Title: Departure 37
Author: Scott Carson
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Airline pilots across the country get a phone call from their mother telling them not to fly that day. Something is going to happen and it will be their last flight ever because they will die. The mothers are convincing, even if the pilots mother is dead. How? This is quickly answered at the end of the first chapter. Then in a small area of Maine, there are remnants of a crashed B-52 from the 1960s that are at the root of a seventeen year old’s ties to the community that she is reluctantly a part of. Charlie has moved here with her father while he grieves the loss of his wife, and Charlie’s mother, to continue the dream of selling a family recipe brewed beer. While attempting to draw followers to her social media, Charlie one day sees a mysterious silver balloon drift into the woods near the downed plane. Where did it come from and why does she hear odd noises and static after discovering its resting place high in a tree that she cannot climb to retrieve? And what does a secluded scientist in the 1960s who has discovered how graphite can make amazing things happen when you apply a little bit of dust and throw in a father’s watch tie into the day’s mystery of the pilot call out?

Positives: Intriguing concept and after I allowed myself to forget the sci-fi element, I really enjoyed the intrigue of the characters. Whether it was Martin and Marilyn in the 1960s or Charlie’s dynamic with Lawrence and Abe, but quite possibly the link to Captain Hightower grabbed me the most. Character development was out of this world, just like the B-52.

Struggles: I am not a sci-fi reader, so that element of this book was a hard spot for me. It’s not just a sci-fi, it’s got historical fiction and suspense to it as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on August 5, 2025.

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #Departure37 #atriabooks #michaelkoryta

Departure 37 ✈️

Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫
Genre: Science Fiction, Historical Fiction
Pub Date: August 5, 2025

In the middle of the night, hundreds of airline pilots receive a call from their mothers telling them “do NOT fly tomorrow.” Resulting in a nationwide ground stop. The skies have become completely clear, but why?

This is 100% the problem is ME. I went into this book thinking the main story would be how this nationwide ground stop happened and investigating the mystery. It was not this. The story mainly revolves around three points of view, 17 year-old Charlie as a strange weather balloon flies towards the abandoned airfield where she lives. Dr. Martin Hazelton back in 1962 and the shocking scientific discovery he makes. And finally, Dr. Layla Chen who is a government worker behind the ground stop.

I think this book will be a hit amongst the right crowd. There was a lot of Cold War Era lore, and a good amount of science as well. I definitely didn’t feel like I knew enough about either of these areas and felt disconnected because of it. I did enjoy Charlie’s point of view, and was very interested during her adventure. Like I said, this was a mismatch of reader to book, and I would recommend this for anyone who is into Cold War historical fiction

Pilots throughout the country receive calls from their mothers, urging them not to fly. None of the mothers remember making a call. Meanwhile, a 16 year old girl, Charlie, watches a strange balloon drift toward her home in coastal Maine at the site of an old military airfield, with both events setting off a frantic search for a once lost B-52 bomber. Departure 37 is by far the best book I’ve read this year! The first page, detailing the calls to the pilots, absolutely hooks the reader and begins a captivating story that blends sci-fi and a political thriller that was nothing short of amazing. The author seamlessly joins two timelines, alternating between present day and 1962, at the height of Cold War tensions and atomic bomb tests and the two timelines provide the puzzle pieces that come together brilliantly. You’ll root hard for the likeable characters, especially wise-beyond-her years Charlie, and the story has an eerie, Twlight Zone vibe throughout, heightening the tension. Not to be missed, 5 big stars. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“Departure 37” by Scott Carson had one of the most exciting opening chapters I have read in a thriller. The book opens with pilots across America receiving a call from their mothers-whether the mothers are dead or alive-begging them not to fly the next day, and refusing to end the call until they agree. This results in a total grounding of all flights and was initiated by AI set in motion by a secret government agency.

The story runs in two parallel timelines, the near future, where 2 high school students try and figure out where the disruption comes from and the 1960s during the height of tension between the US and Russia.

Unfortunately, the book never came together for me. There was so much going on I couldn’t decide if the novel was a thriller, sci-fi or a historical science textbook. The books characters are all developed and historical references well researched. I’m sure others will get more out of this mystery than I did.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is one of the most fun and exciting inventive books that I have read this year. The characters, the situations, the multiple timelines, this is such an engrossing story that is so much fun to read. Carson has made an absolute winner here and I can’t wait to talk to friends that read it.

Thank you to Net Galley and Atria books for the ARC.
I wanted to like it more.
The characters were well crafted in this Techno Thriller and Coming-of-Age novel The Cold War era and modern day are the settings for this dual timeline.
The creepy phone calls that lead to a ground stop pulled me into this story. I was left feeling that the story didn’t quite pull together with a satisfying ending. I did enjoy most of the book.

So I’ll start by saying: this isn’t horror.

It’s a scifi thriller, but aside from the creepy phone calls at the very beginning, it’s not frightening, scary, nightmare inducing, or even heart rate accelerating.

I was bummed out by this, was expecting something totally different from the synopsis and blurbs.

The time jumps were ok, I was a bit bored by the 1961/1962 sections where it was just detailing all the attempts at experiments. I didn’t fully understand some of the concepts or the watch’s role.

I feel like my dad or someone who lived through the Cold War and Missile Crisis, or likes spy/war novels may appreciate this more than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Atria Books for a copy!

It's always exciting when an author I have loved in the past comes out with a new book. It's also a fork in the road: either the second book is as good (or better) than the first, instantly putting them on a "pre-order every time" list; or, the second book doesn't quite live up to (potentially inflated) expectations.

I had read a couple of Michael Koryta books years ago, but last year's Lost Man's Lane was the first Scott Carson book (Koryta's pen name) that I had read. Upon finishing it, I struggled to find a component I didn't enjoy. As I wrote at the time,

"There's a bit of everything in Lost Man's Lane -- it's a coming-of-age story centered around a mystery, that mixes in the supernatural, family bonds, friendship, teenage romance, and even a smidge (or more) of horror... There's even a good amount of humor to balance some of the intensity, and several truly laugh-out-loud scenes make it one of the funniest books I read this year. There's little I can say by way of critique -- that diverse hodgepodge of components is without a weak link."

All of that propelled it to the #1 slot in my Best Books of 2024 list, and had me doubly excited—and a little trepidatious—for what this year's follow-up would yield.

Departure 37 starts off with pilots across America receiving a call in the middle of the night from their mother—whether their mother was still living or not—imploring them not to fly the next day, and refusing to hang up until their child agreed. The result is a nationwide grounding of all commercial aircraft. We swiftly come to learn that this was an activation of "Seeker Script", and AI program created by Sector Six, a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) sub-group focused on making sure that "America never paid for a mistake in the name of research." In this case, the mistake in question involved making planes disappear in the 1960s at the height of tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. One such plane that had disappeared in 1962 has allegedly returned in 2025...and it's carrying an active nuclear bomb.

It's a great setup for a novel, and I was hooked. The story runs in two parallel timelines. The first is in the near-future (October 2025), at an old Naval Research base in remote Ash Point, Maine, where two high school students—Charlie Goodwin and Lawrence Zimmer—along with Lawrence's grandfather, Abe, are trying to figure out the strange travel disruption that has hit the United States. Ash Point is the site of an old B-52 bomber crash in 1962, which Abe witnessed, and he swears there was a survivor who was whisked away by military personnel, never to be seen again. The second is in 1961-62, where Dr. Martin Hazelton is working to determine the answer to one question: "If an atomic bomb was detonated over the continental United States, how might planes in the air be shielded?" He runs hundreds of tests on radio-controlled model airplanes, until he stumbles on a discovery that ultimately creates the situation at the center of the novel.

The structure and setup were all ready-made for another thriller that I would enjoy...but this once didn't quite come together in the same way for me that Lost Man's Lane did. I actually enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second half, and while it didn't crash and burn, let's just say the takeoff was quite a bit better than the landing. There were plenty of solid moments, but there were enough gaps—either in plot choices or execution of the story—that I found myself not quite as in love with the novel. The deep dive into the early days of the Cold War was interesting, especially on the heels of the movie Oppenheimer last year and the renewed focus on the early nuclear era that it helped generate, but the supernatural explanations in this one were just a tiny bit too silly for me, and the character arc of Marty Hazelton in particular went in a direction I didn't love.

Setting those nits aside, there's plenty of goodness here. A combination of inflated expectations before I read a word, combined with a really solid start, simply left me a bit disappointed when the payoff wasn't quite what I wanted it to be. Nevertheless, a solid effort from Carson again, and I think a book that will be particularly enjoyed by anyone old enough to have lived through the uncertainty of the Bay of Pigs, the days of duck-and-cover drills (because hiding under your desk was going to save you from a nuclear blast!), or even just those of us who can remember the Cold War, when tensions with the Soviet Union were so high for so long. If you're choosing where to start reading Scott Carson, definitely choose Lost Man's Lane over this one, but Departure 37 still manages to land the plane with a better-than-average score.

I was very excited for Departure 37 as Lost Man’s Lane was one of my favorite books of 2024. Similar to Lost Man’s Lane, Carson is a superb author in evoking nostalgia for historical time and places and the Cold War setting of the 50s and 60s was as exceptionally contextualized as the late 1990s in his previous work. Beyond that, the character development(especially of Charlie, Marilyn, Martin, Lawrence, and Abe) was well done. But the book falters a bit in developing the secondary characters as all of the military officers (except for Layla) tend to blend together in a boring amalgamation where none of them stand out. I suppose this could have been intentional in trying to serve as an homage to the military advisors to JFK who wanted him to bomb first and ask questions later. However, because the military leadership was so stereotypically one-note, it sort of dulled the tension of the last third of the book as the set-up that the book created was incredibly inventive, it just didn’t quite come together as well as it could in creating a truly tense showdown. As such, the actual Cuban Missile Crisis certainly seemed a lot more tense than how the ending of this book ultimately played out, leaving me just slightly disappointed given how much I loved Carson’s earlier work.

I enjoyed this book very much. The characters were fleshed out just enough to keep you interested. The use of flashbacks added to the story instead of distracting you. The idea was unique and Mr. Carson's writing kept your attention. I look forward to his next offering!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

While the book opens with a bang, with pilots getting middle of the nights calls from their mothers imploring them not to fly, this is quickly resolved, so fans of aviation thrillers (T.J Newman fans!) will be disappointed, this is not a T.J Newman-style high-stakes-on-a-plane page turner. It is a compelling genre-bending thriller with speculative plot elements told in dual timelines, present day and Cold War 1962.I will recommend to fans of technothriller authors like Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton who would appreciate the speculative and historical elements and a young female protagonist. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a digital review copy.

“Horror meets coming-of-age...?” Eh, well, not quite. I enjoy Scott Carson's writing and I'm always up for a good coming-of-age story, but this book is not at all horror. It's more of a bildungsroman meets sci-fi meets historical thriller combo, and with the exception of the creepy phone calls at the very beginning (which were immediately explained away), I'm at a loss to think of one thing in this novel that could be considered horror. That's not to say that it wasn't a good read because it mostly was, but it was not at all what I was expecting considering the blurb. There are small bits of the story that I suppose could maybe be called “scary” in more of a thriller novel sort of way, but trust me when I say that seasoned horror aficionados will not be fazed by anything that happens in this book.

But, anyway, the lack of horror aside, I did mostly enjoy this one. The 1962 timeline is especially riveting, set against the backdrop of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Martin Hazelton is an intriguing and complex character, and his top secret work for the US government is fascinating. The present-day timeline with our main character Charlie is interesting enough, although it's at its best when it kind of … I guess you could say, intersects with the 1962 story? There are definitely some unexpected twists and turns, and while some of it is farfetched, it's certainly never boring. The ending isn't perhaps overly plausible – it seems unlikely that the US government would choose to act in such a decent manner, honestly – but I guess I'm willing to suspend some disbelief there. There were also small bits and pieces that I didn't fully understand, mostly concerning the “six months” thing at the end (why six months?? I reread that part multiple times and I still don't get it) and why the government officials would do what they did without fully testing things out first (sorry for the vagueness, trying not to spoil things here!), but it's totally possible that those are simply “me being dense” issues.

Also, Scott Carson is just a good writer. I'm not even talking about the crafting of the story, exactly, but more that the sentences themselves are just super pleasant to read. Does that even make any sense? Probably not, but I remember thinking the same thing after I read Lost Man's Lane too. There's just something about his writing style that I really, really like. And if you haven't already read Lost Man's Lane, by the way, that one actually is a bildungsroman with some light horror-y bits and it's fantastic.

So, yeah. Departure 37 isn't a horror novel, but it's still an entertaining read overall. 3.8 stars, rounded up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is August 5, 2025.

With just three short words, “ Do not fly”, Passenger 57 grabs your attention immediately within the first chapter. All flights are grounded and no one knows why except for some top secret government officials. Where you think the novel may be going, you are probably incorrect based on the blurb. There are several timelines unfolding, one in 2025, after the event mentioned above and another one in 1962 set mainly out of a military base in Indiana. The current timeline follows the fallout from the grounded planes which leads to a closed down Naval base off an isolated peninsula in Maine. If I had to choose I really enjoyed the 1962 timeline with Dr. Hazelton. I could almost have done without Charlie’s character in the present timeline. She just didn’t interest me as much as Hazelton.

Trying to tie all of this together in a nice pretty review is probably going to be next to impossible. I wasn’t expecting the direction of the plot, which in itself was quite satisfying however, getting through all of the weeds, and the science of it made my head hurt. I still don’t think I understand all of the different processes. But that’s OK because all in all the novel worked out, as I understood the general concept of what was going on. I think from a current events standpoint the novel comes at almost a perfect time to compare the past events of the novel with the current events of today. It definitely has you thinking for sure about ramifications and the choices that lead to them. All of the characters were very well developed. I think this book could even have stood to be a little bit longer to dig into them further. I also have a few questions in regard to the weather balloon, and the phone calls. I don’t know if they were tied up and I missed it or if it’s just something that didn’t need to be further explained. I especially like the nod to Lost Man’s Lane, it was a nice Easter egg.

This book will certainly make you think and if you’re expecting a typical espionage thriller, this is certainly not that but it’s definitely worth giving it a try. My only criticism was the amounts of science and meteorology that was explained left this reader highly confused. I can’t wait to see what other novels. Carson is able to come out with as this reader will be first in line.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Scott Carson’s Departure 37 was a wonderful read, blending history, mystery and just a little conspiracy! As always, his character development and storytelling are wonderful, making the book feel like a breeze to read. I also truly enjoyed the author’s afterword

This book wasn’t exactly what I expected based on the description, but it wasn’t bad! There were definitely parts that got a little too science-heavy for me—I found myself kind of zoning out during those sections—but the main storyline kept me interested enough to keep going. The author definitely did good research.

It’s told from two different points of view and switches between past and present, but it was easy to follow. The timelines are clearly labeled, and each one has different characters, so it never got confusing, which I appreciated.

Genre-wise… I’m not really sure what I’d call it? It didn’t feel like a traditional thriller to me. Maybe more of a historical thriller or a time travel kind of thing? Either way, it wasn’t what I expected, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just not the kind of book I usually pick up.

That said, I really liked the main character, Charlie. She had a lot of spunk, especially toward the end of the book. Honestly, I liked most of the characters—even the ones you’re not supposed to like were written well enough that I still found them interesting.

There were a few parts where it felt like the author might’ve been using the story to share their opinion on certain conspiracy theories. I couldn’t tell if that was just the character speaking or if the author was trying to make a point, but it did pull me out of the story a bit.

Overall, not what I was expecting, but still an enjoyable read. I’d give it 4.5 out of 5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy!

I found this book to be both intriguing and thought-provoking. I felt immediately drawn into the mystery of the grounded flights and the eerie calls the pilots received—it set such a suspenseful tone right from the start. I enjoyed following the investigation and watching how the pieces of the puzzle began to unfold. I found Charlie’s perspective really compelling. I felt for her as she navigated her complicated feelings about her home and family, and I admired her resilience as she became entangled in such an extraordinary and dangerous situation. I also appreciated how the story wove in Martin Hazelton’s timeline and the Cold War era—it added depth and historical intrigue. That said, I did find myself getting lost in some of the technical details. I felt like certain parts of the book went a little too far into the weeds, which slowed the pacing for me at times. I would have preferred a bit more focus on the characters and their emotional journeys rather than the intricate mechanics of the technology and science.

Overall, I thought this book was a fascinating read with an engaging premise and memorable characters. I enjoyed the blend of mystery, history, and suspense, even if the technical aspects weren’t quite my cup of tea. It’s a story that kept me thinking long after I finished it.

Departure 37 is horror in a different plane of existence!

Scott Carson crafts a bold and adventurous coming of age story in Departure 37. Written in his signature style, this novel follows two timelines; one in the 1960’s and the other in 2025. Starting with a mystery opening line that hooked me immediately in the emotional impact and scope, this story is an action-filled romp like no other!

The 60s timeline is historical fiction excellence. We follow a brilliant experimenter as he explores the connections between unique mixtures of chemicals and aircrafts. This storyline had me deep in its grip. It has flavor, passion, intrigue, and enough historical connotation that it was like reading a Michael Crichton story. The scientific discoveries make enough sense that it advances the plot quickly and had me hungering for more!

The present timeline was an entirely different adventure. This was the pure coming of age story. It started slow and has all of the classic features of a Stephen King story. It’s bold in that way because the main character is bold in the face of adversity that she could either make the leap in her development or she won’t make it. As to how that plays out, I was devouring this story in a different way than the past storyline.

The way that Scott Carson weaves these storylines and characters together is masterful. This story although not the most horrific did hold my attention from start to finish and I’m so glad I to read this! Readers should grab a copy of this and prepare for an adventure like no other!

Perfect for fans of Stephen King’s 11/22/63 or Michael Crichton’s Timeline! Check this out!

Departure 37 is one of the best books you will read in 2025. It is one of the best books you will ever read. Scott Carson has gifted us an enthralling thriller which fans of shows like The Twilight Zone, The X Files, and Lost will absolutely love. Seriously, it's one of those books which blows you away because you can't believe just how good it is. It starts with a mystery which grounds present day air traffic in America and transports us back to the height of The Cold War. Carson populates this book with memorable characters from both periods of time. If you enjoy time travel tales, you won't find one better than this. Thank you to Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

really suspenseful and could not put down. this novel was very good. Anyone would love this plane thriller

A genre-defying read that’s equal parts eerie, inventive, and unforgettable. Charlie lives near Ash Point Naval Station, where a B-52 jet vanished under mysterious circumstances years ago. After she and locals Abe and Lawrence discover an old weather balloon, a wave of disruption hits: technology fails and the FAA halts all flights. The narrative also weaves in the past perspective of Dr. Marty Hazelton, a scientist active during the nuclear arms race, whose experiments hint at something far more complex. When the long-lost B-52 suddenly returns, Charlie and Lawrence board the plane, plunging into a mystery that bends the rules of time, science, and reason.