13 Apr Book Review: Departure by A.G. Riddle

Departure is one of those books that starts off like a straightforward thriller—think plane crash, survival, mystery—but quickly tilts into science fiction territory with a healthy dose of philosophical what-ifs. It’s fast-paced, cinematic, and full of big twists that unravel a little more with every chapter. A.G. Riddle’s background in tech and global thrillers is on full display here, but this one also tries to dig a bit deeper into questions about humanity, time, and choice. It’s a book that goes from action-packed to mind-bending, and though not every piece fits perfectly, it definitely keeps you turning the pages.

What’s it about?

The story kicks off with a terrifying premise: Flight 305, en route from New York to London, crashes in the middle of nowhere. But this isn’t your average survival story. The passengers wake up to find themselves in an unfamiliar landscape, with no sign of rescue coming. The sky seems… off. The landscape doesn’t quite match anything they expected. And things just feel wrong.

Among the survivors are five central characters: Harper Lane, a successful writer with a complicated past; Nick Stone, a tech entrepreneur with a mysterious history; Sabrina Schröder, a German geneticist with her own secrets; Grayson Shaw, a spoiled corporate executive; and Yul Tan, a brilliant scientist. They quickly realize that the crash site isn’t just remote—it’s impossible. Technology doesn’t work the way it should, the sky looks unfamiliar, and there are no signs of modern civilization.

As they begin to explore their surroundings and piece together what happened, it becomes clear that this isn’t just a matter of geography—it’s a matter of time. Or more specifically, time travel. Without giving too much away, the survivors come to understand that they haven’t just been displaced physically, but temporally. They’ve arrived in a version of the world that has diverged from their own reality, and their presence there is no accident.

The deeper mystery unfolds around a futuristic society built on the ruins of humanity’s self-destruction. The world they’ve crashed into is one trying to correct the mistakes of the past—mistakes the passengers themselves may be connected to. The survivors are not just pawns in a larger game; they might be the key to changing the course of history itself.

As secrets emerge, alliances shift. Some passengers have been keeping information from the others, and some have hidden agendas. There’s a lot of tension, both interpersonally and ideologically, as they wrestle with questions of destiny, free will, and the ethical cost of saving the future. Should they intervene? Can they? And what if doing so only makes things worse?

The final act moves fast, as the survivors must decide where their loyalties lie—not just to each other, but to the people who come after them. There are big, world-altering choices to be made, and the consequences ripple far beyond their own lives.

What This Chick Thinks

Strong concept, fast pacing

I’ll be honest—this book grabbed me early. I love a good plane crash mystery, and the initial setup had me racing through the first third. The combination of survival drama and eerie sci-fi breadcrumbs works really well. It’s cinematic in a way that makes you imagine the movie adaptation in your head while you’re reading.

Once the time travel element kicks in, the tone shifts a bit, but I didn’t mind. It starts asking bigger questions and playing with philosophical themes, which gave the story some depth to balance out the thrills.

Characters that hold up… mostly

The cast is diverse and interesting, though some characters are more fully realized than others. Harper is probably the emotional center of the novel, and her journey is one of the more satisfying arcs. Nick felt a bit more like a vehicle for exposition at times, but his dynamic with Harper adds a nice personal layer to all the high-concept action.

That said, a few of the supporting characters felt like they were there more to serve the plot than to stand on their own. There were moments where I wanted more introspection or backstory, especially as the stakes got higher.

Big questions, messy answers

The philosophical themes—what would you change if you could, does humanity deserve a second chance, how much agency do we really have—are great. But they’re also a bit undercooked in places. The book is more interested in the thriller mechanics than in giving every theme space to breathe, which makes for a compelling read but not always a deeply thoughtful one.

Still, I appreciated that it tried. You can tell Riddle was going for more than just a sci-fi action flick in book form. And even when the logic of the world-building got a bit wobbly, I was invested enough in the characters and the pacing to stick with it.

Final Thoughts

Departure is a smart, fast-moving novel that blends sci-fi with thriller and just a touch of romance. It doesn’t always land every idea perfectly, but it delivers a wild ride with enough twists to keep you hooked and enough heart to make it stick. If you’re into time travel stories that ask “what if?” without drowning in technobabble, this one’s worth your time.

Rating: 8/10

Try it if you like

• Dark Matter by Blake Crouch – Another genre-bending thriller with time travel, identity, and high-stakes emotional decisions.
• Recursion by Blake Crouch – For fans of mind-bending narratives and the consequences of messing with time and memory.
• The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey – If you liked the mix of mystery, survival, and sci-fi but want something with a younger tone and a dystopian edge.