Reviewed by Eric Ferrar for Readers’ Favorite

“Gone With the Sun by Simon Drayton follows a resourceful 18-year-old private detective named John Smith. John relocates to Little Rock, Arkansas, to join the Noble Detective Agency branch there. He is struggling with the loss of his parents, who died in a car accident, while trying to prove his worth as a young detective. When a woman named Genesis Owens disappears during a solar eclipse, John is assigned to her case after previously successfully solving several missing persons investigations. A social media snapshot from the day Genesis vanished leads him to identify the vehicles and people present at the scene. Although he has a suspect in mind, John’s persistence soon results in major setbacks and humiliation. Will he eventually unveil the truth behind Genesis's disappearance before he loses faith in himself entirely?

Gone With the Sun is book one of the Mysteries of Just Another John Smith series. It is a gripping detective story merged with a mesmerizing coming-of-age tale. Simon Drayton does an excellent job of depicting the social challenges young professionals face while proving their worth. John’s mistakes and self-doubt feel realistic, making his story even more compelling and thought-provoking. Themes of trauma, failure, and mental health are well-developed, adding deeper layers to John's intriguing character. Through his crime-solving abilities, readers will realize that cracking a case is much more than gathering evidence and putting the perpetrator behind bars—it's also about knowing one’s own limitations and navigating a workspace with other investigators who may have contrasting approaches. If you enjoy reading coming-of-age mysteries with a sci-fi twist, you're in for a great treat. Highly recommended.”