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Cover of Detour

Detour

Jeff Rake;Rob Hart (2026-01-13)

Subgenre
Age groupAdult 18+
Content ratingPG-13
Pages321 (Standard (250-400))
Setting
CSM age16

Content levels

ViolenceModerate
Sexual contentNone
LanguageMild

Protagonist archetypes

Ensemble CastTime-Displaced

Synopsis

A space shuttle flight crew discovers that the Earth they’ve returned to is not the home they left behind in the first book of this emotional, mind-bending thriller series from the creator of the hit Netflix show 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.

Tags

ThrillerMysteryPsychological ThrillerMind-BendingSpeculative Fiction

Is Detour appropriate for my child?

Suitable for most readers 16 and up.

Parents should know this sci-fi thriller contains action violence including an assassination attempt and spacecraft explosions, as well as conspiracy-driven suspense and surveillance themes. Strong emotional content regarding family separation and a disabled child, but no graphic violence, sex, or strong language.

What to know going in

This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include violence, explosions, and conspiracy (see the full list above).

Who'll love this

Teens will be hooked by the mind-bending mystery of astronauts returning to an Earth that's somehow different, combining space adventure with psychological thriller tension.