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David Raker #6
What Remains
**Alternative cover edition for ASIN: B00SGJ5GRE https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...**
From the bestselling author of Never Coming Back and the chart-topping Missing podcast, comes the latest David Raker missing persons investigation.
'Weaver has become one of this country's most respected, bestselling crime writers, and he fully deserves to be. Written with elegance, care and craft, What Remains is a luminous example of what a considerable talent Weaver has become. Catch him at once' Daily Mail
***
Missing persons investigator David Raker specializes in finding the lost. Whether dead or alive, he brings home the truth to the families left behind. But there's one person he's never been able to save.
Colm Healy was one of the Met's best detectives - until the unsolved murders of a mother and her twin daughters consumed his career, his family and his life. For him, there can be no redemption without justice.
Re-opening the case together, Raker soon learns the hard way how this puzzle breeds obsession. But the worst is yet to come.
Because, at the end of this trail of tragedy and darkness, an elusive killer watches, waits - and prepares to bury the truth forever...
'Impressive ... a lacerating investigation, which takes readers into the furthest reaches of obsession. A dark, complex and visceral read' Financial Times
***
Praise for Tim Weaver:
'Weaver's books get better each time - tense, complex, sometimes horrific, written with flair as well as care'Guardian
'I couldn't put it down' Sun
'Weaver has delivered another cracking crime thriller' Daily Mail
'Weaver knows how to construct a complex plot ... you will be kept guessing until the last few pages. David Raker has joined a select band of fictional characters whose return in a new book excites existing fans and collects new ones with every publication' Crime Fiction Lover
592 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
About the author
Tim Weaver
32 books1,414 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 238 reviews
August 15, 2016
Oh Mr. Weaver you got me good with a few of those twisty moments!
It's rare that I have to admit that I did not see that coming. But that is precisely number one Weaver's talent: he writes stores that make sense in retrospect, but during that first read put you right into the thick of it with the protagonist, squeezing meaning out of every clue and desperately looking for connections. While this may seem like a simple description of crime fiction in general, it doesn't usually work out quite like that. Anyone who reads a lot of these kinds of books comes to feel the pattern within them, Chekhov's gun is in every character, offhand comment, piece of evidence... In most cases, I'm pretty sure what's going to happen or whoddidit. Tv shows and films are even easier by the very nature of their medium. But Weaver writes outside these boxes. He doesn't even show us the gun. We investigate. It's exciting, and added to the detailed but pacey writing style, these books are a winner of a choice.
It's rare that I have to admit that I did not see that coming. But that is precisely number one Weaver's talent: he writes stores that make sense in retrospect, but during that first read put you right into the thick of it with the protagonist, squeezing meaning out of every clue and desperately looking for connections. While this may seem like a simple description of crime fiction in general, it doesn't usually work out quite like that. Anyone who reads a lot of these kinds of books comes to feel the pattern within them, Chekhov's gun is in every character, offhand comment, piece of evidence... In most cases, I'm pretty sure what's going to happen or whoddidit. Tv shows and films are even easier by the very nature of their medium. But Weaver writes outside these boxes. He doesn't even show us the gun. We investigate. It's exciting, and added to the detailed but pacey writing style, these books are a winner of a choice.
April 12, 2020
This is the 6th book in the excellent David Raker series by author Tim Weaver.
David Raker specialises in searching for missing persons and is normally called up on when all the Police efforts have come to a screeching halt. One case that has haunted both Raker and associate Colm Healy is a case that changed Healy the ex Met detective for ever. The unsolved murders of a mother and her twin daughters that finished his career and ruined his family life. Now Colm Healy is asking David Raker to help solve the case that has caused him so much anguish and threatens to become Raker's toughest job yet.
The usual helping's of twists and turns make this another excellent read. Great characters and teasing story-lines that are so well written. Excellent series that needs to be read from book 1 to fully appreciate.
David Raker specialises in searching for missing persons and is normally called up on when all the Police efforts have come to a screeching halt. One case that has haunted both Raker and associate Colm Healy is a case that changed Healy the ex Met detective for ever. The unsolved murders of a mother and her twin daughters that finished his career and ruined his family life. Now Colm Healy is asking David Raker to help solve the case that has caused him so much anguish and threatens to become Raker's toughest job yet.
The usual helping's of twists and turns make this another excellent read. Great characters and teasing story-lines that are so well written. Excellent series that needs to be read from book 1 to fully appreciate.
July 19, 2015
OH MY GOD THIS BOOK! Emotional overload or what. I'm really wrung out! Anyway, I shall be joint reviewing this with Christine (Northern Crime) at a later date in the form of a conversation as we've been buddy reading it with much shrieking today. In the meantime though if you HAVENT read the Raker series what are you waiting for? GO GO
Collapses.
Collapses.
October 2, 2015
So why haven't I read one of Tim Weavers books before? That's going to change!
I have been so enthralled and so deeply enmeshed in this book it would have been hard pressed to move me in an earthquake.
This really did grab me right from the start.
The storyline in this is so good, its nothing that I expected and much more, very much more.
I thought it was going to be all about this detective who couldn't pull away from an unsolved crime [see authors blurb description] but its more detailed than this and included the detective himself.
This has so much RAW emotion inside it, its unreal, I didn't expect to feel anything like the emotions I felt, not at all.
The detective becomes a missing person and you are on the edge of this for its entirety so, turn your phone off, don't answer the door, put up a DO NOT BE DISTURBED sign on your location. You really need to read this from start to finish. My kindle said 11 hours........so either get someone else to cook dinner, throw something in the slow cooker and get them to help themselves or get them to phone for take out.
Did I love this? You bet.
If you've not read a book by this author can I urge you to read this.
I so want to read the rest of the Rake series.
Let me thank the author for bringing such a fab book my way and to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph via Net Galley as without this, I may have missed a superb enthralling rememerable book.
March 12, 2022
3,5 / 5
Oyun makinelerinin olayının açıklaması çok zorlama geldi bana. Daha iyi bir şeyler bekliyordum açıkçası 🤔
Bir de betimlemeler kitabın tuzu, biberi tamam da TW bu kitapta tuzu biraz abartmış sanki.
Oyun makinelerinin olayının açıklaması çok zorlama geldi bana. Daha iyi bir şeyler bekliyordum açıkçası 🤔
Bir de betimlemeler kitabın tuzu, biberi tamam da TW bu kitapta tuzu biraz abartmış sanki.
January 22, 2016
What Remains by Tim Weaver is an enthralling thriller with a well written twisty plot. It’s his sixth novel involving missing persons investigator David Raker. This excellent story is very readable as a stand-alone with some of the back history slipped into this book to assist new readers to this acclaimed series. I haven’t read any of his previous work but it was clear from the start that the author writes good prose with interesting characters involved in layers of side stories running alongside the main plot.
David Raker decides to help an old friend in now ex-detective Colm Healy. A cold case from back in 2010, which Healy had failed to solve, is opened again. This case was responsible for breaking Healy and involved the awful murder of Gail Clark and her twin eight year old daughters Abigail and April. This was a difficult case and the tension quickly mounts as Healy goes missing and things get complicated for Raker. There is a lot of action and unexpected turns along the way to the finale of the book, which again took me by surprise. The last half of the book is completely gripping as Raker finds it all consuming and becomes as obsessed with concluding this case as Healy had.
I can happily recommend this book to you and would have no doubt given it 5 stars if I was a reader of the series and had a closer attachment to main character Raker. Even so I think you will find it an excellent read which deals with powerful emotions, tragic events and is a story intricately told that will quickly have you in its grip. This is a book and a series well worth exploring further. (ARC Received)
October 6, 2015
I love Tim Waever books and his main charachter Raker, a missing persons investigator. You can always look forward to a strong plot, believable characters and many edge of your seat moments. This is the sixth book in the series and it continues to make me want to read more, only problem is havig to wait for another to be wtitten. If you are looking for a new author, give Tim Weaver a try. I don't think he will disappoint you.
March 22, 2021
For the first two thirds I couldn't put this book down, it was gripping if confusing. But then it became slow, drawn out and a bit fantastical. Still confusing, I became bored and wanted to get it finished. It was definitely too long, all was explained by the end but could have been 200 pages shorter.
October 27, 2016
I found this one over-long (I was skipping paragraphs) and the plot was rather bizarre.
October 25, 2015
In this book Raker meets an old friend Colm Healy who has been haunted by the murder of Gail Clark and her twin daughters Abigail and April back in 2010, the case hadn’t been solved and Colm’s life had gone into freefall. First his job went, then his marriage, his house and his friends all disappeared, all except Raker. While the Missing Persons Private Investigator takes a little convincing, he eventually agrees and starts to investigate, but this time he has little to go on as the murdered woman has few social contacts to give him a lead. Still he still has some friends in useful places to assist should he find any corner to peel back, and of course he does, this is investigator extraordinaire, David Raker.
This is a complicated, and long story at over 550 pages, and several times I thought that the end was in sight only for the plot to twist in a different direction often seemingly back on itself as Raker doesn’t only want to find out how the shadowy villains are connected but why they murdered two innocent eight year olds. The somewhat convoluted storyline is compensated for by the excellent writing, Tim Weaver captures a wide range of emotions better than any other crime writer I can think of, and although the pace was patchy in places I was engaged in the hunt for the perpetrator. As with the other two books in this series, there is a depth to the investigation with parts of London bought to life albeit with a dark shadow falling across the familiar and less known landmarks. With an almost ghostly feel to the investigation the setting on a disused pier in Wapping seemed perfectly suited as was the labyrinth of Camden market when a lead took the men to an antique shop.
This book contained far more violence than the previous two, partly I suspect because of the nature of the fact that the investigation was into a murder rather than a missing person, but overall it didn’t feel gratuitous and the skill of the author had me genuinely concerned about the suffering inflicted on some of the characters.
The real lynch-pin to the story is will Raker become as consumed by finding out what happened to Gail Clark and those two innocent girls as Healy was. Will he be able to live with himself, continue to build his life with his recently discovered daughter and maybe even a relationship if he doesn’t get a complete answer? What will remain indeed!
I’d like to thank Penguin UK for allowing me to read What Remains which was published on 16 July 2015 in return for my honest opinion.
This is a complicated, and long story at over 550 pages, and several times I thought that the end was in sight only for the plot to twist in a different direction often seemingly back on itself as Raker doesn’t only want to find out how the shadowy villains are connected but why they murdered two innocent eight year olds. The somewhat convoluted storyline is compensated for by the excellent writing, Tim Weaver captures a wide range of emotions better than any other crime writer I can think of, and although the pace was patchy in places I was engaged in the hunt for the perpetrator. As with the other two books in this series, there is a depth to the investigation with parts of London bought to life albeit with a dark shadow falling across the familiar and less known landmarks. With an almost ghostly feel to the investigation the setting on a disused pier in Wapping seemed perfectly suited as was the labyrinth of Camden market when a lead took the men to an antique shop.
This book contained far more violence than the previous two, partly I suspect because of the nature of the fact that the investigation was into a murder rather than a missing person, but overall it didn’t feel gratuitous and the skill of the author had me genuinely concerned about the suffering inflicted on some of the characters.
The real lynch-pin to the story is will Raker become as consumed by finding out what happened to Gail Clark and those two innocent girls as Healy was. Will he be able to live with himself, continue to build his life with his recently discovered daughter and maybe even a relationship if he doesn’t get a complete answer? What will remain indeed!
I’d like to thank Penguin UK for allowing me to read What Remains which was published on 16 July 2015 in return for my honest opinion.
October 27, 2015
Those of you who have seen my review of the short story Disconnected will understand how difficult it was for me to get hold of What Remains when it came out in paperback a few days ago. For those of you who are not aware, let me share a rather lengthy story with you so that you can appreciate how desperate I was to read this.
On Thursday, What Remains came out in paperback. David Raker number six has been sitting on my to-read list since it was announced. Unfortunately, due to my OCD issues I refused to buy it in hardback because it would ruin my bookshelf. Ergo, I had to wait for it to come out in paperback. The wait almost killed me, yet I somehow managed it. On the day of the release I planned to head straight into town to pick up a copy – yet I had lectures from nine onwards, meaning I was unable to head into town to buy the book until the afternoon. This is where things get all kinds of fun. I searched almost every store in Aberdeen to find a copy of the book. Do you think anywhere had any? No. Everywhere had sold out. Thanks to having lectures in the morning, I missed out on my chance of buying it in almost all the shops. I can assure you, I am not exaggerating when I say I walked miles to find the book. I went into town. I went to the stores on the beach. I kept walking north until I was moving towards the airport and completely away from the city centre. Finally, I found a Sainsbury’s with two copies hidden away in the corner. I grabbed a copy and ran for the checkout as though the devil was on my tail.
Anyone who follows Tim Weaver on Twitter will be aware that there were two version of the paperback copy of What Remains: there is the red tinted pages version and then the short story version. Due to finding a copy in Sainsbury’s, I received the latter. Therefore, I came into possession of Disconnected. I’ve known about it for a while, since it appeared in the #Youdunnit collection of short stories (if you count three stories as a collection, that is), and I’ve been meaning to read it. After all, Tim Weaver has made it onto my list of favourite authors meaning I have to pick up everything he writes even if it is merely a short story. As I was heading out that night, I read Disconnected before starting What Remains, and enjoyed the short story (go read it Weaver fans, if you have yet to). The next day, I was able to start What Remains.
Let me tell you, the wait and trouble of finding a copy was more than worth it.
I love it when stories fail to head in the direction I expect them to, the surprises keeping me reading until the early hours of the morning, and such is what happened with What Remains. Based upon what I had read regarding the book (reviews and blogposts by Tim Weaver), I had a couple of ideas of where the story was heading. Some had me believing it would be a search for the missing Colm. Some had me believing it would be a mission between the two to solve the case that killed Colm’s career. It was both of these things. It was neither of these things.
It was so much more than I possibly imagined.
We have multiple stories going on, countless questions that needed answering. As I said, nothing went in the direction I was expecting it to. Every time I convinced myself that I knew where things were heading I would be surprised by another twist, another layer of the mystery being unwoven. Everything is brought together wonderfully, the multiple storylines being part of one overarching story. Whilst at times it may seem like a lot is going on, know it will all make sense in the end.
Why didn’t I give it five stars, if I loved it so much?
Whilst it was action packed, it took a while for the action to really get going. It was a wonderful read – one of my favourites in the Raker series – but it wasn’t quite on par with Vanished (my favourite Raker novel, and an easy five stars). There is also the fact that some aspects of the characters annoyed me a bit this time around – although that just plays back into the story and isn’t really much of an issue (just a personal view that added to the fact it wasn’t quite a full five stars).
Overall, another wonderful Raker story. I cannot wait to see what comes next!
On Thursday, What Remains came out in paperback. David Raker number six has been sitting on my to-read list since it was announced. Unfortunately, due to my OCD issues I refused to buy it in hardback because it would ruin my bookshelf. Ergo, I had to wait for it to come out in paperback. The wait almost killed me, yet I somehow managed it. On the day of the release I planned to head straight into town to pick up a copy – yet I had lectures from nine onwards, meaning I was unable to head into town to buy the book until the afternoon. This is where things get all kinds of fun. I searched almost every store in Aberdeen to find a copy of the book. Do you think anywhere had any? No. Everywhere had sold out. Thanks to having lectures in the morning, I missed out on my chance of buying it in almost all the shops. I can assure you, I am not exaggerating when I say I walked miles to find the book. I went into town. I went to the stores on the beach. I kept walking north until I was moving towards the airport and completely away from the city centre. Finally, I found a Sainsbury’s with two copies hidden away in the corner. I grabbed a copy and ran for the checkout as though the devil was on my tail.
Anyone who follows Tim Weaver on Twitter will be aware that there were two version of the paperback copy of What Remains: there is the red tinted pages version and then the short story version. Due to finding a copy in Sainsbury’s, I received the latter. Therefore, I came into possession of Disconnected. I’ve known about it for a while, since it appeared in the #Youdunnit collection of short stories (if you count three stories as a collection, that is), and I’ve been meaning to read it. After all, Tim Weaver has made it onto my list of favourite authors meaning I have to pick up everything he writes even if it is merely a short story. As I was heading out that night, I read Disconnected before starting What Remains, and enjoyed the short story (go read it Weaver fans, if you have yet to). The next day, I was able to start What Remains.
Let me tell you, the wait and trouble of finding a copy was more than worth it.
I love it when stories fail to head in the direction I expect them to, the surprises keeping me reading until the early hours of the morning, and such is what happened with What Remains. Based upon what I had read regarding the book (reviews and blogposts by Tim Weaver), I had a couple of ideas of where the story was heading. Some had me believing it would be a search for the missing Colm. Some had me believing it would be a mission between the two to solve the case that killed Colm’s career. It was both of these things. It was neither of these things.
It was so much more than I possibly imagined.
We have multiple stories going on, countless questions that needed answering. As I said, nothing went in the direction I was expecting it to. Every time I convinced myself that I knew where things were heading I would be surprised by another twist, another layer of the mystery being unwoven. Everything is brought together wonderfully, the multiple storylines being part of one overarching story. Whilst at times it may seem like a lot is going on, know it will all make sense in the end.
Why didn’t I give it five stars, if I loved it so much?
Whilst it was action packed, it took a while for the action to really get going. It was a wonderful read – one of my favourites in the Raker series – but it wasn’t quite on par with Vanished (my favourite Raker novel, and an easy five stars). There is also the fact that some aspects of the characters annoyed me a bit this time around – although that just plays back into the story and isn’t really much of an issue (just a personal view that added to the fact it wasn’t quite a full five stars).
Overall, another wonderful Raker story. I cannot wait to see what comes next!
September 20, 2015
David Raker Missing Persons Investigator is hoping to help an ex London Met detective Colm Healy find redemption and solve a case that has haunted him for 4 years and ruined his life, his work, and his marriage. That is the basis of this brilliant 500+ page thriller/mystery by up and coming author Tim Weaver and makes for complex yet very rewarding reading. The author had my attention from page one and held me spellbound for just over 2 days with many intelligent twists and changes in the storyline all adding to the tension and concluding in magnificient fashion. I particularly loved the London setting with the imagery and use of old wooden piers and the thrill and sound of victorian amusement arcades. Mr Weaver as an author writes with a great confidence and turns a complex plot into a thrilling ride, I look forward to David Raker's next outing....
July 16, 2015
To say I was excited about the release of Tim Weaver's What Remains would be something of an understatement. It was one of my most anticipated books of 2015 and so I was beyond thrilled when I received an early review copy. Tim's David Raker series is one of my favourites, and I always finish each installment saying that it was the best one so far and I'm saying that very same thing with What Remains as it really is his best book so far and one of the best I've read this year.
Missing persons investigator David Raker is finishing up on a case when he meets up with Colm Healy, for those new to the series they have a complicated history that I can't go into without spoilers but they do have an interesting relationship which could be loosely described as a friendship (sometimes). Colm Healy used to be one of the Met's best detectives until his failure to solve a case ruined both his life and his career. Healy is determined to find out who killed a mother and her two daughters and knows that if anyone can help him with that, it's Raker. Healy is an extremely damaged individual and in What Remains (and the books that came before) we really see the effect that a failure to solve such a brutal case can have on a police officer. It is a powerful and poignant story.
David Raker in the first few books had nothing to live for after the death of his wife. He found solace in the lives of the missing, seeing it as his calling to bring them home. Recently however he discovered that he fathered a child some years ago. Ordinarily Raker has no qualms about putting his own life in danger whilst on a case, however now that he has an adult daughter it adds a new dynamic to the story and and it's intriguing to witness how this has an effect on his life and 'job'. No sooner does Raker sit down to talk through the case with Healy than his daughter calls about an accident her younger sister has been involved in. Raker heads down to the hospital leaving behind an extremely angry and agitated Healy, and that's the last time Raker would see him for nine months.
I found myself once again completely consumed by this story and that's what I love most about Tim's books. It is so easy to just lose yourself in them (no pun intended). They are always so well researched and plotted that they are just a joy to read. In fact they are so intricately plotted that I would love to know how Tim sets about writing them, and how much of the story even he knows beforehand. He knows exactly how to hook a reader in, not giving too much of the story away in the beginning and making sure that there's enough red herrings and twists to throw most of us off the scent. I've said before not to bother trying to guess where the story will go, just sit back and enjoy the ride. There are some incredible developments in What Remains, some that well and truly slapped me in the face and left me reeling.
What Remains is a gripping read from start to finish and is a book that Tim Weaver fans old and new will love too. This is one of my favourite series and I have reviews of the previous books in the series on my blog for those that have missed them. If you already have this book and series on your TBR then do yourself a favour and pick them up right now. If you don't, then why not? Incredible fiction from a born storyteller and I can't wait to read what he writes next.
Missing persons investigator David Raker is finishing up on a case when he meets up with Colm Healy, for those new to the series they have a complicated history that I can't go into without spoilers but they do have an interesting relationship which could be loosely described as a friendship (sometimes). Colm Healy used to be one of the Met's best detectives until his failure to solve a case ruined both his life and his career. Healy is determined to find out who killed a mother and her two daughters and knows that if anyone can help him with that, it's Raker. Healy is an extremely damaged individual and in What Remains (and the books that came before) we really see the effect that a failure to solve such a brutal case can have on a police officer. It is a powerful and poignant story.
David Raker in the first few books had nothing to live for after the death of his wife. He found solace in the lives of the missing, seeing it as his calling to bring them home. Recently however he discovered that he fathered a child some years ago. Ordinarily Raker has no qualms about putting his own life in danger whilst on a case, however now that he has an adult daughter it adds a new dynamic to the story and and it's intriguing to witness how this has an effect on his life and 'job'. No sooner does Raker sit down to talk through the case with Healy than his daughter calls about an accident her younger sister has been involved in. Raker heads down to the hospital leaving behind an extremely angry and agitated Healy, and that's the last time Raker would see him for nine months.
I found myself once again completely consumed by this story and that's what I love most about Tim's books. It is so easy to just lose yourself in them (no pun intended). They are always so well researched and plotted that they are just a joy to read. In fact they are so intricately plotted that I would love to know how Tim sets about writing them, and how much of the story even he knows beforehand. He knows exactly how to hook a reader in, not giving too much of the story away in the beginning and making sure that there's enough red herrings and twists to throw most of us off the scent. I've said before not to bother trying to guess where the story will go, just sit back and enjoy the ride. There are some incredible developments in What Remains, some that well and truly slapped me in the face and left me reeling.
What Remains is a gripping read from start to finish and is a book that Tim Weaver fans old and new will love too. This is one of my favourite series and I have reviews of the previous books in the series on my blog for those that have missed them. If you already have this book and series on your TBR then do yourself a favour and pick them up right now. If you don't, then why not? Incredible fiction from a born storyteller and I can't wait to read what he writes next.
January 12, 2024
Cleverly thought out plot, very complex story, tense and gripping, What Remains is another great story in David Raker series.
Tim Weaver's done it again. Brilliant brilliant book.
Tim Weaver's done it again. Brilliant brilliant book.
May 28, 2016
Briefly for now as access is less than good - fuller review when the situation improves!
Tim Weaver writes" dark and twisty" and they are the upbeat bits! Not for the first time this is very very dark in places. All in all I'd probably say that Tim Weaver is my favourite living UK male author at present and I think this is his best so far.
Tim Weaver writes" dark and twisty" and they are the upbeat bits! Not for the first time this is very very dark in places. All in all I'd probably say that Tim Weaver is my favourite living UK male author at present and I think this is his best so far.
October 7, 2022
Love this series and this is the second I'm giving 5*. It's taken me too long to get through but not because I was bored, but because I've annoyingly been too busy to read !! I bought it back in February and have kept it on my Kindle like a special treat you want to last as I know it'll be good when I get around to it......I always have to give his books a while to drop in price as I'm a bit hard up, which is annoying but still it means I have plenty more to get to yet, so swings 'n' roundabouts, folks !!
I was happy to see him teaming back up with Healy, though I wasn't sure I was too chuffed with the end of this one. I liked Craw helped him out here and there in this edition as well. I was surprised he didn't enlist Spike's help with Stourcroft's funny little shorthand, however. He missed a trick there......and I did find it odd a kid left a children's home aged 14 and nobody seemed to really bother about him doing so.
And yes, I mention it in EVERY review I've written for him, but he still persists in the old American spellings.....(clearly doesn't read my reviews) ! He referred to Directory Enquiries in this tale, too, which I didn't think was still a thing in 2014, but I could be wrong there. He wrote leaped not leapt and wharfs not wharves which I think is also an American writing style, too.
I do love how he ALWAYS slings in a dum, dum, dum moment at the end of each chapter, Eastenders style. It's a clever concept, as instead of finishing and closing the book at chapter end you just have to turn a couple more pages as you're properly sucked in.
I did spot the odd apostrophe mistake, but then it's rare I EVER open an e-book and don't happen upon these and once he wrote off not of, but that was all I spotted error-wise.
I was quite sniffy at the end and also when he told us about Gail's exam results.
Oh, and once again a cracking cover. I love his covers.
I was happy to see him teaming back up with Healy, though I wasn't sure I was too chuffed with the end of this one. I liked Craw helped him out here and there in this edition as well. I was surprised he didn't enlist Spike's help with Stourcroft's funny little shorthand, however. He missed a trick there......and I did find it odd a kid left a children's home aged 14 and nobody seemed to really bother about him doing so.
And yes, I mention it in EVERY review I've written for him, but he still persists in the old American spellings.....(clearly doesn't read my reviews) ! He referred to Directory Enquiries in this tale, too, which I didn't think was still a thing in 2014, but I could be wrong there. He wrote leaped not leapt and wharfs not wharves which I think is also an American writing style, too.
I do love how he ALWAYS slings in a dum, dum, dum moment at the end of each chapter, Eastenders style. It's a clever concept, as instead of finishing and closing the book at chapter end you just have to turn a couple more pages as you're properly sucked in.
I did spot the odd apostrophe mistake, but then it's rare I EVER open an e-book and don't happen upon these and once he wrote off not of, but that was all I spotted error-wise.
I was quite sniffy at the end and also when he told us about Gail's exam results.
Oh, and once again a cracking cover. I love his covers.
April 1, 2022
And that...was a pretty excellent adventure. Wow, twists, turns, emotions, mystery and suspense. This is one of my favourite Raker books. It had everything a thriller should have. Had me on my seat, had me wanting to read when I couldn't make the time. Yes, very well done Mr. Weaver.
July 18, 2017
Díky bohu za ten famózní konec, ale i tak dávám jen tři hvězdy. Půlka knihy mi přišla vleklá a dokola se řešilo to samé a vesměs téměř nic. Knížka by klidně mohla postrádat minimálně 150 stran. Podle mě nejslabší díl.
http://kniznidenicek.blogspot.cz/2017...
http://kniznidenicek.blogspot.cz/2017...
July 4, 2020
A fast paced,twisty tale with lots of surprises.
October 12, 2015
I’ve not read any previous Tim Weaver books and although you can read this on its own I think I would have preferred to have read the previous books in the series to get a better feel for David Raker. That said, I certainly enjoyed this book and will almost certainly be looking out for future books by Tim Weaver. David Raker is a Missing Persons Investigator and in the early stages we see him help his old friend Colm Healy. Healy used to be one of the Met’s best Detectives but he has had a fall from grace and is now homeless, penniless and obsessed with his last unsolved case.
The writing is absolutely fabulous and I was instantly drawn into their world seamlessly and effortlessly. Although I hadn’t read any previous Raker books there is enough background given that you have an idea of his history and it certainly didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story. Raker’s past seems very tragic and complicated and he is currently learning how to adjust to having a daughter in his life. It made Raker an altogether more endearing character as we see him battle with keeping everyone happy.
The plot line is very intricately weaved and extremely well thought out. There were avenues that surprised me as they were not immediately obvious and whether this was the characters strengths coming through or just superb plotting I couldn’t tell. What I did know was that I thoroughly enjoyed this and will definitely be reading more in the future. Maybe not reading the first few books put me at a slight disadvantage but if anything it just makes me more determined to go back and read them all in order now. I can see now why Tim Weaver has such a loyal following, looks like ANOTHER series I need to keep up with.
The writing is absolutely fabulous and I was instantly drawn into their world seamlessly and effortlessly. Although I hadn’t read any previous Raker books there is enough background given that you have an idea of his history and it certainly didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story. Raker’s past seems very tragic and complicated and he is currently learning how to adjust to having a daughter in his life. It made Raker an altogether more endearing character as we see him battle with keeping everyone happy.
The plot line is very intricately weaved and extremely well thought out. There were avenues that surprised me as they were not immediately obvious and whether this was the characters strengths coming through or just superb plotting I couldn’t tell. What I did know was that I thoroughly enjoyed this and will definitely be reading more in the future. Maybe not reading the first few books put me at a slight disadvantage but if anything it just makes me more determined to go back and read them all in order now. I can see now why Tim Weaver has such a loyal following, looks like ANOTHER series I need to keep up with.
July 22, 2015
There are a handful of authors who, when they release a new book, I just go out and buy it. I don't read the blurb and I don't check out any reviews because I am 99% confident that they won't let me down and Tim Weaver is one of those authors. What Remains absolutely DID NOT let me down. I am a big Raker fan and was hoping that Tim Weaver could create another brilliant scenario for David Raker to fix.
A brilliant plot takes hold straight away - it's hard to review without giving away any spoilers! - but there are plenty of twists and turns. If, like me, you've followed Raker and Healy from the beginning I've no doubt you will be shrieking and gasping as much as I was, but if you haven't its no bother - What Remains is written in such a way that you don't need to have read the previous books in the series (although I guarantee that if this is your first Raker novel, you'll want to go back and read them all).
I had absolutely NO clue who was behind everything that goes on in the novel, and the final plot twist was FANTASTIC - surely no one could ever see it coming?
An amazingly twisty-turny 5 star read, if you haven't discovered David Raker yet then I think it's time you did.
A brilliant plot takes hold straight away - it's hard to review without giving away any spoilers! - but there are plenty of twists and turns. If, like me, you've followed Raker and Healy from the beginning I've no doubt you will be shrieking and gasping as much as I was, but if you haven't its no bother - What Remains is written in such a way that you don't need to have read the previous books in the series (although I guarantee that if this is your first Raker novel, you'll want to go back and read them all).
I had absolutely NO clue who was behind everything that goes on in the novel, and the final plot twist was FANTASTIC - surely no one could ever see it coming?
An amazingly twisty-turny 5 star read, if you haven't discovered David Raker yet then I think it's time you did.
August 10, 2015
I am at a complete loss to understand other people's ratings for this book. I have read all 5 of the previous book's and with the exception of the last one where the ending was a little unbelievable enjoyed them. This is the last David Raker book I will read. Up until 48% of the book it was fine, after that it started to become ridiculous and became worse from there onwards. It was more like a Famous Five book than an adult thriller. The plot was weak and totally unbelievable. I can't believe I just wasted 6 hours reading this. I cannot believe people thought this was good, it was rubbish, my advise is don't waste your time reading it. I can only surmise that it has good reviews because people have enjoyed his previous books and are blinded by that!
August 6, 2019
Bit drawn out, a little complicated, rather a lot of unnecessary description
August 3, 2022
Book 6 in Tim Weaver's David Raker series feels like the end of an arc that has been running in background for quite a few books now. So it's a shame that the execution wasn't as up to par with what came previously.
This had a very different feel to it than previous books. They could never be described as a cosy mystery series but All That Remains was much darker and grimmer. That at least isn't an issue as I do like dark and messed up thrillers.
The second difference is Raker's involvement, or at least the way he's involved. Things pick up where the previous novel ended but switches gears rather quickly. Raker isn't a cop which is something I like about him but what he's investigating is outside his area of expertise and something you'd expect the police to be more equipped to handle. Anyway, things are moving along with a couple of major plot points...
And then halfway through the book slows to a crawl. Thrillers are always somewhat far fetched but as things were explained I was left wondering what any of it had to do with the investigation.
Speaking of explanations, they were dragged out far longer than necessary. I think I'm in the minority when I say I don't need my chapters to all be really short but there were times when I wanted to scream "Get to the fucking point!!" as people droned on and on about things that felt like they had no significance whatsoever. And when everything was out in the open it felt like such an anticlimactic reveal that I was just glad it was done.
Hopefully this is the end to this whole sub-plot and Raker can get back to what he's good at. There's been hints at a new development in his life that could be interesting (even if it is a bit of a stretch given the history) but there's other parts I'm genuinely done with.
This had a very different feel to it than previous books. They could never be described as a cosy mystery series but All That Remains was much darker and grimmer. That at least isn't an issue as I do like dark and messed up thrillers.
The second difference is Raker's involvement, or at least the way he's involved. Things pick up where the previous novel ended but switches gears rather quickly. Raker isn't a cop which is something I like about him but what he's investigating is outside his area of expertise and something you'd expect the police to be more equipped to handle. Anyway, things are moving along with a couple of major plot points...
And then halfway through the book slows to a crawl. Thrillers are always somewhat far fetched but as things were explained I was left wondering what any of it had to do with the investigation.
Speaking of explanations, they were dragged out far longer than necessary. I think I'm in the minority when I say I don't need my chapters to all be really short but there were times when I wanted to scream "Get to the fucking point!!" as people droned on and on about things that felt like they had no significance whatsoever. And when everything was out in the open it felt like such an anticlimactic reveal that I was just glad it was done.
Hopefully this is the end to this whole sub-plot and Raker can get back to what he's good at. There's been hints at a new development in his life that could be interesting (even if it is a bit of a stretch given the history) but there's other parts I'm genuinely done with.
October 28, 2022
I've been reading a slew of Raker novels recently after picking up a handful in a 2nd hand bookshop and this is the last. Typically the story opens with a seemingly impossible disappearance and Raker steps in when everyone else has given up. He starts slow, going down many, many dead ends before teasing out some lead which results in a conspiracy way, way bigger than first thought. Not so with What Remains. Here we learn about the case which broke Healy, Raker's troubled ex-cop 'friend'. It should be interesting, I was certainly looking forward to it, and it kind of was. And it kind of wasn't.
Tim Weaver really excels at building pacey, page turning and gripping novels - selling 1M copies is testament to that. Raker is a great character. And Weaver always spills in some phenomenal twists that come from nowhere and poor old Raker regularly gets put on the edge of a crumbling cliff . But not this time. There were certainly some really exciting parts and a decent amount of jeopardy, but (for me, at least) it didn't feel as compelling as others in the series.
And, though I hate to say it, the usual really irritating editing issues cropped up. For example, 'what the hell' was used many, many times in about a hundred pages. There's the repeat words (massive bug bear of mine) and a lot of dumb questions in the dialogue - so one character asks a really obvious 'what do you mean?' about something we've just read that we all know the answer to because we're there at the same time. It slows down the narrative and makes the characters look stupid & / or like they're not paying attention.
Hence the 3*. It pained me to apply this rating because it is a good book, it stacks up and is better than many other authors', but it doesn't stack up against other Weavers.
Does all the above stop me from reading any more Raker novels? Categorically not. I'll absolutely be picking up the rest in the not-too-distant future, but this one I'll be forgetting and moving on from.
Tim Weaver really excels at building pacey, page turning and gripping novels - selling 1M copies is testament to that. Raker is a great character. And Weaver always spills in some phenomenal twists that come from nowhere and poor old Raker regularly gets put on the edge of a crumbling cliff . But not this time. There were certainly some really exciting parts and a decent amount of jeopardy, but (for me, at least) it didn't feel as compelling as others in the series.
And, though I hate to say it, the usual really irritating editing issues cropped up. For example, 'what the hell' was used many, many times in about a hundred pages. There's the repeat words (massive bug bear of mine) and a lot of dumb questions in the dialogue - so one character asks a really obvious 'what do you mean?' about something we've just read that we all know the answer to because we're there at the same time. It slows down the narrative and makes the characters look stupid & / or like they're not paying attention.
Hence the 3*. It pained me to apply this rating because it is a good book, it stacks up and is better than many other authors', but it doesn't stack up against other Weavers.
Does all the above stop me from reading any more Raker novels? Categorically not. I'll absolutely be picking up the rest in the not-too-distant future, but this one I'll be forgetting and moving on from.
March 19, 2019
Tim Weaver’s 6th thrilling and gripping David Raker novel “What Remains” opens in 2010 with the brutal murder of a mother and her seven-year-old twin daughters in a flat in New Cross, South London. Torn apart by the cruelty and senselessness of a crime that remains unsolved, especially after the murder of his daughter, losing his wife, sons and career three years later Colm Healy is still obsessed with finding the murderer enlisting the aid of missing persons investigator David Raker.
Enthralled by a case with no clues, Raker looks not only into the crime but begins searching for Colm Healy who suddenly goes missing. Intensity and suspense spike as Raker tracks a trail of secrets, lies and deception to the skeletal remains of a theme park on an historical pier by the Thames; an arcade; a 2008 best seller by Carla Stourcroft; and to a hanged serial killer. Well-written with multiple twists and turns after Raker finds a dead body suspected of being Healy’s, the action escalates as the plot progresses quickly and smoothly to an exciting and shocking ending.
With an emotional connection to lost people David Raker is a fascinating character whose personal life seems to be filled with pitfalls after the death of his wife and the abandonment of his girlfriend/lawyer. Good with people, smart and conscientious Raker is not only determined to find the killer but to help Colm Healy whose life is on a downward spiral. Former Detective Inspector Colm Healy is proud, lonely and desperate, obsessed with finding the murderer of Gail Clark and her twin girls. Homeless, and broken he continually gets rejected for jobs until one day he goes missing.
In a story with complex and compelling characters immersed in a puzzling, brutal and emotionally-charged crime, “What Remains” keeps the reader on the edge of their seat from beginning to end.
Enthralled by a case with no clues, Raker looks not only into the crime but begins searching for Colm Healy who suddenly goes missing. Intensity and suspense spike as Raker tracks a trail of secrets, lies and deception to the skeletal remains of a theme park on an historical pier by the Thames; an arcade; a 2008 best seller by Carla Stourcroft; and to a hanged serial killer. Well-written with multiple twists and turns after Raker finds a dead body suspected of being Healy’s, the action escalates as the plot progresses quickly and smoothly to an exciting and shocking ending.
With an emotional connection to lost people David Raker is a fascinating character whose personal life seems to be filled with pitfalls after the death of his wife and the abandonment of his girlfriend/lawyer. Good with people, smart and conscientious Raker is not only determined to find the killer but to help Colm Healy whose life is on a downward spiral. Former Detective Inspector Colm Healy is proud, lonely and desperate, obsessed with finding the murderer of Gail Clark and her twin girls. Homeless, and broken he continually gets rejected for jobs until one day he goes missing.
In a story with complex and compelling characters immersed in a puzzling, brutal and emotionally-charged crime, “What Remains” keeps the reader on the edge of their seat from beginning to end.
April 3, 2022
What Remains (David Raker, #6) By Tim Weaver
At some point I'm expecting a crash and burn book from Mr Weaver because no one can continue to deliver such outstanding books however I am happy to report that he has done it again as this book is pure quality.
It has everything one would want from a book, a tightly woven plot thrilling excitement superb character development and emotional heart at it's core.
If like me you have read all the books and have followed Raker and Healy throughout the books this one will impact you far more than just picking this up and reading it as a stand alone.
What Remains is absolutely outstanding piece of fiction never once was I bored every moment I had the book was in my hands as I eagerly gobbled up chapter after chapter waiting to see how this long running mystery would come to it's epic conclusion and I was not disappointed.
I would have to say that Tim Weaver is now one of my go to authors his books will be just bought on release day.
well worth your time and hard earned cash a Steller read.
At some point I'm expecting a crash and burn book from Mr Weaver because no one can continue to deliver such outstanding books however I am happy to report that he has done it again as this book is pure quality.
It has everything one would want from a book, a tightly woven plot thrilling excitement superb character development and emotional heart at it's core.
If like me you have read all the books and have followed Raker and Healy throughout the books this one will impact you far more than just picking this up and reading it as a stand alone.
What Remains is absolutely outstanding piece of fiction never once was I bored every moment I had the book was in my hands as I eagerly gobbled up chapter after chapter waiting to see how this long running mystery would come to it's epic conclusion and I was not disappointed.
I would have to say that Tim Weaver is now one of my go to authors his books will be just bought on release day.
well worth your time and hard earned cash a Steller read.
April 20, 2020
Another great book in the Raker series.
June 13, 2022
Really enjoyed this book - a real page-turner. Highly recommend
August 28, 2023
es war wirklichhhh gut aber irgendwie muss ich sagen das die letzten bücher besser waren konnte leider keine 5 sterne geben 😞
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