Tim Weaver

I write thrillers about a missing persons investigator called David Raker, although have also written a standalone novel called Missing Pieces too.. which centres around a woman who disappears. So you can see the pattern here! I've always been fascinated by missing persons cases and love the scale, scope and possibilities they can bring to a work of fiction.

I would pitch my work as "thrillers with heart" –– Raker is an exceptionally good investigator (although has come an unconventional route , via journalism) but his real superpower as a detective is his empathy and emotional intelligence. So while there are some dark situations and characters in my books, I also believe there are moments of great light.

I value good writing, great characters –– and huge twists and cliffhangers.

I grew up in the city of Bath in south-west England, made famous by the Romans, the Georgians and Jane Austen. I wouldn't say it had a huge influence on my writing, but it's been a great place to live and –– not that I'm biased in any way, of course –– is one of the most beautiful cities in the country.

I've always been a huge reader and gravitated towards thrillers (and, to a lesser extent, horror) pretty early on. When I was 8 or 9, one of the UK publishers put out a series for kids where they'd take adult horror novels and repurpose them in child-friendly editions. It was so cool. You felt like you were such a bad ass reading The Devil Rides Out by Dennis Wheatley as a 9-year-old!

As I got older, I started reading adventure thrillers by authors like Wilbur Smith and Alistair Maclean, and then in my mid teens I discovered crime fiction –– Michael Connelly being my gateway drug –– and, from there, I've never looked back.

With the David Raker series, you can come in at any point –– the books can all be read as standalones and there's no barrier to entry at all. Plus, I have an actual standalone too –– Missing Pieces. And a novella collection –– The Shadow at the Door –– which I see more as a full-length David Raker novel, because all four stories are about characters from the wider "Rakerverse" and are all connected to one another, which is quite fun.

But if I was being pushed for an answer, I think there are probably a couple of books that operate really well as first tastes of the series –– early on in the series, The Dead Tracks is definitely one; more latterly, I'd recommend The Blackbird and The Missing Family.

Oooh, I never like talking about favourite authors because it's just too hard to single five out. How about I go completely off reservation and do a Top 10 favourite books instead?

1. A Simple Plan by  Scott Smith

2. The Poet by Michael Connelly

3. Red Dragon by Thomas Harris

4. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

5. The Devil of Nanking by Mo Hayder

6. The Green Mile by Stephen King

7. Recursion by Blake Crouch

8. The Lost Man by Jane Harper

9. Night Film by Marisha Pessl

10. Fatherland by Robert Harris

As you might have already guessed from the question above –– A Simple Plan by Scott Smith. It's the novel that made me want to be a thriller writer. Beautifully written and absolutely unputdownable.

I really can't say anyone other than David Raker! I think a lot of yourself goes into your characters, and I would say –– although Raker is smarter, braver and more brilliant than I could ever be –– he and I share a lot of similarities in terms of our moral code, our outlook and where we sit emotionally.

Ooooh, there are so many amazing ones, but I would probably give a shout-out to my local indie, Toppings in Bath, which is a beautiful store located in an incredible space. If you're ever in Bath, definitely put it on your To Do List.

I've converted my garage at home into an office and am very lucky that it's a good size, has lots of books in it, some pot plants I haven't managed to kill yet, an armchair with a "Robocop" (1987 version, obviously) and "The Shining" (my favourite movie) cushions on, plus a beautiful piece of art that my UK publishers Penguin gave me to celebrate publication of my 14th David Raker book. I love my writing space and find it very hard to write anywhere else.

I don't really have a nook, as such. Favourite place to read a book? On a sun lounger somewhere hot, next to a pool, with a mojito in hand. But I am also very into audiobooks, so -– to be honest –– I'm just as happy listening to books while I'm doing the washing up!