έχουμε να περιμένουμε!
Εννοείται ότι προτείνεται!
Καλές αναγνώσεις!
Δείτε την άποψή μου στο blog των ΒΙΒΛΙΟγραφικών: https://vivliografika.blogspot.com/20...
Θυμάμαι όταν είχα διαβάσει το πρώτο του βιβλίο, το πόσο πολύ με είχε εντυπωσιάσει η γραφή του, όντας νεόκοπος συγγραφέας. Και να που, σε αυτόν το δεύτερο «φάκελο» της σειράς «Υποθέσεις Εξαφανισμένων Προσώπων», ο Weaver ξεπέρασε των εαυτό του. Η γραφή του εξελίχθηκε σοβαρά και κατάφερε να μας προσφέρει ένα θρίλερ που διαβάζεται απνευστί και σε αφήνει άναυδο. Η ιστορία συνοπτικά έχει ως εξής: Ο Ντέιβιντ Ρέικερ, πρώην δημοσιογράφος και νυν ερευνητής εξαφανισμένων προσώπων, προσλαμβάνεται από τους γονείς ενός 17χρονου κοριτσιού, της Μέγκαν, η οποία έχει εδώ και 7 μήνες εξαφανιστεί, χωρίς η αστυνομία να μπορεί να βρει το παραμικρό ίχνος για την τύχη της.
Ξεδιπλώνοντας λοιπόν την ιστορία του, ο Weaver ανοίγει συγχρόνως πολλαπλά «μέτωπα» αλλά ως δια μαγείας κατορθώνει και τα διαχειρίζεται όλα άριστα. Πραγματικά είναι αξιοθαύμαστο το πώς μπορεί και δουλεύει τόσες διαφορετικές πλοκές μεταξύ τους, χωρίς να δημιουργεί κομφούζιο στο μυαλό του αναγνώστη. Η ατμόσφαιρα είναι εξόχως σκοτεινή και στη διαδρομή συναντάμε σκηνές που μπορεί να σοκάρουν και τον πιο «σκληραγωγημένο» αναγνώστη. Απόλαυσα ιδιαίτερα την συγκροτημένη σκέψη του Ρέικερ και τις διαδικασίες που ακολουθεί, οι οποίες είχαν ύφος κι άρωμα true crime. Από πλευράς ανατροπών δε θα πω ότι έγινε ο κακός χαμός αλλά η μία που μας πρόσφερε ήταν πολύ δυνατή και φυσικά εντελώς απρόσμενη. Εγώ τουλάχιστον, δεν την είδα να έρχεται ποτέ!
Σε γενικές γραμμές, η δεύτερη περιπέτεια του Ντέιβιντ Ρέικερ, όχι μόνο με ικανοποίησε αλλά με έκανε να ανυπομονώ σαν τρελή για το τρίτο της σειράς, που φέρει τον τίτλο “Vanished” (Εξαφανισμένος/η). Κι ευτυχώς ακολουθούν πολλά ακόμη (11 στο σύνολο), για να έχουμε να περιμένουμε!
Εννοείται ότι προτείνεται!
Καλές αναγνώσεις!
Δείτε την άποψή μου στο blog των ΒΙΒΛΙΟγραφικών: https://vivliografika.blogspot.com/20...
April 3, 2016
This is an excellent series. Beware, this is crime at its most violent and horrible. It is on the level of the Chelsea Cain series featuring Gretchen Lowell and Archie Sheridan. The writing, setting, characters....all are superb. My opinion, anyone who likes this genre should put this author on their "to read" list!
November 6, 2018
A dark and creepy story, as missing persons investigator David Raker returns to find a missing seventeen year old. And as his investigation deepens he finds a bizarre link to a Victorian serial killer...
Very gruesome, very eerie and very brilliant!
Very gruesome, very eerie and very brilliant!
January 27, 2019
In the thrilling, spine-tingling second book in the David Raker series “The Dead Tracks” the journalist turned missing persons investigator has been hired by the Carvers to find their seventeen-year-old daughter Megan a first-rate student from a happy home who’s been missing for six months. Racing against time, uncertain that she’s still alive David begins to unravel her secrets as he unearths the police’s cover-up of more missing girls that leads him to an executed serial killer and a haunted area known as “the dead tracks.”
Fast-paced and action-packed the plot heats up with David’s investigation that has him linking his missing person to a Russian criminal called “the Ghost”; several missing girls; the wife of a murdered police officer; and a serial killer hanged in the 1920’s. Intensity and suspense quickly escalate when the trail leads to a secret Megan's kept hidden; her clandestine meetings with a volunteer at a youth club; and a mysterious message embedded in a thank you note for a donation she made. Well-developed and engrossing, the plot twists and turns as David gets closer to the truth while facing false accusations by the police and putting his life on the line in an ambush in a forest on the edge of the city.
As the story progresses the emotional tension ramps up not only as he draws closer to solving the case but as David, haunted by the loss of his wife is faced with his growing attraction to neighbour and solicitor Liz who feels his job as a missing persons investigator stems from trying to “plug up the holes in the world”, to stop others suffering the pain, grief and helplessness he’s undergone with his wife Derryn’s death. Facing the truth of her words, David begins to put aside his loneliness and to live again, looking to the one woman who has comforted, encouraged and supported him. This is a relationship that will be interesting to follow in the other books in the series to see if it survives.
Skillfully Tim Weaver has developed complex and compelling characters in this novel like observant, resourceful and tenacious David Raker who never gives up his search for Megan; police officer Colm Healey plagued by the loss of his daughter is vengeful, unpredictable, arrogant and resentful; and secretive Megan Carver, the unlikely runaway who’s a smart student and obedient daughter.
I thoroughly enjoted “The Dead Tracks” with its gripping plot and multifaceted characters. Absorbing from the first page to the last, I couldn’t put it down until the end.
Fast-paced and action-packed the plot heats up with David’s investigation that has him linking his missing person to a Russian criminal called “the Ghost”; several missing girls; the wife of a murdered police officer; and a serial killer hanged in the 1920’s. Intensity and suspense quickly escalate when the trail leads to a secret Megan's kept hidden; her clandestine meetings with a volunteer at a youth club; and a mysterious message embedded in a thank you note for a donation she made. Well-developed and engrossing, the plot twists and turns as David gets closer to the truth while facing false accusations by the police and putting his life on the line in an ambush in a forest on the edge of the city.
As the story progresses the emotional tension ramps up not only as he draws closer to solving the case but as David, haunted by the loss of his wife is faced with his growing attraction to neighbour and solicitor Liz who feels his job as a missing persons investigator stems from trying to “plug up the holes in the world”, to stop others suffering the pain, grief and helplessness he’s undergone with his wife Derryn’s death. Facing the truth of her words, David begins to put aside his loneliness and to live again, looking to the one woman who has comforted, encouraged and supported him. This is a relationship that will be interesting to follow in the other books in the series to see if it survives.
Skillfully Tim Weaver has developed complex and compelling characters in this novel like observant, resourceful and tenacious David Raker who never gives up his search for Megan; police officer Colm Healey plagued by the loss of his daughter is vengeful, unpredictable, arrogant and resentful; and secretive Megan Carver, the unlikely runaway who’s a smart student and obedient daughter.
I thoroughly enjoted “The Dead Tracks” with its gripping plot and multifaceted characters. Absorbing from the first page to the last, I couldn’t put it down until the end.
February 5, 2018
Oh how I love David Raker! He's so smooth, got the answer to everything, he's like James Bond, only better! You may be able to tell that Tim weaver's brilliant character feels very real to me. I absolutely adore him and if I were 20 years younger, (and about 14 stones lighter), I know he'd love me too! As is my unintentional custom, I have listened to these in entirely the wrong order. This in no way detracts from the sheer pleasure of the story; another intricately woven plot that is so clever it is off the scale. I have no idea what narrator Joe Coen looks like, but his voice is perfect as David Raker, and I am praying to all my gods that he remains the narrator throughout the series. It really seems unfair that the maximum award I can give Tim Weaver is 5 stars, because if ever there was a 10 star listen, this is it. Absolutely perfect in every way. You simply must listen to The Dead Tracks. You can thank me later!
September 25, 2022
A really good read - 4.5 out of 5, only down a notch because of the sub-standard editing in parts, repeat words and sections where we already know what's going on or what Raker is thinking (this is a personal bug bear). But otherwise a taut, page-turner, at times scary with plenty of tension. I figured out the antagonist towards the end, but that didn't disappoint. A high end crime thriller. Onto the next...
March 28, 2021
I’m enjoying these a lot. Violent thrillers - to the point where I can’t fall asleep!
May 18, 2019
Book 2 in the David Raker series and I'm now very glad that I decided to read them from the beginning and in order because, as much as each book has a mystery that is self sustained, more elements of Raker's life and also past events are explored.
Once again the story was well crafted and paced superbly. Snippets of information is revealed steadily and I had fun trying to work things out before it was revealed to me. While I didn't see some twists coming there was one thing that instantly set warning sirens off in my head. I wasn't 100% accurate but I did have some idea of what was coming.
The only thing I wasn't the biggest fan of was a side character who, while I sympathised with his predicament, wasn't a big fan of and wouldn't be sad to see not return. I'm sure he'll be back but hopefully not in any kind of sidekick type of role. Just a personal preference.
As before looking forward to seeing where Weaver takes this next. Learning more about the main character's life and how he's moving forward after a tragic loss is the obvious highlight but thankfully the cases he's working on aren't just sub-par filler and do keep me intrigued.
One last thing to note. I'm not sure if it's the same for other editions around the world but here in the UK the covers have a tag line to draw you in (as well as a very cool gone in the blink of an eye type of image). It works but the one for The Dead Tracks feels more clickbait (for lack of a better term) than the first. I'm not sure if the author had a say in it but it didn't really feel accurate having finished the book.
Can't see it long before I jump into book 3. Long may this series continue.
Once again the story was well crafted and paced superbly. Snippets of information is revealed steadily and I had fun trying to work things out before it was revealed to me. While I didn't see some twists coming there was one thing that instantly set warning sirens off in my head. I wasn't 100% accurate but I did have some idea of what was coming.
The only thing I wasn't the biggest fan of was a side character who, while I sympathised with his predicament, wasn't a big fan of and wouldn't be sad to see not return. I'm sure he'll be back but hopefully not in any kind of sidekick type of role. Just a personal preference.
As before looking forward to seeing where Weaver takes this next. Learning more about the main character's life and how he's moving forward after a tragic loss is the obvious highlight but thankfully the cases he's working on aren't just sub-par filler and do keep me intrigued.
One last thing to note. I'm not sure if it's the same for other editions around the world but here in the UK the covers have a tag line to draw you in (as well as a very cool gone in the blink of an eye type of image). It works but the one for The Dead Tracks feels more clickbait (for lack of a better term) than the first. I'm not sure if the author had a say in it but it didn't really feel accurate having finished the book.
Can't see it long before I jump into book 3. Long may this series continue.
July 8, 2013
The Dead Tracks is Tim Weaver's second book of the David Raker missung person's investigator series and just like his debut, it doesn't disappoint.
Raker is once again enlisted by a family whose teenage daughter has gone missing. Using some unorthodox and sometimes illegal investigative techniques allows Raker to follow some seemingly random but ultimately connected leads to an unsolved case involving Milton Sykes who allegedly and notoriously murdered 13 girls a century before. It's remarkable how Raker is able to find these leads despite the police having a dedicated task force searching for the same missing girl. Then there are more missing girls, a paranoid Russian criminal and his personal plastic surgeon, and a dead police officer. But how are all these characters connected?
Weaver once again creates a thrilling roller coaster ride with many scary unexpected twists. The book does not disappoint on gory details and there are some parts in the book where the reader fears for Raker's life. Weaver skilfully and effortlessly gets Raker out of some very sticky situations.
This book is a highly recommended, edge of your seat, thrilling read and at 99p on Amazon's Kindle Daily Deal was an absolute steal.
Next up: Tim Weaver's Vanished.
Raker is once again enlisted by a family whose teenage daughter has gone missing. Using some unorthodox and sometimes illegal investigative techniques allows Raker to follow some seemingly random but ultimately connected leads to an unsolved case involving Milton Sykes who allegedly and notoriously murdered 13 girls a century before. It's remarkable how Raker is able to find these leads despite the police having a dedicated task force searching for the same missing girl. Then there are more missing girls, a paranoid Russian criminal and his personal plastic surgeon, and a dead police officer. But how are all these characters connected?
Weaver once again creates a thrilling roller coaster ride with many scary unexpected twists. The book does not disappoint on gory details and there are some parts in the book where the reader fears for Raker's life. Weaver skilfully and effortlessly gets Raker out of some very sticky situations.
This book is a highly recommended, edge of your seat, thrilling read and at 99p on Amazon's Kindle Daily Deal was an absolute steal.
Next up: Tim Weaver's Vanished.
January 8, 2019
Primo thriller ascoltato invece che letto. L'effetto è stato positivo. Ritmo ottimo, recitazione convincente, storia coi soliti cliché del genere ma con una sua originalità che ho apprezzato. Insomma, ci sono stata praticamente attaccata per tre giorni. Non posso dire sia un capolavoro, dato che ho scoperto l'identità del colpevole prima che venisse svelata. Il finale poi a mio parere è un po' irreale. Ma questo genere di testi si basa molto sul saper portare il lettore capitolo dopo capitolo senza annoiare, e se ci perde un po' la verosimiglianza, poco male. Come ritmo è assolutamente perfetto. Qualche banale sbavatura e forse certi discorsi del protagonista un tantino impostati, a voler essere pignoli. Ma se Vi piace il genere, per me è stato un ottimo compagno. È il secondo di una serie, magari non fate come me e iniziate dal primo! P.s.: se il titolo inglese è The Dead Tracks, e nel libro si parla tanto di "binario morto", perché l'italiano me lo devono intitolare "Tracce di morte"? Dovevano intitolarlo "Binario morto" e fine. Odio i titolisti.
December 6, 2020
Oohh.. what a read!
This read hooked me in right from the very start. I felt like I could finally breathe once I saw the author's notes...
There are so many authors that try to overrun the plot with so many subplots and elements to the story, and a lot of time, it fails, instead making the reader overwhelmed and confused. Tim Weaver, however, delivered a perfectly balanced, excellent-written story that had plenty of complex story arcs that aided to my excitement of the story, brilliant characters, and a dark, twisted premise that was heartpoundingly spine-chilling to read!
The second book in the series, and I am already loving the stories surrounding David Raker. Can't wait to read more!
This read hooked me in right from the very start. I felt like I could finally breathe once I saw the author's notes...
There are so many authors that try to overrun the plot with so many subplots and elements to the story, and a lot of time, it fails, instead making the reader overwhelmed and confused. Tim Weaver, however, delivered a perfectly balanced, excellent-written story that had plenty of complex story arcs that aided to my excitement of the story, brilliant characters, and a dark, twisted premise that was heartpoundingly spine-chilling to read!
The second book in the series, and I am already loving the stories surrounding David Raker. Can't wait to read more!
March 5, 2020
Skvělé pokračování případů Davida Rakera. Jsem ráda, že jsem se rozhodla číst sérii popořade - každá z knih je sice samostatný případ, ale detaily z Davidova života jsou odkrývány postupně. Údolí mrtvých je velice dobře napsaná krimi s dobře vystavěnou zápletkou a skvěle nasazeným tempem. Postava Colma Healyho mě baví stejně jako charakter Davida a myslím, že jsou obě velice uvěřitelné. Trošku drsnější případ, nicméně tato série mě opravdu baví. Vrhám se na další díl.
October 19, 2017
Phew!! Well, I often say it but this really is a right ol' heart-pounder- fantastic, loved every bit of it :o)
The style reminded me of Stephen Leather's Jack Nightingale series, simple language no-nonsense tale-telling & a gripping story with very gruesome undertones....as the cover says "Fans of Mo Hayder will be in seventh hell"!
The style reminded me of Stephen Leather's Jack Nightingale series, simple language no-nonsense tale-telling & a gripping story with very gruesome undertones....as the cover says "Fans of Mo Hayder will be in seventh hell"!
December 30, 2018
I Think I’ve found another fantastic author similar to Mo Hayder. This is the first book I’ve read in this series but I’m excited to know that there’s lots of other books that Tim Weaver has written for me to devour! A solid 4 1/2 stars for me. I loved it and would recommend.
March 1, 2019
David Raker is a former journalist who became a missing persons investigator. He is hired to search for a seventeen year old missing girl. His search will lead him into forbidding territory and conflict with the police. A serial kidnapper is on the loose spreading his own terrible brand of horror.
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