Departure 37

A Novel

By: Scott Carson

Narrated by: Mia Barron, Johnny Heller, Catherine Ho

“If you loved The Twilight Zone, this is for you. It's a mind-blower.” —Stephen King

Forgotten Cold War mysteries make a terrifying reappearance in this “totally unique and utterly enthralling” (Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author) thriller.

Attention, passengers—Flight 37 to nowhere is now boarding.

On a clear October day, the American skies empty after hundreds of pilots refuse to fly, triggering a complete ground stop as authorities seek to explain an act of baffling coordination that the pilots insist was not planned.

While the nation’s military chiefs and artificial intelligence experts mobilize in search of answers, a sixteen-year-old girl named Charlie on the coast of Maine watches a strange silvery balloon drift across the water and toward her new home—a place she loathes. All she wants is to escape back to Brooklyn. She’s about to get much more than that.

Her new home is ground zero for a story that begins at a remote naval base in Indiana during the winter of 1962, when a physicist named Martin Hazelton discovered something extraordinary—and deadly. Experimentation with it was in process when the pressure of the Cold War forced his hand, and his discovery became literally ahead of its time. Now, decades later, its dark potential has come full circle and every second is the enemy. With the future in her hands, only Claire can stop what’s coming.

Overall a good book by Carson

Carson delivers an engaging narrative, skillfully weaving together two timelines that, while occasionally disorienting, ultimately coalesce into a cohesive whole. The third act moves at a brisk pace—perhaps too brisk—leaving the resolution feeling somewhat underdeveloped, particularly in providing full closure for the principal characters. Though it may not stand among Carson’s finest works, it remains a commendable and absorbing read.

Compelling and thrilling

Extraordinary plot. As with all Koryta books, narrative is compelling and filled with thrills.

Very Good - Highly Recommend it.

Good mix of science fiction, complex characters, suspense. I listen to thousands of books this book is in the top 4% or so.

Good but also spoils a main mystery in the 2nd Chapter....

*no spoilers* The main mystery the synopsis hints at in the book is "Hundreds of Pilots receive a call from their mother's begging them not to fly, all in one night."
The book goes on to answer what happened immediately after it happens.
Of course this opens the doors to WHY and that becomes the main focus and question of the book, which sustains the story well... But at the same time its kind of like being promised a Turkey Dinner and they wheel out a vegetarian meal instead. Still good in its own way, but not what you were expecting and very different.
I might have felt better about it if they had held the Telephone Mystery out for even a couple chapters but nope. "What you thought was The Main Course is the appetizer and the real main course is Cole Slaw."
As I said, not bad, but I think this is the first "Swing and a miss" for Scott imo, The Chill, Lost Man's Lane and The other one about the Sleep App. (who's name escapes me atm) were all much better attempts.

Loved the concept

Interesting book - I enjoyed but a slow start. Bit hard to weave story together but I enjoyed it.