As seen on my blog: 
 I have had a long standing relationship with Mrs. Picoult's writing. We started off in a fury of obsession and intensity ( 
 My Sister's Keeper, Second Glance, Nineteen Minutes 
 ), where I spent a solid month or more devouring everything I could find that had her name listed as the author. We tapered off into a slow simmer soon after, when I began to realize that I was growing weary of her repetitive narrative formula ( 
 Handle with Care, Change of Heart 
 ). We then, sadly, become merely acquaintances ( 
 Sing You Home, Lone Wolf 
 ). I would drop by to see what was new, of course, but there wasn't any real interest, nor any shred of the excitement and intrigue I had once felt. Then 
 The Storyteller 
 happened, and I was fiercely thrown back into a state awe, but with a new found respect in tow. Jodi created something unquestioningly distinct when she wrote 
 The Storyteller 
 , especially when considering her usual narratives, and there is absolutely no denying that it is my favourite piece of work by her. I thought we had rekindled something, I could have sworn that my love was about to reignite in that old familiar way. Unfortunately, 
 Leaving Time 
 was the pinprick to my bubble. I wasn't completely disappointed, but our acquaintance status has been reinstated. 
 Leaving Time 
 promised to expose me to a few of my favourite things, both in life, and in my literature: animals, paranormal happenings, and an international setting. Jodi Picoult's name on the cover aside, I was already sold. Jenna Metcalf can feel her mother, right down to her core. Alice vanished from Jenna's life when it was barely beginning, and a determination to find her is fierce in Jenna's heart. With the enlisted, and frustrating, help of two polar opposite personalities, detective Virgil Stanhope, and ex-famous psychic Serenity Jones, Jenna embarks on the most important journey of her 13-year-old life. In true Picoult form, we are also treated to the perspectives of Alice Metcalf, Virgil and Serenity. Also abundant are in-depth facts on elephants as both a species, and an intellectual being. Those were definitely the most fascinating parts, in my opinion. 
 It wasn't the lack of classic Jodi prose, because that is a constant, in everything that she writes. What was lacking for me was the plausibility. I couldn't convince myself that Jenna, at 13, was capable of such mature and witty banter. I also felt like the added dynamic of Serenity's "psychic" nature was a little too forced, and out of place. The latter ended up being extremely crucial for story development, especially at the conclusion, but I felt like there was too much happening at once. I was at once in Africa, completely intrigued by Alice Metcalf's research on elephant grief, and also in the audience of a talk show, listening to Serenity spew predictions and fortunes. The mingling of those two particular story lines just rubbed me the wrong way, and played a huge part in lessening my interest in 
 Leaving Time 
 . 
 The conclusion of this book was absurd, and felt like a huge cop out. It was definitely the most disappointing twist I've ever read in a Picoult book, and would love to know if that was the author's first choice. This isn't a case of regret, because there is always something in Jodi's writing that makes me happier to be alive, I just didn't love the story. Here's hoping next year's book jump starts my heart. 
 Recommended for fans of: Contemporary, Mystery, Paranormal, animals in fiction, 
 Water for Elephants 
 by Sara Gruen.