Wow. That was my first thought when I put this book down just after midnight last night.

I have to admit, about halfway through the book I was beginning to wonder where all of the five star reviews were coming from. I knew there was a twist and I even had a pretty good idea of what it would be, but when the second twist came I was appropriately shocked.

The second half of this book made the clichéd investigative beginning all worth it – and at the end shed a whole new light on those events. I was absolutely pleased with the turn this book took and found myself up way past its completion wondering about the characters.

If you had told me I would feel this way when I first opened this book I would have scoffed, but by the end I was mourning for the losses in this story and wishing there were more to read.

Well done, Mr. Schofield – you may make a mystery reader out of me yet.

Here is my formal review that will go on the shelves with this book:

Time of Departure by David Schofield

What begins with an ambitious young female prosecutor, a mysterious cold case, and an intriguing ex-cop who knows too much about both, ends in a series of twists you won’t see coming.

Claire Talbot has a lot to prove in the masochistic legal world in which she has immersed herself but she puts it all on the line when Marcus Hastings enters her life with an old case that stirs an ominous feeling in the pit of Claire’s stomach. Though the string of missing girls occurred before she was born, Claire senses a familiarity with the case, and with Marc that she can’t explain.

With the ever-infuriating platitude that she will one day understand, Claire begrudgingly follows Marc down a rabbit hole of mystery, phenomena, and romance that will change everything.

A wonderful thrill of a book that takes you to unexpected places it will keep you on the edge of your seat to the very last page.