Here are some clues from the book:
* John's military service: The book mentions John serving in the Army during a time of high military activity, aligning with the post-9/11 period.
* Technology: The story features the use of cell phones and email, but not smartphones or social media, suggesting a time period before their widespread adoption.
* Music: The book references songs by contemporary artists like Matchbox Twenty and Blink-182, who were popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Therefore, the story's timeline can be pinpointed to this specific period.