Thriller masters like Harlan Coben have shown that, while murder may be crime fiction’s modus operandi, disappearances can be equally dramatic with their lingering hope, lack of closure, and varying impact on those left behind. British bestseller Tim Weaver has leaned into that in his long-running series starring missing persons expert David Raker.

In this intriguing 12th instalment, two puzzling disappearances are separated by nearly 40 years. In the present, a father and his nine-year-old son enter a ghost house ride at a theme park, but never exit. Meanwhile Raker is hired by a US-based woman to dig into the disappearance of her mother back in 1985 – an old wound reopened by recent letters – and the reappearance of once-dead cop Colm Healy may upturn Raker’s own life. Already under great risk, Raker’s latest investigations prove more dangerous than even he could ever envisage, as his search grid unwittingly entwines 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 in The Last Goodbye, masterfully bringing together a variety of fascinating threads. 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. Very good.

Reviewed by Craig Sisterson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tim Weaver is the author of 14 novels, including the David Raker mysteries You Were Gone, No One Home and The Blackbird. He’s also written the standalone, Missing Pieces, as well as the limited edition David Raker story collection, The Shadow at the Door.

Hopefully, you might have heard of some of his books –– or, even better, read them and enjoyed them. They’ve been selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club three times, shortlisted for a National Book Award, and been nominated for both the Crime Writers’ Association Dagger in the Library and Ian Fleming Steel Dagger awards. Oh, and –– thanks to the amazing support of readers like you –– they’ve also been Sunday Times Top 3 bestsellers and number ones on Kindle, iBooks and Audible. As well as all of that, Tim is also busy developing an original TV series alongside one of the drama team responsible for Line of Duty.

Away from writing, he lives in Bath, home to overpriced real estate and Georgian terraces, and he’s lucky enough to write full-time, allowing him to build his day around the things he does best: staring out of the window, and making endless cups of tea.

Visit Tim Weaver’s website