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 anything but planned. 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.
There are a few concerning elements to the calls. 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—a place she loathes. Her father’s dream of opening a craft brewery on an old airfield has been a disaster, and all she wants is an 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. All Hazelton wanted was time to seek an explanation, but pressure from both American and Russian actors forced him into a perilous race.
Departure 37 is a speculative historical thriller with elements of science fiction, modern-day AI, government conspiracy, and Cold War history—it’s a real genre-bender of a novel, like nothing you’ve ever read before!
The story begins on October 25, 2025, when the skies above America go silent after hundreds of pilots receive a phone call—purportedly from their mothers—pleading with them not to fly today. Their mothers don’t remember making the call—and some are even deceased. Meanwhile, in Ashpoint, Maine, 16-year-old Charlie Goodwin and friend Lawrence Zimmer—and his grandfather, Abe—start investigating after a strange balloon lands near them. In 1962 Dr. Marty Hazelton, a physicist conducting experiments for the government, inadvertently uncovers a way for planes to disappear and reappear.
The writing is elegant and descriptive, and it’s evident that the author did a substantial amount of research into airplane technology, Cold War history, the Cuban missile crisis, and DARPA—all of which are brilliantly woven together to make a very original and thought-provoking story. There are some chapters that include a lot of technical aviation details, especially during Marty’s POV, which may turn off readers or cause them to tune out—but rest assured, the overall narrative is still manageable for the average thriller reader and definitely worth sticking with! The story has an addictive Twilight Zone–like feel throughout that’s all part of the fun, and this book will spark a lot of conversation amongst readers afterwards—for this reason it’s a good option for a buddy read or book club—as long as the readers are willing to stick it out!
The book alternates between 3 points of view in two timelines—Charlie and Layla Chen (the high-level DARPA insider) in the present day and Marty in 1962. As the story unfolds, the author brilliantly interweaves the two timelines, slowly building tension and gradually revealing how Hazelton’s experiments shaped the present-day catastrophe at Ash Point! Despite all the technical details and supernatural elements, this is a character-driven story that will keep readers invested with its compelling characters and their outcomes!
Charlie Goodwin is an intriguing protagonist whose backstory of losing her mother and moving to Ashpoint is key to her “coming of age” emotional arc. Lawrence and Abe become her sleuthing sidekicks once she discovers the mysterious balloon and enchanting watch that seems to absorb sunlight! Abe is another standout character with a lot of charisma and humor, especially when storytelling. He holds firsthand memories of the old B-52 crash at Ash Point, including the discovery of a survivor whose parachute failed! Dr. Martin “Marty” Hazelton, the Cold War–era physicist working for U.S. military projects, is almost like the mad scientist in the story—readers will learn more about his tragic backstory and his level of genius in the second half. The story also has a compelling romantic subplot between Marty and Marilyn, a spy who ends up on the plane that disappears in 1962 and becomes one of the time travelers—and who plays a central role in the thrilling final chapters with Charlie!
While the book is marketed as a book with horror elements, the story leans much more into science fiction, government conspiracy, and supernatural thriller elements than conventional horror. The first half is heavy on technology, historical events, and character development. If you feel overwhelmed, do know that the second half has faster pacing and feels more like a thriller—culminating in a high-stakes climax that is very unpredictable! Unfortunately the ending and explanation of what happens feels rushed and a bit unsatisfying, especially after such an intricate and scientifically detailed story—but it will still garner a lot of discussion!
Overall, Departure 37 is a standout novel for its originality, atmospheric tension, and fusion of historical fiction with speculative thriller, despite the technical parts of the story being quite involved and the conclusion a bit ambiguous. It’s an ideal read for anyone who enjoys conspiracy theories, speculative tech thrillers, Cold War historical fiction, and AI technology stories!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Departure 37 is an intricate, captivating listen performed by a very talented trio of narrators: Mia Barron, Johnny Heller, and Catherine Ho!
Mia Barron portrays protagonist Charlie Goodwin, bringing emotional nuance, curiosity, and a contemporary voice to the Maine-based teen. Her performance becomes more intense and thrilling in the final chapters when the stakes are high! Johnny Heller voices Marty Hazleton using a strong, intelligent-sounding voice that feels authentic to the Cold War era. His narration includes a lot of airplane technology and technical details that are paced and articulated well for listeners to follow along without (much) confusion. The dialogue between Marty and Marilyn is a major highlight of Heller’s narration, perfectly capturing their chemistry and mutual understanding.
Catherine Ho portrays high-level DARPA insider Layla Chen with a determined, conniving tone that makes the character both admirable and unlikable. She also narrates some of the supporting characters, all with distinct voices and personalities, to give the audiobook a cinematic feel! The multicast narration approach not only offers different voices for the different characters but also helps listeners distinguish between present-day Maine, Cold War flashbacks, and AI-driven narration.
Overall, this highly original, thought-provoking novel is elevated by the excellent performances of the narrators—pairing the audiobook with a physical copy of the book is the best way to fully grasp all the complexities of the story and simultaneously appreciate the wonderful character depth! If you haven’t listened to any of these narrators before, this audiobook is the perfect opportunity to get a sense of their impressive voice acting skills and engaging storytelling!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Departure 37 is an intricate, captivating listen performed by a very talented trio of narrators: Mia Barron, Johnny Heller, and Catherine Ho!
Mia Barron portrays protagonist Charlie Goodwin, bringing emotional nuance, curiosity, and a contemporary voice to the Maine-based teen. Her performance becomes more intense and thrilling in the final chapters when the stakes are high! Johnny Heller voices Marty Hazleton using a strong, intelligent-sounding voice that feels authentic to the Cold War era. His narration includes a lot of airplane technology and technical details that are paced and articulated well for listeners to follow along without (much) confusion. The dialogue between Marty and Marilyn is a major highlight of Heller’s narration, perfectly capturing their chemistry and mutual understanding.
Catherine Ho portrays high-level DARPA insider Layla Chen with a determined, conniving tone that makes the character both admirable and unlikable. She also narrates some of the supporting characters, all with distinct voices and personalities, to give the audiobook a cinematic feel! The multicast narration approach not only offers different voices for the different characters but also helps listeners distinguish between present-day Maine, Cold War flashbacks, and AI-driven narration.
Overall, this highly original, thought-provoking novel is elevated by the excellent performances of the narrators—pairing the audiobook with a physical copy of the book is the best way to fully grasp all the complexities of the story and simultaneously appreciate the wonderful character depth! If you haven’t listened to any of these narrators before, this audiobook is the perfect opportunity to get a sense of their impressive voice acting skills and engaging storytelling!
The audiobook of Departure 37 is an intricate, captivating listen performed by a very talented trio of narrators: Mia Barron, Johnny Heller, and Catherine Ho!
Mia Barron portrays protagonist Charlie Goodwin, bringing emotional nuance, curiosity, and a contemporary voice to the Maine-based teen. Her performance becomes more intense and thrilling in the final chapters when the stakes are high! Johnny Heller voices Marty Hazleton using a strong, intelligent-sounding voice that feels authentic to the Cold War era. His narration includes a lot of airplane technology and technical details that are paced and articulated well for listeners to follow along without (much) confusion. The dialogue between Marty and Marilyn is a major highlight of Heller’s narration, perfectly capturing their chemistry and mutual understanding.
Catherine Ho portrays high-level DARPA insider Layla Chen with a determined, conniving tone that makes the character both admirable and unlikable. She also narrates some of the supporting characters, all with distinct voices and personalities, to give the audiobook a cinematic feel! The multicast narration approach not only offers different voices for the different characters but also helps listeners distinguish between present-day Maine, Cold War flashbacks, and AI-driven narration.
Overall, this highly original, thought-provoking novel is elevated by the excellent performances of the narrators—pairing the audiobook with a physical copy of the book is the best way to fully grasp all the complexities of the story and simultaneously appreciate the wonderful character depth! If you haven’t listened to any of these narrators before, this audiobook is the perfect opportunity to get a sense of their impressive voice acting skills and engaging storytelling!
