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David Raker #12
The Last Goodbye
TWO DISAPPEARANCES
At the country's newest theme park, Tom Preacher and his son Leo are queuing for the ghost house. CCTV cameras record them entering - but they never exit. No one can find them inside - and no one can explain how they vanished.
TWO FAMILIES
When she was five, Rebekah Murphy's mother suddenly walked out with no explanation. She never came back. Now, haunted by years of unanswered questions, Rebekah asks missing persons investigator David Raker to find out what happened.
ONE DEVASTATING SECRET
At first, the two disappearances - decades apart - seem unrelated. But as Raker digs deeper, he starts to unravel an elaborate history of lies binding the cases together. Worse, there's someone terrifying hiding in the shadows - and they're going to make sure the truth never comes out...
At the country's newest theme park, Tom Preacher and his son Leo are queuing for the ghost house. CCTV cameras record them entering - but they never exit. No one can find them inside - and no one can explain how they vanished.
TWO FAMILIES
When she was five, Rebekah Murphy's mother suddenly walked out with no explanation. She never came back. Now, haunted by years of unanswered questions, Rebekah asks missing persons investigator David Raker to find out what happened.
ONE DEVASTATING SECRET
At first, the two disappearances - decades apart - seem unrelated. But as Raker digs deeper, he starts to unravel an elaborate history of lies binding the cases together. Worse, there's someone terrifying hiding in the shadows - and they're going to make sure the truth never comes out...
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 8, 2023
290 people are currently reading
1506 people want to read
About the author
Tim Weaver
56 books1,602 followersTim Weaver is the Sunday Times Top 3 bestselling author of the David Raker missing persons series, the standalone thriller, Missing Pieces, and the novella collection, The Shadow at the Door. His novels have been selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club four times, and his work has been nominated for a National Book Award and the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger. He is currently developing an original TV drama with the team behind Line of Duty. He lives near Bath in the UK. Find out more about Tim and his writing at www.timweaverbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews
May 22, 2023
I do generally enjoy this ‘Missing’ series by the talented Tim Weaver and feel unlike some series’ every one can be read without reading any previous,in this book the basics of the past are mentioned to help new readers understand what has happened beforehand but tbh it holds it’s own as a good stand alone story
As with all the authors books there is a good beginning,how the ‘missing’ part has happened,a tense and exciting middle where it is investigated and a robust ending where things all start to make sense
There a lot of characters in this book and timelines and plot action but as long as you concentrate and keep a check on it all you are rewarded with a tale of intrigue and in parts very dark pasts of some of the characters
It is not a quick read and is involving but the readers investment pays off with some superb writing and involving story
As with all the authors books there is a good beginning,how the ‘missing’ part has happened,a tense and exciting middle where it is investigated and a robust ending where things all start to make sense
There a lot of characters in this book and timelines and plot action but as long as you concentrate and keep a check on it all you are rewarded with a tale of intrigue and in parts very dark pasts of some of the characters
It is not a quick read and is involving but the readers investment pays off with some superb writing and involving story
August 4, 2023
Orthopaedic surgeon Rebekah Murphy flies in from New York to London to hire missing persons investigator David Raker to discover what happened to her mother Fiona, who left the family home in Cambridge on Boxing Day 1985, never to return. Over the years Rebekah has received condolence cards claiming to be from Fiona on the passing of her father and brothers.
As David starts delving into the mystery, he soon discovers Fiona’s disappearance could be linked to that of another young woman who disappeared the week before and the death of a detective a month later. Somehow all these events seem connected to a sinister private members club in Holborn which lists celebrities, politicians, as well as senior members of the judiciary and law enforcement among its membership. The narrative often flashes back to earlier years as we begin to learn more about Fiona’s past and the mysterious individuals who own and run the club.
At every turn, when David feels he’s solved one mystery, at least another two emerge and he feels as if he’s getting further from the truth. To make matters worse, his friend, former Metropolitan Police Officer Colm Healy – a man most assumed to be dead – is in prison and a couple of officers are pressuring him to make a full confession, which would, undoubtedly, result in David losing his freedom too.
The almost unbearable tension is maintained throughout the whole 450 pages of the novel. Also, two characters from the two previous novels (Rebekah Murphy from Missing Pieces and Martine Parkes from The Blackbird) are blended seamlessly into the narrative here as if all three novels were conceived together. A real tour-de-force. Although this is now the 13th book of the series, Tim Weaver is still very much at the peak of his game.
As David starts delving into the mystery, he soon discovers Fiona’s disappearance could be linked to that of another young woman who disappeared the week before and the death of a detective a month later. Somehow all these events seem connected to a sinister private members club in Holborn which lists celebrities, politicians, as well as senior members of the judiciary and law enforcement among its membership. The narrative often flashes back to earlier years as we begin to learn more about Fiona’s past and the mysterious individuals who own and run the club.
At every turn, when David feels he’s solved one mystery, at least another two emerge and he feels as if he’s getting further from the truth. To make matters worse, his friend, former Metropolitan Police Officer Colm Healy – a man most assumed to be dead – is in prison and a couple of officers are pressuring him to make a full confession, which would, undoubtedly, result in David losing his freedom too.
The almost unbearable tension is maintained throughout the whole 450 pages of the novel. Also, two characters from the two previous novels (Rebekah Murphy from Missing Pieces and Martine Parkes from The Blackbird) are blended seamlessly into the narrative here as if all three novels were conceived together. A real tour-de-force. Although this is now the 13th book of the series, Tim Weaver is still very much at the peak of his game.
August 30, 2024
Jumping in to the Raker series with book 12. Well written and enough back story given that could be understood without any previous knowledge of the series. Lots of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and for me only let down slightly at the very end, where there is a big slice of coincidence and some questionable motivation required to get the story over the line. Fans of the series I'm sure will be giving it a 5*.
April 29, 2023
I’m a big David Raker fan and have read all of this authors previous books about as well as a stand alone which introduced Rebekah as a character. In this novel Rebekah and David come together as she hires him to look into her mother’s disappearance. Fiona Murphy walked out on Rebekah, her father and her brothers nearly 40 years earlier when Rebekah was 3.
All her life she has wondered what happened and hopes missing person investigator, David, can bring her closure.
There is also a strand of the plot which relates to David’s friend Healy, now in prison for faking his own death. The police are desperate to make him incriminate Raker who has been helping him stay off grid.
David has a lot on his plate and has to use all his ingenuity to stay one step ahead of a particularly nasty enemy as well as the police.
I really enjoyed the intrigue interwoven into the story. There are chapters told from various view points and time periods but they all come together at the end.
Raker is a great hero, relentless and brave, trying to do good and find out as much as possible for his client in order to help her come to terms with her loss at a young age.
Healy is in a difficult situation and wrestles with his conscience, trying to keep Raker safe but knowing that it might be at the expense of his own life.
The conclusion of the book was very clever and it left me wanting to read more about both David and Healy and perhaps some of the other characters.
If you’ve read the earlier books you won’t want to miss this one and if you haven’t you’ve got a real treat in store catching up!
Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for my arc.
All her life she has wondered what happened and hopes missing person investigator, David, can bring her closure.
There is also a strand of the plot which relates to David’s friend Healy, now in prison for faking his own death. The police are desperate to make him incriminate Raker who has been helping him stay off grid.
David has a lot on his plate and has to use all his ingenuity to stay one step ahead of a particularly nasty enemy as well as the police.
I really enjoyed the intrigue interwoven into the story. There are chapters told from various view points and time periods but they all come together at the end.
Raker is a great hero, relentless and brave, trying to do good and find out as much as possible for his client in order to help her come to terms with her loss at a young age.
Healy is in a difficult situation and wrestles with his conscience, trying to keep Raker safe but knowing that it might be at the expense of his own life.
The conclusion of the book was very clever and it left me wanting to read more about both David and Healy and perhaps some of the other characters.
If you’ve read the earlier books you won’t want to miss this one and if you haven’t you’ve got a real treat in store catching up!
Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for my arc.
December 24, 2025
This is the 12th book in the excellent series involving missing persons investigator David Raker, where
David has been contacted by Rebekah, who now lives in America but has been haunted for most of her life by the sudden disappearance of her mother when she was a child.
Meanwhile, in the present day, Tom Preacher and his son, Leo, disappear after entering a ghost house at a local theme park. Police are investigating but David discovers links between the cold case he is investigating and this more recent disappearance....
As I have come to expect from this series, the action is gripping and simply pulls you into the story which, aided by the short chapters, makes it really hard to put down. A thrilling rollercoaster of a ride where once again what appears to be a relatively straightforward missing persons enquiry turns into a series of life-threatening encounters for David - 9/10.
David has been contacted by Rebekah, who now lives in America but has been haunted for most of her life by the sudden disappearance of her mother when she was a child.
Meanwhile, in the present day, Tom Preacher and his son, Leo, disappear after entering a ghost house at a local theme park. Police are investigating but David discovers links between the cold case he is investigating and this more recent disappearance....
As I have come to expect from this series, the action is gripping and simply pulls you into the story which, aided by the short chapters, makes it really hard to put down. A thrilling rollercoaster of a ride where once again what appears to be a relatively straightforward missing persons enquiry turns into a series of life-threatening encounters for David - 9/10.
July 9, 2023
I love this series that features David Raker. You always know that this author will bring something special to each of his books in this series. His latest The Last Goodbye just blew me away. Richly descriptive and characters you feel as if you really know. Another MUST READ from this very talented author and a great addition to this gripping and very addictive series.
Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc.
Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc.
May 26, 2023
Another ridiculously clever and twisty outing for Raker and I absolutely loved it.
Expertly plotted and executed this book, as with the rest in the series, grabs you from the start and doesn’t let you go.
This time Raker is asked to solve a very cold missing case that dates back almost 40 years. The case soon sees him caught up with some very dark figures from recent history. This time too Raker is not just the hunter but also the hunted as the Met close in on him and Healy.
Tim Weaver really is the ultimate ‘just one more chapter’ author. Every chapter leaves you on a cliff hanger or questioning what you thought you knew and you just have to keep reading!
This is Raker 12. I’ve read them all and never got anywhere near the twists so this time I thought just relax and go with the flow and maybe that's the secret because this time I managed to figure out one small twist. Very proud of myself!
And now that I’ve got my breath back I can't wait for the next installment and what comes next for Raker & Healy.
Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph & Netgalley for the chance to read an early copy
Expertly plotted and executed this book, as with the rest in the series, grabs you from the start and doesn’t let you go.
This time Raker is asked to solve a very cold missing case that dates back almost 40 years. The case soon sees him caught up with some very dark figures from recent history. This time too Raker is not just the hunter but also the hunted as the Met close in on him and Healy.
Tim Weaver really is the ultimate ‘just one more chapter’ author. Every chapter leaves you on a cliff hanger or questioning what you thought you knew and you just have to keep reading!
This is Raker 12. I’ve read them all and never got anywhere near the twists so this time I thought just relax and go with the flow and maybe that's the secret because this time I managed to figure out one small twist. Very proud of myself!
And now that I’ve got my breath back I can't wait for the next installment and what comes next for Raker & Healy.
Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph & Netgalley for the chance to read an early copy
June 15, 2024
This was a heavy read and required maximum concentration as there were so many characters and the book jumped about quite a lot definitely the wrong book to take on holiday, very tense and totally lacking in humour , it was well written but I didn’t really enjoy it
August 3, 2024
Never tire of a David Raker tale. This one was exceptionally intricate, but as ever, a fast pace book that I found difficult to put down. Personally I do think you need to read in chronological order Tim Weaver's books.
August 18, 2023
While murder mysteries with their dead victim hook and cast of suspects have been a core tenet of detective fiction since its inception in the 19th century, authors such as Harlan Coben and British bestseller Tim Weaver have shown that missing persons cases can create just as much drama. Years ago Coben told me in an interview that he found disappearances more interesting because of the uncertainty and lack of closure; and the hope that lingers can fuel those left behind, or crush them.
Weaver has leaned into that in his popular, long-running series starring missing persons expert David Raker. This intriguing twelfth instalment, The Last Goodbye, involves puzzling disappearances separated by nearly forty years. In the present, Tom Preacher and his nine-year-old son Leo enter a ghost house ride at the country’s newest theme park, then vanish. Video footage shows them going onto the ride, but never coming out the other end. Meanwhile Raker is hired by Rebekah Murphy, a British woman now living in New York, to dig into the disappearance of Rebekah’s mother back in 1985 – an old wound that has been reopened by recent letters. At the same time, the unwanted reappearance and remand of once-dead policeman Colm Healy may upturn Raker’s own life.
Already under great risk due to his past actions, Raker’s latest investigations prove more dangerous than even he could ever envisage, as his search grid unwittingly begins to entwine with perhaps his most vicious foe ever. A relic of a monstrous regime, the poisonous point of a broken spear.
Weaver lives up to his name well in The Last Goodbye, masterfully handling then bringing together a variety of fascinating threads that span time and geography. He lures the reader into an intriguing tale then ratchets up the tension as his long-time hero and others are thrust into dire jeopardy. Another very good instalment in a very good series, well worth a look for crime fiction fans.
[This review was first published in Deadly Pleasures, a US-based magazine]
Weaver has leaned into that in his popular, long-running series starring missing persons expert David Raker. This intriguing twelfth instalment, The Last Goodbye, involves puzzling disappearances separated by nearly forty years. In the present, Tom Preacher and his nine-year-old son Leo enter a ghost house ride at the country’s newest theme park, then vanish. Video footage shows them going onto the ride, but never coming out the other end. Meanwhile Raker is hired by Rebekah Murphy, a British woman now living in New York, to dig into the disappearance of Rebekah’s mother back in 1985 – an old wound that has been reopened by recent letters. At the same time, the unwanted reappearance and remand of once-dead policeman Colm Healy may upturn Raker’s own life.
Already under great risk due to his past actions, Raker’s latest investigations prove more dangerous than even he could ever envisage, as his search grid unwittingly begins to entwine with perhaps his most vicious foe ever. A relic of a monstrous regime, the poisonous point of a broken spear.
Weaver lives up to his name well in The Last Goodbye, masterfully handling then bringing together a variety of fascinating threads that span time and geography. He lures the reader into an intriguing tale then ratchets up the tension as his long-time hero and others are thrust into dire jeopardy. Another very good instalment in a very good series, well worth a look for crime fiction fans.
[This review was first published in Deadly Pleasures, a US-based magazine]
May 30, 2023
Another brilliant book from Tim Weaver.
Raker is asked to help Rebekah who is trying to find out what happened to her Mum who has been missing since 1985.
Alongside this story is the mysterious disappearance of Tom and his son Leo at a fairground.
It’s not clear how they are linked at first but through some clever storytelling, we find out the full extent of both disappearances.
Healy is in prison and Raker is desparate to speak to him as the Police are pushing him for information following Healy faking his own death, and Raker helping him with other stuff. But will he reach him in time?
There’s definitely lots going on in this book and it certainly kept my attention throughout.
This is a great crime thriller that I’d highly recommend.
Thanks to Michael Joseph books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Raker is asked to help Rebekah who is trying to find out what happened to her Mum who has been missing since 1985.
Alongside this story is the mysterious disappearance of Tom and his son Leo at a fairground.
It’s not clear how they are linked at first but through some clever storytelling, we find out the full extent of both disappearances.
Healy is in prison and Raker is desparate to speak to him as the Police are pushing him for information following Healy faking his own death, and Raker helping him with other stuff. But will he reach him in time?
There’s definitely lots going on in this book and it certainly kept my attention throughout.
This is a great crime thriller that I’d highly recommend.
Thanks to Michael Joseph books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
August 17, 2024
⭐3.75 stars⭐
it was so close to being 4 and I really enjoyed it but in the last quarter when everything started being pieced together it got really random and confusing lmfao 💀 there were so many different parts of it and like things that tied together so it's definitely one you have to think for but it was really good and kept me gripped 😝 once again, a thriller (ish)proves that it's my favorite genre 💞❗
it was so close to being 4 and I really enjoyed it but in the last quarter when everything started being pieced together it got really random and confusing lmfao 💀 there were so many different parts of it and like things that tied together so it's definitely one you have to think for but it was really good and kept me gripped 😝 once again, a thriller (ish)proves that it's my favorite genre 💞❗
June 2, 2024
For its genre I give this 5 stars. Well thought out, well written, genuinely scary in places, several little surprises... and no I didn't guess the end...and I'm not going to tell you!
I really enjoyed this book.
I really enjoyed this book.
September 22, 2023
Another enjoyable read in the Raker series. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep us guessing.
Would have been 5 stars, but the outrageous coincidences which led to the denouement was a little too much, I thought.
It's still a great read, though 👍
Would have been 5 stars, but the outrageous coincidences which led to the denouement was a little too much, I thought.
It's still a great read, though 👍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2025
Can always trust Timmy boy to write a good crime with amazing suspense and twists
June 24, 2023
Absolutely brilliant as always with this author.
June 19, 2024
3.75 again!
think this is like 5 in a row now at this rating. i’m being consistently impressed by my books but never truly blown away.
this was a surprising read considering i just found it on holiday in turkey. it’s a lot more political and a lot more complicated than i’d anticipated but i really enjoyed it cos it kept me guessing. the plot was complex but not far fetched. the way it all came together too was nicely done. although perhaps some of it felt a little crowbarred i can see past this.
i tend to not enjoy mystery books when it’s in a detective / PI’s pov but this was fun and i did like it
think this is like 5 in a row now at this rating. i’m being consistently impressed by my books but never truly blown away.
this was a surprising read considering i just found it on holiday in turkey. it’s a lot more political and a lot more complicated than i’d anticipated but i really enjoyed it cos it kept me guessing. the plot was complex but not far fetched. the way it all came together too was nicely done. although perhaps some of it felt a little crowbarred i can see past this.
i tend to not enjoy mystery books when it’s in a detective / PI’s pov but this was fun and i did like it
May 11, 2024
Dreadful. I’ve been very invested in every single one of Weaver’s other books and I couldn’t wait to read this latest offering, unfortunately, it was painful. I had tried reading it twice before picking it up again and dragging myself through every word. The intrigue was banal and I didn’t have any interest in any of the characters. The several intertwined plots were all drawn out, far-fetched and unrealistic. What did you do with Healy? He wouldn’t have betrayed Raker - not in a million years. Not impressed.
May 29, 2024
Oh....my brain hurts, too many characters for me to follow. I only finished it this morning and I seriously can't remember the main character's name! This was a hefty book, I really had to concentrate, and it feels like I've been reading it for quite some time. It was my first try of this author...and I've since seen he has written plenty of others around the same character, whose name still evades me!
Not for me to dip into again, but pick it up if you like trying to solve a crime! I just didnt know where to start and who with...which I guess is a good thing, so a mid point 3 for a score.
Not for me to dip into again, but pick it up if you like trying to solve a crime! I just didnt know where to start and who with...which I guess is a good thing, so a mid point 3 for a score.
August 14, 2024
Tim Weaver was recommended by a friend and, as a lover of this type of novel, I was keen to try it. Perhaps that was the problem. It just felt fragmented, with chapter breaks after anything remotely like a cliff hanger constantly interrupting the flow. Whilst the plot was intricate, it too was scattered across places and characters, and I failed to become really invested in anyone’s fate. David Raker, missing person investigator, is a sound choice for the hero of such a series, but sadly not for me.
August 28, 2024
it was one of my only options at the airport
May 9, 2023
A father and son disappear from a theme park ride, while years ago a mother walks away from her children and is never seen again. It’s down to David Raker to find out the truth. Can both cases be related?
This book is quite far into the David Raker series and I am ashamed to say that this is the first book in the series I have read, despite owning a few. I can safely say now that it won’t be my last!
The writing is superb with plenty of action to keep you on your toes and a very complex, clever plot. It does take a little bit of concentration to really get the most out of the story but is well worth it. The character development was done very well, especially David Raker. I do feel that I would have got a lot more out of this book if I had read the rest of the series as there is a lot of references to past storylines, therefore some parts were slightly confusing. Saying that though, I did manage to get my head around it all and can definitely describe this as a twisty page turner. If this book is anything to go by then I will definitely be going back to the start of the series and catching up on all of the books. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this copy in return for an honest review.
This book is quite far into the David Raker series and I am ashamed to say that this is the first book in the series I have read, despite owning a few. I can safely say now that it won’t be my last!
The writing is superb with plenty of action to keep you on your toes and a very complex, clever plot. It does take a little bit of concentration to really get the most out of the story but is well worth it. The character development was done very well, especially David Raker. I do feel that I would have got a lot more out of this book if I had read the rest of the series as there is a lot of references to past storylines, therefore some parts were slightly confusing. Saying that though, I did manage to get my head around it all and can definitely describe this as a twisty page turner. If this book is anything to go by then I will definitely be going back to the start of the series and catching up on all of the books. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this copy in return for an honest review.
November 8, 2025
Tim Weaver leaves us on tenterhooks as he keeps us waiting before picking up where the Blackbird left off. This is another brilliant instalment of the David Raker series and the author does a first class job of running the 'missing' storyline alongside the ongoing Healy plot. Sublime writing and an intricate and clever plot once again showcase the superb story telling of Tim Weaver. The pace is on point and the tension builds with every chapter, topped off with a cracker of a twist. A series that just gets better and better. A dazzling 5⭐️ read
June 18, 2025
Brilliant book, can be hard to follow at times with different chapters for different characters. More political then expected based on the description. Despite this, is it impossible to put down and had many twists within the tale.
June 30, 2024
I love it ❤️
July 28, 2024
Really a 3.5. I’ve not read this series before. Easy to read murder mystery. Quite a lot of coincidences throughout but an ok read.
August 12, 2024
Love this writer - brilliant stuff!
August 21, 2024
It’s a shame to say goodbye to this book. Superb.
August 31, 2024
4.5 overall!! Slow at the start, then the middle had me gripped, but the ending felt a bit too far fetched.
September 6, 2024
Excellent book that is fast paced with lots of different aspects Great read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews