Departure 37 is a book unlike any other and I thoroughly enjoyed it! In the middle of the night in October, airline pilots across the country get a mysterious call from their mothers. Their mother, in every case, tells the pilot not to fly the following day. There is a complete ground stop across the country and the skies are empty. There's one problem though as none of the mothers remember making such a call and some of the mothers that called are dead! What?! Yes, that's correct. How could this happen? As the military and artificial intelligence communities try to figure this out, weird things begin to happen. Charlie is a 16 year old girl living in Maine as her father has opened a craft brewery there. The brewery is on an old airfield and it hasn't been the success her father was hoping for. One day when Charlie is outside she sees a silver balloon flying across the water and towards her home. When Charlie goes to investigate she gets more than she bargained for.

The story begins in 1962 on a remote Naval base. A physicist discovered something amazing and dangerous with pressure to use this new discovery to help American forces. The book is told in two different timelines, those from 1962 and current time. Both storylines are fascinating and you will have trouble putting this book down. I can't say much more without giving away the secrets of Departure 37, but trust me you want to read this book. Departure 37 keeps you enthralled throughout and it's so different from other books that you will love it! I didn't know where the book was going, but it caught my attention immediately and kept it until the end. I rate Departure 37 4 stars with a high recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of Departure 37 in exchange for a fair review. #Departure37

This is a dual-timeline novel. One timeline takes place on a remote naval base in Indiana during the winter of 1962, where a physicist named Martin Hazelton discovered something extraordinary—and deadly. The second timeline takes place in present day. in October, when 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 anything but planned. All of the pilots received disturbing, middle-of-the-night calls from their mothers, and each mother had a simple and urgent request: do not fly today.. None of the mothers remember making them—and some of the mothers are dead. 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 home & the old airfield where her dad has been trying to open a craft brewery.

This book was amazing.... I couldn't put it down. Part historical fiction, part science fiction, and one hundred percent thriller., this book was unlike anything I had read before. The phone calls from the mothers (especially the dead ones) gave me chills. The author did an excellenr job weaving the two timelines together, as well as blending all of the different genres. This book was fascinating and I highly recommend it!

I’ve been a fan of Scott Carson since I stumbled upon The Chill. While this book takes a slight detour from his usual horror, by no means is this a flop. I really enjoyed the dual timelines, and kept guessing at what could come next. Carson in my head looks like Charlie in Always Sunny when he’s investigating Pepe Silvia (iykyk)…in other words, a mad genius.

Pilots call off their flights when they receive a phone call from their mothers, begging them not to fly. Some mothers have been dead for years. Somehow Seeker Script from DARPA has been activated. While Carson mainly writes chillers, 'Departure 37' is more like a science fiction mystery. The dual timeline is well-written between 1962 and 2025. I enjoyed this one a little less than his other books, but it is still a solid entry. 4 stars.

A bit of a departure for the Scott Carson name — this is not (at least in my mind) a “horror” novel. What it is is a fantastic Twilight Zone-esque story, or maybe a Twilight Zone episode if Michael Crichton had written it.

I absolutely loved the book, but if I have one complaint it would be with the marketing, which vastly oversells any horror elements, to the point of being kind of misleading about one particular thing that happens in the book.

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I really enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would! It was labeled horror, but it was just spooky enough for me without being too scary.
This is a dual timeline. Martin Hazelton is a scientist living in 1962. He is working in a project to make things “disappear” and “reappear”. Charlie is living in Maine with her dad in October 2025. They moved there after her mom was killed in a shootout in Brooklyn. The two stories intersect in an interesting way.
I don’t want to give too much away but this was an intriguing read and I couldn’t put it down. It also makes you think. Just because you have the power to invent something that will change the world, doesn’t mean you SHOULD invent it. Very interesting read. Many thanks to the author, Atria Books and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#Departure37 #ScottCarson #NetGalley #AtriaBooks #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks

Hundreds of pilots call out of work on a seemingly normal day after receiving calls from their mothers asking them to please not fly. Even those whose mothers have passed away and been gone for years… On the same day sixteen year old Charlie sees a strange silver balloon descend towards her home and immediately feels that something is not right. Charlie is correct in her assumptions and her home becomes ground zero for a story that began in 1962.

I would love to take a dive into Scott Carson’s brain because !!!???!! This book was so crazy and so insanely original. I’ve never read anything like it and was HOOKED from the start. For history buffs or not (me :-)) this is an enjoyable and suspenseful story that splits between two timelines covering Cold War espionage, making Departure 37 feel like a true means of time travel.

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.

Departure 37 by Scott Carson is a unique blend of thriller, historical fiction, and science fiction, with a dash of young adult storytelling mixed in. It weaves together two timelines—one set in the present, following a 17-year-old girl named Charlie, and the other rooted in 1962, revolving around secret government experiments involving disappearing planes. The result is an eerie, high-stakes mystery that touches on themes like surveillance, AI, and the military-industrial complex—surprisingly relevant in today’s political climate. This was a thrilling and exciting read that kept me turning the pages, always eager to see how the two timelines would eventually collide.

The present-day storyline centers around Charlie, who—let’s be honest—is not the most likable protagonist. At just seventeen, she’s unsupervised to baffling with no adult accountability. I found her annoying more often than not. Her actions felt reckless and immature, and it was frustrating to see her stumble into high-risk situations without any real awareness of the consequences. Why was she just left alone? She has flashes of determination and curiosity, but they’re often overshadowed by her need to be in control.

Then there’s her friend Lawrence. He’s a more grounded presence in the story, though maybe a bit too grounded for a teenager. His dialogue and behavior often came off as overly mature—it was like he had the wisdom of a 45-year-old in a 17-year-old’s body. That said, I appreciated his steadiness, especially when Charlie was making questionable decisions. He helped balance things out, even if he didn’t always feel totally believable as a teenager.

But the real standout for me—the absolute star of the book—was Abe, Lawrence’s grandfather. Abe is a classic eccentric conspiracy theorist, complete with newspaper clippings, dusty files, and wild theories about government coverups and unexplained disappearances. But what makes him great is that he’s not just a crackpot—he’s actually on to something. He’s sharp, insightful, and full of depth, and even when he sounds a little out there, you can’t help but wonder if he might be the only one who really understands what’s going on. Abe added both levity and mystery to the story, and I looked forward to every scene he was in. He felt like the heart of the book—quirky, endearing, and weirdly wise.

The second timeline, set in 1962, adds an entirely different layer to the story. It follows a man named Martin who is involved in a top-secret government project experimenting with the disappearance of planes from radar—technology that feels eerily close to modern-day developments in AI, surveillance, and stealth warfare. The writing here is atmospheric and filled with Cold War tension. It reminded me a bit of classic military sci-fi—full of secrets, bureaucracy, and a growing sense that something big and dangerous is spiraling out of control. I found this timeline just as compelling as the present-day storyline, if not more. It was rich with historical detail, and the way it mirrored some of the political anxieties we face today gave it extra weight.

Carson does a great job threading these two storylines together. As you move back and forth between Charlie’s present-day investigations and Martin’s 1962 experiments, the connections slowly start to reveal themselves, and it creates a strong sense of suspense. You know these timelines are going to collide—you just don’t know exactly how or when. And that anticipation keeps the pages turning. The pacing is tight, with just the right mix of action and exposition to keep you hooked without feeling overwhelmed by detail.

There’s also a deeper message running through the story about how far governments will go in the name of “progress,” and how little regard is sometimes given to the human cost. In that way, Departure 37 becomes more than just a thriller. It’s also a story about the danger of secrets, the fragility of truth, and the real-world implications of unchecked technological advancement. It’s not preachy, but it definitely leaves you thinking.

All in all, Departure 37 was a thrilling and exciting read that blended genres in a really interesting way. While I didn’t love Charlie as a main character—and found Lawrence a little too wise beyond his years—the dual-timeline plot and the overarching mystery more than made up for it. Abe was my absolute favorite character, and I could’ve read an entire book just about him and his decades-long obsession with the truth. The 1962 storyline was fascinating and tied in so well with the bigger themes. If you’re into government conspiracies, time-bending mysteries, or thrillers that make you think, this book is definitely worth picking up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books | Atria / Emily Bestler Books for the Advanced Readers Copy. I must say that all opinions are my own which seems ridiculous when I live in a country that has freedom of speech.

After reading Scott Carson's Lost Man's Lane, I couldn't wait for his next sojourn into Horror. Instead what we have is Departure 37, a book that is more on the Sci-Fi/Historical Fiction side with some sprinklings of Horror throughout.
Pilots are getting messages from their Mom's, telling them not to fly, and some of these moms are dead.
Of course, that makes you think you're about to read a Horror story, but instead, you wind up reading a pretty solid tale with some really horrific events.
This book does some time-jumping between 1962 and the present (For me, the 1962 scenes worked best), and at times it could be a little challenging.
But all in all, I did enjoy the story, and I'm a big fan of Scott Carson's (Michael Koryta). I would definitely recommend this one, but buyer beware: This is not Lost Man's Lane, by any means.

"Do Not Fly" that is the message that pilots received from their mothers in the middle of the night! The interesting part is their mothers do not remember making the calls and even some of the mothers who called were deceased. The pilots don't fly but readers should fly to pick up Departure 37 by Scott Carson! I don't know how to really give a synopsis of the novel without giving away the farm so to speak, so I will speak on what I enjoyed. This was such a well thought out, gripping, and thought-provoking book told in two timelines. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. What drew me was horror meets coming of age. This, for me was more horrific than horror. It was also a merging of historical fiction, mystery, science fiction, government secrets, etc. Basically, it has a lot of elements of many genres.

This one kept me turning the pages and wanting to know all the ifs, what's, and whys of the book. Several reviewers are mentioning the twilight zone in their reviews, and I agree with them. What happens when planes are grounded? What happens when a discover is made? What happened in the past, the military secrets, the tests, cold war tensions, bomb making, etc.

The characters are interesting and well-rounded/fleshed out. I enjoyed reading and wondering how everything was going to come together. If you are a fan of science fiction, coming of age and historical fiction, this just might be the book for you!

I read a lot of historical fiction, but what made Departure 37 stand out was how propulsive the thriller elements made it. This was my first book by Scott Carson, who I gather usually writes horror. That threw off some people’s expectations, so know that this one is for the thriller fans. I'm a sucker for an interesting hook, and this had a great one.

Stephen King blurbed it and it did remind me a lot of his 11/22/63 (one of my favorite books): it’s speculative fiction set in both the present day and the 60’s, with a mysterious link between them. I don’t want to say more!

I read and really enjoyed Lost Man's Lane.
Which had me that much more excited to open up Departure 37 by Scott Carson.
I was fully engaged from page one and was enthralled to the very end.
The characters were amazing and likable.
This was fast paced and engaging up through the end.
Overall, Departure 37 by Scott Carson was an enjoyable read that is a mix of horror, coming-of-age tale, and mystery

Thank You NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Is a plane crash from the 1960s tied to a current aviation mystery?

All mothers worry about their children, it simply comes with the territory. But when the mothers of hundreds of commercial pilots call their children and beg them not to fly the following day, warning that if they don't heed the plea they will die, that's definitely beyond the norm. It also leaves US airspace empty on an October day, something not seen since 9/11. Weirder still? No mother remembers making the call...and some of the mothers were no longer alive to have made it. Meanwhile, 16 year old Charlie is living on the coast of Maine (not her choice, she's rather be back in Brooklyn, but her dad had other plans) on an old airfield where her father is trying to make a success out of a craft brewery. She notices something in the sky near her home, something which may point back to a mystery from 1962. On a naval base in Indiana back then, when the Cuban Missile Crisis was making everyone tense, a physicist made an important and possibly dangerous discovery that may have caused ripples into the present day. What did he discover? What if any connection does it have to Maine, to Charlie or to the unexplained phone calls? And what is the threat facing the world?
Its hard to read the teasers about Departure 37 and not have your thoughts stray into Twilight Zone territory....no, not the episode with a creature on the wing, just the overall doo-doo-doo-doo vibe. It is part espionage thriller, part horror novel, and part coming-of-age story all rolled up into a suspenseful yarn. Shifting between two timelines, with the savvy and likable Charlie in the present day and physicist Martin back in the paranoid days of the early 1960's, the plot unfolds and keeps the reader guessing right up until the end. The characters are well-drawn and nuanced, the dueling timelines well integrated and the story keeps the reader on the edge of their seats. The opening is a doozy, and while I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second it is still a solid and enjoyable read that offered plenty of elements to keep my interest, including Cold War paranoia and sinister government agents. Readers of Rob Hart, Paul Tremblay and of course the master himself Stephen King will likely find this of appeal. My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books for allowing me access to this intriguing novel in exchange for my honest review.

3.25⭐️. Departure 37 starts with a fascinating premise. Hundreds of pilots refuse to fly after receiving disturbing calls from their mothers—some of whom are already dead. It's eerie, mysterious, and immediately grabs your attention.

The story switches between modern-day Maine and a Cold War-era naval base in Indiana. While the dual timeline structure has potential, the middle of the book really drags. I found it hard to stay engaged, especially since I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction. That could be part of why it didn’t work for me, but I also think the pacing just didn’t hold up.

The ending did pull me back in, and the concept overall is original. However, it’s definitely not horror, despite how it’s marketed. It leans more toward speculative thriller with a light sci-fi twist.

Overall, it was okay. Some parts were really intriguing, but others fell flat. Worth reading if the premise grabs you, but don’t expect something truly scary.

Departure 37 is chilling not because of what’s seen but what’s felt. Carson builds dread with whispered memories.

4.5 stars.

Departure 37 by Scott Carson is an excellent techno thriller which goes back and forth between 1962 and the present.

In the present, seventeen-year-old Charlie Goodwin is unhappy about the move from New York to Maine. With the entire aviation system shutdown, she is unsure if her father is at his conference. Charlie tries to text him but her message does not go through. Things take an exceptionally creepy turn after a very old B-52 bomber lands at the defunct military base adjacent to their property.

In 1962, physicist Martin Hazelton is working on a secret project on a base in Indiana. He becomes under intense pressure to use his idea during the increasingly fraught Cuba missile crisis. Unbeknownst to his superiors, Martin has been keeping secrets about a key part of his innovation.

Departure 37 is an intriguing novel with plenty of suspense. The characters are interesting and well-developed. The storyline is multi-faceted with sci-fi elements and secret government projects. Both timelines are interesting and Scott Carson beautifully weaves past and present into a thrilling story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC.

This book was so interesting! I have never really read anything like it. I could picture the entire plot play out like a tv show in my head and there are so many good ones that it was reminiscent of.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ ARC Review: Departure 37

A chilling sci-fi thriller that blends Cold War secrets, AI surveillance, and a mysterious balloon drifting through time. Carson explores themes of technological dread, intergenerational trauma, and the eerie power of memory.

The concept is compelling and the prose often poetic, but uneven pacing and underdeveloped teen characters held it back for me. Less horror, more speculative mystery. Thought-provoking, but didn’t fully take flight.

Tags: #SpeculativeFiction #SciFiThriller #ColdWarMystery #TechnologicalDread #DualTimeline #NetGalleyARC #Departure37 #ScottCarson #ARCReview #BookReview #ComingOfAge

Thank you, Atria and NetGalley, for the advanced copy of Departure 37.

This is not my usual, but I do love a good horror novel; however, I don't really know where the horror was at. Don't get me wrong, this is a good novel. Do not go into this looking for horror. What you will find is more of a sci-fi thriller. It was a lot of fun. The author did a great job switching between the timelines. This was not confusing in the least. I'd be interested in reading more from this author if I'm in the right mood for this type of novel.

This story follows a physicist from 1962, an AI expert from the present, and a 16-year-old girl from the present. The physicist is working on a miraculous discovery to try to put an end to the Cold War. The 16-year-old girl wishes she could get back to Brooklyn. The AI expert is trying to mitigate a potential freak-out across the nation. Together, their stories weave in and out to create a page-turning thriller that will keep you up all night.