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The Lost Women
Not yet published
Expected 26 Feb 26THE HEART-STOPPING NEW THRILLER FROM THE MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING MASTER OF THE MISSING PERSON MYSTERY
‘The Lost Women is Tim Weaver at the absolute top of his game – a masterclass in tense, propulsive thriller writing as a web of interlocking mysteries come together with deadly consequences.’ TM LOGAN
'Weaver's books are unputdownable. If you haven't yet met Raker, you're in for a treat' MICK HERRON
'What a talent' DAILY MAIL
THE WOMEN WHO DISAPPEARED
Before he was a missing persons investigator, David Raker was a journalist – and there's one story that still haunts him. The Lost Women.
Eighteen years ago, on the Cornish coast, three women were filming a documentary about a missing student…until they vanished too.
With no bodies and no leads, the disappearances remain unsolved.
THE PATIENT WHO VANISHED
Today, Raker is hired to crack an impossible mystery. Following a car accident, Preston Stewart has surgery on his face. The operation is a success.
But when the dressings are removed, Preston's wife realises something is very wrong.
The man under the bandages is not her husband.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING
Raker and his ally, former detective Colm Healy, begin digging into Preston’s disappearance – and discover a horrifying connection to the lost women.
But there’s something even worse.
The men only have 48 hours to solve both cases – or everything that matters to them and everyone they love is in danger…
PRAISE FOR TIM WEAVER
'Impossibly clever. Impossible to put down' CHRIS WHITAKER
'Corkscrew twists. Impossible to read without breaking into a sweat' THE TIMES
'The master of clever, unpredictable plots' CLAIRE DOUGLAS
‘The Lost Women is Tim Weaver at the absolute top of his game – a masterclass in tense, propulsive thriller writing as a web of interlocking mysteries come together with deadly consequences.’ TM LOGAN
'Weaver's books are unputdownable. If you haven't yet met Raker, you're in for a treat' MICK HERRON
'What a talent' DAILY MAIL
THE WOMEN WHO DISAPPEARED
Before he was a missing persons investigator, David Raker was a journalist – and there's one story that still haunts him. The Lost Women.
Eighteen years ago, on the Cornish coast, three women were filming a documentary about a missing student…until they vanished too.
With no bodies and no leads, the disappearances remain unsolved.
THE PATIENT WHO VANISHED
Today, Raker is hired to crack an impossible mystery. Following a car accident, Preston Stewart has surgery on his face. The operation is a success.
But when the dressings are removed, Preston's wife realises something is very wrong.
The man under the bandages is not her husband.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING
Raker and his ally, former detective Colm Healy, begin digging into Preston’s disappearance – and discover a horrifying connection to the lost women.
But there’s something even worse.
The men only have 48 hours to solve both cases – or everything that matters to them and everyone they love is in danger…
PRAISE FOR TIM WEAVER
'Impossibly clever. Impossible to put down' CHRIS WHITAKER
'Corkscrew twists. Impossible to read without breaking into a sweat' THE TIMES
'The master of clever, unpredictable plots' CLAIRE DOUGLAS
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 26, 2026
2 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Tim Weaver
57 books1,627 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 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 3, 2025
Actual rating 4.5.
February 8, 2026
Before he was a missing persons investigator, David Raker was a journalist – and there's one story that still haunts him - The Lost Women. Eighteen years ago, on the Cornish coast, three women were filming a documentary about a missing student…until they vanished too, their disappearances remain unsolved. Today, Raker is hired to crack an impossible mystery when following a car accident, Preston Stewart has surgery on his face. But then Preston’s wife says the man is not her husband. Raker and former detective Colm Healy, begin digging into Preston’s disappearance – and discover a horrifying connection to the lost women but they only have 48 hours to solve both cases – or everything that matters to them and everyone they love is in danger…
After discovering Tim’s books after reading The Missing Family, I have been reading the series from the beginning. Having only got to book 7 I still have a while to go but I couldn’t resist skipping ahead to read this latest title in the series.
Knowledge from the previous books does come in useful BUT you can absolutely read this as a standalone, as with all of the books in the series. I would however definitely recommend reading The Dead Tracks just to give a little more background to fully absorb just how significant the impact of this book is.
David Raker continues to be the brave and courageous investigator who won’t be deterred from his mission to uncover the secrets of a missing person case. Reunited with Healy, a relationship that just works so well together, the pace is fast with the tension and suspense maintained throughout thanks to short, snappy chapters, full of intrigue and leading us nicely to an absolutely astounding cliffhanger ending.(Tim you cannot leave it like this!!!)
It’s hard to say too much more without spoilers but it’s safe to say this is Raker on top form and a very suitable way to celebrate 15 years of this fabulous character. For fans of the series, you won’t be disappointed and for anyone yet to discover Tim’s writing, I can’t recommend enough. However, the worst thing about now having read the latest book in the series? Knowing that I’m going to have to wait another year to find out what happens next!!!
After discovering Tim’s books after reading The Missing Family, I have been reading the series from the beginning. Having only got to book 7 I still have a while to go but I couldn’t resist skipping ahead to read this latest title in the series.
Knowledge from the previous books does come in useful BUT you can absolutely read this as a standalone, as with all of the books in the series. I would however definitely recommend reading The Dead Tracks just to give a little more background to fully absorb just how significant the impact of this book is.
David Raker continues to be the brave and courageous investigator who won’t be deterred from his mission to uncover the secrets of a missing person case. Reunited with Healy, a relationship that just works so well together, the pace is fast with the tension and suspense maintained throughout thanks to short, snappy chapters, full of intrigue and leading us nicely to an absolutely astounding cliffhanger ending.(Tim you cannot leave it like this!!!)
It’s hard to say too much more without spoilers but it’s safe to say this is Raker on top form and a very suitable way to celebrate 15 years of this fabulous character. For fans of the series, you won’t be disappointed and for anyone yet to discover Tim’s writing, I can’t recommend enough. However, the worst thing about now having read the latest book in the series? Knowing that I’m going to have to wait another year to find out what happens next!!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Michael Joseph Books and Instatours for a copy of the book as part of a mystery guess-the-author book tour!
The Lost Women is the latest in a series following missing persons private investigator, David Raker.
As a journalist, Raker investigated 3 women who went missing from an island off the Cornish coast whilst filming a documentary about a missing student.
Now, Raker is hired to find Preston Stewart, a man who has gone missing from the hospital where he has just had facial surgery.
As Raker and his colleague Healy dig deeper, Preston’s disappearance begins to connect not only to the missing women, but to a dangerous criminal from both men’s pasts.
This was my first book in this series and first Tim book altogether, but it absolutely won’t be my last. It really ticked ALL the boxes! And, although it is part of series, it was no problem for me joining the ride at this point (although I do now want to go back and read them all!)
✔️ Twisty, compelling and unpredictable
✔️ Short chapters that end in cliffhangers
✔️ Multiple character POVs so you’re kept waiting another chapter on those cliff edges!
✔️ A strong lead character with an intriguing back-story
✔️ Lots of story strands cleverly plotted together
✔️ Bucket-loads of suspense!
It was so tightly and cleverly plotted. At no point was I able to guess what was truly going on and who I could or couldn’t trust. Just when I thought I had a handle on what was going on, another twist would arrive to throw me off!
It was brilliantly written, so suspenseful and tense. I kept having to stop myself from looking at the end of the chapter because I was so eager for the next cliff hanger! And the ending - oof! Suffice to say, I’ll be buying the next book in the series!
The Lost Women is the latest in a series following missing persons private investigator, David Raker.
As a journalist, Raker investigated 3 women who went missing from an island off the Cornish coast whilst filming a documentary about a missing student.
Now, Raker is hired to find Preston Stewart, a man who has gone missing from the hospital where he has just had facial surgery.
As Raker and his colleague Healy dig deeper, Preston’s disappearance begins to connect not only to the missing women, but to a dangerous criminal from both men’s pasts.
This was my first book in this series and first Tim book altogether, but it absolutely won’t be my last. It really ticked ALL the boxes! And, although it is part of series, it was no problem for me joining the ride at this point (although I do now want to go back and read them all!)
✔️ Twisty, compelling and unpredictable
✔️ Short chapters that end in cliffhangers
✔️ Multiple character POVs so you’re kept waiting another chapter on those cliff edges!
✔️ A strong lead character with an intriguing back-story
✔️ Lots of story strands cleverly plotted together
✔️ Bucket-loads of suspense!
It was so tightly and cleverly plotted. At no point was I able to guess what was truly going on and who I could or couldn’t trust. Just when I thought I had a handle on what was going on, another twist would arrive to throw me off!
It was brilliantly written, so suspenseful and tense. I kept having to stop myself from looking at the end of the chapter because I was so eager for the next cliff hanger! And the ending - oof! Suffice to say, I’ll be buying the next book in the series!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Mild spoilers in review.
Tim Weaver makes life hard for himself with each book he writes, because each book he writes has a mystery more complex and gripping than the one that came before. The Lost Women is no exception, so he's set himself up for a difficult job writing a sequel to this one.
As with all David Raker thrillers, this one opens with a baffling missing person case. But this entry in the series is a bit different. Weaver almost goes Silence of the Lambs on us as he reintroduces the serial killer Glass and revisits several plot strands from previous books.
As with all Raker's cases, the mystery is twisting and complex, made all the more enthralling by the short, punchy chapters which keep things moving at a rattling pace.
This felt like Weaver at the top of his game. Raker seems more fleshed out here and I enjoy his banter with Healey and them working together to solve the case. The appearance of Glass adds a nice atmosphere of dread and there's some great dialogue between him, Raker and Healey as their pasts and presents collide.
The central mystery is an intriguing one, with a satisfactory, if devastating denouement. As is Tim's habit of late, The Lost Women ends on a massive cliffhanger. It'll be a long year to wait until the next entry.
Another gripping mystery. Well written, brilliantly paced and very entertaining.
Thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
Tim Weaver makes life hard for himself with each book he writes, because each book he writes has a mystery more complex and gripping than the one that came before. The Lost Women is no exception, so he's set himself up for a difficult job writing a sequel to this one.
As with all David Raker thrillers, this one opens with a baffling missing person case. But this entry in the series is a bit different. Weaver almost goes Silence of the Lambs on us as he reintroduces the serial killer Glass and revisits several plot strands from previous books.
As with all Raker's cases, the mystery is twisting and complex, made all the more enthralling by the short, punchy chapters which keep things moving at a rattling pace.
This felt like Weaver at the top of his game. Raker seems more fleshed out here and I enjoy his banter with Healey and them working together to solve the case. The appearance of Glass adds a nice atmosphere of dread and there's some great dialogue between him, Raker and Healey as their pasts and presents collide.
The central mystery is an intriguing one, with a satisfactory, if devastating denouement. As is Tim's habit of late, The Lost Women ends on a massive cliffhanger. It'll be a long year to wait until the next entry.
Another gripping mystery. Well written, brilliantly paced and very entertaining.
Thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5 ⭐️
A rollercoaster read of a book. Short chapters, ending on mini cliffhangers with suspense right until the end. I could not turn the pages quick enough.
I absolutely loved the partnership between Raker and Colm and their banter was excellent.
This book is a part of a series but I definitely did not feel like I missed out and this can be read as a standalone. The only downside is I now want to go and read all the others 🤣
A rollercoaster read of a book. Short chapters, ending on mini cliffhangers with suspense right until the end. I could not turn the pages quick enough.
I absolutely loved the partnership between Raker and Colm and their banter was excellent.
This book is a part of a series but I definitely did not feel like I missed out and this can be read as a standalone. The only downside is I now want to go and read all the others 🤣
February 20, 2026
I was very lucky to be on the mystery book tour for this one. I had no idea who the book was by or the title as everything was kept top secret. What a fab, fast paced and easy to follow book this was. I found myself hooked with the short chapters and multiple POV throughout. I definitely will consider giving this author another go after reading this one.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Wow! Just wow!
I went into this book blind and it genuinely surprised me how much I loved it. Ive never read anythjng by this author before and that may change..
So many twists and shocking moments. Every chapter ended on a cliff hanger. It was such a wild and enjoyable ride!
This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone book.
I went into this book blind and it genuinely surprised me how much I loved it. Ive never read anythjng by this author before and that may change..
So many twists and shocking moments. Every chapter ended on a cliff hanger. It was such a wild and enjoyable ride!
This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone book.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews