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Detour #1
Detour
Not yet published
Expected 13 Jan 26A space shuttle flight crew discovers that the Earth they’ve returned to is not the home they left behind in this emotional, mind-bending thriller from the creator of the hit Netflix series Manifest and the bestselling author of The Warehouse.
“If The Martian and The Twilight Zone had a baby, it would be Detour—a thriller that messes with your head as you scramble to piece together what’s really going on.”—Steve Netter, Best Thriller Books
Ryan Crane wasn’t looking for trouble—just a cup of coffee. But when this cop spots a gunman emerging from an unmarked van, he leaps into action and unknowingly saves John Ward, a billionaire with presidential aspirations, from an assassination attempt.
As thanks for Ryan’s quick thinking, Ward offers him the chance of a lifetime: to join a group of lucky civilians chosen to accompany three veteran astronauts on the first manned mission to Saturn’s moon Titan.
A devoted family man, Ryan is reluctant to leave on this two-year expedition, yet with the encouragement of his loving wife—and an exorbitant paycheck guaranteeing lifetime care for their disabled son—he crews up and ventures into a new frontier.
But as the ship is circling Titan, it is rocked by an unexplained series of explosions. The crew works together to get back on course, and they return to Earth as heroes.
When the fanfare dies down, Ryan and his fellow astronauts notice that things are different. Some changes are good, such as lavish upgrades to their homes, but others are more disconcerting. Before the group can connect, mysterious figures start tailing them, and their communications are scrambled.
Separated and suspicious, the crew must uncover the truth and decide how far they’re willing to go to return to their normal lives. Just when their space adventure seemingly ends, it shockingly begins.
“If The Martian and The Twilight Zone had a baby, it would be Detour—a thriller that messes with your head as you scramble to piece together what’s really going on.”—Steve Netter, Best Thriller Books
Ryan Crane wasn’t looking for trouble—just a cup of coffee. But when this cop spots a gunman emerging from an unmarked van, he leaps into action and unknowingly saves John Ward, a billionaire with presidential aspirations, from an assassination attempt.
As thanks for Ryan’s quick thinking, Ward offers him the chance of a lifetime: to join a group of lucky civilians chosen to accompany three veteran astronauts on the first manned mission to Saturn’s moon Titan.
A devoted family man, Ryan is reluctant to leave on this two-year expedition, yet with the encouragement of his loving wife—and an exorbitant paycheck guaranteeing lifetime care for their disabled son—he crews up and ventures into a new frontier.
But as the ship is circling Titan, it is rocked by an unexplained series of explosions. The crew works together to get back on course, and they return to Earth as heroes.
When the fanfare dies down, Ryan and his fellow astronauts notice that things are different. Some changes are good, such as lavish upgrades to their homes, but others are more disconcerting. Before the group can connect, mysterious figures start tailing them, and their communications are scrambled.
Separated and suspicious, the crew must uncover the truth and decide how far they’re willing to go to return to their normal lives. Just when their space adventure seemingly ends, it shockingly begins.
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Expected publication January 13, 2026
7290 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Rake
1 book24 followersTV producer, writer, and showrunner of "Manifest" for Warner Bros. Television and NBC; graduated from Columbia University in 1990; born and lives in Los Angeles, California. -- Library of Congress Authorities
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
October 2, 2025
Detour
by Rob Hart and Jeff Rake
This book grabbed me right away and held me to the end. Unfortunately, it is a cliffhanger which I hate. I usually deduct a star for cliffhangers but this is such a solid 5-star book, I just couldn't.
The characters are fleshed out excellently, and amazing plot with twists I didn't see coming. Suspenseful, excitement, and intrigue mixed with a dash of romance make this sci-fi thriller stand out!
A team is selected to go around Titan to drop off a satellite. The team consists of half civilians and half trained astronauts. It's a two-year trip. Something happens along the way. No real harm was noticed. When they return, they find out what that something was!
Really great sci-fi! Loved this book so much, except for the cliffhanger. I will definitely buy book 2!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this awesome book!
by Rob Hart and Jeff Rake
This book grabbed me right away and held me to the end. Unfortunately, it is a cliffhanger which I hate. I usually deduct a star for cliffhangers but this is such a solid 5-star book, I just couldn't.
The characters are fleshed out excellently, and amazing plot with twists I didn't see coming. Suspenseful, excitement, and intrigue mixed with a dash of romance make this sci-fi thriller stand out!
A team is selected to go around Titan to drop off a satellite. The team consists of half civilians and half trained astronauts. It's a two-year trip. Something happens along the way. No real harm was noticed. When they return, they find out what that something was!
Really great sci-fi! Loved this book so much, except for the cliffhanger. I will definitely buy book 2!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this awesome book!
July 21, 2025
ARC for review. To be published January 13, 2026.
2 stars, and I wanted to love this!
Billionaire/Presidential candidate John Ward (number six on the most forgettable names of all time (male)) is bankrolling, through NASA, a manned, exploratory rocket to Titan, one of Saturn’s moons, to determine its feasibility for an eventual colony (because we’ve screwed up everything so badly here.) Selected for the mission are three NASA astronauts and three civilians, Stitch Smith, a graffiti artist and winner of a lottery to get a place on the ship, Padma Singh, a researcher for Ward and Ryan Crane, a police officer who saved Ward’s life.
HAhahahahahahahahahahaha!
Because this is exactly how one would outfit an unheralded space mission. Boy, I’m feeling GREAT about not only their chance for survival, but the world’s.
I was really bummed. I was interested in reading this because I LUUUURRRVVEEE stories about astronauts, astronaut training, astronauts in space, all that. And I even got a tiny bit of that, albeit with the worst crew even assembled, BUT….
Is the rest of this supposed to be the type of thriller that is marketed to men to read? The espionage type stuff that might have words like “Delta Force” and silhouettes of guns on the cover? I haven’t read those books, but, if this is an example of those, I might feel one microiota bad for you guys (despite you ruling the world, phew, I’m over it now. Back to my senses.) Because this is sad, sad foolishness. Of course, I don’t like romance, either, so what do I know about popular?
2 stars, and I wanted to love this!
Billionaire/Presidential candidate John Ward (number six on the most forgettable names of all time (male)) is bankrolling, through NASA, a manned, exploratory rocket to Titan, one of Saturn’s moons, to determine its feasibility for an eventual colony (because we’ve screwed up everything so badly here.) Selected for the mission are three NASA astronauts and three civilians, Stitch Smith, a graffiti artist and winner of a lottery to get a place on the ship, Padma Singh, a researcher for Ward and Ryan Crane, a police officer who saved Ward’s life.
HAhahahahahahahahahahaha!
Because this is exactly how one would outfit an unheralded space mission. Boy, I’m feeling GREAT about not only their chance for survival, but the world’s.
I was really bummed. I was interested in reading this because I LUUUURRRVVEEE stories about astronauts, astronaut training, astronauts in space, all that. And I even got a tiny bit of that, albeit with the worst crew even assembled, BUT….
Is the rest of this supposed to be the type of thriller that is marketed to men to read? The espionage type stuff that might have words like “Delta Force” and silhouettes of guns on the cover? I haven’t read those books, but, if this is an example of those, I might feel one microiota bad for you guys (despite you ruling the world, phew, I’m over it now. Back to my senses.) Because this is sad, sad foolishness. Of course, I don’t like romance, either, so what do I know about popular?
October 10, 2025
Rate 3.5 Stars Rounded Up to 4
Got an email from the publisher offering up an early digital copy of this book they described as A mind-bending sci-fi thriller for fans of Andy Weir and Blake Crouch so of course I downloaded it immediately being a huge fan of these authors. The first thing other readers should know is this is intended as the first book in a series and literally ended with "TO BE CONTINUED...".
This was not clear when I started reading the 239 page book, there is nothing on the cover indicating this is not a standalone novel. About halfway through I thought, how on earth are they going to wrap this up in 100 pages? So off I trundled to Goodreads for some sleuthing and this is where I found this is Book 1. Now I am not opposed to reading serial fiction, I am actually a devoted fan of many series but I do like knowing this info ahead of time.
With this book, the ending isn't a cliffhanger per se, but nothing that has transpired is resolved and we readers are left wondering WTF? I hope that the book does well enough that Book 2 is published.
Now that we have gotten this out of the way, the story is a good and compelling one told from multiple points of views. The format and short length made it a pretty quick read. One of the authors writes for TV and intended for this to be a programme but was told to write the book first. As I read along I could totally envision the story translating to a series I would watch on a streaming service. There is the world-is-becoming-uninhabitable-so-off-to-space-we-go-to-save -humanity trope (like in Project Hail Mary and Seveneves) and there are other sci-fi-ish elements but I won't say more as that would totally spoil things for other readers.
So, the description from the publisher was actually on target. If you are also a fan of Andy Weir and Blake Crouch and don't mind having to wait for a second book to find out how the story will end, then certainly check out this book when it is released.
Got an email from the publisher offering up an early digital copy of this book they described as A mind-bending sci-fi thriller for fans of Andy Weir and Blake Crouch so of course I downloaded it immediately being a huge fan of these authors. The first thing other readers should know is this is intended as the first book in a series and literally ended with "TO BE CONTINUED...".
This was not clear when I started reading the 239 page book, there is nothing on the cover indicating this is not a standalone novel. About halfway through I thought, how on earth are they going to wrap this up in 100 pages? So off I trundled to Goodreads for some sleuthing and this is where I found this is Book 1. Now I am not opposed to reading serial fiction, I am actually a devoted fan of many series but I do like knowing this info ahead of time.
With this book, the ending isn't a cliffhanger per se, but nothing that has transpired is resolved and we readers are left wondering WTF? I hope that the book does well enough that Book 2 is published.
Now that we have gotten this out of the way, the story is a good and compelling one told from multiple points of views. The format and short length made it a pretty quick read. One of the authors writes for TV and intended for this to be a programme but was told to write the book first. As I read along I could totally envision the story translating to a series I would watch on a streaming service. There is the world-is-becoming-uninhabitable-so-off-to-space-we-go-to-save -humanity trope (like in Project Hail Mary and Seveneves) and there are other sci-fi-ish elements but I won't say more as that would totally spoil things for other readers.
So, the description from the publisher was actually on target. If you are also a fan of Andy Weir and Blake Crouch and don't mind having to wait for a second book to find out how the story will end, then certainly check out this book when it is released.
December 22, 2025
A crew of six people, comprised of three astronauts and three civilians, embark on an exploratory trip to Titan, Saturn’s moon. Their hope is that Titan will provide a livable atmosphere for people to go to, supposedly much more hospitable than Mars. Right before they are to begin their trip home disaster strikes, and they are hit by something. Luckily they are able to continue home, however things just don’t seem the same as when they left them.
As others have said, this definitely read as a TV show, and after reading the author’s notes, it appears that this was pitched first as a TV series. I personally prefer the books over the TV adaptations, but could see how this one would be a good fit. There’s a little bit of everything from science fiction all the way to conspiracy theories and political motives. The science fiction itself is very light enough so that I was able to grasp the concept. This is a series so it does end on a cliffhanger. As far as cliffhanger’s go, I feel like it did end at an appropriate spot. Now it’s just a matter of how long we wait for the next book. There is no doubt that I certainly will be picking up the next in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review .
As others have said, this definitely read as a TV show, and after reading the author’s notes, it appears that this was pitched first as a TV series. I personally prefer the books over the TV adaptations, but could see how this one would be a good fit. There’s a little bit of everything from science fiction all the way to conspiracy theories and political motives. The science fiction itself is very light enough so that I was able to grasp the concept. This is a series so it does end on a cliffhanger. As far as cliffhanger’s go, I feel like it did end at an appropriate spot. Now it’s just a matter of how long we wait for the next book. There is no doubt that I certainly will be picking up the next in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review .
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.0 Stars
This is a straightforward sci fi thriller. I have previously read similar plots which made it hard not to compare. This narrative was generally find but it felt like a lackluster story. I wish this author wrote more hard science because this plot would have benefited from a more technical writing. I feel like this author best shines when he writes plots that better lend themselves to soft science fiction plots.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This is a straightforward sci fi thriller. I have previously read similar plots which made it hard not to compare. This narrative was generally find but it felt like a lackluster story. I wish this author wrote more hard science because this plot would have benefited from a more technical writing. I feel like this author best shines when he writes plots that better lend themselves to soft science fiction plots.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
November 11, 2025
I received a free copy of, Detour, by Jeff Rake: Rob Hart, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. For doing a good deed, Ryan gets to go on a space mission for two years. This was an interesting read, getting to have a great adventure in space, and coming back home to see how much the world has changed.
August 24, 2025
This could have been so good, but it's like a bunch of TV network executives in suits churned this out for the masses.
It's bland and filled one after the other with cliched, stereotypical characters. The network executives have their Diversity Checklist™️ and by golly were they determined to fit everyone in.
We've got the evil male billionaire and his smirking female assistant, a righteous All American cop with a disabled son, a single mother with a difficult ex-boyfriend, The Neurodivergent One, the ne'er do well who's smarter than he looks, The Bisexual One, and a barely functioning alcoholic.
We spent an excruciating amount of time learning about these people. They're not interesting. Their designated persona type is the extent of their whole personality.
We finally get into outer space and... it just skips all that? It skips all of outer space. They're in outer space for two years and I think we get about 20 pages. Something Bad happens on the ship but it's never really explained. They come back to Earth (the journey home is again skipped) and that's when something happens that is actually very interesting and exciting (no spoilers) but ummm no, nobody seems to really CARE? Nobody seems terribly concerned about finding out what's going on???
Some of them do, eventually, start asking questions but nothing is answered or resolved or hell even explained very clearly. Ends on a cliffhanger. Cue voice-over, "don't miss season two of Detour, coming soon!"
Thanks to the publisher Del Rey and Netgalley for the ARC. I really, really wanted to like this. Truly. I'm sorry.
It's bland and filled one after the other with cliched, stereotypical characters. The network executives have their Diversity Checklist™️ and by golly were they determined to fit everyone in.
We've got the evil male billionaire and his smirking female assistant, a righteous All American cop with a disabled son, a single mother with a difficult ex-boyfriend, The Neurodivergent One, the ne'er do well who's smarter than he looks, The Bisexual One, and a barely functioning alcoholic.
We spent an excruciating amount of time learning about these people. They're not interesting. Their designated persona type is the extent of their whole personality.
We finally get into outer space and... it just skips all that? It skips all of outer space. They're in outer space for two years and I think we get about 20 pages. Something Bad happens on the ship but it's never really explained. They come back to Earth (the journey home is again skipped) and that's when something happens that is actually very interesting and exciting (no spoilers) but ummm no, nobody seems to really CARE? Nobody seems terribly concerned about finding out what's going on???
Some of them do, eventually, start asking questions but nothing is answered or resolved or hell even explained very clearly. Ends on a cliffhanger. Cue voice-over, "don't miss season two of Detour, coming soon!"
Thanks to the publisher Del Rey and Netgalley for the ARC. I really, really wanted to like this. Truly. I'm sorry.
August 15, 2025
3.5
It makes perfect sense that this book was originally conceived as a TV show. Honestly, the ending played in my head like: End of a season one. And it’s not surprising, considering one of the authors is the creator of Manifest from Netflix.
Everything starts with something we all know: Earth is slowly being destroyed (because of us, obviously). A super-rich man decides to launch a project to travel into space in search of a “lifeboat,” and the chosen destination is Saturn’s moon, Titan. But beyond all the logistics and science involved in this mission, the real heart of the story lies in the human side: who gets to go? The crew is diverse and interesting (and yes, they gave me Manifest's character vibes). Each of them has a background that becomes more and more important as the story progresses. And let me tell you, there’s a lot of drama. The intense kind. So if you combine that with the fact of traveling to another planet’s moon… you know things are going to get MESSY.
One of the things I enjoyed the most is how the story is told through multiple POVs, giving us more insight (and secrets ofc) from different angles. Plus, some chapters are written as emails, guides, or news, which makes the reading experience more dynamic. And even though I don’t usually read much sci-fi (with Saga being the big and wonderful exception), I didn’t get lost in overwhelming technical details here. The scientific aspects are explained in a way that’s understandable and easy to follow (at least like 90%).
While reading Detour, I kept asking myself: Is one of my theories correct? Is it a mix of them? Or is it something completely different? And more importantly, how will the characters make it out of this mess? if there’s even a way out? I’m definitely waiting for book two, and I really hope this becomes a TV show because the potential is definitely there.
Anyway, thanks to Netgally and the publisher for the e-arc.
It makes perfect sense that this book was originally conceived as a TV show. Honestly, the ending played in my head like: End of a season one. And it’s not surprising, considering one of the authors is the creator of Manifest from Netflix.
Everything starts with something we all know: Earth is slowly being destroyed (because of us, obviously). A super-rich man decides to launch a project to travel into space in search of a “lifeboat,” and the chosen destination is Saturn’s moon, Titan. But beyond all the logistics and science involved in this mission, the real heart of the story lies in the human side: who gets to go? The crew is diverse and interesting (and yes, they gave me Manifest's character vibes). Each of them has a background that becomes more and more important as the story progresses. And let me tell you, there’s a lot of drama. The intense kind. So if you combine that with the fact of traveling to another planet’s moon… you know things are going to get MESSY.
One of the things I enjoyed the most is how the story is told through multiple POVs, giving us more insight (and secrets ofc) from different angles. Plus, some chapters are written as emails, guides, or news, which makes the reading experience more dynamic. And even though I don’t usually read much sci-fi (with Saga being the big and wonderful exception), I didn’t get lost in overwhelming technical details here. The scientific aspects are explained in a way that’s understandable and easy to follow (at least like 90%).
While reading Detour, I kept asking myself: Is one of my theories correct? Is it a mix of them? Or is it something completely different? And more importantly, how will the characters make it out of this mess? if there’s even a way out? I’m definitely waiting for book two, and I really hope this becomes a TV show because the potential is definitely there.
Anyway, thanks to Netgally and the publisher for the e-arc.
September 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Worlds for an ARC of Detour.
I love a good sci-fi space adventure so I expected to really enjoy this one but it just didn't quite hit the mark for me. Firstly, I was shocked that only 14% of the book was actually set in space. Although the storyline that started when they returned from space was very interesting, it was not at all what I expected from the initial blurb about the book. My other main complaint is that the "motly crew" of astronauts plot felt a bit gimmicky. In place of any depth of character was just a constant reiteration of their stereotypes (morally righteous cop, neurodivergent brainiac, confused bisexual, separated working mom, grumpy alcoholic, underachieving misfit) which kept me from being very invested in their stories. I'm undecided if I'll pick up the next book in the series.
3 stars
I love a good sci-fi space adventure so I expected to really enjoy this one but it just didn't quite hit the mark for me. Firstly, I was shocked that only 14% of the book was actually set in space. Although the storyline that started when they returned from space was very interesting, it was not at all what I expected from the initial blurb about the book. My other main complaint is that the "motly crew" of astronauts plot felt a bit gimmicky. In place of any depth of character was just a constant reiteration of their stereotypes (morally righteous cop, neurodivergent brainiac, confused bisexual, separated working mom, grumpy alcoholic, underachieving misfit) which kept me from being very invested in their stories. I'm undecided if I'll pick up the next book in the series.
3 stars
November 30, 2025
This definitely needs to be made into a TV series! Full review to come.
November 4, 2025
I've been reading science fiction since I was young and I'm in my early 50's now so I've read a ton of sf. Given that personal history I have to say that I'm a little biased in my rating and review because I unconsciously compare this book to all the other sf books I've read over the years. Personally I don't consider this book to be science fiction but more like science fiction "lite", or "My First Science Fiction novel", something for readers who have never read a sf book before. I say that because there's very little science in the book. Mostly it's about the emotions of the 6 major characters and how they feel about their families or about some issue in their life. I have to admit I skimmed a lot of that. And they don't even get into space until halfway through the book plus they are only in space for about 20 pages, or so it felt.
The premise is sending a manned ship out to Titan, a moon of Saturn, and to release a satellite once they go around the moon, then head back. A 2 year trip all told (the book doesn't even say anything about subjective time and that time goes faster on Earth than for those on the ship, but whatever. Oh, and someone must be in the early stages of inventing the ansible because communications between the ship and Earth only take something like 9 minutes back and forth instead of a year). The trip is being financed by an eccentric billionaire who is also running for President. Three experienced astronauts and three non-astronauts, one the winner of a lottery, will be going on the trip. A big part of the book is those people dealing with their every day life experiences: an alcoholic man struggles to keep it together and to stay in touch with his estranged family, a man with a loving family but also living with a son in a wheelchair and the husband a pariah at work, a woman with ADHD who works for the billionaire and wants to please him with her work at all costs, etc. Oh and an 18 or 19 year old man who has some mad skillz but just wants to make a name for himself through tagging (using spray paint to decorate abandoned buildings). Plus he's shown vaping before the trip, they tell him to quit because there's no vaping in spaceships, but then the book shows nothing of his agonies of withdrawl! Quitting nicotine has been equated with quitting heroin as far as how difficult it is to do. And he's shown as just his normal self on the ship. Wut?!
There is a neat twist in the book that does not get resolved by the end of it because this is only the first book in a series. I will not be reading the sequels. I'm old and have only so much reading time left in my life and I don't want to waste it.
The writing is fine. Not outstanding but not bad. This book has two authors, one who has written books before and one who hasn't but has worked on TV series such as Manifest. I assume the latter came up with the idea and the former did most of the writing work.
I received an advanced reader copy through NetGalley and that has no impact on my rating and review.
The premise is sending a manned ship out to Titan, a moon of Saturn, and to release a satellite once they go around the moon, then head back. A 2 year trip all told (the book doesn't even say anything about subjective time and that time goes faster on Earth than for those on the ship, but whatever. Oh, and someone must be in the early stages of inventing the ansible because communications between the ship and Earth only take something like 9 minutes back and forth instead of a year). The trip is being financed by an eccentric billionaire who is also running for President. Three experienced astronauts and three non-astronauts, one the winner of a lottery, will be going on the trip. A big part of the book is those people dealing with their every day life experiences: an alcoholic man struggles to keep it together and to stay in touch with his estranged family, a man with a loving family but also living with a son in a wheelchair and the husband a pariah at work, a woman with ADHD who works for the billionaire and wants to please him with her work at all costs, etc. Oh and an 18 or 19 year old man who has some mad skillz but just wants to make a name for himself through tagging (using spray paint to decorate abandoned buildings). Plus he's shown vaping before the trip, they tell him to quit because there's no vaping in spaceships, but then the book shows nothing of his agonies of withdrawl! Quitting nicotine has been equated with quitting heroin as far as how difficult it is to do. And he's shown as just his normal self on the ship. Wut?!
There is a neat twist in the book that does not get resolved by the end of it because this is only the first book in a series. I will not be reading the sequels. I'm old and have only so much reading time left in my life and I don't want to waste it.
The writing is fine. Not outstanding but not bad. This book has two authors, one who has written books before and one who hasn't but has worked on TV series such as Manifest. I assume the latter came up with the idea and the former did most of the writing work.
I received an advanced reader copy through NetGalley and that has no impact on my rating and review.
December 13, 2025
Thanks, NetGalley, for providing me with a copy of this book.
This is a book I got caught in between. I liked its pace, and the plot was not bad at all, but I felt that the characters seemed a bit too shallow. Presidential candidate Ward seemed like a caricature of a kid born to Trump and Musk. But by the end, it redeemed itself better; these astronauts achieved more maturity and became ready for the challenges that are about to come in the next books of the series.
This is a book I got caught in between. I liked its pace, and the plot was not bad at all, but I felt that the characters seemed a bit too shallow. Presidential candidate Ward seemed like a caricature of a kid born to Trump and Musk. But by the end, it redeemed itself better; these astronauts achieved more maturity and became ready for the challenges that are about to come in the next books of the series.
November 17, 2025
I devoured this book! It wasn't what I was expecting, but I'm not sure why. I went back and reread the synopsis after finishing the book, and it delivered exactly what was promised, but for some reason I imagined the team would be landing boots-on-the-ground on Titan and that's where the story would take place, when that's not the case! They just do a fly-by to drop a satellite into orbit. So while I was disappointed not to explore a far-off moon, technically that wasn't what was promised, so that's on me.
This first of a series focused largely on character development and relationship building and I was here for it. I loved getting to know the characters and learning about their lives, though I was getting nervous when their mission didn't really begin until about the 60-percent mark of the book and then was over so quickly. I'm not sure if other people would find that off-putting but I enjoyed the slow burn of the story because I just liked the cast so much. After the mission, the reader realizes why the meticulous setup was so important so I really hope people give it a chance to fully unfold.
I found this story to be unpredictable and the characters realistic. I never knew what might happen next because this book felt so original. There were times when I agreed with the characters and times when they frustrated me, but through it all I found myself rooting for them because they felt like real people. The climax of the story was anxiety-inducing and the cliffhanger has me eager and impatient for more! I can't wait for the next book and hope we get a chance to see this story "manifest" on television in the future!
This first of a series focused largely on character development and relationship building and I was here for it. I loved getting to know the characters and learning about their lives, though I was getting nervous when their mission didn't really begin until about the 60-percent mark of the book and then was over so quickly. I'm not sure if other people would find that off-putting but I enjoyed the slow burn of the story because I just liked the cast so much. After the mission, the reader realizes why the meticulous setup was so important so I really hope people give it a chance to fully unfold.
I found this story to be unpredictable and the characters realistic. I never knew what might happen next because this book felt so original. There were times when I agreed with the characters and times when they frustrated me, but through it all I found myself rooting for them because they felt like real people. The climax of the story was anxiety-inducing and the cliffhanger has me eager and impatient for more! I can't wait for the next book and hope we get a chance to see this story "manifest" on television in the future!
September 28, 2025
I totally just completed reading the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of Detour by Jeff Rake and Rob Hart.
The story sets up a cool dynamic -
We follow a mixed crew of professional astronauts and lucky civilians—the main guy is Ryan Crane, who takes the trip to Titan to earn a ton of money for his family.
But as soon as they’re in deep space, everything goes wrong. Their mission isn't just delayed; it’s somehow completely and mysteriously thrown off-course.
This quickly turns the journey into a fight for survival as the crew realizes that some huge secret is lurking just under the surface, threatening their lives and their sanity.
I had a blast reading this, but I'll give you a quick breakdown of my likes and dislikes. What I loved was the breakneck pacing—I couldn't put it down because I was desperate to know what was real and what wasn't.
The characters, especially the civilians, all had great tension and hidden motives, which made the drama even better. What I didn't love was that the science got a little intense in a few spots, so I had to slow down to keep up. Also, be warned: the ending is a major cliffhanger!
Thank you @netgalley for the ARC
The story sets up a cool dynamic -
We follow a mixed crew of professional astronauts and lucky civilians—the main guy is Ryan Crane, who takes the trip to Titan to earn a ton of money for his family.
But as soon as they’re in deep space, everything goes wrong. Their mission isn't just delayed; it’s somehow completely and mysteriously thrown off-course.
This quickly turns the journey into a fight for survival as the crew realizes that some huge secret is lurking just under the surface, threatening their lives and their sanity.
I had a blast reading this, but I'll give you a quick breakdown of my likes and dislikes. What I loved was the breakneck pacing—I couldn't put it down because I was desperate to know what was real and what wasn't.
The characters, especially the civilians, all had great tension and hidden motives, which made the drama even better. What I didn't love was that the science got a little intense in a few spots, so I had to slow down to keep up. Also, be warned: the ending is a major cliffhanger!
Thank you @netgalley for the ARC
July 21, 2025
In 2031, global temperatures levels are 5 degrees higher than what they were in the preindustrial era. To help humans, billionaire John Ward, is financing, with the help of NASA, an expedition to Titan, Saturn’s moon to see if they can establish an settlement. In this near future, there is a new technology that make the trip to Titan very short, only 2 years. On this mission, there’s 6 people. 4 men and 2 women. 3 of them are civilians with no prior astronaut training. Ward is also running for president of the USA, so the mission has to be a success. What could go wrong, right ?
I LOVED this book. This is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. The pace is so quick and you get immediately immersed in the story. The story is told from multiple POVs. I thought it really helped the plot to move forward. It has such high stakes and is packed with action. I couldn’t not put down the book! It was just so intriguing and captivating. And with the ending, I need the next book asap! There’s so many more themes that are explored, but I don’t want to spoil because it would take away from the tense feeling you get when reading. It’s better to go into this blind and just enjoy the ride !
If you love a sci-fi book with lots of action, a multiple POVs, tense atmosphere, conspiracies, and a Space setting, you need to read this book !
Thank you so much to Del Rey, Random House World, Inklore and NetGalley for the arc !
I LOVED this book. This is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. The pace is so quick and you get immediately immersed in the story. The story is told from multiple POVs. I thought it really helped the plot to move forward. It has such high stakes and is packed with action. I couldn’t not put down the book! It was just so intriguing and captivating. And with the ending, I need the next book asap! There’s so many more themes that are explored, but I don’t want to spoil because it would take away from the tense feeling you get when reading. It’s better to go into this blind and just enjoy the ride !
If you love a sci-fi book with lots of action, a multiple POVs, tense atmosphere, conspiracies, and a Space setting, you need to read this book !
Thank you so much to Del Rey, Random House World, Inklore and NetGalley for the arc !
July 2, 2025
Going to need number two
December 3, 2025
This was a trippy and fun sci fi space mission book. It started out relatively routine, and I was enjoying it, but then it all goes crazy once the crew returns to earth, and that’s when things really get interesting.
In the same vein as Dark Matter, Detour deals with the multiverse, and what happens when a space mission encounters an anomaly in space and returns to a different earth. However, once back on earth, things get all cloak and dagger, and the six astronauts are left trying to figure out what happened to them on that mission.
Totally entertaining, I really enjoyed this book. But, it ends on a cliffhanger, so now we have to wait to see what happens next. Hopefully the next book is released quickly!
Thank you to Random House Worlds and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
In the same vein as Dark Matter, Detour deals with the multiverse, and what happens when a space mission encounters an anomaly in space and returns to a different earth. However, once back on earth, things get all cloak and dagger, and the six astronauts are left trying to figure out what happened to them on that mission.
Totally entertaining, I really enjoyed this book. But, it ends on a cliffhanger, so now we have to wait to see what happens next. Hopefully the next book is released quickly!
Thank you to Random House Worlds and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
December 1, 2025
My friends...this is just part one. And it just ends abruptly, leaving you feeling bereft.
I mean, the good part is that you're feeling bereft because you really want to know what happens next. Unfortunately, it means you are also extremely unsatisfied because there is no book 2 waiting for you yet.
This is very Twilight Zone-esque - to the point where I could point to a very specific episode and say, hey it's like that one! But since I like Twilight Zone, I was very pleased with the comparison. I loved our characters and was completely on board with this one.
When book 2 comes out, I will read it with pleasure. I just wish it were available today!
* ARC via Publisher
I mean, the good part is that you're feeling bereft because you really want to know what happens next. Unfortunately, it means you are also extremely unsatisfied because there is no book 2 waiting for you yet.
This is very Twilight Zone-esque - to the point where I could point to a very specific episode and say, hey it's like that one! But since I like Twilight Zone, I was very pleased with the comparison. I loved our characters and was completely on board with this one.
When book 2 comes out, I will read it with pleasure. I just wish it were available today!
* ARC via Publisher
November 11, 2025
This is the beginning of a series of unknown length at this point. It is a variation of a Twilight Zone theme of astronauts who are gone for a couple of years and return to an Earth that appears to be the same, but quickly begins to show differences. The book leaves a definite cliffhanger at the end as a hook to read the second book when it comes out. Overall a good read.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon, and my fiction book review blog.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon, and my fiction book review blog.
November 19, 2025
I really wanted to love this, cause I was really enjoying the writing style and found it nicely paced but it started to get a little too ridiculous and outlandish for me and I just couldn’t click with it.
November 21, 2025
Six people, three astronauts and three civilians, blast off on a mission to one of the moons of Saturn. But the Earth they return to 2 years later is subtly different than the one they left. Detour is a fast-paced sci-fi thriller with a Twilight Zone vibe and definitely a fun ride. The space mission is sponsored by a multibillionaire presidential candidate, with a focus on determining if Saturn’s moon can sustain life. As with most novels in this genre, some liberties are taken, but if you can ignore the implausibilities, then this is an entertaining and interesting adventure with a cliffhanger ending that stops at the right spot, whetting the reader’s interest for the next book. The crew members are a bit stereotypical as the author seems to be trying to cover all bases, and the dialogue can be juvenile at times, but there’s enough going on here to sustain the story, which picks up the intrigue when the crew returns to Earth. Overall, a good read, and eager for the next book. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2025
Patiently waiting for the next book in the series!!
An egotistical billionaire bankrolling space research into potential colonisation to ‘save humanity’ - rings a bell?
A two-year mission to a supposedly habitable moon for data collection.
Six astronauts; three *actual* astronauts, plus one researcher, one lucky lottery ticket winner and one cop who is in the right place at the right time.
Countless secrets, obstacles and obscurities.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this - the multiple POVs kept me engaged from start to finish, with more pieces of the puzzle revealed from each perspective. I initially found the defining characteristics of the protagonists to be somewhat stereotypical, almost two dimensional, but their tropes gained nuance and importance over time. The chapters read like episodes in a tv series (one I would definitely binge), with intersecting storylines, distinct characters, evolving dynamics and a growing list of questions as the plot progressed. I’m excited to test my theories and find some answers in the next instalment!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
An egotistical billionaire bankrolling space research into potential colonisation to ‘save humanity’ - rings a bell?
A two-year mission to a supposedly habitable moon for data collection.
Six astronauts; three *actual* astronauts, plus one researcher, one lucky lottery ticket winner and one cop who is in the right place at the right time.
Countless secrets, obstacles and obscurities.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this - the multiple POVs kept me engaged from start to finish, with more pieces of the puzzle revealed from each perspective. I initially found the defining characteristics of the protagonists to be somewhat stereotypical, almost two dimensional, but their tropes gained nuance and importance over time. The chapters read like episodes in a tv series (one I would definitely binge), with intersecting storylines, distinct characters, evolving dynamics and a growing list of questions as the plot progressed. I’m excited to test my theories and find some answers in the next instalment!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2025
Have you ever watched the original Star Trek series episode “Mirror, Mirror”? Cause this is a lot like that, just with less gold sashes and sexy outfits.
I love the idea of this book - a crew heading to Saturn’s moon Titan to see what awaits them. Titan potentially holds more promise for life and as a future human settlement, due to having liquid hydrocarbon lakes on the surface, weather patterns, and surface features similar to Earth. However, the crew and training they received is totally farfetched. There’s no way a crew of 6 people - with only 3 being actual astronauts and the other 3 being civilians with no training - would get only 5 weeks to train together before being blasted into space. Armageddon, is that you?
It is also a bit disappointing that for being a space book, very little actually happens in space. Almost half of the book is taken up by introducing us to our overly diverse but extremely stereotypical characters. They are all selected by Jeff Bezos - I mean John Ward - to take a trip to Titan, which is supposed to herald in a new era for humanity and space travel, but then we never get to see any of it. We read about the launch in a news report, and then it jumps immediately to them being just a day or two from Titan. There is an issue on board, which takes all of 30 pages, if that, and then skips right over the journey home. There isn’t really a lot explained during their crisis around Titan. You get a quick explanation of what they think is happening, some macho chest puffing between Stitch and Mike, Ryan and Padma acting eerily like Cooper and Brand from Interstellar, then bam! it’s all over. Once they’re home, it’s the Mirror, Mirror episode with a bit of Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon puzzle thriller thrown in. It really feels like the authors watched Star Trek and Interstellar and read lots of Dan Brown and decided to throw them all together. Not that it’s bad - it’s just easy to see all these influences throughout the book.
There is a cliffhanger at the end, but not as dramatic as I thought it would be? I will probably read the sequel to see where this ends up, as it is still pretty interesting.
I love the idea of this book - a crew heading to Saturn’s moon Titan to see what awaits them. Titan potentially holds more promise for life and as a future human settlement, due to having liquid hydrocarbon lakes on the surface, weather patterns, and surface features similar to Earth. However, the crew and training they received is totally farfetched. There’s no way a crew of 6 people - with only 3 being actual astronauts and the other 3 being civilians with no training - would get only 5 weeks to train together before being blasted into space. Armageddon, is that you?
It is also a bit disappointing that for being a space book, very little actually happens in space. Almost half of the book is taken up by introducing us to our overly diverse but extremely stereotypical characters. They are all selected by Jeff Bezos - I mean John Ward - to take a trip to Titan, which is supposed to herald in a new era for humanity and space travel, but then we never get to see any of it. We read about the launch in a news report, and then it jumps immediately to them being just a day or two from Titan. There is an issue on board, which takes all of 30 pages, if that, and then skips right over the journey home. There isn’t really a lot explained during their crisis around Titan. You get a quick explanation of what they think is happening, some macho chest puffing between Stitch and Mike, Ryan and Padma acting eerily like Cooper and Brand from Interstellar, then bam! it’s all over. Once they’re home, it’s the Mirror, Mirror episode with a bit of Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon puzzle thriller thrown in. It really feels like the authors watched Star Trek and Interstellar and read lots of Dan Brown and decided to throw them all together. Not that it’s bad - it’s just easy to see all these influences throughout the book.
There is a cliffhanger at the end, but not as dramatic as I thought it would be? I will probably read the sequel to see where this ends up, as it is still pretty interesting.
November 29, 2025
thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC!
I am not surprised to read that this was originally pitched as a TV show because wow does it read like it, and I don't mean that in a super positive way. the characters feel like the most broad stereotypes, like you can pretty much read the character descriptions for some hypothetical casting call and know their entire deal. I really can't get over that the main character is like, a hero cop who was too noble for his own good and has a loving family complete with disabled son. it also took way too long for this book to get into space, like I actually started laughing at 35% in when it seemed like they were finally going to space but instead they went... to an escape room. alright!
and then for all the buildup, they were actually in space for like 30 pages, and the stuff that happened once they got back to Earth was just... not that intriguing. a better author/s could do something with the fact that the changes were small, but here it all felt anti-climactic.
it's not a terrible read. because it's so obviously meant to be a TV show, there's a fun rhythm to this, and a lot of mysteries to keep you reading. the end of the book all but tells you "tune in for Season 2!!!!" and darn it, I AM intrigued. but I do think it would have been a much better show than book.
I am not surprised to read that this was originally pitched as a TV show because wow does it read like it, and I don't mean that in a super positive way. the characters feel like the most broad stereotypes, like you can pretty much read the character descriptions for some hypothetical casting call and know their entire deal. I really can't get over that the main character is like, a hero cop who was too noble for his own good and has a loving family complete with disabled son. it also took way too long for this book to get into space, like I actually started laughing at 35% in when it seemed like they were finally going to space but instead they went... to an escape room. alright!
and then for all the buildup, they were actually in space for like 30 pages, and the stuff that happened once they got back to Earth was just... not that intriguing. a better author/s could do something with the fact that the changes were small, but here it all felt anti-climactic.
it's not a terrible read. because it's so obviously meant to be a TV show, there's a fun rhythm to this, and a lot of mysteries to keep you reading. the end of the book all but tells you "tune in for Season 2!!!!" and darn it, I AM intrigued. but I do think it would have been a much better show than book.
October 21, 2025
I was glad to receive an offer to read a book written in part by the author of the Warehouse, which I found to be engaging emotionally and philosophically.
In this new novel, a powerful personality in the United States similar to Elon Musk chooses a team of six mismatched Americans for a two-year space mission.
I was immediately attracted to the science fiction theme with a mysterious premise, and I immediately read it—all in one sitting. It’s something equivalent to an easy beach-time read.
The narrative is character-driven, with the point of view alternating among the various players.
During the trip to outer space we see murky and evanescence glimpses of their hardships and a potentially mysterious conspiracy. A lot of the character motivation is murky and mysterious as is the quantum space/time travel mystery.
This is perfect for those looking for a quirky quick read with no heavy angst—even though the angst is there. For me, I would have enjoyed a more explicitly dark plot with more realistic science.
Thanks you NetGalley for the free preview in exchange for this review!
In this new novel, a powerful personality in the United States similar to Elon Musk chooses a team of six mismatched Americans for a two-year space mission.
I was immediately attracted to the science fiction theme with a mysterious premise, and I immediately read it—all in one sitting. It’s something equivalent to an easy beach-time read.
The narrative is character-driven, with the point of view alternating among the various players.
During the trip to outer space we see murky and evanescence glimpses of their hardships and a potentially mysterious conspiracy. A lot of the character motivation is murky and mysterious as is the quantum space/time travel mystery.
This is perfect for those looking for a quirky quick read with no heavy angst—even though the angst is there. For me, I would have enjoyed a more explicitly dark plot with more realistic science.
Thanks you NetGalley for the free preview in exchange for this review!
November 22, 2025
This was such an interesting concept! Six astronauts are sent to Titan - a moon of Saturn - to potentially set up a colony. When they return to Earth, everything is just a little big...off. That concept alone was enough to grab my attention!
The writing style was easy to follow; each section is titled with a character and their location, which made it easier to follow and keep track across the entire novel. It also made the reading go quicker and created a more fast paced feeling to the whole thing. I also appreciated the diverse characters and backgrounds.
It did feel like it took a while to really get going, however, and most of the exciting stuff happened well after halfway through the book. I also wish some of the characters - particularly Alonso - had been built up more; I felt like he was overshadowed a lot during the story. Also, there seemed to be soapbox moments pried into the story that made the pace stumble a bit and I wish they hadn't been in there.
When I got to the end of this book, I was absolutely hooked, and the cliffhanger ending has me anxious to find out what happens next! To me, that's a good sign that the book was worth my time!
Thank you to Random House Worlds, the authors, and NetGalley for an ARC of this story!
The writing style was easy to follow; each section is titled with a character and their location, which made it easier to follow and keep track across the entire novel. It also made the reading go quicker and created a more fast paced feeling to the whole thing. I also appreciated the diverse characters and backgrounds.
It did feel like it took a while to really get going, however, and most of the exciting stuff happened well after halfway through the book. I also wish some of the characters - particularly Alonso - had been built up more; I felt like he was overshadowed a lot during the story. Also, there seemed to be soapbox moments pried into the story that made the pace stumble a bit and I wish they hadn't been in there.
When I got to the end of this book, I was absolutely hooked, and the cliffhanger ending has me anxious to find out what happens next! To me, that's a good sign that the book was worth my time!
Thank you to Random House Worlds, the authors, and NetGalley for an ARC of this story!
December 12, 2025
I received a gifted copy of DETOUR by Jeff Rake and Rob Hart and a gifted audiobook from PRH Audio!
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Publication Date: 1/13/2026
DETOUR is the first book in a new series of the same name. The story begins with Ryan, a husband and father and an off-duty police officer in the right place at the right time to save a man's life. It turns out the man in question is a wealthy man with an offer Ryan can hardly turn down. He asks Ryan to join an expedition, the first of its kind, to spend two years in space circling one of the moons of Saturn. It's pitched as a next step in the hope of preserving humanity's future.
The book follows Ryan, the wealthy man Ward, and the rest of the crew venturing out to circle Titan as they gather, train, and prepare for their two year quest. The team is a mixture of those trained for space and civilians like Ryan and soon their lives will be in eachother's hands, but it is their return to Earth that proves the most perilous because it isn't the world they left behind.
The blurb that I saw for this book that had me picking it up was about the crews return from Titan and while we get there in this first book installment, it isn't until pretty late in the book. There are a lot of characters we're following and each gets some background to establish them and the people surrounding them in their day to day life. This is needed for what comes later, but it did have this book feeling like a set up book.
I really had a good time with this one once I realized that I needed to settle my expectations a bit when it came to wanting more action. The action certainly picks up as we get later into the book and I definitely am ready for a book two and can see the really big potential of what is coming!
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Publication Date: 1/13/2026
DETOUR is the first book in a new series of the same name. The story begins with Ryan, a husband and father and an off-duty police officer in the right place at the right time to save a man's life. It turns out the man in question is a wealthy man with an offer Ryan can hardly turn down. He asks Ryan to join an expedition, the first of its kind, to spend two years in space circling one of the moons of Saturn. It's pitched as a next step in the hope of preserving humanity's future.
The book follows Ryan, the wealthy man Ward, and the rest of the crew venturing out to circle Titan as they gather, train, and prepare for their two year quest. The team is a mixture of those trained for space and civilians like Ryan and soon their lives will be in eachother's hands, but it is their return to Earth that proves the most perilous because it isn't the world they left behind.
The blurb that I saw for this book that had me picking it up was about the crews return from Titan and while we get there in this first book installment, it isn't until pretty late in the book. There are a lot of characters we're following and each gets some background to establish them and the people surrounding them in their day to day life. This is needed for what comes later, but it did have this book feeling like a set up book.
I really had a good time with this one once I realized that I needed to settle my expectations a bit when it came to wanting more action. The action certainly picks up as we get later into the book and I definitely am ready for a book two and can see the really big potential of what is coming!
November 7, 2025
This was riveting. It's multi-POV which I usually do not like, but it was done so well that I really can't knock it. This book was also not what I was expecting it to be. I was expecting most of the book to be set in space, but the in-space part is really only 25 pages, I think. However, the rest of it was so well done that I find, unexpectedly, that I really don't care about the low space page count. I think this might become a new sci-fi classic. However, it's a cliffhanger. Which I do not like. I wanted to go to sleep a couple of hours ago but couldn't do it because I needed to find out what was going to happen. Still don't know what happens, but other than the lack of ending, I really liked this book. This is very character-driven, and the characterization is maybe the most well-done I've read in a couple months or more. I received this book as a digital ARC.
December 24, 2025
This book was pure fun. It follows three astronauts and three civilians who are recruited to deliver a satellite to Titan, with the hope that humanity may eventually be able to live there. The story also includes POV chapters from the billionaire and presidential candidate funding the mission, as well as several other minor characters. The rapidly changing points of view and mixed-media excerpts make this a quick, engaging read.
I was intrigued from page one, but the action mentioned in the synopsis doesn’t truly kick in until about halfway through the book. Once it does, I couldn’t stop reading and finished the second half in a single sitting.
I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for an action-packed, quick, and fun read. Be aware that the book ends on a cliffhanger and doesn’t provide all the answers, setting things up clearly for the next installment in the series.
I was intrigued from page one, but the action mentioned in the synopsis doesn’t truly kick in until about halfway through the book. Once it does, I couldn’t stop reading and finished the second half in a single sitting.
I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for an action-packed, quick, and fun read. Be aware that the book ends on a cliffhanger and doesn’t provide all the answers, setting things up clearly for the next installment in the series.
October 25, 2025
“Detour” by Jeff Rake & Rob Hart is a science fiction thriller about a danger filled mission to space and a return home that somehow isn’t the home they left behind.
A billionaire running for president is funding a space mission to Saturn’s moon, and has assembled a crew of 3 experienced astronauts and 3 civilians for the journey. They depart on a hair raising two year mission to deploy a data collection satellite and then return home, but space adventures never go as planned!
This is a gripping fast read filled with great characters, and each one has an interesting backstory. The cliffhanger ending is truly a cliffhanger leaving you feeling like you just watched the season ending episode of a TV series.
I eagerly await the next book to find out how the story concludes.
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A billionaire running for president is funding a space mission to Saturn’s moon, and has assembled a crew of 3 experienced astronauts and 3 civilians for the journey. They depart on a hair raising two year mission to deploy a data collection satellite and then return home, but space adventures never go as planned!
This is a gripping fast read filled with great characters, and each one has an interesting backstory. The cliffhanger ending is truly a cliffhanger leaving you feeling like you just watched the season ending episode of a TV series.
I eagerly await the next book to find out how the story concludes.
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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