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David Raker #8
I Am Missing
'I love the brilliant opening twist - a missing person with no memory searching for himself. It had me racing to the end' Fiona Barton, bestselling author of The Widow
**
When a young man wakes up bruised and beaten, with no memory of who he is or where he came from, the press immediately dub him 'The Lost Man'.
Naming himself Richard Kite, he spends the next ten months desperately trying to find out who he is. But despite media appeals and the efforts of the police, no one knows him.
Richard's last hope may be private investigator David Raker - a seasoned locator of missing people. But Raker has more questions than answers.
Who is Richard Kite?
Why does no one know him?
And what links him to the body of a woman found beside a London railway line two years ago?
Could Richard be responsible for her death - or is he next?
Praise for I Am Missing:
'So cleverly constructed I never guessed any of the twists' Claire Douglas, bestselling author of Local Girl Missing
'Tim Weaver is the rising star of British crime and I Am Missing will haunt your dreams' Tony Parsons, bestselling author of the DC Max Wolfe series
'Tim Weaver writes books so meticulously researched that the reader is educated as well as entertained, enthralled and intrigued. David Raker is a most complex and engaging investigator, each case leaving its mark on his soul, and ours' Liz Nugent, bestselling author of Lying in Wait
519 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 27, 2017
196 people are currently reading
2019 people want to read
About the author
Tim Weaver
54 books1,598 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 three 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. A former journalist and magazine editor, he lives near Bath with his wife and daughter. Find out more about Tim and his writing at www.timweaverbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 406 reviews
February 3, 2020
EXCERPT: 'I'm happy to talk,' I said to him, 'but maybe you should just tell me who it is you want me to find first.'
'Yes, of course.'
He held up an apologetic hand but didn't continue. He looked away again instead, searching the shadows for the words he wanted, his face thin and pale, his eye oddly colourless. And as he did, something struck me: I've seen him before. I know him from somewhere.
Had the two of us met at some point?
'I called you,' he said, 'because I know that you find missing people. That's what you do, and that's ... well, that's what I need.' He stopped, swallowed hard. 'Someone's missing, and I need you to find them.'
'So, who is it that's missing?'
I was still thrown by the familiarity I felt. As I waited, I tired to wheel back, to figure out where our paths may have crossed, but I couldn't think. If I'd met him, it wasn't on any case.
'Richard,' I said again, 'who is it that's missing?'
It was like he hadn't heard me, his eyes still probing the corners of the church where the light from the windows didn't reach. But then, just as I was about to repeat myself a third time, he turned to face me.
'I am,' he said.
I frowned. 'You are what?'
'I'm the person that's missing.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: When a young man wakes up bruised, beaten and with no memory of who he is or where he came from, the press immediately dub him 'The Lost Man'.
Ten months later, Richard Kite - if that is even his real name - remains as desperate as ever. Despite appeals and the efforts of the police, no one knows this man.
Kite's last hope may be private investigator David Raker - a seasoned locator of missing people. But Raker has more questions than answers.
Who is Richard Kite?
Why does no one know him?
And what links him to the body of a woman found beside a London railway line two years ago?
MY THOUGHTS: This is the second book I have read (listened to) in this series, and it works perfectly well as a stand alone.
It was initially the premise of this story that attracted me....a man who doesn't know who he is and who, despite much publicity, no one else knows either. A man so desperate to find out who he is that he hires an investigator who specialises in finding missing people. It intrigued me that the investigator would have the person, but no information ... exactly the opposite of what usually happens. Where would you start? And why has no one reported him missing?
I am Missing was a read that kept my attention from beginning to end. I am keen to read more in this series.
****
#IAmMissing
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 I Am Missing by Tim Weaver, narrated by Joe Coen and Natalie Ritchie, published by Penguin, 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 and others are also published on Twitter and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'Yes, of course.'
He held up an apologetic hand but didn't continue. He looked away again instead, searching the shadows for the words he wanted, his face thin and pale, his eye oddly colourless. And as he did, something struck me: I've seen him before. I know him from somewhere.
Had the two of us met at some point?
'I called you,' he said, 'because I know that you find missing people. That's what you do, and that's ... well, that's what I need.' He stopped, swallowed hard. 'Someone's missing, and I need you to find them.'
'So, who is it that's missing?'
I was still thrown by the familiarity I felt. As I waited, I tired to wheel back, to figure out where our paths may have crossed, but I couldn't think. If I'd met him, it wasn't on any case.
'Richard,' I said again, 'who is it that's missing?'
It was like he hadn't heard me, his eyes still probing the corners of the church where the light from the windows didn't reach. But then, just as I was about to repeat myself a third time, he turned to face me.
'I am,' he said.
I frowned. 'You are what?'
'I'm the person that's missing.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: When a young man wakes up bruised, beaten and with no memory of who he is or where he came from, the press immediately dub him 'The Lost Man'.
Ten months later, Richard Kite - if that is even his real name - remains as desperate as ever. Despite appeals and the efforts of the police, no one knows this man.
Kite's last hope may be private investigator David Raker - a seasoned locator of missing people. But Raker has more questions than answers.
Who is Richard Kite?
Why does no one know him?
And what links him to the body of a woman found beside a London railway line two years ago?
MY THOUGHTS: This is the second book I have read (listened to) in this series, and it works perfectly well as a stand alone.
It was initially the premise of this story that attracted me....a man who doesn't know who he is and who, despite much publicity, no one else knows either. A man so desperate to find out who he is that he hires an investigator who specialises in finding missing people. It intrigued me that the investigator would have the person, but no information ... exactly the opposite of what usually happens. Where would you start? And why has no one reported him missing?
I am Missing was a read that kept my attention from beginning to end. I am keen to read more in this series.
****
#IAmMissing
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 I Am Missing by Tim Weaver, narrated by Joe Coen and Natalie Ritchie, published by Penguin, 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 and others are also published on Twitter and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
July 4, 2017
I Am Missing by Tim Weaver
This is the first Tim Weaver I have read and I found I am Missing an enjoyable read.
Richard Kite has Dissociative Amnesia and hires David Raker to find out who he is.
This story has lots of twist and turns and it kept me guessing.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first Tim Weaver I have read and I found I am Missing an enjoyable read.
Richard Kite has Dissociative Amnesia and hires David Raker to find out who he is.
This story has lots of twist and turns and it kept me guessing.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2017
I had previously heard good things about author Tim Weaver but had never gotten round to reading one of his novels, so when I was offered this I thought it was a perfect opportunity.
The novel is about a man who wakes up bruised, beaten and with no memory of who he is or where he came from, the press immediately dub him 'The Lost Man'. Now ten months later the man who has assumed the name Richard Kite is desperate to find out who he is. Despite police investigations and newspaper appeals the truth remains buried with no one coming forward to help him.
Richard Kite approached private investigator David Raker who has an excellent reputation for locating missing people, however this is an odd case where the missing person is the one seeking the answers. When Raker starts to investigate it leaves him with more questions than answers, who is Richard Kite, why does no one know him and what links him to the body of a woman found beside a London railway line two years ago?
This is a well written novel with an intriguing plot, I feel this may be the first of many Tim Weaver books I read.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The novel is about a man who wakes up bruised, beaten and with no memory of who he is or where he came from, the press immediately dub him 'The Lost Man'. Now ten months later the man who has assumed the name Richard Kite is desperate to find out who he is. Despite police investigations and newspaper appeals the truth remains buried with no one coming forward to help him.
Richard Kite approached private investigator David Raker who has an excellent reputation for locating missing people, however this is an odd case where the missing person is the one seeking the answers. When Raker starts to investigate it leaves him with more questions than answers, who is Richard Kite, why does no one know him and what links him to the body of a woman found beside a London railway line two years ago?
This is a well written novel with an intriguing plot, I feel this may be the first of many Tim Weaver books I read.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2017
I Absolutely loved this gripping,breath taking,sometimes very intense thriller
Private Investigator David Raker`s cases usually involve him searching for someone who has disappeared either by their own choice or because of the actions of other people.So he is very intregued when he is contacted by a young man who insists that he is missing.
Richard Kite explains that he is suffering from dissociative amnesia and has no memory of his life before he was found washed up near a life boat station on the Southampton Water ten months earlier.
Ten long months of having no idea of who he was and where he came from.His story had been front page news and yet no one had came forward to `claim` him.
Despite his reservations about the case Raker begins digging into the so called Lost Mans past and finds himself caught up in a complex case of families,greed,lies,manipulation and murder.
Although most of the story is about David Raker`s investigation into Richard`s past interspersed throughout the book are chapters about step sisters Penny and Beth and their misadventures at The Brink,a creepy,isolated area in the hills near their home.Who are the step sisters and are they in any way connected to Richard`s mysterious missing past?.
It's not a fast paced story but it is very Intreguing,gripping and has some seriously intense moments especially the parts set at The Brink and in the isolated cabin.David Raker is one of my favourite fictional characters,he puts his heart and soul into his cases,very often without a single thought about his own safety.As usual he finds himself caught up in a number of life threatening situations that had me on the edge of my comfy chair wondering how he was going to escape this time.Although this is the eighth book in the series it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone.I really love this series and after making the mistake of reading the excerpt I seriously can't wait to read the next book.It would be so cool if this series of books was chosen to be adapted for tv or as a series of films.
Many thanks to Penquin UK/Michael Joseph for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
Private Investigator David Raker`s cases usually involve him searching for someone who has disappeared either by their own choice or because of the actions of other people.So he is very intregued when he is contacted by a young man who insists that he is missing.
Richard Kite explains that he is suffering from dissociative amnesia and has no memory of his life before he was found washed up near a life boat station on the Southampton Water ten months earlier.
Ten long months of having no idea of who he was and where he came from.His story had been front page news and yet no one had came forward to `claim` him.
Despite his reservations about the case Raker begins digging into the so called Lost Mans past and finds himself caught up in a complex case of families,greed,lies,manipulation and murder.
Although most of the story is about David Raker`s investigation into Richard`s past interspersed throughout the book are chapters about step sisters Penny and Beth and their misadventures at The Brink,a creepy,isolated area in the hills near their home.Who are the step sisters and are they in any way connected to Richard`s mysterious missing past?.
It's not a fast paced story but it is very Intreguing,gripping and has some seriously intense moments especially the parts set at The Brink and in the isolated cabin.David Raker is one of my favourite fictional characters,he puts his heart and soul into his cases,very often without a single thought about his own safety.As usual he finds himself caught up in a number of life threatening situations that had me on the edge of my comfy chair wondering how he was going to escape this time.Although this is the eighth book in the series it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone.I really love this series and after making the mistake of reading the excerpt I seriously can't wait to read the next book.It would be so cool if this series of books was chosen to be adapted for tv or as a series of films.
Many thanks to Penquin UK/Michael Joseph for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
July 20, 2017
3.5 stars – but I’m rounding up to 4 because I liked more than I disliked.
My first impression of this book, before I even picked it up was this: oh no. Firstly, Netgalley is pretty useless at telling you when a book is part way through a series, so I didn’t initially realise this was the EIGHTH book in a series, secondly this is over 500 pages. I often find mystery thrillers over 400 pages are dragged out and could really be around 300 pages long with some good editing. But… I was pleasantly surprised.
This is my first taste of the David Raker series, as mentioned above, but it was so easy going into this one with no background information about him as a character. The book got straight on with the storyline of The Lost Man and didn’t dwell too often on his life or characters he had a past with. I think when you get so deep into a series as to have 8 books, the new ones you come out with do need to be as close to a standalone as possible.
As for the 500+ page issue, I do think there could have been some bits cut out to make it a little shorter. There was quite a bit of repetition of what had happened just previously, like at the beginning of a new TV episode where is does a short re-cap. I also found some of the conversation tedious and skimmed them. There was a lot of…
… which, as you can imagine, gets a bit annoying when you come across several conversations like this. Other than these few little issues with the writing, I thought the rest of it was very good and that Weaver is a talented writer!
When it comes to the story, my feelings are really conflicted (I’m probably going to put some spoiler tags in my GR review if you want to read something that goes into a little more detail because this is probably going to be vague). What initially drew me to this book was the idea that a man is missing himself – he has no memory of where he comes from or of who he is – so he hires a PI to “find” him. What we get from that is a twisty, journey into the history of this man’s life and how that led him to be washed up on UK shores.
Admittedly, this is one hell of a ride. It’s fast paced and exciting, but it’s also quite convoluted and towards the end where the big reveals are coming thick and fast, it gets a little ridiculous.
I liked this one but I couldn’t quite believe it, and so couldn’t get myself into it as much as I would have liked to. It starts off very chilling and intriguing but it gradually gets into “let’s make this as crazy as we can”.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin – Michael Joseph for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
My first impression of this book, before I even picked it up was this: oh no. Firstly, Netgalley is pretty useless at telling you when a book is part way through a series, so I didn’t initially realise this was the EIGHTH book in a series, secondly this is over 500 pages. I often find mystery thrillers over 400 pages are dragged out and could really be around 300 pages long with some good editing. But… I was pleasantly surprised.
This is my first taste of the David Raker series, as mentioned above, but it was so easy going into this one with no background information about him as a character. The book got straight on with the storyline of The Lost Man and didn’t dwell too often on his life or characters he had a past with. I think when you get so deep into a series as to have 8 books, the new ones you come out with do need to be as close to a standalone as possible.
As for the 500+ page issue, I do think there could have been some bits cut out to make it a little shorter. There was quite a bit of repetition of what had happened just previously, like at the beginning of a new TV episode where is does a short re-cap. I also found some of the conversation tedious and skimmed them. There was a lot of…
“And so then what happened?” I asked. He didn’t move.
“Tell me what happened,” I pushed to get an answer, but he kept his head down and didn’t say anything.
“Are you going to tell me what happened?” I wanted to force an answer out of him but I didn’t want to rush him. This time he moved slightly to look at me, but still he didn’t say anything.
… which, as you can imagine, gets a bit annoying when you come across several conversations like this. Other than these few little issues with the writing, I thought the rest of it was very good and that Weaver is a talented writer!
When it comes to the story, my feelings are really conflicted (I’m probably going to put some spoiler tags in my GR review if you want to read something that goes into a little more detail because this is probably going to be vague). What initially drew me to this book was the idea that a man is missing himself – he has no memory of where he comes from or of who he is – so he hires a PI to “find” him. What we get from that is a twisty, journey into the history of this man’s life and how that led him to be washed up on UK shores.
Admittedly, this is one hell of a ride. It’s fast paced and exciting, but it’s also quite convoluted and towards the end where the big reveals are coming thick and fast, it gets a little ridiculous.
I liked this one but I couldn’t quite believe it, and so couldn’t get myself into it as much as I would have liked to. It starts off very chilling and intriguing but it gradually gets into “let’s make this as crazy as we can”.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin – Michael Joseph for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2017
I Am Missing is book number eight in the David Raker series, and Tim Weaver delivers yet another wonderful read.
I’ve been a fan of David Raker since I started the first book, Chasing the Dead. It was such a wonderful read, and each additional book has added something more to the series. Each book is powerful, giving us the thriller we long for. Although I would not label this my favourite David Raker story – that award is handed to book three, Vanished – it was still a wonderful read.
With I Am Missing, the story has a somewhat different feel to it. The story has the clear David Raker feel to it, yet it unravels in a completely different way to the rest of the series. In fact, it is as though this story occurs in reverse. We have the person, but their past is missing. I love amnesia stories, as I’m sure many people do, and this one is certainly one for the books. Sometimes amnesia can be poorly dealt with, but Tim Weaver tells a wonderful tale whilst dealing with the topic in a sensitive manner. It really is all you could hope for from a Tim Weaver book.
I will admit, however, that this one did take me slightly longer to get into than the prior books. I believe this is mostly due to the change in story dynamic. This change meant it took a while for my mind to wrap up what was happening, to get into the right mind set. However, once I was pulled in, I was lost in the story. It became the typical Tim Weaver tale – I picked it up and I could not put it down, ignoring the world around me until I’d managed to complete the book in a single sitting.
Without a doubt, this is a wonderful addition to the David Raker series. Any fan of the series needs to pick up this book, diving into a different – but still wonderful – addition to the David Raker storyline. As always, Tim Weaver has left me excited to see what comes next in the series.
I cannot wait to get my hands on David Raker number nine!
I’ve been a fan of David Raker since I started the first book, Chasing the Dead. It was such a wonderful read, and each additional book has added something more to the series. Each book is powerful, giving us the thriller we long for. Although I would not label this my favourite David Raker story – that award is handed to book three, Vanished – it was still a wonderful read.
With I Am Missing, the story has a somewhat different feel to it. The story has the clear David Raker feel to it, yet it unravels in a completely different way to the rest of the series. In fact, it is as though this story occurs in reverse. We have the person, but their past is missing. I love amnesia stories, as I’m sure many people do, and this one is certainly one for the books. Sometimes amnesia can be poorly dealt with, but Tim Weaver tells a wonderful tale whilst dealing with the topic in a sensitive manner. It really is all you could hope for from a Tim Weaver book.
I will admit, however, that this one did take me slightly longer to get into than the prior books. I believe this is mostly due to the change in story dynamic. This change meant it took a while for my mind to wrap up what was happening, to get into the right mind set. However, once I was pulled in, I was lost in the story. It became the typical Tim Weaver tale – I picked it up and I could not put it down, ignoring the world around me until I’d managed to complete the book in a single sitting.
Without a doubt, this is a wonderful addition to the David Raker series. Any fan of the series needs to pick up this book, diving into a different – but still wonderful – addition to the David Raker storyline. As always, Tim Weaver has left me excited to see what comes next in the series.
I cannot wait to get my hands on David Raker number nine!
August 9, 2017
I'm afraid I didn't get on nearly as well with I Am Missing as a lot of other reviewers.
The set-up is excellent: David Raker, a specialist in missing persons, is contacted by a man with amnesia to try to find out who he is. It's an intriguing premise and I thought the opening of the book was very good. The story is narrated by Raker and I liked his voice, too, so the whole thing was promising. However, this didn't last. Raker is no fan of concision, so we get an awful lot of it-might-be-this or perhaps-it's-that which doesn’t add up to a lot, plus a great deal of over descriptive scene-setting and it gets pretty wearing. Later, too, Weaver begins to resort increasingly to clichés like "Slowly, this was heading somewhere. *Somewhere bad.*" I wholeheartedly agreed with "slowly," but really, "Somewhere bad," as an italicised sentence? It's pretty cheesy, as is the rather sentimental ending. Weaver can write well, so it's a shame to mar decent prose with this sort of stuff.
The other problem is the plot holes and absurdities, like the frankly incomprehensible failure to go to the police with vital evidence when the resulting police work would help Raker hugely. Twice (!) he deliberately puts himself alone in inescapable places which he knows are controlled by those who wish him dead. A succession of slightly implausible villains are going to kill him, but carefully explain to him everything they have done, including their motivations, before…I wouldn't dream of including spoilers, and I'm sure you can't guess. And so on and so on. I did finish the book, but 540-odd pages of this was an awful lot it was a bit of a chore and I did get very fed up with it.
This might make an OK, brain-off beach read but as a plausible, enjoyable thriller I can only give it a very lukewarm recommendation.
(I received an ARC via NetGalley.)
The set-up is excellent: David Raker, a specialist in missing persons, is contacted by a man with amnesia to try to find out who he is. It's an intriguing premise and I thought the opening of the book was very good. The story is narrated by Raker and I liked his voice, too, so the whole thing was promising. However, this didn't last. Raker is no fan of concision, so we get an awful lot of it-might-be-this or perhaps-it's-that which doesn’t add up to a lot, plus a great deal of over descriptive scene-setting and it gets pretty wearing. Later, too, Weaver begins to resort increasingly to clichés like "Slowly, this was heading somewhere. *Somewhere bad.*" I wholeheartedly agreed with "slowly," but really, "Somewhere bad," as an italicised sentence? It's pretty cheesy, as is the rather sentimental ending. Weaver can write well, so it's a shame to mar decent prose with this sort of stuff.
The other problem is the plot holes and absurdities, like the frankly incomprehensible failure to go to the police with vital evidence when the resulting police work would help Raker hugely. Twice (!) he deliberately puts himself alone in inescapable places which he knows are controlled by those who wish him dead. A succession of slightly implausible villains are going to kill him, but carefully explain to him everything they have done, including their motivations, before…I wouldn't dream of including spoilers, and I'm sure you can't guess. And so on and so on. I did finish the book, but 540-odd pages of this was an awful lot it was a bit of a chore and I did get very fed up with it.
This might make an OK, brain-off beach read but as a plausible, enjoyable thriller I can only give it a very lukewarm recommendation.
(I received an ARC via NetGalley.)
January 11, 2023
I understand this is a long series involving David Raker however, unbeknown to me, I’ve arrived at book 8.
Never mind, I’m sure I’ve missed loads but this is a new case to solve so I read it as is.
It’s a fab opening that will create a hook right away and draw you in.
Great well thought out plot with lots of twists.
Never mind, I’m sure I’ve missed loads but this is a new case to solve so I read it as is.
It’s a fab opening that will create a hook right away and draw you in.
Great well thought out plot with lots of twists.
July 1, 2018
I am a huge fan of Tim Weaver’s books but never got round to reading I Am Missing until just this past week. As always it was another thrilling and engrossing mystery. I said on Twitter that I rarely become as gripped by a mystery as I do by the ones Tim writes and that is so true. They are just so expertly written and intricately woven that it’s impossible to not get completely swept up in the drama and trying to solve the mystery along with David Raker (who I just adore).
This time around and things are a little different. Raker is not looking for a missing person, but he has been contacted by somebody with no memory and he wants Raker to find out who he is and where he came from. As always the reader nor Raker knows just what a perilous and dangerous journey this will lead him on. I have said in the past that I’m fascinated by how authors plot their books and I’d love to know more about how Tim Weaver planned this book and what came first in terms of its story and its characters.
I Am Missing is a beautifully atmospheric read with some scenes taking place in a setting that was easy to imagine and that felt both creepy, eery and incredibly isolated. I won’t say too much about this setting except to say that it’s memorable and adds so much to the story. Raker as a character shines as always. Whilst most of us probably can’t relate to his need to help others nor his willingness to keep putting his own life in danger, it’s easy to see what type of man he is and he is hugely likeable and such a fantastic character to read about. Given where the next book is going to take us, I am so intrigued to see how Raker reacts to this and how his character will change because of it.
If you love addictive mysteries packed with twists and turns with real depth and emotion behind the storytelling, then you’ll be hard pushed to find a better one than I Am Missing. In fact this whole series is one of my all-time favourites and I am always recommending it. Tim Weaver is one of my favourite authors and if you are yet to read one of his books, I highly recommend picking one up and finding out why I and so many others just love this series.
This time around and things are a little different. Raker is not looking for a missing person, but he has been contacted by somebody with no memory and he wants Raker to find out who he is and where he came from. As always the reader nor Raker knows just what a perilous and dangerous journey this will lead him on. I have said in the past that I’m fascinated by how authors plot their books and I’d love to know more about how Tim Weaver planned this book and what came first in terms of its story and its characters.
I Am Missing is a beautifully atmospheric read with some scenes taking place in a setting that was easy to imagine and that felt both creepy, eery and incredibly isolated. I won’t say too much about this setting except to say that it’s memorable and adds so much to the story. Raker as a character shines as always. Whilst most of us probably can’t relate to his need to help others nor his willingness to keep putting his own life in danger, it’s easy to see what type of man he is and he is hugely likeable and such a fantastic character to read about. Given where the next book is going to take us, I am so intrigued to see how Raker reacts to this and how his character will change because of it.
If you love addictive mysteries packed with twists and turns with real depth and emotion behind the storytelling, then you’ll be hard pushed to find a better one than I Am Missing. In fact this whole series is one of my all-time favourites and I am always recommending it. Tim Weaver is one of my favourite authors and if you are yet to read one of his books, I highly recommend picking one up and finding out why I and so many others just love this series.
July 30, 2017
4.5 Star
This is the first book I have read by Tim Weaver, and did not realise it was part of a series when i requested it. Part of the David Raker series, but works extremely well as a stand alone.
I really liked the idea behind the main plot of the story. Raker is a missing persons investigator, when Richard approaches him and asks him to help Raker agrees. Who is he to find ? He is to find Richard himself, a sufferer of dissociative amnesia, he cannot remember his real name, date of birth, address, where he is from, he knows nothing.
I really liked how the normal, everyday aspects of this condition were approached. Because Richard does not know his birth date or national insurance number, he has no access to banks, driving license, rent a house or work amongst other things. All things that I had not even considered until this point.
There are quite a few plot twists going on in this book, various sub plots all adding up to create a very in-depth and intriguing scenario, that goes far beyond its original point of origin.
There are three distinct stories within this book. That of Raker and Richard, then the tale of two young girls growing up, and then travelogue extracts from a book. These three sections provide past stories, histories and accounts, a little confusing at first due to not knowing what part they play, but once you start to realise the links between them and the main story, it makes a lot of sense and adds a real depth to the story.
At times I did feel that there was a lot of extra descriptive passages, and occasionally felt repetitive. But overall a really interesting read, with some great characters and wonderfully described settings.
I would recommend this book for readers of Crime / Thriller / Mystery genres.
I wish to express my thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Uk-Michael Joseph for allowing me a copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.
This is the first book I have read by Tim Weaver, and did not realise it was part of a series when i requested it. Part of the David Raker series, but works extremely well as a stand alone.
I really liked the idea behind the main plot of the story. Raker is a missing persons investigator, when Richard approaches him and asks him to help Raker agrees. Who is he to find ? He is to find Richard himself, a sufferer of dissociative amnesia, he cannot remember his real name, date of birth, address, where he is from, he knows nothing.
I really liked how the normal, everyday aspects of this condition were approached. Because Richard does not know his birth date or national insurance number, he has no access to banks, driving license, rent a house or work amongst other things. All things that I had not even considered until this point.
There are quite a few plot twists going on in this book, various sub plots all adding up to create a very in-depth and intriguing scenario, that goes far beyond its original point of origin.
There are three distinct stories within this book. That of Raker and Richard, then the tale of two young girls growing up, and then travelogue extracts from a book. These three sections provide past stories, histories and accounts, a little confusing at first due to not knowing what part they play, but once you start to realise the links between them and the main story, it makes a lot of sense and adds a real depth to the story.
At times I did feel that there was a lot of extra descriptive passages, and occasionally felt repetitive. But overall a really interesting read, with some great characters and wonderfully described settings.
I would recommend this book for readers of Crime / Thriller / Mystery genres.
I wish to express my thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Uk-Michael Joseph for allowing me a copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.
April 7, 2020
3.5 Stars
July 20, 2017
In brief - Very well written, powerful and tense. Maybe not the best Raker book but "Maybe not the best Raker book" still makes for a far better read than many ordinary books. 4.5/5 I think.
In full
I really did like the opening of this book the 8th in the David Raker series. I have read all but one of them (and that is on the bookshelf!). Writing about people who go missing has proved a good formula so far however the change here is that Raker is "looking" for someone who is in front of him when he Is asked to take on the investigation. The man - currently called Richard - has "lost" his life as he is suffering from dissociative amnesia. Despite an extensive media campaign and police investigations he does not know who he is.
Not for the first time the investigation leads Raker into some danger. There are twists and turns almost from the start as he tries to find out anything at all he can about Richard's past. Excellent writing means that the settings for the story are effective and often bleakly moody.
I found the characters drawn out in this story credible, good and often excellent. Tim Weaver's writing is so good it makes reading both simple and compelling. I found the last 25% or so of the book very hard indeed to put down.
To be clear I am a real fan of Tim Weaver's writing. I think he is one of the best thriller writers in the UK currently. This story has a feel of some of the older Raker books at times. For me there were some parts of this that were not as gripping as others. However the standard set by Tim Weaver is so high that I found this a highly enjoyable gripping thriller all the same. I'd suggest reading then in order if you are new to these (although the first book I found less good than subsequent ones) in part to get the background however mostly because they are extremely good stories. If you are already a fan you will want to read this and I'm fairly sure you will enjoy it.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
http://viewson.org.uk/thriller/i-miss...
In full
I really did like the opening of this book the 8th in the David Raker series. I have read all but one of them (and that is on the bookshelf!). Writing about people who go missing has proved a good formula so far however the change here is that Raker is "looking" for someone who is in front of him when he Is asked to take on the investigation. The man - currently called Richard - has "lost" his life as he is suffering from dissociative amnesia. Despite an extensive media campaign and police investigations he does not know who he is.
Not for the first time the investigation leads Raker into some danger. There are twists and turns almost from the start as he tries to find out anything at all he can about Richard's past. Excellent writing means that the settings for the story are effective and often bleakly moody.
I found the characters drawn out in this story credible, good and often excellent. Tim Weaver's writing is so good it makes reading both simple and compelling. I found the last 25% or so of the book very hard indeed to put down.
To be clear I am a real fan of Tim Weaver's writing. I think he is one of the best thriller writers in the UK currently. This story has a feel of some of the older Raker books at times. For me there were some parts of this that were not as gripping as others. However the standard set by Tim Weaver is so high that I found this a highly enjoyable gripping thriller all the same. I'd suggest reading then in order if you are new to these (although the first book I found less good than subsequent ones) in part to get the background however mostly because they are extremely good stories. If you are already a fan you will want to read this and I'm fairly sure you will enjoy it.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
http://viewson.org.uk/thriller/i-miss...
June 23, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for an advance copy of I am Missing, the eighth novel to feature missing person detective David Raker.
Raker is intrigued when Richard Kite calls and asks for a consultation but won't say anything about it. When they meet Richard reveals that he wants Raker to find out who he is because since he was found washed up on a shore 10 months ago he can remember nothing about himself or his past and can't even be sure his name is Richard although it feels right. As Raker starts to investigate he begins to realise that whatever happened to Richard is much larger than he could have imagined.
I'm in two minds about this novel. The plot is full of unlikely coincidences and things that just happen to land in Raker's lap but it is a great adventure and a compulsive read so I've swallowed my disbelief and plumped for a good read rating of four stars. There are plenty of twists and turns as Raker delves deeper and deeper into what may have been Richard's life and these take him further afield than anyone could imagine. The novel is well paced with just enough revealed at a time to keep me turning the pages. I wanted to know what was coming next.
Raker's search for Richard's past is interspersed with chapters on two young stepsisters, Penny and Beth, and their forays into a forbidden zone near their home. These chapters are interesting and provide some background information to the main plot but as the link is not made until much later in the novel they are initially a distraction and irrelevant to Raker's search.
Despite the first person narrative Raker is quite an elusive character. I never felt that I really got to his heart and soul although there is no doubting his commitment to the investigation. Richard, on the other hand, is more obvious because he is a blank canvas. I found the initial scenes where he lays out the full implications of not having an identity quite shocking, probably because it's something I take for granted. Apparently the assumption is made that you will have a National Insurance number somewhere so you can't get another one but without it you can't get benefits or a legal job and that's just the start. No wonder people with dissociative amnesia are prone to depression and get confused.
I am Missing requires a certain suspension of disbelief but once you manage that it is a good read.
Raker is intrigued when Richard Kite calls and asks for a consultation but won't say anything about it. When they meet Richard reveals that he wants Raker to find out who he is because since he was found washed up on a shore 10 months ago he can remember nothing about himself or his past and can't even be sure his name is Richard although it feels right. As Raker starts to investigate he begins to realise that whatever happened to Richard is much larger than he could have imagined.
I'm in two minds about this novel. The plot is full of unlikely coincidences and things that just happen to land in Raker's lap but it is a great adventure and a compulsive read so I've swallowed my disbelief and plumped for a good read rating of four stars. There are plenty of twists and turns as Raker delves deeper and deeper into what may have been Richard's life and these take him further afield than anyone could imagine. The novel is well paced with just enough revealed at a time to keep me turning the pages. I wanted to know what was coming next.
Raker's search for Richard's past is interspersed with chapters on two young stepsisters, Penny and Beth, and their forays into a forbidden zone near their home. These chapters are interesting and provide some background information to the main plot but as the link is not made until much later in the novel they are initially a distraction and irrelevant to Raker's search.
Despite the first person narrative Raker is quite an elusive character. I never felt that I really got to his heart and soul although there is no doubting his commitment to the investigation. Richard, on the other hand, is more obvious because he is a blank canvas. I found the initial scenes where he lays out the full implications of not having an identity quite shocking, probably because it's something I take for granted. Apparently the assumption is made that you will have a National Insurance number somewhere so you can't get another one but without it you can't get benefits or a legal job and that's just the start. No wonder people with dissociative amnesia are prone to depression and get confused.
I am Missing requires a certain suspension of disbelief but once you manage that it is a good read.
October 2, 2017
I Am Missing – Complex and Engaging Mystery
I am Missing is the eighth book in Tim Weaver’s David Raker series, showing how cleverly constructed and complex stories can still deliver an excellent story. At times this is a bracing story and you can feel the cold and wet as if you are in the middle of the story, and like all good thrillers the twists happen when you least expect them, and some are surprising. One thing is still clear, it does not matter how far Raker goes, trouble still finds him.
Private Detective David Raker has a reputation for find people, but this time his client is the missing person. Richard Kite has hired him to find out who he is, because he has no idea or memory of who he is. Having been discovered on a beach, bruised and beaten in Southampton and dubbed by the press as ‘The Lost Man’. He cannot place Kite’s accent, it seems as if it is from the south west but he cannot be sure and the press coverage, nobody has claimed to know him.
As Raker investigates, he needs to find out who Richard Kite is, where he is from and why does nobody know him? He then has to work out what links him to a dead body of a woman found on a railway line in London, two years before.
What Raker finds will take him on a journey overseas, find himself confined, with people chasing after him to make sure the truth will never be revealed. He does find who Kite is but should he tell him the truth? As he discovers Richard’s story and how it is intertwined with the dead woman, whom he knew of at another time in another place.
Weaver has written a multi-layered thriller which shows how far people will go to hide the truth, and how greed can corrupt all. Sometimes it can be hard to discover who is not a victim in this story, but it does become clear, eventually.
An excellent story, highly recommend it.
I am Missing is the eighth book in Tim Weaver’s David Raker series, showing how cleverly constructed and complex stories can still deliver an excellent story. At times this is a bracing story and you can feel the cold and wet as if you are in the middle of the story, and like all good thrillers the twists happen when you least expect them, and some are surprising. One thing is still clear, it does not matter how far Raker goes, trouble still finds him.
Private Detective David Raker has a reputation for find people, but this time his client is the missing person. Richard Kite has hired him to find out who he is, because he has no idea or memory of who he is. Having been discovered on a beach, bruised and beaten in Southampton and dubbed by the press as ‘The Lost Man’. He cannot place Kite’s accent, it seems as if it is from the south west but he cannot be sure and the press coverage, nobody has claimed to know him.
As Raker investigates, he needs to find out who Richard Kite is, where he is from and why does nobody know him? He then has to work out what links him to a dead body of a woman found on a railway line in London, two years before.
What Raker finds will take him on a journey overseas, find himself confined, with people chasing after him to make sure the truth will never be revealed. He does find who Kite is but should he tell him the truth? As he discovers Richard’s story and how it is intertwined with the dead woman, whom he knew of at another time in another place.
Weaver has written a multi-layered thriller which shows how far people will go to hide the truth, and how greed can corrupt all. Sometimes it can be hard to discover who is not a victim in this story, but it does become clear, eventually.
An excellent story, highly recommend it.
January 23, 2018
This book is a bit of an about face for the David Raker character. Normally he is a relentless tracker down of missing persons. This time though, the person in not missing, his background is. Richard Kite washed up on a beach a year ago with no memory of how he got there or of his life before. He knows his name is Richard and that's about it apart from some vague images. The surname Kite is something he adopted for convenience. He asks Raker to find out who he really is.
Now this is hard. With a missing person you have somewhere to start. You can talk to family, friends colleagues, search property etc. But Raker is not to be deterred and he is very good at what he does. He works with the little that he has and eventually gets a thread to pull. What he finds is the mother of all corruption and cover-ups and he walks right into a trap that could be the end of him.
Have to admit I'm biased. I've loved all the David Raker books but this ending was this was just a teeny bit not perfect. I thought there would be some awesome mystery to it all but in the end, the answer was much more prosaic. Unfortunately I can't explain any more or I will ruin it for any of you who will read this. So four stars not five from me this time. But, hey, it was still a damn good story and, Mr Weaver, I'll be looking out for your next book.
Now this is hard. With a missing person you have somewhere to start. You can talk to family, friends colleagues, search property etc. But Raker is not to be deterred and he is very good at what he does. He works with the little that he has and eventually gets a thread to pull. What he finds is the mother of all corruption and cover-ups and he walks right into a trap that could be the end of him.
Have to admit I'm biased. I've loved all the David Raker books but this ending was this was just a teeny bit not perfect. I thought there would be some awesome mystery to it all but in the end, the answer was much more prosaic. Unfortunately I can't explain any more or I will ruin it for any of you who will read this. So four stars not five from me this time. But, hey, it was still a damn good story and, Mr Weaver, I'll be looking out for your next book.
October 10, 2019
This was an enjoyable read of a man who lost his memory when he's found washed up on the Southampton shores and the private detective who goes in search of who the man really is. This takes him on a whirlwind journey, uncovering several long buried crimes including an old murder and ends up on a cruise ship heading to the Empress Islands. There really isn't a dull moment.
I loved all the twists as Raker uncovers yet more conspiracy and the crimes get darker and more horrid as we go along. It's very easy to get sucked in and wonder where it's going to go next. It's the first I've read of this series but that didn't matter, it worked just as well as a stand alone book.
I really enjoyed it and looking forward to reading some more
I loved all the twists as Raker uncovers yet more conspiracy and the crimes get darker and more horrid as we go along. It's very easy to get sucked in and wonder where it's going to go next. It's the first I've read of this series but that didn't matter, it worked just as well as a stand alone book.
I really enjoyed it and looking forward to reading some more
November 10, 2017
Tense and suspenseful. Full of twists.
Read
June 28, 2017I have a great admiration for the writing ability of Tim Weaver and in particular his two previous outings for missing persons investigator David Raker namely Broken Heart and What Remains. In Broken Heart the authors love of cinema and in particular "noir" adds an authentic old Hollywood feel to the story in contrast What Remains is equally outstanding with its imagery of old wooden piers and the thrill and sound of Victorian Amusement Arcades. Weavers attention to detail combined with his journalistic instinct creates well researched and highly entertaining novels. So what about his latest? I am missing really suffers from a strong storyline. When Richard Kite is discovered alone, lost and wondering on a beach this would seem the perfect case for Raker, a client who is himself missing or rather his mind and memory totally erased. So starts the slow process of building a case and when the body of a young lady is discovered the race is on to see if there is a connection to Kite. An attachment is revealed between England and the fictional Empress Islands (think Falkland islands with its cold barren wintry seasons) and our Private Investigator soon realizes that he must travel to the islands to resolve the mystery of the memory man.
There are no Victorian arcades or Hollywood actors here instead we the reader must persevere with Raker as he brings together the clues and treks the monotonous and barren shores of the depressing Empress Islands. The story lacks the vital spark that was ubiquitous in earlier novels, it is only natural that in a series such as this certain books will be more valued than others and I am confident that the next instalment (due for release in summer 2018) will see our hero returned to a more exciting adventure backed by a lively narrative. I end this review where I started, Tim Weaver is a writer of exceptional ability and if you value well researched and articulate writing then become acquainted with missing persons investigator David Raker I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.
There are no Victorian arcades or Hollywood actors here instead we the reader must persevere with Raker as he brings together the clues and treks the monotonous and barren shores of the depressing Empress Islands. The story lacks the vital spark that was ubiquitous in earlier novels, it is only natural that in a series such as this certain books will be more valued than others and I am confident that the next instalment (due for release in summer 2018) will see our hero returned to a more exciting adventure backed by a lively narrative. I end this review where I started, Tim Weaver is a writer of exceptional ability and if you value well researched and articulate writing then become acquainted with missing persons investigator David Raker I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.
September 18, 2017
I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that this is the first Tim Weaver novel I've read, despite the high praise the series has been garnering. This book has a clever twist, in that it is the man who was found washed up on the shore doesn't know who he is - he has a vague idea his name is Richard, he has a talent for fixing things, but the rest of his life is a blank. Pretty scary, when you think about it, as you're in a precarious position - you've no NI no., and so can't legally work, and no newspaper or TV appeals have helped in the search for the stranger's identity.
Just as well missing person investigator David Raker has agreed to do his best to tackle this unique case. And it really is wonderfully original; I found myself drawn deeper and deeper into the plot, surmising what could have happened to this poor lost soul. Naturally, Tim Weaver had me wrongfooted at every turn. I'll now be going back and catching up on the series in the best order I can - not that that's essential; I didn't feel lost, although there are a couple of details I'd like filled in.
It's a highly original book that keeps you guessing, and if you haven't already done so, I'd recommend grabbing a Tim Weaver next time you fancy something clever and intriguing to keep you guessing for hours!
I'm now officially a big fan!
Just as well missing person investigator David Raker has agreed to do his best to tackle this unique case. And it really is wonderfully original; I found myself drawn deeper and deeper into the plot, surmising what could have happened to this poor lost soul. Naturally, Tim Weaver had me wrongfooted at every turn. I'll now be going back and catching up on the series in the best order I can - not that that's essential; I didn't feel lost, although there are a couple of details I'd like filled in.
It's a highly original book that keeps you guessing, and if you haven't already done so, I'd recommend grabbing a Tim Weaver next time you fancy something clever and intriguing to keep you guessing for hours!
I'm now officially a big fan!
March 2, 2024
Another outing for David Raker. This time round though Raker's search is not for a missing person but a found person's story.
Gripping, complex, well-researched, I really enjoyed it.
Gripping, complex, well-researched, I really enjoyed it.
July 30, 2017
I Am Missing (David Raker #8) by Tim Weaver
3 stars!!!
I Am Missing is the first book in this series that I have read and my urge to pick this up was fuelled by my current love for thrillers. I have read so many recently and the more I read the more I love this genre. I love a book that makes me think and this one had the grey matter running a mile a minute. From what I understand in past book David Raker is an investigator who excels in finding the “missing person.” In I Am Missing, we have the missing person, it is he who wants to be found.
Richard Kite is a man who was found washed up on a beach, or was he dumped? With a severe head injury when he wakes he remembers absolutely nothing. Not his name, where he is from, what he likes and dislikes…his brain is an empty vessel, one that he was desperate to fill. Richard Kite is desperate, desperate for information, desperate to belong, to someone, to somewhere…but sometimes the past is better left forgotten.
I Am Missing follows David Raker on his quest to answer Richard’s questions. Questions where the answers put his own life in danger…who is Richard Kite and why does somebody want him dead?
This was a long book and at times it felt like it, but none the less, I couldn’t put it down. Tim Weaver does a great job in building the suspense as answers seem to be in reach and then get pulled away on the next page. The build-up was fantastic and with every clue there was another red herring, leaving the reader at a loss for how the past and the present actually marry up. When that eureka moment happened, I thought I had it solved, but alas…no. Tim Weaver still had many a trick up his sleeve.
I will be honest and say at the end I felt it was all a little anti-climactic, my brain had run a mile a minute, I had many theories, but maybe I have read too many books where off the wall tangents are the norm. This just gave me that feeling of “is that it?” However, the road to get there was well thought out, well written and held me captive.
I loved the setting and the way the plot had been put together was meticulous. While at times is was confusing it wasn’t long before answers were given and I could go back and associate what confused to what now made sense.
Overall, I really enjoyed it and will definitely be reading more of this series.
www.theromancecover.com
3 stars!!!
I Am Missing is the first book in this series that I have read and my urge to pick this up was fuelled by my current love for thrillers. I have read so many recently and the more I read the more I love this genre. I love a book that makes me think and this one had the grey matter running a mile a minute. From what I understand in past book David Raker is an investigator who excels in finding the “missing person.” In I Am Missing, we have the missing person, it is he who wants to be found.
Richard Kite is a man who was found washed up on a beach, or was he dumped? With a severe head injury when he wakes he remembers absolutely nothing. Not his name, where he is from, what he likes and dislikes…his brain is an empty vessel, one that he was desperate to fill. Richard Kite is desperate, desperate for information, desperate to belong, to someone, to somewhere…but sometimes the past is better left forgotten.
“He was a man without an anchor to his history. He was a story that couldn’t be finished because his story hadn’t even been started. He was five incomplete lines on a page – and maybe not even that much. In the end, the press had been right about something. This was a man that was lost.”
I Am Missing follows David Raker on his quest to answer Richard’s questions. Questions where the answers put his own life in danger…who is Richard Kite and why does somebody want him dead?
This was a long book and at times it felt like it, but none the less, I couldn’t put it down. Tim Weaver does a great job in building the suspense as answers seem to be in reach and then get pulled away on the next page. The build-up was fantastic and with every clue there was another red herring, leaving the reader at a loss for how the past and the present actually marry up. When that eureka moment happened, I thought I had it solved, but alas…no. Tim Weaver still had many a trick up his sleeve.
“It started with me boarding a ship. It finished with me lost in a labyrinth.”
I will be honest and say at the end I felt it was all a little anti-climactic, my brain had run a mile a minute, I had many theories, but maybe I have read too many books where off the wall tangents are the norm. This just gave me that feeling of “is that it?” However, the road to get there was well thought out, well written and held me captive.
I loved the setting and the way the plot had been put together was meticulous. While at times is was confusing it wasn’t long before answers were given and I could go back and associate what confused to what now made sense.
Overall, I really enjoyed it and will definitely be reading more of this series.
www.theromancecover.com
June 25, 2017
WHO is The Lost Man??
Richard Kite is effectively missing. When waking up in a bad way outside a lifeboat station, he finds he is suffering from 'Dissociative Amnesia', He doesn't know who he really is, whether he has a family and nothing about his life.
He enlists David Raker to find these facts out for him and what happens is something that Raker couldn't ever have imagined.
I Am Missing is brilliantly written, I was kept on the edge of my seat and became deeply engrossed.
Full of twists..some of which that were lost on me.. this is a very involving read. There is more than enough story to keep you guessing.
I loved the plot of 'finding' a missing person, you would think it would be relatively easy, especially how Richards plight was front page news, you would think someone would come forward and 'claim' him. But what this book does is rather cleverly feed you tidbits of Richards past then brings it together in quite an Oh My Gosh ending.
I loved it. It has everything I love in a book ..suspense, intrigue, mystery and grit.
I would think book clubs would like it as it has quite a lot to discuss, especially concerning family and mental health.
Richard Kite is effectively missing. When waking up in a bad way outside a lifeboat station, he finds he is suffering from 'Dissociative Amnesia', He doesn't know who he really is, whether he has a family and nothing about his life.
He enlists David Raker to find these facts out for him and what happens is something that Raker couldn't ever have imagined.
I Am Missing is brilliantly written, I was kept on the edge of my seat and became deeply engrossed.
Full of twists..some of which that were lost on me.. this is a very involving read. There is more than enough story to keep you guessing.
I loved the plot of 'finding' a missing person, you would think it would be relatively easy, especially how Richards plight was front page news, you would think someone would come forward and 'claim' him. But what this book does is rather cleverly feed you tidbits of Richards past then brings it together in quite an Oh My Gosh ending.
I loved it. It has everything I love in a book ..suspense, intrigue, mystery and grit.
I would think book clubs would like it as it has quite a lot to discuss, especially concerning family and mental health.
November 20, 2017
Over the past few years Tim Weaver's books about Missing Persons Investigator David Raker have become one of my all-time favourite crime series. Intricate, unusual and highly original plotlines are peopled with a whole slew of memorable characters.
However, what I find especially appealing is the author's creation of truly eerie and ominous locations. If anything I Am Missing exceeds even its illustrious predecessors on this front. Raker first meets his latest client "Richard Kite" in a remote run-down church which stands near a cliff-edge on the English south coast. Other major parts of the action occur in a mysterious fenced-off area on a mountainside and by an abandoned railway track in east London. And it's raining - heavily! In fact, it rains a lot in this novel, further enhancing the atmosphere of claustrophobia and menace. As if to build up the tension even further, the thrilling climax to the novel takes place in a dilapidated mountain cabin during a snowstorm.
All in all, this is probably the most thrilling, chilling and memorable novel I've read this year. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series.
However, what I find especially appealing is the author's creation of truly eerie and ominous locations. If anything I Am Missing exceeds even its illustrious predecessors on this front. Raker first meets his latest client "Richard Kite" in a remote run-down church which stands near a cliff-edge on the English south coast. Other major parts of the action occur in a mysterious fenced-off area on a mountainside and by an abandoned railway track in east London. And it's raining - heavily! In fact, it rains a lot in this novel, further enhancing the atmosphere of claustrophobia and menace. As if to build up the tension even further, the thrilling climax to the novel takes place in a dilapidated mountain cabin during a snowstorm.
All in all, this is probably the most thrilling, chilling and memorable novel I've read this year. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series.
June 22, 2017
This was very different to what I'd read before. Trying to find a missing man who is actually there in person but can't remember who he is or where he's from and no idea how he ended up beside the water in Southampton.
There's some twists and turns in this little story! Not sure if I got them all, but then that's me and when they start talking about DNA and mental health issues I did get a bit lost but then it did make me think more about the missing man himself and the confusion he must have felt at the start of the book.
There's a lot of talk of technology and how the police would face such a case -finding a missing man who's not missing? It was a great premise and not long before I read this, I'd seen a programme on television about missing people and how easy it is to actually disappear and not be found if you don't want to be, how people go missing every day for very different reasons and how memory loss can affect us all. Lots of issues to chew over with this novel and lies upon lie upon more lies. Deliciously clever.
There's some twists and turns in this little story! Not sure if I got them all, but then that's me and when they start talking about DNA and mental health issues I did get a bit lost but then it did make me think more about the missing man himself and the confusion he must have felt at the start of the book.
There's a lot of talk of technology and how the police would face such a case -finding a missing man who's not missing? It was a great premise and not long before I read this, I'd seen a programme on television about missing people and how easy it is to actually disappear and not be found if you don't want to be, how people go missing every day for very different reasons and how memory loss can affect us all. Lots of issues to chew over with this novel and lies upon lie upon more lies. Deliciously clever.
July 8, 2017
Thank you Penguin Uk Michael Joseph and Netgalley for a copy of this book. I was looking forward to reading this as I have read others in the David Raker series but, you can read this as a standalone.
Richard Kite has Dissociative Amnesia. When he meets up with David Raker to ask him to if can take a missing persons case. The person who is missing is himself. He was found outside a lifeboat station. He can't remember who he is or where he is from. He can only remember that he lived near a beach and he used to watch a kid's TV show as a child.
When Raker starts investigating, he discovers that Richard is linked to a dead woman found on a railtrack 2 years ago. The investigation leads him to the Empress Islands and a town called Sofia.
This story is beautifully written, had a good plot and there is lots of twists and turns. The author keeps you guessing throughout the book. The only thing I thought for me personally, that the story went on a bit too long.
Richard Kite has Dissociative Amnesia. When he meets up with David Raker to ask him to if can take a missing persons case. The person who is missing is himself. He was found outside a lifeboat station. He can't remember who he is or where he is from. He can only remember that he lived near a beach and he used to watch a kid's TV show as a child.
When Raker starts investigating, he discovers that Richard is linked to a dead woman found on a railtrack 2 years ago. The investigation leads him to the Empress Islands and a town called Sofia.
This story is beautifully written, had a good plot and there is lots of twists and turns. The author keeps you guessing throughout the book. The only thing I thought for me personally, that the story went on a bit too long.
July 25, 2017
David Raker finds missing people, but in this case he has the person but that person doesn't have any recollection of his past. Richard Kite was found washed up on the South Coast with no memory of his history. He has a vague memory of a beach & a TV show but that is all. When David starts to investigate, he little realises the strange paths he was to travel.
I have never read any of the 'David Raker' books before. This one was a slow builer. It took a while to get totally gripped by it , but once I did I was hooked. Well plotted with interesting characters and a nail biting conclusion, this was a definite five star read.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for introducing me to this interesting character & great author.
I have never read any of the 'David Raker' books before. This one was a slow builer. It took a while to get totally gripped by it , but once I did I was hooked. Well plotted with interesting characters and a nail biting conclusion, this was a definite five star read.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for introducing me to this interesting character & great author.
September 21, 2017
This is the first time I have read anything by Tim Weaver and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was well written, with a good plot and perfectly paced. David Raker is a character I need to get to know better which is why I went straight to the library and borrowed the first two books in the series!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.
February 28, 2019
One of his best.
February 12, 2023
I really enjoyed the way the author created suspense and in some chapters pure fear! However some of the story was a little farfetched hence 4 stars instead of 5. I will definitely hunt out some more books by Tim Weaver
August 8, 2017
I am a huge fan of the David Raker series and had been waiting for what seemed like forever for number 8 - I am Missing. The series follows journalist turned private investigator David Raker as he looks for missing people and attempts to solve some complex and haunting cases. (Whilst the whole series is definitely worth a read, you do not need to begin the series in order or to have read any of the previous books before starting I am Missing).
I am Missing is different to the other books in the series as the missing person is actually the one who contacts Raker. Richard has amnesia and needs Raker's help to find himself. What Raker uncovers is a tangled web of secrets, deception and murder.
Tim Weaver is an outstanding writer and always manages to do a brilliant job of making you feel as though you are only a few steps behind Raker at all times, due to the detail he gives to the surroundings. Raker is easy to relate to, he is passionate about helping others and discovering the truth.
In my opinion I am Missing does not compare with the other books in the Raker series. It is a good book with plenty of twists and a good plot but I feel as though the book lacked something that the others have although I'm not quite sure what. I felt that I did not connect to Richard as a character and therefore that made it difficult to become invested in his situation and Raker's attempts to discover his identity. I felt underwhelmed towards the end of the book and wasn't gripped by the ending as I usually am. I'm not sure if the concept of the missing person being present in throughout the storyline worked and I'm not sure that the concept of Richard suffering from amnesia particularly worked and seemed to just add to the complexity of the already hard to follow plot.
The second part of the book is based on the fictional Empress Islands. Raker goes from being on a cruise ship, to the Empress Islands, to 'the Brink' in very quick succession. There are also very brief encounters with the characters who actually hold the all of the answers, making the conclusion seemed rushed. I feel as though more time could have been invested in these characters as after all they integral to the conclusion.
However whilst this was not my favourite in the Raker series, this does not mean that I did not enjoy it. There were twists aplenty and I was gripped trying to work out what exactly was beyond 'the brink'. Tim Weaver has the same brilliant flair for setting the scene and ensuring you keep turning the page.
There is also an extract from the next book - Raker number 9 - at the end of I am Missing. These two chapters hinted that the next part of Raker's journey will be very personal and will shape his life like never before. I enjoyed these two extra chapters and feel that the next instalment may be some of Tim Weavers best work.
I am Missing is different to the other books in the series as the missing person is actually the one who contacts Raker. Richard has amnesia and needs Raker's help to find himself. What Raker uncovers is a tangled web of secrets, deception and murder.
Tim Weaver is an outstanding writer and always manages to do a brilliant job of making you feel as though you are only a few steps behind Raker at all times, due to the detail he gives to the surroundings. Raker is easy to relate to, he is passionate about helping others and discovering the truth.
In my opinion I am Missing does not compare with the other books in the Raker series. It is a good book with plenty of twists and a good plot but I feel as though the book lacked something that the others have although I'm not quite sure what. I felt that I did not connect to Richard as a character and therefore that made it difficult to become invested in his situation and Raker's attempts to discover his identity. I felt underwhelmed towards the end of the book and wasn't gripped by the ending as I usually am. I'm not sure if the concept of the missing person being present in throughout the storyline worked and I'm not sure that the concept of Richard suffering from amnesia particularly worked and seemed to just add to the complexity of the already hard to follow plot.
The second part of the book is based on the fictional Empress Islands. Raker goes from being on a cruise ship, to the Empress Islands, to 'the Brink' in very quick succession. There are also very brief encounters with the characters who actually hold the all of the answers, making the conclusion seemed rushed. I feel as though more time could have been invested in these characters as after all they integral to the conclusion.
However whilst this was not my favourite in the Raker series, this does not mean that I did not enjoy it. There were twists aplenty and I was gripped trying to work out what exactly was beyond 'the brink'. Tim Weaver has the same brilliant flair for setting the scene and ensuring you keep turning the page.
There is also an extract from the next book - Raker number 9 - at the end of I am Missing. These two chapters hinted that the next part of Raker's journey will be very personal and will shape his life like never before. I enjoyed these two extra chapters and feel that the next instalment may be some of Tim Weavers best work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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