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David Raker #10
No One Home
On Halloween night, the residents of Black Gale gather for a dinner party. As the only nine people living there, they've become close friends as well as neighbours.
They eat, drink and laugh. They play games and take photographs. Except those photographs will be the last record of any of them.
By the next morning, the whole village has vanished.
With no bodies, no evidence and no clues, the mystery of what happened at Black Gale remains unsolved two and a half years on. But then the families of the missing turn to investigator David Raker - and their obsession becomes his.
What secrets were the neighbours keeping from their families - and from each other?
Were they really everything they seemed to be?
And is Raker looking for nine missing people - or nine dead bodies?
They eat, drink and laugh. They play games and take photographs. Except those photographs will be the last record of any of them.
By the next morning, the whole village has vanished.
With no bodies, no evidence and no clues, the mystery of what happened at Black Gale remains unsolved two and a half years on. But then the families of the missing turn to investigator David Raker - and their obsession becomes his.
What secrets were the neighbours keeping from their families - and from each other?
Were they really everything they seemed to be?
And is Raker looking for nine missing people - or nine dead bodies?
504 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 16, 2019
672 people are currently reading
2874 people want to read
About the author
Tim Weaver
56 books1,604 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 620 reviews
May 1, 2019
I have heard so many good things about Tim Weaver's series featuring missing person investigator, David Raker, that I finally decided to try it, this is the 10th addition. What I can say is that Weaver is a brilliant crime writer, and here he gives us a spooky central mystery worthy of The Twilight Zone. Two and half years ago in a tiny Yorkshire Dales rural settlement of Black Gale, the 9 residents sit down for a Halloween dinner party, playing games, taking photos and drinking too much, only for every single one of them to mysteriously disappear into thin air. This is a close knit community of close friends, loved their isolated location, and the last known record of them are the photos from Halloween. There is no evidence of any outsiders arriving, no signs whatsoever of foul play, the entire scene looks normal, missing are the residents mobile phones, wallets and purses, and a camper van that has never been recovered.
With the initial media furore dying down, and a police force unable to find any trace of the occupants, David Raker has been called by three of the relatives to see if he can succeed where everybody else has failed. Raker is largely a loner with a tragic personal history, with a daughter, Annabel, he has only been aware of for a short while, and has made enemies of the police, given he has succeeded in the past where they have clearly failed. It is certainly not usual for him to be looking for 9 people, but are they dead or alive now? In 1985, Joline 'Jo' Kader is the only woman working for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, a time of poisonous misogyny and discrimination that Jo has to battle to survive. It is a time when the city of LA is being terrorised by a particularly brutal and depraved serial killer dubbed The Night Stalker. Jo catches two murder cases that are to haunt her entire working life, a unidentified body found in an acid bath in a Motel and a apparent suicide that she is certain is murder. In a narrative that goes back and forth in time, Raker, helped by Colm Healy, finds himself in the most twisted, challenging and dangerous of cases, where the connections between LA and the Black Gale residents begins to emerge.
I am so delighted to have discovered this superb series and author. Tim Weaver weaves an atmospheric mystery that is absolutely gripping reading, with masses of suspense, and such terrific characterisation. Raker makes an appealing central protagonist, a good man who has helped a friend, Colm Healy, despite the fact it puts him in danger of prison. He is under constant stress being harrassed by a journalist, threatening to do a public exposure of his life. Despite being warned off and seriously threatened to stop investigating, for David, this isn't just a job for him, it's his life. This is a fantastic and enthralling piece of crime fiction, and a series that I think many crime fiction and thriller readers will love. Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
With the initial media furore dying down, and a police force unable to find any trace of the occupants, David Raker has been called by three of the relatives to see if he can succeed where everybody else has failed. Raker is largely a loner with a tragic personal history, with a daughter, Annabel, he has only been aware of for a short while, and has made enemies of the police, given he has succeeded in the past where they have clearly failed. It is certainly not usual for him to be looking for 9 people, but are they dead or alive now? In 1985, Joline 'Jo' Kader is the only woman working for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, a time of poisonous misogyny and discrimination that Jo has to battle to survive. It is a time when the city of LA is being terrorised by a particularly brutal and depraved serial killer dubbed The Night Stalker. Jo catches two murder cases that are to haunt her entire working life, a unidentified body found in an acid bath in a Motel and a apparent suicide that she is certain is murder. In a narrative that goes back and forth in time, Raker, helped by Colm Healy, finds himself in the most twisted, challenging and dangerous of cases, where the connections between LA and the Black Gale residents begins to emerge.
I am so delighted to have discovered this superb series and author. Tim Weaver weaves an atmospheric mystery that is absolutely gripping reading, with masses of suspense, and such terrific characterisation. Raker makes an appealing central protagonist, a good man who has helped a friend, Colm Healy, despite the fact it puts him in danger of prison. He is under constant stress being harrassed by a journalist, threatening to do a public exposure of his life. Despite being warned off and seriously threatened to stop investigating, for David, this isn't just a job for him, it's his life. This is a fantastic and enthralling piece of crime fiction, and a series that I think many crime fiction and thriller readers will love. Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
May 2, 2019
David Raker #10
I did not realise when I requested this book that it was part of a series. How can nine people in a village vanish? Well it was Halloween. David Raker has been hired several years later to try and discover what had happened to the nine people that had went missing from Black Gale. There is no trace of them or any evidence left behind. The ending leaves a cliffhanger. Raker seemed both a likeable and believable character. It's a well written story with a great plot that caught my attention from the start. This book can be read as a standalone.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and the author Tim Weaver for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I did not realise when I requested this book that it was part of a series. How can nine people in a village vanish? Well it was Halloween. David Raker has been hired several years later to try and discover what had happened to the nine people that had went missing from Black Gale. There is no trace of them or any evidence left behind. The ending leaves a cliffhanger. Raker seemed both a likeable and believable character. It's a well written story with a great plot that caught my attention from the start. This book can be read as a standalone.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and the author Tim Weaver for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 20, 2019
I devoured this, as I have every other novel in this brilliant series, every time I review I say “this is the best one yet”. Well guess what? This IS the best one yet.
No One Home for a start has an excellent central premise, one that immediately intrigues just from the blurb. An entire village vanishes into the night…on Halloween no less…years later and our hero is hired to try and discover what happened.
So begins one of the twistiest mysteries I’ve read, the plotting is simply superb, to the point that telling you anything specific might well ruin the many many moments where you’ll stop briefly to turn things over in your head. The writing as always is spot on immersive, Tim Weaver has that intuitive, creative ability to character build and set the scene so that you sink into it, every moment a pure joy to read.
David Raker continues his personal journey here, as he does in every book, he is one of the most engaging and authentic characters in fiction currently. Whilst you can read every book on its own merits, there is a certain power behind the narrative if you read in order so that would be my recommendation. Don’t worry if it seems a lot, trust me you’ll blast through them in short order, every one is genuinely fantastic.
Back to No One Home and I’m not sure what else to say- a layered, nuanced and oft unpredictable tale, with an ending that has huge impact, powerfully emotional on every level. It’s actually no less than I’ve come to expect from this author but every single time he manages to floor me, something else that sets this series above the rest.
Without doubt highly recommended. I feel a binge worthy reread coming on…
No One Home for a start has an excellent central premise, one that immediately intrigues just from the blurb. An entire village vanishes into the night…on Halloween no less…years later and our hero is hired to try and discover what happened.
So begins one of the twistiest mysteries I’ve read, the plotting is simply superb, to the point that telling you anything specific might well ruin the many many moments where you’ll stop briefly to turn things over in your head. The writing as always is spot on immersive, Tim Weaver has that intuitive, creative ability to character build and set the scene so that you sink into it, every moment a pure joy to read.
David Raker continues his personal journey here, as he does in every book, he is one of the most engaging and authentic characters in fiction currently. Whilst you can read every book on its own merits, there is a certain power behind the narrative if you read in order so that would be my recommendation. Don’t worry if it seems a lot, trust me you’ll blast through them in short order, every one is genuinely fantastic.
Back to No One Home and I’m not sure what else to say- a layered, nuanced and oft unpredictable tale, with an ending that has huge impact, powerfully emotional on every level. It’s actually no less than I’ve come to expect from this author but every single time he manages to floor me, something else that sets this series above the rest.
Without doubt highly recommended. I feel a binge worthy reread coming on…
May 19, 2019
This was the absolute bomb, I enjoyed this book just so much.
I am a relatively new reader of this author after I requested the previous book in this series without realising it was part of an ongoing series.
I was that impressed with it that when I read the description for this instalment I just had to get my mitts on it.
I actually didn't think anything could surpass my previous experience here but this managed to surpass it and then some, I am super impressed.
There is some previous stuff going on here that maybe it would enhance the whole read if you started at the beginning: but personally, I think there is enough backstory explained here that it's not hard to catch on I managed to easily and I started at book nine myself.
This story focuses on another mystery one that was just so fascinating and is what initially captured my attention and this had so many twists and turns at times I felt absolutely giddy.
Set between Hollywood and the UK and spanning 33 years it was hard to see how the two were actually connected.
But when the cogs start to click into place here and so seamlessly at that, this was just pure genius.
Got to say this was such compelling stuff and a real page-turner of a story.
Loved how everything just slotted together the further you went and I could literally feel a veil metaphorically being lifted from my eyes as this played out.
This was also deeply moving and rather than just being told a story the author has managed here to transport the reader right into the tapestry of the story.
This was a five-star experience all the way and I recommend this series highly.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of No One Home (David Raker #10).
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
October 16, 2019
I was really drawn in by the premise of this book and was initially hooked, but as the story went on I became less and less engaged. The story, though well written, seemed rather dry and the plot increasingly unlikely. The motivations and actions of the villain of the piece appeared a bit too far fetched and I couldn't buy into it. I maybe should've started with an earlier Raker book but I was tantalised by the synopsis 😬, that'll teach me.
May 17, 2019
Tim Weaver is a legend, if you have read 1 of his previous 9 David Raker books then you will know this to be true!
In this, the 10th, Raker returns for his next ‘disappeared people to find’ case, now as say it is 10th in the series and there is some ‘bringing up to speed’ from previous life events and ‘why he is where he is now’ etc, I think reading previous in the series would be beneficial however this can easily be a stand alone
Weaver’s storytelling and ‘in depthness!! ( made up word I think ) of information/research into missing people and everything that surrounds this phenomenon ( for various reasons ) is outstanding and meticulous and a pleasure to read
So, just to be straight! I love this author and his books and his storytelling, its unique, perceptive and exciting
BUT, and I hate writing that but, in this book although all the above stays the same the actual plot, for me, was too far fetched, complicated and unfathomable, it didn’t ring true and although it focuses on the fascinating ‘ 9 neighbours meet for a meal and all disappear’ it just didn’t live up to the expectations I had given it, and thats a shame BUT roll on book 11, this small blip ( and again I stress for me ) wouldn’t even by 1% stop me excitedly starting book 11 when its available
A disappointing 6/10, solely on plot and 3 Stars
April 29, 2019
This is the 10th book in the David Raker series by author Tim Weaver. I love Tim Weaver's writing and decided very early on when reading the 1st book in the series that I would purchase the rest of the books. This latest novel is another exceptionally well paced book that has twists and turns and some very good characters.
The 9 residents of Black Gale are a closely knitted group and frequently socialise. On Halloween night all the residents gather for a dinner party but the next morning there is no sign of life. There are no bodies, no sign of a crime and no clues to what has happened to the Black Gale 9. Two and half years on their families ask investigator David Raker to look into this mystery.
For me just reading the description of the book made me want to read more, such a great premise for a novel and so expertly told. Great characters and a plot that is not rushed so that every possible drop of tension is squeezed out. Another great read.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Penguin UK for supplying this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The 9 residents of Black Gale are a closely knitted group and frequently socialise. On Halloween night all the residents gather for a dinner party but the next morning there is no sign of life. There are no bodies, no sign of a crime and no clues to what has happened to the Black Gale 9. Two and half years on their families ask investigator David Raker to look into this mystery.
For me just reading the description of the book made me want to read more, such a great premise for a novel and so expertly told. Great characters and a plot that is not rushed so that every possible drop of tension is squeezed out. Another great read.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Penguin UK for supplying this novel in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2019
Tim Weaver isn't afraid of a challenge. This instalment features not one, or even two, but three or maybe four separate, yet connected strands. For the most part, this works really well. It's primarily set up through Raker's POV and an old case run out of LA by one of the first female homicide detectives. For him, the complete disappearance of 9 Black Gale residents on Halloween night two years ago, for her, the discovery of a body dissolving in an acid bath.
Now, it takes a lot to hold reader attention as hard as Raker, but Joline Kader does it. It certainly helps that they're very similar, they feel for the victims and they do not let stuff go. Ever. The flick back and forth between two dogged investigators in different timelines built tension well, both stories interesting enough to balance the other and keep the pages turning FAST.
The structure does, however, give you a pretty good idea what the 'big revelation' is going to be. Not only that, the bit where it all comes together at the end got a bit mangled, with a rather unnecessary set of time jumps added to shovel in that last bit of suspense. What it did instead was necessitate some explanatory info dumps that undermined the clever crafting of the rest of the book. Until that point, it was hitting the 5 star mark. Easy. Raker was at his best, dealing with the issues caused by Healy and the reporter while also working his way to the truth in this complex case, the side characters were intriguing and some more than a little frightening, the background of gender politics and the Nightstalker case in LA were spot on. So it was somewhat disappointing to leave wondering why the last bit had been organised in such a deliberately obstructive fashion.
Anyway, despite the few quibbles about the ending, the book and this series as a whole is well worth reading. As I've said before, these books are a guaranteed good time and will remain on my must-read list till the end of the line.
ARC via Netgalley
Now, it takes a lot to hold reader attention as hard as Raker, but Joline Kader does it. It certainly helps that they're very similar, they feel for the victims and they do not let stuff go. Ever. The flick back and forth between two dogged investigators in different timelines built tension well, both stories interesting enough to balance the other and keep the pages turning FAST.
The structure does, however, give you a pretty good idea what the 'big revelation' is going to be. Not only that, the bit where it all comes together at the end got a bit mangled, with a rather unnecessary set of time jumps added to shovel in that last bit of suspense. What it did instead was necessitate some explanatory info dumps that undermined the clever crafting of the rest of the book. Until that point, it was hitting the 5 star mark. Easy. Raker was at his best, dealing with the issues caused by Healy and the reporter while also working his way to the truth in this complex case, the side characters were intriguing and some more than a little frightening, the background of gender politics and the Nightstalker case in LA were spot on. So it was somewhat disappointing to leave wondering why the last bit had been organised in such a deliberately obstructive fashion.
Anyway, despite the few quibbles about the ending, the book and this series as a whole is well worth reading. As I've said before, these books are a guaranteed good time and will remain on my must-read list till the end of the line.
ARC via Netgalley
May 16, 2019
Tim Weaver now officially holds the record for the book that grabbed me the quickest. It had me on page one and that's a true rarity. The tenth private investigator David Raker instalment takes place around the festival of Halloween which right away creates an ominous, tense atmosphere and this underpins the entirety of the novel. What began as a fun, scary celebration ends in the disappearance of the whole population of the village of Black Gale. Having gotten no closer to the truth about what happened to their relatives a group of families contact Raker, an expert in missing persons, in the hope that he can help.
This is another completely gripping and superbly entertaining addition to Mr Weaver's arsenal and the pace is akin to that of a runaway train with many hidden and unexpected twisty surprises throughout. Although part of a series No One Home works perfectly as a standalone as Weaver furnishes us with enough of the important previous happenings to allow an easy understanding for all, though I would urge you to read the rest should you enjoy this. Raker is a proficient investigator and a dogged pursuer of truth but also knows how to treat people with compassion and feels empathy for his fellow humans making him a very likeable protagonist.
With no wasted words and an explosive, unpredictable and satisfying climax, this is a real page-turner. Roll on book eleven! Many thanks to Michael Joseph for an ARC.
This is another completely gripping and superbly entertaining addition to Mr Weaver's arsenal and the pace is akin to that of a runaway train with many hidden and unexpected twisty surprises throughout. Although part of a series No One Home works perfectly as a standalone as Weaver furnishes us with enough of the important previous happenings to allow an easy understanding for all, though I would urge you to read the rest should you enjoy this. Raker is a proficient investigator and a dogged pursuer of truth but also knows how to treat people with compassion and feels empathy for his fellow humans making him a very likeable protagonist.
With no wasted words and an explosive, unpredictable and satisfying climax, this is a real page-turner. Roll on book eleven! Many thanks to Michael Joseph for an ARC.
June 21, 2019
I’ve never read a book by Tim Weaver but I’ve been interested in reading a David Raker book for ages. I chose this as the first one even though it’s the 10th one so I’m kind of going backwards. I did really enjoy this book and it was different from any other books I normally read and definitely the longest book I’ve ever read. I was really interested in reading what happened to the 9 Black Gale residents and it had me hooked. I must admit some of it had me confused and I didn’t particularly like the ending but it was a great read and I really liked David Raker and I’m excited to read more in the series. I definitely recommend this book.
September 2, 2019
3.5 stars. It pains me not to give a Tim Weaver book five stars but it seemed to be missing a little something. Roll on book 11.
June 17, 2019
This was a really enjoyable crime/detective book. Tim Weaver set himself a difficult task of resolving an unusual case, and I think he did a very good job bringing all the pieces together.
Black Gale is a small, remote village that only 4 households live. They get along very well, spend a lot of time together. On Halloween night, they get together for a party, and that's the last time anyone heard of them. A very unusual thing happens, and all 9 residents of the village vanish into thin air.
After 2.5 years later, remaining an unresolved mystery, the relatives of the residents decide to hire David Raker, a detective famous for finding missing people.
I thought the premise of this book was definitely very interesting. At the same time, I thought how on earth is he going to make sense of this weird disappearance? I mean, it's very difficult to find a logical reason, why anyone would abduct all 9 people, plus it's not an easy job to do.
And, I was really satisfied with the story including the ending. This is a series of course centered around David Raker, as a detective. But, no worries, the case is completely detached from any history with this character. So, I think anybody will enjoy this book whether they read any Raker book or not. There's a bit of history related to the characters. But, it's very easy to understand and not crucial for the case at all.
The opening of the book is very strong, quickly inviting you to this weird case and making you wonder what on earth happened to all these 9 people? I like Raker as a character. His intelligence, and the way he walks you through his thought process is intriguing.
Since, there are 9 missing people, there are many other side characters involved related to them. Before you know it, the story gets very complex, and you lose yourself in it trying to make sense of it.
The story also follows 2 different timelines related to another detective (Jo) in LA in 1980s. We go back and forth between today and past with alternating voices of Dave and Jo. Eventually, these 2 time lines come to a cross over.
I don't want to say more than what you can discover in the early pages of the book, as it's a crime novel :)
I really enjoyed this book, I read it in a short time, and always wanted to pick it back up. It's not a short book, 512 pages. But, it doesn't feel like it. I was a bit worried if there was unnecessary lingering. However, I can't think of what to leave out if I had to. So, eventually it was long, but allowed Weaver to write a story with enough details, emotions and history behind it. It's not a quick and easy 'who did it' type of novel. There is a reference to the real historical events of LA, the situation of the police department, etc. I appreciated the fact that when he included characters, they didn't stay at surface level. He took his time to develop them and allow us to understand the motives behind the case. There was a feminist side to this book as well, with the voice he gave to Jo: A female detective in 1980s. I thought it was a very nice touch, which I enjoyed a lot.
All in all, it was a very rich crime novel, with a lot of complexity. It was very well written, good plot, no loose ends, all tied up very well in the end. The end wasn't rushed as well. He gave enough time for a proper closure, and also surprised me page after page when I thought it was all finished. Although, it wasn't short, I thought pace and length of the book was just right. It made my heart beat faster at times, and really curious till the end.
I will definitely read more of Weaver books and keep an eye out for the new ones :) If you're looking for a series to follow, I'd highly recommend this.
Black Gale is a small, remote village that only 4 households live. They get along very well, spend a lot of time together. On Halloween night, they get together for a party, and that's the last time anyone heard of them. A very unusual thing happens, and all 9 residents of the village vanish into thin air.
After 2.5 years later, remaining an unresolved mystery, the relatives of the residents decide to hire David Raker, a detective famous for finding missing people.
I thought the premise of this book was definitely very interesting. At the same time, I thought how on earth is he going to make sense of this weird disappearance? I mean, it's very difficult to find a logical reason, why anyone would abduct all 9 people, plus it's not an easy job to do.
And, I was really satisfied with the story including the ending. This is a series of course centered around David Raker, as a detective. But, no worries, the case is completely detached from any history with this character. So, I think anybody will enjoy this book whether they read any Raker book or not. There's a bit of history related to the characters. But, it's very easy to understand and not crucial for the case at all.
The opening of the book is very strong, quickly inviting you to this weird case and making you wonder what on earth happened to all these 9 people? I like Raker as a character. His intelligence, and the way he walks you through his thought process is intriguing.
Since, there are 9 missing people, there are many other side characters involved related to them. Before you know it, the story gets very complex, and you lose yourself in it trying to make sense of it.
The story also follows 2 different timelines related to another detective (Jo) in LA in 1980s. We go back and forth between today and past with alternating voices of Dave and Jo. Eventually, these 2 time lines come to a cross over.
I don't want to say more than what you can discover in the early pages of the book, as it's a crime novel :)
I really enjoyed this book, I read it in a short time, and always wanted to pick it back up. It's not a short book, 512 pages. But, it doesn't feel like it. I was a bit worried if there was unnecessary lingering. However, I can't think of what to leave out if I had to. So, eventually it was long, but allowed Weaver to write a story with enough details, emotions and history behind it. It's not a quick and easy 'who did it' type of novel. There is a reference to the real historical events of LA, the situation of the police department, etc. I appreciated the fact that when he included characters, they didn't stay at surface level. He took his time to develop them and allow us to understand the motives behind the case. There was a feminist side to this book as well, with the voice he gave to Jo: A female detective in 1980s. I thought it was a very nice touch, which I enjoyed a lot.
All in all, it was a very rich crime novel, with a lot of complexity. It was very well written, good plot, no loose ends, all tied up very well in the end. The end wasn't rushed as well. He gave enough time for a proper closure, and also surprised me page after page when I thought it was all finished. Although, it wasn't short, I thought pace and length of the book was just right. It made my heart beat faster at times, and really curious till the end.
I will definitely read more of Weaver books and keep an eye out for the new ones :) If you're looking for a series to follow, I'd highly recommend this.
May 10, 2019
In brief - Tense, pacey, twisty. Not the best Raker for me but far from the worst. 4.5 out of 5 but it's Raker so rounded up ☺️.
In full
I loved the opening of this book. Having read all the Raker books so far I can happily say it is SO Weaver/Raker. Weaver so far has managed to come up with interesting and frequently original plot lines that work well in this series. I often start them off and think "how an earth can you make this convincing?". Almost always I have to eat my words! In this case , the 10th book, an entire village of 9 people has gone missing in a remote part of Yorkshire. The disappearance took place a couple of years before Raker started looking at the case. He is only eventually persuaded to but his old friend Healy (good to see him back again).
The initial investigation suggests something very strange has happened however there are no obvious clues. The story switches between the current investigation in and around Black Gale. the village in Yorkshire, and events that took place mainly in the '80s in Los Angeles area of America. I guess it is obvious to anyone who reads this genre of books that the two threads will come together at some point near the end.
Having read and reviewed so many of Raker books it is hard to come up with new words to describe the excellent characters that Weaver writes. Raker is certainly one of my few favourite UK characters these days and remains very good. The other characters are well worked in the main - you even get a reasonable feel for some of the people who are missing.
There is excellent writing here as always and the scene setting is good. The tension and pace were fairly low key to me for quite sometime however the end brings a very high level of both. I doubt many people would wish to put this down in the latter stages.
As I said at the start this is an unusual story - how can an entire village/hamlet go missing and leave no trace. However that is what Raker does - he solves these sort of cases though never one quite like this before. In the end I don't think I was fully convinced by this story compared to some in the series. If it is not my favourite I have to say that a less than favourite Tim Weaver book is far better than many books I read! A must for fans however newcomers should probably start earlier in the series to get to know the characters better. For me Tim Weaver remains one of the best UK authors of such thrillers.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
http://viewson.org.uk/fiction/no-one-...
In full
I loved the opening of this book. Having read all the Raker books so far I can happily say it is SO Weaver/Raker. Weaver so far has managed to come up with interesting and frequently original plot lines that work well in this series. I often start them off and think "how an earth can you make this convincing?". Almost always I have to eat my words! In this case , the 10th book, an entire village of 9 people has gone missing in a remote part of Yorkshire. The disappearance took place a couple of years before Raker started looking at the case. He is only eventually persuaded to but his old friend Healy (good to see him back again).
The initial investigation suggests something very strange has happened however there are no obvious clues. The story switches between the current investigation in and around Black Gale. the village in Yorkshire, and events that took place mainly in the '80s in Los Angeles area of America. I guess it is obvious to anyone who reads this genre of books that the two threads will come together at some point near the end.
Having read and reviewed so many of Raker books it is hard to come up with new words to describe the excellent characters that Weaver writes. Raker is certainly one of my few favourite UK characters these days and remains very good. The other characters are well worked in the main - you even get a reasonable feel for some of the people who are missing.
There is excellent writing here as always and the scene setting is good. The tension and pace were fairly low key to me for quite sometime however the end brings a very high level of both. I doubt many people would wish to put this down in the latter stages.
As I said at the start this is an unusual story - how can an entire village/hamlet go missing and leave no trace. However that is what Raker does - he solves these sort of cases though never one quite like this before. In the end I don't think I was fully convinced by this story compared to some in the series. If it is not my favourite I have to say that a less than favourite Tim Weaver book is far better than many books I read! A must for fans however newcomers should probably start earlier in the series to get to know the characters better. For me Tim Weaver remains one of the best UK authors of such thrillers.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
http://viewson.org.uk/fiction/no-one-...
April 28, 2019
No one home by Time Weaver is the 10th book in the David Raker series. But it also could be read as a standalone.
It’s Halloween, and the nine residents of a remote village called Black Gale are having dinner together. He next morning they have all vanished. Nothing has been disturbed apart from their wallets and mobiles gone and one of the couple’s camper van is missing. Two years later, after the Police case has run Cold, David Raker has been called in. Alongside that story we learn of female Homicide Detective Joline Kader, the only women on the force. So, she is all out to prove herself, when she starts investigating a man found in a bath full of acid.
This is another gripping thriller by Tim weaver. Full of intrigue and a clever plot. It had lots of twists and turns but, that didn’t stop Raker working out what happen, even though he has a lot of obstacles stacked against him. I also liked how both stories in the linked together at the end
Thank you, Penguin Michael Joseph, and NetGalley a copy of this book.
It’s Halloween, and the nine residents of a remote village called Black Gale are having dinner together. He next morning they have all vanished. Nothing has been disturbed apart from their wallets and mobiles gone and one of the couple’s camper van is missing. Two years later, after the Police case has run Cold, David Raker has been called in. Alongside that story we learn of female Homicide Detective Joline Kader, the only women on the force. So, she is all out to prove herself, when she starts investigating a man found in a bath full of acid.
This is another gripping thriller by Tim weaver. Full of intrigue and a clever plot. It had lots of twists and turns but, that didn’t stop Raker working out what happen, even though he has a lot of obstacles stacked against him. I also liked how both stories in the linked together at the end
Thank you, Penguin Michael Joseph, and NetGalley a copy of this book.
April 29, 2020
With so many great reviews on here, I can only put my slightly negative one down to old age; I feel like a grumpy old spoilsport, but here goes:
The idea of a group of missing families absolutely reeled me in.
The first 280 pages I was absolutely smitten, thinking this was the greatest book for some time.
Then gradually, as I progressed, my head was beginning to send me little warning signs: the many characters in the book were beginning to blur, the comings and goings, and the two timelines, were beginning to rattle my cage.
Names appeared that I vaguely recognised, but I had to claw back to find their relevance, but sure enough, my system ground to a halt, and I must confess, with the confusion - I was losing the will to live!
Shame, after a great start.
Book closed - a return to sanity!
The idea of a group of missing families absolutely reeled me in.
The first 280 pages I was absolutely smitten, thinking this was the greatest book for some time.
Then gradually, as I progressed, my head was beginning to send me little warning signs: the many characters in the book were beginning to blur, the comings and goings, and the two timelines, were beginning to rattle my cage.
Names appeared that I vaguely recognised, but I had to claw back to find their relevance, but sure enough, my system ground to a halt, and I must confess, with the confusion - I was losing the will to live!
Shame, after a great start.
Book closed - a return to sanity!
May 2, 2019
I have read some others of this series and thoroughly enjoyed them.This was going pretty well up until that last 20% then the time-line went really strange - the book seemed to finish, the story was wrapped up, then we went back in time for another bit of the ending, which finished in mid-air. This seemed a bit pointless and plain confusing as we'd already been beyond this point with the main character. It just spoilt a good book for me.
May 6, 2019
Whilst I did enjoy No One Home, I didn’t love it. The premise of the book is great. The synopsis totally drew me in and I was expecting a thriller of a book but sadly I found it to be a bit lacklustre. I felt the middle section seemed to lose pace and that the book could have been wrapped up a lot quicker than it was.
Still an enjoyable read that I’m sure many others with love. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin UK Michael Joseph and the author for the chance to review.
Still an enjoyable read that I’m sure many others with love. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin UK Michael Joseph and the author for the chance to review.
January 11, 2022
Shite x
June 16, 2019
The David Raker series has been recommended to me so many times, so I decided to give it a go with this new release – number 10 – whilst wondering if I’d feel like I was missing crucial details by coming new to the series at this late point. It turns out that, although I’m sure there were details I didn’t pick up on from not having read the previous 9 novels, they’re not essential to enjoy this brilliantly crafted, complex and intriguing novel.
No One Home has a real, persistent sense of threat throughout; I constantly felt a sense of eeriness as I turned the pages, and the novel’s plot – four households, which make up a tiny but whole village called Black Gale, disappear one night and David Raker is sent to investigate – is in itself a pretty strange and intriguing concept. Although this is a long book at over 500 pages, it doesn’t feel slow or overly long; I think this is in part because the plot is so layered and twisty, with surprises along the way and characters who are realistic and convincing.
I really liked Jo Kader, who we meet in a seperate narrative which is set in the 80’s, as a cop investigating a different case in a very male-dominated police force. She seems strong, intelligent and opinionated and comes across really well. Obviously David Raker takes pride of place in this story as the main protagonist, who is looking into the disappearance of the Black Gale households in the present day and seems to be a brilliant missing person investigator, but Jo’s character does a great job of holding my attention too.
The story moved at just the right pace to allow the reader to keep up with the various names, relationships, and plot developments, and although it was complex and very entertaining, it didn’t feel overly far-fetched. No One Home also leaves the reader with a very impactful ending that immediately made me want to read the next book – and, until that’s released, I now want to start right from the beginning of this brilliant series.
No One Home has a real, persistent sense of threat throughout; I constantly felt a sense of eeriness as I turned the pages, and the novel’s plot – four households, which make up a tiny but whole village called Black Gale, disappear one night and David Raker is sent to investigate – is in itself a pretty strange and intriguing concept. Although this is a long book at over 500 pages, it doesn’t feel slow or overly long; I think this is in part because the plot is so layered and twisty, with surprises along the way and characters who are realistic and convincing.
I really liked Jo Kader, who we meet in a seperate narrative which is set in the 80’s, as a cop investigating a different case in a very male-dominated police force. She seems strong, intelligent and opinionated and comes across really well. Obviously David Raker takes pride of place in this story as the main protagonist, who is looking into the disappearance of the Black Gale households in the present day and seems to be a brilliant missing person investigator, but Jo’s character does a great job of holding my attention too.
The story moved at just the right pace to allow the reader to keep up with the various names, relationships, and plot developments, and although it was complex and very entertaining, it didn’t feel overly far-fetched. No One Home also leaves the reader with a very impactful ending that immediately made me want to read the next book – and, until that’s released, I now want to start right from the beginning of this brilliant series.
July 5, 2019
No One Home is the tenth book in the David Raker series, and I’ll be the first to hold my hand up and say I’ve only read book one. BUT that in no way stopped me from following the story or picking up on Raker’s backstory, it actually made me eager to read the previous books in the series because I enjoyed this one so much.
The book focuses on a small village called Black Gale, and a missing persons case. Raker is called in to investigate the disappearance of four households. The occupants literally disappear overnight with no trace, and the families are trying to find out what happened and where they went on that fateful night.
What follows is a taut, absorbing and thoroughly gripping story that reaches as far back as 1980’s America. I loved the timelines, past and present. I was completely sucked into the lives of the characters and the narrative as a whole.
Complex, dark and tense, No One Home is one of those books that keeps you guessing. It keeps you turning the pages as you become more and more desperate to find out just what happened that night in Black Gale.
No One Home also manages to deliver an emotional gut-punch. It was completely unexpected to feel that level of emotion, but it was pitch perfect in terms of how it all played out.
Highly recommended!
The book focuses on a small village called Black Gale, and a missing persons case. Raker is called in to investigate the disappearance of four households. The occupants literally disappear overnight with no trace, and the families are trying to find out what happened and where they went on that fateful night.
What follows is a taut, absorbing and thoroughly gripping story that reaches as far back as 1980’s America. I loved the timelines, past and present. I was completely sucked into the lives of the characters and the narrative as a whole.
Complex, dark and tense, No One Home is one of those books that keeps you guessing. It keeps you turning the pages as you become more and more desperate to find out just what happened that night in Black Gale.
No One Home also manages to deliver an emotional gut-punch. It was completely unexpected to feel that level of emotion, but it was pitch perfect in terms of how it all played out.
Highly recommended!
May 9, 2019
I haven't come across this series of books before, but it works as a stand alone read. The story concerns a Halloween party, where 9 residents get together to enjoy a party. They are all good friends and live in Black Gale, a close of houses. By the following morning, all these residents have vanished overnight,leaving no trace whatsoever . Their phones have not been used, and no money has been withdrawn from relevant bank accounts.
Robert Raker is a missing person investigator and is asked to find answers. Running in tandem with this story is a murder mystery set in America about a suicide/ murder investigation. Jo Kader, is a lovely detective, fighting against sexism in 1980's L.A. and it does make uncomfortable reading for all of us females that experienced such treatment back then. She is a strong, determined character, who finds out that you really can't have it all, it's job or career.
I liked this book, but didn't love it. It was a thriller, but very wordy, everything was over explained in great detail, that really wasn't necessary . I found that by the middle of this book, I started to get annoyed by this, it started to lose pace and became lack lustre. It became too contrived and too neatly tied up, the ending was slightly deflating and so convenient for the story. The two cases seemed to collide rather clumsily, and seemed a lot of work just to discover a murderer. Not my cup of tea this time.
Robert Raker is a missing person investigator and is asked to find answers. Running in tandem with this story is a murder mystery set in America about a suicide/ murder investigation. Jo Kader, is a lovely detective, fighting against sexism in 1980's L.A. and it does make uncomfortable reading for all of us females that experienced such treatment back then. She is a strong, determined character, who finds out that you really can't have it all, it's job or career.
I liked this book, but didn't love it. It was a thriller, but very wordy, everything was over explained in great detail, that really wasn't necessary . I found that by the middle of this book, I started to get annoyed by this, it started to lose pace and became lack lustre. It became too contrived and too neatly tied up, the ending was slightly deflating and so convenient for the story. The two cases seemed to collide rather clumsily, and seemed a lot of work just to discover a murderer. Not my cup of tea this time.
May 15, 2019
This is a great mystery crime thriller.
Nine people go missing from a village one night and there’s no trace of them.
David Raker is approached by the relatives of the missing people a couple of years later, and asked to help find out what happened.
Raker starts digging into their lives but at first cannot understand how they could all just disappear.
The story then moves to California thirty years earlier, with Detective Jo Kader trying to find a murderer.
The two stories eventually link up and what follows is an action packed ending to both stories.
Thanks to Penguin UK-Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Nine people go missing from a village one night and there’s no trace of them.
David Raker is approached by the relatives of the missing people a couple of years later, and asked to help find out what happened.
Raker starts digging into their lives but at first cannot understand how they could all just disappear.
The story then moves to California thirty years earlier, with Detective Jo Kader trying to find a murderer.
The two stories eventually link up and what follows is an action packed ending to both stories.
Thanks to Penguin UK-Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
May 28, 2019
Another incredible book from Tim Weaver, he just doesn't have the capability to write a bad book.
I remember reading the description and wondering how he comes up with these ideas!! I really enjoyed how he blends two different plots and even though, at the time, you can't figure out how the two are connected you can be certain at some point they will!
Terrific writing.
I remember reading the description and wondering how he comes up with these ideas!! I really enjoyed how he blends two different plots and even though, at the time, you can't figure out how the two are connected you can be certain at some point they will!
Terrific writing.
July 25, 2020
Beautifully written, intricately plotted, absolute genius. This is the first novel since the pandemic that has compelled me to read past the first chapter, making me remember what it is like to fall in love with a story and characters and not want to be torn away from it until the end.
April 24, 2022
What a load of convoluted nonsense. A whole village disappears! 9 people do not a village make. The best bit about this book was when it ended.
January 26, 2021
So for those who don’t already know, David Raker is a Missing Persons Investigator and this is the 10th book about him. But you don’t need to read the previous books to enjoy this one; I think I’ve read the first four and then couldn’t resist this one via the library. It could easily be read as a standalone so don’t let the series tag put you off as No One Home is an addictively gripping read!
It’s Halloween 2015 and the owners of the only 4 houses in the tiny village of Black Gale are all enjoying a dinner party together. But by the next day, all 9 of them have vanished, never to be seen again. Several years later some of their families contact David Raker, to see if he can succeed where the police have failed.
Rewind to 1985 and travel to Los Angeles where Detective Joline Kader, whilst constantly fighting a battle against sexism and misogyny within her own police force, is dealing with a crime that will haunt her entire career.
Out of the five I’ve read I think this is definitely Tim Weaver’s best book. The twists and turns, oh my days, they were intense!! I kept on wondering how on earth everything would come together, then wham! It did. My heart was racing, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and it was one heart palpitating shock after another. The sub plot in 1985 was such a contrast, but one I loved. And as well as fear and thrills throughout this book there was also sadness and pathos. It just has everything you want from a thriller.
Seriously - if you fancy an exhilarating roller coaster ride, then strap yourself in and read this, you will not be disappointed!
It’s Halloween 2015 and the owners of the only 4 houses in the tiny village of Black Gale are all enjoying a dinner party together. But by the next day, all 9 of them have vanished, never to be seen again. Several years later some of their families contact David Raker, to see if he can succeed where the police have failed.
Rewind to 1985 and travel to Los Angeles where Detective Joline Kader, whilst constantly fighting a battle against sexism and misogyny within her own police force, is dealing with a crime that will haunt her entire career.
Out of the five I’ve read I think this is definitely Tim Weaver’s best book. The twists and turns, oh my days, they were intense!! I kept on wondering how on earth everything would come together, then wham! It did. My heart was racing, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and it was one heart palpitating shock after another. The sub plot in 1985 was such a contrast, but one I loved. And as well as fear and thrills throughout this book there was also sadness and pathos. It just has everything you want from a thriller.
Seriously - if you fancy an exhilarating roller coaster ride, then strap yourself in and read this, you will not be disappointed!
December 2, 2025
My first David Raker novel. A village in Yorkshire on Halloween night disappears. Nine people are missing and two and a half years later with the police giving up the relatives ask Raker to investigate. The switching back to LA in the past to Yorkshire works well with the story.
No evidence, no clues to where the villagers from Black Gale went. Jo Kader a detective in LA investigates a grisly motel murder and then a suicide that apparently closes the case. However, Vale a person of interest moves to England and is involved in the disappearance of a woman but then commits suicide. All the threads do work and the culmination of all the clues come together. Although, Mills confession of what happened did appear contrived especially given his condition!
An enjoyable read and having known a few diplomats perfectly believable in the low standards they use to employ people.
No evidence, no clues to where the villagers from Black Gale went. Jo Kader a detective in LA investigates a grisly motel murder and then a suicide that apparently closes the case. However, Vale a person of interest moves to England and is involved in the disappearance of a woman but then commits suicide. All the threads do work and the culmination of all the clues come together. Although, Mills confession of what happened did appear contrived especially given his condition!
An enjoyable read and having known a few diplomats perfectly believable in the low standards they use to employ people.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2019
This is the first of the series that I've read, I'm ashamed to say, but it stands alone very well, although I think that if you've read them all you will take more from it. And talk about tense! It's a clever, twisty tale that brings everything together in a way that I wasn't expecting at all. In fact, for much of the novel I had no idea how it would work out at all! The premise is fantastic, although the mood is very dark and it only gets darker. But a very good read indeed. Review to follow close to publication on For Winter Nights.
January 25, 2021
I loved this book. I've been a fan of Tim Weaver for a while now but the last book I read of his made me worry he was going off the boil. I needn't have worried. This was a great book, great story and it kept me gripped from start to finish.
July 10, 2023
An ingenious plot, the complete disappearance of a whole small community in England and a seemingly unconnected murder in America, I just couldn't think what the plot was and couldn't put this book down. Much better than the only other Tim Weaver I'd previously read.
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