Broken Heart by Tim Weaver

Author: Tim Weaver

Title: Broken Heart

Publisher: Penguin 

Published: 2016

Pages: 554

Genre: Mystery Thriller

 

     Lynda drives to a secluded beauty spot on the Somerset coast. CCTV watches her arrive but never sees her leave. She is never seen again. Her sister calls missing persons investigator David Raker. For him, the mystery of where she went is only the start. The real question is why a woman with no reason to run would choose to leave her entire life behind? Missing and presumed dead, only Lynda knows the truth . . .  Was it her decision? Or did someone make it for her? 

     I love getting recommendations for books from my friends and family.  It helps me to discover books and series that otherwise, I may never have come across. There is however one slight drawback to all this and this is coming into series part way through. I only mention this as is the case with Broken Heart. As I was to discover this is in fact the seventh in a long-running series. But never mind these things happen and it's all a bit too late to be worrying about these things now anyway. What I read on the back cover was enough to pique my interest along with the glowing recommendation. However, what I was to discover within these pages blew me sideways and took me very much by surprise. 

     Broken Heart introduced me to investigator David Raker, he seems like one of those people that is dogged in his pursuit of the truth. And by the time I came to be in his presence, someone who has been around the block a few times and probably seen just about all there is to see on the dark side of life. Raker walks that very fine line with the law which may on occasion find him if not in hot water most certainly the warmer end of the spectrum. But after all, isn't that what we go looking for in the heroes of such books. We search out people who are willing to do what we probably are not in pursuit of the truth. A vicarious thrill whilst looking into the parts of the world we dare not tread. Knowing we are safely tucked up at home behind lock doors and closed windows. After all the pages of these books can do us no real harm. 

     Whilst there is so much to take in between the pages of this book, the overriding feeling it evokes is one of a  bygone era in so many ways. To me, he has managed to bundle up the essence of those writers of Noir from the forties and fifties and twist it to his will. It's a funny thing that all too often when a writer tries to do such a thing more often than not I am left feeling let down. It appears to me to be a very tricky thing to be inspired by such a genre and not just end up plagiarising the greats of the past. But thankfully Weaver manages to bring up those same feelings I get from reading people such as Chandler without feeling like I'm reading a poor imitation. He has created this work of fiction that has this brooding dark heart this leaves you feeling in awe of its writer. With each turn of the page, I was waiting to see what new twist or heartbreak he was going to throw my way. But it is more than that he has managed to capture the vile villainy of his antagonist in such a way that makes you truly hate them for the depths they will sink to, it is almost something you can feel crawling on your skin. 

     This is one of those beautifully crafted thrillers that keeps you coming back for more. For every time I was forced to put it down I could not wait for my next opportunity to sink beneath its pages. He has created here a book that not only is capable of giving you great enjoyment but also requires your utmost attention. Each little clue or lead our hero is given is worth keeping a mental note of in our dogged purist. To me, it feels like not a single paragraph or sentence was put to waste in his attempt to tell the story of Broken Heart. It is a story that is both completely plausible and so excruciatingly cruel one that weighs on its reader's heart long after the final page has been turned. When taking in all these elements have talked about it strikes me it is a hard thing to do and end up with no jagged edges. But it is one the author pulled off leaving me wanting more.  

     I think for me it is one of those few novels I  will happily suggest to anyone looking for a new book to pull them in. As I said before more often than not suggestions I'm given pay off. This time introducing me to a whole back catalog of books to delve into in the future. It is also one of those books that are extremely difficult for me to write a review for. To often wanting to bring up a specific point or action but I am not one to take another enjoyment away from a new read. I will say this though if you see a copy on the shelf next time you are out looking for a new read grab it up with every bit of confidence and fear not fellow readers for I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.